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Columbia and Ahmadinejad

Reader comment on item: America's Crash Course on Islam
in response to reader comment: Ahmadinejad in New York -- Columbia U and others Smarm in the name of "Open to Ideas"

Submitted by gary fouse (United States), Sep 25, 2007 at 17:01

What is Going On at Columbia University?

Columbia University has been in the headlines this week over the speaking appearance yesterday of Iranian President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. The university and its president, Lee Bollinger have taken a lot of heat for providing Ahmadinejad a platform. Probably due to the the fact that he had placed himself in such a public spotlight, Mr Bollinger publically rebuked Ahmadinejad in strong terms in his introduction. Yet, to many, including those who demonstrated against the speaking appearance, Ahmadinejad's appearance was totally inappropriate.

While I defend the principle of free speech, I don't think any institution or entity has an obligation to provide such an offensive figure with a speaking platform. Thus, I tend to be on the side of the demonstrators as long as they didn't disrupt the event itself. Where do we draw the line on who gets invited to a university event to speak? Would Columbia have invited Adolf Hitler to speak as well? Larger questions also exist. Did Columbia invite the controversial Ahmadinejad to speak in order to provide an open forum for debate? Or did they invite him to appear because there was some degree of sympathy for the man, his country and his ideals?

Given President Bollinger's remarks to Ahmadinejad, it would be easy to say that Columbia was right in its invitation, and that it was only to provide an open debate, especially since many of the questions were pointed and that Ahmadinejad, in his anwers, demonstrated what a fool he is. One example was his answer to a question about persecution of homosexuals in Iran; he stated that, unlike the US, there were no homosexuals in Iran, a statement that drew laughter from the audience.

But what about the idea of providing a forum to a man who questions the Holocaust and has made statements about Israel being wiped off the face of the earth? Senator Charles Schumer of New York, in criticizing Columbia's invitation, asked if a university would invite a representative of the "Flat Earth Society" to come and argue that the world is not really round.

Nice analogy, but is Senator Schumer aware that Columbia already employs a professor, one Joseph Massad of the Middle Eastern Studies Department, who not only defends Palestinian suicide bombers, feels that Israel has no right to exist, but who also has argued that the 1972 Munich Olympics massacre was carried out not by Palestinian terrorists, but by Israeli agents?

Sen. Schumer, the Flat Earth Society is alive and well at Columbia. Massad is not the only terrorist sympathizer at Columbia. There is also professor Rashid Khalidi, Edward Said Chair, Middle Eastern Studies Dept. at Columbia, who holds similar views as Massad. In fact, many have charged that Columbia, like so many other universities, is noted more for its faculty of radical leftists than for a faculty of true scholars, especially in Middle Eastern Studies.

Meanwhile, if speakers like the Minutemen happen to be invited to Columbia by conservative students, what happens? Not only is their presentation disrupted, but the stage is stormed by no-nothing students, egged on by their radical professors, something that did not happen to Ahmadinejad. Does the US Military enjoy the opportunity to come to Columbia to recruit? No, but the president of Iran, who is sending bombs and weapons to Iraq to kill our soldiers, is invited. Kind of shows you where Columbia is politically, spiritually and intellectually.

As I said, I believe in free speech. I simply question whether everyone is entitled to a public platform to mouth their insanity. We have plenty of street corners where Ahmadinejad could have said whatever he wanted and no one would have arrested him. Personally, with everything that is going on in the world right now (emanating out of the Middle East), I feel it would have been more appropriate to escort Ahmadinejad from the airport to the UN and back to the airport.

As Americans, we need to tell him and his ilk that they are not welcome in our country, we are up to here with their nonsense, that we will stand up to them, we will stand up for Israel, and if his 3rd rate country tries any military or terroristic action against the US or Israel, that we will crush them like the bugs that they are.

gary fouse

fousesquawk

Submitting....

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Title Commenter Date Thread
4This American Crash Course on Islam Has Been Corrupted and Requires "Correction." [681 words]Joseph Guida MDAug 23, 2010 05:34177127
Homegrown, if in the Middle east [77 words]BronsonDec 25, 2008 04:36145838
islam light [32 words]MohamudFeb 4, 2008 04:29119556
2What I know about Islam [133 words]SammyNov 4, 2007 02:45113052
Freedom of Religion [216 words]Imam Ahmed Syeed Ali MuhammedMar 27, 2008 16:23113052
1a tree is judged by its fruits [432 words]SammyApr 7, 2008 05:33113052
1Smarty Imam, stop the lies of Islam [737 words]sure enough observerSep 4, 2008 21:58113052
reply to tree is judged by its fruits.. [84 words]M-MSep 29, 2008 03:28113052
Bad analogy [54 words]SammyNov 22, 2008 04:27113052
reply to sammy [65 words]M-MNov 22, 2008 23:28113052
Will driver know? [80 words]SammyNov 24, 2008 01:08113052
reply to sammy... [339 words]M-MNov 25, 2008 01:58113052
IMAM [99 words]btilly`Nov 25, 2008 19:42113052
to M-M on dubious logic [145 words]ASNov 26, 2008 06:42113052
A standard for everyone [188 words]SammyNov 26, 2008 17:10113052
To sammy on A standard for everyone [852 words]M-MNov 27, 2008 06:16113052
reply to AS ON DUBIOUS LOGIC!! [218 words]M-MNov 27, 2008 07:54113052
Know Jesus so you may know whom you worship. [120 words]JAMES GOTESDec 25, 2008 06:00113052
We got the point [281 words]SammyApr 16, 2009 20:05113052
Islam [83 words]FaisalOct 31, 2007 13:37112738
islam - tolerant ... [238 words]OliverOct 31, 2007 21:32112738
1Faisal doesn't follow his own advice !!! [113 words]JaladhiNov 2, 2007 15:16112738
Jaladhi : please follow Faisal's suggestion.. [109 words]JanakaApr 22, 2008 10:07112738
Is Islam Tolerant [78 words]H D DawraFeb 16, 2009 09:19112738
islam peace [25 words]Damodara hemmigeOct 23, 2014 10:06112738
1Most violence occurs when a country becomes 98% islamic [145 words]PrashantOct 24, 2014 23:21112738
nothing has changed [32 words]Phil GreendSep 23, 2007 23:46109541
Ahmadinejad in New York -- Columbia U and others Smarm in the name of "Open to Ideas" [850 words]Sofa SogoodSep 23, 2007 00:18109486
WHERE IS THE VOICE OF PRINCE OR IRANIAN KING IN EXILE [169 words]zari namdarSep 23, 2007 02:52109486
odious ominous objective vs.Columbia U.'s marsh-mellows [438 words]jennifer solisSep 23, 2007 23:27109486
Send Mr. Ahmadinejad a dead rat [30 words]Peter HerzSep 24, 2007 07:17109486
comments on nut job ahmadineejad [484 words]shaynaSep 24, 2007 16:17109486
He'd mistake it for a deceased relative [46 words]jennifer solisSep 24, 2007 17:25109486
Why does the freedom we stand for in the us attract those that hate freedom? [230 words]janet griggsSep 25, 2007 10:05109486
French Fried Eggs: Charlie Rose and Comments: Video Bomb Parades, Death Chants, Healthy Heavy Water [365 words]Sofa SogoodSep 25, 2007 15:19109486
Columbia and Ahmadinejad [727 words]gary fouseSep 25, 2007 17:01109486
Doom at our Doorstep [336 words]jennifer solisSep 26, 2007 01:08109486
COLUMBIA DID INVITE A NAZI IN 1933 AND EXPELLED AN ANTI-NAZI DEMONSTRATOR [171 words]Sofa SogoodOct 3, 2007 20:20109486
Celebrities like John Voight could be so helpful -- they should be encouraged and invited [271 words]Sofa SogoodSep 22, 2007 16:51109462
Gulf States Buy 20% of NASDAQ - That's NOT OK [348 words]Sofa SogoodSep 22, 2007 12:57109452
Nanci Pelosi and the Press about the Stock Market.- Oil and Coal. [298 words]YnnatchkahSep 23, 2007 18:03109452
20% of NASDAQ bought by Gulf States - Blogs need to be Noisy About This SOON - Almost Nothing on the News [403 words]Sofa SogoodSep 25, 2007 04:30109452
Crash is the operative word - right into the wall [1125 words]SSSep 20, 2007 16:17109295
THE ANSWER IS "A CRASH COURSE IN ISLAM." [24 words]orange yonasonSep 19, 2007 16:09109221
A Breeze of hope in the citation: [289 words]YnnatchkahSep 19, 2007 12:08109215
Learning about Islam but not to contaminate with it [117 words]NessieSep 18, 2007 10:13109126
"We want Italy and not Itabia. Europe and not Eurabia." [92 words]laaSep 25, 2007 14:25109126
Eurabia is not a name invented by me [209 words]NessieSep 26, 2007 14:28109126
re. to cassie italy [168 words]laaaSep 27, 2007 13:33109126
You didn't give any response to me about all the subjects I put [131 words]NessieSep 29, 2007 04:41109126
reply [93 words]laaOct 2, 2007 16:58109126
Build a 'church' in a muslim country ... [30 words]OliverOct 30, 2007 22:48109126
oliver [14 words]laaNov 1, 2007 06:51109126
Crash Course in Islam - Page Torn From Israeli Textbook [227 words]M. ToveySep 17, 2007 23:56109101
More British course on Islam from close quarters [40 words]VijaySep 17, 2007 18:59109076
Swedish hiding course on Islam [298 words]VijaySep 17, 2007 18:55109073
Interesting aspect [66 words]Hari IyerSep 19, 2007 00:14109073
Islamic slaughtering of animals [243 words]DonSep 19, 2007 20:43109073
?? [14 words]AnswerSep 22, 2007 09:12109073
Take Your Head Out Of The Sand [18 words]jennifer solisSep 24, 2007 17:04109073
Here is your answer!!! [39 words]JaladhiSep 25, 2007 16:03109073
Answer [356 words]shaynaSep 25, 2007 16:14109073
The fear of Moslems [171 words]f.shaSep 15, 2007 18:13108939
WHAT? you've GOT to be KIDDING............... [391 words]jennifer solisSep 16, 2007 22:27108939
Misunderstanding [170 words]f.shaSep 17, 2007 20:11108939
Political correctness will take us down!!! [137 words]JaladhiSep 18, 2007 15:11108939
apology to Mr.f.sha [200 words]jennifer solisSep 18, 2007 15:51108939
Allow me to educate you about Islam [312 words]f.shaSep 18, 2007 20:29108939
Thank you, Mr. f.sha [250 words]jennifer solisSep 19, 2007 17:42108939
6Crash Course on Islam - Sitaram Goel and Ram Swarup are Must Read - http://voi.org/books.html [154 words]SinghaSep 14, 2007 13:21108859
India, Pakistan, and Islam [360 words]DonSep 15, 2007 01:16108859
LOL - Pakistan's demand for human rights for Indian Muslims!!! Can't stop laughing!!! [219 words]JaladhiSep 19, 2007 16:33108859
islamism [150 words]asterixSep 22, 2012 00:31108859
FYI [5 words]JSJan 10, 2013 05:27108859
Crash course on Islam. [22 words]DAVID R.GROESBECKSep 14, 2007 09:05108841
1LEARN THE CRASH COURSE AND BE PREPARED OR FACE EVENTUAL DEFEAT! [1580 words]TTSSep 13, 2007 13:02108775
Please, continue! [29 words]KSep 14, 2007 17:14108775
Thank you TTS for giving a crash course on Islam and Muslim's motives!!! [126 words]JaladhiSep 15, 2007 16:06108775
2Open your eyes [188 words]Non-muslim minorityJan 31, 2012 21:12108775
IT MIGHT TAKE TWO [81 words]leo solomonSep 13, 2007 03:39108747
Rafasanjani and AhamadiNejads comments [69 words]KamranSep 13, 2007 16:33108747
Ahmadinijad issues threats to annihilate Israel on a daily basis!!! [114 words]JaladhiSep 14, 2007 12:04108747
What a relief... [126 words]donvanSep 14, 2007 12:53108747
Ahmadinijad issues threats to annihilate Israel on a daily basis!!! [58 words]KamranSep 19, 2007 23:32108747
Iran had prepared a plan to attack Israel [113 words]KamranSep 19, 2007 23:42108747
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Defender of Ahmadinejad!!! [164 words]JaladhiSep 25, 2007 10:22108747
Who is defending AhmadiNejad [194 words]KamranSep 26, 2007 17:00108747
Ahmadinejad and his Imam calling for wiping out Israel!!! [163 words]JaladhiSep 26, 2007 20:40108747
Ahmadinejad Indoctrination [20 words]jennifer solisSep 29, 2007 16:15108747
WHICH PLANET DO YOU LIVE IN ,KAMRAN? [103 words]zari namdarSep 30, 2007 04:11108747
Ahmadinejads statements [57 words]KamranSep 30, 2007 22:52108747
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KAMRAN:IT IS OBVIOUS YOU ARE AN AGENT OF THE FASCIST ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN!!! [129 words]zari namdarOct 1, 2007 03:45108747
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Rational Discourse? [267 words]jennifer solisOct 1, 2007 18:45108747
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Winning the "War" [136 words]Rory WardSep 13, 2007 02:50108743
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Gary - What would they do if they knew? [187 words]Sofa SogoodSep 15, 2007 10:18108696
Got Rights? Thank you Sofa, [328 words]gary fouseSep 15, 2007 17:22108696
To Publicize or Not to Publicize [323 words]Sofa SogoodSep 17, 2007 05:19108696
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Strange Times are Ahead [436 words]Sofa SogoodSep 23, 2007 10:44108696
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Check and Balance [194 words]Aamir Ali AnsariSep 12, 2007 14:18108669
to Aamir Ali: Islam's image is Islam's creation and the solution lies in Islam. [1646 words]PlatoSep 14, 2007 04:02108669
exposure [199 words]jennifer solisSep 16, 2007 00:05108669
a humble request to Plato. [28 words]Omar KaziSep 17, 2007 12:29108669
To Jennifer: Thanks. Reading what is taught in Pakistani and Saudi schools is enlightening [153 words]PlatoSep 17, 2007 21:45108669
2To Omar Kazi: Why don't I become a Muslim? Read the Koran (113:2, 2:253) [175 words]PlatoSep 17, 2007 22:09108669
1true Islam? what is really true Islam? [77 words]dhimmi no moreSep 19, 2007 16:44108669
1But it is all about Islam our dear Aamir [174 words]dhimmi no moreSep 20, 2007 07:15108669
1Our dear Omar Qazi al-tablighee [133 words]dhimmi no moreSep 21, 2007 17:15108669
TO AAMIR ALI ANSARI :THE FOUNDER OF ISLAM [236 words]zari namdarOct 2, 2007 01:49108669
Bone Chilling recollection [127 words]KurtSep 12, 2007 13:32108667
Ali Sina's website hacked by Islamists [43 words]UsKannaSep 12, 2007 12:18108663
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implosion of Islam [81 words]RezaApr 9, 2008 07:18108663
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Murder as Motivation [230 words]jennifer solisSep 14, 2007 14:16108656
True.... [231 words]donvanSep 14, 2007 16:34108656
instruction vs. derangement [442 words]jennifer solisSep 15, 2007 18:32108656
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Nice try, Joe Christian [269 words]DonSep 13, 2007 07:55108649
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Thank you [74 words]David W. LincolnSep 11, 2007 18:01108580
Loved what Salim Mansur put... [15 words]YnnatchkahSep 11, 2007 16:58108571
There is thinking, and there is also THINKING... [705 words]Jascha KesslerSep 11, 2007 16:29108564
Understanding the enemy... [190 words]J.S.Sep 11, 2007 15:59108562
Who is the enemy? [193 words]rickSep 11, 2007 17:53108562
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Renaming the "war on terror" [53 words]Jewish SurvivalSep 11, 2007 15:52108561
Something else [122 words]David W. LincolnSep 12, 2007 17:33108561
1Political correctness to describe Islam and Muslims will be our downfall!! [185 words]JaladhiSep 11, 2007 15:52108560
Political correctness to describe Islam and Muslams will be our down fall. [63 words]VictoriaSep 11, 2007 22:49108560
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To Jaladhi : [52 words]DeeSep 12, 2007 01:49108560
On the nail! [101 words]SadhasivSep 12, 2007 10:25108560
Quo bono [220 words]DONVANSep 11, 2007 15:15108555
Misunderstanding Islam as the cause of the terrorism [498 words]Rachel Garber, PhiladelphiaSep 11, 2007 15:15108554
Darfur [18 words]Concerned EuropeanSep 12, 2007 04:04108554
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Marci's Naivete [576 words]Mel LarawaySep 11, 2007 19:53108552
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The reformation myth. [256 words]MontySep 12, 2007 06:18108551
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War on Terrorism [469 words]RickSep 11, 2007 14:48108547
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Radical Islam... [127 words]DONVANSep 12, 2007 15:03108545
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2"Islam is an irredeemable death cult" [200 words]JaladhiSep 11, 2007 13:33108538
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Rhetorical Backbone [302 words]Ron ThompsonSep 12, 2007 18:24108538
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Self-Education on Islamism [206 words]Kat O'LearySep 11, 2007 13:04108537
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Faster, please... [95 words]MontySep 11, 2007 16:34108537
So true, Kat [232 words]DonSep 13, 2007 08:27108537
don watch out in Lahore [22 words]Omar KaziSep 17, 2007 12:38108537
Fine in Lahore...I think [352 words]DonSep 21, 2007 10:19108537
ISLAM [92 words]JohnnyOct 3, 2007 22:09108537

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