I wonder if criticizing and ridiculing academic insitutions is a step towars Fascism.

Well, what a fine bucket of mixed metaphores we have here.

John, I wonder if academic institutions that claim to foster critical analysis are above scrutiny themselves? McCain points out that Columbia's tent is big enough to include fascist dictators but not American soldiers. That's fascism?

I wonder if criticizing and ridiculing academic insitutions is a step towards Fascism.

Posted by: john | September 24, 2007 5:00 PM

Very good point John!!!

Whatever happened to John McCain???

McCain is right, the so called prs. of Iran is twice as bad as Saddom and shoulod have been put in handcuffs the second he touched down on American soil!

I'm surprised McCain's the only candidate who's picked up on Columbia's hypocrisy and made a talking point out of it.

Good thing McCain has lost all his credibility or someone might accidently buy his nonsense.

I bet Columbia would let an ROTC officer do a speaking engagement on campus, but not let Iran do any recruiting on campus. See? Same thing. Only more ironic not because....

Wait. Is this really irony? Or just grasping at straws by McCain?

Mixed metaphor: A figurative expression in which two or more metaphors are employed, producing an incongruous assemblage of ideas. (From The American College Dictionary.)

Care to point out a few, Doug? I didn't ace my high school English, but I can't find even one, unmixed, metaphor in the above article.

Allowing this dictator to speak at Columbia University is one of the few ways that Columbia University can have an impact on this duly ELECTED foreign leader and his adminstration's policies. These educators are not able to go to Iran to vote for someone they believe to be in line with their views.

The US Military functions at the behest of US elected officials. Columbia has every right to tell OUR military that if they wish to continue to discriminate against US citizens then they relinquish the right to recruit at Columbia University. This is a valid way to send a message to their elected officials that in the US we will not tolerate discrimination with taxpayer money.

Hey Doug,

What do you think of an istitution that bans a fine institution that you once used to belong to?

"McCain: Columbia Allows Iranian But Not ROTC?"

John McClown is a typical Republican, set up a straw man (Columbia U) and then avoid commenting on how they applaud the Iranian President's policy on gay people.

I think what happened to the dictator at the university was well worth it. The man seemed generally thrown off by the opposition and critisism, even waffling on some of his most extreme and bizarre positions. Sometimes that happens when you face people who you cannot control. I don't think he's often in that kind of position.

Deranged John E., please explain how the Republicans applaud the Iranian kook's policies on gays.
A year ago at Columbia, Lefty Loon students wouldn't let Dave Gilchrest of the Minute Men speak and even threatened him with harm. They don't allow the ROTC or U.S. military period. Yet, Left wing Kooks and their pets like Ahmadinejad are OK. Typical Loony Left unAmerican nonsense.

Not sure where the irony the author of the opinion piece implies actually is, but one of the respondents put it well when wondering if attacking the academy is an initial step towards fascism. Indeed, it is. But we are way beyond initial steps here.

Yes John D its totally American to evade the question of homosexuality in our own military and hold other countries to higher standards.

Viva American!

Has John McCain become a complete moral and political coward?

Juan Diaz, it seems to me your hero, Bill Clinton, authored the "Don't ask, don't tell" policy. Anyway, gays can serve in the military, they just aren't advised to be open about it.
Having said that, as a right-wing Christian "homophobe," I think don't ask, don't tell is poor policy and the military should be open to gays who want to serve their country.
But at least "Juan Diaz" I don't hide behind some fake name.

I think what happened to the dictator at the university was well worth it. The man seemed generally thrown off by the opposition and critisism, even waffling on some of his most extreme and bizarre positions. Sometimes that happens when you face people who you cannot control. I don't think he's often in that kind of position.

Posted by: Dan | September 24, 2007 7:26 PM

Dan's right, exposing the Iranian President to scrutiny is the best way to debunk his claims.

Dave Gilchrest of the Minute Men is a scumbag.

Why does it not surprise me that this self described right-wing Christian "homophobe," John D would defend him.

The reasons for not letting him speak are as obvious as they are concerning the ROTC.

Recruiting on campus.

Ahhh, I love it when the Loons on the Left decide what is Ok under the First Amendment and what is not.
Exhibit 1A:
"The reasons for not letting him speak are as obvious as they are concerning the ROTC." That fromn "viva la raza."
Not letting Dave Gilchrist from the Minuteman Project not speak?!?!?!?!?
Yes, the Loony Left only likes the Constitution when it suits them and them only. First Amendment: only for the Loony Left!!
Second Amendment: no guns, ban em!!!

Here is the reality: the worst mankind has to offer = the Loony Left.

The Iranian president should be allowed to speak at Columbia again when the Iranian regime treats gays as well as the US military does by not murdering them.

Here is the reality: the worst mankind has to offer = the Loony Left.

Posted by: John D | September 25, 2007 9:36 AM

This Dyslin buffoon is actually willing to put in writing for the world to see that the real enemy of the United States isn't Al Qaeda its... drumroll please... THE TAXPAYING CITIZENS OF THIS COUNTRY!!

NOW I understand why you NeoCons are so afraid of everything.

"But at least "Juan Diaz" I don't hide behind some fake name."

Get it straight its TO Juan Diaz -- aka YOU.

I know I know I say my name is as real as yours and you segway into how you are really using your name ask John E bc he stalks me oh my. Your SOo predictable.

"Anyway, gays can serve in the military, they just aren't advised to be open about it."

Your point? Anyway, homosexuals exist in Iran but they just aren't advised to be open about it. So don't expect to hold Iran to higher standards when our own military can be so innocently putting it in the same way.

"Having said that, as a right-wing Christian "homophobe," I think don't ask, don't tell is poor policy and the military should be open to gays who want to serve their country."

I know I know you bait me with the "a right-wing Christian 'homophobe' " and I will try to prove that you are one bc your "right" and you will fire away with the "I'm not racist look I have a black friend..." line-- the gay edition. (I read the tear jerker no need to repeat it yet again)

Juan Diaz, you are an accident waiting to happen. First you get off on others attacking you (or Republicans) for being "right-wing Christian homophobes" and then to add credibility to yourself and your point of view you rely on stepping so low as to denigrate yourself with that same introduction. It like an irrelevant detail and inspires no sympathy that adds no credibility to the nonsense you spout -- take it from "a left wind Roman Catholic 'homophobe' ." I'm not going to attack you for being right or Christian bc the issue of homosexuality should not be dependent on a political party or a religion in our own military, and innocent ignorance is not the same thing as tolerance and tolerance is not the same thing as condoning.

"It seems to me your hero, Bill Clinton, authored the "Don't ask, don't tell" policy."

John, Bill is not my hero. Did your hero's super powers tell you that. By the way Barbie and GI Joe want the Magic Eight Ball back.

John D's Boyfriend you must be the brains of the two...my condolences to you; it must be tough.

In a country that supposedly values freedom of speech, it is certainly strange to listen to all of the commentary criticizing Columbia U's invitation to the Iranian president to speak. Universities are supposed to be something more than stone walls and ivy; if they can not deal with opposing viewpoints they serve little purpose for being.
It is stranger to me that when a real first class dictator, the Shah of Iran was alive and running his country under the thumb of the SAVAK, his secret police, who regularly engaged in kidnap and torture of Iranian citizens, nobody at Columbia U, or anywhere else in America, had anything derogatory to say to him. He was a welcome guest and friend of America.
I don't think the issue is freedom of speech, the issue is hypocrisy.

Perhaps if the United States Military hanged homosexuals instead of just discharging them, Columbia would extend that invite.

RFM I completely agree with you to me it's not about the issue of free speech as it is hypocrisy. They alow someone who denies holcaust, funds national rerrorism, and called for destruction of state of Ireal ( OUR ALLY!!) and the invite him on campus yet when Military says don't ask don't tell they are offensive and dsicriminatory hmm wonder if discriminatory falls under the genocide of the Isreali state??...