Columbia University and Free Speech? - Page 5

Roonie · 09-24-2007, 02:19 PM

Originally Posted by lew

Here is an excellent article about the topic.

Let Ahmadinejad Speak at Columbia

News is news - he gets news coverage because he's a head of state. Whether he's a crackpot, despot, terrorist doesn't matter - he's still newsworthy.

Columbia University has invited him as their guest to come share his views with their students because they consider his point of view on Israel, holocaust, terrorism to be valid enough that their students should have to opportunity to consider those views in case they want to embrace them as their own. The university is essentially telling them that this despicable terrorist's views are worth considering.

The converse situation is that the Minutemen were physically assaulted on stage. Not invited back. And that university bans ROTC on campus. And they BAN military recruiters on campus. The US Military's point of view is something that is BANNED from being part of that Columbia University and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is something they want to seek?

Newsworthy isn't the same thing as educational. You can report the news without endorsing it as valid.

hsmith · 09-24-2007, 03:05 PM

I'd be interested to see him speak if i was there. It would be quite interesting.

motivez · 09-24-2007, 03:34 PM

In his introduction, the officials at Columbia called him a petty and brutal dictator...

motivez · 09-24-2007, 03:47 PM

Pat Buchanan is making a bunch of great points on MSNBC right now if anyone is watching. I'll see if I can find a transcript and post it.

Phantom · 09-24-2007, 03:55 PM

Originally Posted by motivez

In his introduction, the officials at Columbia called him a petty and brutal dictator...

He may be all those things, but editorializing for an introduction is just lame.

motivez · 09-24-2007, 03:57 PM

Agreed, but it puts to rest the point that he wouldn't be criticized at all by the people there.

Galactic Gigolo · 09-24-2007, 04:28 PM

Originally Posted by motivez

In his introduction, the officials at Columbia called him a petty and brutal dictator...

And I bet they said it with a smile on their face because he hates Bush.

I've only seen a few clips, along with five minutes or so of the live broadcast. This, no doubt, was the highlight.

YouTube Video

motivez · 09-24-2007, 04:32 PM

What a softball!

This is exactly the reason I was for this meeting, allow people to ask hard questions and make decisions for themselves instead of allowing pundits to give your opinion to you.

Roonie · 09-24-2007, 04:34 PM

that is funny. He said Homo's don't exist in Iran only in the European countries.

fact...... If they do they are killed.

Stylerod · 09-24-2007, 04:35 PM

I can't see video here.

Again, they can ask him anything they want. And, like the 60 minute transcript, he will say what he thinks people want to hear or just dodge the question completley. What does anyone gain from that? I'll tell you, he does. He has everything to gain.

motivez · 09-24-2007, 04:40 PM

They gain the ability to make the decision for themselves based on first hand knowledge of the man and how he operates.

Maybe the people who didn't want him to speak are comfortable having their opinion spoonfed to them by partisan pundits on their favorite biased news channel.. I on the other hand, and I suspect many others in this country, are not.

Donkey® · 09-24-2007, 04:41 PM

Originally Posted by Stylerod

I can't see video here.

Again, they can ask him anything they want. And, like the 60 minute transcript, he will say what he thinks people want to hear or just dodge the question completley. What does anyone gain from that? I'll tell you, he does. He has everything to gain.

Ok, well, he says one thing and you think another thing is going on. Guess it's up to you to PROVE your opinions?

He says Iran will not attack Israel or anyone else. Do you have proof of his lie?

EDIT: as far as the speech goes...I think it was completely fucking rude and ridiculous for the dean of students or whomever that was to just attack him. Political grandstanding anyone?

garbagemanlb · 09-24-2007, 06:48 PM

Originally Posted by Stylerod

I can't see video here.

Again, they can ask him anything they want. And, like the 60 minute transcript, he will say what he thinks people want to hear or just dodge the question completley. What does anyone gain from that? I'll tell you, he does. He has everything to gain.

You're right. Americans want to hear him question the holocaust and the cause of 9/11.

Did you even listen to what he said?

garbagemanlb · 09-24-2007, 06:49 PM

Originally Posted by Donkey®

Ok, well, he says one thing and you think another thing is going on. Guess it's up to you to PROVE your opinions?

He says Iran will not attack Israel or anyone else. Do you have proof of his lie?

EDIT: as far as the speech goes...I think it was completely fucking rude and ridiculous for the dean of students or whomever that was to just attack him. Political grandstanding anyone?

Exactly. Talk about bowing to pressure from the censorship crowd.

6SpeedTA95 · 09-24-2007, 10:17 PM

Originally Posted by garbagemanlb

Exactly. Talk about bowing to pressure from the censorship crowd.

Thats really all it was. You hit the nail on the head here. The dean was all for this until the public outcry began to scare him so he decided to make a political statement PRIOR to the speech. I think he should have saved it till after the speech and then made his political grand standing at least applicable to the discussion of the day.

JaJae · 09-24-2007, 10:20 PM

Originally Posted by Donkey®

He says Iran will not attack Israel or anyone else. Do you have proof of his lie?

I have proof he consistently lies to the media, US and world organizations. Can't disprove a futuristic statement though.

Donkey® · 09-24-2007, 11:24 PM

Originally Posted by JaJae

I have proof he consistently lies to the media, US and world organizations. Can't disprove a futuristic statement though.

Really? Ok...let's say you do...how is that any different than our own politicians and leaders?

JaJae · 09-24-2007, 11:40 PM

Originally Posted by Donkey®

Really? Ok...let's say you do...how is that any different than our own politicians and leaders?

Not too much when it comes to lying, however there's a lot more to his politics than that. But even still we trash talk our politicians and second-guess them all the time. Why do so many seem to give Ahmadinejad a pass simply because he does the same thing our politicians do?

motivez · 09-24-2007, 11:48 PM

Who's giving him a pass? We're talking about allowing the man to speak and be asked questions by concerned citizens

He wasn't given softballs, he was asked tough questions by people who wanted to challenge his positions

Donkey® · 09-24-2007, 11:52 PM

Originally Posted by JaJae

Not too much when it comes to lying, however there's a lot more to his politics than that. But even still we trash talk our politicians and second-guess them all the time. Why do so many seem to give Ahmadinejad a pass simply because he does the same thing our politicians do?

What? You guys say he's lying. I haven't seen a shred of anything that proves it. Where is this pass you speak of? And again, you guys say "OMG teh LIES!!" yet you take all the things he says that you can twist ie "blow up Israel" as truth? Either he's a liar and everything he says is bullshit or he's actually not a liar. Which is it?