I wish I
were a billionaire who had given a pot of money to Harvard University. I would
write Harvard a stern public letter rebuking its anemic response to anti-Jewish
bigotry by Harvard students and professors. In this letter, I would vow not to
give the university one more dime. A
few billionaires have already taken that action.
Unfortunately
(or fortunately), I am not a billionaire. However, I have a Harvard doctoral degree, which
I could publicly burn as a protest against Harvard’s cowardice. I also have a crimson
academic gown that I purchased for my Harvard graduation ceremony in 1993. I
could burn that, too. I might make a campfire and burn all that stuff in
Harvard Square.
However, I
am not going to set my diploma and my academic regalia ablaze. I don’t believe
in setting things on fire as a way of expressing my political convictions.
Furthermore, I’m afraid I might get accidentally killed by a pro-Hamas
protester who only meant to rough me up a bit as a way of expressing his desire
for a ceasefire in Gaza.
So, how do
Harvard graduates get their point across against a university basking in prestige
while marinating in moral cowardice? I don’t know. All I can do is warn people
who are thinking about investing their tuition dollars at Harvard University.
As President Biben might whisper, I’ll simply say Don’t.
