This is what makes America so great! Free speech

[chinthee]

Columbia University invites Iranian President to speak. This amid the US administration characterizing Iran as the world's greatest sponsor of terrorism.

God bless America for free speech.

Gothamist: Ahmadinejad's Show Time at Columbia

Ahmadinejad: Iran wants 'independent' Iraq - CNN.com

[buriramboy]

Dubya still won't sit down and have a little chat with him though will he??

[chinthee]

^No, but Dubya is a lame duck. Things change in leadership, but principles remain the same. I'll report on this Columbia debate as I'm now watching it live.

[sabang]

Yes, one of the things that make America great is free speech.
Do not forget it.

[chinthee]

Oh wow, watching this live, he's discussing the "fabricated holocaust." He's gonna get nailed for this. He thinks there needs to be more academic research into whether the holocaust occurred.

He's now justifying Iran's nuclear ambitions as to power, and denying any goal to weapons.

Let the party begin..............

"Our Nation is free. Women are free to pursue anything they wish." "But people who violate the rights of other people are sentenced to execution, and some of these executions are carried in the public eye, based on democratic principles."

"In Iran, we don't have homosexuals in our country." But as for women, maybe you think that being a woman is a crime. Women are the best creatures created by God."

He got exactly what he wanted, which was legitimacy at a major US University, and one which will never be afforded to any US person in Iran. This is why US freedom is speech is so treasured.

The US was not obligated to allow him to speak, but did. These are some of the weaknesses of the US system of free speech. Some despots will take advantage of this, but overall, it will win out.

[attaboy]

Dubya still won't sit down and have a little chat with him though will he??

Why should Bush? Iran is involved in a proxy war with the US. Aberjabi (sp.) was asked about this and he didn't give a straight answer. Diplomacy should be handled through a third party like it always has been with outsiders and criminals. Why lend them any credibility? Let the king of Jordan or the head of Egypt act as go between.


I think it was great he got a chance to speak in an academic setting. It was rambling gobbley goop.

[benbaaa]

Mind you, the American host didn't do himself any favours by being so rude to his guest. Honestly, no manners and no class, some people...

[Hootad Binky]

"In Iran, we don't have homosexuals in our country."

Just heard this bit on the radio; it got a long roar of laughter from the crowd despite his insistence of "I don't know who told you that!" which just got more laughs. It was a movement of levity and humour that indeed does justice to free speech, since it makes us wonder if he really believes that, and it's always good for the powerful to get laughed at.

[attaboy]

^^Bollinger should have left the insultingly blunt questions to one of the students.

[AntRobertson]

we don't have homosexuals in our country

I was once told that by a Korean chap, quite serious he was. Didn't have the heart to point out to him that there were two Korean men that lived in the apartment next to me in 'co-habitation'.

[sabang]

Australia has no Poofters too.

[AntRobertson]

Australia has no Poofters too.

What's the population of Sydney again?

[Butterfly]

The US was not obligated to allow him to speak, but did. These are some of the weaknesses of the US system of free speech.

it's not a weakness, and the Bush supporters being the weak cowards that they are, think of this as a weakness and are trying to get rid of it.

[Lily]

^God knows.


Sung to the tune of 'Amore'

'If a big brown skinned guy
Is in a bar in Bondi.
.........................
.......................
.....................

it's a Maori

[Marmite the Dog]

Yes, one of the things that make TeakDoor great is free speech. Do not forget it.

Agreed.

[machangezi]

"Our Nation is free. Women are free to pursue anything they wish."

So do you disagree, chinthee?

[Texpat]

Keep your friends close.
Keep your enemies even closer.

Regardless of what he said, the fact that Ahmedinejad would come speak to a uni crowd in the US makes me think he's not very bright. He may be a brilliant civil engineer (PhD 97) but his PR staff need to reconsider these speaking requests. The risk/benefit ratio is not good.

[stroller]

^
Yeah, he made a complete arse of himself - one of the benefits of letting folks have their 'free speech'.

^^I can't see any pic, Boon Mee.

[DrB0b]

Keep your friends close.
Keep your enemies even closer.

Regardless of what he said, the fact that Ahmedinejad would come speak to a uni crowd in the US makes me think he's not very bright. He may be a brilliant civil engineer (PhD 97) but his PR staff need to reconsider these speaking requests. The risk/benefit ratio is not good.

Maybe it played well back in Iran and the middle East? Seems to me that's who his PR staff would be aiming at. I doubt they're dumb enough to think they can do much to improve his image in the US.

[Boon Mee]

^
Yeah, he made a complete arse of himself - one of the benefits of letting folks have their 'free speech'.

^^I can't see any pic, Boon Mee.

It shows fine for me?
Try http://hotair.cachefly.net/mm/shiri.jpg

[Texpat]

Maybe it played well back in Iran and the middle East? Seems to me that's who his PR staff would be aiming at. I doubt they're dumb enough to think they can do much to improve his image in the US.

Maybe, but why would he come to a NY uni to send a message to his own people or neighbors? I know he addressed the UN, but that's a different audience.

Maybe he'll use it as proof of "informing the US on his views" before he does something, let's say, provocative. "I explained myself and my country's ambitions clearly," he could say.

[stroller]

^
I think it's gonna be: "The pres of Iran is such an accomplished speaker and has such valuable insights to share, that he's even been invited to speak at Columbia uni."

[barbaro]

The US was not obligated to allow him to speak, but did. These are some of the weaknesses of the US system of free speech. Some despots will take advantage of this, but overall, it will win out.

Respectfully, I totally disagree with you chinthee.

These are the strengths of Free Speech.

The despots won't take advantage, the best ideas take advantage of this and are accepted in forms of free debate.

[chinthee]

The US was not obligated to allow him to speak, but did. These are some of the weaknesses of the US system of free speech. Some despots will take advantage of this, but overall, it will win out.

Respectfully, I totally disagree with you chinthee.

These are the strengths of Free Speech.

The despots won't take advantage, the best ideas take advantage of this and are accepted in forms of free debate.

Yes, of course you're right. I was typing and not thinking at the same time.

[barbaro]

Here's a youtube link to media lies and the editing of Ahmadinajad's statement about Israel.

Should be verified, but it claims he never said Israel should be "wiped off of the map."

Link: