Columbia Activism

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Those students were right about Vietnam. And the sit-ins that started there and spread to the rest of the country were pivotal in moving sentiment against involvement in Vietnam. When it was no longer tenable politically, the war was over.

Vietnam and Israel are not the same.

agree, more Cambodia/Gaza parallels.

Yes. Listening to the Columbia protestors declare "We are all Hamas" and wishing a 10/7 every day on Jews reminds me of Pol Pot. Jews at Columbia - Americans - are now being told to go home for their own safety. The hatred espoused by the Columbia student protesters is rabid and blind and dangerous. Lots of ideological similarities to the Khmer Rouge.

DP. Were you there? Were they actually chanting hateful, anti-semitic slogans? Or is this all from the rumor mill? The protesters at my kid's campus have been annoying and a little devious (disturbing their propaganda leaflet couched in admitted students day cover), but they said nothing hateful. They just want to draw attention to mass casualties and coerce the college to divest on investments that involve arming Israel. Vociferous and somewhat disruptive, but not hateful or espousing anything resembling attacking other people. That's what I see in the Columbia videos as well. They are focused on divestment. But, I can see how a loud large group could feel intimidating or threatening.

I worry about the political lobbyist posters coopting this board to advance an agenda.

I work a block away and there's more media than protestors. I mean, there are some isolated cases of crazy people doing scary things (not even sure they're actually Columbia students - it's still quite easy to walk onto campus - I did yesterday for coffee) - but there's a reason nobody is giving you a wide shot of the protestors. They're really isolated on part of a not huge quad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here’s a link to a Life magazine from 1968. Notice what it says on the cover in the top right corner. Inside this issue was a big article about the students taking over the Columbia University. Different century, same insufferable students.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/404292575712

It's interesting how you compared the current protestors to those protesting for civil rights and against the Vietnam War.

Those "insufferable" students were on the right side of history and affected change, after all.

So you must think the current protestors are "right." Am I correct in this deduction? You made the comparison, after all.

Or do you just hate anyone who makes a fuss?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Those students were right about Vietnam. And the sit-ins that started there and spread to the rest of the country were pivotal in moving sentiment against involvement in Vietnam. When it was no longer tenable politically, the war was over.

Vietnam and Israel are not the same.

agree, more Cambodia/Gaza parallels.

Yes. Listening to the Columbia protestors declare "We are all Hamas" and wishing a 10/7 every day on Jews reminds me of Pol Pot. Jews at Columbia - Americans - are now being told to go home for their own safety. The hatred espoused by the Columbia student protesters is rabid and blind and dangerous. Lots of ideological similarities to the Khmer Rouge.

When you say "jews are being told to go home", let's be clear that that was one rabbi's suggestion - and she's only associated with the college, not a faculty member.

PP, Protestors are screaming that at Jewish students, which is why the rabbi said they don’t feel they can ensure the safety of Jewish students. Campus security not even policing - only at the gates. Suspended students are on campus - Columbia is not even enforcing their own suspensions. The NYPD being called in was performative - today it is worse than ever on campus.
To the folks who commented on the grassy areas:
Columbia does have one very beautiful set of grassy areas - very beautiful and it should be open for all to enjoy.
All students whether Jewish or Muslim or anyone, should be able to enjoy hanging out on the green, getting some fresh air, studying outside, without the space being taken over by activists of any kind. Let’s protect the rights of students to enjoy all of the spaces on their campuses that they pay to have access to. Let’s protect the rights of students to be able to hear their professors in class without the deafening noise of protesters outside.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Those students were right about Vietnam. And the sit-ins that started there and spread to the rest of the country were pivotal in moving sentiment against involvement in Vietnam. When it was no longer tenable politically, the war was over.

Vietnam and Israel are not the same.

agree, more Cambodia/Gaza parallels.

Yes. Listening to the Columbia protestors declare "We are all Hamas" and wishing a 10/7 every day on Jews reminds me of Pol Pot. Jews at Columbia - Americans - are now being told to go home for their own safety. The hatred espoused by the Columbia student protesters is rabid and blind and dangerous. Lots of ideological similarities to the Khmer Rouge.

DP. Were you there? Were they actually chanting hateful, anti-semitic slogans? Or is this all from the rumor mill? The protesters at my kid's campus have been annoying and a little devious (disturbing their propaganda leaflet couched in admitted students day cover), but they said nothing hateful. They just want to draw attention to mass casualties and coerce the college to divest on investments that involve arming Israel. Vociferous and somewhat disruptive, but not hateful or espousing anything resembling attacking other people. That's what I see in the Columbia videos as well. They are focused on divestment. But, I can see how a loud large group could feel intimidating or threatening.

I worry about the political lobbyist posters coopting this board to advance an agenda.

The video is all over the internet- do a google search. It’s horrific and disgusting behavior.

I did. They are about divestment from military aid and investment transparency from Columbia. That is the focus. Yes, there was free Palestine chanting. Could there be some hateful people shouting hate speech? Sure, and that should not be tolerated, but don't construe that to be the focus of the group.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Those students were right about Vietnam. And the sit-ins that started there and spread to the rest of the country were pivotal in moving sentiment against involvement in Vietnam. When it was no longer tenable politically, the war was over.

Vietnam and Israel are not the same.

agree, more Cambodia/Gaza parallels.

Yes. Listening to the Columbia protestors declare "We are all Hamas" and wishing a 10/7 every day on Jews reminds me of Pol Pot. Jews at Columbia - Americans - are now being told to go home for their own safety. The hatred espoused by the Columbia student protesters is rabid and blind and dangerous. Lots of ideological similarities to the Khmer Rouge.

DP. Were you there? Were they actually chanting hateful, anti-semitic slogans? Or is this all from the rumor mill? The protesters at my kid's campus have been annoying and a little devious (disturbing their propaganda leaflet couched in admitted students day cover), but they said nothing hateful. They just want to draw attention to mass casualties and coerce the college to divest on investments that involve arming Israel. Vociferous and somewhat disruptive, but not hateful or espousing anything resembling attacking other people. That's what I see in the Columbia videos as well. They are focused on divestment. But, I can see how a loud large group could feel intimidating or threatening.

I worry about the political lobbyist posters coopting this board to advance an agenda.

The video is all over the internet- do a google search. It’s horrific and disgusting behavior.

I did. They are about divestment from military aid and investment transparency from Columbia. That is the focus. Yes, there was free Palestine chanting. Could there be some hateful people shouting hate speech? Sure, and that should not be tolerated, but don't construe that to be the focus of the group.

Not true. These chants are not benign - they are hate speech at its worse

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Those students were right about Vietnam. And the sit-ins that started there and spread to the rest of the country were pivotal in moving sentiment against involvement in Vietnam. When it was no longer tenable politically, the war was over.

Vietnam and Israel are not the same.

agree, more Cambodia/Gaza parallels.

not even remotely

jeff will delete this whole thread soon. you're not allowed to talk about these protests here in any way other than reverently praising the students for being such brave freedom fighters.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Those students were right about Vietnam. And the sit-ins that started there and spread to the rest of the country were pivotal in moving sentiment against involvement in Vietnam. When it was no longer tenable politically, the war was over.

Vietnam and Israel are not the same.

agree, more Cambodia/Gaza parallels.

Yes. Listening to the Columbia protestors declare "We are all Hamas" and wishing a 10/7 every day on Jews reminds me of Pol Pot. Jews at Columbia - Americans - are now being told to go home for their own safety. The hatred espoused by the Columbia student protesters is rabid and blind and dangerous. Lots of ideological similarities to the Khmer Rouge.

When you say "jews are being told to go home", let's be clear that that was one rabbi's suggestion - and she's only associated with the college, not a faculty member.

PP, Protestors are screaming that at Jewish students, which is why the rabbi said they don’t feel they can ensure the safety of Jewish students. Campus security not even policing - only at the gates. Suspended students are on campus - Columbia is not even enforcing their own suspensions. The NYPD being called in was performative - today it is worse than ever on campus.
To the folks who commented on the grassy areas:
Columbia does have one very beautiful set of grassy areas - very beautiful and it should be open for all to enjoy.
All students whether Jewish or Muslim or anyone, should be able to enjoy hanging out on the green, getting some fresh air, studying outside, without the space being taken over by activists of any kind. Let’s protect the rights of students to enjoy all of the spaces on their campuses that they pay to have access to. Let’s protect the rights of students to be able to hear their professors in class without the deafening noise of protesters outside.

When I was at Columbia, those grassy areas were a tent city with people demanding the school divest from South Africa.
When I toured Columbia with my kids, there were protests happened for trans rights.
And there are students supporting Israel, flying Israeli flags right now in this same area.

There's no excuse for hate speech or violence. But the fact that the NYPD is not acting leads me to believe it's largely peaceful (if ugly). And anyone who is interested in Columbia should be aware of the schools long history of activism.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If your kid really cares about "grassy places to relax between classes," they would not be considering colleges in Manhattan.

Columbia has a small campus but there is some green space, and has three parks within very close distance - Riverside, Morningside, and a little park you maybe heard of called Central Park. I spent a ton of time in all of them when I went to law school there.

[Anonymous]

Protests these days are not like Vietnam war protests. These kids hide their faces, bully counterprotestors, and actively pursue causing chaos and fear. We saw this during the George Floyd protests/riots. It’s not peaceful protest and it’s not meant to be peaceful. It’s meant to be threatening. Black block stuff.

They do not legitimately want to rally the general population to their side. If they did, they would hold a peaceful, permitted march (like the Women’s Marches.)

Columbia has always had a weird group of anti-social extremists hanging around the fringes. Weirdo socialists tabling, anarchists, etc.

[Anonymous]

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/21/nyregion/columbia-protests-antisemitism.html


this has a good photo of what the tents look like in relationship to the rest of campus.

I think people should be wary of 24 news who like to drum up a lot of drama to feed the beast.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Protests these days are not like Vietnam war protests. These kids hide their faces, bully counterprotestors, and actively pursue causing chaos and fear. We saw this during the George Floyd protests/riots. It’s not peaceful protest and it’s not meant to be peaceful. It’s meant to be threatening. Black block stuff.

They do not legitimately want to rally the general population to their side. If they did, they would hold a peaceful, permitted march (like the Women’s Marches.)

Columbia has always had a weird group of anti-social extremists hanging around the fringes. Weirdo socialists tabling, anarchists, etc.

https://twitter.com/NeriaKraus/status/1782258191973089715/mediaViewer?currentTweet=1782258191973089715¤tTweetUser=NeriaKraus

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Protests these days are not like Vietnam war protests. These kids hide their faces, bully counterprotestors, and actively pursue causing chaos and fear. We saw this during the George Floyd protests/riots. It’s not peaceful protest and it’s not meant to be peaceful. It’s meant to be threatening. Black block stuff.

They do not legitimately want to rally the general population to their side. If they did, they would hold a peaceful, permitted march (like the Women’s Marches.)

Columbia has always had a weird group of anti-social extremists hanging around the fringes. Weirdo socialists tabling, anarchists, etc.

I'd also say that the Vietnam protests weren't about the Vietnamese people - they were about young Americans being drafted. People had a personal stake in the protests.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/21/nyregion/columbia-protests-antisemitism.html


this has a good photo of what the tents look like in relationship to the rest of campus.

I think people should be wary of 24 news who like to drum up a lot of drama to feed the beast.

wow - looks out of control (not)

[Anonymous]

Regardless of my personal feelings about protestors at Columbia, this is really your child’s decision to make.

[Anonymous]

For those of you saying this is okay, read the government letter: https://edworkforce.house.gov/uploadedfiles/4-21-24_columbia_april_letter.pdf?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR2KAaF5m5zaAUfz4L7O6k2uMFzqwTR4in6y5_p_I8sESUBJ_IUcChab0DI_aem_ATrHnDn7DzYiF7PBjwfCGqQhukMBm4QrM8YTNRjRv-j_prpeV9dyBn_RgXnbqVFKGgE-2tKDvG8SqeukmhGieUlP

There is nothing about this situation that is okay. I would not send a kid there.