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Wednesday, January 22, 2025 — Houston, TX

Students should prioritize American patriotism

By Jacob Kasner     1/21/25 11:05pm

Editor’s Note: This is a guest opinion that has been submitted by a member of the Rice community. The views expressed in this opinion are those of the author and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of the Thresher or its editorial board. All guest opinions are fact-checked to the best of our ability and edited for clarity and conciseness by Thresher editors. 

A threat to American values has grown rapidly in recent years: the anti-war movement’s shift to an anti-military stance, calling for divesting from, and in effect dismantling, the defense industrial base. The hyperbolic language found here should alarm Rice students because the U.S. military needs those same companies to develop critical technologies in the functioning of U.S. defense

The shift is evident in university culture. A growing number of young adults, particularly at prestigious institutions, now oppose American involvement abroad. 



The Rice Coalition for Liberation advocated “undermining the economic and political structures supporting the apartheid state of Israel’s actions and reducing the financial viability of its military operations.” The Harvard Undergraduate Palestine Solidarity Committee made a stronger claim blaming Israel entirely. The recently-failed S.REF 02 at Rice, which asked that Rice “disentangle its endowment from the web of colonial warfare” by divesting from companies and institutions that profit from the “U.S.-Israel war machine,” promoted a negative sentiment against the U.S. as an imperialist nation.

Student Association President Jae Kim wrote a letter stating “50%+ voted in favor” and suggested he would emphasize this support to “further conversations” in meetings with administration. However, with only 38.6% of students voting, this represents a vocal minority of less than 23% of the total student body — just 1,069 of 4,776 undergraduates.

I speak to the remaining 3,707 undergraduates. Together, we must reclaim our patriotism. We should reject the activities of groups like Students for Justice in Palestine, whose umbrella organization has advocated in a now-deleted message on X for the “collapse of the university structure and American empire itself.” We owe America, which provides the privilege of attending institutions like Rice, our gratitude.

Abraham Lincoln famously stated “A house divided against itself cannot stand.” 

While this rings true, the current threat appears as follows: a house united to tear down its own structure will surely fall. SJP’s campaign against U.S. military actions indicates a push for dismantling the foundations of freedom, pluralism, welfare, rationalism and, of course, defense that have kept this nation strong.

I grieve the death of patriotism apparent in the 1,069 peers who seemingly declared themselves anti-military when they voiced their support for divestment from Lockheed Martin and other companies who supply the U.S. and Israeli militaries with weapons and non-lethal materials. They seem more concerned with opposing colonialism than preserving freedom. To stand with strength for freedom, we need our military.

 We show our loyalties in challenge, not ease, and I will not sacrifice freedom in the name of opposition to perceived imperialism. To those who voted to pass S.RES 02, is the defense industry only a “war machine,” and not also a critical means of credible deterrence? The empowered American military dispels attacks against us and our allies by adversaries like Iran. Defending liberty is a constitutional principle, and America has a responsibility to defend both its own people and citizens of allied nations. 

Timely delivery of weapons technology by the defense industry prevents emboldened aggression. Job seeking students at Rice should recognize that hopes of disbanding the U.S.-Israel military partnership through pulling funding from associated programs could have jeopardized graduate fellows, DOD-funded research, internships and other professional opportunities.

Most Rice students aim to secure a solid career and provide for their families. That is the essence of the American Dream, which relies on a stable, prosperous America. To the 3,707 Rice students who voted against referendum #2 or did not vote at all, I call on you to reaffirm your patriotism. As we seek jobs at companies which the American environment nurtured, we ought to nurture the foundations of America ourselves.

Let’s show that anti-war, and by extension, anti-American sentiment is a fringe view within Rice, not the majority. Let’s show our gratitude for an America that makes possible the existence of a prestigious university like Rice. Let’s unite to preserve Western values at Rice.

A house like America, standing strong through deep division, deserves an uproar of unity to protect its beacon of freedom. I have relied on Lincoln here, and strongly recommend readers do the same on Feb. 17, the upcoming Presidents’ Day. Rather than merely taking the day off for leisurely fun, I encourage engaging with the textual tradition enclosed in Lincoln’s great speeches and letters to revitalize your patriotism.

Job seekers, especially the young adults at Rice, can show gratitude by dedicating time to public service, not limited to the military. Though only 1% of the population serves, aiding Teach for America or working at National Park Service would nurture the foundations of this house, our house, America.



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