Speech by Iran's president causes stir at Columbia University
Asher Fogle
Issue date: 9/25/07 Section: News
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Addressing questions about executions of homosexuals in his country, Ahmadinejad said America also has capital punishment. The United States does not reward drug traffickers or armed robbers, he said.
"In Iran, we don't have homosexuals like in your country," Ahmadinejad said. "In Iran, we do not have this phenomenon. I don't know who has told you that we have it."
Protesters lined Broadway Avenue and hundreds of students gathered at Columbia's campus, demonstrating the controversy that had emerged in anticipation of Ahmadinejad's visit to Columbia.
"This is the right thing to do, required by the norms of free speech, the American university and this university," Bollinger said in his opening comments. "This event has nothing whatsoever to do with the rights of this speaker but with our right to listen. In universities, we have a deep and almost single-minded pursuit of the truth."
Although they said they did not support Ahmadinejad himself, many Iranian students supported the decision to invite him to campus.
"I personally wouldn't get a chance to oppose him in Iran," said Negar Mortazavi, 25, a Brandeis graduate student. "If not here, then where?"
Columbia student Fergus Scully, 19, stood holding a sign that read, "Ahmadinejad belongs in Guantanamo NOT at Columbia" because he said the Iranian government funds acts of terrorism in Lebanon, Iraq and other parts of the Middle East.
"I'm not against free speech," Scully said. "But this isn't an intellectual debate. You're giving him the forum he wants and legitimizing his presence in the U.S."
Rabbi Charles E. Savenor, an associate dean at the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York, said he opposes the invitation because Ahmadinejad's speeches promote persecution and destroying Israel.
"I respect Bollinger's commitment to free speech," Savenor said. "But the policies of Ahmadinejad's country are more telling than any rhetoric he has to say."
"In Iran, we don't have homosexuals like in your country," Ahmadinejad said. "In Iran, we do not have this phenomenon. I don't know who has told you that we have it."
Protesters lined Broadway Avenue and hundreds of students gathered at Columbia's campus, demonstrating the controversy that had emerged in anticipation of Ahmadinejad's visit to Columbia.
"This is the right thing to do, required by the norms of free speech, the American university and this university," Bollinger said in his opening comments. "This event has nothing whatsoever to do with the rights of this speaker but with our right to listen. In universities, we have a deep and almost single-minded pursuit of the truth."
Although they said they did not support Ahmadinejad himself, many Iranian students supported the decision to invite him to campus.
"I personally wouldn't get a chance to oppose him in Iran," said Negar Mortazavi, 25, a Brandeis graduate student. "If not here, then where?"
Columbia student Fergus Scully, 19, stood holding a sign that read, "Ahmadinejad belongs in Guantanamo NOT at Columbia" because he said the Iranian government funds acts of terrorism in Lebanon, Iraq and other parts of the Middle East.
"I'm not against free speech," Scully said. "But this isn't an intellectual debate. You're giving him the forum he wants and legitimizing his presence in the U.S."
Rabbi Charles E. Savenor, an associate dean at the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York, said he opposes the invitation because Ahmadinejad's speeches promote persecution and destroying Israel.
"I respect Bollinger's commitment to free speech," Savenor said. "But the policies of Ahmadinejad's country are more telling than any rhetoric he has to say."
Viewing Comments 1 - 7 of 8
Robin Kaiser
posted 9/25/07 @ 6:01 AM CST
Whatever he said, is he really more full of bs than George? Kinna hard to believe teally.
KAREN
posted 9/25/07 @ 6:01 AM CST
WHO WILL BE COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY'S NEXT SPEAKER? OSAMA BIN LADEN?
Maya Incaand
posted 9/25/07 @ 6:10 AM CST
Well he's off his clock with the homosexuality thing and no-one is listening re the Holocaust.
He does have a point about Palestinians "paying" for the Holocaust; a combination of Western guilt and double dealing in the ME after WW2 led to the creation of Israel on Palestine territory and things have been screwed up ever since. (Continued…)
WILLIAM CLELLAND
posted 9/25/07 @ 6:12 AM CST
OF COURSE THERE ARE NO GAYS IN IRAN, NOBODY WOULD DARE COME OUT FOR FEAR OF BEING MURDERED. I MUST ADMIT I WAS PLEASANTLY SURPRISED BY THE FORCEFULLNESS OF BOLLINGERS' CONDEMNATION OF IRAN'S PRESIDENT. (Continued…)
M. J. Moses
posted 9/25/07 @ 6:13 AM CST
I think, despite the brutal hostility and brain-washed protests, Ahmadinejad spoke well and defended what he believes to be the truth and morally right policies of Iran. (Continued…)
THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA REPORTED THINGS OUT OF CONTEXT
posted 9/26/07 @ 5:37 AM CST
We are being duped. There are many things that the mainstream media did to pervert and distort the image of the President of Iran. Iran is being demonized intentionally through covert means in order to perpetuate conflict and control of the region. (Continued…)
Joe G
posted 9/26/07 @ 11:53 AM CST
The president of Iran has every right to defend the beliefs of the majority of his people. Iran has every right to defend itself and build a nuclear stockpile. (Continued…)
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