OPINION:
“It’s frightening.”
Those two words were recently uttered by a Holocaust survivor observing virulent antisemitism boiling over at American colleges and universities.
It’s how Jochen “Jack” Wurfl, a man who lost nearly every family member during Adolf Hitler’s reign, responded when I asked for his views on rampant anti-Israel unrest.
He, like others, sees parallels between antisemitism being fomented today and the bubbling evils perpetrated against the Jews during the 1930s before the Holocaust was fully unleashed.
And who could blame Mr. Wurfl for expressing fear and worry? Our campuses have been overtaken by absolute insanity in recent days, with agitators raising the Palestinian flag, hurling bizarre proclamations, turning violent — and even taking over a Columbia University building.
In the midst of their wild antics, there’s a haunting question we all must ponder: How did we get to a place where so many of our young people are so profoundly confused about basic truths?
And, beyond that, how has overt evil become some semblance of good in the eyes of youths attending our most revered educational institutions?
Many supporters have said the current protests are not antisemitic and are simply focused on opposing Israel’s actions in Gaza. It’s certainly true there are protesters predominately lamenting what they see as Israel’s improper handling of the war, but we’ve also observed a slew of troubling proclamations and actions that extend well beyond that sentiment.
There are reports of some protesters yelling, “We are Hamas” and “Long live Hamas.” Some have openly chanted, “From the river to sea, Palestine will be free.” And who could ignore the student who posted a video claiming Zionists “shouldn’t live in this world?”
There are surely other examples of ugly and dangerous rhetoric and behavior from some of the people involved in these protests. In the end, it’s clear that extremism has embedded itself in the mix, but it’s also apparent that a lot of young people are going along for the ride.
Some of the recent survey data underscores just how dire the situation has become. A new survey from Summit.org and RMG Research yielded terrifying findings among 18- to 24-year-olds. It turns out Gen Z voters are much less likely (61%) than all American voters (81%) to agree with the U.S. classifying Hamas as a terror organization.
Beyond that, while 58% of American voters believe Israel’s efforts against Hamas are just, the proportion plummets among 18- to 24-year-olds, with just 42% saying the same.
But the most disturbing statistic is the 33% of 18- to 24-year-old voters who do not believe Israel has a right to exist as a country in the Middle East.
A separate Harvard CAPS-Harris survey last month indicated what Newsweek called “increasing support for Hamas” among Gen Z. The shocking poll found 43% supported Hamas, with 57% backing Israel. Support for Hamas was up from 37% just one month before.
And yet another survey from December points to a frightening ignorance among a large proportion of today’s youth. A survey from YouGov and The Economist found 20% of 18- to 29-year-olds believe the Holocaust is a myth, though the Pew Research Center has since questioned the legitimacy of the results.</p
Regardless, these numbers highlight the profound confusion and unimaginable fiendishness permeating young hearts and minds today.
For decades, conservatives have complained about indoctrination in education. Perhaps this is the wake-up call exposing just how pervasive the problem has become, particularly on our campuses. And this is precisely what Jeff Myers, president of Summit Ministries, said in a news release surrounding some of those recent statistics.
“We are now seeing the logical outcome of an education system that teaches students to see the world through a lens of racialist resentment,” he said. “Gen Z is three times as likely as the general population to deny Israel’s right to exist. Sympathy for Hamas has grown.”
Mr. Myers encouraged parents, leaders and educators to “wake up” and stop the propaganda. He’s absolutely correct on every front.
Parents need to protect their children from this nonsense, educators must ensure proper perspectives are being heard, and our leaders must see the implicit dangers enmeshed in all of this. Our enemies are most certainly laughing at us, but, beyond that, the open sympathy being given to terrorists puts our nation’s security and future at risk.
Now is the time for everyone to step up to the plate, confront these biases and turn the tide of what can only be described as absolute pandemonium. Israel has a right to self-defense, Hamas is evil and the terroristic forces at work would waste no time targeting the U.S. next. Wake up, America.
• Billy Hallowell is a digital TV host and interviewer for Faithwire and CBN News and the co-host of CBN’s “Quick Start Podcast.” Mr. Hallowell is the author of four books.
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