OPINION:
Since Oct. 7, we have seen an explosion of anti-Israel views and protests at our educational institutions and businesses and on our roads and bridges.
Now, our country is living in a state of fear. Columbia University President Minouche Shafik is just the latest college administrator to refuse to call the chant “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” what it is: grossly antisemitic (“House Republicans grill Columbia University president over rampant campus antisemitism,” web, April 17). This speaks volumes. Ms. Shafik and others like her are living in fear.
Fear can spread quickly and has consumed many public officials and private organizations. Its cause is confusion. These protesters lack a knowledge of the hateful, antisemitic rhetoric of Hamas, Iran and Hezbollah that I never thought I would see. The schools where the protests are happening should sponsor students to visit Gaza and Iran to see firsthand how Hamas treats women and those suspected of collaborating with Israel, and how Iran attacks and arrests women for failure to wear hijabs.
Chants of support for Hamas and Hezbollah show our country’s enemies have infiltrated our colleges and universities. As Malcolm X said, “Never allow your enemies to educate your children.” Yet that’s precisely what we’ve been doing.
The Biden administration refuses to condemn Hamas or pressure Qatari officials to freeze Hamas’ assets because it fear the loss of Muslim votes. And President Biden tells Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu not to respond to an attack from Iran out of fear of Iranian threats.
Meanwhile, U.S. city officials continue to provide permits for antisemitic rallies out of fear that, if denied, they would get even more dangerous gatherings. Education administrators and professors have contributed to the moral confusion we are seeing.
Historically, we have had enough warnings from educators, social activists, and religious leaders, such as the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., about dealing with fear: “Courage is the power of the mind to overcome fear.” I am trying to understand how protesters missed that lecture in college.
GREG RALEIGH
Washington
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