On Wednesday, May 8th, Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN) introduced a bill that would require “any person convicted of unlawful activity on the campus of an institution of higher education beginning on and after Oct. 7, 2023, to provide community service in Gaza” to the house of representatives under the 20 U.S. Code § 1070c–4 for community service.
While it only requires a little thought to decipher the underlying narrative of what it poses to do and to whom, the unclear wording of the bill poses a threat to the well-being of college-aged students around the U.S.
It avoids identifying a singular group, such as “students arrested while protesting,” to be sent to Gaza but makes any student convicted of involvement in any unlawful activity possibly susceptible.
Although the bill is too ludicrous to be passed and the possibility of it being struck down by the courts is ostensible, as a prospective college student, not only does it make me angry that a bill like this could become a law, but it also makes me worried for the future of U.S. politics.
The passing of reactive, unconstitutional policies will only allow for the shift to the alt-right and fascist narrative, increasing safety concerns for minority groups. It also poses a threat to the safety of people like my friends who are already or will be in college and who are actively involved in matters worth protesting. I’m embarrassed that our country is capable of passing laws that hurt its citizens before passing legislation in favor of them, ignoring our domestic problems to push for active contribution to genocide in the name of “bettering the world.”
“I think that government officials making the calls should care more about other people than the agenda they push for,” said junior Emma Auten. “We can focus on funding solutions to domestic issues like gun violence, student debt, trans rights, and abortion before we deem ourselves worthy of fixing the problems of other countries.”
It is undoubtedly true that Hamas has garnered support amongst both Palestinians and Americans, and I can admit that protests have taken a violent turn in some instances, but that is mainly due to police agitation. And yet, the bill infringes on the rights of many. It inherently violates the no cruel and unusual punishment clause of the 8th Amendment.
Yes, the Bill of Rights can be overlooked when a clear and present danger is identified, but in this context, it fails to differentiate between peaceful and violent protests, allowing for the unwarranted abuse of peaceful protestors.
If our representatives are willing to endanger the lives of those who make up the future of the U.S. by sending them over to Gaza, which has knowingly been attacked by the apartheid state of Israel, notoriously funded by the U.S. government, what does that imply for our domestic policy?
If the U.S. is capable of backing the abuse of its citizens concerning matters that don’t directly impact the average American, then it is capable of exercising harsher punishment on its people in the cases of domestic issues. The demonstrated disenfranchisement of Congress from the general American population is evident and is something that will gradually increase in due time. Which when combined with increasing rates of low political efficacy as a result of political polarization, will only elicit a pattern of authority control.
If the ACSA were to be ratified, it would be labeled as “community service” in the name of curbing the rise of antisemitism. Not only is it ridiculously broad, it’s hypocritical. Up until now, mainstream conservatism has been infamously recognized for its employment of anti-Jewish rhetoric by propagating the conspiracy theory that an elite few wealthy Jews control every aspect of public and private life.
Not all Republicans are antisemitic, but seeing people like Donald Trump, who has a known history of anti-Semitism, do a whole 180° raises suspicion, especially during an election year. This change comes across as the political grief of a group currently struggling with uncertainty and vulnerability, by pitting marginalized groups against each other to fulfill their own goals by utilizing the divide and conquer strategy.
“The best way for the [U.S.] to broadly address issues like antisemitism effectively would be to acknowledge both antisemitic and Islamaphobic sentiments. We must protect all minority groups,” said senior Emma Ivanov. “Removing support from Israel and focusing on stimulus funding and humanitarian aid for Palestine would be the next big step. These bad things have always existed, and we must fight them consistently.”
The individualistic nature of American society combined with the apathetic view that we’re better off than any other country thanks to our history of American exceptionalism, has made it seem that the conflict was something we could afford to stand back and watch develop without much affliction. However as tensions continue to rise, it’s something we as a country cannot continue to ignore much longer.
Not only would the passing of this bill lead to an even greater rift between the government and the people it is meant to protect, but it would also allow for encroachment of the liberties honored by the documents this country is based on. For a country so set on the principles of never forgetting and supposedly utilizing its past errors as a way to grow, it seldom follows through.
After all, what’s preventing another incident like the Kent State massacre from happening if another U.S.-based movement for minority rights, like Black Lives Matter touches upon U.S. soil once more?
42Fiftys very own post-niche internet micro-ecelebrity (mid geoguesser player) that lived through a chronic gas leak that was going on in their house for a little over a year without their knowledge. Their only qualification is that they bring a silly goose vibe to the geese party.
