Atlantis Alumni

Monday, September 24, 2007

More On Columbia And Ahmadinejad

Thanks to all who sent me private email comments.

It occurs to me that the University as an institution has core values, one of them being to provide a forum for the free exchange of ideas. However, I question whether this value trumps other fundamental institutional values of the University, such as dedication to humanity, a value harmed, it seems to me, by the presence of such an individual on campus.

Also, the free exchange of ideas can still take place without the institution having to provide a forum to a particular individual. Someone else can make the same arguments thus saving the institution from having to provide a forum for a murderous or genocidal dictator, whether he be Hitler or Ahmadinejad.

John Stuart Mill not withstanding, as Stanley Fish pointed out, there can be no absolutes when it comes to speech.

Jim

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