This is Islamo-Fascism Awareness Week on the campuses of various universities, pursuant to an initiative led by David Horowitz and others. The program is apparently proving more controversial than the campus visit last month of the premier Islamo-Fascist:
Christopher B. Lacaria, a Harvard Junior, writing in The Crimson yesterday, says the “postmodern Academy these days has become so dull that it no longer appreciates its own ironies.”
Avowed Holocaust-denier and President of Iran Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, feted last month by Columbia University’s tough-talking but effectively spineless administrators, received glowing praise from campus commentators and editorialists the country over. . . .
This very newspaper waxed poetical about Ahmadinejad’s visit, applauding it as a “proud” moment for academia and celebrating Bollinger’s “bravery” and “gusto.” The Columbia Spectator, that campus’s paper of record, congratulated the University for displaying the “courage and philosophical integrity befitting a prestigious institution.”
The New York Times, no doubt comprised of many graduates from both amateur periodicals, similarly gushed: They “could imagine no better way to give hope to opponents of Iran’s repressive state” than to honor the country’s leader with a forum at an Ivy League university . . . .
Surely Ahmadinejad’s convictions about Jews, gays, and women cannot even compare to the relatively modest assertion that some Muslims advocate terrorism. But judging by these newspapers’ responses, one could presume that David Horowitz makes Ahmadinejad seem like Mickey Mouse. . . .
At Columbia, the visit of Horowitz, who graduated there in 1959, is causing differing responses, according to yesterday’s Columbia Spectator:
Chris Kulawik, CC ’08 and president of the Columbia University College Republicans, invited Horowitz to deliver the speech, in which he is expected to address the rights of women in Islamic countries and to denounce some Islamic governments for what he sees as efforts to persecute women, Jews, and homosexuals.
Shira Gordon, BC ’08 and president of the Progressive Jewish Alliance, questioned the tactics of Horowitz, who is Jewish. “What offends me most is that he claims to speak for the Jewish community,” she said. “His packet says students should ask Hillel for its support. It offends me that he’s trying to speak for my community, even though I disagree with him,” she said. . . .
“How do we know what he’s [Horowitz is] going to say?” Kulawik said in response to early concerns. “There is an attempt by some groups to call him a racist, or bigoted, when he is doing more for moderate Muslims than any other group on the Columbia campus.” . . .
Last year, Horowitz published a book detailing the “101 Most Dangerous Academics in America.” According to Gordon, the Progressive Jewish Alliance and the Columbia University College Democrats may invite the nine Columbia professors condemned in that book to speak on campus. The Progressive Jewish Alliance also plans to make armbands or T-shirts and to write a petition on behalf of Hillel protesting Horowitz’s use of the Jewish community to further his argument against Muslim radicals.
Many groups agree that it is important to stay involved. Adil Ahmed, CC ’08 and president of the Muslim Students Association, attended a meeting with Dean Christopher Colombo and University President Lee Bollinger about Horowitz’s speech.
Maybe Bollinger will introduce him.
UPDATE(S): Kesher Talk reports on Horowitz’s appearance at Princeton. Boker tov, Boulder! reports on Berzerkley and rebuts Shira Gordon. David Horowitz looks back at the week.