Defend Hamas sympathizer, but attack Musk?

Democrats and students are clamoring for the release of a recently deported Jew-hating political activist. Even though he was not a citizen, but a green card-holding former student at Columbia University, his America-hating and paid defenders are claiming violations of his constitutional “free speech rights.”

Sorry. First Amendment rights don’t apply for guests who actively foment riots and university shutdowns. Nor for those paid protesters aligning with Hamas terrorists chanting “Death to Israel” and to America — the same terrorists who slaughtered 1200+ Jews on Oct. 7, 2023. Those protesters should learn the horrors of the World War II Jewish Holocaust and crimes against humanity.

We shouldn’t be surprised. The Communist playbook has been acted out on campuses while these well-endowed universities receive federal taxpayer funds. It’s similar to any opposition of uncovering waste and fraud by our bloated bureaucracy and politicians who have the most to lose when exposed. Or hypocritically turning on a champion for green energy by vandalizing his Tesla dealerships. Sure, Elon Musk changed “sides.” So did a number of German geniuses who helped us win World War II.

We who lived in totalitarian regimes know such vocal and destructive antics are never tolerated. Those ashamed of our country and our flag who actively subvert our country should learn there’s no freedom without law and justice. That would teach everyone to value USA exceptionalism, which WNBA Brittney Griner learned after her country freed her from a Russian prison. She now stands for the stars and stripes.

Tim Bickel

Cedar Rapids