Free speech, my ass

[mahnmut]

The opening speech from Bollinger was stupid and reminds one of immaturity and outright rudeness... There might have been valid points, but this is not the way to welcome a speaker. My respect for America is sinking like the Titanic! You say free speech? Im starting to laugh in your direction! What you have today is called "controlled speech", but nevertheless, a great initiative from Columbia Uni to let this event take place.

Iranian leader gets hot welcome to Columbia University

Comments

[abomvubuso.livejournal.com]

Yeah nice. First invite him to yer Uni and then insult him.

[tvuutietyle24.livejournal.com]

And how are those two related? Columbia, in the name of free speech, wanted to give him a podium to show him that the United States allowed views as his to be expressed without censorship - a major contrast to what happens to dissidents in Iran. The Uni President had no obligation to praise him.

[mahnmut.livejournal.com]

I have no illusions. The man is insane. What made me feel uncomfortable was the fact that they invited him and then they booed him. A good trap you'd say. The man got caught easily so he must be stupid apart from being insane. But of course things are not as simple as they seem. Ask Kol for more info.

[mahnmut.livejournal.com]

So you are one of the many who got caught in this cheap PR trick. I suspect the translation and interpretation of his statement was deliberately twisted. But after all, the opinions about him are pre-determined even before he has opened his mouth. Iran has EFFECTIVELY no homosexuals, since they are outlawed and respectively they don't declare themselves as such. A matter of interpretation. Of course, Ahmadinejad is a moron. But still, the way he was treated doesn't speak very well of his ideologic opponents either.

[abomvubuso.livejournal.com]

What "actions" are you talking exactly? Speaking of extremist actions, just look around the White House.

[tvuutietyle24.livejournal.com]

"The enemy of my enemy is my friend" - sad that this logic makes you support people like him.

http://blogues.cyberpresse.ca/hetu/?p=70413616
http://blogues.cyberpresse.ca/hetu/?p=70413572

I agree with strbjun

[mahnmut.livejournal.com]

First I have no enemies. Second, I said there were valid points, only the way they were presented was immature. Sorry to repeat myself. Thanks for the links but unfortunately I am not fluent in French :-)
Honestly I don't care much about the ideological differences, I only care about REAL freedom of speech and the lack of double standards. Yes I am too utopic.

[abomvubuso.livejournal.com]

Having a horde of booers and applauders is not what I call a debate. Yes he is stupid, since he believed anyone would've actually listened to what he was saying.

And there's a reason why he's doing what he's doing (or at least talking what he's talking). Only if you knew who he really is...
I'll stop here.