Courage at Columbia University

A lot of people said some nasty things about Columbia University (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbia_University) when it was announced they had invited the President of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahmoud_Ahmadinejad), to speak on campus. Students protested. Lawmakers threatened to cut funds (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2007/09/24/columbia-university-to-be_n_65638.html). Conservatives, like Rudy Giuliani (http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/09/24/376905.aspx), called it inappropriate. The general sentiment from the opposition was that the leader of a state that sponsors terrorists should not have been invited to speak at the school. However, what these critics failed to consider was that he wasn't just giving a speech; he was also fielding questions -- tough ones. And he also heard opinions, like when he was told he exhibits "all the signs of a petty and cruel dictator." (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2007/09/24/columbia-president-to-ahm_n_65588.html) As tough as the critics were on Columbia, Columbia was even tougher on Ahmadinejad. There are those who say we should not speak to our enemies. To them I say, I'm glad I voted against your cowardly ass twice. Facing your enemies, not sending warriors in your stead but actually facing them, takes courage, and that's what we saw at Columbia University today, not just from the school but admittedly also from Ahmadinejad, who undoubtedly expected hostility. Quite ironic that the Iranian President would subject himself to that, while the U.S. President will only appear before tightly controlled groups of loyalists.

CateGoogles: political_silliness Mood = excited