by students for justice in palestine
group contributors
We ask: who are we to ignore the plight of human casualty wherever it may be? Yes, even if it is in Palestine. How is this school to deny a coalition of students the right to express their desire for justice and peace? This is not about politics, nor is it about ideology; it is about standing up for justice without impartiality. It is about recognizing the outcry of people not only when it is the convenient status quo.
We find it interesting that at this Christian institution when students appeal for Palestinian social justice, they are called “anti-Semitic,” “hateful” or even “Nazis” by students and staff. This is shameful, and we resent these implications. It is disgraceful that “justice” can be seen as applicable to some and not to others; that our Nazarene university, which prides itself on its historic leadership in social justice, can turn its back on glaring tragedies simply because they have existed for so long and have become so easy to ignore.
We recognize that this is a controversial subject for some, but we maintain that we have the right, and, in fact, the duty to speak freely and openly about injustice even when politics stand in the way. The denial of this club has disappointed us deeply. We are forced to ask if those who denied this club its charter care more for justice or are simply content with indifference.