Ahmadinejad Speaks, People Listen, Applaud, Boo, Hiss

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad spoke today, giving a speech and sort of answers some of questions posed by Columbia University President Lee Bollinger and School of International and Public Affairs Dean John Coatsworth. We're sure video and transcripts will come shortly, but in the meant time, The Bwog, New York, and City Room have been liveblogging the speech. Here's a sample of questions posed, via the City Room:

In response to a question about the treatment of homosexuals in Iran, Mr. Ahmadinejad was initially evasive, instead talking about the death penalty, which, he pointed out, exists in the United States: “People who violate the laws by using guns, creating insecurity selling guns, distributing guns at a high level are sentenced to execution in Iran. Very few of these punishments are carried out in the public eye.”

Pressed by Dean Coatsworth on the original question about the rights of gay men and lesbians in Iran, Mr. Ahmadinejad said: “In Iran, we don’t have homosexuals like in your country. We don’t have that in our country.”

The audience booed and hissed loudly.

“In Iran, we do not have this phenomenon,” Mr. Ahmadinejad continued, undeterred. “I do not know who has told you that we have it. But as for women, maybe you think that maybe being a woman is a crime. It’s not a crime to be a woman. Women are the best creatures created by God. They represent the kindness, the beauty that God instills in them. Women are respected in Iran.”

Oh, and he started off one answer by saying, "We love the Jews," and explained why he wanted to go to Ground Zero, "I wanted to speak with the press, the September 11 tragic event was a huge event. It led to a lot of other events after that. After 9/11, Afghanistan was occupied and then Iraq was occupied."

Bollinger's remarks before Ahmadinejad's speech were well-received by the audience. He called Ahmadinejad "petty and cruel dictator" and suggested that Columbia professors speak at universities in Iran. Bollinger also questioned the Iranian leader's denial of the Holocaust. "The truth is, the Holocaust is the most-documented event in human history," and says Ahmadinejad is either "brazenly provactive or completely uneducated" to deny it. (Naturally, Ahmadinejad took issue with it, starting off his speech with, "In many parts of [Bollinger's] speech, there were many insults, and claims that were incorrect, regretfully.")

And on the controversial topic of the event itself, Bollinger said, "The scope of free speech and academic freedom should always be open to further debate," and "To those who believe that this event should never have happened, that it is inappropriate for the university to conduct such an event, I want to say that I understand your perspective and respect it as reasonable It is an experiment, as all life is an experiment. This is the right thing to do and indeed, it is required by the existing norms of free speech, of Columbia University” and of academic institutions."

Here's a photo from Columbia J-Schoolers blog, A President Visits, of the crowd (a screen was set up on campus for students to watch the speech):

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in News on September 24, 2007 3:29 PM

Comments [rss]

guest

http://www.lrb.co.uk/v28/n06/mear01_.html

guest

Finally we found someone more full of shit than our own president.

guest

granted we are on "our turf", i feel presbo's intro reflected the stereotype that the US continues to be the pompous ass of the world arena and can force american opinions over other nations

this wasn't set up as a debate and ahmedinejab was neither given the proper arena to debate nor was he even welcomed or given a proper introduction.

unless ahmedinejab was invited to be personally handed a silver platter of abuse, presbo's personal attacks were not indicative of the reasoning behind the initial invitation.

guest

granted we are on "our turf", i feel presbo's intro reflected the stereotype that the US continues to be the pompous ass of the world arena and can force american opinions over other nations

this wasn't set up as a debate and ahmedinejab was neither given the proper arena to debate nor was he even welcomed or given a proper introduction.

unless ahmedinejab was invited to be personally handed a silver platter of abuse, presbo's personal attacks were not indicative of the reasoning behind the initial invitation.

guest

granted we are on "our turf", i feel presbo's intro reflected the stereotype that the US continues to be the pompous ass of the world arena and can force american opinions over other nations

this wasn't set up as a debate and ahmedinejab was neither given the proper arena to debate nor was he even welcomed or given a proper introduction.

unless ahmedinejab was invited to be personally handed a silver platter of abuse, presbo's personal attacks were not indicative of the reasoning behind the initial invitation.

guest

I wonder why Columbia covered all it's identifying images on the podium? both podiums were covered with a black cloth.

guest

Ironic that guest comments are grayed out on this topic...

guest

damn. all this smoke and brimstone and I still can't get a chicken sandwich. Who cares? I got porno to download. this is futile and pointless. this whole thing was pointless.

Albert Sharpton

Gays are Christian demons.

VanessaNYC

EdEx,

Your first post is right on target.

To answer the question from your 2nd post: Yes Nader, Gore and Kerry all would have been much better presidents than GWB. Yes. Yes. YES.

dadoc

I might also point out that, for the past few hours, CNN.com "big box" item has been:

"University chief tackles Iranian leader"

OOOOOOHHHHHH, it worked. Surprise!

Meanwhile people die, starve and get wounded, our foreign cred goes in the dumper, fed debt soars, pre-election posturing continues, but Boll & Ahmad troll up.

Sad

Dadoc

dadoc

Um, lotsa folks missing the point.

No labels, no flames.

Free speech should exist. OK for anyone to speak anywhere. Ok to counter-protest.

While Pres of Iran was "invited", prior to a word out, he was lambasted.

This was not a "debate". Bollinger (lawyer) set him up with a lambasting for his own media whoring. If Boll was going to open with such, should have presented and organized it as a debate. Not done. All most will hear (read) will be snippets out of context. Boll as the big defender, Ahmadinejad as the raving wacko. Ahmad trolled Boll, Boll trolled Ahmad, both got their media attention. It's over. Media will report what it wants, how it wants.

Chill, get over it, and actually watch the presentations (in their entirety) this week at the UN Gen Assembly.

Robert's Rules should apply

Dadoc

guest

i am an iranian and i am ashamed of ahmadinejad and all he says and does for his country. America shouldn't let idiots like him come into the country and spread propaganda. there is no freedom of speech in Iran but he takes advantage of the freedom of speech in America.

guest

Do yourself a favor. Go find the speech in its complete form online and listen to all of it before you listen to the selective versions presented in the media or even in Gothamist. Seriously... I thought better would come from you guys. This is exactly why people complain about the Blogosphere, and continued shoddy reporting such as above will be the death of it. Did you guys actually watch the speech or just read the FOX website?

guest

blah, blah, blah, blah, blah

blahblah

blah

blahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblah

ad infinitum

get over it. he came. he spoke. no one was killed.

meanwhile, in iraq.

guest

I think he skipped passed the real issue. the holocaust did happen. It just wasn't important or relevant to history. It's like mao tse tung killing 1000 times more people in the name of communism and he's not as vilified as hitler. Jews don't really matter to history. who the fuck gives a shit about their asses? what about the native americans?

guest

#58 Ummm......what??? Your rant is so unclear that I'm not getting your point. Except that you read only headlines.

"...honor the likes of Ahmadinejad and Hitler the pleasure of speaking in a formal speech." Apparently you did not read Bollinger's introduction - so much for 'honor' and 'pleasure'. And as for "formal speech", it appeared to be more of an extensive, unfettered question and answer session - like they have in real democracies - in which Ahmadinejad came off rather badly. For that, I say 'well done' to the bold questioners in the audience who forced this man to put his vile views on the record.

And they DID force him to address "the intentions of their nuclear program..". You used the word 'debate'; I get the feeling that you don't understand what a 'debate' really is. It is not just sitting around with your buddies, loudly agreeing with each other.

Ahmadinejad is a no friend to the US, no doubt about that. But as we have learned to our sorry, we need to know our enemies before we can effectively defend ourselves against them.

guest

craigslist? I guess all the yahoo board people go on that now. best thing Yahoo did was to eliminate the message boards.

glennQNYC

My perspective: People are appalled that a prestigious university located in the United States would honor the likes of Ahmadinejad and Hitler the pleasure of speaking in a formal speech. With good reason IMO. To get focused in debating less-provable things like Ahmadinejad's connection to killed and wounded Americans in Iraq; or the intentions of their nuclear program is looking too closely...

guest

Once again liberals can't see the difference between freedom of speech and providing the stage and microphone. Just look at Craigslist or other message boards to see the libs critiquing his "debate" and how well he did. The man is evil. Hannah Arendt recognized the banality of evil. Now I can see the banality of the libs.

guest

#55, that might be true if it were the Lions Club that invited him but universities are supposed to be places for the open exchange of ideas. At least they are supposed to be but in reality they tend to be places where the left shouts down the right. See: Minutemen.

Mike D

Freedom of Speech doesn't mean that we should pay for or encourage all speech regardless of its content or quality. While Ahmadinejad shouldn't be SILENCED it doesn't necessarily mean he should be invited.

guest

Freedom of speech in NYC means racist zionists have that freedom while those out of favor with AIPAC do not.

TimSPC

[48]: The freedom-of-speech argument is nonapplicable here. Columbia University is not a state actor - it is a private institution.

Yes, in a purely Constitutional sense, this is correct. However, freedom of speech is bigger than the Constitution. If it's going to be a value and a human right that we want to protect, then we must do so on all levels. That means government, education, entertainment and business.

Freedom of speech is also a personal matter.

guest

listening to your adversary doesn't mean you support him. it helps you define him.

Mike D

I am always confused when people who are down on America support anyone who is against us: Just because Bush is evil doesn't mean Chávez or Ahmadinejad or Bin Laden is good.

lyle and scott polo shirts

I say 'well done' to the bold questioners in the audience who forced this man to put his vile views on the record.

ed_Extinct

^48 I stand corrected. State Schools are better in this respect and also on the wallet.

guest

Thank you Columbia University for utilizing democracy! Today Ahmadinejad's views and ideals were challenged in front of a large group of intellectuals at a peaceful event. It wasn't up until I entered my first year of college that I challenged my own thoughts and ideals... and this I see this extremely important to an educational institution. As we all follow closely with what goes on in the world (I know we don't)... Ahmadinejad's propaganda has already been heard by many all over the world. Did the world listen to him or just realized how much of a lunatic he was? Most likely, the latter. And so how much damage could he do today that hasn't been done? Hate does not foster peace. Challenging views and ideals of another nation through speech and questioning will at least try to bring us closer to peace without the use of violence. Columbia University took steps to allow for this forum... this platform towards a extremely small step in peace talks. Although, Ahmadinejad provided vague answers to questions - he is the one that looks like a fool. America is a powerhouse of intellectuals, although they might not rely in politics, they are truly in some of the top universities in this country.

Ahmadinejad doesn't believe gays exist - hmm - half of our nation doesn't want to recognize homosexual marriage! Oh and no gays in the army either!

And how about women's rights? Yeah... well we can't even have an abortion without people telling us we are murders.

Jena 6 - We are such a progressive nation - That we have ignorant people STILL hanging nooses from their trucks and trees as a sign of power over another race.

Inviting Ahmadinejad to speak at a university is very much like inviting Bush to speak.

One more point of interest...

Read this article in the NY Times...

U.S. Focus on Ahmadinejad Puzzles Iranians

LINK: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/24/world/middleeast/24iran.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

guest

The freedom-of-speech argument is nonapplicable here. Columbia University is not a state actor - it is a private institution. Columbia has every right (and I would argue responsibility) to make decisions based on the content of someone's speech. While Columbia may teach by example the merits of a government that supports and protects free speech, it is entirely under its discretion whether to allow a xenophobic, homophobic, anti-Semetic terrorist head of state to use its resources and credibility.

MarygraceNYC

I have a question. It may sound kind of stupid but, why must we impose democracy on others? Won’t they, in the natural course of time seek it themselves if they really want it? I mean so many other countries in the past did it on their own through civil wars… why not if the middle eastern countries want it, they do it themselves? We don’t need to help it along. It always turns out badly in the end. E.g. Taliban, etc… When it is premature that is. I just don’t get it!!! I must be missing something. Could it be the greed $$$ factor? I don't get it!

guest

He called Ahmadinejad "petty and cruel dictator" and suggested that Columbia professors speak at universities in Iran. Bollinger also questioned the Iranian leader's denial of the Holocaust. "The truth is, the Holocaust is the most-documented event in human history," and says Ahmadinejad is either "brazenly provactive or completely uneducated" to deny it.

Columbiawned!!

guest

at least lead is still cheap.

guest

Im glad Benrose made his comments.

Now I can put his name on THE LIST at the next Jewish Conspiracy™ Meeting under City Hall. You know, the one where we divvie up the gold, and make our plans for WORLD DOMINATION, and put our enemies names on THE LIST.

Once you're on THE LIST, you're fucked. There's no anonymity on the internet, pal. We know who you are. How? Because drinking all that blood in our matzah gives us Super Powers. We're the Jewish Justice League!!

guest

uh oh, the a.s. name calling will start any minute now. star people.

CR

Hey Benrose (#30) - Please take your "ZOG" rantings and ravings and shove them way, Way, WAY up your ass. Thank you.

ed_Extinct

#30

Lyndon LaRouche is that you?

AndyS

32 hit the nail on the head. The best thing about free speech is that it allows people like Ahmadinejad to display just how dumb they and their ideas are.

CR

"I want to say that I understand your perspective and respect it as reasonable It is an experiment."

Ok, fair enough, it's an experiment. So the next time he comes to town, and he's got absolutely nothing new to say, then how about Columbia takes a pass on interviewing him AGAIN. I mean, if an experiment fails, and this is a failure since he's saying the exact same thing in every interview, then you don't repeat said experiment. It's a complete waste of time.

BTW, did anyone bother to ask him about how he promised during his campaign that he'd do something about the unemployment problem in Iran - something that's only gotten worse. Or was everyone too busy listening to him repeat the same crap about homosexuality, the Holocaust, the West, the US, etc, etc, etc... I mean, let's ask the guy something that might actually do him some damage if we think he's such a P.O.S...

guest

I LIKE HIM!

guest

I don't know about GQ but The Atlantic did a piece about being gay in Saudi Arabia. There is a very vibrant underground gay scene - even if some of the guys say they aren't gay (they claim they need release and have no easy access to women). Anyway, as long as everyone keeps it on the DL the government doesn't care.

guest

homo-fascists

islamo-fascists

evangelical christians

globalwarming douchists

you all have one thing in common - unless you subjugate yourself to their beliefs and adopt them as the only norm, then you're the enemy.

carter had 444 days, and no deal in place.

we're far from bankrupt - this currency parity is good for us. it's about time china had to compete - watch how they wither under price competition.

stop hating your country kids - we are and always have been the most generous and charitable nation on earth. we deserve to have some respect shown to us and our laws. it is not an open door policy, play by the rules and you're welcome - otherwise hit the bricks.

guest

I want stuff from canada, including their excellent weed. other stuff? Canadian made Hockey equipment, strippers, Molson and cuban cigars.

guest

GQ - bastion of journalistic integrity. canned a piece on hilary so they wouldn't lose out on bill's piece - right in their pooper.

DCfist

Earlier in an interview with The Associated Press, Ahmadinejad said he didn't think the United States was preparing for war against Iran.

"I believe that some of the talk in this regard arises first of all from anger. Secondly, it serves the electoral purposes domestically in this country. Third, it serves as a cover for policy failures over Iraq," he told the AP.

THIS

interlard

I'm so happy that he came and I'm so happy that we all got to see what a dick he is.

Free speech rocks! Congrats to Columbia.

MT

Everyone should check out Dying To Come out in the February 2007 issue of GQ magazine. It's specifically about being gay in Iraq, but I think it's very illuminating about the plight of gay muslims in general.

Benrose

If you wanted to see the full blast of America's jewish & neo-con artist dominated (so-called) news, this is it folks!

Jew York Times, MSNBC news, ABC News, Fox, etc. etc. etc. They are all starting their "news" articles with the same lies.

"Cruel dictator building nuclear weapons denies holocaust, says he wants to wipe Israel off the map, supports terrorism". Well I guess if anyone speaks out against the American backed terror state of Israel they are a terrorist right?

Jews Neo-Cons Jews Neo-cons Jews Neo-cons

Lies lies lies lies lies.

Wars wars wars wars wars. $$ $$ $$ $$ $$

Your country is screwed up and the world is at the receiving end of YOUR (very serious) problems.

America's so-called press used the same tacticts to bring down the Shah through outright lies and staged protests. History keeps repeating itself, and the perpetrators are untouchouble because they also happen to own your wonderful Kangaroo Court system.

guest

the dollar is worth the same as a canadian dollar.

that's truly a joke, isn't it?

Stop buying shit from Canada and our dollar will rebound. It's that simple. But we won't drill for oil in Alaska or off the coast of Florida. We buy oil and gas from Canada. Vermont won't build its own power plants and is going to decertify one of their nuclear plants - because they can buy electricity from Quebec. We protect outr forests and the cut theirs down and ship the boards south.

ed_Extinct

#15 if your last question was referring to Bush. You've "wow'ed" me. Good work. When will these "Bush is dumb" jokes be over? Yeah no kidding, he's a twit... would Nader, Gore, or Kerry be any better?

How about of course he's a politician. He's doing wat every single Amercican, European etc Politician does, skirt questions. H

DCfist

edEx

"Freedom of Speach is Freedom of Speech"

Actually, Freedom of Speach is Freedom of Speach.

Otherwise I agree 100%.

timbnyc

#23 - bitch-slapped Carter, or cut a deal with Reagan before the election not to release the hostages before the election, despite the fact that Carter's team had successfully concluded negotiations with the Iranians that included, among other things, release of the hostages? But Republicans wouldn't treat with Islamofascists or terrorists for their own partisan gain, would they?

guest

edEx, the dollar's fall has nothing to do with bin Laden or Bush. It's the trade deficit and the fact that the rest of the world has finally got its shit together and made themselves a more attractive place to invest. And the people with the money (the oil states and the Asians) are investing there as well as still buying our debt. If they weren't buying our debt, then interest rates would be much higher. That day may come but it is not here now. Why settle for 5% on a bond when you can go buy a company in Europe?

guest

the dollar is worth the same as a canadian dollar.

that's truly a joke, isn't it?

guest

i'm surprised all you lefty losers are coming to the iranians defense; i realize you're all too young to remember but they bitch slapped your hero peanut carter pretty bad back in the day!

ed_Extinct

#4 He should have never been allowed to speak? Why?

Because of your belief that Freedom of Speech only applies to US Citizens? Please do yourself a favor and leave this country now. You're not wanted here anymore—I digress, it's your right to say what you want, even if it is stupid.

Ahmadinejad is not a good man, but he is doing to us, what we're doing to them. And by them I mean radical Muslim nations. He's not an Adolf Hitler (and anyone who argues that he is, loses all grounds for an inteligent argument.) He does support terrorism, but then again so did the US at one point, the Taliban and Saddam are two great examples.

The media is turning this into a circus: yeah no kidding, that's what they do best. A poll taken by Newsweek asked something to effect of: "Should Ahmadinejad be allowed to speak?" 50% of Americans said NO.

Why? Does Freedom of Speech only apply when it works in your favor? Not in my book. Freedom of Speach is Freedom of Speech, anyone, on this dirt (US Soil) can speak their piece.

Comically, the media and the US citizens are playing along with Ahmadinejad's game... He wins...

And speaking on winngings, Bin Laden is winning too. He said his main objective was to bankrupt the United States. Well, we're on our way...

What's the dollar worth?

guest

leave em alone number 16, once they get out of school, they'll go back to being conservative republicans or the new trend Libertarians.

you know, a republican in the office, democrat in the bedroom smoking the herb.

and stop it with the che t-shirts, it's old news, it's news only to you. ironic tees are in and vintage tees.

big pony polo shirts

I always make short post, not because I don’t have any idea to write, but I’m still learning English, so sometimes the problem is not about the idea, but what words should I use lol.

guest

14: i know its been said many times before, but it is very frustating that i can't read a post on Gothamist without coming across a typo, grammatical error, or a terribly akward sentence.

*cough* pot kettle black *cough*

AHT

Number 16, I'd love to know how you define "civilized society."

DCfist

"The enemy of my enemy is my friend, unless they want to be legally married."

guest

The tabloids hardly make us look bad. England has tabloids an nobody is dumb enough to assert that they speak for the entire nation.

guest

'the tabloids are making the US look bad"

I remember when I was a naive 20-something and didn't know better, but had a lot of energy to scream and shout. this idiot, castro, north korea, chavez - I know you love them and love wearing your Che t-shirts, but it's time to grow up kids. these guys either want you dead, or they want to sit back and watch the animals they fund fuck with us for shits and giggles. they need to get in line with civilized society or be taken out.

technology is too accessable now, and it has made the world far too dangerous to allow these temporary zealots the ability to cause great harm.

keep hating bush, cause that makes so much sense.

keep claiming that all your rights have been compromised, cause nothing could less true.

why not put the pressure on the 3 dozen or so candidates for president to actually put forth a platform and an agenda, and then learn how to hold them accountable.

the kids at these so called liberal schools are anything but liberal in their thought process, and are nothing but lemmings.

guest

It's a bit of a letdown isn't it, to listen to him skirt direct questions with completely indirect answers, then give very vague uninspired rhetoric. This whole thing just made me realize that he's just another dumb politician. What a brainless twit of a politician at that.

Remind you of any other current world leader we know?

guest

i know its been said many times before, but it is very frustating that i can't read a post on Gothamist without coming across a typo, grammatical error, or a terribly akward sentence.

i come to this site less and less everyday because of it.

freshyill

Ahmadinejad may be a bad guy, but the tabloids are making the US look just as bad as Iran. You may not like what he has to say, but an intelligent and reasoned response is the proper way to handle the likes of him, not censorship.

guest

wow, all of a sudden everyone here loves the gays.

where'd that come from?

why only few weeks ago a congressman was arrested in a MN airport mens room.

of all the things said, the gay remark was the most important one, yeah, that's it.

guest

honestbutfair, why should he not be allowed to speak? isn't this a free country where we encourage all forms of debate. Would you rather we lived in a dictatorship?

guest

he didn't say anything substantial.

the dean of sipa is a tool.

and the comment about gays got the biggest boos from the crowd. interesting.

guest

Why not? While I think it's positive he had the opportunity to at least present his crap views, you should be able to call out a leader like this on his bullshit in person.

For instance, hating lima beans is fine, as long as you've actually tried them first.

sleiaxxx

How about asking about his plans for his neighbors Iraq, nuclear technology, and Israel?

--------

They did ask those questions.

guest

Ahmadinejad is hardly a dictator. All of the real power lies with the religious leaders. This guy is just a mouthpiece.

guest

he turned to tables on pres bollinger.

he refused to take the low road and return insults.

Elderta

Why, honestbutfair?

honestbutfair

This man should NEVER have been allowed to speak at Columbia. I am embarassed for the entire institution.

guest

I'd like to see our pres handle that forum.

from the beginning unwelcome speech on.

David McCaffredy

I've got to call bullshit on the homosexual question. You could have asked Reagan the same question in 1980's America and gotten the same response. Most Middle Eastern countries are just getting around to women's rights. Its a cheap-shot question with the purpose of getting the crowd excited.

How about asking about his plans for his neighbors Iraq, nuclear technology, and Israel?