There's still no word on the source of the flier that was circulating a few weeks ago at Florida Atlantic University. The University and the ADL say it's a hoax. But the problem here, I believe, is the definition of what constitues a "hoax." According to Webster's, a hoax is "something intended to deceive or defraud." So, technically, if the authors of the FAU flier intended to convince people that it was the work of a student group voicing a grievance when, in fact, it was not, then it would appear to fall within the definition of "hoax."
I don't believe, however, that whoever published that piece of garbage expected anyone to buy that. I don't think for a second that they had any expectation of even one of those "demands" being taken seriously by the University or anyone else. And I seriously doubt that it was concocted by a student organization, official or otherwise. On the other hand, I do think it's a piece of virulent hate literature intended to make a point -- not a sick joke or a stupid prank. And I have to say that if such a document had been directed against a different ethnic group, neither the University nor the ADL would have encouraged people to ignore it. And even if they had, the media wouldn't have allowed that to happen.
Hate is hate. Our constitution requires us to permit the expression of hate (within limits), but it doesn't require us to stand by silently in the face of such expression. Hate, whether disguised as parody, metaphor or even "hoax," is still hate. No matter who it's directed against. That's why the FAU flier should not be ignored.
