Mumsnet could do better (la quatrième partie): cheese wars and chickens

[79Helene]

Merailers assemble! The doors are open for part 4!

I think that they don't want to go out of their way to underline how bad things were during the protests. And it's also a way of indicating to the Federal government that they have taken steps to punish bad behavior, which they clearly didn't want to do previously.

It’s problematic that they didn’t want to punish bad behaviour until their funding was jeopardised.

@BeretInParis, indeed it is, and it's just become very expensive as well.

Columbia Agrees to Pay More Than $200 Million to Settle Trump Fight - Administration will restore federal funding to university as part of deal

They've agreed to an independent monitor to ensure that there are no future civil rights violations. I think that the timing between this announcement and the actions taken against the students who participated in the "occupation" of the library is not a coincidence.

This will be a powerful example for other universities to not turn a blind eye towards violations of civil rights for Jewish students, and the necessity of enforcing their own rules evenhandedly.

I hope you’re right but this feels like an example of the ‘letter’ rather than the ‘spirit’ of the law being applied.

I don't think anyone feels that they've changed the hearts and minds of the administration at Columbia. What they have done is inflicted a significant price on them for ignoring the civil rights of Jewish students and allowing a group of students to disrupt the learning environment for everyone. Just like a child after touching a not stove, they'll think twice before doing it again. Eventually, not doing it may become normal.

Harvard's next.

https://www.wsj.com/us-news/education/harvard-columbia-trump-white-house-fines-payment-deal-settlement-d61aa9c6?st=yoZgzD&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink

On a different subject, I saw this on the WSJ's opinion page last night.

https://www.wsj.com/opinion/gazans-are-finished-with-hamas-commander-popular-forces-5d9a6345?st=RnRzBy&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink

A Bedouin group claims to have taken control of part of Rafah and given Hamas the boot. Hamas is obviously too engaged with the IDF to do much about it. Is this being reported on and discussed in Israel? In this opinion piece, the leader of the group says he wants to eject Hamas completely from Gaza and focus on rebuilding with international help. This sounds promising.

That looks very promising. I have heard recently some news reports about a gang acting in opposition to Hamas in Gaza and a run in in a hospital between the opposing groups. Looked it up and there was this on TOI
https://www.timesofisrael.com/head-of-anti-hamas-gaza-militia-says-its-backed-by-vast-tribal-network-not-by-israel/

I think in terms of real change for the future the best scenario would be internally driven change from Gazans themselves , and support given for groups who are able to do that. Any external ‘peacekeeping’ or governance forces in my opinion can breed resentment and masks the difficulties and change needed.

I don’t know if it’s that I’m very pregnant and hormonal but I am flip flopping between hopeful that maybe things could improve soon and then struggling to see how things are going to go back to “normal” in the next few years.

It’s good to hear a lot of the updates on this thread - a lot of it is stuff I’ve not heard.

Bshaa tova umutzlachas! I think that’s a better update than we’ve all been posting 😄

Thank you @EllaDisenchanted

Congratulations, @stonecutter! What lovely news. Best wishes for an easy pregnancy and delivery.

From a military and strategic point of view, Israel is in a better position now than it has been in years. Iran's proxy forces have been neutralized and Iran itself is almost defenseless. And the US has shown that it stands with Israel militarily. I think Israel can look forward to a period of peace for some years to come.

@MissConductUS From your mouth to Gd's ears. And congratulations @stonecutter. Nothing better than a baby

GHF setting the record straight regarding the libel from 'whistleblower' Aguilar.
With time/date stamped receipts.

However, when groups or factions are externally supported they eventually seem to turn into a new extremist regime. I don't know what the answer is. A technocratic, secular group - but one who won't try to crush the religious population?

I'm not sure. I just really do think it needs to be some form of internal governance, not externally imposed, for the best chance of peace. External support could take a lot of forms, doesn't have to be heavy handed. I'm not sure how it would be achieved. Is a secular group necessarily any better? Assad was secular wasn't he? I think it's more about whether the groups are practical, goal driven, who want to make peace with Israel, rather than whether they are secular or religious.

Yes Assad was, I think this is the curse of the Muslim middle east. One extremist gets replaced by another, of another type but equally bad. I am 100% in agreement that the change needs to come from inside. But power corrupts....as you say a practical focus would help, that's why I thought maybe a technocratic government focused on economic success.

There was also an interesting news article a week or two back about some Sheikhs who wanted to govern parts of Hebron separately as they are sick of the PA.

Greetings, all. It's been ages since the JSL has been in the news, so this caught my eye today.

https://babylonbee.com/news/greta-thunberg-reports-flotilla-struck-by-jewish-space-laser

It's good to know that Israel's enemies still fear the JSL.

Full disclosure - the babylonbee website is news satire.

I hope everyone is well and happy. Shalom from New York. :)

😂

And if the JSL doesn't get her, the Mossad planted burrito will finish the job.

https://babylonbee.com/news/hit-the-deck-were-under-attack-cries-greta-thunberg-as-frozen-burrito-explodes-in-the-microwave

Why do bad things keep happening to her?

I’m genuinely disgusted but not surprised by the amount of people on Mumsnet who have been joyful at the murder of a Father and husband.
I think a whole thread was removed, I don’t have the energy to read the new one.
Personally I think the Jews and Israel have lost an important advocate. My thoughts are with his family and may his memory be a blessing.

It’s been vile. I read part of the deleted one and it was awful.

may his memory be for a blessing 💔

He was a great and tireless advocate for Israel. It wouldn't surprise me if that had a role in his murder. Netanyahu issued this statement:

“Charlie Kirk was murdered for speaking truth and defending freedom. A lion-hearted friend of Israel, he fought the lies and stood tall for Judeo-Christian civilization. I spoke to him only two weeks ago and invited him to Israel. Sadly, that visit will not take place. We lost an incredible human being. His boundless pride in America and his valiant belief in free speech will leave a lasting impact.”

I missed the first thread about his murder but read a bit of the second one. The glee some people expressed and the idea that "he had it coming" were absolutely disgusting.

I've never understood why so many Brits seem obsessed about American politics. People here don't give a fig about British politics for the most part.

I'm not Israeli or Jewish so hope it's ok to put this here.
Re: Charlie Kirk, I've seen (often the same) people on social media today claiming CK was working for Israel/ Mossad/ 'The Jews', but also claiming Israel/ Mossad/ 'The Jews' are responsible for the assassination.
It's SO stupid, but these claims are made so easily.
I can't imagine being Jewish & having to put up with this crap all the time.
It's so dangerous too.
Where do we go from here?

Definitely ok to post here.
It's very typical, e.g. there are lots of conspiracy theories about Jews being to blame for September 11th, or for example Huda Kattan went on a long rant about Israel being to blame for both World Wars (Israel wasn't even established yet!) etc. etc.
If we call it out, we get accused of weaponising anti-semitism, or always playing the victim.