Columbia Univeristy
By admin | September 21, 2007
By Mike Myatt, Chief Strategy Officer, N2growth
Let me begin today’s post with fair warning to those who read this blog for its business related content…While today’s topic has little to do with business, it is nonetheless something I feel compelled to address. The actions of Columbia University in inviting Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to speak to the student body are nothing short of irresponsible and in my opinion are borderline treasonous. So, if you’re in the mood for one of my infrequent but passionate rants I invite you to read on…If not, join me on Monday when we’ll get back to business as usual.
I think a fair place to begin is by stating that I fully understand and support our university system in its role as a bastion for free speech and peaceful public discourse. Our students should be encouraged to engage in vigorous debate on a wide array of subjects even those deemed controversial. That being said, it is one thing to have a classroom debate discussing pros and cons of various issues, but quite another to provide a platform for terrorists attempting to influence the minds of our youth. Providing a known terrorist with a platform to spread propagandist messages of hate has little to do with free speech. Why would Columbia University even consider giving Ahmadinejad an opportunity to have a PR spotlight to advance a cause so adverse to the safety and security of our troops and frankly the world at large?
Where does one draw the line between typical liberal academic ideology and the history of reprehensible actions and flawed administrative decisions that exist at Columbia University? This prestigious Ivy League university banned ROTC from its campus because of the military’s “Don’t ask, Don’t tell” policy yet they invite Ahmadinejad to speak when he just recently ordered the public flogging and execution of two persons in Iran because they were homosexuals. Can you say hypocritical?
I think it is bad enough that Columbia has hosted former Nazis and terrorists speaking on campus, but inviting the President of a country who has publicly stated that the holocaust never existed and that he wants to wipe Israel off the map is absolutely ridiculous. Ahmadinejad has publicly stated his anti-American position on numerous occasions and funds terrorist and subversive activities around the world, and in particular in the Mid East where Iran trains and arms our enemies causing loss of life among our troops. Ahmadinejad has openly defied international sanctions and advanced the proliferation of a nuclear weapons program and he gets an invitation to speak…go figure. We are at war and Ahmadinejad is the commander in chief of the enemy…Why is this so difficult to understand and why isn’t there more public outrage?
Bottom line…Lee Bollinger the president of Columbia University is a disgrace and should be held accountable for his actions. My question is this…Should a university president who offers more support to an international terrorist than he does our military, and who has a history of making poor decisions be allowed to remain in his current position? I think not, and I encourage you to make your own decisions and then act accordingly. Enough is enough…
Topics: Rants |
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