Edition 5: Confrontation: The Meaning Of Freedom 

We are excited to present the Platform's 5th edition titled "Confrontation: The Meaning of Freedom'' on our new website! In keeping with this month's holiday of Hanukkah, which is the holiday that Jews celebrate the heroic feats of the Maccabees and their struggle for independence from the Syrian Greeks, the theme we chose for this month is "Confrontation over Freedom". The question of cancel culture's place in a free society brings to mind societal struggles over the proper way to confront ideas you disagree with and how this phenomenon of cancellation runs antithetical to the free exercise of debate. Authoritarian style journalism in democratic countries ties into this theme of confrontation between those who have the power of the pen and their critics who accuse them of abusing that power. This past month also showed increasing tensions between the free world and China, with the former feeling threatened by China's unexpected mastery over hypersonic technology. The potential of world hegemony by a non-free power like China would have adverse implications on the ability of democratic powers to challenge the allure of dictatorial regimes. Similarly, the divisions between independence-seeking Ethiopian groups like the Tigray independence movement who accuse the central government of trampling over their national rights heightens the possibility of civil war.