2008 Woodie Awards
SectionsIgnoring is no way to change ignorance
The Standard Editorial Staff
Issue date: 9/28/07 Section: Opinion
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Free speech is a right that many of us really take for granted and, perhaps, don't truly understand. On Monday our country was faced with yet another great debate for this right. Only this time, Americans don't seem quite so willing to offer it.
Why have some Americans chosen to attempt to revoke this right? The answer is that in this case, the right was being given to a lunatic.
Iranian President Mah-moud Ahmadinejad was invited as guest speaker for an evening at Columbia Uni-vesity. Undoubtedly many are aware of this occurrence and have most certainly developed their opinions on it.
However, much anger and hostility has been made public based on some of Ahmadinejad's opinions in a country that seems so unabashedly proud of its fundamental freedom of speech. Should the content of the speech be considered so inflammatory just because his viewpoints and beliefs and so staunchly different from many Americans or should we be using this speech as a catalyst for further conversation and understanding about a country and a man that has been deemed an enemy by our leader?
The editorial board at The Standard definitely believes in the power of the latter above the former. Sure, almost every one of us was singled out or offended by some of his harsh words regarding certain minority groups and historical occurrences. However, we are faced with these very same adversities from our own countrymen on a daily basis and it garners much less outcry.
Examples of such adversity includes, but is certainly not limited to, Mel Gibson. This man is considered by many to be a very respectable Hollywood talent, both behind and in front of the camera. He denies that the holocaust ever occurred; a fact that he has made no great effort to hide. However, he was made wealthy off of one of the most successful religious films ever produced and he continues to create box office and critical successes even after his opinions (that also included swipes at the female gender) were made public.
Why have some Americans chosen to attempt to revoke this right? The answer is that in this case, the right was being given to a lunatic.
Iranian President Mah-moud Ahmadinejad was invited as guest speaker for an evening at Columbia Uni-vesity. Undoubtedly many are aware of this occurrence and have most certainly developed their opinions on it.
However, much anger and hostility has been made public based on some of Ahmadinejad's opinions in a country that seems so unabashedly proud of its fundamental freedom of speech. Should the content of the speech be considered so inflammatory just because his viewpoints and beliefs and so staunchly different from many Americans or should we be using this speech as a catalyst for further conversation and understanding about a country and a man that has been deemed an enemy by our leader?
The editorial board at The Standard definitely believes in the power of the latter above the former. Sure, almost every one of us was singled out or offended by some of his harsh words regarding certain minority groups and historical occurrences. However, we are faced with these very same adversities from our own countrymen on a daily basis and it garners much less outcry.
Examples of such adversity includes, but is certainly not limited to, Mel Gibson. This man is considered by many to be a very respectable Hollywood talent, both behind and in front of the camera. He denies that the holocaust ever occurred; a fact that he has made no great effort to hide. However, he was made wealthy off of one of the most successful religious films ever produced and he continues to create box office and critical successes even after his opinions (that also included swipes at the female gender) were made public.
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