This entry is corrected. Contrary to the original posting, Sheldon Silver apparently did not attend the Sunday rally at Columbia.
Along with protesters, bloggers were out in force for today’s speech at Columbia by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Columbia Journalism students provide their account, along with an on-line survey and photos, here. On the City Room, Sewell Chan offers his minute-by-minute account. A few nuggets:
Ahmadinejad denied Iran is developing nuclear weapons but said, referring to the U.S., “If you have created the fifth generation of atomic bombs and tested them already, what position are you in to question the peaceful purposes of others who want nuclear power?” He said he wanted to go to Ground Zero to “show my respect” and, according to Chan, was puzzled that people considered his proposed visit (vetoed by Police Commissioner Ray Kelly) an insult. And, when asked about the treatment of gays and lesbians in Iran said, “We don’t have homosexuals like in your country. We don’t have that in our country.” (In case you were wondering, an international gay rights group says this is not true.)
Opinions continue to run high on whether Columbia should have allowed Ahmadinejad there in the first place.
The Columbia Spectator is reporting, according to the Daily Politics, that “the university is now being flooded with congratulatory phone calls for hosting the event, at which Columbia President Lee Bollinger told Ahmadinejad: ‘Mr. President, you exhibit all the signs of a petty and cruel dictator.’”
Former Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, Mitt Romney and Council Speaker Christine Quinn have condemned Columbia’s invitation, with Giuliani saying it “is not even a close question” and Quinn joining a protest near the UN. David Weprin’s opposition has landed him on Hardball and CNN, pretty heavy stuff for a City Council member from outer Queens. Weprin, along with Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver has indicated the city and state governments should consider punishing Columbia by withholding public funds from the university, thereby ushering in an era when the three men in a room will have veto power over who speaks at universities.
Not everyone opposes Columbia’s allowing the Iranian president to speak. If the university thinks it’s educational, President George W. Bush said,” I guess it’s OK with me.” And Mayor Michael Bloomberg reportedly criticized those trying to silence Ahmadinejad saying, “I can’t stand this guy. But to go and to give the terrorists what they want - and to give the people who dislike this country ammunition - by saying we don’t even have the freedoms that we preach is just not real smart.”
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By Gail Robinson on September 24, 2007, 3:54 pm
In category: Civil Rights, Education, Electoral Politics
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