Gad Saad’s Warning on Western Civilization
In light of the October 7th Hamas attack and ongoing discussions around gender ideology and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), author and scholar Gad Saad believes that Western civilization is facing a potential collapse. His new book, *Suicidal Empathy: Dying to Be Kind*, contends that Western nations have taken compassion to extreme lengths, prioritizing ideological appearances over truth and common sense.
Saad emphasizes, “I’m not saying empathy is inherently bad, but, as Aristotle pointed out, moderation is crucial.” He elaborates that a lack of empathy can lead to psychopathy, while excessive misplaced empathy can devolve into what he terms “suicidal empathy.”
The Western response to the aftermath of the Hamas attack serves as a key example of this phenomenon, according to Saad. As criticism of Israel’s military actions grew, he observed a shift in sympathy that moved away from the Israeli victims.
“You’d think that the horrific murder of 1,200 people, mostly Jews—the worst single-day massacre of Jews since the Holocaust—would evoke global empathy. Unfortunately, we found that the events of October 7th were quickly forgotten,” he remarked.
Saad views the backlash against Israel as indicative of a long-term ideological drift in the West. He describes this misplaced sympathy as a decline into what he calls “civilized seppuku,” a concept tied to the historical suicide practice of samurai in Japan.
Many of the ideas he critiques originated on college campuses, Saad asserts, and subsequently spread to media, politics, and culture. He argues this has created a discomfort with once-clear definitions of fundamental concepts like gender.
He referenced the controversial moment in 2022 when Justice Katanji Brown Jackson declined to define “woman” during her confirmation hearing, stating, “I’m not a biologist.” Saad ridiculed this response, suggesting that everyday observations don’t require specialized knowledge.
He sarcastically noted, “By that logic, the next time I’m choosing a Belgian Shepherd, I might as well consult a veterinarian. Maybe I’ll end up with a giraffe instead of a dog!” While he finds this reasoning absurd, Saad believes that such ideologies can lead to real-world consequences, including rising anti-Semitism.
A society that normalizes hostility toward Jews, he believes, shows alarming signs of moral decay. Saad, who is Jewish and fled Lebanon during its civil war in 1975, reflected on his experiences in Canada, saying he noticed a significant increase in anti-Semitism since 1998. As a result, he plans to take a leave of absence from his position at Concordia University in 2024, citing a concerning atmosphere for outspoken Jewish professors.
Saad remarked, “It’s become increasingly difficult for prominent Jewish voices to speak out on campuses,” and feels the current climate warrants serious attention.
He cautioned against allowing blatant hatred to go unchallenged, insisting that it would not yield positive outcomes.
Currently a scholar at the Declaration of Independence Center for the Study of American Freedom at the University of Mississippi, where he is set to become a distinguished professor next year, Saad observes that although the election of Donald Trump led many to believe DEI and gender theory were on the decline, the underlying issues persist. He stressed that political change may be swift, but real cultural shifts take time.
Despite an apparent pushback against these ideologies, Saad encounters many professors hesitant to voice their opinions. He noted a slight increase in emails praising his work; however, many include a request for anonymity. “The fact that they add such caution at the end of emails shows how few are willing to join this fight,” he concluded.
