Iranian President Comments At Columbia Spark Protest
By Andrea Francese
Issue date: 9/13/07 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
Few college-hosted speech have ever created a media storm quite like Columbia University did on Sept. 24. Non-stop coverage began on the prior evening on several news outlets chronicling Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's journey to Columbia to give a speech amidst heavy protest. The coverage stretched until the pointed question and answer session between speech attendees and the president ended.
Early on in the speech Ahmadinejad was asked about his stance on homosexuality. He stated "In Iran, we don't have homosexuals like in your country". Ahmadinejad went on to talk above the laughter and boos of students, stating "In Iran we do not have this phenomenon, I don't know who's told you that we have it."
Ahmadinejad has been harshly criticized over the last several years regarding his stance on homosexuality, Israel and the Holocaust, views he freely speaks about when engaged. Similarly the president's actions have been denounced because of an ongoing nuclear project in Iran. The president continues to insist the project has little to do with nuclear weaponry
Much of the coverage dealt directly with the fierce protests that raged inside the Columbia campus and around New York City. One flier promoting a protest against the speech was handed out asking for all those who opposed the president to join in. Another similar flier offered free transportation to students at campuses outside of Manhattan. Activists came in droves and filled out the Columbia University campus.
The media and protests placed a great deal of their anger and disgust on Columbia University President Lee Bollinger. Many protesters, according to protest advertisements and media coverage, felt that Bollinger should have canceled the Ahmadinejad's speech or never invited him to speak in the first place. According to Newsday, some felt allowing Ahmadinejad to speak would have been comparable to allowing Adolf Hitler to speak.
Mere hours after the speech ended and Columbia's campus finally began to return to normal transcripts of exactly what was said were released. Bollinger during the introduction referred to Ahmadinejad as a "petty and cruel dictator." One must wonder if Bollinger is trying to safely remove himself from the controversy caused by the speech by insulting the individual he invited.
The audience asked pointed questions that were sure to rile Ahmadinejad, engaging him in discussion regarding homosexuality. Ahmadinejad denies that homosexuality exists within his nation and the Middle East, preferring to believe it is a western culture phenomenon.
When all was said and done, Ahmadinejad moved on too other speaking engagements around New York City and Columbia entered back into it's tranquil routine within a bustling city, but Ahmadinejad's speech and the protest it sparked are surely an event that will continue to pose questions to even the most politically uninterested people.
Early on in the speech Ahmadinejad was asked about his stance on homosexuality. He stated "In Iran, we don't have homosexuals like in your country". Ahmadinejad went on to talk above the laughter and boos of students, stating "In Iran we do not have this phenomenon, I don't know who's told you that we have it."
Ahmadinejad has been harshly criticized over the last several years regarding his stance on homosexuality, Israel and the Holocaust, views he freely speaks about when engaged. Similarly the president's actions have been denounced because of an ongoing nuclear project in Iran. The president continues to insist the project has little to do with nuclear weaponry
Much of the coverage dealt directly with the fierce protests that raged inside the Columbia campus and around New York City. One flier promoting a protest against the speech was handed out asking for all those who opposed the president to join in. Another similar flier offered free transportation to students at campuses outside of Manhattan. Activists came in droves and filled out the Columbia University campus.
The media and protests placed a great deal of their anger and disgust on Columbia University President Lee Bollinger. Many protesters, according to protest advertisements and media coverage, felt that Bollinger should have canceled the Ahmadinejad's speech or never invited him to speak in the first place. According to Newsday, some felt allowing Ahmadinejad to speak would have been comparable to allowing Adolf Hitler to speak.
Mere hours after the speech ended and Columbia's campus finally began to return to normal transcripts of exactly what was said were released. Bollinger during the introduction referred to Ahmadinejad as a "petty and cruel dictator." One must wonder if Bollinger is trying to safely remove himself from the controversy caused by the speech by insulting the individual he invited.
The audience asked pointed questions that were sure to rile Ahmadinejad, engaging him in discussion regarding homosexuality. Ahmadinejad denies that homosexuality exists within his nation and the Middle East, preferring to believe it is a western culture phenomenon.
When all was said and done, Ahmadinejad moved on too other speaking engagements around New York City and Columbia entered back into it's tranquil routine within a bustling city, but Ahmadinejad's speech and the protest it sparked are surely an event that will continue to pose questions to even the most politically uninterested people.
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