The Nugget Newspaper - News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon

The BBC in London, often criticized for perceived pro-Hamas leanings, ran a story last week headlined: “Israel Gaza: Hamas raped and mutilated women on 7 October, BBC hears”

The subhead ran as follows: “The BBC has seen and heard evidence of rape, sexual violence and mutilation of women during the 7 October Hamas attacks.”

Meanwhile on college campuses across the U.S. and the world, thousands of students, many carrying Palestinian flags or wearing a keffiyeh (Arab headgear favored by Hamas terrorists), marched while shouting: “From the river to the sea,” a rallying cry for terrorist groups and their sympathizers, from the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) to Hamas, which called for Israel’s destruction in its original governing charter in 1988.

Hamas was responsible for the October 7 terror attack on Israeli civilians, murdering over 1,200 people in the single deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust.

The manifesto calls for the establishment of a state of Palestine from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea, erasing the state of Israel and its people. Another phrase, “Globalize the Intifada,” which uses the Arabic word for “uprising” or “shaking off,” also calls for widespread violence against both Israelis and Jews across the globe.

Jews in the U.S., especially students at elite universities, are being forced into hiding or hideously bullied or humiliated, forcing them to miss classes, locking themselves — or being locked — into their dorm rooms.

Last week, The Nugget received a flagrantly antisemitic letter to the editor submission (the writer does not appear to have any connection to the Sisters community). The writer was clearly reveling in his opportunity to air some truly vile sentiments.

In the ultimate height of arrogance and hypocrisy, the presidents of Harvard, MIT, and the University of Pennsylvania, when hauled before Congress, had the unmitigated gall to rationalize such behavior.

The universal condemnation from both sides of the political aisle was swift and harsh, and bets are being taken as to how many of these enlightened administrators will lose their jobs. The presidents are frantically trying to walk back their testimony with Liz Magill, Penn president, saying in her apology video: “I was not focused on, but I should have been….”

Excuse me? Her predecessor was paid $22.8 million in 2022. Magill’s pay is estimated to be north of $3 million. And she lost focus? You can bet she had several lawyers write and coach her on her outlandish statements and responses, which were nearly identical in those of her fellow travelers that day about “context.”

The BBC gives you all the context you need.

Magill resigned Saturday after widespread public outrage over her testimony to Congress on antisemitism. Her announcement came after days of intense pressure from Penn alumni and elected officials, including Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro.

Yes or no

Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, a Harvard graduate, had to duel with the Harvard president.

Congresswoman Stefanik: Dr. Gay, a Harvard student calling for the mass murder of African Americans is not protected free speech at Harvard, correct?

President Gay: Our commitment to free speech…

Congresswoman Stefanik: It’s a yes or no question. Is that correct? Is that okay for students to call for the mass murder of African Americans at Harvard? Is the protected free speech?

President Gay: Our commitment to free speech…

What is so hard about a straightforward yes-or-no answer? Why all of the equivocating and whataboutism?

I thought the #MeToo movement taught us to “believe all women.” Or is that unless you’re a Jewish woman?

For eight weeks after October 7, UN Women, the organization’s “entity” that is supposed to push for gender equality and the “empowerment of women” failed to condemn Hamas’ rape and murder of women and children. After worldwide condemnation they caved and issued an equivalency statement.

The words of the day are decolonize and antisemitism. The former has already been addressed on these pages. As for antisemitism — enough! That waters down what it is. Call it by its true name: Jew hatred.

The generation marching on our institutions seldom use six-syllable words. Let’s boil it down for them and maybe they will better understand. It’s Jew hatred, pure and simple. And it’s evil.

“Barbaric” is the most-used word to describe Hamas atrocities. That, too, is somewhat diluted. Call it for what is: savagery.