{"id":162591,"date":"2023-12-20T12:55:06","date_gmt":"2023-12-20T11:55:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/?p=162591"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:27:06","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:27:06","slug":"does-eur-have-the-courage-to-say-not-in-the-name-of-my-values","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2023\/12\/20\/does-eur-have-the-courage-to-say-not-in-the-name-of-my-values\/","title":{"rendered":"Does EUR have the courage to say: ‘Not in the name of my values’?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Our university can be neutral about a war, but it cannot be neutral about genocide, ethnic cleansing, and apartheid while claiming to uphold liberal values like tolerance and equality. While EUR\u2019s denial and silence may bring some comfort, the trouble is the glaring double standard that dehumanises Palestinians and normalises a genocide. Statements like \u2018We do not tolerate discrimination, intolerance, hate speech and exclusion. And also, Islamophobia and anti-Semitism<\/a>\u2019 become meaningless \u2013 what my fellow economists call \u2018cheap talk\u2019. EUR has traded its Erasmian values for its loyalties to apartheid Israel<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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The discomfort and silence<\/h2>
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Zara Sharif is senior lecturer in the Economics and Business Department of Erasmus University College.<\/span><\/p>

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The discomfort surrounding Israel-Palestine is palpable, within EUR and beyond. The \u2018civilised\u2019 world is committing a genocide. An apartheid regime is branded a democracy. Activists calling for ceasefire are slammed for advocating violence. Jewish protestors are arrested and smeared<\/a> for their solidarity with Palestinians. Privileged minds are offended by a Keffiyeh and a slogan and cry about their safety, but are not offended by the mass killing of children<\/a>. Why wouldn\u2019t such hypocrisy create discomfort?<\/p>\n

It\u2019s only natural. The liberal mind is struggling to defend the indefensible \u2013 a genocide \u2013 while holding on to its liberal values of tolerance and equality for all. How can one resolve the internal conflict?<\/p>\n

Some resort to denial: the genocide<\/a> livestreamed to us is not a genocide, they say. As if we do not hear the Israeli government and army officials repeat their intent<\/a> every day. As if their actions are anything but consistent with their intent: starvation and destruction, of all life in Gaza.<\/p>\n

Others internalise the time immemorial justification for genocide: the \u2018human animals<\/a>\u2019, \u00a0\u2018children of darkness<\/a>\u2019 and \u2018ancient evil<\/a>\u2019 must be erased for survival. They buy-in to the criminal \u2018human-shields\u2019 excuse<\/a> that further dehumanizes the Palestinians<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\t

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Read more<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t