A sad collection of ignorant, unethical, law-breaking students supported by weak UW administration
The last unfortunate anti-Israel siege happened yesterday at the UW and it would be hard to find a more ineffective, ignorant and unethical group of college students.
Originally scheduled for last Thursday, the whole thing had to be delayed because Muslim students were angry that they were not asked by the Progressive Student Union to participate and plan the event. And when camp was finally established yesterday morning on the wet/muddy ground it rained heavily and continued to rain all day.
Only a handful of tents were set up, numbering perhaps a dozen or two pro-Hamas activists at its peak, while most UW students paid little attention. Many in the anti-Israel crowd wore masks to avoid being identified, as did many lawbreakers. Some shouted (at a student quietly holding an Israeli flag) in ways that suggested some form of mental affliction.
These students broke the law. Camping is illegal on UW campuses and warning signs are placed around school grounds, with specific regulations cited (see below).
I have passed the campground many times and yes never seen even one member of the UW Police force in the area.
This campsite has hindered teaching in many classrooms across from the training ground due to noise from sirens and loud music. Some student security guards blocked individuals from taking photos.
Hamas activists call for the destruction of the State of Israel (from river to sea, Palestine will be free) and global violence (Global Intifada). But they especially hate President Biden and the Democratic Party, often shouting “Biden, Biden, you can’t hide, you committed genocide”.
The Democratic Party is considered far right for many people in this group. Some wore Communist Party shirts while others held Revolutionary Workers’ Party signs (see below).
Some signs call for violence against police which I suspect is illegal (see below).
But it is the ignorance and lack of historical knowledge that is truly shocking.
I calmly asked a man in a yellow jacket why he was against Israel. He told me that the Jews were colonialists. I calmly told him he was wrong. That the Jews have been in this land for at least 3000 years and the Arabs are recent conquerors. He told me I was wrong, that there were no Jews in the area until the 1900s. I noted that Jews were noted in both versions of the bible. He argued that the bible is mythology. I note that Roman literature speaks of Israel and there is clear archaeological evidence. Then he left.
Some people call these Hamas supporters Nazis. I cannot agree. They have such poor historical background that I doubt they even know about the Nazis. Or know about the Holocaust.
They know nothing. They are stupid. These are children who make no sense in life and try to ensure some meaning by shouting slogans about a conflict they do not understand. Many seemed outcasts or odd. A sad group.
I am not charitable about the UW administration.
The encampment is illegal and has been announced. But when this criminal activity occurred, one that hindered the education of hundreds of students, The UW administration did nothing.
This came after many of the same students disrupted university activities half a dozen times with trumpets and drums.
Kill criminals in the UW HUB
After they took over the Administration Building and the President’s office.
After they interrupted Chanukah celebrations on Red Square.
And after they destroyed the student union building, causing tens of thousands of dollars in damage.
Pro-Hamas UW students are no different. These are children who have no internal moral and ethical values and need to be taught that inappropriate and hurtful behavior has consequences.
The almost complete ignorance of history and society further paralyzes them.
The UW administration seems determined to follow the disastrous policies of Columbia and Harvard, which is a tragedy for the University and the region it serves.
