What do the Biden administration and elite universities have in common?

The very troubling display of three university presidents, who were unable to bring themselves to admit that students and professors calling for the genocide of the Jewish people goes against their schools’ code of conduct, was not an unforced error. Their statements were calculated and deliberate, with one specific consideration in mind.

That was the billions of dollars received by Middle Eastern countries to elite universities, who are now beholden to them for their generosity. Prestigious schools such as Cornell, Harvard, NYU and Georgetown are said to have received billions in funding from Arab countries over the past 30 years, according to a report by Campus Watch. 

For such sizeable endowments, these college presidents, undoubtedly, felt obligated to seek the advice of clever counsel, as to how to frame their answers to questions posed to them at the December 5th congressional hearing to which they were summoned. And that was obvious, as all three women responded identically when asked about the blatant antisemitism which has been openly spewed on their campuses. Now, it’s become clear why all spoke as one. 

Although these universities receive many donations from former alumni and others, nothing compares to the vast wealth that is being funneled to them by those who dislike Israel and are only too happy to see the fomenting of hate and loathing for Jewish students who study at these campuses. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that all three of these presidents are aware of the fact that there is no justification for the calling of genocide toward any group of people, but in this particular case, they attempted to hide under the pitiful excuse of “context” within specific chants. 

However, when billions of dollars are flowing from the pot at the end of the rainbow, it becomes all too easy to compromise on one’s integrity, inner conscience and moral compass, which are meant to be the safeguards in guiding us through all of the unethical and unprincipled corruption constantly being offered, no matter how tempting. But, as the saying goes, “Money talks,” and, in this case, three women were willing to show their loyalty to the same benefactors, albeit at their own expense, who expected a good return on their investments. Well, they got it! 

Fortunately, the outcry of shock and disbelief that poured in, following the hearing which was heard around the world, ended up in the scorn of these women, not to mention exposing what has really been going on inside of these learning institutions. We can only hope that great changes will result, as it relates to these universities respecting the rights and dignity of all students regardless of their ethnic background. 

Similarly, the U.S. Biden administration is beholden to yet another group who, unlike Middle Eastern countries, is not financing their empire but, nonetheless, holds the power of their continued power and authority. They are the Arab-American voters and their sympathizers by way of young Jew-haters.

In Efraim Cohen’s brilliant article entitled, “Don’t depend on continued US support,” he states: “There is a domestic political angle to all of this. Biden is hemorrhaging young and Muslim voters. He needs their support if he has any hopes of winning reelection. That is why he has said almost nothing about the antisemitism raging on college campuses. And last week, he hosted a gathering of Muslim-American leaders to whom he apologized for having doubted Hamas’s casualty figures. He now seems ready to accept without question casualty numbers provided by the Hamas-controlled Gazan health officials who have a history of lying and exaggerating these figures. Taking all this together, it’s only a matter of time before Biden and Blinken pressure Israel to return to the status quo ante.” 

Both groups – the Biden administration and heads of elite universities – have been willing participants in playing the game of “scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours.” They each serve as a deplorable template of corruptible leadership, which is easily purchased and then bribed for whatever indiscretion or immorality is being requested. 

Such examples are not only exceedingly objectionable, but they demand an immediate replacement with honest, sincere and principled individuals who are able to rebuff evil when it comes calling – regardless of what perks and rewards it offers.

Whether it arrives in the form of money or prospective votes, caving into that kind of unscrupulous exchange of favors only confirms the lengths to which bad people will go in order to retain power and influence over others. It is the worst of humanity’s base tendencies, which can only be overcome through the high ideal of valuing a good name and reputation. 

These days, however, the significance and consequence of such things are held in low esteem, despite the scripture which reads: “A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, loving favor rather than silver and gold.” (Proverbs 22:1).

How is it that so many have lost sight of what is truly important in life, choosing, instead, to attain what ends up in the shame and the diminishing of their stature? Why is their good name so easily for sale? And how do they think they will get away with whatever they’ve done when almost no one does? 

It truly boggles the mind to understand the thought processes that would lead people to make choices that will, undoubtedly, ruin all for which they have worked, causing them to be reviled and jeered by those who may have once thought them honorable.

While, as humans, we all have frailties, we must still strive to possess a reasonable amount of moral character that values the principles of honesty, the ability to reject evil, the need to call out corruption and the obligation to be a good example for others to admire. Without those basic foundational precepts, falling prey to immoral actors is almost a given.

There is nothing that can trump excellent character but, in order to possess it, one must be willing to forego all of the accompanying allurement that endeavors to get us to relinquish our most prized possession, and that is the ability to stand on what we know is right and be immovable, even if it means losing something of value – be it an election or coveted position as the president of an elite university.

Because, in the end, it is what is linked to one’s name which remains their legacy, and being known as an antisemite, due to the fear of losing votes or money, is not the way anyone should want to be remembered!