Whatever happened to the idea of natural law and the rights of all persons under that law as the foundation of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution? It seems it’s no longer even an ideal for Americans to aspire to. Heartbreaking. We need to get to the root of our problems which runs even deeper: it is our failure—as the American people—to live in accordance with the international laws and usages that have been a part of life on Turtle Island (this continent) since millennia before the eurochristian invaders arrived. We need to live in accordance with the Earth. And we need to bring our laws and our government into harmony with Her truth and the truth of Her cosmic society of which human beings are a small and dependent part. We are meant to be equals with our kith and kin—all living beings—and “masters” of none.
Another excellent piece, Laura, thank you for this. As somebody who used to be in the mass media business, I am afraid what we are seeing is the playing out of the unhappy statistical reality that most people are ordinary people, risk averse, limited in imagination, hesitant to act, limited in independent thought. This is why leadership is so important, (including from people like you) who will take a risk, imagine a different scenario and act on their perceptions. The unwillingness of the general media, the university and people in general to see this action as anything less than deeply disturbing and antithetical to our national values, is very depressing but not surprising. I am reminded of what the French people did in response to the German occupation of their country—the great majority took a wait-and-see-what-happens posture. The actual number of resistant fighters was very small, and mostly supported by the British.
Leaders do arise in times of crisis, courage does come up in people’s hearts, but not always—you can’t count on it. So good on you Laura for writing this and please keep up the very fine work you do.
It is my opinion that the Democrat party has been infiltrated by the GOP. If the Democrat social media strategists are not Republicans, then they have to be the dumbest and unaware political cotrie ever created.
I have just sent the following letter to the office of the president. Thank you for providing the contact info:
Dear Madam President,
It has come to my attention that the University of Columbia, of which my father was a proud Alumni, has failed to clearly and unequivocally condemn the rogue detention of your student Mahmoud Khalil for engaging in legal protests, and holding protected opinions.
After graduating from Columbia with his masters, my father, James T. Council, in his role as a high school teacher in the NY Public School System, also engaged in legal protests in New York, for which he was also penalized.
He wrote to his school principal and refused to oversee high-school duck and cover drills. He took the stand of a conscientious objector, knowing that hiding under a table would save no children from a Russian A-Bomb attack.
For refusing to administer duck and cover he lost his job, and his right to teach across the entire State school system. Permanently. His case went as far as the NY Supreme Court, yet he still lost.
Fortunately for him, his citizenship was solid, as someone whose American lineage went back to the glory-years of white imperialism in the 1600s. (Would that have saved him in Trump’s America?)
Nonetheless he and my mother left the US and he never returned, not once in the following 4 1/2 decades, dying instead at 81, as a proud fellow of St John’s College Oxford, and a long standing professor with the University of Maryland, for whom he taught Art History and Philosophy to the armed forces in Europe, inspiring and broadening the horizons of hundreds of young airmen and women.
I can literally hear him turning in his grave at the complicity of his Alma Mater with regard to your acquiescent response to the abduction of Mr Khalil.
In my fathers name, and as a Jew myself, Please use your institutional power to stand behind your students, Palestinian, Israeli, Jewish, Muslim & Christian, all who may face retribution for political speech against Israel’s unlawful ethnic cleansing and murder of the people of Gaza, or in future against the policies of our own government whether local or national, if this abduction is allowed to stand.
If Columbia should loose millions in Government benefits, i have no doubt that Columbia will find a way to persist. Blood money does not have a good track record.
Rep.Tlaib posted on IG over the weekend. That's where I first heard about it
That's FANTASTIC, I will edit. Can you send me a link? I'm looking at her IG and not seeing it
(never mind someone sent it; I've edited. Thank you!)
We are being led by copperheads into the jaws of the Confederacy. I feel like I'm losing my mind.
Whatever happened to the idea of natural law and the rights of all persons under that law as the foundation of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution? It seems it’s no longer even an ideal for Americans to aspire to. Heartbreaking. We need to get to the root of our problems which runs even deeper: it is our failure—as the American people—to live in accordance with the international laws and usages that have been a part of life on Turtle Island (this continent) since millennia before the eurochristian invaders arrived. We need to live in accordance with the Earth. And we need to bring our laws and our government into harmony with Her truth and the truth of Her cosmic society of which human beings are a small and dependent part. We are meant to be equals with our kith and kin—all living beings—and “masters” of none.
I mean to be that guy.
Jesus fucking Christ!
Just emailed President Armstrong! ❤️ thanks for the action items Laura, that’s always helpful
You were called "hateful and sick" by Ted Cruz himself? I would wear that as a badge of honor.
It was in my Twitter bio throughout 2020: a very proud moment for me
You should put that quote on a T-shirt.
As I’m reading this, I get a notification that the Guardian, bless them, are reporting on the story
Another excellent piece, Laura, thank you for this. As somebody who used to be in the mass media business, I am afraid what we are seeing is the playing out of the unhappy statistical reality that most people are ordinary people, risk averse, limited in imagination, hesitant to act, limited in independent thought. This is why leadership is so important, (including from people like you) who will take a risk, imagine a different scenario and act on their perceptions. The unwillingness of the general media, the university and people in general to see this action as anything less than deeply disturbing and antithetical to our national values, is very depressing but not surprising. I am reminded of what the French people did in response to the German occupation of their country—the great majority took a wait-and-see-what-happens posture. The actual number of resistant fighters was very small, and mostly supported by the British.
Leaders do arise in times of crisis, courage does come up in people’s hearts, but not always—you can’t count on it. So good on you Laura for writing this and please keep up the very fine work you do.
Thank you for this post Laura.
Does anyone know of a legal defense fund for Mahmoud Khalil? I haven't found one online.
It is my opinion that the Democrat party has been infiltrated by the GOP. If the Democrat social media strategists are not Republicans, then they have to be the dumbest and unaware political cotrie ever created.
https://torrancestephensphd.substack.com/p/has-the-dnc-been-infiltrated-by-the
I have just sent the following letter to the office of the president. Thank you for providing the contact info:
Dear Madam President,
It has come to my attention that the University of Columbia, of which my father was a proud Alumni, has failed to clearly and unequivocally condemn the rogue detention of your student Mahmoud Khalil for engaging in legal protests, and holding protected opinions.
After graduating from Columbia with his masters, my father, James T. Council, in his role as a high school teacher in the NY Public School System, also engaged in legal protests in New York, for which he was also penalized.
He wrote to his school principal and refused to oversee high-school duck and cover drills. He took the stand of a conscientious objector, knowing that hiding under a table would save no children from a Russian A-Bomb attack.
For refusing to administer duck and cover he lost his job, and his right to teach across the entire State school system. Permanently. His case went as far as the NY Supreme Court, yet he still lost.
Fortunately for him, his citizenship was solid, as someone whose American lineage went back to the glory-years of white imperialism in the 1600s. (Would that have saved him in Trump’s America?)
Nonetheless he and my mother left the US and he never returned, not once in the following 4 1/2 decades, dying instead at 81, as a proud fellow of St John’s College Oxford, and a long standing professor with the University of Maryland, for whom he taught Art History and Philosophy to the armed forces in Europe, inspiring and broadening the horizons of hundreds of young airmen and women.
I can literally hear him turning in his grave at the complicity of his Alma Mater with regard to your acquiescent response to the abduction of Mr Khalil.
In my fathers name, and as a Jew myself, Please use your institutional power to stand behind your students, Palestinian, Israeli, Jewish, Muslim & Christian, all who may face retribution for political speech against Israel’s unlawful ethnic cleansing and murder of the people of Gaza, or in future against the policies of our own government whether local or national, if this abduction is allowed to stand.
If Columbia should loose millions in Government benefits, i have no doubt that Columbia will find a way to persist. Blood money does not have a good track record.
Sincerely,
(Name and contact)