Columbia!

I was in New York within the last few days while these protests up at Columbia were happening. There was a tent city set up at NYU also. It brought to mind the difference and similarities between these protests and the protests at the same school, Columbia, in 1968.

The similarities are as follows...they were both protesting wars, one directly involving the United States and one on which the United States funds a 3rd party to conduct war. Thats about it.

The differences are many. In 1968 the students at Columbia were protesting the latest illegal immoral war conducted by this nation. Kids were being drafted, enslaved if you will by a military draft that singled out the poor without the resources to go to college. The Vietnam War was lost in 1965 but as usual with politicians, they refused to be on watch when America lost its second war (1812 not a win). This infuriated a lot of America, including my WW2 veteran father and my Republican mother. So, the students took to the streets. Hell, even here in Middle America, the students at the University of Nebraska, not exactly a bastion of liberalism, took over the ROTC building. 

But here, in 2024, the "students" are not really the ones leading this sudden outburst of moral clarity. They cover their faces with masks and keffiyehs because I guess they look cool to entitled rich white kids. Look at the 1968 picture. Those young people didn't give a shit if the cops and administrators saw their faces. They were badasses.  Then look at the 2024 Hinds Hall picture. Hiding their identities why? Maybe because they aren't students? Maybe because entitled white kids don't want to be arrested and infuriating Daddy? I have no idea.

Look I get it. I am a child of the 60's. I believe in peaceful protest. I believe in the energy of youth and the influence that quick talking leaders have on that youth. I believe that the police overreact and take joy in cracking heads and discharging weapons and gassing kids. I mean come on now, the cops are not exactly the good guys here. They never are when it comes to demonstrations, unless of course its them beating on DC cops and Capitol Police and furthering the mission of a fascist. But a lot of this pro-Palestinian feeling is the cause of the day. It's the chance to be on the right side of history like their grandparents were on Vietnam, or their parents were on South Africa. Sorry kiddos, there is no right side here. The only side to be on is both sides.

Fuck Netanyahu and Fuck Hamas are compatible.

Free Palestine and Never Again are also compatible.

It's not that hard to recognize evil.