Sigh, man. Sigh.

I have to say that the United States ia as guilty of oppressing people in the United States as Iran is of oppressing people in Iran. We just do it differently.

However, I was struck by his outright denial that he ever denied the Holocaust. He was very clear in saying that “5 million” Jews (maybe that’s where the disagreement really lies?) were killed and he said it was a historical fact that it did occur. But he did say what critics of Israeli government policy and AIPAC have said all along that the Holocaust is used to silence those who criticize Israel’s government’s oppressive policies against the Palestinians civilians, and that when you criticize Israel for that, you are labeled an anti-Semite.

He also rejected the argument that those who question the Holocaust should be imprisoned, citing them as political prisoners in England … he did not mention the fact that Norman Finklestein, the son of Holocaust survivors and a former DePaul professor, was hounded out of his job, disgraced, slandered and reidiculed daily in the American media because he too, who is Jewish, said that “SOME” use the Holocaust to coverup Israel’s government’s oppression and own violations of human rights.

And, he also explained his statement on “calling for Israel’s destruction.” What he admitted to doing was demanding that Palestinian Muslims and Christians be given the right to decide the future of all of Palestine. It’s not a position I support mainly because after 60 years, I believe Palestinians must address the reality of the situation. But Ahmadinejad, reflecting the view of many Arabs and Muslims, argued that Christian and Muslim Palestinians were not given a say in Israel creation in 1948 and that it imposed on them and he believes that Palestine deserves to be one state, not two.

Now, I am not saying AHmadinejad is the greatest in the world, or that Iran does not oppress women, Bahai’s or homosexuals. But the fact is this country also oppresses and hounds and persecutes people because they are Arab and Muslim and two wrongs do not make a right.

And Lee Bollinger is not the champion for justice and freedom that he claims to be, but rather a political puppet who played a game for his own personal benefit, demonizing Ahmadinejad NOT because of the principles involved but because it is a popular thing to do in America today.

Ahmadinejad reminded everyone about the terrorism of the Shah of Iran imposed on his country by the United States and the secret police and murders and killings of innocent Iranian civilians routinely under the Shah’s oppressive dictatorship and yet we, Americans, stood by and not only remained silent but were exposed as being complicit in the undermining of Democracy to install the Shah to his dictatorship power.

The real tragedy here is that the truth will never be heard. And the Alan Dershowitz’s and Lee Bollingers and even Ahmadinejads will play the game of “I’m innocent and you’re guilty” when the fact is President Bush and Newt Gingrich and everyone else screaming to silence the Iranian President during his visit to the United Nations are as much hypocrites.

It’s too bad we have to be forced to muddle through this controversy and avoid the real issues of justice, principle, freedom and fighting oppression. Instead, we have to sit back and watch as the United States pretends that one form of oppression is worse than another form of oppression and that, to me, stinks.

Ray Hanania
http://www.ArabWritersGroup.com

PS Miriam … I am not criticizing you at all and hope you don’t take it that way. I am just adding my views on the this very hot topic, rather than starting another blog entry. I think this is one worth discussing in detail.

Thanks for bringing it up.

Ray Hanania
http://www.ArabWritersGroup.com

Ray- your opening paragraph- I cant agree with it- I think he deserves to hear America’s voice from the grassroots level- and dont think that this particularly well informed and often leftwing population does not have a fairly broad amt of info re him and his country. Certainly, many would agree with u re america’s role in the shah’s Iran.
re honorifics? well, save that for the UN, a place where compromise is sought. limpia

Ray will have to explain how we oppress our citizens in the same way as Iran. The fact is that over 1 million Iranian-Americans have more civil rights protected by the Constitution than 70 million Iranians who are consistently thrown in prison for asking for the same rights. While Americans may not understand the Middle East at all, it’s safe to say the same level of ignorance of our country is alive and well in that region.

unfortunately I missed the chance to watch the program either online (for I use dialup and that is not enough) or on-TV (for I think they didnt show it). I will say my word after I can see the whole program or at least read the transcripts.

The only important matter is that I think this program was much more important than hid speech in due in UN. do you agree?

This was one of the rare chances in human history when a mirror was held up to the ugly face of repression. Ahmadinejad finally had to see himself for the petty and cruel dictator he is.

Bollinger was obligated to tell Ahmadinejad what Ahmadinejad would never hear anywhere else. Ahmadinejad’s “election” was illegitimate. His regime hangs innocent people who demand their democratic rights. He deserved no courtesy. He deserved to be arrested.

In Iran, there is no real freedom. Its Supreme Leader is the Ayatollah Khamenei, appointed for life by a band of religious thugs. Ahmadinejad, as dangerous as he is, is but an arm of the oppressive machine. And he was “elected” only after the mullahs disqualified hundreds of relatively normal candidates.

In Iran, you can’t call the ayatollah or the president a liar and get away with it. You can’t call for a new Supreme Leader and get away with it. In Iran, there is only a hint of free speech, no real free press, no free opposition parties (couldn’t run against the ayatollah anyway) and no independent courts.

Thanks to a small group of clerics aided by tyrants like Ahmadinejad, the Iranian people can only dream of enjoying the freedom and self-determination they are due.

Occasionally, shame can shake a despot. Let’s hope Bollinger shamed Ahmadinejad well.

I, As in Iranian Find some points in Ray’s comments, unbearable. Although Bollinger’s way of behaviour and comments on Ahmadinejad, looks like “He has played a role of a political puppet (according to Ray’s comment)” BUT, What Ahmadinejad was called at the columbia University comes from the Hatred which too many Iranians Could have for this Man too. Bollinger as a Man living in this big world, and I as an Iranian Who’s life is wasting in this Doomed country.
I’m wondering How Can Ray ignore the ignored fundamental Human Rights of millions of Iranians and talk about an insult to a person, I mean Bollinger reminding Ahmadinejad of What Majority of the People of the world Think He is?!
plus, There were no SECRET police when Shah was the leader! It Was “SAWAK” and Yes! it was a hideous buereau! but Nowadays we have found forces that were never knew if they ever Existed Until the collegian’s Strike a couple of years ago.
But HE could have killed “Khomeini” as what is it called nowadays: “Intruder Of National Security”. They had some honor to some extent anyway!
We dont have “Political prisoners” in Iran! all those who are captured and kept in “Evin Jail” are considered “Intruder of national security”!
I agree that Shah Killed! HE Killed as a King, a ruler who was willing to keep his Rule and kingdom. But that is WAAAAAy Different from Someone who Considers himself as God’s representative, And all the Holiness he thinks he deserve! which would make him think that every insult to him, is an insult toward GOD!
Ahmadinejad Considers himself as the representative of the SAVIOUR that has been mentioned in Religions, well Shi’a. And He is preparing the whole thing for the “SAVIOUR” to Come. he belongs to a Sect that believes if the world become a unbearable place as hell, the SAVIOUR will come. so if we there would be a war against “DEVIL”, No Fear! The Saviour will come and Save us and we will live in a peaceful world!

And One More thing To My Fellow Americans: The Leader of a Nation which claims “9/11, A BIG LIE” as a TV show, Doesnt Have the slightest respect for the victims of the Tragedy. It’s Just the Hypocrisy.

Ahmadinejad won a pretty fair election (Iran’s ninth presidential election), beating Rafsanjani.

Do you think President Bush would go to, say, Saudi Arabia and subject himself to such a free Q&A session?

He cleared up a number of pieces of misinformation floating around:

a) according to the IAEA, Iran has no nuclear weapons programme and hasn’t been very successful in producing lightly enriched uranium (for power generation)

b) the “wipe off the map” phrase is intentionally misused. He would like to see a one state solution (which is out of the question). His analogy that the USSR is no longer on the map is apt. He should, however, stick to the Saudi peace plan formula with a return to 1967 boundaries according to international laws.

c) he didn’t deny the fact that over 5 million (mostly Jews, homosexuals and mentally disabled) people were murdered by the Nazis. He doesn’t see however, why this should give Israel the right to occupy Palestinian land. Many right-wing so-called christians have similar views.

Iranian, you are anything but an idiot! My heart goes out to you!

It seems that Iranian President, Mahmoud Ahmadenijad’s appearance, at Columbia University, turned out to be more than just a Q & A session, it evolved into a clash of civilizations. On one side was a University President, Lee Bollinger,a renowned and honorable educationist, representing the best of the Western civilization and on the other side was the President of an Islamic country, Mahmoud Ahmadenijad, a well known and respectable academic, representing the Islamic World. What a spectacle it turned out to be!
 Mr. Bollinger, in his opening remarks, went for the jugular and personally attacked Mr. Ahmadenijad, calling him a “petty dictator”, an “embarrassment” and “ridiculous”. He continued the tirade by labeling Mr. Ahmadenijad an “uneducated” person. The President of Columbia University fired more arrows which were so shocking coming from an honorable academic that I prefer to not mention them. Mr. Bollinger acted as the plaintiff, the Judge and the executioner. As President Ahmadenijad pointed out that he was the guest, was requested to come and speak to the students and that the treatment afforded to him was very disrespectful and unbecoming of American hospitality.
The Columbia University President’s speech was a litany of questions and accusations. From “wiping Israel off from the face of the World” question to womens issues to arming insurgents in Iraq, the contentious nuclear issue to gay hangings, Mr. Bollinger in rapid fire mode turned his questions into demeaning personal comments against the Iranian President. Why did he choose to let go of civility? Why would an honorable University President of a very prestigious institution lose his composure? Did Mr. Bollinger not realize that the Iranian President was his guest and that he was setting a bad example of behavior in front of his own students? Strangely enough, after his remarks, Mr. Bollinger left the stage and did not wait for the Iranian President’s answers. The Dean of political science took over the program.
In his response, President Ahmadenijad, rightfully challenged Mr. Bollingers personal comments about him. He was very calm, cool and collected. It seems that the Iranian President knew that Mr. Bollinger had dropped the ball and reminded him of his responsibilities as a host. Mr. Ahmadinijad was neither angry nor resentful but very composed and forgiving. In fact, he officially invited Mr. Bollinger to Iran to visit any Iranian University and exchange ideas with students and faculty. He mentioned that Mr. Bollinger would be treated with utmost respect and dignity. This drew a loud applaud from the audience.
President Ahmadenijad’s responses to the Gay issue and the Jewish Holocaust question were weak and evasive and drew instant boos from the audience. His responses to the womens rights issues, Palestinian and arming the insurgents questions and Israeli sovereignty were right on and the audience seemed spell bound. The President was in the heart of Jewish strength in the US. He was in enemy territory yet it seemed that he took control of the situation and talked about philosophy of reality, science and culture. He quoted the Quran, talked about Moses and delved into spirituality. Mr. Ahmadinijad was enjoying himself.
The differences in the depth and content of speeches between Mr. Bollinger and the Iranian President were stark. One was accusatory, belligerent, disrespectful and shallow, the other seemed controlled, thoughtful, philosophical and engaging. One thing stood out, Mr. Bollinger appeared a meek representative of the West and Mr. Ahmadinejad a giant of the Islamic World.

[...] View from Iran – Why are the questions for President Ahmandinejad so simplistic? Rotton Gods – Ahmadinejad on the Holocaust and Ahmadinejad in Columbia University. Mr Behi – Ahmadinejad in NY. The Spirit of Man – Ridiculous and No Freedom in USA. Mideast Youth – Iranian Gays, There are no Homosexuals in Iran, Evolution of Iran-America Relations and Ahmadinejad at Columbia: The wisdom of dishonouring one’s enemy. [...]