Etiquette



DP Etiquette

First rule: Don't be a jackass.

Other rules: Do not attack or insult people you disagree with. Engage with facts, logic and beliefs. Out of respect for others, please provide some sources for the facts and truths you rely on if you are asked for that. If emotion is getting out of hand, get it back in hand. To limit dehumanizing people, don't call people or whole groups of people disrespectful names, e.g., stupid, dumb or liar. Insulting people is counterproductive to rational discussion. Insult makes people angry and defensive. All points of view are welcome, right, center, left and elsewhere. Just disagree, but don't be belligerent or reject inconvenient facts, truths or defensible reasoning.

Tuesday, April 23, 2024

Thoughts about the pro-Palestine protest at Columbia University

Various sources are reporting various things about the recent pro-Palestine protest at Columbia University. Some sources say it was antisemitic and others say it wasn't. Some say the protesters were peaceful and some say otherwise. Once again, the poison and contradictory narratives that attaches to the endless Israel-Palestine hate & misery story is gushing forth. I did some searching and it seems that the protestors were peaceful, but critical of Israel's brutal policy toward Gaza. How prominent the alleged acts of antisemitism were isn't clear to me. Also not clear to me is what is the line between antisemitism and legitimate criticism of Israeli war policy.

Some Q&A from me and Perplexity:
Q: Was the pro-Palestine protest at Columbia University antisemitic?

A: Based on the search results, the protests at Columbia University appear to have involved both legitimate criticism of Israel's actions in Gaza as well as some incidents of alleged antisemitism:
  • The protests were led by student groups like Columbia University Apartheid Divest (CUAD), Students for Justice in Palestine, and Jewish Voice for Peace, who were advocating for the university to divest from corporations profiting from Israel's conflict in Gaza 3. Their demands also included a ceasefire in Gaza and increased financial transparency around the university's investments 1.
  • However, some Jewish students have accused the protesters of using antisemitic language and engaging in behavior that has made them feel unsafe on campus 1 2 4. Footage emerged of pro-Palestinian activists using derogatory language towards Jewish students 1. The university's president condemned the "antisemitic language" and "intimidating and harassing behavior" occurring on campus 1.
  • President Biden also condemned the "antisemitic protests" at Columbia, stating that "silence is complicity" and that this "egregious antisemitism is unacceptable" 2. Other senior Democrats like Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Rep. Josh Gottheimer have also criticized the protests and called for action against harassment 2.
So in summary, while the core of the protests appears to be legitimate criticism of Israel's actions, there have been credible allegations of antisemitic incidents and behavior that have made Jewish students feel unsafe1 2 4. The university leadership and political figures have condemned these antisemitic elements of the protests 1 2.
Biden reacted strongly, maybe out of proportionality with with the seriousness of what he alleged.

A: Yes, Biden condemned the protests at Columbia University as antisemitic. According to the search results:

"'I unequivocally condemn the antisemitic protests,' Biden declared to reporters as he returned from an Earth Day speech. 'I have established a program to address this issue.'" 2 3

Biden specifically stated that the "blatant antisemitism" seen in the protests at Columbia is "reprehensible and dangerous—and it has absolutely no place on college campuses, or anywhere in our country." 1 4 The White House also issued a statement condemning "calls for violence and physical intimidation targeting Jewish students and the Jewish community" as "blatantly antisemitic, unconscionable, and dangerous." 1 4

So in clear and unequivocal terms, Biden condemned the Columbia protests as antisemitic and said he has established a program to address this issue. 2 3 5 
Some other politicians also condemned the protest as antisemitic.

Q: What were the specific statements that were considered antisemitic

A: According to the search results, the following specific statements and actions were condemned as antisemitic at the Columbia University protests:
  • Chants from protesters of "Go back to Poland" 2
  • Signs with the Hamas symbol and the words "I'm with them" 2
  • Chants calling for Hamas attacks on Tel Aviv 2
  • Protesters attempting to burn an Israel flag 2
  • Calls for "violence and physical intimidation targeting Jewish students and the Jewish community"1 2
  • Rhetoric "echoing that of terrorist organizations, especially in the wake of the recent massacre against the Jewish people"1
  • Harassment, threats, and intimidation against Jewish students on campus 2 4 
The White House, New York Mayor, and several members of Congress condemned these specific antisemitic statements and actions as "blatantly antisemitic, unconscionable, and dangerous"1 2. They called for the university to take action to ensure the safety and security of Jewish students on campus.1 2 3 4

Most of that feels clearly antisemitic to me. 

At this point, maybe the Israel-Palestine issue could influence the US election, maybe enough to tip it to Trump. I don't know what to think of all of this. If the US had forced a peace plan decades ago, I doubt all of this would be happening today. But, that's in the past. For better or worse, we have live with the consequences of our past actions and inactions.


Monday, April 22, 2024

Just in time for Mother's Day

 

Melania Trump launches $245 Mother’s Day necklace

Former first lady Melania Trump launched a customizable necklace for Mother’s Day on Sunday to thank and honor “all mothers” ahead of next month’s holiday.

The $245 necklace, called “Her Love & Gratitude,” became available starting Sunday morning on the former first lady’s website and features a flower pendant and adjustable chain.

“Being a mother is one of the most important roles in life. For this Mother’s Day, I have designed the ‘Her Love & Gratitude’ necklace to express immense gratitude and honor all mothers,” Melania said in a statement Sunday.

https://thehill.com/homenews/4609711-melania-trump-launches-245-mothers-day-necklace/

“Her Love,

an exquisite jewel filled with

immense gratitude”

Melania Trump











Why be cynical? Surely not another ruse to raise funds for Donald's defense budget? 

After all, who wouldn't want such a lovely necklace to give to their loved one?








Radical right authoritarian thinking about protest free speech

Hawley, Cotton call on Biden to deploy National Guard 
over Gaza protests at colleges

GOP Sens. Josh Hawley (Mo.) and Tom Cotton (Ark.) called on President Biden on Monday to deploy the National Guard to colleges, particularly Columbia University in New York City, where pro-Palestinian protesters have staged sit-ins and other disruptive activities to focus public attention on the war.
That is it. This is the face of authoritarian dictatorship. Period.

My preference over that is to call out the National Guard to arrest and jail authoritarian Republicans in congress. They are the real threat with real power, not pipsqueak demonstrators at Columbia U. and other universities.

Q: Who is the bigger threat to democracy and free speech, powerful authoritarian radicals and thugs like US Senators Hawley and Cotton, or pissed off students on some college campuses?

Dictator radical right thinking about the law, money and free speech

Hush money isn't illegal, it's 'democracy,' Trump lawyer 
says in defiant trial opening statements

Opening arguments in Donald Trump's historic criminal trial got underway on Monday with a prosecutor describing the case as being about a "criminal conspiracy," while a defense attorney for the former president likened hush-money payments to "democracy."

Trump's lead attorney, Todd Blanche, declared, "President Trump is innocent" at the start of his opening statements.

"You'll learn President Trump had nothing to do with any of those 34 pieces of paper except he signed the checks," Blanche told the jurors, adding, "In the White House. While he was running the country. That's not a crime."

There was a non-disclosure agreement, Blanche conceded. But there's nothing wrong with Cohen paying Daniels to protect Trump's brand and keep Daniels from embarrassing Trump's family, the defense lawyer said.

"I have a spoiler alert for you. It's called democracy," Blanche said of the hush-money payment.

"Michael Cohen paying Stormy Daniels — or Stephanie Clifford — in return for her agreeing not to publicly spread false claims, false claims against President Trump, is not illegal," Blanche said.  
Blanche added that Daniels "has made a livelihood out of these allegations."

"She's made hundreds of thousands of dollars," Blanche said without mentioning the "Make America Horny Again" strip club tour that the porn star embarked on after news of the hush-money scandal broke.

Meanwhile, Blanche said, Daniels owes Trump "somewhere around $600,000" due to her legal losses to Trump.
By now it is clear that the Trump/Republican Party/radical right vision of "democracy" is probably at serious variance with yours. The battle lines here are crystal clear. We are in a fight to the death of corrupt, anti-democracy Trump-style authoritarianism and lies vs hopefully somewhat less corrupt, more or less who knows what style of pro-democracy democracy and truth.

Methinks we're in deep trouble. Probably.