Columbia University Puts Out The
Welcome Mat For Political Tyrants
By Chuck Hyde, Editor of StandBesideHer.com
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is coming to New York City to appear at the United Nations and has been invited to appear at Columbia University to speak today (September 24, 2007). This is a man who denies the Holocaust, actively calls for the destruction of Israel, and is attempting to develop a nuclear weapons arsenal in violation of the same United Nations that he is going to speak to. More importantly though, Iran is arming and training troops in Iraq meaning that both the country and it’s president, Ahmadinejad, are directly responsible for the deaths of an unknown number of American troops.
Ahmadinejad had intended to visit the World Trade Center site and lay a wreath while in New York. After the immediate and understandable cry of outrage from national and local politicians and law enforcement, the Port Authority of New York denied the request. This denial has prevented the Iranian president’s chance to embarrass the U.S. government by defiling the solemn site of the WTC especially so close to 9/11. Further we have to give kudos to New York City and the city officials for showing more common sense than Columbia University and, more importantly, showing more loyalty to America.
Meanwhile, back at Columbia University, the college is standing by it’s invitation to the Iranian president in the face of strong public and political pressure. The college is making it clear according to statements from it’s President, Lee Bollinger, that Mr. Ahmadinejad is welcomed to speak openly, whatever his views are. University officials are claiming that while they find Mr. Ahmadinejad’s views distasteful, they support his right to free speech and welcome the debate that will ensue during the question and answer format set up for his visit. This stance is ironic on so many levels.
First, the university is extending free speech rights to a murderous dictator who does not give the same rights to his people. In fact, citizens of Iran can face severe penalties and even death for saying the wrong thing. Further, with Iran being an Islamic country under strict control by Imams, women are subject to Islamic law and are essentially second class citizens. One has to wonder what the position of the students of an extremely liberal university are on the subjugation of women.
Best of all though is this quaint little position of Columbia University that it celebrates the right to free speech and supports the free exchange of ideas. While Mr. Ahmadinejad is welcomed at Columbia University, it is interesting who is not. Among the unwelcome are the president and founder of the Minutemen, Jim Gilchrist and the ROTC. The minutemen is an immigration group opposed to illegal immigration and strong supporters of protecting the U.S. borders. Mr. Gilchrist was invited to speak at the university last year but was unable to when he was ran from the stage by what can only be called an angry mob. Initially he was invited to speak this year but the invitation was rescinded, in what has to be the ultimate irony, days before the Iranian President is to speak. The ROTC simply is not allowed to be on campus because of the anti-military views of the university.
In a statement that helps them drive home their point that they are tolerant of distasteful views, the president of Columbia made a follow up statement that they would even have allowed Adolph Hitler to speak at the university. Come to think of it, there is an interesting theme here. Mr. Ahmadinejad denies the Holocaust that Mr. Hitler perpetuated. I don’t want to use the word anti-Semitism, but…
So to recap, Columbia University is allowing a man who is responsible for the deaths of American troops to speak, it would even let Hitler who is responsible for the deaths of millions speak, but it will not allow men and women who intend to dedicate their lives in the service of our country to even be on campus. This is yet another stunning show of the tolerance of differing views by liberals. The problem here is their very narrow definition of the word “opposing”. They are not tolerant of anyone that actually believes differently, they just figure that if they say it enough times, we may eventually believe it. The only other explanation for Columbia University’s asserting Mr. Ahmadinejad’s right to free speech and refusing the ROTC’s right to be on campus is that they also share another trait with the rest of the liberals in the U.S., the complete and total disdain for the military and America as a whole. That’s what’s on my mind.
About The Author: Chuck Hyde is editor of StandBesideHer.com. He is also a husband and father of two teenage boys and a younger daughter. His family lives in the northern Midwestern rural United States, where they enjoy camping, fishing, and other outdoor activities together. Chuck is a Registered Nurse in an inner city emergency room and has had a lifelong addiction to politics.
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