Right wing authoritarianism isn’t subtle.
edit:
added context:
Here is what Ben is replying to:
Pro-Palestinian protesters a part of a group called “𝐏𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧,” vandalized a historic painting of Arthur James Balfour at Trinity College Cambridge in England.
Arthur Balfour wrote the Balfour Declaration of 1917 when he was serving as the British Foreign Minister. The letter expressed Britain's support for a Jewish Homeland in what is now Israel.
Direct link(should work for a bit): https://video.twimg.com/amplify_video/1766117900644151296/vid/avc1/720x1280/pQDXaeuPY2vYbJdX.mp4?tag=14
It seems to be more about the entitlement of the people representing the movement than about the art itself from what I'm seeing.
There's clearly a major issue that needs attention, destroying a painting that's kinda sorta related does nothing but make you look stupid and distract from the actual issues at hand as we're seeing here. We're talking about a painting and not about the failing hostage negotiations or the aid that desperately needs to flow...
This vandal should absolutely face criminal repercussions for this though imo. Doesn't matter what side of the issue you're on, what this person did was illegal and there needs to be consequences for breaking the laws of the land.
I mean, heavily related and glorifying (by being in one of the most prestigious universities in the world).
I don't know my own mind on this. First, respecting the law of the land is not always good (see: the Holocaust and slavery) and societal justice and moral rightness aren't the same thing. Second, they did something they believe in and should absolutely be prepared to face societal justice. That doesn't mean I would pass a sentence myself...it's a hard one and luckily I have no power or sway in what happens to them because I'd be deliberating with myself for hours haha