Columbia University dean: We'd invite Adolf Hitler to speak

[GaryC 7]

A Columbia University dean said yesterday the Ivy League school would gladly welcome mass murderer Adolf Hitler to speak on campus.

"If he were willing to engage in a debate and a discussion, to be challenged by Columbia students and faculty, we would certainly invite him," John Coatsworth, dean of the School of International and Public Affairs, told Fox News yesterday.

Coatsworth spoke two days before Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is slated to give a lecture on campus.

The dean wasn't merely speaking hypothetically. Columbia, which has a history of providing a forum to provocative speakers, once welcomed one of Hitler's cronies to the campus.

Then-President Nicholas Murray Butler invited Nazi Germany's U.S. ambassador, Hans Luther, to speak at Columbia in December 1933, triggering a student revolt. Butler then fanned the fury by throwing a cocktail reception for Luther.

Coatsworth declined to comment last night.

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2007/09/23...nvite_adol.html

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Hypothetically of course....

Just because they have controversial speakers it doesn't mean that the audience are completely uncritical and lap up what they say.

[GaryC 7]

Hypothetically of course....

Just because they have controversial speakers it doesn't mean that the audience are completely uncritical and lap up what they say.

Not hypothetical, this college has a history of outrageous things like this.

he dean wasn't merely speaking hypothetically. Columbia, which has a history of providing a forum to provocative speakers, once welcomed one of Hitler's cronies to the campus.

Then-President Nicholas Murray Butler invited Nazi Germany's U.S. ambassador, Hans Luther, to speak at Columbia in December 1933, triggering a student revolt. Butler then fanned the fury by throwing a cocktail reception for Luther.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Hypothetically of course....

Just because they have controversial speakers it doesn't mean that the audience are completely uncritical and lap up what they say.

Not hypothetical, this college has a history of outrageous things like this.

he dean wasn't merely speaking hypothetically. Columbia, which has a history of providing a forum to provocative speakers, once welcomed one of Hitler's cronies to the campus.

Then-President Nicholas Murray Butler invited Nazi Germany's U.S. ambassador, Hans Luther, to speak at Columbia in December 1933, triggering a student revolt. Butler then fanned the fury by throwing a cocktail reception for Luther.

As with that example - it doesn't mean the students lap up what the speakers say.

[Ban Hammer 13,625]

he's got a new candidate to invite now.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=89103

[BabyBlueSusie 1]

yea, i mean really...i dont get what the big deal is...sometimes its possible to learn more from those people that we disagree with, rather than just hearing the same things over and over again...just because the guy is speaking, doesnt mean that the university endorses his idealogies...it just means that hes coming to speak

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Especially if its an open-forum debate - some of those students can be pretty aggressive in their arguments, and extremists are generally quite easy to debate anyway...

[almaty 19]

colleges always invited peoplw who are not mainstream....i have seen some chops in my days at my college.....

[Fandango 1,440]

Adolph Hitler could have been one of the greatest leaders of all time, provided he wasn't a maniacal murderous monster. He was a very intelligent man...and obviously had the charisma to sway the nation into doing horrifying and deplorable things.

Had he 'used his powers for good' so to speak, he could have really left a positive mark on the world.

I don't see any problem with inviting him to speak, had he been alive. I even read Mein Kampf to try to gain some understanding on his mindset and where it all went so horribly wrong....

Edited September 24, 2007 by LisaD

[tweety 1]

Nothing wrong with inviting controversial ppl for debate. I would have loved to attend a debate with the named persons. Strongly disagreeing with their politics I would have deeply enjoyed getting first hand impressions of these leaders and their twisted mindsets.

[GaryC 7]

Nothing wrong with inviting controversial ppl for debate. I would have loved to attend a debate with the named persons. Strongly disagreeing with their politics I would have deeply enjoyed getting first hand impressions of these leaders and their twisted mindsets.

Not much use in debating them. Nothing will change their mind about their twisted attitudes. Since we know what his position is there is nothing gained by having him speak. All we are doing is glorifying this nut job by allowing him a forum.

[Ban Hammer 13,625]

since columbia seems to like controversy, maybe they can invite this nutcase.

link

or maybe they can book this fruitcake

link

Edited September 24, 2007 by charlesandnessa

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Nothing wrong with inviting controversial ppl for debate. I would have loved to attend a debate with the named persons. Strongly disagreeing with their politics I would have deeply enjoyed getting first hand impressions of these leaders and their twisted mindsets.

Not much use in debating them. Nothing will change their mind about their twisted attitudes. Since we know what his position is there is nothing gained by having him speak. All we are doing is glorifying this nut job by allowing him a forum.

Well there is a value to hearing the guy first-hand, as opposed to having his views parroted and regurgitated via the media. There's a value to the students to get at least some sort of idea where he's coming from - not that I mean he's been misquoted or exaggerated, but to at least see what kind of rationale he has for this stuff.

That said, it seems rather unlikely to me that the guy will spout the same kind of extremist rhetoric that he's been reported saying in the news. He is after all, dealing with a different audience than he's used to speaking to at home.

[Jaseball 0]

I'm also of the opinion that if we get a chance to have foreign leaders and even Hitler if possible speak to the American people it is to our benefit.

Politicians, ambassadors, delegates, and these high level political gatherings are just orchestrated PR for most of the people and nations involved.

Being able to be in an open forum, have the chance to ask questions, listen to others ask hard questions and have a direct record of what some of these people have to say serves the interest of the people vs., being fed media driven opinion, political party stances, or diluted information.

Why would anyone be afraid of what the leader of Iran, Hitler, or any person have to say? If the guy goes up there screaming and frothing at Jews, the decadent west, etc., it shows he is a nut job. If he goes up and preaches about peace and love he'll still be hit with the quotes from before and you can see if he tries to answer truthfully, deflect the question, get angry, etc.

I wish our own politicians would make a regular effort to confront their constituents vs., having the irregular 'town hall,' meetings here and there only during election time.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

IMO This story only got an airing because Columbia University is smack dab in the middle of the one of the largest Jewish communities in the country.