Comments on: Ahmadinejad + Columbia University = Awkwaaaard

By: Nunc Scio » Blog Archive » Iran vs. Columbia U: Round 2?

Nunc Scio » Blog Archive » Iran vs. Columbia U: Round 2? — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 21:53:29 +0000

[...] Columbia is not friends with Iran. Or more specifically, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is not buddy-buddy with Columbia Pres Lee Bollinger. But are the rumors (first reported by Iran’s Mehr news [...]

By: Nunc Scio » Blog Archive » Iranian university invites Bush to speak

Nunc Scio » Blog Archive » Iranian university invites Bush to speak — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 16:56:10 +0000

[...] off the heels of Columbia University’s throwdown on Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Ferdowsi University in northern Iran has invited President Bush to speak. They’d like him to [...]

By: TH

TH — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 15:58:12 +0000

“…a dangerous, bigoted and homophobic theocrat”. Whoo, you know how to convey information(?) in short bits. Make Polemics, not Politics! That perfectly describes the mindset of at least a minority of Americans and their total disregard for what “enemies” are thinking – however alien – and why they are thinking it.
As for widening any diplomatic rift, I don’t think there is much to widen judging by the US warmongering as perceived in Europe. And whatever the Bollingers say, meeting such as this are rare opportunities to gather first-hand experience as opposed to the media sing-song of prefabricated opinions. It may prevent the killing of another 2 million people like in Vietnam in another useless war that would be the next step into the quagmire of Oil for Blood. Ahmadinejad has two faces like every politician, but he is decidedly in the less dangerous position.

By: ebrahim

ebrahim — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 07:03:47 +0000

To all peace lovers.
the catastrophy in our world is wrong information that people get from media which are orginized on getting all natural sorces by war and murder. I don’t want Mr. Ahamdinejad to insist on justice for palestinian more than their leaders , but he is in love with justic.Mr. Bollinger showed his ignorance on calling him as dictator. May be he did it to get big money from zionists.His family will admire him for his bravery.

By: SassAFrass

SassAFrass — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 13:29:20 +0000

I think Boolinger took unfair advantage of an opportunity to be seen as a “hero” for taking a stand against an obvious target. There is no honour in that. Shame on him.
I believe in freedom of speech, but I DON’T believe in taking advantage of an opportunity to smear someone. Why invite Ahmadinejad to speak at all? Why ask him to come over and share ideas (controversial and not at all in line with what I PERSONALLY believe) but ideas none-the-less, when all he wanted to do was belittle him in front of a captive audience?
Why not just call him up and say, “Hey, here’s what I think of you” and be done with it? I’ll tell you why. He wanted the attention, and now he’s got it.

By: adam

adam — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 02:53:31 +0000

Bollinger was out of line for a president of a University and to say Ahmadinejad got worse is wrong. Ahmadinejad got fair enough applause from the audience to the end.

By: Phillip Hoverstadt

Phillip Hoverstadt — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 02:50:53 +0000

I personally am not a fan of Ahmadinejad, but regardless, his introduction by the president of Columbia was a little abrasive. Why did he invite him to the forum if he was only interested in insulting him? Won’t his harsh comments only deepen the political rift between the U.S and Iran?

By: Matt B

Matt B — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 02:48:55 +0000

Bollinger was disgraceful. While I completley support his criticisms of Ahmadinejad, he nonetheless engaged in low brow tactics and completley railraoded Ahmadinejad. The University as an instituion is about free debate. You do not invite someone to speak and then denounce them in your introduction of the very same person. Bollinger did a great diservice to acedemia. Disgrace!!

By: Kenny

Kenny — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 02:44:18 +0000

Guys, the president of Columbia University was only saying what I would guess most people in this country think about Ahmadinejad. If Ahmadinejad didn’t expect it, he must have been oblivious to popular opinion. If he did, he owed it to himself to defend his image. But I still can’t find anything in print that shows that Ahmadinejad actually had a good retort.

And Hassan — yeah free speech, exactly, so why couldn’t Ahmadinejad use his words to defend himself against Bollinger’s words? It’s not like he was being suppressed. The man had the podium!

By: RK

RK — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 02:35:42 +0000

I agree with Hassan Hussain. The president of the university was rude, insulting to a guest he himself invited. Is this what American Culture and University environment has morphed into. Let the people decide one way or the other. I thought the intention of inviting him to speak was to start a conversation and exchange of ideas. let us not forget we will not fix the Iraq mess without Iran.
Weere we invited into Iraq? We decided to attack the country. I do not agree with Ahmadinejad either. I think the guy is arrogant, ignorant and an idiot. But why insuly your guest in your own home. I think President of Columbia University should go back to school and study hospitatlity.
And by the way I am not a muslim or am from Iran.