One Editor at the Harvard Crimson Dissents From Embrace of the BDS Movement
“in light of the role Israel plays in my people’s history as our homeland and haven from persecution, I am a Zionist, and I stand with Israel”
The Harvard Crimson recdently wrote an editorial embracing the BDS movement. One student named Natalie L. Kahn is not going along with the rest.
She writes at the Crimson:
I Am a Crimson Editor and I Stand with Israel
On April 29, I woke up to a flurry of messages from students, alumni, and journalists regarding a new piece published by The Crimson’s Editorial Board declaring it was “proud to finally lend our support to both Palestinian liberation and [Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions]” and now would “call on everyone to do the same.”
As both president of Harvard Hillel and Associate News Editor for The Crimson, many of the questions I received pertained to my dual affiliation with these two organizations, now seemingly at odds with one another.
I have worked for The Crimson since freshman year, and it has been an integral part of my time at Harvard — some nights I am there until 2 or 3 a.m. as an executive, after four semesters of reporting.
But integral as The Crimson has been, I am first and foremost a Jew; and in light of the role Israel plays in my people’s history as our homeland and haven from persecution, I am a Zionist, and I stand with Israel.
People have asked me whether I plan on quitting, whether I could have prevented this, and who is to blame. I have no intention of quitting; I understand this piece does not reflect the views of other boards, or even the views of some members of the Editorial Board who may not have been at the meeting.
We live in a country where peaceful protest is strongly encouraged. But the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement — overwhelmingly condemned by Congress in a 2019 resolution passed 398-17 — is not just a boycott; BDS rejects Jewish self-determination altogether.
If you doubt me, ask its founders: “Definitely, most definitely, we oppose a Jewish state in any part of Palestine,” said co-founder Omar Barghouti, who also declared that Palestinians have a right to “resistance by any means, including armed resistance.”
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Comments
Finally, some intelligent comments coming out of Harvard. Thank you, Natalie. Hang in there and be strong.
Kaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhnnnnnnnnnnnnn!
I have the unfortunate feeling the rest of her time at Harvard is going to be very unpleasant.
Natalie, may the Lord watch over you and all of the children of Israel.
The above article missed an important letter to the editor from a past Crimson President who is now a thoughtful alumnus: https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2022/5/4/stoll-lte/
Thank you for the reference. I missed it too.
Stay strong and don’t let Harvard brainwash you!
Palestinians have a right to resistance by any means, including armed resistance?
I’ve no problem getting behind this so long as folk recognise that Palestinian refers to the ancient Jewish people and their modern descendants. It does not refer to the Arab Muslim Invaders occupying Gaza and the West Bank.
Thus to say “we oppose a Jewish state in any part of Palestine” is incoherent. How can one oppose a Jewish state on Jewish land? How can one oppose a Palestinian state on Palestinian land? Israel is Palestine.