Columbia U...then and now....
 

Columbia University and Hitler: Then and Now
Fri, Sep 21, 2007 at 3:14:26 pm PDT
http://littlegreenfootballs.com/weblog/

A lot of people are saying that Columbia University’s invitation to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is as outrageous as inviting Adolf Hitler.

But 70 years ago, that’s almost exactly what Columbia University did: Columbia “Invites Hitler to Campus” —As it Did in 1933.

Seventy years before this week’s invitation to Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Columbia rolled out the red carpet for a senior official of Adolf Hitler’s regime. The invitation to Iran’s leader may seem less surprising, but no less disturbing, when one recalls that in 1933, Columbia president Nicholas Murray Butler invited Nazi Germany’s ambassador to the United States, Hans Luther, to speak on campus, and also hosted a reception for him. Luther represented “the government of a friendly people,” Butler insisted. He was “entitled to be received ... with the greatest courtesy and respect.” Ambassador Luther’s speech focused on what he characterized as Hitler’s peaceful intentions. Students who criticized the Luther invitation were derided as “ill-mannered children” by the director of Columbia’s Institute of Arts and Sciences.

Columbia also insisted on maintaining friendly relations with Nazi-controlled German universities. While Williams College terminated its program of student exchanges with Nazi Germany, Columbia and other universities declined to do likewise. Columbia refused to pull out even after a German official candidly asserted that his country’s students were being sent abroad to serve as “political soldiers of the Reich.”

In 1936, the Columbia administration announced it would send a delegate to Nazi Germany to take part in the 550th anniversary celebration of the University of Heidelberg. This, despite the fact that Heidelberg already had been purged of Jewish faculty members, instituted a Nazi curriculum, and hosted a burning of books by Jewish authors. Prof. Arthur Remy, who served as Columbia’s delegate to the Heidelberg event, later remarked that the reception at which chief book-burner Josef Goebbels presided was “very enjoyable.”

I don't agree with allowing Iran's head idiot into the college. Although he is coming I am hoping the student's questions can make him look like the idiot he is. Sometimes some good comes out of stupid behaviour.

What I don't agree with is that the students would not allow conservative speakers or military recruiters on campus but this guy is 'jake'.

Roscoe

One student I saw interviewed said they would DEMAND that he answer their questions, I had to laugh. This guy is an expert at side stepping questions. The best interviewers in the world can't get him to answer the hard straight questions, he's like teflon in that regard.

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I suppose it is not unreasonable to assume some colleges wish to be as political-free and commercial-free as possible.

But if Columbia was truly open-minded, they would welcome all influencial speakers by balancing different points of view either at the same or alternate times.

For instance, let anti-war advocates open an un-recruiting office next to the designated recruiter space. If they run out of funds, they could always ask Air America for help. ;)


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What was that comment about history repeating itself???