Berkeley professor Ron Hassner decided to see just how much American college students know about the Middle East, and whether there was a correlation between the passion they felt about certain issues, and their knowledge of the relevant facts. He found, much to his chagrin, that the more passionate a student felt about the supposed wrongs inflicted on the Palestinians by Israel, the les that student knew about the most basic matters, including how to find Israel on a map. More on this can be found here: “In Survey, UC Berkeley Prof. Finds Most Students ‘Passionate’ About ‘Israeli Occupation’ Can’t Find Palestinian Territories on Map,” Algemeiner, November 27, 2023:
Most students who care strongly about the “Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories” do not have knowledge of basic facts surrounding the subject, and do not share similar concerns about other geopolitical conflicts, a recent study has suggested.
The survey, carried out among 230 undergraduates at the University of California, Berkeley, was conducted by Ron Hassner, the Helen Diller Family Chair in Israel Studies at the school who published an essay on his results on Monday.
It asked respondents to rate their attitude on 18 issues, “including US-Iran relations, the civil war in Yemen, drone warfare, etc., on a five point scale, ranging from ‘I’m not that interested’ (1 point out of 5) to ‘I care deeply’ (5 points out of 5),” explained Hassner, who also included a series of open-ended questions “on history, geography, and current affairs.”
One hundred of the participating students, or 43 percent, expressed the highest rate of interest in Israel’s control of Palestinian territories, while simultaneously caring “far less about other Middle East occupations, such as the Kurdish struggle for independence, the occupation of Western Sahara, or the occupation of Northern Cyprus,” Hassner found….
The students’ professed level of interest also did not appear to correlate with their understanding of the Palestinian issue. Eighty-four percent of those in the most passionate cohort could not name the decade when Israel captured the West Bank, while 75 percent could not locate the Palestinian territories in question on a map. Twenty-five percent “of these students placed the Palestinian Territories west of Lebanon, in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea,” Hassner wrote. “The class average for this blunder was 14%.”…
For example, like the rest of the class, only 25% of passionate students placed the Palestinian Territories, correctly, south of Lebanon. But students with more moderate levels of enthusiasm provided the correct answer 28% of the time.”
The most passionate students were also the least likely to leave questions unanswered and “the most likely to offer a wild guess,” marking them as the most overconfident respondents….
“Only 16% of students who ‘care deeply’ about the Palestinian issue provided the correct decade for the Six Day War and only 17% were able to guess that the population of Israel was somewhere between 8 and 12 million people,” Hassner shared. “The others offered guesses ranging from as low as 100,000 persons to as high as 150 million persons.”…
If you think Arafat was once the leader of Israel, or you ae convinced that the Jewish state has a population of 150 million, or you can’t give even the decade in which the Six-Day War occurred, or if you cannot identify either Israel or the Palestinian territories on a map, then you have no right to express, or even to silently form, an opinion on the Arab-Israeli conflict. You should burn the midnight oil, studying the relevant material, and only after you have done that will you be allowed, in a well-ordered world, to say what, now sufficiently informed, you think of the matter. Unfair to ignoramuses? Yes, I thought someone would say that. Tough.
SKA says
These students remind me of the hoards of indoctrinated young boys that Iran used to clear mine fields in the Iraq-Iran war to spare their older IRGC and regular army troops from mine warfare. . . useful fools. And the Islamist use them just as cynically.
KoshsShadow says
I fortunately don’t meet people like this, but if I did, I would ask:
“How would you like the Palestinians to get the independent, internationally recognized state of Palestine at its largest size since the year 1600, and the Jews get the rest?”
The readers here know the answer – Jews would get all of Israel, and the “Palestinians” would get nothing. I won’t waste everyone’s time repeating the history that we all know.
But I will add that many reporters would not be able to answer that question correctly, either.
gravenimage says
+1
John Smith says
Correct Koshs, it’s just a pity that not enough people would no the answer to your question.
Ray Jarman says
I would place a wager that very few of these passionate collegiate lovers of Islam can locate Islamic nations on a map such as Sudan, Yemen, Myanmar, Somalia and much less Djibouti. I would like to know how these morons get into any university since when I entered the university, I had to pass the SAT as well as writing an essay. It appears that universities have replaced what used to be high schools.
One other note is that since I did not have the money to attend full time nor was I married with children, I was drafted and later sent to Vietnam. It is upsetting to see these illiterate morons attending these major universities who could probably not pass the high school courses of the past. My property tax is around $6,500 per year and what the hell are my (or the nation’s) return for this money?
Not A Muslim says
You’re wrong! Colleges are replacing middle schools: many students either have a driver’s license or use a checkbook. They spend the whole day in college doing what exactly? Nobody knows. Average major is under 20 hours per week.
James Lincoln says
Ray Jarman says,
“It appears that universities have replaced what used to be high schools.”
It’s likely even worse than that, Ray.
Decades ago, a well-rounded college prep program – at a good high school – was vastly superior to today’s “soft” college liberal arts majors (e.g., sociology, gender studies, etc.).
And, so glad that you made it back from Vietnam – thank you.
Ray Jarman says
Thanks James Lincoln. I did not say before but being drafted, believe me I did not think so at the time, was the best thing that ever happened to me. I would have probably spent my working life working in machine shops and as I was lucky enough to work my way up the ranks and earn a Masters in International Affairs which was a major plus when applying to the State Department. I feel sorry for some of the students who feel that a degree in women’s affairs and other so-called liberal arts degrees are going to enable them to obtain a position in the workforce that will offer them a return on their money.
James Lincoln says
Ray Jarman says,
“…I was lucky enough to work my way up the ranks and earn a Masters in International Affairs which was a major plus when applying to the State Department…”
Great accomplishment, Ray!
Talk about turning lemons into lemonade…
gravenimage says
Ray, I very much take your point.
One small thing: Myanmar (Burma) is *not* an Islamic nation. Its population is 88 Buddhist, 6 percent Christian, and 4 percent Muslim.
These last are mostly Rohingya Muslims, who invaded from neighboring Bangladesh in the 1970s and have been causing trouble there ever since.
Ray Jarman says
Thanks for your kind words and I my intent was not to name only Muslim nations but ones in the news quit frequently and because of the Muslim attacks in Myanmar it came to mind.
࿗Infidel࿘ says
You mean that those justice-jihadists for Palestine couldn’t name the “river” and the “sea” that they refer to in their Endlosungische slogans that they yell while threatening any Jews within sight?
Reading this story, I’m pretty impressed that they placed “Palestine” west of Lebanon, in the sea, as opposed to somewhere in Kazakhstan or Bolivia or even Canada!
libertyORdeath says
Their hearts BLEED for poor Africa, yet they couldn’t identify 5 African countries on a map if you paid them.
They claim to be supporting Ukrainian “independence” but couldn’t find the Donbas or Crimea without Google helping the.
Are ae REALLY surprised that they don’t kniw where “Palestine” is?
EVERYTHING is PROPAGANDA
https://open.substack.com/pub/johnfromjamestowne/p/what-is-carpet-bombing-exactly?r=288rw5&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
somehistory says
School kids are allowed to say ten and ten equals 32, four and four equals 19…or any other amount they may choose. It’s no wonder that they can’t locate anything…any place accurately…on a map. But things that are ‘trendy” or are “trending” catch their attention.
Besides, soros and others are paying lots of money to get people to riot for whatever they choose to want a riot. soros is evil and his designs are evil, so any evil is supported and riots are called. Many of the teachers and professors are also supporters of evil and are behind a lot of this championing hamas.
carpediadem says
Many of the well-organised proHamas marches in the US are financed by a socialist millionaire couple living in China.
bagsgroove says
We can’t wait to see the end of the soros dynasty and their sore asses.
tim gallagher says
I’m sure that a lot of this trendy, ” groovy” support for the Palestinians and hatred for israel is simply the fashionable view among the left wing, politically correct students and, if you stepped out of line, you would be treated like a leper. So the gutless wonders join in with the leftie groupthink. Of course, they don’t know anything about the Middle East, but they are having a wonderful time being popular and part of the mob of fashionable left wing fuckwits.
carpediadem says
Hi Tim,
much of this “student” passion is coming from copycat marches in the US and UK, from activist teachers getting the students worked up, lefty parents and of course the troglodyte ABC Behind the News segments, Muslim students and their support systems.
All “news” outlets promoting the Hamas casualty figures certainly aid the hysteria.
They get their protest jollies/expertise from the Climate School Strikes and transfer it to the Hamas hate marches. One of the School march co-leaders is a junior Socialist.
tim gallagher says
carpediadem, I agree completely with your summation of the poisonous forces, the Marxist teachers and the left wing wanker brigade at the ABC, etc, who brainwash the students. And I have no doubt that students who didn’t go along to the left wing deom (whether about the Palestinians or the climate change issue) would be treated as lepers. To me though, I believe that anyone who can in any way support hamas and the Palestinians who support hamas, after those atrocities committed recently, has to be an evil piece of human trash. I know that recent events have made me loathe islam even more than i have done for years. Such an extraordinary level of evil. Hopefully, some of these left wing youngsters do change as they mature a bit. There are some people who started out on the left and have become less foolish. Two that I know of are Paul Johnson, an English historian, and Melanie Phillips, who I always though was a pretty conservative commentator and author, but just read started out on the left. We live in hope that some people will wake the hell up out of their youthful idiocy..
gravenimage says
Tbis has gotten worse at places like Berkeley. I worked on a Jewish student publication during my college years in the late 1970s and early ’80s–I’m not sure that there could be such an openly Jewish publication there now.
tim gallagher says
Yes, it is appalling these days, gravenimage. To my mind, these people who seem to find that the way those scum of the earth from hamas behaved is OK are evil to an extent where they are almost beyond redemption. I’d say that you would actually face serious physical harm these days if you did work on a Jewish publication from the rabid scum from the fascist left and their Muslim mates. The ferocity of the anti-Jewish sentiment these days seems insane to me.
Wellington says
Million man geography and history can be counted on to appear once you have million man math. Yes indeed, if 1 + 1 = 19 then “alternative geography and history” will follow quite effortlessly. And they have.
The descent of the West continues, courtesy of major negatives like Leftism, Islam, laziness, stupidity and cowardice. Unless civilization is constantly vigilant it can be stripped away quite easily. It is surely being stripped away now in one Western nation after another. Clearly. No doubt here whatsoever.
tim gallagher says
Too much fighting and brawling, too many people in our societies who have some weird hatred for western societies, Wellington. A fellow conservative friend of mine, who I am meeting today for lunch to try to sort out the world’s problems, well, we’ll be mostly bemoaning how fucked up things are, texted me with some comments and ended with, western civilisation, requiescat in pace. Something that often strikes me, in relation to the USA, the main defender of western civilisation is the thought of that demented Biden running again for President and possibly winning. It is insane that that far gone in dementia creature could continue on as President. The system has to be completely fucked up to produce such a situation.
Wellington says
With you again completely, tg. And may you and your fellow conservative over there in Australia have a great lunch all the while demolishing and dissecting how utterly foolish and destructive the Left in any Western nation has been. My bottom line: the Left virtually never gets anything right and saps the wisdom out of common sense all the while taking the joy out of life.
As for Joe Biden specifically, the man is a thorough disgrace to the best of America. He has no virtues, none, and his many faults are presently contributing to the demise of my country. I despise him (and too his handlers like Obama) almost as much as I despise Islam.
In any case, may Australia and America, ditto for many other Western nations which have temporarily lost their aggregate mind (better be temporary or else) finally recoup and put to rest the twin iniquities which are Islam and Leftism. What a beautiful result this would be for the best of mankind. Most certainly for the West at large, whether in Australia, America, Canada, the UK, France, New Zealand, Sweden, et al. Best to you and your nation.
tim gallagher says
Thanks, Wellington, yes we had an enjoyable lunch as usual and discussed a lot of the massive problems that are facing the western world and specifically Australia. We agree that there a few promising signs as this Labor, left wing government currently running Australia so destructively seems to be falling apart and its popularity is falling through the floor just lately. We meet every month or so. Most people I know, my siblings and a couple of other friends are pretty left wing so it is good to discuss things with a fellow conservative. Weather was very pleasant and we went for a long walk beside a very scenic river here in Sydney not far from Sydney Harbour. Above all, both Chris and I value western civilisation greatly and refuse to buy the bullshit about how horrible and evil it has been and we both loathe barbaric islam. I hope you are going well.
gravenimage says
Too true, Wellington and Tim.
tgusa says
If you really want to see stupid have the students try to find Berkeley on a map. Make it easy, use a map of the city of Berkeley.
gravenimage says
They are ‘Passionate About Palestine,’ But They Can’t Find Palestinian Territories on a Map
………………………………………
Why does this not surprise?
And these educated ignoramuses are at my alma mater. Kudos to Professor Ron Hassner for exposing this vicious cluelessness.
Fitna says
Ya most of them are Lefty idiots jumping on the bandwagon, thinking they’re standing for a righteous cause.
But the good thing is that if they are properly educated, then they leave this mvmt pretty quickly. No sane person actually wants to march for the genocide of any group, esp the Jews…aside from Muslims and Nazis.
Mass education is needed, in our schools, universities and the mainstream media…not just about this conflict but about Islam most of all as it threatens our civilization and way of life.
Biggles says
Tut tut Mr. Fitzgerald:
You write:
‘He found, much to his chagrin, that the more passionate a student felt about the supposed wrongs inflicted on the Palestinians by Israel, the les that student knew about the most basic matters (…)’
‘(…) the les that (…)’
Must be one of those exotic words you are so fond of using. LOL!
But seriously, I do like your contributions, including the exotic words.
Rarely says
Unfortunately the results of this survey are not surprising. Just ask the average high school graduate when WWII was and get ready to laugh. The likely response will be: “You mean there were TWO of them?:” Funny” Yes but no joke. I did just that a few years back and the answers wee astonishing. I guess they aren’t teaching history in the schools any longer — someone may be offended.
But, if we are so terribly misinformed and so easily manipulated by those who are, it’s not surprising how easily the uneducated masses in third world countries are led to slaughter others and be slaughtered themselves.
We might as well be in the Middle Ages.
OLD GUY says
Part of the problem is that America has allowed a huge amount of foreign money into our higher educational system for the past 40 years. That money has bought changes to what we teach and what is allowed to be taught by foreign teachers who spread propaganda to our students. It has also resulted in the lowering of admission requirements to allow foreign students to be admitted.
James Lincoln says
At least when I was in college, “I knew that I didn’t know” – and didn’t try to opine on things that I knew nothing about.
Rarely says
You were pretty unique, admirable, but unique.