How to insult your guests in your own home

Columbia University President Bollinger displays poor judgment and manners at Ahmadinejad event

Published on September 25, 2007 By PranayGupte In Current Events

Columbia University President Lee Bollinger's "welcome" of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran on September 24 at the university was about as insulting and demeaning as one could imagine (or not imagine). You simply don't insult yourguests in your own home, as it were. I am scarcely a fan of President Ahmadinejad, but I know Iran very well indeed -- and I seriously doubt that even the most virulent foreign visitor invited to any Iranian home or major public institution would ever be "welcomed" in the manner that Mr. Bollinger displayed. The Columbia president may well have tried to score points with his trustees and right-wing critics, but he showed poor judgment and poorer etiquette. He should have simply introduced Mr. Ahmadinejad and given him a long rope with which to entangle himself. In the event, the "radical" Iranian was the one who showed perfectly disciplined manners and temperament, without yielding on his dubious political and historical positions.

It wasn't, I'm afraid, a particularly celebratory day for New York and New Yorkers. Scrappy we might well be, but I like to think that we are generally gracious to visitors, no matter how different they may be.

Comments (Page 2)

CharlesCS

on Sep 26, 2007

and even if they were none of those are excusing tyranny.

This was my fav part. Not only do they deny it but even if it was true they still wouldn't believe it. And they saw people who follow Bush are mindless sheep. These people can't even take the truth as truth.

Tova7

on Sep 26, 2007

It totally cracked me up when he said there are no homosexuals in Iran.

I kept waiting for the punch line.....

Tiddler

on Sep 26, 2007

Amadinejad in 2008 is not? You have a strange standard.

Yup o.k missed that "one" verifiable source.

And you mispoke. The source is verifiable since it was written down. The Actual person is not.

Thats funny. In cases like these I always thought the "actual person/handle" was the "source". So according to you we can verify a source without needing a pointer or reference to one? Interesting. Sounds very similiar to the same "strange standards" required by just making stuff up.

Did you also fall for the "WMD in Iraq". With your kind of reasoning Im sure it wouldn't have been too hard to convince you.

And the contention was not that A, B or C was, just that members of the left are.

Huh?

Let me count the ways https://www.joeuser.com/index.asp?aid=163463

You pointed to this selection of comments as the basis for a count on the number of ways that the left are supporting Amadinejads tyrrany. Otherwise what did you mean when you said "Let me count the ways"??

So if as you now say A, B or C dont "actually" count..... because their not "actually excusing anything", (this being MY point), then i ask again "in how many ways are left excusing his tyrrany?".

Cmon, lets "count the number ways".

Tiddler

on Sep 26, 2007

It totally cracked me up when he said there are no homosexuals in Iran.I kept waiting for the punch line.....

Any country that needs to kill off its queers, is clearly more fagotty than the rest. Otherwise why would you be so threatened by them?

Dr Guy

on Sep 26, 2007

If the statement had been made - Madam X said....... you would be correct. However the statement was made that "how is the left..." which is not a person, but a political persuasion. The proof was provided. Since you did not ask for a person, no person need be attributed, only the statement shown as being made. it was made. By whom is your guess. You did not ask to be shown where Kerry or Clinton made one, and I offered no "person" just the statement which is sufficient to satisfy your interogative.

Say what you mean and mean what you say. And next time, either be more specific, or less obtuse.

Tiddler

on Sep 26, 2007

This was my fav part. Not only do they deny it .

Deny what? I see 5 statements in the link Dr Guy offered none of which excuses his tyranny. By all means Charles point out which of those statement excuses his tyranny. Once you're done heckling of course.

but even if it was true they still wouldn't believe it.

"Even if it was true"...... so you admit that its not then?

The problem here of course Charles is it's not....... which is why its being challenged. If you want to make it true, (and we all know how desparately you do) then you're going to have to support it with verifiable fact. This being my point.

And they saw people who follow Bush are mindless sheep.

Yes I did.

Tiddler

on Sep 26, 2007

...

Tiddler

on Sep 26, 2007

...

Tiddler

on Sep 26, 2007

lmao. What? Lets break that down.

If the statement had been made - Madam X said....... you would be correct.

O.k.

However the statement was made that "how is the left..." which is not a person, but a political persuasion.

Agreed. The left is a political persuasion. Or perhaps more likely an abstraction of a political persuasion but whatever and so what?

The proof was provided.

Where? What are we "proving" Dr Guy? Do you even know?

We are proving, or more correctly Ive asked that "you" prove (in this case provide a verifable count) that the left is excusing Amadinejads tyrrany.
Where have you done this? So far you've trailed off into everything but a proof.

You provided a link to a bunch of statements only one of which has a source other than "Island Dog says" and none of which excuse Amadinejads tyrrany.

Since you did not ask for a person, no person need be attributed, only the statement shown as being made. it was made. By whom is your guess. .

No by whom is "your" guess. You're the one offering "guesses" as "proof".

You did not ask to be shown where Kerry or Clinton made one, and I offered no "person" just the statement which is sufficient to satisfy your interogative.

Kerry and Clinton? Sufficient to satisfy my interRogative? What on earth are you on about here Dr Guy?? I think you've nattered yourself in circles. The subject of my dispute is "the number of ways the left are excusing Amadinejads tyrrany".

You've suggested theres ample proof. But you've provided none. Now you want to waffle on about Kerry and Clinton?

Say what you mean and mean what you say.

Yeah. Again Dr Guy, Im not the one saying anything. Im the one questioning whats been said.

If you reread what i wrote:

None of those are attributed a verifiable source and even if they were none of those are excusing tyranny.

... you'll find that my questioning of his sources was very incidental. I have little doubt that he, Island Dog, could go back and find where each and every one of those quotes he lifted came from..... or thereabouts. Clearly thats not the focus of my dispute. My dispute is with the idea that the left are, in their masses excusing the tyrranical behavior of Amadinejads. You clearly suggest they are. You even go so far as to attempt to start the count of ways in which they are.... well lets see it.

All this other nonsense is just you either waffling on trying to come off as remotely intellectual or otherwise just trying to muddy the waters because so far despite all your bluster you know you haven't been able to support the claims you've made.

Tiddler

on Sep 26, 2007

Typical sheep-shagging lefty.

Leave GrandDad out of this. He's not been well for years.

Dr Guy

on Sep 26, 2007

Where? What are we "proving" Dr Guy? Do you even know?

In how many ways are the left excusing his tyranny?

You really aren't playing dumb are you? You really are that obtuse. I suggest a course in reading threads 101. ENough playing with children. Amuse yourself if you want. Hold your breath until you turn blue if you want. makes no difference to me. My job is done here. Unless you need a class in google 101.

Tiddler

on Sep 26, 2007

I thought not. "Run forest, run!"
Next time try taking smaller bites, theres less chance you'll choke on them.

Tiddler

on Sep 26, 2007

So the count stands at zero.

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