NY university urged to cancel Ahmadinejad speech

[Psycho4Bud]

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Columbia University was urged on Thursday to withdraw a speaking invitation to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who will be in New York next week for the United Nations General Assembly.

New York City Council speaker Christine Quinn wrote to the university urging them to cancel Ahmadinejad's planned speech

on Monday, which is part of a forum of world leaders.

"Ahmadinejad is a Holocaust denier," she wrote.

New York police said on Wednesday that Ahmadinejad, who has called for Israel to be wiped off the map, had been denied his request to visit the World Trade Center site of the September 11 attacks.

Ahmadinejad said on Thursday he was "amazed" by the reaction to his proposed visit to Ground Zero and he would try to go "if we have the time and the conditions are conducive."

Asked in an interview with CBS's 60 Minutes if he would press his request, he said that if local officials could not make the necessary arrangements, "I won't insist."

CBS released extracts of the interview in advance of Sunday when it will be broadcast in full.

Quinn said universities should be a forum for a healthy exchange of differing ideas, but that there were limits.

"An exchange of ideas should not include state sponsored terrorism and hate speech. He can say whatever he wants on any street corner, but should not be given center stage at one of New York's most prestigious centers of higher education."
NY university urged to cancel Ahmadinejad speech - Yahoo! News

Why any university would invite this assclown to speak is beyond me!

Have a good one!:s4:

Psycho4Bud Reviewed by Psycho4Bud on 09-20-2007. NY university urged to cancel Ahmadinejad speech NEW YORK (Reuters) - Columbia University was urged on Thursday to withdraw a speaking invitation to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who will be in New York next week for the United Nations General Assembly. New York City Council speaker Christine Quinn wrote to the university urging them to cancel Ahmadinejad's planned speech on Monday, which is part of a forum of world leaders. "Ahmadinejad is a Holocaust denier," she wrote. New York police said on Wednesday that Rating: 5

[the image reaper]

McCain Suggests Physical Force to Prevent Ahmadinejad From Visiting World Trade Center Site

Thursday, September 20,2007

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad should be physically prevented from visiting Ground Zero should he attempt to go to the "sacred" site where the World Trade Center once stood, Arizona Sen. John McCain joked Thursday.

"I think the president of Iran should be physically restrained if necessary," a laughing McCain told radio host Shawn Wasson. "I hope it doesn't come to that but we're not going to have that kind of desecration of what is sacred ground. Obviously, it is a propaganda ploy on his part, and if we allowed him to do it it would just embolden his followers and give him the publicity he seeks."

[Innominate]

I believe he should be able to go. He might be a notorious Middle East icon, but he is a leader of a country and insists to make his own dedication to the American People, whether it be peaceful or insulting, it should be acknowledged.

[eg420ne]

Whats is wrong with him speaking, it just seems racist....................Or are the Good Americans afraid of what he may say....i thought we were AMERICA, land of the free, home of the brave, more like home of the cowards...........

[audioaddict04]

I FUCKING HATE THIS COUNTRY!!!

When I was a child I honestly believed that America was the greatest nation on earth. Damn I wish I could be that naive again.

The President of a sovereign nation is visiting us and what do we do but treat him like a terrorist because we don't agree what what he has to say. I'm relatively sure that the students at NYU are grown up enough to listen to him and differentiate between radical hate speech and worthwhile information for themselves.

And as far as not allowing him near Ground Zero, thats strikes me as nothing but plain intolerance. What do they think he's going to do? Strap a bomb to himself and blow up what is basically a vacant lot? Nothing could be more unlikely.

I hate the fact that the majority of Americans don't even realize that Iranians are Persian and not Arab. Our government does nothing but feed us propaganda and our citizens don't make the slightest attempt to Educate themselves.

Time to prepare for the flame-war to come.

[Captain Jack Sparrow]

Oh cmon, I'm as far left as they come but even I can see Ahmadenijad is an asshole and a crazy one at that.

I don't want his ass having nukes but I don't want another mismanaged war run by the republicunts. If we didn't botch up Iraq so bad I would probably support a war with Iran. But we really have lost all credibility with the world on this one.

It's like, now's the time to stop the REAL bad guy who is TRYING to get WMD'S but we can't because we've already used that line and look where it's got us.

Shame really, because a nuclear Iran is NOT good. They are currently arming and training terrorists and supplying them with weapons in Iraq now, do you really want them to toss some crazy towel heads a nuke and say go have fun?

Blehh.

[Psycho4Bud]

CJS....you just suprised me.....got some good rep on the way. LOL

Have a good one!:s4:

[Mohksha]

I FUCKING HATE THIS COUNTRY!!!

When I was a child I honestly believed that America was the greatest nation on earth. Damn I wish I could be that naive again.

The President of a sovereign nation is visiting us and what do we do but treat him like a terrorist because we don't agree what what he has to say. I'm relatively sure that the students at NYU are grown up enough to listen to him and differentiate between radical hate speech and worthwhile information for themselves.

And as far as not allowing him near Ground Zero, thats strikes me as nothing but plain intolerance. What do they think he's going to do? Strap a bomb to himself and blow up what is basically a vacant lot? Nothing could be more unlikely.

I hate the fact that the majority of Americans don't even realize that Iranians are Persian and not Arab. Our government does nothing but feed us propaganda and our citizens don't make the slightest attempt to Educate themselves.

Time to prepare for the flame-war to come.
Reply With Quote

I totally agree with you dude. God, I was so naive. I got into a HUGE argument with someone in class today about America. Sometimes its ridiculous how ignorant some people can be. I understand why we would be hesitant, but at the same time that is incredibly racist and pretty much asshole-ish.

[Captain Jack Sparrow]

Guys, come on.

It's clear cut the Iranians are in Iraq ARMING and training the very same people who flew planes into those buildings, terrorists. And you want to let this guy show his "respects" to ground zero?

How about you show your respects and stop meddling in Iraq and stop harming our troops, asshole.

I know its popular to hop on the "America sucks" bandwagon and blame everything on it but let's be real here, the guy is just looking for more publicity and to make himself out to be the victim of American aggression when and if the time comes to take his ass out cuz he won't stop with his nuclear program.

What I find appalling and disturbing here is the people who actually WANT to let this man into NYC to ground zero. I mean come on guys, don't let your disdain for current American foreign policy/this administration cloud your judgement here.

[Gandalf_The_Grey]

God damn P4b, first the thing about him laying the wreath and now this. How can you claim to a supporter of your beloved democratic nation of free speach then turn around and ban your opponent from speaking because he's an "assclown". The government (and Glenn Beck/Bill O'Riley) keep telling us he's this maniacle monster bent on the destruction of planet Earth. When you make an accusation like that then say "oh but you can't hear his side of it, just believe us", the bullshit propoganda berometer is off the charts. Doesn't that seem at all fishy to you? If the guy really is who they say he is, we have nothing to fear except maybe having some cross-political/cultural understanding. And believe me that scares the government, the people are only useful when ignorant; only considering the opinions of their divinely-appointed rulers.

Free speech, as long as it's the right speech.
:s4: