Pro-Israel protesters at UCLA threw a bag of live mice into the pro-Gaza encampment

[cab67]

170. Respectfully disagree.

They're not amplifying the discussion - they're making it more convoluted.

The discussion should be about two things, and only two things: the current status and future of Gaza, and the role of the US in resolving the crisis. Each of these is a complex set of problems requiring deep thought.

Now, we're also discussing the rights and wrongs (which are different from the lawfuls and unlawfuls) of certain forms of protest. We're also discussing the nature of free speech and the intersection of protester, police, and academic administration.

These are important issues, but they're also world-class diversions.

I have close friends at other institutions who've been told to work from home. They're deeply concerned about the situation in Gaza. Some are strongly in favor of Israel's response to the Hamas attacks, and others want an immediate IDF withdrawal. All of them, regardless of how they feel about Israel's efforts, passionately want to see the violence to end and for aid to be brought to the suffering Gaza citizens. And each and every one of them has said the same thing - the protests have been a major distraction from the debate. Instructors are now more concerned about whether they can effectively do their jobs, and students are more concerned about meeting their academic obligations.

I get that protest is supposed to be disruptive, but the kinds of protest that prevent travel, whether they close off freeways or block building doors, redirect peoples' attention away from the issue at hand and toward the hardships caused by the protesters themselves. This is why they invariably backfire.

I can assure that no one is thinking "I can't make my appointment with the dean - maybe I should work harder to bring peace to Gaza and justice to the Palestinian people." They're thinking "I can't make my appointment with the dean - maybe the university should do something about the crowds."

They're not thinking "My safety is imperiled by angry crowds that might grow violent - this makes me more sympathetic to the plight of the Palestinian people." They're thinking "My safety is imperiled by angry crowds that might grow violent - someone should do something to ensure my safety."

The sooner protesters allow free access of academic facilities to those needing them, the sooner we can get back to discussing what actually matters.