Einstein was known as the smartest man who ever lived, with an estimated IQ of 180. Stephen Hawking is way up there, too, at 160. Smart men often have controversial and unique views about the world and are not reluctant to speak out about them without being constrained by their fields, academies or public censure. That's called conscience, caring for all beings. Although Einstein early on disparaged Chinese people, he denounced racial segregation as “a disease of white people”. Einstein advocated a socialist economy during the Cold War, stating that capitalism and private enterprise fostered economic inequality. Albert Einstein participated in numerous protests, demonstrations, and acts of social activism throughout his life, using his fame to advocate for peace, civil rights, and humanitarian causes. While a pacifist for most of his life, his protests shifted toward supporting defensive action against Nazism in the 1930s and racial equality in the United States thereafter. On 12 September 1942, in the middle of the Second World War, Albert Einstein wrote a letter to nineteen-year-old German-Jewish refugee Hans Kaufmann in Santiago de Chile. In it, he expresses grave misgivings about the creation of a central authority to protect Jewish interests. The letter was in answer to a communication by the young man in which he had asked Einstein to head a Jewish organization which would defend the interests of Jews, their dignity, and the project of a national home in Palestine. Einstein was a proponent of a Jewish cultural homeland in Palestine but strongly opposed the creation of a separate Jewish state, advocating instead for a binational, cooperative future with Arabs. He expressed deep skepticism regarding political nationalism, fear of extremist violence, and a preference for shared, peaceful administration of the region. Einstein emphasized his support for a Jewish homeland, but criticized Zionist leaders for taking an "intransigent position" that threatened a peaceful solution and, he expressed concerns about forming a separate state rather than remaining as Palestine. He pushed for a "Jewish Arab symbiosis" and believed that failure to cooperate with the Arab population would indicate a failure to learn from history. The Deir Yassin massacre, in which at least 107 Palestinian Arabs were killed, including women and children, so affected Einstein and Hannah Arendt that they solicited a letter from Einstein's Jewish colleagues.The massacre was carried our by Jewish militia despite having a non-aggression pact. Letter to the New York Times: New Palestine Party: Visit of Menachem Begin and Aims of Political Movement Discussed To the Editors of the New York Times: Among the most disturbing political phenomena of our times is the emergence in the newly created state of Israel of the "Freedom Party" (Tnuat Haherut), a political party closely akin in its organization, methods, political philosophy and social appeal to the Nazi and Fascist parties. It was formed out of the membership and following of the former Irgun Zvai Leumi, a terrorist, right-wing, chauvinist organization in Palestine. The current visit of Menachem Begin, leader of this party, to the United States is obviously calculated to give the impression of American support for his party in the coming Israeli elections, and to cement political ties with conservative Zionist elements in the United States. Several Americans of national repute have lent their names to welcome his visit. It is inconceivable that those who oppose fascism throughout the world, if correctly informed as to Mr. Begin's political record and perspectives, could add their names and support to the movement he represents. Before irreparable damage is done by way of financial contributions, public manifestations in Begin's behalf, and the creation in Palestine of the impression that a large segment of America supports Fascist elements in Israel, the American public must be informed as to the record and objectives of Mr. Begin and his movement. The public avowals of Begin's party are no guide whatever to its actual character. Today they speak of freedom, democracy and anti-imperialism, whereas until recently they openly preached the doctrine of the Fascist state. It is in its actions that the terrorist party betrays its real character; from its past actions we can judge what it may be expected to do in the future. Attack on Arab Village A shocking example was their behavior in the Arab village of Deir Yassin. This village, off the main roads and surrounded by Jewish lands, had taken no part in the war, and had even fought off Arab bands who wanted to use the village as their base. On April 9 (THE NEW YORK TIMES), terrorist bands attacked this peaceful village, which was not a military objective in the fighting, killed most of its inhabitants240 men, women, and childrenand kept a few of them alive to parade as captives through the streets of Jerusalem. Most of the Jewish community was horrified at the deed, and the Jewish Agency sent a telegram of apology to King Abdullah of Trans-Jordan. But the terrorists, far from being ashamed of their act, were proud of this massacre, publicized it widely, and invited all the foreign correspondents present in the country to view the heaped corpses and the general havoc at Deir Yassin. The Deir Yassin incident exemplifies the character and actions of the Freedom Party. Within the Jewish community they have preached an admixture of ultranationalism, religious mysticism, and racial superiority. Like other Fascist parties they have been used to break strikes, and have themselves pressed for the destruction of free trade unions. In their stead they have proposed corporate unions on the Italian Fascist model. During the last years of sporadic anti-British violence, the IZL and Stern groups inaugurated a reign of terror in the Palestine Jewish community. Teachers were beaten up for speaking against them, adults were shot for not letting their children join them. By gangster methods, beatings, window-smashing, and wide-spread robberies, the terrorists intimidated the population and exacted a heavy tribute. The people of the Freedom Party have had no part in the constructive achievements in Palestine. They have reclaimed no land, built no settlements, and only detracted from the Jewish defense activity. Their much-publicized immigration endeavors were minute, and devoted mainly to bringing in Fascist compatriots. Discrepancies Seen The discrepancies between the bold claims now being made by Begin and his party, and their record of past performance in Palestine bear the imprint of no ordinary political party. This is the unmistakable stamp of a Fascist party for whom terrorism (against Jews, Arabs, and British alike), and misrepresentation are means, and a "Leader State" is the goal. In the light of the foregoing considerations, it is imperative that the truth about Mr. Begin and his movement be made known in this country. It is all the more tragic that the top leadership of American Zionism has refused to campaign against Begin's efforts, or even to expose to its own constituents the dangers to Israel from support to Begin. The undersigned therefore take this means of publicly presenting a few salient facts concerning Begin and his party; and of urging all concerned not to support this latest manifestation of fascism. ISIDORE ABRAMOWITZ, HANNAH ARENDT, ABRAHAM BRICK, RABBI JESSURUN CARDOZO, ALBERT EINSTEIN, HERMAN EISEN, M.D., HAYIM FINEMAN, M. GALLEN, M.D., H.H. HARRIS, ZELIG S. HARRIS, SIDNEY HOOK, FRED KARUSH, BRURIA KAUFMAN, IRMA L. LINDHEIM, NACHMAN MAISEL, SEYMOUR MELMAN, MYER D. MENDELSON, M.D., HARRY M. OSLINSKY, SAMUEL PITLICK, FRITZ ROHRLICH, LOUIS P. ROCKER, RUTH SAGIS, ITZHAK SANKOWSKY, I.J. SHOENBERG, SAMUEL SHUMAN, M. SINGER, IRMA WOLFE, STEFAN WOLFE. New York, Dec. 2, 1948 After the state of Israel was created, Einstein acknowledged its existence and the necessity of defense, though he continued to be critical of its policies. Einstein's views separated him from mainstream political Zionism, as he feared that the development of a nationalist state would ruin the moral and spiritual essence of Judaism. He also believed monogamy was a "bitter fruit" and that humans had a natural urge for infidelity. Though of European Jewish background, he rejected a personal god who grants favours from prayer and intervenes in human affairs. He believed in Spinoza’s God, Deus sive Natura, Spinoza saw an impersonal, infinite, and necessary substance that constitutes the entire universe. Spinoza argued that God is the indwelling cause of all things, operating through immutable natural laws rather than human-like will, miracles, or judgment. God does not judge, reward or punish, or have emotions such as anger or love. God does not inspire fear. Spinoza regarded Nature as the Divine: Often described as pantheism, Spinoza’s view equates God with nature itself—not just the physical, but the entire, interconnected system of existence. Stephen Hawking also stirred controversy with views on science, humanity’s future, and politics. He argued that the universe needed no creator, warned against AI and contacting aliens, supported assisted dying, and predicted the necessity of leaving Earth to escape climate change or nuclear war. He argued that science makes the concept of a creator unnecessary, stating in 2010 that the universe could create itself from nothing. He warned that artificial intelligence could develop a "will of its own" and potentially destroy humanity. [The reason, the only reason, we are embracing AI is because of corporate profits and enrichment of billionaires.] Hawking believed contacting intelligent aliens was risky, suggesting they might be far superior technologically and potentially dangerous, drawing parallels to Native Americans meeting Columbus. He frequently warned that human-made issues like climate change (turning Earth into a 250-degree Venus) and nuclear weapons are the greatest dangers to humanity. Hawking participated in various protests and political actions during his lifetime, most notably endorsing the academic boycott of Israel and taking part in anti-war demonstrations. Hawking officially supported the academic boycott of Israel by withdrawing from a major Israeli conference, the Presidential Conference "Facing Tomorrow 2013," hosted by Shimon Peres. He stated his decision was based on advice from Palestinian academics, arguing that the policy of the Israeli government was "likely to lead to disaster". In November 2004, Hawking participated in an anti-war protest in London, reading the names of Iraqi children killed in the conflict and calling the U.S.-led invasion a "war crime". In a 2009 interview with Al Jazeera, Stephen Hawking described Israel's actions in Gaza as "out of proportion" and likened the situation to apartheid-era South Africa. He argued that a population under occupation will inevitably resist and urged negotiation with Hamas as the elected Palestinian leadership, predicting that military efforts would not bring peace. Hawking thought that the intense military response to rocket attacks was disproportionate. He stated that if Israel desired peace, it must engage in dialogue with Hamas, whom he recognized as the democratically elected representatives of the Palestinian people. These guys are smarter than you and I (put together). Maybe we should listen and consider, eh.
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