The Bollinger Lectures on the Theory and Practice of Despotism

I haven't read the transcript or watched a video of A-jad's performance yet, but all indications seem to be that he made Bollinger look like a fool, and a bad host to boot. As for the full and frank exchange of ideas that Bolly, Coatsworth, and co. hoped would take place, well, it didn't. Ross Douthat nails it: "There are no controversial ideas here; there are, in fact, no ideas at all." Net result: A-jad's reputation remains largely intact and possibly even goes up in the eyes of some leftists. Bolly and Columbia's image, hardly sterling to begin with -- particularly on matters Middle Eastern -- plummets even further. It's notable that the Business and Law School Deans opposed the move. This will do wonders for intra-faculty relations in the future.

Here's a thought. In the name of free speech and "listen[ing] to ideas we deplore" (Bolly's words), Columbia should go the distance and set up a forum for the world's worst dictators to share their views. We could have Kim Jong-il dilate on Keeping Stalinism Kicking: How to Sustain Your Very Own Cult of Personality. Omar al-Bashir of Sudan could drop in to discuss the Logistics of Genocide. Heck, I'm sure Osama's willing to talk about the History of Islam via video link from his cave in Pakistan. Or he and Bashir could share a panel on Persecuting the Faithless. The possibilities are endless!
Posted by kungfuzi at 7:57 pm |