Yesterday was an interesting day. I found out about the silent protest in the morning and decided to stop by and give my support as I usually do. Not because I am told to, but because I feel that every human being has a moral responsibility to understand and speak out against the illegal actions of Israel. But, today, I witnessed something very interesting. I saw two individuals walk to the middle of concrete beach to attempt to bring both sides together with a Canadian flag and to promote peace. The reaction to that action is a critical sign of what Israeli supporters truly think about peace. Not one person was willing to put their ego aside, or drop their Israeli flag, for the cause of peace. I really don’t know what else to say to that. I guess it should have been expected considering the fact that most Israeli supporters cannot even acknowledge all the hate crimes, illegal settlements, and massacres on the Palestinian people. The facts are simple and straight-forward. It’s too bad that even in an “educated” campus, many students are unaware of what is really going on in the other side of the world. Hopefully, after reading this comment, if it ever even gets published, students will care to stop, question, and think about the big picture. Hopefully, they realize that there are bigger things to life than trying to decide whether they should go out to the Frog this Wednesday night. Or hopefully they realize it may not be the end of the day to spare a few minutes to stop by the protest and learn the facts, rather than walking directly passed it. Although there are little direct actions we can take to make a difference, the first step is to understand the facts and question falsified information.

Not sure this title makes sense. Weren’t the threats made against students who joined a facebook group, not any specific club?

I’m also very disappointed in the USC. Since when are threats against students “free speech”? Shame.

It’s unfortunate that the comment below takes such a one sided view of this complicated conflict, while criticizing fellow students for not knowing what’s going on “on the other side of the world”. If this individual truly thinks only one side is to blame for this situation, he or she is deeply misinformed and dangerously ignorant.

Extraordinarily poor journalism: 1
Proper inferences, quotations and research: 0

I am once again shocked at the poor quality of reporting done by the gazette. The facebook group was not affiliated with any USC club. It was merely a group of students coming together to show concern for an event which promotes hate and intolerance on campus.
All students have a right to feel safe on their campus and should not be subjected to this type of intimidation.

This whole thing is ridiculous on a Canadian campus.

Western students should not be getting Anonymous threats of violence for participation in campus politics. Such things discourage free academic discourse which, it might be argued, is UWO’s raison d’etre.

Then again, it’s not like discussion was actually on the agenda this week.

Any honest attempt at beginning a dialogue would have begun with words
chosen to foster understanding. But the name “Israel Apartheid Week” obviously chosen for hyperbolic and incendiary effect. As acknowledged by Ontario MPP’s, while the state of Israel has much to answer for, it is not, in the precise definition of the word, apartheid.

Two student groups shouting at each other is not indicative of the (lack of) Middle East Peace; it’s indicative of two propaganda streams. Expecting students from either side to come together over a Canadian flag is simplistic and disingenuous. The students out there were operating under the threat of violence and still decided to brave the protest. Think about precisely what sort of attitude they would have had to have.

This protest was designed to bring out the people who WANT to chose sides, not build bridges. Judging from the threats, it brought out the worst campus politics has to offer.

To the first comment, many students were willing to join the students with the Canadian flag, but were stopped by Campus Police and Mark Wellington, who told us no to move forward. And just in case any one thought we were ‘booing’ when the Canadian flag was brought out, to the contrary we were actually “loo-ing” for Roberto Luongo.

To the first comment, I honestly feel bad for you, your lack of information, and your clear display of ignorance.

When students attempted to bring in the Canadian flag, there was a large cheer from the students standing on the Israeli side of the “protest”. The fact that you consider the reaction of the students negative clearly shows how little you even know about this country let alone Israel.

You call out students for being “uneducated” and unaware of the situation in the middle east. However I strongly disagree and contend that you are the one who is clearly uninformed. Your clear one-sided argument explicitly demonstrates your compete lack of any interest in peace.

Do some reading and maybe you are the one who should learn some facts.

We should have a “Bring back the British Mandate of Palestine Week”

Clearly these people can’t sort themselves out. Under the commonwealth again both the jew and moslem would learn to respect each other and no apartheid would be necessary.

To the anonymous poster who took the time to criticize the Gazette’s reporting but couldn’t take the time to read the article -

You criticize the article for saying the Facebook group was associated with a USC club. I’m interested to know where the article says that? By throwing around accusations without reading carefully first you undermine any argument you might have had and you highlight a disturbing tendency of people involved with this particular debate (but most debates as well) to jump on the media for poor reporting based on assumptions YOUR making not on anything that is actually in the article. For your sake I hope in writing essays for your professors you don’t make-up your thesis based on what you expect to read in a book.

To Awk/Ward

The Gazette woke up up and realized their mistake and changed it online. Pick up a hard copy and you will see the negligent reporting done by the gazette.

Dear Adam,

The conflict is not complicated at all. The facts are straight. My criticism is clear. It’s simple really. Let’s assume, for arguments sake, that Israel is just and Palestine is not. Then why is there still the strong majority of campus not present at any of the events that support Israel? Or why does the majority of campus fail to speak out against Palestinian supporters? Clearly, if this is such a “complicated conflict”, like you indicate, than more of our fellow students would care to stop, listen, and speak out against Israel. Instead, they chose to opt out and not care. It’s a shame really. Thankfully, the message will eventually be sent, and people will eventually, slowly, but surely, come around for what is just. As I too used to be on the other side completely oblivious to these crimes.

Dear L.M,

No students were willing to join the students with the Canadian flag. The cheers were in reference to Canada’s recent success at the Winter Olympics. Proof of this reasoning comes from the follow up “LOOOO” cheers. Furthermore, after Campus Police and Mark Wellington understood that the two individuals were granted permission to spread peace, there was no reason to not walk over and join hands. Likewise, prior to them taking a stance in the middle of concrete beach, they were off to the side next to Israeli supporters. Many came to ask what their intent was. They responded that they were hoping people can join them to rally for peace. A few liked the idea. But not enough to be courageous enough to actually join them. This is a classic example of actions speaking louder than words. No further actions were taken to promote peace unfortunately.

Regards.

The Anonymous commenter from 2:37 am is joking right? It’s really easy to get behind the morally ‘right’ side of what you see as a black-and-white issue. See the immediate response to Haiti’s disaster if you don’t belive me.

Its hard to back a position when your ‘side’ routinely kills innocents. People don’t care in this case because there are no good guys in this situation.

The people who claim this is a simple conflict might be too blinded by hatred to see the other side as human beings, or they might be willfully speaking untruths in order to further their personal political goals.

Unfortunately I think it’s probably a little of both that we’re seeing.

Anonymous,

Your logic is impeccable and I fully accept it. The CLEAR majority, specifically, ALL of Ontario’s parliamentary representatives, have declared that IAW is a hateful and demonizing exercise meant to intimidate students. By your logic, if a clear majority says something, it must be true.
“Thankfully, the message will eventually be sent, and people will eventually, slowly, but surely, come around for what is just.” I was never on the “other side”, as there is a side for moderate and a side for moderates and a side for extremists. You chose well.

*correction: There are only two sides, moderates and extremists. Forgive the typo, please.