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Reader comment on:
Backlash Against Bollinger Hits Columbia
in response to reader comment: Rude Introduction of President Ahmadinijad at Columbia Uni

Submitted by bill howell, Oct 9, 2007 23:26

indeed. president bollinger was quite rude. not a good host. not a decent, far minded host. shame!


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Other reader comments on this article

Comment By Date

I think Bollinger had a mind problem. He made a big mistake in his life. he didn't know the politics... [MORE]

Hadinezhad

Oct 1, 2007 12:57

Last week children of Cheguara were invited to Iran by Tehran University .Those who talks about Iranians hospitality , they... [MORE]

Firouzeh ghaffarpour

Sep 30, 2007 10:27

Yes, everybody knows that americans are still those cowboys without a little courtesy and politness. You would never see such... [MORE]

keuyvan

Sep 29, 2007 05:28

Yes, you are certainly ahead of the US in logic, reasoning and morality. That's why Iran kidnaps diplomats and holds... [MORE]

gary fouse

Oct 14, 2007 01:48

After reading some of the comments here, I am amazed that many want to blame America for Mr. Bollinger's remarks.... [MORE]

Clark

Sep 28, 2007 15:14

How foolish of me to think the backlash was becaue of the invitation...not Bollinger's insults to a nut job like... [MORE]

g. murphy

Sep 28, 2007 13:12

To Maryann, After reading your comment about how you belive that Mr Bollinger treated Ahmendijad,why dont you go to Iran... [MORE]

Mike

Sep 28, 2007 07:11

Bollinger's insults were based on blatant media mistranslations of Ahmadinejad's earlier comments about Israel and about the Holocaust. He stooped... [MORE]

Richard Cheeseman

Sep 28, 2007 06:06

R.Cheesman. Do you trust Ahmendijad with nucleae weapons?I will never understand people like you.You would rather see americans dead all... [MORE]

Mike

Sep 28, 2007 11:49

bollinger by his speech insult all student in columbia university and iranian people.bcz we never act such cruel to our... [MORE]

Maryam

Sep 28, 2007 02:31

I for one was very upset that Mr. Bollinger invited thr President of Iran Ahmendijad to speak at Columbia University.Ahmendijad... [MORE]

Mike

Sep 28, 2007 07:00

If anyone doubts the sorry state to which academia has fallen, the conduct of Bollinger should clear the matter up.... [MORE]

Ronald

Sep 28, 2007 01:30

I watched the introduction and also Mr. Ahmadinejd response to Bollinger. I'm really surprised that how such a stupid non-logic... [MORE]

Jason C.

Sep 27, 2007 21:46

When Mr. Bollinger set this whole thing up , I was totally against his efforts to bring a ruthless terrorist... [MORE]

Roger

Sep 27, 2007 12:55

The hawks among the American politicians and their desperate dependents among the academicians won't allow any bridges for meaningful exchange... [MORE]

Rita

Sep 27, 2007 10:38

Bollinger can't have the free speech he extend to the Iranian President? What hypocrisy! [MORE]

Tim Arnold

Sep 27, 2007 10:26

I sent an e-mail to Bollinger right after his introduction - it was rude, mean spirited and unnecessary. He stated... [MORE]

Erna O'Shea

Sep 27, 2007 10:16

But is this not the same school,the same faculty,the same students that invited James Gilcrest of the Minutemen to speak... [MORE]

m

Sep 27, 2007 09:42

you are so correct! Good posting! [MORE]

Dan

Sep 27, 2007 12:32

Does anyone seriously think that if President Bush or Vice President Cheney had been the guest and Bollinger had been... [MORE]

Rick Geyer

Sep 27, 2007 08:41

I was shocked by the language used by the Columbia University President Bolllinger to his guest President Ahmedinijad. It is... [MORE]

mohan sivaswamy

Sep 27, 2007 03:44

indeed. president bollinger was quite rude. not a good host. not a decent, far minded host. shame!

bill howell

Oct 9, 2007 23:26

First, they invite and lend credibility to a terrorist leader who would use the platform of Columbia for propaganda--- that... [MORE]

PeterLortz

Sep 26, 2007 23:48

President Bollinger is only applying Peter Schweizer's, Hoover Institution, theory about liberal offsets. He invited Ahmadinejad to Columbia (Grade F)... [MORE]

Anthony Natale Jr.

Sep 26, 2007 22:16

Bollinger raised several excellent points about Ahmedinijad and Iran's conduct. Ahmedinijad was not able to refute, effectively respond to, or... [MORE]

groweg

Sep 26, 2007 21:32

What issues did Bollinger raise other than personal insults and opinions? His rudeness, especially coming from a university president, is... [MORE]

Stephen

Sep 29, 2007 16:55

Free speech stops at a red line. Free speech does not include the right to incite to murder and genocide.... [MORE]

Sanford Aranoff

Sep 26, 2007 21:26

What a shame! We expected more form academic environment and Columbia in particular! Highly suggest to see Ahmadi Nejad and Charlie... [MORE]

Ali

Sep 26, 2007 21:11

Not a big fan of Ahmadinejad, but I gotta say Mr Bollinger is one insignificant bully. I have lost respect... [MORE]

Farid

Sep 26, 2007 20:56

The people in the world that THINK anything good from this thug can be debated is nieve. You cannot have... [MORE]

Tony

Sep 26, 2007 20:41

What is Going On at Columbia University? Columbia University has been in the headlines this week over the speaking appearance yesterday... [MORE]

gary fouse

Sep 26, 2007 19:42

I can't believe that there are people living in the USA who are defending this creep. Columbia should have never... [MORE]

Daisy

Sep 26, 2007 19:28

Admittedly, I was taken aback by Mr. Bollinger's introductory comments at Pres. Ahmendijad's appearance at CU and perhaps they were... [MORE]

Tug

Sep 26, 2007 19:18

The mistake from the outset was the invitation extended with such an intellectual platform for the performance that could well... [MORE]

The Rev. William R. Eastman

Sep 26, 2007 19:08

It's about time Bollinger did something right. His comments were appropriate and accurate. All of you whining liberal types can't... [MORE]

Jason R

Sep 26, 2007 18:47

I normally would not defend Ahmendijad, but Bollinger was embarrassing. First of all, he crudely insulted Ahmendijad by calling him uneducated.... [MORE]

JD

Sep 26, 2007 18:45

Respect a man who condones the stoning of women and the hanging of hundreds of gay Iranians?! What planet are... [MORE]

cur

Sep 26, 2007 18:43

If Bollinger had opened up a forum by bashing President Bush, would there have been such an outcry from all... [MORE]

Chris

Sep 26, 2007 18:38

Bollinger is a courageous man, he allowed Ahmendinijad to speak and he spoke his mind, that is freedom of speech.... [MORE]

rasta

Sep 26, 2007 17:12

It's curious to me how the introduction of Mr. Ahmadinejab has ruffled so many feathers among students and faculty. How... [MORE]

david wiese

Sep 26, 2007 16:56

Only in the modern world of academics would Mr. Bollinger's comments be somehow regarded as inappropriate or rude. I'm sure... [MORE]

Bozoer Rebbe

Sep 26, 2007 16:56

Mr. Bollinger doesn't seem to know to treat a spoil child like that of Mr.Ahmadinejad. That Mr. Ahmadinejad has a... [MORE]

Darrell Mc Neill

Sep 26, 2007 16:36

Bravo for Mr. Bollinger - hitting the nail on the head and calling Ahmadinejad what he is a fraud and... [MORE]

cathy

Sep 26, 2007 16:07

What a shame! Mr. Bollienger showed to the world what it most despise on us, arrogance, lack of manners, crudeness... [MORE]

Pat Vicuna

Sep 26, 2007 16:03

Bollinger thought that by having the Iranian President invited he was standing up for Academic freedom and freedom of speech... [MORE]

Jose

Sep 27, 2007 12:33

Mr. Bollinger was correct! I am appalled that certain people are so morally bankrupt that they would condemn Mr. Bollinger for... [MORE]

Chris Brown

Sep 27, 2007 15:10

What a stupid man Columbia Univ. has representing it. Mr Bollinger invited a Monster to talk at the University and... [MORE]

Ron Moore

Sep 26, 2007 15:45

Manners and Etiquette.... Did anyone see the fine example of manners and etiquette displayed during the forum for the Minutemen... [MORE]

Nico

Sep 26, 2007 15:41

The tragedy at Columbia is indeed more than just the lowly behavior of a president. If this is how the... [MORE]

ray

Sep 26, 2007 15:39

The problem America has in the rest of the world is that it is seen as crass, boastful, bullying and... [MORE]

N Carroll

Sep 26, 2007 15:38

It is about time to be mentaly honest about the world politics of today and start act ing as an... [MORE]

Sergio Pastor

Sep 26, 2007 15:27

The purpose of inviting Ahmedinijad to speak at Columbia was to hear his ideas. The objections against his coming were... [MORE]

ed

Sep 26, 2007 14:48

I think Mr. Bollinger was too respectful in dealing with Adolph Ahmadinijad. He should have thrown stuff at him like... [MORE]

Tim Carroll

Sep 26, 2007 14:37

It is disgusting to see how Lee Bollinger insulted Ahmadinejad in his welcome address, particularly after inviting him to columbia.... [MORE]

xyz

Sep 26, 2007 14:33

I was one of the many who really felt the university had no business inviting Amendijad in the first place,... [MORE]

Doug

Sep 26, 2007 14:21

Free speech is not to invite a person; give him a platform and a mike and mock him. It is... [MORE]

Adnan Latif

Sep 26, 2007 14:08

It was a kind of surprise for the University of Columbia's Bollinger to read a long litany of charges against... [MORE]

vijay ramiya

Sep 26, 2007 13:53

I'm going to assume all of the above comments were written by students and/or professors from Columbia - I admire... [MORE]

M. Robertson

Sep 26, 2007 13:48

Bollinger's attitude was shameful. Ad Hominem attacks have no place in a debate, no matter who the interlocutor is or... [MORE]

Dave G.

Sep 26, 2007 13:48

Although why your university invited this monster in the first place escapes me. The Iranian, "President," should have been arrested... [MORE]

Tom Weiss

Sep 26, 2007 13:43

Mr. Bollinger's behavior was excusable in light of his intended target. His remarks, however, came out as more the bluster... [MORE]

Steve Eskow

Sep 26, 2007 13:41

Thank you Ahmendijad for helping my fellow Americans understand why most of the world does not like us or the... [MORE]

Adam

Sep 26, 2007 13:33

Thank you for pointing out the root of terrorism and the problem. What is with all of this Hitler talk?... [MORE]

Lisa

Sep 26, 2007 13:30

It's a great moment when an ivory tower liberal seizes the opportunity to ridicule an authoritarian ruler. In the past,... [MORE]

The New Centrist

Sep 26, 2007 13:27

I was appalled by the display by the president of a major university in taking time to attack the sovereign... [MORE]

Jack Mehoffer

Sep 26, 2007 13:23

To my surprise Mr, Ahmadinejad impressed me with his speech, eventhough the US media tried very hard to undermine his... [MORE]

Lailaadib

Sep 26, 2007 13:20

I watched with disbelief the abusive sermon delivered by Columbia U. president. He looked uncomfortable and his body language and... [MORE]

Azarm

Sep 26, 2007 13:17

President Bollinger made a BIG mistake by inviting President Armadinajad as a "distinguished person" to Columbia. He made an even... [MORE]

Wally

Sep 26, 2007 13:05

I am not a big fan of the Iranian president but i do resepect Iran and its culture and its... [MORE]

sunny b

Sep 26, 2007 13:02

I think everyone at Columbia University should read the book: "Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace .... [MORE]

Shawn Bradshaw

Sep 26, 2007 12:54

I think many arabs might take exception to your claim that they treate their guests 'like God'. Hospitality has its... [MORE]

Bill Hawnstall

Sep 27, 2007 10:16

Bollinger was rude, but Columbia should have never invited him to speak in the first place and also while we... [MORE]

Brandon Tucker

Sep 26, 2007 12:53

Give Bollinger a break ... at least he had the guts to say what many feel. Did you folks listen... [MORE]

Dave Flo

Sep 26, 2007 12:39

Folks, Bollinger announced his intent. In the face of such an announcement the idiot from Iran could have easily declined... [MORE]

Navybill

Sep 26, 2007 12:26

I can't believe some of the comments here. It seems that most of the folks are suggesting that Columbia should... [MORE]

Sam Greenfield

Sep 26, 2007 11:55

When the media announced this event thoughtful people considered it a bad idea for a lot of reasons. Now in... [MORE]

Harry Taft

Sep 26, 2007 11:42

Note to Lee C. Bollinger; duplicity is not becoming. Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines.- Unknown [MORE]

E L Frederick

Sep 26, 2007 11:36

So much of the animus against Mr. Ahmadinejad is over his being a "Holocaust denier." The Ahmadinejad critics are lacking... [MORE]

Kara Sanders

Sep 26, 2007 11:36

Mr. Ahmadinejad may be many things, but he is not a "dictator." Bollinger, showing ignorance as well as rudeness, revealed... [MORE]

Maryam

Sep 26, 2007 11:08

Or, was it a mutual publicity stunt? When will these wooly headed professor types ever figure out that they have no... [MORE]

OCULUS

Sep 26, 2007 10:51

We all have a little ahmadinijad and a little Fox news in all of us. See your local Rabbi for... [MORE]

Bugler

Sep 26, 2007 10:43

As an Iranian who attended American university during eighties but now living in Iran, I have to admit eventhough my... [MORE]

MP

Sep 26, 2007 10:34

This is a guy who has homosexuals and women executed because they don't live up to his "standards" He is... [MORE]

chrisb

Sep 26, 2007 09:00

In his cave-in, butt-cover "get the guest" attack, Columbia President Lee Bollinger displayed every sign of being a fraidy-cat, ivy... [MORE]

j ranelli

Sep 26, 2007 09:00

They are a bunch of people committed to honor the Muslims at any cost, even to the point of ridiculousI... [MORE]

POLA BARA

Sep 26, 2007 08:51

Bollinger's "welcome" to the elected Iranian president seriously let down the American people and their reputation for hospitality and freedom... [MORE]

Gerry Hook

Sep 26, 2007 08:25

The only balance that occured during the Mahmoudapalooza was the tough questioning by Lee Bollinger .Otherwise it would've been a... [MORE]

Tom

Sep 26, 2007 08:25

If a man like Ahmadinejad, an ex-torturer (by some accounts) who has taken his country in a brutal direction, denying... [MORE]

Denis MacEoin

Sep 26, 2007 08:19

Nice work. Nice to see that American institutions of higher learning are lead by red neck hillbillies. Way to stoop... [MORE]

D. Johnstone

Sep 26, 2007 08:15

What plausible explanations rise from the inconsistency between the courtesy of Bollinger's invitation and his subsequent offensive behavior? First and... [MORE]

Columbia grad

Sep 26, 2007 07:29

If the views he has expressed as President of Iran reflect his inner thoughts, Mahmood Ahmadinejad is clearly not a... [MORE]

robert chapman

Sep 26, 2007 07:12

I have known quite a few Iranians over the years. We constantly hear about how 10% of Western men are... [MORE]

John

Sep 26, 2007 05:52

I agree that I was shocked by the language used by a University President to a guest. It is not... [MORE]

mohan sivaswamy

Sep 26, 2007 03:52

True: Bollinger was astoundingly confrontive towards Ahmadinejad. Not very diplomatic. Now get to the substance of the matter: Every nation... [MORE]

Robert Garvin

Sep 26, 2007 16:51

Lee Bollinger's venomous comments while introducing the President of Iran at the Columbia University function are an indicator that not... [MORE]

Satya Sagar

Sep 26, 2007 03:44

Just a quick message to say how appaled I was to hear the introduction from Bollinger, supposedly an academic....he could... [MORE]

Pete

Sep 26, 2007 06:41

Columbia U. needs more courageous people like Mr. Bollinger. You people need a history lesson. [MORE]

Jerry

Sep 26, 2007 18:58

Mr. Sagar, The U.S. is hardly a "declining economic and military superpower...on a steep fall intellectually and culturally." America's GDP dwarfs that... [MORE]

David Garab

Sep 26, 2007 20:27

I thought the students would be set up for manipulation when I heard Mr. Ahmadinejad would be speaking at Columbia.... [MORE]

Makrouhi Terzian

Sep 26, 2007 03:40

Im glad to hear about the backlash..To invite someone to speak and then basically humiliate them before they take the... [MORE]

jon

Sep 26, 2007 02:32

Hey, Jon. When you make a statement like this: To invite someone to speak and then basically humiliate them before... [MORE]

Adirondack Patriot

Sep 26, 2007 14:44

It is suggested that Mr. Bollinger take a crash course in basic etiquette. It is apalling that a person who... [MORE]

Ailey Mammen

Sep 26, 2007 01:37

Bollinger sure looked silly courting a lobby that we all now know does not exist (at least that is what... [MORE]

ATS

Sep 26, 2007 11:38

If Bollinger was trying to demonstrate gracious and diplomatic behaviour in a hostile environment - he did a splendid job,... [MORE]

A. Sengupta

Sep 26, 2007 01:34

If Bollinger was trying to demonstrate gracious and diplomatic behaviour in a hostile environment - he did a splendid job,... [MORE]

A. Sengupta

Sep 26, 2007 01:34

Many of us who have attended Columbia University and visited the Middle East are aware of what a gross faux... [MORE]

John W. Mallalieu

Sep 26, 2007 01:07

In contrast to the ill mannered behavior of the American people in inviting a guest and then insulting him in... [MORE]

Philip Peter

Sep 26, 2007 01:03

I was ashamed of myself and in the name of humanity. I wonder where we are going as humans. No... [MORE]

Hakan Can

Sep 26, 2007 08:47

Well, well, well, so many of the people who have commented here are highly upset about the "ill mannered behavior... [MORE]

Joe Turner

Sep 26, 2007 15:56

Mr. Bollinger. The ancient Greeks punished malcreants with shame. Shame on you for your conduct toward President Ahmadinejad. Jonn Mick Vancouver, B.C. [MORE]

Jonn Mick

Sep 26, 2007 00:46

Although I oppose most of Mr. Ahmadinejah opinions, I am appalled at the rude and unintellectual reception he received at... [MORE]

Pat MacAuley

Sep 26, 2007 00:33

Ever since the Iranian hostage crisis, I could care less if Iranians hate the US. [MORE]

gary fouse

Oct 14, 2007 01:42

Mr Betts is absolutely on the mark and I totally agree with his remarks. It is very juvenile, puerile conduct... [MORE]

Sekari Vaidy

Sep 26, 2007 00:10

I am of opinion that education make person sober and with the incident yesterday I am not sure how many... [MORE]

vinod

Sep 26, 2007 00:04

Shame on America! [MORE]

Stanzler

Sep 26, 2007 07:07

Bollinger said about Ahmadinejad as "astonisingly uneducated." Everybody saw that who "astonisingly uneducated" is!!! [MORE]

JJ

Sep 26, 2007 09:03

After listening to Mr. Bollinger's speech and his tirades on Ahmedinejad, I wondered how he would define the word "courtesy".... [MORE]

Patrick

Sep 26, 2007 10:10

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