An epidemic of student idiots who don't know what they don't know
They demonstrate in lieu of studying and thinking
Hundreds of students walked out of Fairfax County, Virginia, high schools last week in support of Palestinian civil rights and a cease-fire in the Gaza war in what they advertised as “a Humanitarian Walkout Week.”
The probability is overwhelming that the student demonstrators were clueless about the history of the relations between Jews and Arabs in Palestine during the Ottoman Empire, during the British Mandate, the 1948 War of Independence, the 1956 Suez Crisis, the Yom Kippur War, the First and Second Intifada, or otherwise. They are clueless about how to secure civil rights for Palestinians or a cease-fire. Their walk out was like shouting at inclement weather.
Students are too ignorant to contribute to a peaceful, political alleviation or solution to the centuries of ceaseless conflict between Arabs and Jews in Palestine. Their time would be better spent reading, deliberating, and proposing a new dispensation in Palestine that secures peace, prosperity, and justice for all. That is what James Madison did before architecting the United States Constitution in Philadelphia in 1787 at age 36. Lord Gladstone effused 100 years later that Madison’s handiwork was “the most wonderful work ever struck off at a given time by the brain and purpose of man.”
From the first day of class through graduation, students should be reminded that the Oracle of Delphi proclaimed Socrates the wisest man in all of Athens because he knew what he didn’t know, whereas all the others were convinced of their infallible omniscience.
Bruce, I agree wholeheartedly with your latest missive with regards the "useful idiots" on many of our campuses. In order for peace and freedom those living is Gaza must be free from Hamas, Iran and Hezbollah. You frequently mention Israel as the solution but that simply is not the case and Israel on its own will never be the case. Hamas must be destroyed decimated and never ever be in a position to reformulate. The US must stop with this foolish notion that Iran can be mollified or part of any rational treaty or agreement between modern day societies. I enjoy reading your work, very thoughtfully written and articulate, looking forward to reading more of them.
Kind Regards,
Ralph Cioffi