Set Our Teachers FREE!

Dear Reader,

I would like to take this opportunity to share a comment and my rebuttal regarding an earlier post.

“What Were They Thinking? Were They Thinking? subtitled “Can This Man Be Trusted” appeared on this site September 25, 2007. Since that time it has been distributed across the internet. (Not as widely as I had hoped of course, but enough that it received notice.)

Most of the comments I received were very much in agreement with my statements and my perception of the issue/debacle at Columbia University. I did receive one contrary comment, which I want to share with you, as well as my answer to the comment.

Please read BOTH and tell me what your opinion is on the matter.

2 Comments »

Quote (from my post): “Columbia University came across as petty and mean-spirited and, WORSE, they provided a platform for an enemy of the USA to appear “gracious under pressure while being unfairly attacked by his host”. Slippery as they come, Ahmadinejad came across as the innocent defender of the poor, underdog Palestinians, while he expertly attacked the USA and everything it stands for.” (End of quote from my post).

I actually applaud Columbian University for their bold move in the direction of - yes! - freedom of speech. This gives me some hope that this country can change. Despite of Mr. Bollinger’s prank.”
Comment by Joshua Nestor | October 18, 2007 | Edit

My Response:

Yes, Mr. Nestor,

I believe the Iranian position has some merit. I believe that their position is perfectly understandable in that they have their own self-interests at heart. I’m also savvy enough to know that their “self-interests” are contrary to the best interests of the USA.

My post was meant to point out that people in the USA, the US government, AND Columbia University need to put our own self-interests first as well.

You and I agree that most of the world sees the USA as “petty and mean-spirited”. I would add except when they view us as “dissolute degenerates” and “war-mongering tyrants”.

While I agree with part of your comment, there are a few points that I have issue with:

1st) Ahmadinejad, and Iran, may view us as barbarians, but he hardly came as a “missionary”. His purpose, which he accomplished completely, was to speak to the UN while deflecting attention away from his comments about the destruction of Israel, the non-existence of the Holocaust and other issues. He also presented Iraq as a country bent on peace and the peaceful use of nuclear power. He succeeded admirably on both counts. (Iran’s current alliance with Turkey against the Kurd’s in Iraq does cast SOME doubt about Iran’s peaceful intentions, don’t you think?)

2nd) I disagree with your assessment of President Bollinger’s behavior as a “prank”. It was far more than that. Columbia University’s attempt at offering a platform for “free speech” was entirely motivated by self-aggrandizement and publicity for the university. Then, after they provided this platform for a professed anti-American dignitary, Bollinger bowed to pressure from protesters and “bashed” a guest speaker of the university. My entire post was related to the additional “black eye” given to the USA by the double-dealing of these publicity-seeking, alleged Free Speech advocates at Columbia University.

3rd) AND, yes, I completely agree with your comment “And may be it’s time for Americans to consider some changes to their own mentality instead of fixing the world.”

While we MAY mean different things about Americans’ mentality changes, that was the entire purpose of my post. I tried to explain that we need to become more educated about the global community and their perception of us AND we need to become more self-protective.

Instead of trying to help everyone around the world and FIX all their problems, I truly believe we must become more concerned about FIXING problems in the USA FIRST. Even our humanitarian aid to other countries blows up in our faces, while we have people starving in the good ol’ USA.

Maybe it’s time for the USA to start taking care of the USA and let other countries fend for themselves. They certainly don’t appreciate any assistance we give. Instead they resent us. (And NO!, I don’t mean we should stop sending food and other aid to the refugees in Darfur. Most USA citizens are kind hearted [contrary to the beliefs of our critics] and we would never willingly stand by and see innocent people starve.)

Bottom line is, we agree on one issue! The USA should STOP “fixing the world”.

I also believe the people of the USA MUST get smarter, more globally aware, more self-protective, and shift our focus to FIXING problems in the USA.

Response by: Brennan Kingsland October 19, 2007

Well, Reader, what are your views on this issue?

Let me know!

Brennan

Filed under: Global issues