Are you in NYC? Do you want to protest Ahmadinejad's appearance at Columbia University?

Question

Here are the details:

Monday, September 24, 2007, 1:30–2:30 p.m.
Roone Arledge Auditorium, Alfred Lerner Hall, 2920 Broadway

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran
Co-sponsored by the School of International and Public Affairs

A keynote address followed by a question and answer session with the audience.

Moderator
John H. Coatsworth, Acting Dean, School of International and Public Affairs
Question and Answer
During the program, cards will be distributed to members of the audience, so that they may submit questions for the speaker. If you were unable to register for the event but would still like to submit a question, please email your question to [e-mail] with the subject line, "Question for the President of Iran." Due to the large volume of questions, we cannot guarantee that yours will be read at the event.

Answer 1

I can see people going to protest Ahmadinejad, himself, but I don't see why people would protest his appearance. We should be allowing him to speak because that is what our country is all about and why our country is better than his. We should be allowed to protest against what he says if we don't agree with it (we should be encouraged to protest), but it is wrong to say he should not be allowed to say it.

Answer 2

It's best to let him speak, it shows Iran how countries work better with civil liberties and also gets students gain a more worldly perspective on culture and politics. We can't make intelligent leaders by keeping them in the dogmatic shell of western ethics, we have to expand their horizons in points of views. Therefore its free speech that is the oil to the spinning gears of academia as controversy is its fuel for movement. So in order for higher education to be effective, all perspectives in politics no matter how sinister or alien should be taught to students to make brighter leaders for our future. As the famous saying goes, "Keep your friends close but your enemy closer" so with that we learn more about our enemy. Without free speech we would still consider slavery an infallible cultural norm and we would still believe the world is flat, since paradigms can't shift without the ability to question what is taught by our fathers. If you can't stand the academic heat of Columbia University, go to a vocational school instead. Because allowing controversial speakers is an essential way of getting a well rounded perspective for academic discussions and foreign political affairs. You just simply don't have to believe him. When we let him speak, it shows Iran how we are a better country. If you ever notice most countries that don't have civil liberties seem to be further behind in development (although a few exceptions exist such as China or Russia) because the nation can't progress without allowing the diverse perspectives and opinions to circulate and help innovate the nation by learning what actions in government work or don't work as well as openly express proposals for new technology that is contraversial.

Read this http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070924/ap_o...

Answer 3

I'm going to play devil's advocate and say:

Wouldn't protesting his appearance make us hypocrites? Surely, freedom of speech cannot be doled out to only those we are in agreement with.

Answer 4

I hate to tell you, I think the guy has guts and I want to here, what he has to say. It's a Democracy, the last time I looked it up.

Answer 5

I would actually like to hear what he has to say. I'm interested to see what kind of message he is going to deliver.

Answer 6

Wish would have gotten this sooner.
But keep up the good work.

Answer 7

No unfortunately I'm not in New York, however,
Awesome info, Thank You! my e-mail is on it's way.

"GOD BLESS OUR TROOP'S"