Championing Free Speech While Preventing Bullying

The University of Florida, led by its leader 

former United States Senator Ben Sasse,

recently did two important things: it upheld

the First Amendment while castigating those

who went beyond the lines of civil behavior 

in advocating for the Palestinians, drawing 

the lines between exercising their rights to 

free speech and their violent expression of 

antisemitism. The university announced 

loudly and clearly: "This is not complicated:

The University of Florida is not a day care,

and we do not treat protesters like children

--- they knew the rules, they broke the rules,

and they'll face the consequences," thus 

protecting freedom of expression and the 

safety of all members of the school's 

campus community.

Bravo to the University of Florida and to its

courageous and principled president Ben Sasse

for its timely action. May other institutions of 

higher learning and their leaders exhibit the 

kind of courage and adherence to principles 

that the University of Florida and its president

Ben Sasse exhibited when faced with this kind 

of behavior. 

MEM

Another Milestone for Us!

Friends, this posting marks the 800th post of PWAP.

This milestone for this blog and for The Peasant 

would not be possible and never would have occurred

had it not been for each and every one of you, my 

grand and wonderful readers! We have examined the 

political and economic news stories of the day together,

praised those who have done right and pummeled those 

who have done wrong. We marked the advancement of

good people in a field of endeavor which is not known

for its being nor rewarding good, and we marked the 

passing of good people who have left a legacy of their 

good deeds which benefited of country and our world.

And we took a little time for much-needed humor in

a realm whose nature is quite serious and often very

controversial. Laughter really is the best medicine!

But seriously, The Peasant thanks, praises, and salutes

all of you. You are the reason why I do what I do!

May we all keep at it together for many more weeks,

months, and years to come!

MEM

A Profile in Courage

NOTE: This is a trilogy about the battle between pro-Palestinian

protesters and those trying to preserve First Amendment 

rights for everyone regardless of their views on the Israeli-

Palestinian War and to protect people and property from

violence. 

--- The Peasant 

We hear almost daily of protesters on college campuses

trying to influence the schools to separate entirely from

Israel by divestiture in their investment portfolios and 

not inviting Israeli speakers from speaking to the student 

body and faculty, among other things. Oftentimes the

protesters' behavior goes beyond the bounds of civility

and wander into the dregs of bullying, and fracas from 

brawls to riots occur, including tearing down monuments

and replacing the American flag with that of Palestine;

the latter having been attempted at the University of

North Carolina campus at Chapel Hill for one example.

However, some of the students at the university wouldn't 

tolerate this act. Some brothers in the Pi Kappa Phi 

fraternity stood in the way of the Pro-Palestinian protesters,

thus preventing their carrying out their radical mission.

The interim chancellor, Lee Roberts then addressed the 

unruly gaggle: "This university doesn't belong to a small 

group of protesters. It belongs to every citizen of North 

Carolina ... That flag belongs to all of us." Naturally the 

crowd tried to shout him down to shut him up, but to no

avail as Roberts kept going: "To take down that flag and 

put up another flag, no matter what other flag it is --- 

that's antithetical to who were are, what this university 

stands for, what we've done for 229 years." Wow. 

Simply wow! 

A toast to Chancellor Roberts and to the young men of Pike,

who defended the flag, what it represents, and the right to 

fly it. People like them are why we're going to win the 

cultural war that our country is engulfed in!

MEM 

In Remembrance of D-Day 80 Years On

On this day, June 6, 1944 The United States and their allies

launched their largest and most audacious offensive move of

the Second World War. They had to postpone it for a few days 

due to inclement weather before launching their invasion of

the beaches of Normandy on the French coast. The stakes were 

astronomical; if Operation Overlord, the military name for the 

tremendous undertaking were to be a failure, the war in Europe

would have taken at least another full year to wage in order to 

free the countries there from the Germans' grip. Although many

men made the ultimate sacrifice to beat back the Germans, still

more men would have been lost if the European theatre of war

were to continue to see action for that long or longer. 

The troops of the Allied Expeditionary Force were addressed 

by the General Dwight D. Eisenhower, Supreme Commander 

of the Allied Forces, who would either receive high praise or

damning consequences depending upon the outcome of the 

invasion. Here is his speech, in its entirety:

Soldiers, Sailors, and Airmen of the Allied Expeditionary Force!

You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade, toward which

we have striven these many months. The eyes of the world are 

upon you. The hopes and prayers of liberty loving people every-

where march with you. In company with our brave allies and 

brothers-in-arms on other Fronts, you will bring about the 

destruction of the German war machine, the elimination of Nazi

tyranny over the oppressed peoples of Europe, and security for 

ourselves in a free world.

Your task will not be an easy one. Your enemy is well trained, 

well equipped and battle-hardened. He will fight savagely.

But this is the year of 1944! Much has happened since the Nazi

triumphs of 1940-41. The United States have inflicted upon the 

Germans great defeats, in open battle, man-to-man. Our air 

offensive has seriously reduced their strength in the air and their

capacity to wage war on the ground. Our Home Fronts have given

us an overwhelming superiority in weapons and munitions of war,

and placed at our disposal great reserves of trained fighting men.

The tide has turned! The free men of the world are marching

together to Victory!

I have full confidence in your courage, devotion to duty, and skill

in battle. We will accept nothing less than full victory!

Good luck! And let us all beseech the blessing of Almighty God 

upon this great and noble undertaking.

Dwight David Eisenhower

The United States, its top general, and their allied partners, as you 

know were successful in their mind-boggling undertaking. 

Operation Overlord marked the beginning of the Allied Forces victory 

in the European theatre of WWII and with it the end of Germany's.

dominance. The military men who fought, bled, sacrificed all, and 

those who survived returned home heroes from D-Day, saved the

world from oppression and all attendant suffering with our nation

leading the effort. These brave souls would be known from that time 

forward known as The Greatest Generation, their place in our nation's 

and our world's history assured, along with the freedom which our 

country and many other countries enjoy. 

Your humble and grateful Peasant salutes these courageous warriors 

on this momentous day, the 80th anniversary of the biggest military 

undertaking that the world has ever witnessed. God bless you all! 

Your story is a reminder that freedom doesn't come cheap but is a 

necessity, not a luxury. 

MEM

Carlos Alberto Montaner, R.I.P.

While a teenager Carlos Alberto Montaner was joyful 

when Fidel Castro's revolution propelled Castro to

power in Cuba, overthrowing Fulgencio Batista. His joy, 

however, turned to anger and chagrin when Castro

next imposed communism on the Cuban people.

Escaping in 1961, he spent most of his life in Spain

writing novels and political commentary (mostly

the latter). He became a member of the Miami Herald 

editorial board, along the way in his career as an 

advocate for freedom, democracy, and human rights

in Cuba and elsewhere. 

Montaner explained, "There is a secret family of victims 

of totalitarianism, which can be the families in Burma

(now Myanmar) or the victims in North Korea or in 

Iran or in Cuba. We feel a special bond with them 

because we belong to the same family." 

Carlos Alberto Montaner was also a splendid human being.

He has passed away at 80. Viva Cuba libre! 

Requiescat in pace.

MEM