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September 6, 2006
Harvard: Haven for Terrorist Speech?
First we have one prestigious school, Boston University, rewarding convicted murderers with college degrees while they are serving time in Massachusetts prisons, and now we have the creme de la creme, Harvard College, inviting Mohammed Khatami, the former Iranian leader and avowed hater of all things Americans, to speak on the eve of "9/11." Everyone in Cambridge thinks this is a kick. Yeah, it's a kick in the face to the families of the 54 Massachusetts victims who died five years ago on 9/11 and almost everyone who doesn't go to school at Harvud, like in dud. Gov. Mitt Romney has refused to provide state security for the known terrorist's visit, but the Boston Police Department, which has never met a private detail it didn't like, has stepped forward. Good for Massachusetts. A terrorist will be safe in our state. I can see Osama smirking right now. On the eve of his greatest villainy, that started right here at Logan Airport, with a flight commandered by Dracut's own Capt. John Ogonowski, Khatami will get to sow the seeds of his anti-American hatred. Oh, he'll toss in a few bouquets, like how the Iranians want to be part of the world process but George Bush and his administration have refused to accept how other people think the world should be run. Yeah, blame it on Bush, just like conspiracy freaks blame 9/11 on our own government. Remember, Harvard is the same college that forced out its president, Lawrence Summers, because he wasn't politically correct. The move has cost them nearly $750 million in donations from Summers' friends. Of course, Harvard is worried; it has the largest endowment of any school in the world. It can do what it wants. It can put its finger in the eye of all Americans. On most occasions, I can agree with Harvud. I am all for academic freedom when it explores the truth and honesty of what we need as human beings to enlighten mankind and to learn thow to improve ourselves, science, medicine, etc. I am not for frivolity, or "shock" classes where impressionable students are given a pack of swill to swallow as if it is the truth. Revisionist history is another thing I abhor, and Harvud seems to excell at all of these things. Granted, most Harvud students can see through the crap, but others can't. They spread falsehoods like a disease.. Some will listen to Khatami on the eve of 9/11 and take his words as gospel, just like they used to admire Drr. Cornel West, the Harvud professor who sat on his hands for years and made up things until he left for Princeton. His farewell caused a minor uproar, because some liberal whackos thought he was underappreciated. Good for Princeton, is what I say. But I can't for the life of me imagine why Harvud would want a terrorist to speak on the eve of 9/11. Is it to satisfy their curiousity? Is it to make the school stand out on 9/11? Is it to applaud Iran in its development of nuclear weapons to wipe out Israel and western civilization? I agree with Romney. The state shouldn't spend a dime in protecting this guy. Let Harvud pick up the cost. They want to hear Khatami so let them k-pay.
Posted by JimC at September 6, 2006 9:12 AM
Comments
Jimmy, you are confused about who Mohammed Khatami is.
He's the guy who was president of Iran as a reformist and lots of women and young people voted for. Unfortunately, he was constantly defeated in all his reform attempts at taking Iran into the 20th and 21st Centuries.
He was eventually replaced by the crazy islamofacist, Mahmood Ahmadinezhad, who current runs Iran and we hear so much bad news about in the press.
Posted by: Dr. No at September 7, 2006 2:17 AM
Dr. No, nice to hear from you. No I don't think I am confused. Khatami pretended to be a moderate while he put hundreds of Iranian students and activists seeking reform in jail. Some are still in prison. He also oversaw the startup of Iran's nculear program and made several celebrated speeches about the destruction of Israel and death to America. He can't hide behind that turban of terror.
Posted by: jim campanini at September 7, 2006 8:26 AM
You might as well throw in the University of New Hampshire professor who plans on teaching his 9/11 conspiracy theories in class.
It's so funny to hear academia defend freedom of speech and all the other buzzwords they throw around to defend their extremist views and actions. What I'd like to know is this. Will they allow the head of the KKK to address young, impressionable minds? How about economists who espouse slavery as a way to lower the unemployment rate? Those exist, should we give them a public forum like Harvard to speak, or better yet, teach in?
I didn't think so.
Posted by: Crimson Red at September 7, 2006 2:58 PM
The United States Department granted a visa to the former President of Iran to come here and give a series of public speeches and now those who have unequivocally supported the current administration’s foreign policy are up in arms.
Could it be that the State Department is practicing its raison d’etre: diplomacy? Could it be that the State Department wants to begin rapprochement with the moderate element in Iran?
If the Bush Administration did not want him here, he would not have been granted a visa. Instead of beating up on Harvard, I would suggest that analysts, pundits, bloggers, columnists, editors and reporters focus on what is the Administration trying to accomplish. We should be discussing what does this tactical move means to U.S. foreign policy.
As for our governor, or should I say the person who has that title, couldn’t wait to jump in the fray and being the opportunist that he is made a grand, empty gesture. He could not wait to get on TV and show the rest of the nation his “conservative� credentials.
Now the City of Boston has to carry the cost of providing a service that was requested by our own State Department. Romney sees every event or occurrence as a chance for him to spin it politically in his favor. What can you say about a guy who travels all the way to Iraq for a photo op?
Posted by: Mimi at September 7, 2006 5:51 PM
Mimi, the question remains as to why Harvard is having this terrorist speak on the eve of 9/11. He has spoken in Illinois and New York without incident, or uproar. The timing is the thing and it is important. If we fail to acknowledge the sanctity of the tragedy of 9/11, with respect for the victims and America's suffering, we lose all that it means to be an American. Some people would want us to lose that identity willingly. As to the state Department issuing a visa, I wouldn't read to much into it. If Bush had denied the visa, liberals would be criticizing him for doing so and shutting off a dialogue with known terrorists. The President can't win. And where Harvud is concerned, it is the bastion of liberal thinking and American repudiation. Here's a college that denies access to the ROTC, which means its shuts out students from academic opportunity, but it would put down the red carpet for Killer Khatami. Why doesn't Harvud invite Condi Rice to speak if it wants to hear a different side of things? Or Donald Rumsfeld? Now that would lead to an uproar, wouldn't it?
Iran is crusin' for a bruisin' and it's not because of a lack of U.S. diplomacy. If the feeble European Union doesn't get Iran to back off on its nuclear intentions, a nation that begins with the letter "I" will do the job just to protect its right to survival. In fact, I think the no-balls EU is hoping that is exactly what happens. Sad, but true.
Posted by: jim campanini at September 7, 2006 7:26 PM
