So I am seeing and unfortunately reading all of these negative things on social media and the news. When did our society become so close-minded that they feel that theirs is the only opinion that matters and anyone else’s perspective is “evil”? I don’t get it.

I believe that actions can be deemed as negative or bad. However there is zero discussion or debate any longer. Look at what is happening at our college campuses around the country. When did colleges, especially Ivy League Universities become a “circus”?

When October 7th happened I was devastated beyond belief. I began proudly wearing my Magen David outside my shirt, my Kipah on my head. However when someone says to me that Israel is evil, to me they are becoming close-minded.

My heart goes out to the innocent Palestinians who are stuck in the middle of this – however lest us not forget that when September 11 happened and the towers fell the Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank were literally celebrating in the streets the destruction (yes that is the word they used) of America. They were led by Hamas, Hezballah, Isis, etc.

How quickly we forget – today everybody reads one set of news and that becomes their reality – I am willing to bet that if someone posted on social media with utter conviction that on a clear day the sky has always been red, never blue, and blue was a political way of people controlling what others see, that these same supposed “protesters” would be out enforce with red shirts on stating that the true color of the sky is red. They would not believe any other stance.

Another hypocrisy that I have seen is when the police finally came to remove students from Hamilton Hall in Columbia, at NYU and even City College – the students publicly stated that they never gave them a chance to leave!!? Wait a minute – have they suddenly all gone deaf, forgot how to read? Notices for weeks have gone to them, school officials have publicly and even to a point respectfully asked them to disband and not to disrupt the goings on at said Universities. So why was it suddenly a surprise when the police show up and force them to leave? Sorry but you were given plenty of notice.

I am all for peaceful (stress the peaceful) protests – but when someone suddenly utilizes the protests to tear down flags, yell death to Israel and death to America and destroy property? That is not peaceful protest. That is just blind rage. And does nothing to further your cause.

I am not just talking here about those protesting on behalf of the Palestinians and Hamas, but even those who are suddenly violently protesting on behalf of Israel? Demonstrating violence with violence is not the way.

The way is through education – proper education, without political spin from either side. If another nation gives an Ivy League University a ton of Money to create a program and then force that University to hire their agreed upon educators and students to continue to fill young minds with propaganda, that should not be allowed. I get it – we are a capitalistic country and the old saying money talks is strong. However there should be restrictions.

If you want to create a program on Middle East Studies then you should have all sides of the situation taught so that our young people can learn that there are different sides to a situation. The same can be said about any issue we face in the world.

We need to stop, take a breath, and go back to peaceful discourse. These protests do not help either side – they only help cause more hate and anger. Also – why are non-students protesting on the college campuses? Those people who have zero connection to said Universities should be immediately arrested.

Some of them are literally “paid protesters” who make a salary from organizing protests all over the country. Since when has this become a career path?

To me we have all lost our sense of what is right and what is wrong. We have completely lost our sense of respect for each other’s opinion – even if we don’t agree.

I say to everyone – when you are ready to remove the hate and anger and be open-minded to other people’s thoughts and beliefs – and this goes for each and every side of the issue, regardless of where you stand, then we can join together and have a discussion – peaceful. We might not leave agreeing with each other, but at least we can hear each other, listen, and all be open-minded.

Thanks for reading.