Ahmadinejad to speak at Columbia

[theapportioner]

However, in that regard, I do wish the student body would be more consistent--they have shouted down Minute Men, members of Jihad Watch, and other conservatives.

Why is this such a big concern? The students have their beliefs that they should have a right to express, too. I wasn't at the campus today, but from what I can tell, a lot of students were thrilled to see Bollinger rip a new one. I agree that certain students went too far with the Minuteman thing, but if they want to protest that, then more power to them. People may not like what Columbia did in inviting the Iranian President, and they have a right to criticize the school, too. However, the whole state government threatening to cut off public funds to the school (much of which is financial aid for students) is an extremely dangerous precedent, in my opinion.

[KevinTheOmnivore]

I'll say it again--I am glad Ahmadinejad spoke, and I think the whole event went well (despite the absurd applause they gave the ass when he whined about being attacked).

But the topic was started on the inconsistencies of the campus Left within the student body, not the campus administration itself. The crowd sat there and politely applauded an extremist and terrorist money man, and chuckled when he invited them to tour Tehran.

How would Cheney be received there? How about other foreign leaders, like Sarkozy or Howard? Would they even be able to finish their speech? Where was Code Pink yesterday to interrupt a man whose government hires super nuns to walk around with sticks in order to police females and children?

It's an inconsistency that exists in other dark little corners on the Left, and it's a sad, sad game of moral equivalence.

[KevinTheOmnivore]

Also, the "American values" argument holds no water with me. This isn't a guy who wrote a controversial book and was given the podium. He's a head of state, and the mouthpiece for an extremist regime.

There are a lot of people who could not get their dose of Columbia free speech. I'm sure you or I couldn't. So let's not over play the speech card here, because as Preechr pointed out, his remarks were rather restrained by mahmoud standards. I would've preferred he given his Friday prayer tirade, while the academics and limo liberals at Columbia squirmed in their seats. Now that would be some speech!