Columbia University protesters prepare for Iran's president

[calteacherguy]

Source: NY Daily News

Columbia University students plan mass protests to greet Holocaust-denying Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad when he arrives on campus Monday to give a lecture. Students planning the demonstration on the steps of Low Memorial Library papered the area with posters yesterday depicting public executions of gays in Iran.

"Any student who cares about freedom of sexuality and freedom of religion should stand up and protest against this murderous dictator," said Sharona Getz, 22, who was taping up signs in the student union. While many plan to protest his terrorist-loving views, it was hard to find a student who thought he should be barred from campus.

"If we believe in freedom of speech, I think we should let him come," said Iranian law student Matin Hughes, 27.
Columbia is barring nonstudents from the campus Monday for security reasons - to the consternation of some protest organizers.

<snip>

"Look, it's a university, they have a right to invite who they want. I personally am not going to get involved in criticizing them because I think that is a slippery slope," Bloomberg said. The White House backed him up. "It's a free country. We wish the same were true in Iran," White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2007/09/22/2007-09-22_c...

[tchunter]

1. i'm sorry but fuck that source, don't post crap from the daily news

its obviously biased and exists only to serve an agenda

[Bicoastal]

2. What agenda?

That the President of Iran isn't very popular among people who dislike jerks? You'd have a hard time convincing me otherwise.

[durrrty libby]

3. There is going to be several protests at the school. Truth is truth

[seriousstan]

7. Funny that someone with so few posts was made a moderator.

[EFerrari]

14. No kidding. It's disgusting already.

Did you notice the quotes actually undermine the headline?

[rollin74]

4. Good

Ahmadinejad should be forced to answer for the barbaric treatment of gay people in Iran. I hope the protesters give him hell.

[JeanGrey]

26. Didn't you hear him? There are no

gay people in Iran. He doesn't know how you got that idea.

[sandnsea]

5. Exactly as it should be

He comes to speak, he gets protested, he gets challenged with tough honest questions. That's freedom.

[ohio2007]

9. But will they throw him the high heat or toss softball Q's at him?

To bad Iranian students get thrown in prison for testing the limits for Iranian freedom of speech.
He was heckled in Tehran University but, he had the last laugh when all was said and done

[sandnsea]

15. We're no better

if we don't let him speak here. Protests are being planned. He'll probably get hit with tougher and more pertinent questions than that Pelley guy asked. How hard is it to say "you're hiding nukes" over and over again.

[ohio2007]

18. Things back in Iran just got locked down in time

Iran judiciary seals offices of news Web site
(Reuters)

24 September 2007



TEHERAN - Iran’s judiciary has sealed off the offices of a popular news Web site critical of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s policies after journalists continued to update it despite official filtering, the Web site said.

Rights groups and diplomats say there is a broad crackdown on dissenting voices in the Islamic state, which is under growing Western pressure over its disputed nuclear programme. The authorities deny such moves, saying they allow free speech.

Blocking access to Baztab.com earlier this year was seen as part of the clampdown. Updates to the Web site, which is published in English and Farsi, were still available to Internet users outside Iran until the offices were sealed.

.......

http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticleNew.asp?xfile...

well, at least it was all done legally

[sandnsea]

19. We aren't in Iran

Are you confused about where you live? We're talking about not sealing off free speech HERE. Let him speak. Let him be protested. That's the way it's supposed to work.

[ohio2007]

23. And Iranians can't access the US...the internet shouldn't have borders

I'll explain it to you.... Just because we are in isolated geographic locations doesn't mean the world can't be a mouse click away.


Don't confuse yourself,
the internet can virtually shrink our world into a borderless cyberspace. Access should be without borders, but as I posted, they got shut down by the mullah overlords as the hit counts were about to climb!

oh,
looks like they roasted your boy real good at Columbia today

snip

—On executions of homosexuals in Iran:



In Iran we don't have homosexuals like in your country. We don't have that like in your country. ... In Iran we do not have this phenomenon. I don't know who's told you that we have this.


snip

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D8RS115O0&show_...

wouldn't that have been great if students in Iran had an audio/video link to it ?

You think they have to be there in person to get a front row view of the petty dictator ?
Your wrong.
They got shut down but word will spread just the same.

[sandnsea]

24. How does ending free speech here

make a case for free speech for Iran?

You're posting Foxnews? Are you sure you aren't lost?

[pinto]

6. From WABC (NY):

http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?section=nation_world&...

New York - WABC, September 23, 2007) - New York City authorities are bracing for the arrival of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Before taking off, he told reporters that Americans are eager to hear different opinions about the world. That remains to be seen when he speaks at Columbia University tomorrow.

Many people would disagree with that. They have been angered by the university's invitation to Ahmadinejad to speak tomorrow. That anger will be evident at 12:30 p.m. since there is a protest rally planned at 116th and Broadway.

"I am honestly concerned about the situation because I know that a lot of people disagree with his beliefs," said Columbia University student Kate Fox.

"I think it is important for these men and women to have a platform, to speak their minds and let us, students, challenge those ideas," said Columbia University student Aaron Bliese.

Some feel, there is plenty to challenge. Just hours before he left on a plane for the two-day visit to New York City, Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad presided over a parade. Soldiers, missiles and tanks passed below, some bearing the slogans 'death to America' and 'down with Israel.'

"As a Palestinian, I don't want to see him," said Columbia University student Wisim Bakka. "I don't think he represents me as a Muslim at all."

People are already planning to line the streets in protest out side of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel where he will be staying Sunday night.

<more at link>

http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?section=nation_world&...

[NashVegas]

8. I Hope Columbia Has DAMN Good Security

I wouldn't want any accidents to happen, you know?

[ohio2007]

10. If he starts off on a koran thumping screed

He'll get what he deserves. I doubt it will be televised back into Iran ya know ?

[NashVegas]

12. They Aren't Exactly Living in the Stone Age, Media-Wise

ya know ...

[ohio2007]

13. Media Wise? The media IS controlled , the internet IS controlled

information IS controlled by Amadinejads overlords

ya didn't know they have rules imposed on foreign reporters and their visas when they enter Iran ?

They treat bad foreign journalists in a very medieval way.

[Malikshah]

20. Oooooohhh. medieval. OK

Let us light the torches and raze the country.

Yes-- they're lacking in free press and foreigners are spied upon and/or imprisoned.

I'd start looking at home as we're moving in the same damn direction.

[Mz Pip]

11. Good

Hope he gets to see what freedom of speech really looks like. The guy is an ass and I hope he has the opportunity to be on the receiving end of some good old fashioned American kick ass protest.

Without the benefit of a protest zone.

I would love to see the full spectrum of an American protest. Maybe the "Free Mumia" folks with their drums and burning sage will show up. And big puppets of Ahmamamamawhoseyourmama flapping around under his face. Maybe have a roar accompanied with a 'die-in'.

Let him experience the spectacle that is an American protest. All of it.

Mz Pip

[AllexxisF1]

16. Hmmmm...

You know nothing would start a war up more than Ahmadinejad getting assassinated. I mean seriously if BUSHCO. is looking for a reason to incite a war over there what better way than have some mysterious nut out of no where kill the guy.

[BreweryYardRat]

21. Nah, too obvious.

Tinfoil off, buddy.

[chelsea0011]

17. I hope they give him hell.

[BreweryYardRat]

22. Yup. He may have the right to speak, but we have the right to blast him verbally.

Sadly, he's so delusional, even calm, reasoned argument wouldn't get through his thick skull, let alone the hell-fury he deserves.

[krabigirl]

25. They'd be better off putting the energy into protesting outside the White House.

I mean, if they are worried about freedom of sexuality and freedom FROM religion!