Over 1,700 sociologists signed an open letter condemning the “internationally supported genocide” committed by the “Israeli regime.” The academics — both students and professors — call upon their “colleagues to stand in solidarity with Palestinians and against settler colonialism, imperialism, and genocide.” In support of their position, the sociologists write that Israel “targeted hospitals,” and link to an article alleging that an “Israeli bombardment has struck a packed hospital compound in central Gaza, killing an estimated 500 people,” a claim that has been thoroughly debunked.
I am never impressed by the sheer number of signatures endorsing a letter; a true and convincing statement only requires one signature. Still, I scrolled through the document, wondering if I might recognize some scholars from my own institutions. I did notice some familiar names.
The long list “included” the following: 1) Adolf Hitler, Professor Emeritus, Sociology, University of Vienna; 2) Adolf Eichmann, Wannsee Conference Participant and Head of Logistics; 3) Joseph Goebbels, Director of Propaganda for The Third Reich; 4) Otto Hofmann, Head of the SS Race and Settlement Main Office; 5) Reinhard Heydrich, Stellvertretender Reichsprotektor of Bohemia and Moravia; 6) Amin al-Husseini, Assistant Professor of Criminology, Al-Quds University; 7) “Chemical” Ali Hassan al-Majid, Former Director of the Iraqi Intelligence Service; 8) Dr. Ayman Zawahiri, Professor of Pharmacy, Cairo University; 9) The Family of Abbas Al-Musawi, Founder of Hezbollah; and 10) Idi Amin, Professor of Ethnic Studies, Koboko University.
Some prominent Americans apparently “signed”: 1) Joe Biden, former Benjamin Franklin Presidential Practice Professor at the University of Pennsylvania; 2) Jill Biden, Professor, Northern Virginia Community College; 3) Ben Rhodes, Former Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategic Communications and Co-Host of Pod Save the World; and 4) Donald Trump, Home Alone 2 Guest Star.
There were entertaining juvenile contributions, proving that we never outgrow Bart Simpson’s sense of humor: 1) Phillip McCrack, Social Proctologist in Anus, France; 2) Shitana Pagoda, Huflung Pu University, Beijing; 3) Imre Tardedi, LMU Munic; 4) Sagon Deez, Student at WU Vienna; and 5) Dr. Hamas McHamasFace, University of Austin. I’m certain this can all be blamed on Hugh Jass.
Eventually, the user “Michael Rodriguez” revised the document. Yet the editorial intervention was not comprehensive — which perhaps reflects the quality of work generally performed by sociologists. The individual “A Johnson” without any university credential is still the 40th signature, and Nazi Oscar Dirlewagner remains on the long list.
I have never taken a sociology course, but those professors did just teach me some valuable lessons: Implement a verification process to collect signatures, and be more mindful of internet trolls.