2008 Woodie Awards
RSSControversy and courage
From the editor's desk
By Jessica Absatz
Issue date: 10/16/07 Section: Opinion
Inviting Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to Columbia University on Sept. 24 brought Columbia and its president, Lee Bollinger, much criticism. One alumna ripped up her diploma on TV and many announced they would no longer give donations.
Americans were outraged that a man who denies the Holocaust, calls for the destruction of Israel and supports terrorism, was given a platform at a prestigious American institution.
After all, Ahmadinejad is an anti-Semite and a liar. He has been internationally condemned, calling for Israel to be "wiped off the map," according to Fox News. He calls the Holocaust a myth and calls for more investigation about whether or not this most documented event in history ever happened.
He claims to be a friend of Jews and says Jews live peacefully in Iran, but I question this claim. How can a man who denounces the Holocaust and says there is not a single homosexual living in Iran be trusted? Ahmadinejad got a good laugh out of the crowd when he explained the execution of homosexuals in Iran, saying "we don't have homosexuals like in your country." So where are they? Dead? Exported? Or is Ahmadinejad completely delusional?
When he was questioned about women being persecuted in Iran, he said women are exempt from many activities because they are so valued in his culture. Right …
Ahmadinejad also made anti-American comments. He spends more time criticizing the United States than he spends paying attention to problems in Iran. "We oppose the way the U.S. government tries to manage the world. ... We propose more humane methods of establishing peace," he said, according to CNN.
Ahmadinejad also called for research on the "root causes" of Sept. 11. Meanwhile, the U.S. government has evidence that al-Qaida is connected with Sept. 11 and strong circumstantial evidence indicates that Iran has funneled money to al-Qaida.
But some, Bollinger included, considered the event an opportunity to show Ahmadinejad how his outrageous statements were false and unacceptable. He gave Ahmadinejad a ruthless welcome, putting Ahmadinejad on the defense and making him feel anything but welcome.
Americans were outraged that a man who denies the Holocaust, calls for the destruction of Israel and supports terrorism, was given a platform at a prestigious American institution.
After all, Ahmadinejad is an anti-Semite and a liar. He has been internationally condemned, calling for Israel to be "wiped off the map," according to Fox News. He calls the Holocaust a myth and calls for more investigation about whether or not this most documented event in history ever happened.
He claims to be a friend of Jews and says Jews live peacefully in Iran, but I question this claim. How can a man who denounces the Holocaust and says there is not a single homosexual living in Iran be trusted? Ahmadinejad got a good laugh out of the crowd when he explained the execution of homosexuals in Iran, saying "we don't have homosexuals like in your country." So where are they? Dead? Exported? Or is Ahmadinejad completely delusional?
When he was questioned about women being persecuted in Iran, he said women are exempt from many activities because they are so valued in his culture. Right …
Ahmadinejad also made anti-American comments. He spends more time criticizing the United States than he spends paying attention to problems in Iran. "We oppose the way the U.S. government tries to manage the world. ... We propose more humane methods of establishing peace," he said, according to CNN.
Ahmadinejad also called for research on the "root causes" of Sept. 11. Meanwhile, the U.S. government has evidence that al-Qaida is connected with Sept. 11 and strong circumstantial evidence indicates that Iran has funneled money to al-Qaida.
But some, Bollinger included, considered the event an opportunity to show Ahmadinejad how his outrageous statements were false and unacceptable. He gave Ahmadinejad a ruthless welcome, putting Ahmadinejad on the defense and making him feel anything but welcome.
