Iran Prez at Columbia

[Scott MacGregor]

Stephen, I correct myself..

Your actual quote was:

"But he is not an American citizen... Is he really entitled to our freedom"

I can still read the obvious implications of your statement and I do not retract the rest of what I said.

And I still say--Shame on you.

[Stephen Eisel]

Once again, Steve and Frank, you have revealed yourselves and it ain't a pretty sight.

Stephen says: "He is not an American-he isn't entitled to our freedoms."

???????????

Meanwhile, 3500 of our best and brightest have been killed in a foreign country, ostensibly in a quest to bring freedom and democracy to that country.

Meanwhile, the United States lectures the world on the subject of human rights, ignoring it's own pitiful historical record on that subject.

You two are definitely not patriots.

True Patriots understand that freedom is not an American right.

Freedom is a Human Right.

There are 8 year old school children in this world that understand that simple fact. You two should be ashamed of yourselves, but I'm sure you are not.

And there are 8 year old school children who know how to read, comprehend what they have read, and use a quote button in a forum. It is pretty sad Scott that you did not even take the time to read what I actually posted (all two sentences). Are you that desperate to make a point that you have to make things up?

But he is not an American citizen... Is he really entitled to our freedoms?

PS We have these little things called borders...

[Stephen Eisel]

Stephen, I correct myself..

Your actual quote was:

"But he is not an American citizen... Is he really entitled to our freedom"

I can still read the obvious implications of your statement and I do not retract the rest of what I said.

And I still say--Shame on you.

I guess my opinion is not entitled to the same freedoms as yours. You also misquoted me again Scott. Sad!

[Frank Murtaugh]

Once again, Steve and Frank, you have revealed yourselves and it ain't a pretty sight.

Stephen says: "He is not an American-he isn't entitled to our freedoms."

???????????

Meanwhile, 3500 of our best and brightest have been killed in a foreign country, ostensibly in a quest to bring freedom and democracy to that country.

Meanwhile, the United States lectures the world on the subject of human rights, ignoring it's own pitiful historical record on that subject.

You two are definitely not patriots.

True Patriots understand that freedom is not an American right.

Freedom is a Human Right.

There are 8 year old school children in this world that understand that simple fact. You two should be ashamed of yourselves, but I'm sure you are not.

I have noted your baseless ad hominem insult. Is it your position Columbia acted appropriately in giving Amadinejad a forum?

[Lynn Farris]

Mr. Murtaugh,

While I will concur that Columbia may not have been the best forum, would you also concur that the President of Iran has made himself willing to talk to the American people.

That this Current administrations policy of shoot first and ask questions later has led to rather disasterous results. That we should be engaging in diplomacy rather than running our mouths off in the press about pre-emptive nuclear war?

Seems to me the only country that is actually talking about using nuclear weapons against another country is the US. That really bothers me. And we aren't talking about doing it for defense - but pre-emptively. That is a total differert policy than we have had before.

I say he is here - get some of the cooler heads to engage with him and talk - find common ground - and if it doesn't work the first time - try again and then try again. Once we start a nuclear war - we do not know what will happen.

[Stephen Eisel]

Scott wrote: You two are definitely not patriots.

Main Entry: pa·tri·ot
Pronunciation: \ˈpā-trē-ət, -ˌät, chiefly British ˈpa-trē-ət\
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle French patriote compatriot, from Late Latin patriota, from Greek patriōtēs, from patria lineage, from patr-, patēr father
Date: 1605
: one who loves his or her country and supports its authority and interests

[Phil Florian]

Some softball comments from the President of Columbia University. I don't know why he didn't just ask his favorite color or something!

First, on the brutal crackdown on scholars, journalists and human rights advocates. Over the past two weeks, your government has released Dr. Haleh Esfandiari and Parnaz Azima and just two days ago, Kian Tajbakhsh, a graduate of Columbia with a PhD in Urban Planning. While our community is relieved to learn of his release on bail, Dr. Tajbakhsh remains in Tehran under house arrest, and he still does not know whether he will be charged with a crime or allowed to leave the country.
Let me say this for the record, I call on the president today to ensure that Kian will be free to travel out of Iran as he wishes. (Applause.) Let me also report today that we are extending an offer to Kian to join our faculty as a visiting professor in Urban Planning here at his alma mater in our Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation, and we hope he will be able to join us next semester. (Applause.)
The arrest and imprisonment of these Iranian Americans for no good reason is not only unjustified, it runs completely counter to the very values that allow today's speaker to even appear on this campus, but at least they are alive.

Or how about this?

According to Amnesty International, 210 people have been executing In Iran so far this year, 21 of them on the morning of September 5th alone. This annual total includes at two children, further proof, as Human Rights Watch puts it, that Iran leads the world in executing minors.

Or this:

Secondly, the denial of the Holocaust. In a December 2005 state television broadcast, you described the Holocaust as "a fabricated legend." One year later, you held a two-day conference of Holocaust deniers. For the illiterate and ignorant, this is dangerous propaganda.
When you have come to a place like this, this makes you, quite simply, ridiculous. You are either brazenly provocative or astonishingly uneducated.

And this, when questioning the President's take on Israel:

My question then is, do you plan on wiping us off the map too? (Applause.)

Lastly:

And today I feel all the weight of the modern civilized world yearning to express the revulsion at what you stand for. I only wish I could do better. Thank you.

Those silly liberal colleges with no guts. Sheesh. What a wuss.

[Stephen Eisel]

That this Current administrations policy of shoot first and ask questions later has led to rather disasterous results. That we should be engaging in diplomacy rather than running our mouths off in the press about pre-emptive nuclear war?

Seems to me the only country that is actually talking about using nuclear weapons against another country is the US. That really bothers me. And we aren't talking about doing it for defense - but pre-emptively. That is a total differert policy than we have had before.

Lynn, your statement (if about the current Iraq War) of shoot first ask questions later is not factually correct. The below list of UN Resolutions were attempts to diplomatically engage Iraq UN. 661 (1990) of 6 August 1990, 678 (1990) of 29 November 1990, 686 (1991) of 2 March 1991, 687 (1991) of 3 April 1991, 688 (1991) of 5 April 1991, 707 (1991) of 15 August 1991, 715 (1991) of 11 October 1991, 986 (1995) of 14 April 1995, and 1284 (1999) of 17 December 1999,and 1441 (2002) .

Also, Bill Clinton bombed Iraq on 12-16-98 to make it clear to Saddam that we were no longer going to tolerate his shenanigans. Clinton had also attempted to diplomatically reach out to Saddam before resorting to military action.

[Phil Florian]

But he is not an American citizen... Is he really entitled to our freedoms?

What about Columbia's rights? Can't they host whatever forum they wish as both a private university and one that operates on US soil? I echo the other calls on the site that says we in the US should feel comfortable modeling behavior we expect in others. Open debate should be the hallmark of US Democracy and the fact that the Iranian president was willing to debate his idiotic and vile views in the light of day was most interesting. Protest Iran (as many did) all you want but Columbia University is bold to host such a man and even more bold to hit him with the questions that matter. Bravo.

[Richard Cole]

But he is not an American citizen... Is he really entitled to our freedoms?

This is an interesting question.

As a non US Citizen, I am bound and obligated to adhere to all US laws, rules, regulations etc etc. I believe that US law affords me substantially the same freedoms.

If this is not the case, what is being witheld?

[Stephen Eisel]

But he is not an American citizen... Is he really entitled to our freedoms?

This is an interesting question.

As a non US Citizen, I am bound and obligated to adhere to all US laws, rules, regulations etc etc. I believe that US law affords me substantially the same freedoms.

If this is not the case, what is being witheld?

Could he legally vote in an election?

[Richard Cole]

But he is not an American citizen... Is he really entitled to our freedoms?

This is an interesting question.

As a non US Citizen, I am bound and obligated to adhere to all US laws, rules, regulations etc etc. I believe that US law affords me substantially the same freedoms.

If this is not the case, what is being witheld?

Could he legally vote in an election?

Making assumptions on the type of visa he (the Iranian PM) was granted, the answer would be no, he wouldn't be able to vote. However, there are instances in the US, where non-citizens have been afforded the priviledge of voting in municipal elections.

The larger question however, is what "freedoms" are non US citizens denied. I'm not referring to being able to vote, not being able to be elected President etc etc, but freedoms that are enshrined in the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Are tourists going to be held to a different set of standards than citizens?

[Stephen Eisel]

But he is not an American citizen... Is he really entitled to our freedoms?

This is an interesting question.

As a non US Citizen, I am bound and obligated to adhere to all US laws, rules, regulations etc etc. I believe that US law affords me substantially the same freedoms.

If this is not the case, what is being witheld?

Could he legally vote in an election?

Making assumptions on the type of visa he (the Iranian PM) was granted, the answer would be no, he wouldn't be able to vote. However, there are instances in the US, where non-citizens have been afforded the priviledge of voting in municipal elections.

The larger question however, is what "freedoms" are non US citizens denied. I'm not referring to being able to vote, not being able to be elected President etc etc, but freedoms that are enshrined in the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Are tourists going to be held to a different set of standards than citizens?

This is why I asked the question. If anyone has any insight on this subject then please share it with me.

[Richard Cole]

But he is not an American citizen... Is he really entitled to our freedoms?

This is an interesting question.

As a non US Citizen, I am bound and obligated to adhere to all US laws, rules, regulations etc etc. I believe that US law affords me substantially the same freedoms.

If this is not the case, what is being witheld?

Could he legally vote in an election?

Making assumptions on the type of visa he (the Iranian PM) was granted, the answer would be no, he wouldn't be able to vote. However, there are instances in the US, where non-citizens have been afforded the priviledge of voting in municipal elections.

The larger question however, is what "freedoms" are non US citizens denied. I'm not referring to being able to vote, not being able to be elected President etc etc, but freedoms that are enshrined in the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Are tourists going to be held to a different set of standards than citizens?

This is why I asked the question. If anyone has any insight on this subject then please share it with me.

Tourists and other visitors are afforded all the same protections of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights as US Citizens.

[Stephen Eisel]

I was looking for something more specific Richard. So, I started looking at the Constitution. duuhhh on me...

Amendment XIV
(1868)
Section 1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside. No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.