Humanist values against ethno-national-political tribalism

In recent times, university campuses across the United States have become battlegrounds for ideological confrontations, particularly around the Israel-Palestine conflict. My observations reveal an unsettling pattern of university administrators employing harsh measures against pro-Palestine student protests, with incidents such as the arrest of over 100 students at Columbia University signaling a distressing trend toward stifling student activism.

Students are not just passive spectators but active participants, voicing their concerns through demands for their universities to divest from arms manufacturers and other companies with business interests in Israel. This movement highlights a broader call for ethical alignments in university investments, pushing institutions to reconsider where they place their financial support.

Amid these tensions, the voice of Robert Reich, an esteemed American writer and former Secretary of Labor, resonates with profound clarity. Reich criticizes how universities handle these protests, arguing that they lack an essential educational opportunity. According to Reich, the true essence of learning at a university lies in engaging with opposing views to challenge and refine one's ideas, assumptions, and values.

Reich shares his firsthand experience working with a group of Jewish and Palestinian students, navigating the complex moral landscapes of the Israel-Palestine conflict. Through his guided discussions, the students grappled with various contentious issues, arriving at several key moral insights:

1. The actions of Hamas on October 7, involving the killings and kidnappings of civilians, were unequivocally wrong.
2. The stated aim of Hamas to murder all Jews is indefensible.
3. The Israeli government's retaliatory measures in Gaza, which resulted in civilian casualties, were also morally reprehensible.
4. The principle that innocent civilians should never be targets in conflicts gained unanimous agreement.
5. Discussions on Israel's ethnic and religious segregation policies proved challenging but ultimately led to a consensus on their moral wrongdoing.
6. The group unanimously condemned any advocacy of genocide and agreed that such positions have no place on university campuses.
7. Finally, they acknowledged a collective moral duty to prevent genocide and combat the promotion of hate.

These important discussions underscore the crucial role universities should play in fostering critical thinking and moral discernment among students. As campuses continue to be centers of heated debates and protests, they must embrace these vital dialogues rather than shut down.