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Comedian Jerry Seinfeld delivered the commencement address at Duke University on Sunday. The media made a big deal out of the fact that a few students got up and walked out when Seinfeld came to the podium.
Seinfeld received an honorary degree.
It was maybe 25-30 students who left, from what I can tell. There was a little of the „Free Palestine“ propaganda slogan shouted. While the media was running with that part of Seinfeld’s role in the graduation ceremony, the real story was Seinfeld’s speech.
The sight of the students walking out on a Jewish speaker was antisemitism on display. What did they hope to accomplish? American Jews don’t control Israel’s war against Hamas. They want to disrupt normal life yet many of them show real ignorance about the conflict.
Many in the audience booed the students as they left.
The Duke audience was refreshingly receptive to Seinfeld. Duke students seem to be a cut above many at other schools. Seinfeld noted in his speech that Duke University today is the Harvard University of yesterday – when Harvard was respected and thought to be the top institution of higher learning in the United States. How far Harvard has fallen.
The pro-Hamas protests at university commencements are nothing more than temper tantrums that aid and abet Hamas. President Biden may be swayed by them but the people at commencement ceremonies are not.
Seinfeld did not acknowledge the students as they walked out. He went to the podium and began his speech like nothing was happening.
