Wait Till the Jews Are Blamed for Bringing Down Harvard

[Violet_Crumble]

We must stop the Trump Administration from using antisemitism as an excuse for its attacks on academic freedom and research



The atmosphere at a recent meeting of academic physician-scientists was somber and subdued, despite exciting and innovative presentations on human disease-relevant research. When a trainee mentioned that their grant was cancelled by Trump Administration cuts, the person sitting next to me sighed and said, "and now they will blame us for this mess." He meant the Jews.

Then, the U.S. Government imposed further multi-billion dollar freezes on research funds to Cornell, Northwestern and Harvard Universities, citing concerns regarding antisemitism on their campuses. As another colleague said: "How does canceling a cancer grant protect Jewish students?"

The more I thought about it, the clearer it became. The Trump Administration is not weaponizing antisemitism to suppress pro-Palestinians on campus, as I had previously thought. They are weaponizing the discomfort experienced by some Jewish students amid mostly peaceful pro-Palestinian protests to suppress academic freedom, freedom of speech and independent research at America's most prestigious institutions. And when they succeed, they will indeed blame us, the Jews.

And the horrific truth is: they will have a smoking gun.

*snip*

And as a Jewish Israeli, and the son of Holocaust survivors, it is horrifying to think that a biased interpretation of the prejudice that led to the deaths of so many of my parents' relatives is now being used as a tool to destroy the very institutions that made America truly great.

I fear the day we will be blamed for the destruction of American science, and the real antisemitic wave that will follow.

That is why I call on all Jewish communities and federations, on the Anti-Defamation League, on Hillel International and their local campus chapters and on Jewish faculty and students at the universities under attack to stand up and tell this administration: Stop using us as an excuse for your attacks on academic freedom and research. Not in our name.

https://www.haaretz.com/opinion/2025-04-17/ty-article-opinion/.premium/wait-till-the-jews-are-blamed-for-bringing-down-harvard/00000196-3db9-d78d-a1de-3db982650000

[Meowmee]

1. Jewish people get blamed for pretty much everything by some, it's par for the course imo 😁

[JohnSJ]

2. and ironically it comes from both sides of the political spectrum.

As Tom Lear wrote in the song "National Brotherhood Week".

[AZJonnie]

3. So classic. Grew up on his albums, my stepdad dug him and so did I!

I can still bust out like 1/2 of The Element Song off the top of my head, 1000 years later

[Martin Eden]

6. Tom Lehrer was/is a national treasure

First heard him back in the 1970's. In addition to the delightful Elements song, I remember Poisoning Pigeons in the Park and We All Go Together When We Go.

[Violet_Crumble]

4. I've never heard of Tom Lehrer before...

I should go google him...

I think antisemitism isn't confined to both sides or ends of the political spectrum. It's spread across it and people who are moderate politically can be antisemitic every bit as much as someone who has more extreme political views. I'm not sure other forms of bigotry are like that, for example, racism and sexism are mainly on the Right. Not sure I explained it clearly, but I was just thinking it as I read yr post and listened to Tom Lehrer and remembered my WTF?? moment when one of my politically moderate friends started talking about Gaza and started referring to 'The Jews' with *that* tone of voice.

[Meowmee]

5. Yes true, I know that song, lol, heard it years ago sung by someone else 😹

[Martin Eden]

7. Hardcore Anti-Semites can be found among White Nationalist terrorist groups that support Trump

While there may be some pro-Hamas people infiltrating college protests, rallying against the horrific carnage being inflicted on Palestinian civilians by the Netanyahu government is not inherently antisemitic.

And of course there is that pesky thing known as Constitutionally protected free speech.