Posted on 12/10/2023 7:21:48 AM PST by John Semmens
At a hearing of the House Education and Workforce Committee Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) grilled the presidents of Harvard, MIT and the University of Pennsylvania about students at their schools publicly calling for Jews to be killed. "Is this appropriate behavior?" she asked.
Penn President Liz Magill said "it depends on the context. First of all, there is the issue of freedom of speech. Under the US Constitution people are free to express their opinions. Second, there is the issue of freedom of religion. The Palestinian Authority tells its own people that killing Jews is for Allah. The repetition of this religious admonition by others is also a right guaranteed by the Constitution."
Harvard President Claudine Gay agreed with Magill "that actually killing Jews would be wrong, but merely advocating that they be killed is protected by the Constitution. At Harvard, it is only when advocacy crosses into conduct that we take action."
MIT President Sally Kornbluth said that "I understand that it might be unnerving for a Jew to hear mass protests calling for his murder. And while I don't personally agree that Jews ought to be killed, such language would only be investigated as possible harassment if it is pervasive and severe to the point that someone were actually killed."
Stefanik asked "what would be your university's reaction if a mob marched demanding that LTGBQs be killed?"
"You're comparing apples to oranges," Magill objected. "There has been a long history of Jews being singled out for discrimination, persecution, and murder, not only by street mobs, but by religious and government authorities. LGBTQs have only been a recognized group for a relatively short period of time. There is no historical basis for them to be hated like the Jews are." Both Gay and Kornbluth agreed that "it is not fair to compare LGBTQs and Jews."
Stefanik called these university presidents' remarks "appalling."
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) denounced the university presidents' responses and called for all three women to resign their posts.
Ross Stevens, founder and CEO of Stone Ridge Asset Management and Penn alum, cited "the University's permissive approach toward hate speech calling for violence against Jews and 'hands off' attitude toward harassment and discrimination against Jewish students" as the reason he is withdrawing his planned $100 million donation to the school. Magill then issued a statement saying "I have regretted the limitations of my testimony."
Gay apologized, saying "now that I realize my words amplified distress and pain, I don't know how you could feel anything but regret."
The executive committee at MIT issued a statement declaring Kornbluth had it's "full and unreserved support. She has done excellent work in leading our community, including addressing antisemitism, Islamophobia, and other forms of hate, all of which we reject utterly at MIT."
Sunny Hostin, one of the co-hosts on ABC's talk show The View, defended the university presidents by pointing out that "antisemitism and calls for genocide of the Jews don't break the law."
If you missed any of the other Semi-News/Semi-Satire posts you can find them at...
https://www.gopbriefingroom.com/index.php/topic,519232.0.html
MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. Rev. 17:5.
In what context is genocide okay?
This is typical misdirection of commie trash. There is no context to actual threats of physical violence. It is legal nowhere, never has been.
Your being offended is not violence. Grow up.
Speech is a human right. If someone wants to demonstrate and got a permit to obstruct public rightofway, go for it. But, as soon as a participant makes a threat — billy club time. It is a clear line.
But, the commie trash want to perpetuate the : “speech is for me, not for thee” practice. That is how collectivist crappola succeeds.
Moral and INTELLECTUAL confusion!
It's that simple.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.