Scoring political points at education’s expense
Olivebridge, N.Y.: Rep. Virginia Foxx summoned the presidents of some world-famous universities to Capitol Hill to investigate and criticize their handling of recent demonstrations on their campuses. Headlines in The News and the N.Y. Post, articles in The New York Times – a national platform for Foxx’s work with her committee.
Is she and her committee competent for such a task? Does she have the capacity to understand what these universities mean to education, and how they developed their standing? Yes, she has a doctorate in education, but is this investigation more about politics? Is this an effort to hold these universities accountable or is it simply a platform for Foxx to advance her distorted political views? In December 2020, she signed an amicus brief in support of Texas v. Pennsylvania, a lawsuit attempting to overturn Joe Biden’s decisive election victory. On Jan. 6, 2021, she voted against the certification of electoral votes — clearly, someone with a personal agenda misaligned with a sane, rational view of events. Foxx represents a district of 754,512 people (as of 2022), 0.2% of the U.S. population. Yet, she has the authority to summon leaders of these fine institutions and demand their resignations. If you do not agree with Foxx, you should be fired.
While debate swells over this intense and divisive issue of Palestine and Israel and people demonstrate, Foxx continues this misguided inquisition. Since the University of North Carolina is also being investigated, you have to wonder why Foxx is fixated on Columbia University in New York rather than summoning the president of UNC to be subjected to political statements disguised as questions. Warren Davis
Bathroom breaks?
Brooklyn: Where do the protesters who are protesting at Columbia University and other locations around the city go to relieve themselves? Charlie Pisano
War interrupted
Brooklyn: Harry Siegel’s May 5 column (“Campus radicals, cop crackdown have Weimar vibe“) complains about “the protesters’ campus Kabuki play of sparking conflict and then crying about it.” Sounds like the common criticism of sit-ins during the civil rights movement — that protesters were just “making trouble.” Today’s students are following the advice of veteran organizer John Lewis, to “get in good trouble, necessary trouble.” As Eugene Robinson said, Lewis understood that “change does not come without conflict — and that ‘nonviolent’ does not mean ‘nonconfrontational.’ ” Maybe Siegel’s real complaint is not the students’ tactics, but their cause. He never mentions the more than 14,000 children killed in Israel’s assault on Gaza, or the thousands of civilians it is now starving to death. Like Howard Zinn said in 1971: “They say we are disturbing the peace… What really bothers them is that we are disturbing the war.” Peter Hogness
Depraved tactic
Brooklyn: Hamas kidnapped Israeli civilians and put them in its general population. Even the Nazis and Communists did not do that. They set up prisoner-of-war camps and concentration camps for civilian enemies. Hamas merged the hostages with the civilian Palestinian population that it governs. They clearly bear major responsibility for the deaths of the population they rule, yet I do not hear any of the pro-Palestinian demonstrators condemn Hamas for its despicable acts. Alan Podhaizer
One flag
Brooklyn: To Voicer Peter Mancuso: I’m curious what flag should stay up at City College? Don’t be a sucker, because if the flag was on the other foot and it was a campus in Palestine, the American flag wouldn’t have a chance to fly free. Mariann Tepedino
A greater menace
Beechhurst: Sen. Bernie Sanders says that this widespread college campus backlash against Israel could become “Biden’s Vietnam.” But like so many others on the left, Bernie is oblivious to Biden’s Munich — his unforgivable, abject appeasement of Iran, which enabled that “death to America/death to Israel” fanatical, theocratic regime to unleash its terrorist proxies against the Jewish state. James Hyland
Missed heritage
West Hempstead, L.I.: In February, I noted that your paper published a full-page ad noting Black History Month every single day! Here we are in the second week of Jewish Heritage Month and how not-shockingly, you haven’t placed a single ad noting it or discussing contributions to this nation by the Jewish community. Is it because of prejudice or fear? Samuel J. Mark
Quote check
Margate, Fla.: Voicer Leonard Marshal claims op-ed writer Allan Chernoff (“Blacks & Jewish Americans retain a common bond,” May 5) smeared Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s name and cheapened his cause. Really? King was a Zionist, and Chernoff quoted precisely King’s famous words spoken in 1967, which make his embrace of the cause of Zionism indisputable. Chernoff’s accurate quotation is not a smear, and it highlights King’s cause. Richard Sherman
Peace through prosperity
Penticton, British Columbia: Looks like the 1917 British Balfour Declaration-incubated Zionists produced the 2024 catacombs Hamas, which is a reflection of themselves? Both elude recognition as compassionate architects of lasting peace, worthy of a Palestinian-Jewish defacto 51st U.S. state. Thus we have arrived at this human disaster of horror, Gaza, with its incessant suffering cries and moaning of the ghosts of countless helpless annihilated innocents, ingrained in the dust of Gaza’s rubble. Perhaps this nightmare, combined with the looming, overwhelming climate change challenge, will be the incentive required to live in peace. War — the 20th century solution — even by the most powerful and educated, is obsolete and not an option. A recognized Palestine-Gaza nation joined by an international corridor of free movement (avoid the WWII Danzig problem) and a modern Gaza seaport facilitating all forms of ships, commerce and tourism is a practical solution. Joe Schwarz
N.Y.’s Sharpest
Rockaway: Over the weekend, I witnessed firsthand how the Department of Parks and Recreation tree trimming workers really face difficult situations. The danger comes not from the trees, but from individuals who get way too involved with the process. We often speak about the dangerous tasks faced by NYPD, FDNY and Sanitation workers. Let’s add NYC Parks tree trimmers to that list. And like the Finest, Bravest and Strongest, I say those men and women facing emotional residents while they are trying to operate dangerous equipment ought to be named NYC’s sharpest! Ellen Fitzpatrick
Signing off
Brooklyn: Longtime NY1 anchor Lewis Dodley announced Monday night that his legendary career in front of the news camera will conclude this month. Dodley did his job well. He reported the news as factually as possible without shaping it to go in a certain direction. Many in his field should take note. Good luck and thank you, sir. Louie Scarcella
Look to the books
Manhattan: When I first came to New York City almost 50 years ago, I quickly learned that if I spent too much time looking up (at skyscrapers, construction cranes, statues), I would always end up looking down to find myself standing in a pile of canine fecal matter. The problem was solved by appealing to the one thing New Yorkers cared more about than war, their losing sports franchises or even their parking spots — their wallets. Mayor Ed Koch passed the pooper scooper law. Pick up after Fido or pay a fine. Within a year, your average citizen was free to look up again. Today, our pedestrians, children and senior citizens are at risk as thousands of bikes, e-bikes and scooters race down our sidewalks. There is a law on the books: $100 fine for riding on the sidewalk. Enforce it. Louie Russo
Odd fixation
Auburndale: To Voicer Dan Arthur Pryor: I’m glad you agree that a woman is a person, although I don’t understand how you believe that a person has never gotten pregnant. How did you get here? Maybe you and Voicer Bob Pascarella can ask yourselves why you are triggered by this issue that doesn’t really involve you. Cathi Venis
