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Despite his rejection from Ground Zero, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is still welcome at Columbia University, to discuss topics that will include his controversial opinions of the Holocaust and Israel. What do you think about Columbia University's invitation to Ahmadinejad? Do you agree with the decision to restrict Ahmadinejad's visit to Ground Zero?

Click on the "Reply" button to post your responses below.

We grant rights and benifitts normaly reserved for citizens to illegal allians every day. Even though I,deap in my heart, believe Iran is behind much of the worlds priblems. In light of the rights and benifitts granted to others, how can we reject a diplomat from a soverin nation the same rights granted to criminals who sneek across our borders. Whats good for the goose is good for the gander.  

He's anti-American...i just don't see this as a good thing for the country to have guys like this speak.

Controversy only arises when something goes against the popular majority.  Although Ahmadinejad is an unpopular figure in America, I applaud Columbia University and Ahmadinejad for bridging our obvious differences to create a forum where those differences can be examined and discussed.  I'd rather hear his viewpoints, whatever they are, from the man himself, rather than hear them from our politicians or our media. 

I agree with the decision to restrict Ahmadinejad's visit to Ground Zero. 

no harm. let the american people really see what this man and his country is all about. Then send him back.

It's in the Bill of Rights for free speech, We give someone the right to come into this country to say what he wants on a university campus, Yet we tazer a student for asking a question to John Karey. This country is in a world of hurt. Any it's slowly going down hill.

Ray Frisch

I am a veteran, formal police officer I served my country and community. We are not @ war with Iran give him the moment to speak, let the American citizen hear him and how much double talk he is and how he has stooped out the rights of women keeping them bottled up and any other enthic groups, religion and any other rights of people.

What is the ole saying keep our friends close but keep our enemies even closer!

 

Cleveland: 11Bravo

  

What I fail to understand here is how we're so quick to admonish the man for his views on such controversial topics - topics we as a nation cannot adequately address ourselves in a civic forum. The purpose of these speakers at colleges all across the country is to give students a voice, to open challenging dialogue between the leaders, movers and shakers of various walks of life, and students - those who will eventually become such leaders, movers and shakers. The man comes from a different nation, a different culture - why would you expect him to share your American societal views on various topics? The great thing about this country is that we openly encourage freedom of speech. But suddenly there comes a figure such as Mr. Ahmadinejad, a man of distinguished accomplishment and success in his own right, and own country and culture, and soon we want to protest, we want to discredit his thoughts, take away his right to speak. That goes against the very fabric of freedoms we grant to anyone who walks this land.

As a side note, I'm curious as to why Columbia University's president Lee Bollinger had very few kind words toward Mr. Ahmadinejad. Your university agreed to let him speak there. If you didn't approve of his comments, decline the invitation. Don't make a mockery out of the situation and play sides. You invited him.

I think the invitation by Columbia University's invitation to allow Ahmadiejad to be disturbing.  What were they thinking?    This man is a  terroistist, and although I am not a very policatal person, I have seen many interviews with this man and find him hateful and definately against the US!

Betty

Mesa

First of all, I agree that he should have been invited to speak, however to limit his talk to the holocaust and Israel was uncalled for, and the pre-speech remarks by Pres. Bollinger were in poor taste to say the least. Here is a man who is president of a foreign country and we should have extended him the courtesy we give to other leaders, no matter if we agree with them or not. It's difficult but that's what we're about, or what we're supposed to be about. The American people are so gullible they believe anything their government tells them even after all the lies that this administration has pawned off on them. We missed an opportunity to show the world how a civilized country treats those who they do not agree with, instead we looked like the small minded, rude hypocrites we are, who expect the rest of the world to to put up with our boorish behavior.

 

First of all, I agree that he should have been invited to speak, however to limit his talk to the holocaust and Israel was uncalled for, and the pre-speech remarks by Pres. Bollinger were in poor taste to say the least. Here is a man who is president of a foreign country and we should have extended him the courtesy we give to other leaders, no matter if we agree with them or not. It's difficult but that's what we're about, or what we're supposed to be about. The American people are so gullible they believe anything their government tells them even after all the lies that this administration has pawned off on them. We missed an opportunity to show the world how a civilized country treats those who they do not agree with, instead we looked like the small minded, rude hypocrites we are, who expect the rest of the world to to put up with our boorish behavior.

                                                                 Roberta

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