The UF Student Senate has again proven to be poorly imitating the anti-democratic actions of the U.S. Congress. Is it a coincidence that just weeks after the Student Senate tried to pass its own oppressive resolution concerning Israel, the U.S. Congress is now attempting to do the same?
The propaganda, described as legislation, being brought forth in our local and national legislatures is a vicious attack on civil liberties.
Legislation such as this necessitates an obvious question be asked: Do public institutions of higher education have the right to object to U.S. foreign policy?
On campus, a resolution condemning actions in support of the movement to boycott, divest and sanction — BDS — Israel for its continual violation of human rights was argued at the last public senate meeting of the semester. Dozens of community members attended and spoke to criticize an attack on our right to freedom of expression. The resolution was not voted on.
Similarly, in Washington, a bipartisan bill called the Protect Academic Freedom Act was introduced on the House floor Feb. 4. The bill aims to deny public subsidies if academic organizations participate in the BDS movement.
Legislators and special-interest groups recognize the threat BDS poses to the U.S.’ relationship with Israel, and they are now attempting to gag those who would protest the crimes against humanity committed by the U.S. and Israel.
Carbon copies of this legislation are being proposed in state legislatures in New York and Maryland as well — all of which seek to justify attacks on civil liberties through baseless appeals to “anti-semitism” and “academic freedom.” The theme of “academic freedom” is not unique to this bill. Dozens of other bills have been submitted with similar titles. The phrase “academic freedom” as it appears in the titles of legislation all over the U.S. often refers to the same thing — teaching of non-scientific ideas, like creationism and its twin sibling intelligent design, in public science classrooms.
The congruity of rhetoric among supporters of Israeli crimes and those who would be as bold to deny evolution is no coincidence. The late American historian Richard Hofstadter pointed out more than 50 years ago the prominent and ongoing theme of anti-intellectualism in American life: “American education can be praised ... on many counts; but I believe ours is the only educational system in the world vital segments of which have fallen into the hands of people who joyfully and militantly proclaim their hostility to intellect...”
From the Reitz to the Capitol, anti-intellectualism is a dominating force in the U.S. that must constantly be negated.
[Andrew Pentland is a UF history senior. A version of this column ran on page 7 on 2/18/2014 under the headline "Anti-intellectualism threatens US"]
