Political Question

For the geeks out there like me that follow this stuff.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Is going to be speaking and participating in a debate with students and faculty at Columbia University this week. It's getting a lot of negative press and people are saying that Columbia should cancel. It looks like there not.

What do you ladies think? Should a man who's country is a supposed state sponsor of terrorism and a holocaust denier be allowed to debate his views?

Kind of a loaded question but I'm curious about what everyone thinks.

This is a very hard question for me to answer.

Personally, it offends and upsets me that controversial leader who carries such vehemence is being given such an honor.

On the other hand, an influential institutution such as Columbia should certainly be representing all sides of a political situation, and then allowing others to form their own opinions. In order to make educated opinions, all sides of a situation need to be discussed, and several viwpoints explored.

This decision is controversial and no doubt creates a lot of anger. Its also not totally black and white.....there is a lot of gray area.

I just thought about it a little bit more and am changing my opinion.
He gets the chance to speak and represent himself at the UN.

He shouldn't get the honor at Columbia.

I KNEW Diane would go with the political questions! You're so cute!

'Mr. Ahmadinejad has made controversial comments since becoming president of Iran, including denying the extent of the Holocaust, in which an estimated six million Jews were killed during World War II. He also has called for the Jewish state of Israel to be wiped off the map.'

he obviosuly has some issues...as for not letting him at Ground Zero..I agree... In my mind he'd be placing a wreath honoring the 'martyrs' of the attack & not the victims...Dh lived in Israel for a few years & has many good friends there...anyone who is obviously such an anti-semite shouldn't be given the opportunity to speak at a University......i don't see how allowing someone such as this to speak will 'broaden their education'...

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Posted by Future Mrs.

I just thought about it a little bit more and am changing my opinion.
He gets the chance to speak and represent himself at the UN.

He shouldn't get the honor at Columbia.

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I feel the same way. I understand why people are shocked and offended that he would be invited to speak at Columbia but I also think that is the beauty of living in a democracy. Everyone has a voice.

As much as I think he is a complete moron, I don't think he is any crazier then our current head of state.

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Posted by HamptonsBride

'Mr. Ahmadinejad has made controversial comments since becoming president of Iran, including denying the extent of the Holocaust, in which an estimated six million Jews were killed during World War II. He also has called for the Jewish state of Israel to be wiped off the map.'

he obviosuly has some issues...as for not letting him at Ground Zero..I agree... In my mind he'd be placing a wreath honoring the 'martyrs' of the attack & not the victims...Dh lived in Israel for a few years & has many good friends there...anyone who is obviously such an anti-semite shouldn't be given the opportunity to speak at a University......i don't see how allowing someone such as this to speak will 'broaden their education'...

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Do you think that maybe his particpating in a debate with people who are more likely to be a hell of a lot more broad minded then himself could be a good thing? I'll be honest...I'd be very curious to hear him speak. I don't support his opinions at all, but I think it would be very interesting to discover how someone comes to those kind of insane conclusions.

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Posted by BunnyBride
Do you think that maybe his particpating in a debate with people who are more likely to be a hell of a lot more broad minded then himself could be a good thing? I'll be honest...I'd be very curious to hear him speak. I don't support his opinions at all, but I think it would be very interesting to discover how someone comes to those kind of insane conclusions.

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well yes, it may be interesting to see HOW he's come to these conclusions...but nonetheless he still feels that a whole race of people should be wiped off the face of the earth...it's kind of like interviewing a mass murderer...yes, you gain some insite into their train of thought but in the end they are a still just a murderer...

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Posted by HamptonsBride

'Mr. Ahmadinejad has made controversial comments since becoming president of Iran, including denying the extent of the Holocaust, in which an estimated six million Jews were killed during World War II. He also has called for the Jewish state of Israel to be wiped off the map.'

he obviosuly has some issues...as for not letting him at Ground Zero..I agree... In my mind he'd be placing a wreath honoring the 'martyrs' of the attack & not the victims...Dh lived in Israel for a few years & has many good friends there...anyone who is obviously such an anti-semite shouldn't be given the opportunity to speak at a University......i don't see how allowing someone such as this to speak will 'broaden their education'...

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I actually lived in Israel for quite some time too, and just want to make it clear that I am in NO WAY a supporter of any of his beliefs and I think he is deplorable. If it were up to me, he wouldn't even be aloud in the US. I personally take offense to him even being allowed to set foot in our country. However when I look at it from a greater view, I'm more objective about it.

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Posted by Future Mrs.
I actually lived in Israel for quite some time too, and just want to make it clear that I am in NO WAY a supporter of any of his beliefs and I think he is deplorable. If it were up to me, he wouldn't even be aloud in the US. I personally take offense to him even being allowed to set foot in our country. However when I look at it from a greater view, I'm more objective about it.

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DH & I aren't even jewish and we think it's ridiculous (it's not about religion or political beliefs it's about common human decency)...DH was in Israel thru many suicide bombings (before they built the wall) & people he worked with and friends lost loved ones...i'll never forget the time his co-worker's fiance was killed..they went to a club to hand out some wedding invites to friends...a suicide bomber set himself off and she was killed, he was badly injured...how sad.....and all because of who they were...

this is an interesting question.... I frankly do think its acceptable for him to go to columbia... let me explain why

from our perspective (and most of the western world, and even some iranians), he is:
1) completely nuts.... I mean nuts like a certain north korean dictator
2) a permanent enemy of the state (US), since he was one of the hostage takers of 1979-1980.

however, him coming here is rather unique. He's attempting to begin diplomatic relations, much like the US and USSR in the mid 1980's. It is really important to acknowledge the possible extension of an olive branch, since to alienate that nation could only create more tension and chaos in the middle east, and more terrorism.

Ignoring that, since that is US diplomatic stuff, from a pure academic perspective, he's an ideal guest. Politicians who are invited to universities are not going to be venerated, nor are their policies going to be blindly accepted or condoned. They are invited because the academic / political community wishes to understand this person's/country's motives and perspective.... an important first step to diffusing tensions. His feet will likely be put to the fire, and every aspect of his policies / past behaviors challenged.

If he were to receive an honorary degree, then I'd cry foul, but to be invited to merely speak, I see no problem with that.

It really is crucial that we diffuse that iranian / mideast political situation. We have to diffuse fundamentalist political tactics much as we diffused communism. If we tried that with the barrel of the gun, we surely would have ended the world. We have to use diplomacy, and subtle calculated movements.... otherwise we could just exasperate the situation, and terrorism / war would grow exponentially..... this trip by him may be a first opportunity to calm the waters a bit..... we should grab it.......

Very well thought points! I agree with you 100% and I understand why it's such a charged issue for so many people. Diplomacy is tough and it's been even harder since we've had a certain individual (Cough! W. Bush. Cough!) in office.

It will be interesting to see what happens this week during the general assembly. We live about 10 blocks from the UN so there is lots of activity going on right now.

yeah, US diplomacy has definitely been flushed sometime in 2002.... such as sad thing, since so many countries supported us in the days after 9/11. The final nail in the coffin was the glaring statement in the UN by Powell just prior to the Iraq invasion. Ironically, while a certain DC shrub lacks the support of his citizens, ahmadinejad is in a VERY similar situation in Iran. Both Bush and ahmadinejad are viewed as polarizing figures in their home countries with less than golden reputations in diplomatic circles. Just like recent glaring changes in US diplomacy (all's quiet on the north korean front.... in other words, bush is now saying nothing concerning NK nukes, and US diplomats/negotiators are doing wonders behind the scenes), this may be Iran forcing ahmadinejad to finally play diplomat instead of being the playground bully.

we can at least hope!

I have a friend who lives VERY close to you... his apartment windows overlook the UN and the river.... his dad is a retired diplomat, so he felt compelled to be close to there......

I dont know how I feel, Im one of those 'make the country disappear' people, I think what has been done to our country is disgusting...and a sort of confidence and security is gone.

Im on both sides, I dont think he should only bc of the 'thought' of his country represents to us but feel he should be able to bc it will open up a sense of understanding..maybe, I dont think that is the word Im looking for.

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Posted by PegaLega

I dont know how I feel, Im one of those 'make the country disappear' people, I think what has been done to our country is disgusting...and a sort of confidence and security is gone.

Im on both sides, I dont think he should only bc of the 'thought' of his country represents to us but feel he should be able to bc it will open up a sense of understanding..maybe, I dont think that is the word Im looking for.

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well put.......

I will say that I personally believe the change in attitude in our country is our own doing.... we allowed politicians to tap into our horror and insecurities, and we let our guard down and blindly believed all their promises of security and peace.... and were taken advantage of BIG TIME by corporate war profiteers. We still have abysmal port and airport security after spending soooo much . So we're left feeling vulnerable, with a loss of confidence.

What hamptonsbride said about that idiot visiting ground zero is really creepy (and likely spot-on). He probably WOULD lay a wreath for the 'martyrs'. I'm glad he's not going there.......

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Posted by portjeffbride

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Posted by PegaLega

I dont know how I feel, Im one of those 'make the country disappear' people, I think what has been done to our country is disgusting...and a sort of confidence and security is gone.

Im on both sides, I dont think he should only bc of the 'thought' of his country represents to us but feel he should be able to bc it will open up a sense of understanding..maybe, I dont think that is the word Im looking for.

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well put.......

I will say that I personally believe the change in attitude in our country is our own doing.... we allowed politicians to tap into our horror and insecurities, and we let our guard down and blindly believed all their promises of security and peace.... and were taken advantage of BIG TIME by corporate war profiteers. We still have abysmal port and airport security after spending soooo much . So we're left feeling vulnerable, with a loss of confidence.

What hamptonsbride said about that idiot visiting ground zero is really creepy (and likely spot-on). He probably WOULD lay a wreath for the 'martyrs'. I'm glad he's not going there.......

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I totally agree.

Now if we were talking about him going to ground zero I would say DEFINITELY NOT!!

But I really am back and forth on this one, I see why it should be ok but I also understand why he shouldnt.