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Comment by JohnWhigham | Hacker News Reader

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JohnWhigham·

You're reflexively labeled anti-Semitic and often castigated for it.

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>> I don’t follow. Is it not possible in the US to criticize Israel?

> You're reflexively labeled anti-Semitic and often castigated for it.

So? Freedom of speech is not freedom from criticism or reproach.

I'm confused. That in no way reduces your freedom.

Equal treatment under the law is a key tenet of freedom. If you are bidding on a government contract, your bid should be equally considered along with everyone else’s on its merits, irrespective of whatever your personal beliefs on unrelated matters might be.

Company policy and personal beliefs are very different things. The former has many legal restrictions while the latter is immutable. I don't understand why you are conflating the two. This law is entirely relevant to companies not individuals.

So I understand that this exact clause is in contracts which must be signed by paid speakers at public universities. I.e. you cannot boycott Israel and give a lecture at a university. Would you consider that an infringement on speech?

Companies are made up of people. There is nothing that only affects companies and not people. A company is just a legal abstraction that represents a group of people.

If this systematically happens to journalists, it is kind of limiting what can be said in places amplified by media.

I think this is exactly what happens.

That's a common problem across the board, voicing anything pro or against Israel will potentially alienate a nontrivial amount of customers.

Which US MSM news channel voices out against Israel?

They have apartheid in the lawbooks, but I think no US MSM channel goes as far to dare to say this... They dare say it about Arab countries (maltreatment of migrant workers). They've said it about South-Africa.

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