The New York Sun is reporting that the city and state legislatures in New York may withohold funds from the school in the wake of the Ivy League institution having Iranian President Ahmadenijad as a speaker today.
Lawmakers have apparently warned Columbia President Lee Bollinger there will be repercussions for having the man who is officially listed as a terrorist by our government speak. In an interview with state assmebly speaker Sheldon Silver, the Sun is reporting that Silver says lawmakers are outraged and will consider holding back financial assistance for the school along with capital aid.
Silver and other lawmakers are joining an outcry that the school is giving a forum for propaganda and legitamizing the anti-American terrorist and leader. Bollinger says it is a matter of academic freedom and first amedment rights.
This is a most difficult situation. I detest Ahmadenijad and everything he stands for,especially his anti-Americanism and his tyranny in his own country,where there have reportedly been numerous executions recently. Some of the offenses given death were homosexuality and women being stoned to death for not following Islamic law.
Is this really the kind of person we want speaking at our institutions at taxpayer expense? Columbia students say they will grill him rigorously. We will see.
The question of whether we will allow this tyrant who is supporting forces that kill Americans daily in Iarq, one who denies the Holocaust, one who sanctions state terrorism, to have an open forum is debatable. Should the state and city legislatures stifle this type of " free" speech by withdrawing funds?
Columbia and schools like it have become podiums for what seems like anti-American propaganda recently. Who is correct,and should we abandon our principles to correct their seemingly traitorous nature? Is this free speech or legitamizing an illegitimate despot?
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