Good to see this. Years ago in the early 70s as a Navy midshipman on summer cruise the ship’s XO gave a similar speech to all the midshipmen although briefer and it was just him and there was no catalyst for it. Couple of days later one of my classmates left suddenly. I’ll never know for sure but I expect that XO did a great job that summer of thinning the ranks of those who don’t understand.
The contrast between Lt. General Silveria’s words and the college presidents’ weak statements could not be more clear. These women clearly think that legal double speak would impress us. It didn’t and never will. Sadly, when some women reach top positions they lack the confidence they need to express the values they are hired to protect.
I found that this podcast (with accompanying transcript) breaks down the event in clear manner. It provides background and analysis of both sides of the exchange and posits motivations for the hearing. YMMV
Yes, the video was powerful. But it was an entirely different situation. The military, or any employer, has the right to require people to treat others with dignity and respect. That is not the same thing as freedom of speech and the right to discussions, which was the university issue. Freedom of speech is a constitutional right which has historically been sacred in universities. Unfortunately we are all slowly losing these rights for a variety of reasons. Those university leaders were asked unanswerable questions designed to trap them and further the agenda that has taken hold that dislike of (or even honest discussion of) the way Isreal is handling Gaza means you are an anti-semite. People need to wake up and realize that freedom of speech applies to everyone, not just those you agree with. The price of freedom is that you will hear things you don't like. Because once you don't allow that it's a slippery slope.
1. I think you are focused more on free speech than the leadership aspects, freedom of speech also means that you cannot be arrested by the government, it doesn’t mean there are not consequences in other ways. These schools also cannot possibly claim free speech now after not upholding free speech for years and suspending people for microaggressions and opinions that are not favorable. That's the disingenuous part, several of the people also changed what they said afterward.
2. They were asked about calls for genocide of all Jews by students on their campus which is a direct threat.
3. Any private organization can have codes of conduct for how people act, behave and treating others with dignity and respect. Also, everyone knew these schools would not tolerate the same behavior against another group and have suspended people for much less. You can also 100% say “we don’t do this here, it’s not who we are and what we value”
This is one of the best Friday Forward's I have read in a long time! Excellent content for everyone to relate to.
Thanks Danny!
“Dignity and Respect”! Hopeful we can find this path again. Nice article Bob.
Best read - great video - needs to be internalized by every leader
This was excellent. The video brought me to tears. We need to get our nation back on this path.
Good to see this. Years ago in the early 70s as a Navy midshipman on summer cruise the ship’s XO gave a similar speech to all the midshipmen although briefer and it was just him and there was no catalyst for it. Couple of days later one of my classmates left suddenly. I’ll never know for sure but I expect that XO did a great job that summer of thinning the ranks of those who don’t understand.
Thanks Rick!
So so good today, Robert. This is the truth at the bottom of everything, isn’t it?
The contrast between Lt. General Silveria’s words and the college presidents’ weak statements could not be more clear. These women clearly think that legal double speak would impress us. It didn’t and never will. Sadly, when some women reach top positions they lack the confidence they need to express the values they are hired to protect.
Excellent! The video was powerful!
Great post, Robert.
I found that this podcast (with accompanying transcript) breaks down the event in clear manner. It provides background and analysis of both sides of the exchange and posits motivations for the hearing. YMMV
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/13/podcasts/the-daily/antisemitism-university.html
Yes, the video was powerful. But it was an entirely different situation. The military, or any employer, has the right to require people to treat others with dignity and respect. That is not the same thing as freedom of speech and the right to discussions, which was the university issue. Freedom of speech is a constitutional right which has historically been sacred in universities. Unfortunately we are all slowly losing these rights for a variety of reasons. Those university leaders were asked unanswerable questions designed to trap them and further the agenda that has taken hold that dislike of (or even honest discussion of) the way Isreal is handling Gaza means you are an anti-semite. People need to wake up and realize that freedom of speech applies to everyone, not just those you agree with. The price of freedom is that you will hear things you don't like. Because once you don't allow that it's a slippery slope.
Thanks Cindi. There are three key points here
1. I think you are focused more on free speech than the leadership aspects, freedom of speech also means that you cannot be arrested by the government, it doesn’t mean there are not consequences in other ways. These schools also cannot possibly claim free speech now after not upholding free speech for years and suspending people for microaggressions and opinions that are not favorable. That's the disingenuous part, several of the people also changed what they said afterward.
2. They were asked about calls for genocide of all Jews by students on their campus which is a direct threat.
3. Any private organization can have codes of conduct for how people act, behave and treating others with dignity and respect. Also, everyone knew these schools would not tolerate the same behavior against another group and have suspended people for much less. You can also 100% say “we don’t do this here, it’s not who we are and what we value”