Columbia University
Many Columbia University students welcomed Ahmadinejad’s visit, because they got to subject him to questioning that he will never face in Iran.
The President of Columbia University, Lee Bollinger insulted the president of Iran in his televised introduction by saying: “Mr. President, you exhibit all the signs of a petty and cruel dictator.” Among his other comment were: “You are either brazenly provocative or astonishingly uneducated. Why have you chosen to make the people of your country vulnerable to the effects of international economic sanctions and threaten to engulf the world in nuclear annihilation?”
Apparently, Bollinger was trying to cover his tracks for inviting Ahmadinejad in the first place. Bollinger visiously trashed his guest before giving him a chance to even speak and by doing so he won sympathy for Ahmadinejad.
Ahmadinejad played Bollinger off beautifully. He said: “In Iran, we don’t invite guests and then insult them to their face, and secondly, we let the audience decide whether what they have to say, if they agree or disagree with it. And you’ve sort of insulted the audience.”
This was not a great day for America, the land of freedom of expression. Bollinger looked like the bully big shot from powerful country picking on the little guy he had invited into the lion’s den. The president of Columbia University appeared to be afraid to engage in dialogue.
There was a tremendous opportunity to give students the opportunity to challenge the Iranian president in free and open debate. They exercised their First Amendment rights, by questioning Ahmadinejad’s policies, his horrible stance on international issues. Fortunately, the students of Columbia University set an example by engaging in a debate, which raised questions and held Ahmadinejad accountable.
Ahmadinejad used the opportunity to express Irans moral indignation towards our country. For years Iranians were subjected to repression by the shah, who was placed on the throne by our CIA. Furthermore, Ahmadinejad made the point that America supported Saddam Hussein throughout the Iraq/IranianWar, when Saddam used chemical weapons against the Iranian people.
As president of the Iranian people, Ahmadinejad call for diplomatic relations to be increased between our two nations. The students of Columbia University were able to recognized that without dialogue, violence quickly becomes the answer.
The President of Columbia University, Lee Bollinger insulted the president of Iran in his televised introduction by saying: “Mr. President, you exhibit all the signs of a petty and cruel dictator.” Among his other comment were: “You are either brazenly provocative or astonishingly uneducated. Why have you chosen to make the people of your country vulnerable to the effects of international economic sanctions and threaten to engulf the world in nuclear annihilation?”
Apparently, Bollinger was trying to cover his tracks for inviting Ahmadinejad in the first place. Bollinger visiously trashed his guest before giving him a chance to even speak and by doing so he won sympathy for Ahmadinejad.
Ahmadinejad played Bollinger off beautifully. He said: “In Iran, we don’t invite guests and then insult them to their face, and secondly, we let the audience decide whether what they have to say, if they agree or disagree with it. And you’ve sort of insulted the audience.”
This was not a great day for America, the land of freedom of expression. Bollinger looked like the bully big shot from powerful country picking on the little guy he had invited into the lion’s den. The president of Columbia University appeared to be afraid to engage in dialogue.
There was a tremendous opportunity to give students the opportunity to challenge the Iranian president in free and open debate. They exercised their First Amendment rights, by questioning Ahmadinejad’s policies, his horrible stance on international issues. Fortunately, the students of Columbia University set an example by engaging in a debate, which raised questions and held Ahmadinejad accountable.
Ahmadinejad used the opportunity to express Irans moral indignation towards our country. For years Iranians were subjected to repression by the shah, who was placed on the throne by our CIA. Furthermore, Ahmadinejad made the point that America supported Saddam Hussein throughout the Iraq/IranianWar, when Saddam used chemical weapons against the Iranian people.
As president of the Iranian people, Ahmadinejad call for diplomatic relations to be increased between our two nations. The students of Columbia University were able to recognized that without dialogue, violence quickly becomes the answer.
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home