Steve Kelman on Politics, Culture, and Life, 12.18.23
Steve Kelman, Harvard Kennedy School prof, moderate Dem, pro free speech/anti cancel culture, pro tax rich, pro-Israel. Research improving gov performance, China interest. Blog reprints Facebook posts
Jewish Harvard students light chanukah candles
I am very pleased to receive regular updates from Harvard Hillel on their activities. They clearly have an active presence on campus. 100 students came to their Hanukkah candle lighting ceremony, which strikes me as a fairly large number. Harvard's provost, who is Jewish, showed up at this event.
Trump “poisoning our blood”
Trump has repeated language he used earlier about migrants "poisoning the blood" of the country. The head of the ADL has rightly denounced this language as despicable, reminiscent of Hitler, who said that Jews were "poisoning Aryan blood."
Hong Kong government bounties for capturing pro-democracy activists
Secretary Blinken has criticized the bounties the Hong Kong government has instituted to bring pro-democracy leaders in exile back to Hong Kong. This is pretty horrendous, I wonder whether they might be kidnapped, perhaps even by local gangsters.
Free speech suppression at Harvard University
An article in The Economist this week notes specific examples of suppression of free speech for non-leftists at Harvard and MIT. Harvard cancelled a course on police tactics after a student petition. They did not renew the deanship of a professor who defended Harvey Weinstein, and MIT rescinded a lecture invitation to a scientist who had criticized affirmative action. I had heard all these stories before, and I had posted criticizing some of them, but didn't have them in one place in my mind. I want to reaffirm what I've written before about the importance of free speech, including for unpopular ideas on both the left and the right.
Social media accounts deleted in China
A number of online economic pundits in China have had their social media accounts deleted because of comments considered too negative about the economic prospects of China.
Museum of “national achievements” in Hong Kong
Hong Kong is establishing a new museum of "national achievements," in other words all the wonderful things the Chinese Communist party has done.
Police at courtroom during trial of pro-democracy activist
The puppet government of Hong Kong will station a thousand police officers for the next three months outside the courtroom during the trial of imprisoned pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai.
Facebook offering paid ad-free access
Facebook is now offering customers in Europe ad-free service for about $11 a month. Curious weather any of my friends would be willing to pay that? I personally am not really annoyed by these ads at all because I can just ignore them if I want. Facebook is now offering customers in Europe ad-free service for about $11 a month. Curious weather any of my friends would be willing to pay that? I personally am not really annoyed by these ads at all because I can just ignore them if I want.
Trust in Biden
The father of one of the American hostages in Gaza stated after the group's meeting with President Biden, "We felt before, and we were only reinforced in seeing and believing, that we could have no better friend in Washington or in the White House than President Biden.
“River to sea” at anti-semitism training in New York
Extremely disturbing story on the front page of The Times today about a mandatory training in New York City on anti-Semitism for legal aid lawyers. Some objected to the training taking place at all. "No Israel," chanted one, at which point a "river to the sea" chant broke out. We on the left need to be vocal and determined in combating this hideous hatred.
Voter turnout in Hong Kong
In the previous free district council elections in Hong Kong in 2019, 72% of those eligible voted. This year it was 28%.
More importantly President Gay and her husband showed up to kight the candle. See long video with Zarchi finishing a long diatribe about Harvard’s mistreatment of Jews with a warm introduction of her.. all over You tube in slightly different slanted versions.