"Let the writer beware." That, I think and hope, is the English translation of Caveat Scriptor. I have a disturbing feeling that it may mean "Beware of the Writer" which isn't what I intend to say in this case, though I might in other cases.
"The Statement" being referred to is, as you might suspect, that issued, jointly we're told, by certain Harvard students and student organizations in response to the attacks made by Hamas earlier this month against Israel, targeting civilians primarily if not exclusively.
That statement is relatively short, or at least versions of it I've seen which purport to be accurate are short. It doesn't refer to Hamas. It does, however, assert that Israel is solely responsible for the violence perpetrated by Hamas, refers to the government of Israel as an apartheid regime, and claims that the Palestinians have been repressed by Israel and compelled to live in an open-air prison for two decades. It states that the violence Israel will perpetuate in responding to the attacks will be the responsibility of Israel alone.
Some of Harvard's corporate donors have responded to the statement and what they consider the insufficiently outraged response to it by its administrators by demanding that the names of those students making or joining in the statements and, presumably, what lawyers may call their personal identifying information, be disclosed. The donors are concerned that unless they are disclosed they may, inadvertently, hire them. Presumably, they'll refuse to do so if they learn who they are and may be inclined to vilify them as well. Given the virulence of their response to the statement, they may hope that others will also refuse to hire them as well and join in blacklisting them. Not surprisingly, some students have expressed regret at their temerity.
The Statement is clearly wrong, and even reprehensibly so, in ascribing sole responsibility for the attacks by Hamas on Israel and attributing no responsibility to Hamas. One may sympathize with the plight of the Palestinian people without supporting the murderous and brutal actions of a terrorist organization, which is all Hamas appears to be. As far as I'm aware, Hamas itself has taken no action to benefit the Palestinians; it has merely committed itself to the destruction of Israel--which is not likely to ever take place. While it's true The Statement makes no mention of Hamas, it's clearly intended to refer to the recent attacks by Hamas, and absolves it of any guilt for its atrocities, which is deplorable.
Nevertheless, I have to admit I find the reactions of the donors in question to be rather surprising, for a number of reasons. Let me note, first, that many people of my age and slightly older than me said and did things while college students not all that different from what those who wrote or joined in The Statement have said and done. It happens that at that time, the U.S. itself was being blamed for violence perpetrated by others, some of whom were student activists, some of whom were from North Vietnam, some of whom were black, some of whom were South African, some of whom were communists--I could go on.
We Boomers while in college and (for a time) afterwards were rabid political and social critics and protesters, and quite ready to blame those we perceived as the oppressors for the violence of those we thought were oppressed by them. Some of us were violent in the cause of the oppressed, or so we thought. The Statement considered in that context isn't unique or uniquely reprehensible. I wonder whether those who now condemn The Statement are Boomers who regret or have forgotten their own youthful conduct.
Let me note also that college students are often naive, foolish, immature, thoughtless, subject to peer-pressure and privileged, and may act stupidly and irresponsibly. I, personally, do not think or have reason to believe that students at Harvard are more intelligent, sophisticated, reasonable and discerning than students at other colleges. I think they can be just as stupid and callous as their less favored brothers and sisters.
It therefore isn't apparent to me that condemning Harvard for failing to condemn the students in question with sufficient ferocity, ceasing donations to that institution, and seeking to expose and blacklist the students in question in a way which may negatively impact their careers and future lives, is appropriate or even sensible. It serves to call attention to The Statement, in fact. When the financially High and Mighty among us begin to throw their weight around to get their way and seek vengeance against those who disturb them, particularly insignificants like undergraduates, it isn't a pretty or inspiring sight.
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