So they announced the Pulitzer Award in Commentary today and the winner was....
Not me. (We did enter.)
But for once I wasn't upset. Vladimir Kara-Murza deserved the win, I have no qualms about that, I mean, how can my writing compete with a guy in a Russian Prison? Kara-Murza's writing was historically important and his message was an urgent communication delivered to the Washington Post.
And I even predicted the winner in the Public Service Category.
What are we doing here then?
I am going to whisper this very, very softly. <You know who runs Beacon of Speech? I do. You know what our core values are here? First Amendment protections of Free Speech. You know who gives out the Pulitzer? Columbia University. Columbia University cancelled commencement today due to continued riots on campus. Why are there riots at Columbia? There shouldn't be.>
Hamas declared war on Israel, Israel declared war on Hamas. Just last week, we delineated the difference between pro-Palestinian Protests and anti-Israeli Riots. I have read article after article of spin trying to get the average American to pick a side in the war. The right answer is peace with movement to a 2 state solution.
Have I read about Jews stating "all Palestinians should die?" I have not. Israel demands the simple right to exist. Have I read about Palestinians stating "all Jews should die?" I have.
On October 7th, Hamas attacked Israel with the simple message "all Jews should die." When Israel fought back, Hamas screamed "we are being slaughtered" and then Columbia gave a Pulitzer to the brave journalists in Gaza as students on their campus continued to shriek "all Jews should die.""
Free Speech does not include threatening to kill all the Jews. I should not know that better than an Ivy League University. I should not know that better than the Pulitzer Board.
These were our favorite articles from 2023 that we are very proud of, but submitted for no awards: