Personally, I have been shocked at how many within my circle of feminist friends and relatives have bought into the oppressor/oppressed narrative and some (I'd like to think only a small minority) even seem supportive of Hamas. Many are anti-Israel and although they say they are anti-Zionist, they don't seem to support Israel's right to exist. I have one close friend in Melbourne whose views align with mine, but she is dumbfounded that her nieces are right-on with the weekly protests and don't accept the legitimacy of Israel. I've had so many tell me that the conflict didn't start on 7th October, but back in 1948. I hope your daughters are okay and that the younger one, if she does want to go to university, can find somewhere that values free speech, critical thinking, and respectful disagreement.
I hope you don't think me mischievous for asking this question - but isn't the oppressor/oppressed dichotomy more or less the entire basis of much of liberation ideologies, precisely one of which is feminism? This movement has simply taken this to an absurd logical endpoint and applied it universally with messianic zeal.
This movement is an overarching hatred of Western culture, history and identity. (By those who are mostly Westerners themselves) The universities have allowed an institutional takeover since 1968. The moderate left is obviously aghast, but there is a heavy dose of responsibility they must take for having politicised the campus, the humanities and made it into a left-only space.
I went to UniMelb 1995-2000, first kid in my housing commission raised family to go to uni, you have no idea how proud by non-English speaking mother was. I share the feeling of desecration Julie describes.
The ugliness is now being demonstrated in attacks on electorate offices of federal government parliamentarians on the basis in part of a lie about Australia’s involvement in Israeli weapon systems.
I don't see many bright spots, but the fact that Labor parliamentarians are being attacked despite their fairly weak response to these ugly demonstrations, might make them think a bit more about the threat from Islamic extremism and its links with the regressive left.
Nothing good comes from mindless wanton vandalism and threats to the safety of electorate workers. The progressive left ( which can include Zionists) is far preferable to the lunatic far Trotskyite left who have no idea what they are talking about.They are just as bad as the fascists in the lunatic far right.
It has really shocked me the way leftists say they fully support Hamas. Do they think raping and murdering and broadcasting the atrocities via GoPro is ok for everyone else or just Hamas?
"In which case, surely, the only way is up." This conclusion offers no consolation, as I'm sure it isn't intended to. You have reported on a terrifying situation with great clarity. Yet, whenever I see those words anywhere, my automatic response is to think they are an incomplete sentence when applied to Jews in extremis. And should probably be completed with "in smoke. "
Thank you Julie. As quintessential institutions of the ruling elite, when our university's senior administrators and academics behave in this way it indicates this is a much broader crisis of that elite.
We see the same crisis in the flight to so called populism in the EU elections and in the contorted efforts of the Biden administration to manipulate the Iran/Israel war to meet the expectations of the Democrat tribe for the November election.
The Voice referendum result was a graphic revealing of the same crisis. In a flash-bulb moment the elite here in Oz was identified, and quantified - the 39%, inner urban, educated, wealthy, progressive, left-voting, woke-adhering.
The way up and out of this crisis is already taking us all along some very unexpected and disruptive trajectories.
I’m not certain that “left” and “right” exist any longer with everything being about “intersectionality”. I’m open to hearing any opinions on this as I am quite baffled. Interesting articles in The Age the last couple of days regarding pro Palestine protest links to Hizb ut Tahrir. I’m going to see Jerry Seinfeld on Sunday and for the first time in my life am having to consider how to best get to the venue and avoid protestors. I see he handled a heckler in Sydney very well. Despite being raised Catholic in an Anglo-Celtic household (not that there’s anything wrong with that) I ended up with a very New York Jewish sense of humour 😄
But what institution can you recommend? This is a universal problem, unbounded by national boundaries. (Although seems to be most extreme in the Anglosphere). Wherever you go, teaching has bent the descriptive into the prescriptive; and added a moral imperative to it.
There are only two ways this will end: moderate liberals will wake up, band together and kill this off; or it will keep snowballing to the point the public will call in the populist right to clean house. I'm certain readers of this blog would prefer the former.
Personally, I have been shocked at how many within my circle of feminist friends and relatives have bought into the oppressor/oppressed narrative and some (I'd like to think only a small minority) even seem supportive of Hamas. Many are anti-Israel and although they say they are anti-Zionist, they don't seem to support Israel's right to exist. I have one close friend in Melbourne whose views align with mine, but she is dumbfounded that her nieces are right-on with the weekly protests and don't accept the legitimacy of Israel. I've had so many tell me that the conflict didn't start on 7th October, but back in 1948. I hope your daughters are okay and that the younger one, if she does want to go to university, can find somewhere that values free speech, critical thinking, and respectful disagreement.
Thank you Cheryl. Yes I’ve been noticing the same mindset. I really had no idea how deep the animus runs.
I hope you don't think me mischievous for asking this question - but isn't the oppressor/oppressed dichotomy more or less the entire basis of much of liberation ideologies, precisely one of which is feminism? This movement has simply taken this to an absurd logical endpoint and applied it universally with messianic zeal.
This movement is an overarching hatred of Western culture, history and identity. (By those who are mostly Westerners themselves) The universities have allowed an institutional takeover since 1968. The moderate left is obviously aghast, but there is a heavy dose of responsibility they must take for having politicised the campus, the humanities and made it into a left-only space.
I went to UniMelb 1995-2000, first kid in my housing commission raised family to go to uni, you have no idea how proud by non-English speaking mother was. I share the feeling of desecration Julie describes.
Powerful and challenging as always. Thank you Julie
Thank you Michael
The ugliness is now being demonstrated in attacks on electorate offices of federal government parliamentarians on the basis in part of a lie about Australia’s involvement in Israeli weapon systems.
Yes it’s the same trend.
I don't see many bright spots, but the fact that Labor parliamentarians are being attacked despite their fairly weak response to these ugly demonstrations, might make them think a bit more about the threat from Islamic extremism and its links with the regressive left.
Nothing good comes from mindless wanton vandalism and threats to the safety of electorate workers. The progressive left ( which can include Zionists) is far preferable to the lunatic far Trotskyite left who have no idea what they are talking about.They are just as bad as the fascists in the lunatic far right.
Totally agree. That’s why I said the REgressive left, not the progressive left.
Yes. I understood and am agreeing with you.
It has really shocked me the way leftists say they fully support Hamas. Do they think raping and murdering and broadcasting the atrocities via GoPro is ok for everyone else or just Hamas?
Good question.
"In which case, surely, the only way is up." This conclusion offers no consolation, as I'm sure it isn't intended to. You have reported on a terrifying situation with great clarity. Yet, whenever I see those words anywhere, my automatic response is to think they are an incomplete sentence when applied to Jews in extremis. And should probably be completed with "in smoke. "
Yes I hear you Yvonne and you’re right.
Thank you Julie. As quintessential institutions of the ruling elite, when our university's senior administrators and academics behave in this way it indicates this is a much broader crisis of that elite.
We see the same crisis in the flight to so called populism in the EU elections and in the contorted efforts of the Biden administration to manipulate the Iran/Israel war to meet the expectations of the Democrat tribe for the November election.
The Voice referendum result was a graphic revealing of the same crisis. In a flash-bulb moment the elite here in Oz was identified, and quantified - the 39%, inner urban, educated, wealthy, progressive, left-voting, woke-adhering.
The way up and out of this crisis is already taking us all along some very unexpected and disruptive trajectories.
David-- 100 percent, everything you say. Unexpected, fascinating and scary trajectories. November will be decisive, for better or for worse.
I’m not certain that “left” and “right” exist any longer with everything being about “intersectionality”. I’m open to hearing any opinions on this as I am quite baffled. Interesting articles in The Age the last couple of days regarding pro Palestine protest links to Hizb ut Tahrir. I’m going to see Jerry Seinfeld on Sunday and for the first time in my life am having to consider how to best get to the venue and avoid protestors. I see he handled a heckler in Sydney very well. Despite being raised Catholic in an Anglo-Celtic household (not that there’s anything wrong with that) I ended up with a very New York Jewish sense of humour 😄
Great summary of why I won’t be recommending Melbourne Uni! Did you see Billboard Chris and his recent interactions with extreme wokies there?
But what institution can you recommend? This is a universal problem, unbounded by national boundaries. (Although seems to be most extreme in the Anglosphere). Wherever you go, teaching has bent the descriptive into the prescriptive; and added a moral imperative to it.
There are only two ways this will end: moderate liberals will wake up, band together and kill this off; or it will keep snowballing to the point the public will call in the populist right to clean house. I'm certain readers of this blog would prefer the former.
Same goes for Islam?