September 25, 2007

• What is your opinion on the president of Iran visiting Columbia University in the U.S. this week?

  I think it is important that the Iranian President be allowed to speak and air his views.  As we should all know, in a democracy, we value debate – even when that debate is laced with vitriol.  Just because Ahmadinejad has a way of speaking that inflames people as well as what we consider to be completely unrealistic views of the world, does not mean he has nothing to teach us.

  Americans tend to be uninformed as well as incredibly insulated from the happenings in the rest of the world.  If one can listen and sort the actual information from the political rhetoric, there is something to be learned.  (The same can be said about nearly any politician, including our own President and Congress – use your critical thinking skills, people!)  I think our media’s focus on President Ahmadinejad’s inflammatory statements is a tactic to keep us from actually listening to and perhaps learning from his view of the world. 

  I am not saying he’s right.  (And before you start calling me an Iranian sympathizer, note that my family is Jewish, and I think many of Ahmadinejad’s views are asinine.)  But I do believe the way to peace is to understand where the “other side” is coming from, not by ridiculing them and making them into a cartoon villain. 
     

  I just answered this Featured Question, you can answer it too!

  • 12:33 pm
  • 3 Comments