Commentary: Student protests are an important wake-up call By Will McCorkle 17 hrs ago As a college professor and former high school history teacher, I am encouraged by the student protests against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's vicious violence in Gaza.
Of course, there will always be a degree of nuance in these protests, with some students resorting to property destruction and allowing the anger to turn toward hatred. These acts, of course, need to be condemned. Though many Jewish peace groups are involved in these protests as well, any antisemitism that is mixed in should be absolutely condemned.
However, we also must acknowledge that many people are going to focus on the most extreme examples and ignore the actual message of 98% of students that should be the focus.
They do this to discredit the movement. It is a tactic that has always been used to maintain the status quo. When we look back in history, these students will be seen as the ones on the right side of this issue. It will be similar to how we currently consider those protesting on campuses against the war in Vietnam. But in the future, there will be even less moral debate on this conflict, as Netanyahu’s actions have been condemned by so much of the world community.
Benjamin Netanyahu and his far-right government killed more children in the first four months of the invasion than were killed in world conflicts in the past four years. Much of the international community has rightfully labeled what is happening in Gaza not only a breach of international human rights but also approaching a genocide. It has been so horrific that the International Criminal Court is considering issuing arrest warrants for Netanyahu and his fellow government officials.
In light of all this, and despite calls from President Joe Biden's administration for Netanyahu to stop the violence, Congress recently approved $26 billion in military aid to Israel. It is a sad and shameful action when the rest of the world community is rightfully condemning Israeli actions. The fact that we would somehow be more outraged that students broke a window in a building or that some classes had to be canceled than that we are actively supporting war crimes shows how skewed our priorities are.
I know many students are not engaged, and social media has often distracted them from the issues of the world rather than helping them become more informed.
However, it is heartening that students are standing up for what is just. Maybe they can teach something to their elders and those in power who continue to do the unthinkable and support Netanyahu’s regime. May we listen to their voices instead of dismissing them.
Will McCorkle is a Charleston educator.
| 
