Ahmadinejad walks away with a win

[L. Coyote]

Ahmadinejad walks away with a win
Stephen Chernin / Associated Press
By Tim Rutten - Sep 29, 2007
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-et-rutten29sep29,0,1222354.story?coll=la-headlines-calendar


One of the world's truly dangerous men, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, left New York a clear winner this week, and he can thank the arrogance of the American academy and most of the U.S. news media's studied indifference for his victory.

If the blood-drenched history of the century just past had taught American academics one thing, it should have been that the totalitarian impulse knows no accommodation with reason. You cannot change the totalitarian mind through dialogue or conversation, because totalitarianism -- however ingenious the superstructure of faux ideas with which it surrounds itself -- is a creature of the will and not the mind. That's a large lesson, but what should have made Ahmadinejad's appearance at Columbia University this week a wholly avoidable debacle was the school's knowledge of its own, very specific history.

In the 1930s, Columbia was run by Nicholas Murray Butler, to whose name a special sort of infamy attaches. Butler was an outspoken admirer of Italian fascism and of its leader, Benito Mussolini. The Columbia president, who also was in the forefront of Ivy League efforts to restrict Jewish enrollment, worked tirelessly to build ties between his school and Italian universities, as well as with the powerful fascist student organizations. At one point, a visiting delegation of 350 ardent young Black Shirts serenaded Butler with the fascist anthem.

Butler also was keen to establish connections with Nazi Germany and its universities. .............

[ShortnFiery]

1. Oh please stop with the "dangerous man" propaganda? What country has Iran invaded recently?

Besides unlike * who gets to sit on President Cheney's lap to directly catapult the propaganda, Iran's president is a MERE FIGUREHEAD.

[cali]

3. Why are you assuming that L. Coyote is endorsing the article's

p.o.v. regarding that? And furthermore, it's clear that Ahmadinejad DID emerge as the winner last week. Furthermore, he's not quite the total figurehead that you claim. Yes, he has far less power than Khameni and the Assembly, but he is not without power in his own right.

[ShortnFiery]

6. I really tire of you constantly "picking apart" my posts - why don't you go elsewhere?

When someone posts an article and I reply to THAT PERSON, it's not your business cali. It's clear that we have a personality conflict so why don't you keep to your promise earlier: "I'm done with you." ? That' would make all of DU happy. After all, you're here exponentially more time than myself, plus I already avoid all of your posts? :shrug:

ON TOPIC: My reply stands as those who take the time to post a particular thread - tend to agree with it's content. At least, the forgoing conclusion is not exactly "a leap of faith."

[cali]

9. I'll respond to whatever I feel like responding to.

It's that simple. And if you don't like it, put me on ignore, or don't respond. Really, the solution is not that hard.

[ShortnFiery]

10. "I'll respond to whatever I feel like responding to." Ain't that the truth!

:eyes: I didn't think you'd understand, but it was worth a try. :(

[Lerkfish]

5. it gets harder and harder to catapult the propaganda

as people become more and more skeptical.

my point: it doesn't matter what type of leader Ahminadijab (sp?) is, it doesn't give us the right to preemptively invade ANOTHER country that didn't attack us, while playing footsies with the two countries that did: Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.

[Kagemusha]

2. So the writer's point is that the media isn't pumping the Iran threat enough.

And if the media would only expose this man as the walking genocide that he is, a man who is incapable of lying or exaggerating and who speaks the absolute truth about his evil intentions to spread revolution around the world, making him a deranged psychopath because he believes his religion should be spread around the world like er...

...many people of many other religions...

that the horrified American public would rise up as one and destroy this man utterly before he is dangerous, thus saving civilization and all of mankind.

[ShortnFiery]

4. True. Besides FASCISM = USA = merging of business with government. nt

[scarletwoman]

7. Geez what a bunch of propaganda horseshit!

It's a twofer, too! Demonize Ahmadinejad AND slam the academy at the same time.

:banghead:

sw

[movonne]

11. Did you see the new amendment or bill whatever that Duncan Hunter

wants to do...taking money away from the college...this kind of goes right along with that...

[Possumpoint]

8. I For One

Don't perceive Ahmadinejad as a winner of the discussions at Columbia University. That AH failed to answer the questions presented. Rather than answer, he posed questions of his own. He is not in charge. he is but a figure head of the mullahs in charge of Iran.

I don't give a RA what many think on this forum. Iran is a future problem and will have to be dealt with. Their pursuit of nuclear weapons is worrisome. The Islamic religion, especially the fundamentalist segment is a problem. I don't wish to convert and I will not accept their attempt to force their views on religion and morality on me and my family.

[MedleyMisty]

12. American Christian fundamentalists are trying to do that

But honestly I don't see a large bloc of Islamic fundamentalists trying to force their views and morality on people here in the US.

[scarletwoman]

13. Oh for gawd's sake, you CAN'T be serious!

"I don't wish to convert and I will not accept their attempt to force their views on religion and morality on me and my family."

Come on! You can't seriously believe that you're in danger of being converted to Islam?! Good grief! You must be drinking WAY too much kool-aid.

And you really need to pay more attention to this nuclear stuff. There is absolutely NO proof, that they are pursuing nuclear weapons. And NO evidence that they would be anywhere the capability for many years yet even if they were. The IAEA is IN Iran doing inspections right now, and every report they've made so far shows that Iran is complying with the terms of the Non-Proliferation Treaty of which they are a signatory.

They have every legal right to develop a domestic nuclear energy program. Their ruling mullahs long ago released a fatwa declaring that nuclear weapons are not in accord with Islam and are therefore forbidden.

The ONLY way Iran needs to be "dealt with" is at conference table.

sw

[liberalmuse]

14. Bush is the most dangerous person in the world.

Just to clarify. Those who try to drown out free speech always come out worse than the person they are trying to muzzle.