Skip to the posts
Buffalo's neighborhood journals since 2003 🌱 Plant🌶️ Spice☀️ Light🌙 Dark

jbeatty’s journal

This bloke is barking mad

· 🌡️ 79°F

So at Columbia University today Mahmoud Ahmadinejad gave a speech about various topics. It was a highly criticized appearance by many Americans, which I personally find to be lame. Not that I think the guy has anything worth saying that isn't as nutty as what comes out of the likes of Pat Roberston's mouth. But I am aware that one of the founding principles of this country is the right to free speech. So if that is still the case whats wrong with extending that privilege to our visiting(I use the term loosely) "dignitaries". I see nothing wrong with letting him speak and then questioning his logic and opinions in a good old fashioned American way.

So anyway he has made some pretty bold statements in the past that are just plain scary. He is also very misinformed about many things including the existence of the Holocaust. So I was very interested in what kinds of things would be said by such a crazed, although somewhat powerful guy. Thankfully he didn't disappoint. My favorite quote from today is definitely this:

In Iran we don't have homosexuals like in your country. We don't have that like in your country. ... In Iran we do not have this phenomenon. I don't know who's told you that we have this.



Imagine that! Not a single homosexual in all of Iran? I haven't listened to the entire speech yet but I'm almost certain there are plenty of other good ones yet to come.
249 words

💬 7 comments

  1. james ·

    I did think he had a good point that the holocaust shouldn't be justification for the state of Israel; Nazi crimes payed for by the Palestinians. But, that isn't much of a point to make and a moot one at that, so a slight glimmer of reason in an otherwise vapid speech.

    The prime minister of Japan said that his nation also does not have homosexuals. This was in the early 90's I think. We also make friends with loonies.


    What bothered me about the whole fiasco was all the people wailing about Ahamadinejad wanting to lay a wreath at the world trade center. John McCain said he would personally restrain him if needed. We didn't want the guy to have his little PR coup. Is America so fragile that a leader, unpopular in his own nation and internationally, can't have a little photo op? Now that is might!

  2. drew ·

    I listened to some people say, "we shouldn't turn this into a photo op."

    Yeah, Bush, Gulianni, and a million other politicians didn't do that.

    Of course, if we allow him to express sympathy (which we might want to encourage--right?) then we can't claim that he did it, which I am sure Bush will try to claim, somehow, in the coming months.

    And if this guy can prevent homosexuality in his country, why don't the republicans love him? Just asking. I'm surprised Cheney has invited him to his house for dinner (ooh. That was a cheap shot, wasn't it?)

  3. fellyconnelly ·

    Sounds like the gays should invade iran and do some recruiting!

  4. jason ·

    I wouldn't think ol' Mahmoud would represent (R) any more than Stalin represents (D).

  5. jason ·

    PS - Opposition to this guy was definitely bi-partisan. The guy's a straight up Jew hater, and he's visiting NYC.......you sort of should expect some kind of outcry.

    Now, me, I happen to agree that he should be allowed to come and talk, if only to expose the guy for the nut he is officially. That pretty much comprises the value of "negotiating" with someone like this. Apparently the Columbia President had no problem with using that approach.

  6. john ·

    Rollins opened up his shows here talking about Mahmoud. That guy is a complete lunatic, and we should let him spout off. Unfortunately, thanks to the far left and the far right, free speech and public discourse has more or less become a thing of the past here. Don't like what someone says? Shut him up!

  7. carolinian ·

    John, you're now an e:peep. Congrats!

💬 Write a comment