On many levels the out-of-touch attitude of “elites” does seem to be what it seems to be. For us peons, the right to free speech carries responsibilities, and very few exercise the judgment and discernment that right requires. On the right and left.
Congratulations. Perhaps the best article you've ever written in my opinion. My mind swirled with a dozen complex and related points as I read the first few paragraphs - e.g., how even hate-speech is protected by the first amendment; the hypocrisy of the conservative right denouncing student protests while routinely alleging suppression of its free speech; what are Stefanik's real motives?, etc. As I read on, you eloquently, factually, and insightfully addressed each of those points backed with the usual citations and references to ensure credibility. Well done sir. I particularly applaud and agree with your observations of the likely lack of understanding by many students of the complexities and nuances of the current Middle East situation. We who are "of a certain age" may not have been around for the founding of Israel, but we have been around long enough to see first-hand the struggles of that nation and prior attempts to destroy it. Some protests and associated rhetoric make me fearful that historical knowledge and awareness of the deep roots of the struggles of Israel, Palestinians, and the surrounding Arab nations is lacking. I am even more fearful that protesters either don't know or do not fully appreciate the horrific legacy of the holocaust on the mindset of the Jewish people. If that is true, we need to better educate so the Jewish people are not the only ones fighting to make sure history does not repeat itself.
Perhaps the most disturbing part of the article is the recognition of the ability of the conservative right to control the narrative and play the long game on critical issues, in this case attacking the so-called liberal elite (more simply known as college educated), but also on matters of reproductive rights, immigration/isolationism, etc.
The best article I've written? Wow. Thanks, Tom. Though you clearly haven't read my coverage of the 1981 Bay Shore Children's Halloween Parade. It was a classic. And I got an. exclusive interview with the Tin Man!
You're so right about the need for a better historical awareness across society. The roots of the current conflict are deep -- indeed, long pre-dating the 1948 creation of the modern state of Israel, which is what is said to enflame the current generation of Hamas activists (children and grandchildren of the dispossessed). I think the reality of the Holocaust is often lost today, and with it respect for the imperative to protect the remnant of the European Jewish community. Yet it's certainly true that the awful reign of Netanyahu has marked an acute failure of humanity in dealing with the Palestinian people. Quite a mess, and our society's barebones understanding of the facts creates fertile ground for demagogues.
Excellent commentary. Universities and colleges are often the soft targets in political controversies. In the 60's you could demand the resignation of a college president who was not sufficiently anti-Vietnam war when those resposible for that policy were harder to influence. In this instance it is less the policy that is the target than the institutions themselves. These are private institutions. Does Congress really have subpoena power? In the late 1940s University of Washington faculty were interrogated by a state legislative committee, but that was a state institution.
Yes, it's tragic that higher education hasn't stood up for itself before -- maybe with a sort of branding campaign that reminds people, "College is good for you, and for your community." Or something like that. Now 44 percent of Americans 25 and older have attended some college (including incomplete degrees and community college), but there's such hostility to education in general -- look at the ignorant anti-vaccination activists! -- that I'm afraid the financial pressures resulting from demographics will be exacerbated by a withdrawal of public funds from anything that supports higher education.
You can ignore a congressional subpoena, Judy, which might prompt Congress to refer you to the Department of Justice for prosecution for contempt -- but getting a favorable vote for a referral, and then Justice deciding to prosecute, are two hurdles to enforcement of those subpoenas. Yet if you have a Trump Justice Department, we already know from what he has said that he will use it to go after his enemies -- and certainly people who think would be enemies of Donald Trump.
On many levels the out-of-touch attitude of “elites” does seem to be what it seems to be. For us peons, the right to free speech carries responsibilities, and very few exercise the judgment and discernment that right requires. On the right and left.
Congratulations. Perhaps the best article you've ever written in my opinion. My mind swirled with a dozen complex and related points as I read the first few paragraphs - e.g., how even hate-speech is protected by the first amendment; the hypocrisy of the conservative right denouncing student protests while routinely alleging suppression of its free speech; what are Stefanik's real motives?, etc. As I read on, you eloquently, factually, and insightfully addressed each of those points backed with the usual citations and references to ensure credibility. Well done sir. I particularly applaud and agree with your observations of the likely lack of understanding by many students of the complexities and nuances of the current Middle East situation. We who are "of a certain age" may not have been around for the founding of Israel, but we have been around long enough to see first-hand the struggles of that nation and prior attempts to destroy it. Some protests and associated rhetoric make me fearful that historical knowledge and awareness of the deep roots of the struggles of Israel, Palestinians, and the surrounding Arab nations is lacking. I am even more fearful that protesters either don't know or do not fully appreciate the horrific legacy of the holocaust on the mindset of the Jewish people. If that is true, we need to better educate so the Jewish people are not the only ones fighting to make sure history does not repeat itself.
Perhaps the most disturbing part of the article is the recognition of the ability of the conservative right to control the narrative and play the long game on critical issues, in this case attacking the so-called liberal elite (more simply known as college educated), but also on matters of reproductive rights, immigration/isolationism, etc.
The best article I've written? Wow. Thanks, Tom. Though you clearly haven't read my coverage of the 1981 Bay Shore Children's Halloween Parade. It was a classic. And I got an. exclusive interview with the Tin Man!
You're so right about the need for a better historical awareness across society. The roots of the current conflict are deep -- indeed, long pre-dating the 1948 creation of the modern state of Israel, which is what is said to enflame the current generation of Hamas activists (children and grandchildren of the dispossessed). I think the reality of the Holocaust is often lost today, and with it respect for the imperative to protect the remnant of the European Jewish community. Yet it's certainly true that the awful reign of Netanyahu has marked an acute failure of humanity in dealing with the Palestinian people. Quite a mess, and our society's barebones understanding of the facts creates fertile ground for demagogues.
Excellent commentary. Universities and colleges are often the soft targets in political controversies. In the 60's you could demand the resignation of a college president who was not sufficiently anti-Vietnam war when those resposible for that policy were harder to influence. In this instance it is less the policy that is the target than the institutions themselves. These are private institutions. Does Congress really have subpoena power? In the late 1940s University of Washington faculty were interrogated by a state legislative committee, but that was a state institution.
Yes, it's tragic that higher education hasn't stood up for itself before -- maybe with a sort of branding campaign that reminds people, "College is good for you, and for your community." Or something like that. Now 44 percent of Americans 25 and older have attended some college (including incomplete degrees and community college), but there's such hostility to education in general -- look at the ignorant anti-vaccination activists! -- that I'm afraid the financial pressures resulting from demographics will be exacerbated by a withdrawal of public funds from anything that supports higher education.
You can ignore a congressional subpoena, Judy, which might prompt Congress to refer you to the Department of Justice for prosecution for contempt -- but getting a favorable vote for a referral, and then Justice deciding to prosecute, are two hurdles to enforcement of those subpoenas. Yet if you have a Trump Justice Department, we already know from what he has said that he will use it to go after his enemies -- and certainly people who think would be enemies of Donald Trump.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_loco_parentis
What does "In Loco Parentis" mean?
Seems very tricky. A Harvard educated lawyer could probably understand this