What is your opinion of the invitation and visit of the President of Iran to the University f Columbia?

Question

Was he treated as it was expected in a democratic nation?

Answer 1

I think it was unfair how he was treated. He is not the most popular person in the world right now, but he is still a human being. I don't agree with most of what he says, but I think professional respect and courtesy should have been given to him and I don't believe that it was. Now I think he can go home and basically say that Americans are complete jerks and have the experience to back the statement up.

Answer 2

I agree with almost nothing I've heard the man say, but I do think that it is the responsibility of a major university to uphold academic freedom and to make a variety of voices available to be heard, both appealing and unappealing. If the invitation had been an endorsement of his policies, I would not have been pleased, but since it was just a space for him to (once again) put his foot in his mouth, followed by many opportunities for professors to discuss what he said (which is likely to strengthen the convictions of many students against his beliefs), then yes, it was the right thing to do, and you treat a guest with respect and dignity, even if you don't care for them personally.

Answer 3

I see this respect and dignity used for him to speak here, where and when does he give that to his people. He can show how he was not given the freedom to speak without being booed,thus interrupting him, they should have waited until he was done, then responded, he was invited to speak,its called courtesy ...BOO later

Answer 4

have we figured out if this guy was one of the
kidnappers of US hostages? whether that is true or not
i think the guy is trying to stir up trouble whatever he
says. the media should ignore him and others with
their ridiculous rhetoric. giving them a platform to
to bash the Us just encourages their nonsense.
I believe the govt agencies covert or otherwise
should determine their real threat level and deal with
them accordingly.

Answer 5

USA has been flirting with war in the middle east since it propped up the Shah of Iran up in the CIA coupe.
From the Pahlavi era to the Iranian Revolution (1921 – 1979)
Dr. Mohammad Mossadegh, former Iranian prime minister, was overthrown in a CIA-backed coup in 1953.
Dr. Mohammad Mossadegh, former Iranian prime minister, was overthrown in a CIA-backed coup in 1953.

Main articles: Pahlavi dynasty, Iranian Constitutional Revolution, and 1953 Iranian coup d'état

With the rise of modernization and encroachment of stronger Western powers in the late nineteenth century came the Persian Constitutional Revolution of 1905–1911. Reformers hoped the constitution would strengthen Iran against Imperial Russia and Britain by centralizing and modernizing it. Ultimately the constitution became law, but its provisions were seldom followed during most of its history.

In 1921, Cossack army officer Reza Khan (known as Reza Shah after assuming the throne) staged a coup against the weakened Qajar dynasty. An autocrat and supporter of modernization, Reza Shah initiated the development of modern industry, railroads, and establishment of a national education system. Reza Shah sought to balance the influence of Russia and Britain by seeking out assistance and technology from European powers traditionally not involved in Iranian affairs, but when World War II started his closeness to Germany alarmed allied powers Russia and Britain, Germany's enemies.

In summer of 1941 Britain and the USSR invaded Iran to prevent Iran from allying with the Axis powers. The Allies occupied Iran, securing a supply line to Russia, Iran's petroleum infrastructure, and forced the Shah to abdicate in favor of his son, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. In 1951, a nationalist politician, Dr. Mohammed Mossadegh rose to prominence in Iran and was elected Prime Minister. As Prime Minister, Mossadegh became enormously popular in Iran by nationalizing the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company (later British Petroleum, BP) which controlled the country's oil reserves. In response, Britain embargoed Iranian oil and began plotting to depose Mossadegh. Members of the British Intelligence Service invited the United States to join them, convincing U.S. President Eisenhower that Mossadegh was reliant on the Tudeh (Communist) Party to stay in power. In 1953, President Eisenhower authorized Operation Ajax, and the CIA took the lead in overthrowing Mossadegh and supporting a U.S.-friendly monarch; and for which the U.S. Government apologized in 2000.[53]
Mohammed Reza Pahlavi, Shah of Iran, and his wife, Queen Farah, prepare to depart after a visit to the United States
Mohammed Reza Pahlavi, Shah of Iran, and his wife, Queen Farah, prepare to depart after a visit to the United States

The CIA faced many setbacks, but the covert operation soon went into full swing, conducted from the U.S. Embassy in Tehran under the leadership of Kermit Roosevelt, Jr. Iranians were hired to protest Mossadegh and fight pro-Mossadegh demonstrators. Anti- and pro-monarchy protestors violently clashed in the streets, leaving almost three hundred dead. The operation was successful in triggering a coup, and within days, pro-Shah tanks stormed the capital and bombarded the Prime Minister's residence. Mossadegh surrendered, and was arrested on 19 August 1953. He was tried for treason, and sentenced to three years in prison.

Mohammad Reza Pahlavi returned to power greatly strengthened and his rule became increasingly autocratic in the following years. With strong support from the U.S. and U.K., the Shah further modernized Iranian industry, but simultaneously crushed all forms of political opposition with his intelligence agency, SAVAK. Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini became an active critic of the Shah's White Revolution and publicly denounced the government. Khomeini, who was popular in religious circles, was arrested and imprisoned for 18 months. After his release in 1964, Khomeini publicly criticized the United States government. The Shah was persuaded to send him into exile by General Hassan Pakravan. Khomeini was sent first to Turkey, then to Iraq and finally to France. While in exile, he continued to denounce the Shah.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran#From_the_Pahlavi_era_to_the_Iranian_Revolution_.281921_.E2.80.93_1979.29
The way that some American individuals acted during a dignitaries visit to a Free Democracy was pretty sad comment on said free democratic state.
But that is the beauty as well as the brutal ugly that freedom brings.