Letter to the editor: Addressing the resurgence of antisemitism

A deep dive into addressing the resurgence of antisemitism. Stanford University in California has long been known for its diverse student body, but a recent study has revealed a statistic about the Palestinian student population at the prestigious institution.

According to the study, half of the Palestinian students at Stanford were actually born in the United States. A quick side note for those who don’t know antisemitism in not monopolized by Israel, well not yet anyway.

Antisemitism according to the Oxford meaning is ‘Hostility towards and discrimination against Jewish people (although there are other Semitic peoples, notably the Arabs, anti‐Semitism is only used to refer to prejudice against Jewish people).

Addressing the resurgence of antisemitism

This revelation challenges the common perception that Palestinian students at American universities are primarily immigrants or children of immigrants.

It also highlights the complex and multifaceted identities of Palestinian Americans, who straddle two cultures and often face unique challenges in navigating their dual heritage.

Significantly, the biggest challenge of them all, when addressing the resurgence of antisemitism is how to live a life in the USA whilst there is occupation, genocide and apartheid in your homeland. And worst of all, in America this injustice is justified and even promoted.

Change the narrative

The political narrative is simple, Israel is right and can’t do wrong. and the politicians and media will have you believe the problem is the Palestinians not the Israelis. To be accepted in America, you must adhere to this narrative and the notion of free speech has since been diminished. This is how you change the narrative.

Protests silenced, injustice vilified and like they did to black americans in the 70’s, they frame you to be the enemy. This leads us to a quote, coined by the words of Malcolm X:

“If you’re not careful, the newspapers will have you hating the people who are being oppressed, and loving the people who are doing the oppressing.”

He went on to say the media he said: The media’s the most powerful entity on earth. They have the power to make the innocent guilty and to make the guilty innocent, and that’s power.

Much of the same tactics are being used today to vilify the protestors. Planting double agents who will deliberately create trouble, throwing money behind the media to push the narrative and using the law to silence the injustice.

Let’s take this study as example, despite the ‘noble nature of study’, the narrative of this study is framed around the notion that Palestinians are the problem. Concluding that universities should make more of an effort to welcome those immigrants, so to assimilate them better.

The reality is daringly different, Palestinians and other ethnicities are perturbed by the injustice the American government is supporting, the problem does not lie with the immigrants but with the US foreign policy.

All men are created equal

The study, titled “DEI is not what Jefferson hoped for when he wrote ‘all men are created equal’,” sheds light on the experiences of Palestinian students at Stanford and the broader issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion on college campuses.

It raises important questions about how universities can better support and empower students from marginalized communities, including Palestinian Americans.

As the debate around diversity and inclusion in higher education continues to evolve, the findings of this study serve as a reminder of the importance of recognizing and valuing the diverse backgrounds and experiences of all students.

It is a call to action for universities to create more inclusive and welcoming environments for students of all backgrounds, including those who may not fit neatly into traditional categories or narratives.

Overall, the study underscores the need for ongoing dialogue and reflection on issues of diversity and inclusion in higher education, and the importance of creating spaces where all students feel seen, heard, and valued, but does not mention ‘free speech’.

A reminder when addressing the resurgence of antisemitism is that that true equality and justice can only be achieved when we embrace the full spectrum of human experience and identity, and justice for the truth.