Once upon a time in America, college was where young people went to gain knowledge, be exposed to new ideas, and learn a critical thinking skill or two. The latest outrage at Harvard University shows that the university experience wants none of that now.
More than 650 people have signed onto an online petition condemning The Harvard Crimson’s coverage of a protest demanding the abolition of United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The petition — started by student-led immigration advocacy group Act on a Dream earlier this month — criticizes The Crimson for requesting comment from an ICE spokesperson for its Sept. 13 article, “Harvard Affiliates Rally for Abolish ICE Movement.” The article covers a Sept. 12 protest hosted by Act on a Dream and quotes several students’ criticisms of ICE, including calls for its dissolution. The article notes that ICE did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The students are in an uproar because the paper practiced honest journalism. Basic, honest journalism.
It takes a particularly tortured brand of logic to be upset at the idea of asking for a comment from all parties being written about in a newspaper article. The reason given for the poor dears’ angst is a perfect snapshot of just how emotional and anti-intellectual much of the youth of America has become:
“In this political climate, a request for comment is virtually the same as tipping [ICE] off, regardless of how they are contacted,” the petition reads. “The Crimson, as a student-run publication, has a responsibility to prioritize the safety of the student body they are reporting on — they must reexamine and interrogate policies that place students under threat.”
“Under threat” from an agency that’s on the front lines of fighting human trafficking and violent drug cartels.
These idiot kids didn’t come up with something like that on their own — that’s the product of the worldview of leftist professors. Academia is normalizing anti-American propaganda in the pliable minds of college students.
The notion that ICE is picking raiding targets based on people who say offensive things about the agency is beyond laughable. If that were the case, they’d spend most of their time finding nothing but unbalanced, aggrieved white liberals. It should also be noted that ICE did not, in fact, raid this tantrum/protest.
For once, academia can’t be given all of the blame. The “abolish ICE” rhetoric has been greatly amplified by AOC and her nattering Squad. The demonization of law enforcement is an integral part of the progressive shtick these days. That does nothing but breed ignorance, fear, and paranoia.
Which is what they want to do.
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PJ Media Associate Editor Stephen Kruiser is the author of “Don’t Let the Hippies Shower” and “Straight Outta Feelings: Political Zen in the Age of Outrage,” both of which address serious subjects in a humorous way. Monday through Friday he edits PJ Media’s “Morning Briefing.”
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