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Just a day after it was announced that Jim Gilchrist, the founder of the Minuteman Project, could be returning to speak at Columbia University, the Columbia Political Union voted against having him back when it learned that there would be no counter-point speaker. Gilchrist's 2006 appearance at Columbia sparked protests that got out of hand as demonstrators rushed the stage where he was speaking and participants got physical. Eight students were disciplined following the altercation.
News of Gilchrist's return was reported Monday after Columbia professor David Eisenbach issued a tentative invitation to the anti-illegal immigration group's founder and received an acceptance. A formal invitation wasn't to be issued until after a vote by the sponsoring body, the Columbia Political Union. The Columbia Spectator writes that confusion marred the whole process of planning the event. The CPU was apparently interested in re-inviting Gilchrist with the hope of having Karina Garcia, the leader of the group who charged the stage last year, also speak at the event. According to Garcia, she told Eisenbach she was not interested in speaking with Gilchrist, but the CPU voted to invite him with the understanding that she would be participating. When it became clear that Garcia would not be speaking, the CPU decided to rescind its invitation to Gilchrist.
On Monday, the campus International Socialist Organization president said he would help organize a large and disruptive protest if Gilchrist came back to Morningside Heights. Even the director of operations for the Columbia University College Republicans personally hoped that Gilchrist would not return, saying that it was fun a year ago, but she didn't need to relive the event.
Eisenbach was disappointed with the decision, telling the AP, "The health of a free society and a university depends on the free expression of ideas. Only through a free expression of ideas can we reach the truth." But perhaps Gilchrist himself was the most disappointed. The Post reports his reaction: "It would have been a great revelation for the student body and it would have redeemed the Columbia University student body's reputation of being comprised of a Paleolithic - a caveman - mentality."
(Dueling headlines from The New York Sun)
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As someone who is fundamentally opposed to this guys group, his politics, and his methods, I still think that it makes no sense to deny him the opportunity to speak at this forum.
Liberal education depends on the free exchange of ideas, including viewpoints you may find personally repugnant. That's the essence of free speech.
Of course they have a legal right not to invite him, but you'd think that they'd almost consider it a point of honor to have him there, to show their students how a functioning modern, democratic society functions.
Call me a crazy dreamer....
On Monday, the campus International Socialist Organization president said he would help organize a large and disruptive protest if Gilchrist came back to Morningside Heights.
Because remember: it's ok to back a historically abusive system of government that's the complete antithesis of the one that every entitled asshole in that group grew up in, but it's not OK to be against Illegal Immigration.
thank you virgil & tkaisen!!
well said.
God, I hate college kids. I really do. They're so wrapped up in their ideals, they fail to see the big picture.
I also agree that this issue reeks of hypocrisy. On campuses these days, the far left and the far right cannot handle the notion of the expression of ideas antithetical to their own. Shame.
Someone should get Tasered.
Why bother engaging in a one-on-one debate when you can just bring all your buddies to chant juvenile slogans instead? What rhymes with KKK again?
Columbia University is full of asswipes and butt munch leftist bone heads. How much is mommy and daddy paying Columbia University for you to become communist assholes?
I love these world wise students that have never contributed anything to our society. Do they understand the principal of free speech and what happens with the lack of it. When they they threaten violence if they do not get their own way, it sounds that they do not understand freedom. Spoiled brats who have pampered their whole life....wish they lived in all the restrictive societies that existed before our forefathers brought forth a new way, which they want to destroy.
Virgil stated: "As someone who is fundamentally opposed to this guys group, his politics, and his methods, I still think that it makes no sense to deny him the opportunity to speak at this forum." One question: Why are you fundamentally opposed to his methods? He is simply asking for the law to be upheld and patriotically defending the sovereignty of America to be recognized and respected. The liberal thought process revolves around emotion instead of logic. Proof of point Virgil: If you had left your home one day and left the door unlocked and came home to find a family had ILLEGALLY broken into your home and that ILLEGAL family demanded that your home was now their home and that it was YOUR PERSONAL responsibility to feed them, educate them, provide healthcare and social security and any other "entitlements" that they demanded how then would you feel? Also, in the name of "politically correct liberal sensitivity" YOU would have to learn their language. See Virgil, common sense tends to creep into the liberal mindset once it becomes a PERSONAL responsibility. All I have ever asked of a liberal is to simply live what they say they believe in. So far I have found no true believers.
Why do these guys pick columbia to speak at time and again? If anything they'd have a more relavent discussion at the University of Arizona or something.