Watch out, it is not over!

Institutions' failure has turned the next generation into…

(Disclaimer: This writing is intended for mature adults who can tolerate opposing views. It is not Islamophobic either; I state what I know about the religion I was born into. Read at your own risk.)

By N. Invictus (an anonymous Canadian teacher)

Since when did the right to have an opinion, express it, exchange it, be passionate about it, and protest for it turn into a full-blown occupation of private properties with meals delivered to the occupiers? Our educational institutions have clearly failed when students, who have enrolled to learn from experts and professionals, make operational demands as if they know better; undermining the purpose of education

Since when did our institutions decide to adopt a passive approach, engage in negotiations, and try to appease trespassing occupants who are using threats to justify their goals? 

Since when did one of the top universities in our country not dare to take down the fence it put up itself? This resulted in creating a guarded fort for the occupiers, who proudly claimed the moral high ground, had an intake process, and an on-board reception table. When did they start allowing themselves to be blackmailed into granting amnesty to occupiers in exchange for the protesters ending their occupation peacefully?  

Sign posted on the on-board table inside the encampment

In my previously posted letter to Madam Jama, I gave the young and compassionate student occupiers the benefit of the doubt, expecting that this phase of their lives will also pass and wisdom will prevail. The student protests are all too familiar. Although I was a child, I remember them happening in various countries around the world, even in the early 70s. Several historical and political movies from that era depict segments of these protests. I do not intend to undermine or question the validity of the past protests' claims at this time. However, I know for a fact that similar protests in the late 70s in my birthland led to a so-called revolution that turned the country into a living hell. The bright, young, intelligent students claimed the moral high ground, assumed they knew better, and took it upon themselves to be the voice of the oppressed- so to speak. There was no humility, no gratitude for the lives they were fortunate to live—lives built by those they were determined to overthrow. This narrow-minded, immature, and shallow proceeding proved costly and irreparable. It led to 45 years of continuous imprisonment, torture, and murder of innumerable authors, intellectuals, patriots, innocent people, and yes young bright students—and it continues to this day. A bitter lesson learned the hardest way.

Naturally, when the wave of university encampments took over the universities in the West, filled with bright young students, I was deeply alarmed. My disaster-detection amygdala shifted into drive in an instant. Yet I believed this was a part of students' lives, or better said their growth. Finding something they are passionate about, something worth fighting for, and making it their mission to put that goal above themselves. The idea, in theory, is noble. However, like many things that originated with great intentions and were quickly taken over by tyrannical, malevolent forces, these encampments proved to be anything but noble. Regardless of the claimed “compassionate” intentions, what was left behind posted on their  X is a testament to the character and true intentions of the occupiers. 

Earlier in June, I made my way to King’s College Circle. After all, these were our children, our youth, and they had something to say. I wanted to hear it firsthand, talk to them at the same level, look into their eyes, and understand what was really going on—not just what the media was inundating us with. Most importantly, I wanted to find out why they are not concerned by being praised by the supreme leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran who branded them as part of Iran’s resistance front against the US and Israel!  Paradoxically, others wanted to enter the gate but were refused by the occupiers to enter the area that U of T had fenced off! Nevertheless, although the initial conversation started with the gatekeeper being accusatory, shortly his guard was down, and we sat for a long chat. I spoke with a few of the occupiers and spokespersons and was granted permission to walk around the encampment. The ones I spoke with were nice, polite and pleasant. My intentions were genuine, and I think that came through. I learned about a few of them and what they have endured in their lives. Some of these students have seen and gone through unimaginable hardships - we cannot dismiss their pain- others who may have not endured major issues themselves were following the images and videos on social media that show brutality towards children in the Israel / Gaza war. No one with any sense could see these images and videos and not have any reaction- though I do not justify their actions either. I am questioning our actions of not addressing issues properly and allowing things to get so out of hand.

A few things that caught my attention were the ease of vaping or smoking among the occupiers, which I was told was about 25-30%. I would have not allowed any doping if I meant to fight for people, sharp minds are essential in any serious endeavour. The other was the meals delivered from restaurants making me wonder who is paying for it. The lack of unity among the group also stood out to me. In my response, when asked if they would pack up and leave if their three demands were met, (1. Disclose all investments 2. Divest from assets sustaining Israeli Apartheid 3. Terminate partnerships with Israeli academic institutions that either sustain apartheid or operate in occupied Palestine.) it was clear that some would, while others’ expressed desire to eliminate Israel altogether was undeniable. There was also a comparison made between the indigenous people and the Canadian immigrants, claiming that the property was indigenous land that they had occupied- another paradox. My impression was that the community is not as tranquil and united as the media portrays it to be.

In addition to my initial inquiry about the praise they had received from Iran’s supreme leader, I asked several other questions, including if any of these young female students have lived in a radical Islamic state, if they know that in radical Islam women and children are considered the property of the man and are deemed disposable, a necessary sacrifice, what do they think Israel should have done to defend itself? What would they do if their daughter was taken hostage by terrorists who take pride and brag about raping? If they were aware that about 600K Muslims were killed by Muslims in the Syria war, and so on. Most of the responses circled the repeated narrative: “not consenting to genocide”. A natural and expected response from young emotional female students exposed to horrific videos and images of children in distress, suffering and pain. When decisions are made based on emotions, logic exits the domain. Emotions are susceptible to manipulation and are not well-suited for determining courses of action, long-term planning, and strategic movements. One would expect this to be part of the main lessons taught at schools.

After years of costly education, our youth—our students, the future of our country—seem oblivious to world events, easily influenced, selectively pick historical facts or fiction for that matter, appear indifferent to domestic issues that are destroying our country and culture, and worse, show no respect for the nation they are fortunate to live in. They feel entitled and righteous in disrespecting our police force, without whom the safety of our society would be nothing but a fictional tale. They swear at the president of their university. Though I am not convinced of his competency in handling the occupation case, the impertinent messages left on what used to be a green lawn accessible to everyone are not justified. 

Ironically, one of the lead organizers/spokespersons graduated this June 2024 in Political Science, and the other is a high-distinction graduate from U of T pursuing an MA—Watch out this is far from over and start praying!

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Thanks for reading. For more from this author, read From Far and Wide: We stand on Guard for thee; A nation in need of a united force

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Woke Watch Canada Essentials:

1. James Pew contributed a chapter to the best-selling book Grave Error: How The Media Misled us (And the Truth about Residential Schools). You can read about it here - The Rise of Independent Canadian Researchers

2. A long-form essay by Dr. M - Fulcrum and Pivot: The New Left Remaking of Toronto School Policy

3.  For evidence of the ideological indoctrination in Canadian education, read Yes, schools are indoctrinating kids! And also, Yes, The University is an Indoctrination Camp!