For the most part, I think the view expressed here aligns with my values. I was raised in an environment that nurtured the idea that principles come first. "I don't agree and may even be offended, but I will engage in conversation and, despite conflicts of opinion, try to find common ground." And, man, is it easy to ditch such principles these days! Thank you, Jill, for reminding me that principles come first before my own desires ! For me Freedom of Speech is fundamentally First Principle.
I also think it is not just a matter of intent v. consequences; it is also a matter of the loudness of the voices and what they come along with. If the people shouting "from the river to the sea" the loudest are the ones harassing or threatening Jewish students on campus and/or are ones who are more explicitly denouncing Zionism and the basic existence of Israel, then that should count for something as well.
The queen of nuance. Especially on the intent vs impact piece. And while I agree with the more speech/fewer safe spaces ethos, you can be sure if there were thousands of white people marching in favor of less campus diversity, that would be shut down (for safety) far faster than universities are shutting down anti-Zionist marches. Why do you think that is?
Thanks Jill, for this extremely thoughtful essay. Where physical safety's not an issue, I tend to come down on the side of free speech. I think that particularly for any religious minority, whether Jewish, Muslim, or otherwise, the sanctity of free speech is crucial to enjoying fully our rights as Americans and any infringement is a long term risk.
I find myself in the position of being simultaneously 1) a fervent supporter of a safe and secure Israel as a Jewish homeland, 2) tolerant of protest language I find repugnant, 3) upset at donor threats and checkbook closing and doxxing against those whose speech I find repugnant, and 4) convinced that it is intellectually impossible to separate being anti-Zionist with being antisemitic.
As you wrote, these are complex issues, worth examining!
Appreciate this tremendously. This clash of values is not only on campuses, but going on within some of us.
For the most part, I think the view expressed here aligns with my values. I was raised in an environment that nurtured the idea that principles come first. "I don't agree and may even be offended, but I will engage in conversation and, despite conflicts of opinion, try to find common ground." And, man, is it easy to ditch such principles these days! Thank you, Jill, for reminding me that principles come first before my own desires ! For me Freedom of Speech is fundamentally First Principle.
I also think it is not just a matter of intent v. consequences; it is also a matter of the loudness of the voices and what they come along with. If the people shouting "from the river to the sea" the loudest are the ones harassing or threatening Jewish students on campus and/or are ones who are more explicitly denouncing Zionism and the basic existence of Israel, then that should count for something as well.
The queen of nuance. Especially on the intent vs impact piece. And while I agree with the more speech/fewer safe spaces ethos, you can be sure if there were thousands of white people marching in favor of less campus diversity, that would be shut down (for safety) far faster than universities are shutting down anti-Zionist marches. Why do you think that is?
Thanks Jill, for this extremely thoughtful essay. Where physical safety's not an issue, I tend to come down on the side of free speech. I think that particularly for any religious minority, whether Jewish, Muslim, or otherwise, the sanctity of free speech is crucial to enjoying fully our rights as Americans and any infringement is a long term risk.
I find myself in the position of being simultaneously 1) a fervent supporter of a safe and secure Israel as a Jewish homeland, 2) tolerant of protest language I find repugnant, 3) upset at donor threats and checkbook closing and doxxing against those whose speech I find repugnant, and 4) convinced that it is intellectually impossible to separate being anti-Zionist with being antisemitic.
As you wrote, these are complex issues, worth examining!
Thank you for such a thoughtful engagement - one that I, more personally involved in this particular issue, am having a much harder time getting to.
Love this piece and the one before it. Amen.
Thank you for this. It’s helpful to have someone with your brain power enumerate all of the ways in which this situation is complex.