Opinion
Why the government is afraid of the academia
Yuval Noah Harari
Published: 20.06.17, 23:31
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1. Preventing indoctrination
Martha ,   São Paulo   (06.21.17)
What about the lecturers that DO indoctrinate their students? That DO punish them for voicing their political opinions?
I do think that political questions should be addressed in class, but as the article said - in a very "scientific" manner, presenting credible evidence and a range of positions to allow the student to dive further in the subject - if he/she so wishes - and decide by themselves.
But I also believe that some lecturers can and do coerce their students to accept their political views - in many different ways. These lecturers should be prevented from teaching.
2. It's called fascism
Dan   (06.21.17)
Suppression not only of free speech but of free thought is one of fascism's defining characteristics. Replacing critical reasoning with blind devotion to state propaganda is another. As Napoleon the totalitarian pig in Orwell's Animal Farm might have said: "Settlers good, NGO's bad."
3. No place for political propaganda in classroom
Steve Benassi ,   Silver Bay, MN USA   (06.21.17)
4. Why is Harari afraid of teaching history only? Left Winger.
Steve Benassi ,   Silver Bay, MN USA   (06.21.17)
5. Yuval Noah Harari is a revisionist poorly informed historian
Steve Benassi ,   Silver Bay, MN USA   (06.21.17)
6. Harari wants students to be hostages to political propaganda
Steve Benassi ,   Silver Bay, MN USA   (06.21.17)
7. So, dear Author: this is why students at US universities are
(06.21.17)
being shouted down/prohibited from voicing anything but the "correct" opinions, YOU kind of opinions?! The very same goes for our own "free-thinking" zombies with education. Pleeeze, don't take us for complete fools...thank you.
8. Benett fears freedom and knowledge
Simon ,   Paris   (06.21.17)
Yuval Noah Harari is a smart guy. He knows how to decipher a situation following reason instead of common thinking. Please, read "A brief History of Humanity", it will change your look on yourself and ourselves. As for Benett, this guy is so politically stupid. He fears freedom. He sees knowledge the way he sees Orthodox judaism: Teach, teach, but don't cross our borders! Crossing the borders is a base for knowledge. Without border-crossing, without UNORTHODOXY, Galileo, Newton, Einstein or Freud would have never found anything. Benett and Co are only weakening the Israeli research, the Israeli university and reason in Israel, and by doing so they weaken Israel again and again, and at the same time they loudly sing "Hatikvah" to make sure they're right. I'm a pro-Israel Jew but it's crazy to see how much this government, made of stupidity in almost every area, works against Israel.
9. Censorship is old as the hills
Bertram ,   London, UK.   (06.21.17)
From Socrates who was made to drink hemlock for influencing the minds of the young through to the book burning of modern times. The good news is that governments ultimately meet their end because the poison of censorship seeps into the entire social fabric. An excellent article, but I hope others will have the courage to disagree with it in a rational manner rather than simply react with slogans and insults.
10. History is full of examples.
Shlomo ,   USA   (06.21.17)
Authoritarian governments throughout history have demonized academics precisely because it is easier to control people by making them believe false truths. Absent a questioning mind, people will gravitate towards a "truth" that supports their fears and biases. We as Jews should never fall for the same trap that resulted in losing so many of our people in the Shoah.
11. To Martha
Bertram ,   London, UK.   (06.21.17)
"But I also believe that some lecturers can and do coerce their students to accept their political views - in many different ways."
Interesting statement. So, provide supporting evidence, please.
12. Very good article.
cfspirit ,   fr and dz   (06.21.17)
13. Very bad article
Steve Benassi ,   Silver Bay, MN USA   (06.21.17)
14. Government is not afraid of academia
C   (06.21.17)
government is afraid of brainwashing of students.

the claim that "our commitment is first and foremost to the truth" is
simply another attempt to brainwash the general public.
indeed, many academics deny that there is such a thing as
the "truth."
throughout history, academics have engaged in propaganda.
hitler did not invent jew hatred or eugenics. the catholic
church and academia did so.
all totalitarian regimes are built on the bases of academic
arguments.
academia is the most corrupt institution in its attempt to
brainwash students.
shlomo sand was given a doctorate based on his absurd
claim that the jews exiled by the romans could not have
marched all the way to rome, and therefore jews were
converts.
professors teach that which they themselves determine to
be the truth.
even in the hard science of physics, truth is "relative."
einstein did not accept quantum mechanics as true.
15. Only patriots should be allowed to teach our youth
Chaim ,   Israel   (06.21.17)
Every Israeli child should be taught by teachers who love their Homeland. They should nt be inculcated with hateful propaganda by leftists. Only patriots should be allowed to teach our youth.
16. Paqid (www.netzarim.co.il)
Yirmeyahu ,   Raanana   (06.22.17)
Must depend on relevance to core issue of course AND require a balanced debate from outside advocates of both sides of issue. Only then are students provided with essentials to apply logic (scientific reasoning).
17. Israeli Academia
hedwig ,   London   (06.22.17)
Regretfully many Israeli academics seek to please hostile academics in foreign universities, to advance their careers. The hostility in many foreign universities is a result of entire departments being bought up by ptrodollars donated by Qatar and Saudi Arabia and the recruitment of poorly informed ignorant students, whose meager knowledge is further corrupt by their professors
18. Will Steve, the Muslim from Minnesota, say something inteli
Michael ,   California, USA   (06.25.17)
say something intelligent ever? This lurking impersonator is taking up a lot of space on this board and only forces readers to skip to more relevant comments. He is trying to impersonate people who have something intelligent to say, which makes everybody smirk and fish around his useless verbiage.
19. Proven clueless for the upths time in lala land
Steve Benassi ,   Silver Bay, MN USA   (06.25.17)
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