Charlotte, thank you. So well said. I am reminded of the words of Sophie Scholl, the 22 year old leader of the White Rose resistance movement against the Nazis. She wrote:
“The real damage is done by those millions who want to ‘survive.’ The honest men who just want to be left in peace. Those who don’t want their little lives disturbed by anything bigger than themselves. Those with no sides and no causes. Those who won’t take measure of their own strength, for fear of antagonizing their own weakness. Those who don’t like to make waves—or enemies. Those for whom freedom, honour, truth, and principles are only literature. Those who live small, mate small, die small. It’s the reductionist approach to life: if you keep it small, you’ll keep it under control. If you don’t make any noise, the bogeyman won’t find you. But it’s all an illusion, because they die too, those people who roll up their spirits into tiny little balls so as to be safe. Safe?! From what? Life is always on the edge of death; narrow streets lead to the same place as wide avenues, and a little candle burns itself out just like a flaming torch does. I choose my own way to burn.”
Very well said. It is not accidental that this issue is being used and for exactly the reasons you state.
As a former city councilmember, I saw (and was subject to) hate speech from all kinds of extremists. We could not stop it legally. We could comment on its hatefulness. But free speech exists. This is an analogous situation--what this student did may have been (was, in my view) hateful. Kidnapping her and ignoring the rule of law is a terrifying response and should be universally condemned.
And once the government has “explained” why Ms. Ozturk is being held, how long before the judge issues her ruling? And if she rules that Ms. Ozturk is being detained illegally, how long before the student is released and returned to campus? The days mount up for this young woman. I wish the judge had ruled for Ms. Ozturk’s IMMEDIATE release and return pending the presentation of evidence; perhaps that isn’t a legality in such a case. I don’t know. I do fear that Ms. Ozturk’s detention will stretch out to weeks and even months, as will the detention of men and women deported to for-profit prisons in San Salvador.
I'm just a 73-year old white woman who shares anti-trump stuff all over my social media. It's all there if trump and his goons want to see it. I know it isn't possible to scrub it. So, I will continue to speak out in my own way, including amplifying what is happening to people like Ms. Ozturk and those imprisoned in El Salvador without due process.
Thank you for speaking out (as always). It is becoming worse every single day and I pray/hope that we do not become numb and turn the other way. Keep beating the drum loud and clear.
How many times must it be said? “First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out because I was not a Socialist. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out, because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me, and there was no one left to speak for me.” —Pastor Martin Niemoller
Look up Canary Mission - they have maintained a blacklist for many years of any students expressing any sentiments that could be perceived as anti-Israel. The Tufts student was apparently on this list. I suspect the highly secretive far right org maintaining this list has been sharing it with our administration.
I have subscribed today because of your clear headed comments on the danger faced by all Americans regardless of their economic or other individual status. Thanks.
The Regime thinks that we are like them, that if we don’t agree with someone’s opinions we want them shut up.
We have so much more integrity than they do. We stand with Patrick Henry (or possibly someone else) “I may not agree with what you say, but I’ll defend to the death your right to say it.”
As you very well stated, these arrests are trial balloons, targeting individuals who may advocate for positions some/many Americans do not agree with, and testing the resolve of Americans to defend the rights of all people.
This bold and illegal activity "... is a potent gateway for persuading millions of Americans that exceptions can be made to constitutional freedoms if the person in question says something you disagree with."
Charlotte, thank you. So well said. I am reminded of the words of Sophie Scholl, the 22 year old leader of the White Rose resistance movement against the Nazis. She wrote:
“The real damage is done by those millions who want to ‘survive.’ The honest men who just want to be left in peace. Those who don’t want their little lives disturbed by anything bigger than themselves. Those with no sides and no causes. Those who won’t take measure of their own strength, for fear of antagonizing their own weakness. Those who don’t like to make waves—or enemies. Those for whom freedom, honour, truth, and principles are only literature. Those who live small, mate small, die small. It’s the reductionist approach to life: if you keep it small, you’ll keep it under control. If you don’t make any noise, the bogeyman won’t find you. But it’s all an illusion, because they die too, those people who roll up their spirits into tiny little balls so as to be safe. Safe?! From what? Life is always on the edge of death; narrow streets lead to the same place as wide avenues, and a little candle burns itself out just like a flaming torch does. I choose my own way to burn.”
That you again and watch your six.
Steve Dundas
Very well said. It is not accidental that this issue is being used and for exactly the reasons you state.
As a former city councilmember, I saw (and was subject to) hate speech from all kinds of extremists. We could not stop it legally. We could comment on its hatefulness. But free speech exists. This is an analogous situation--what this student did may have been (was, in my view) hateful. Kidnapping her and ignoring the rule of law is a terrifying response and should be universally condemned.
And once the government has “explained” why Ms. Ozturk is being held, how long before the judge issues her ruling? And if she rules that Ms. Ozturk is being detained illegally, how long before the student is released and returned to campus? The days mount up for this young woman. I wish the judge had ruled for Ms. Ozturk’s IMMEDIATE release and return pending the presentation of evidence; perhaps that isn’t a legality in such a case. I don’t know. I do fear that Ms. Ozturk’s detention will stretch out to weeks and even months, as will the detention of men and women deported to for-profit prisons in San Salvador.
I'm just a 73-year old white woman who shares anti-trump stuff all over my social media. It's all there if trump and his goons want to see it. I know it isn't possible to scrub it. So, I will continue to speak out in my own way, including amplifying what is happening to people like Ms. Ozturk and those imprisoned in El Salvador without due process.
Thank you for speaking out (as always). It is becoming worse every single day and I pray/hope that we do not become numb and turn the other way. Keep beating the drum loud and clear.
How many times must it be said? “First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out because I was not a Socialist. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out, because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me, and there was no one left to speak for me.” —Pastor Martin Niemoller
Look up Canary Mission - they have maintained a blacklist for many years of any students expressing any sentiments that could be perceived as anti-Israel. The Tufts student was apparently on this list. I suspect the highly secretive far right org maintaining this list has been sharing it with our administration.
https://www.democracynow.org/2023/12/27/canary_mission
I have subscribed today because of your clear headed comments on the danger faced by all Americans regardless of their economic or other individual status. Thanks.
The Regime thinks that we are like them, that if we don’t agree with someone’s opinions we want them shut up.
We have so much more integrity than they do. We stand with Patrick Henry (or possibly someone else) “I may not agree with what you say, but I’ll defend to the death your right to say it.”
And then they came for me…and there was nobody left to speak for me.
As you very well stated, these arrests are trial balloons, targeting individuals who may advocate for positions some/many Americans do not agree with, and testing the resolve of Americans to defend the rights of all people.
This bold and illegal activity "... is a potent gateway for persuading millions of Americans that exceptions can be made to constitutional freedoms if the person in question says something you disagree with."
TftD: the USA has to import 100% of the chocolate they consume. Why isn’t anyone talking about what Trump tariffs will do to the price of Chocolate?
You think people are mad about gas & eggs? Try taking away their chocolate.
or their coffee