Columbia professors plan to visit Iran to apologize to Ahmadinejad

[trickblue]

Link (http://www.mehrnews.ir/en/NewsDetail.aspx?NewsID=618008)

Columbia professors plan to visit Iran to apologize to Ahmadinejad

NEW YORK (MNA) – An academic delegation of Columbia University professors and deans of faculties plans to visit Tehran to officially apologize to Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad.

The delegation plans to express regret for the insulting remarks Columbia University President Lee Bollinger directed at Ahmadinejad on September 24 in his introductory speech, the Mehr News Agency correspondent in New York reported.

Since the incident, the deans and professors from the faculties of history, anthropology, Middle Eastern studies, philosophy, and Islamic studies have criticized Bollinger’s behavior toward Ahmadinejad.

A member of the delegation, who requested anonymity, said the main goal of the visit is to meet the Iranian president and officially apologize to him.

“The delegation has also prepared its itinerary,” he noted.

He went on to say that the delegation also plans to visit Iranian universities in various cities and to hold talks with professors and students, and may even sign memoranda of understanding with some universities. He also said the delegation is interested in visiting seminaries and the shrine city of Qom.

However, Bollinger has warned the delegation that their trip to Iran should be a private visit and should not be undertaken as an official visit endorsed by the university.

Bollinger has so far refused to meet the Mehr News Agency correspondent to explain his disrespectful behavior toward Ahmadinejad when introducing him to the students and professors at Columbia.

[jterrell]

Do these guys really need to be in the news so badly they are willing to go to the Middle east?

good grief!

[trickblue]

Do these guys really need to be in the news so badly they are willing to go to the Middle east?

good grief!

That... and how many conservatives have they unapologetically insulted...

[jterrell]

That... and how many conservatives have they unapologetically insulted...

Not sure but akmed there is about as conservative as it gets.

[vta]

Bollinger was trite and silly enough to miss a perfect opportunity to expose Ahmadinejad for what he is, but at the same time, there's no need for these people to suck up.

Bollinger is right, they should make it a private visit and not about him or the University.

They should go over and give a voice and answer questions, in an effort to promote diplomacy between both countries, as they're going to do. That's good, but to apologize already pretty much tells it's in the wrong spirit.

[trickblue]

Not sure but akmed there is about as conservative as it gets.

I think you know what I meant... :rolleyes:

[burmafrd]

You have to remember that to libs like Jterrel anyone that is mad at bush is a friend of theirs.
Does not matter that he has threatened Israel and others with destruction; or that he has denied the Holocaust happened; or that he lied about his country NEVER having a nuclear weapons program, etc.
what I am hoping is that those very stupid so called professors manage to piss off the Iranians so that they get stoned to death. And some people whine about lethal injection...

[Jordan55]

While their there maybe they can check out the nuclear facilities, also maybe take a poll and find out if there are any Gays that fill oppressed so we can bring them back to the U.S. Maybe if were lucky they will take a ride on the Iranian speed boats and test the US Navy's capabilities.

Hey do we have spell check on these forums?

[Jordan55]

Jterrels a Lib? I thought he was French Canadian

[BrAinPaiNt]

You have to remember that to libs like Jterrel anyone that is mad at bush is a friend of theirs.
Does not matter that he has threatened Israel and others with destruction; or that he has denied the Holocaust happened; or that he lied about his country NEVER having a nuclear weapons program, etc.
what I am hoping is that those very stupid so called professors manage to piss off the Iranians so that they get stoned to death. And some people whine about lethal injection...

And then we have you on the opposite end of the spectrum. :laugh2:

[burmafrd]

Thats right I did forget about the Iranian formal declaration that all gays must die.

[joseephuss]

Does Columbia not have phones or e-mail? A trip just to apologize seems a bit over the top. The headlines after they get there will be "American professors being held captive in Iran".

[Doomsday101]

Does Columbia not have phones or e-mail? A trip just to apologize seems a bit over the top. The headlines after they get there will be "American professors being held captive in Iran".

Iran can keep them if that happens. :laugh2:

[Jordan55]

The trip is covered by one of our government grant programs, covering education. Won't cost them a thing. I believe Nancy Pelosi, is going over with this group. To apologize for provoking the Iranian Navy.

[Doomsday101]

The trip is covered by one of our government grant programs, covering education. Won't cost them a thing. I believe Nancy Pelosi, is going over with this group. To apologize for provoking the Iranian Navy.

I hope they keep Nancy. I will give money to Iran just to keep her. :laugh2:

[Jarv]

I wonder if any of the professors are female ? If so, will they will also apologize for allowing females to teach, vote and work in our country ???

[Viper]

Does Columbia not have phones or e-mail? A trip just to apologize seems a bit over the top. The headlines after they get there will be "American professors being held captive in Iran".

Can we get Jimmy Carter to negotiate thier release... I miss those days.

[burmafrd]

Maybe we can package AL Bore as part of the deal with Jimmy and Nancy?

[jterrell]

The trip is covered by one of our government grant programs, covering education. Won't cost them a thing. I believe Nancy Pelosi, is going over with this group. To apologize for provoking the Iranian Navy.

Bush was gonna go but then realized there wasn't any stop in Saudi Arabia to count barrels of oil.

[joseephuss]

Bush was gonna go but then realized there wasn't any stop in Saudi Arabia to count barrels of oil.

And hold hands and gossip with his BFF.

[burmafrd]

I wonder if we could include Harry Reid as well?

[dacarmelking210]

I wonder if any of the professors are female ? If so, will they will also apologize for allowing females to teach, vote and work in our country ???

What are you talking about? Do you know anything about Iran? 65% of the students in university there are female, one of the vice presidents is female, and females hold the exact same position as males in public life. Iran isn't Saudi Arabia. Women can vote, drive, run companies, be professors, be judges, be lawyers, be doctors, etc. If you were to ever go to Iran, you'd be pleasantly surprised to see how progressive the country actually is, contrary to what the American media tries to portray Iran.

Ohhh just so all of you know, I'm an Iranian Jew. I go to Iran once a year or so and I love it there. And trust me, everythign that you guys hear about iran from the media is complete and utter bull$hit.

[vta]

What are you talking about? Do you know anything about Iran? 65% of the students in university there are female, one of the vice presidents is female, and females hold the exact same position as males in public life. Iran isn't Saudi Arabia. Women can vote, drive, run companies, be professors, be judges, be lawyers, be doctors, etc. If you were to ever go to Iran, you'd be pleasantly surprised to see how progressive the country actually is, contrary to what the American media tries to portray Iran.

Ohhh just so all of you know, I'm an Iranian Jew. I go to Iran once a year or so and I love it there. And trust me, everythign that you guys hear about iran from the media is complete and utter bull$hit.

Haven't been there, but Iran is beautiful and the people are a whole sight different from their leaders.

In as much as how Iran is protrayed, it's never reflected on the average person in the street; it's pretty clear that for the most part if any Mid East nation had a population closer to the American mindset, it would be Iran. Pretty independant and patriotic, even when they don't agree with their leaders. The negativity is always directed at the Supreme Leader and the President.

I'm close with an Iranian (not Jewish) and he tells me a great number of Iranian Jews have pretty much skeddadled out of Iran. Is this true? There's an Iranian radio station out of LA run by Iranian Jews and they have a different take politically of Iran and it's opnion of Jews.

[burmafrd]

Very suspicious of that post saying all is lovely and happy in Iran.

Been too many reports about people getting stoned to death, the interesting thing with gays, etc.

[Jordan55]

Bush was gonna go but then realized there wasn't any stop in Saudi Arabia to count barrels of oil.

Jterrel, where you been? if it was all about the oil we would have attacked them along time ago, I believe Hugo Chavez, is the one living in fear about the pending invasion of Venezuela, In fact I can see where the Dems, want to follow his domestic policies. Let's have the government take away, any drive or ambition to acheive financial wealth because of the penalty of taxation, watch the economy, if you think it's bad now. There used to be a song,
How does that song go
"Come on and Take free ride"
It's bad enough that were over taxed through our life time, but then if you acheive anything, you can look forward to the death tax.

SAVE the Caribou!

[jterrell]

Jterrel, where you been? if it was all about the oil we would have attacked them along time ago, I believe Hugo Chavez, is the one living in fear about the pending invasion of Venezuela, In fact I can see where the Dems, want to follow his domestic policies. Let's have the government take away, any drive or ambition to acheive financial wealth because of the penalty of taxation, watch the economy, if you think it's bad now. There used to be a song,
How does that song go
"Come on and Take free ride"
It's bad enough that were over taxed through our life time, but then if you acheive anything, you can look forward to the death tax.

SAVE the Caribou!

first, it was a joke:)

second, none of the above changes that Bush has had personal business ties to the Saudi Royal Family since long before he was ever President.

[Jordan55]

Jterrel, just having fun, and Who have the Clinton's been associated with?
Obama, just don't see it happening, but you never know, actually it's going to be a rather interesting 10 more months.

[dacarmelking210]

Very suspicious of that post saying all is lovely and happy in Iran.

Been too many reports about people getting stoned to death, the interesting thing with gays, etc.

Um excuse me, tell me when and where people have been stoned to death in Iran. Over the past 10 years or so there has been maybe one or two accounts of people getting stoned to death in Iran.

Also, I go to Iran every year. I'm a Jew. I know what i'm talking about.

You people watch fox news and listen to propaganda from the Iranian government too much. The Iranian government sends these videos and messages out that are completely false. They release these videos that try to portray Iran in their Image. They want you to see Iranians in the street screaming "death to America" and shoutign their slogans....they want the west to see that Iranians are "united" under their Ideological beliefs...And the western media eats it up and distorts it to their advantage. BUT THIS IS NOT IRAN AND THOSE ARE NOT REAL IRANIANS. Probably 5% of Iran supports the government, the rest dislike them greatly. The government wants the west to think that they have this grip/control over their people (Soviet-esque control), which isn't true. They actually have much less control than you think. These "laws" that they have in the country are RARELY followed by the people. For example, alcohol is illegal in Iran. HOWEVER, Iranians probably drink more than Americans do. While there aren't' any official beer/alcohol companies in Iran, for example, most people have learned to make it themselves. there's a brewery on every corner in Iran. Everybody knows somebody who makes vodka,wine, beer, etc in their basement (it's actually much better than you think it would be haha). Kids party, drink, and do all the things that AMerican youths do, albeit secretly...the government knows about this, but they have little power to do anything about it because the police, who are supposed to be upholding/enforcing these laws, do the same things themselves.


95% of the stuff you see on TV about Iran is either A) EXTREMELY distorted or B) propaganda.


OHHH and all this Ahmedinejad is an "anti-semite" stuff....let me tell you this. Iranians do not hate Jews. Ahmedinejad does not Hate jews, and he never stated that he wished "to wipe Israel off the map." First of all, there not word/phrase in Persian that means "Wipe off"....The literal translation was "remove the zionist regime." the Iranian governement hates the Israeli government, not teh Israeli people. They don't hate Jews. Jews are amongst the most wealthy/well off people in Iran today; they always have been. They hold government jobs, own businesses, serve in the military, and there's even a Jewish delegate to the Iranian parliament. All this "Iran hates Jews" stuff just pisses me off. I'm jewish and I NEVER ONCE felt threatened in Iran. Iranian Jews in Israel and the US regularly visit Iran. Hell, there are even many Jews who are moving back to Iran from Israel (such as one of my cousins who currently lives in South Tel Aviv, who will be moving back to Iran because he says he feels much safer in Iran). All this is Israeli/American propaganda.




I also see a lot of stereotypes about Iranians in the US and the American media. You want ot see what Iran and Iranians, as a whole, look like..dress like, etc?

http://bia2.com/gallery/hiddencam.php

VERY VERY VERY few women wear burqas....everybody under teh age of 60 wears western cloths (for the most part), watches western movies, eats western food, watches western television shows on satellite, visit western websites, and LOVES the West (especially America). Hell, you even see people in Iran who support Bush (I, personally, think they're crazy, but they do exist in large numbers).


Don't get me wrong, I hate the Iranian government more than anyone else. I want them GONE, just like most Iranians do. However, conditions in Iran aren't nearly as bad as people in the American media want you to think. I'm just here to clear up some of the misconceptions you may have about Iran.

[dacarmelking210]

Haven't been there, but Iran is beautiful and the people are a whole sight different from their leaders.

In as much as how Iran is protrayed, it's never reflected on the average person in the street; it's pretty clear that for the most part if any Mid East nation had a population closer to the American mindset, it would be Iran. Pretty independant and patriotic, even when they don't agree with their leaders. The negativity is always directed at the Supreme Leader and the President.

I'm close with an Iranian (not Jewish) and he tells me a great number of Iranian Jews have pretty much skeddadled out of Iran. Is this true? There's an Iranian radio station out of LA run by Iranian Jews and they have a different take politically of Iran and it's opnion of Jews.

Well, there were something like 130,000 Iranian Jews in Iran prior to the Hijacked revolution in '79, and about 90,000 left within a decade afterwards. However, 4 million Iranians left Iran during that time (mostly to the US and Germany), as well, not just Jews (mostly because of the American backed Iraq invasion). They left because they didn't know what to expect. They didn't leave during the revolution because nobody knew, wanted or expected an Islamic revolution. They all wanted a democratic and secular government, not this religious bull****. Iran is BY FAR the most secular country in the middle east/central Asia. THe ones who did all the work for the revolution (my father included) were the Social Democrats and the Communists. The Khomeini supporters then took advantage of the situation, told everybody that Khomeini, if brought back from exile, would bring change, that he would bring a secular, democratic government to Iran. And everybody went along with it because they believed him. HOWEVER, after he got into power EVERYTHIGN changed. Everybody was pissed off/surprised that this happened. There was actually going ot be a SECOND REVOLUTION to get this sonofa***** out of power, however, the ******* Carter and Reagan Administrations encouraged Saddam to invade Iran. Because Iranians are probably the most patriotic people in Asia (and probably the world, too) they rallied behind the government to defeat teh enemy. With a depleated military (Khomeini executed most of the generals after he got into power) and no support from teh outside world, Iranians banded together to defeat the Arabs who were backed by the US, Britain, france and every other world power. Saddam was given a blank check and unlimited military supplies, while Iran had nothing (which then led to the controversial Iran-contra crisis). HOWEVER, due to our patriotism, we gave up our lives to defend out coutnry. Many of hte people who went to the front lines weren't even religious, they were actually communists and socialists. However, they defeneded their country much like Cyrus the Great, Darius, and Rostam did before. Most of the people who left Iran left at this point because the country had nothing and they didn't want, understandably, their children to fight and die in the war. So, about 4 million people left from 1979 to 1988, not just Jews.

it isn't just the Jews who have radio stations and satellite stations that rae geared against the Mullahs; it's everybody. I agree with 90% of what those Iranian-Jews aer saying about the Iranian government. They aren't just speaking out against them because of their stance against Israel, they are speaking out against them because they stole our homeland (Iran); and 95% of Iranians in diaspora agree with most, but not all, of their messages (some of the stuff they say is exaggerated and in line with what much of the Americna media pumps into their heads on a daily basis).


Sorry for the long speech here haha. this subject always gets me going.

[Cajuncowboy]

I hope they keep them all and draft them into the Iranian army.

What a bunch of bafoons.

[burmafrd]

dcarmel- sorry, but the wack job on repeated occasions has mentioned the destruction of Israel. He has been taped repeatedly saying it.

I notice you do not mention the Holocaust at all.
Why is that?

Frankly, you sound like the Iraqi Information guy that was so right all the time before we marched into Baghdad.

[Doomsday101]

first, it was a joke:)

second, none of the above changes that Bush has had personal business ties to the Saudi Royal Family since long before he was ever President.

You know what the next president will also do business with the Royal Family and the Saudi. These candidates can talk all they want but in the end this country will still do business with the Saudi and having a stable Middle East is in everyone’s best interest.

[vta]

It is a bit semantic in the case of Ahmadinejad's words.
Be it 'the Zionist regime dying like a withering tree' or 'moving Israel to Europe', his message is the same and it isn't simply peace for Jews.

Firstly if the 'regime' as he calls it, goes, what fills the void? An Islamic Republic? Jews in Iran may not be torured, but they don't have an identity of themselves there either, which is what they have in Israel.

Ahmadinejad doesn't just hate the government and he's not just a raving lunatic: he's the voice and messenger of the Supreme Leader, Khamenei. Considering he is an acolyte of Khomeni himself, who hated Israel it's doubtful he means anything his President has said in a positive light toward the people of Israel.

This has been an ongoing conflict which will not be simply quelled with a change of 'regime' in Israel, it's a way of life that's being fought and won't be changed without bloodshed, as we've seen for the last 60 years.

It's also worth noting, that while Hezbollah has grown up into an independant entity, it's genesis and still it's backing is Iran. Hezbollah is a force to corrupt and thwart any and all peace efforts between Palestine and Israel. They've attacked Egypt when Egypt made concessions with Israel, they've attacked Israel in the name of Hamas during efforts and undoubtably have been behind many of the many 'fakes' in regard to Israeli hostilities against the Palestinians during peace efforts, to stoke the fires of contention.

Israel isn't innocent, but Hezbollah is the trump card every time. And Hezbollah is fully supported by Iran.

It's population are not all radicals, but it's the radicals in control and right now, Iran is under a lot of international scrutiny. The average citizen can breathe a little easier, because of all the attention their leaders have brought upon them, but there still exists certain restraints on idependance.

How they govern is their own business, IMO, but how they affect world affairs outside their borders is another, and for the most part their export of terrorism is what gives the West pause in their want to be a regional power. I'll admit fully it's insecurity, but who wouldn't be insecure with the notion of such a governing body having too much power?

This war isn't about the Iranian people, it's about the retrograde leaders making the decisions.

As per the OT, if this is absolutely true, these 'scholars' or professors are completely off base and playing with something they don't understand.

[burmafrd]

So what else is new about so called scholars? Common sense is not something found very often in acadameia.