look who's entertained

I was quite thoroughly. On Satuday, when India beat Australia by one strand of Merv Hughes' whisker. Or David Boon's. And then again on Monday night when we beat Pakistan. This time though it was even narrower. I am still perturbed though by Misbah's misbehaved shot with 4 balls to go and 6 to score. Then again a solitary non-batsman was left at the other end. So maybe the unflappable got palpable flapping.

I was most not. Yesterday. Changing two cabs because the cabbie gave up on taking me home through the lord's processions. Multiple processions. All over the city. very colorful. Very Indian. Very rich culture red curry lal gulal Indian. Hrrmph. Oh come on. If the establishment is going to allow it (and fine I'll give in- votes, elections, what not- will of the many versus the few), at least divide the roads properly. Rusted steel drums with ropes? No clue which road is functional, which one isn't. Rubbish.

I am not today either. Yaar, with Ganeshji, I still have a fear of being struck down by lightning. So I'll brave a walk home. But Dhoniji? Arre bhai. It is pouring. There isn't a cab or bus in sight. Me in maitai, polished shoes and propah shirt is looking more and more like a street urchin. And why? Because they decided to take out a processions for the crickets now. Hrrrrrrrrrmphhhh.

This however is entertainment.

President Ahmadinijad's visit to Columbia. I haven't been following all the press debate surrounding whether he should be allowed to speak there or not. But principally I am for it. Liberal arts, science and education I say. All points of view should be heard. And this guy is the ruling head of a country.

Anyway here is the fun:

Columbia President- Bollinger's introduction to the speaker:
(http://www.columbia.edu/cu/news/07/09/lcbopeningremarks.html)
Excerpts:

- "to those among us who experience hurt and pain as a result of this day, I say on behalf of all of us we are sorry and wish to do what we can to alleviate it"
- "to be clear on another matter - this event has nothing whatsoever to do with any “rights” of the speaker but only with our rights to listen and speak. We do it for ourselves."
- "Let’s, then, be clear at the beginning, Mr. President you exhibit all the signs of a petty and cruel dictator." (This statement obviously has a context in which it is made. Read the speech to know more).
- "Why are you so afraid of Iranian citizens expressing their opinions for change?"
- "Let me lead a delegation of students and faculty from Columbia to address your university about free speech, with the same freedom we afford you today? Will you do that?"
- (This one is the best:) "In a December 2005 state television broadcast, you described the Holocaust as a “fabricated” “legend.” One year later, you held a two-day conference of Holocaust deniers. For the illiterate and ignorant, this is dangerous propaganda. When you come to a place like this, this makes you, quite simply, ridiculous. You are either brazenly provocative or astonishingly uneducated."
- "Why do you support well-documented terrorist organizations that continue to strike at peace and democracy in the Middle East, destroying lives and civil society in the region?"
- "A number of Columbia graduates and current students are among the brave members of our military who are serving or have served in Iraq and Afghanistan. They, like other Americans with sons, daughters, fathers, husbands and wives serving in combat, rightly see your government as the enemy. Can you tell them and us why Iran is fighting a proxy war in Iraq by arming Shi’a militia targeting and killing U.S. troops?"
- (Sorry, I said earlier- something about that being the best. This para tops it:) "Frankly, and in all candor, Mr. President, I doubt that you will have the intellectual courage to answer these questions. But your avoiding them will in itself be meaningful to us. I do expect you to exhibit the fanatical mindset that characterizes so much of what you say and do. Fortunately, I am told by experts on your country, that this only further undermines your position in Iran with all the many good-hearted, intelligent citizens there. A year ago, I am reliably told, your preposterous and belligerent statements in this country (as in your meeting at the Council on Foreign Relations) so embarrassed sensible Iranian citizens that this led to your party’s defeat in the December mayoral elections. May this do that and more."


And here comes the President:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/24/AR2007092401042_pf.html

- At the outset I want to complain a bit from the person who read this political statement against me. In Iran tradition requires that when we demand a person to invite to be a speaker we actually respect our students and the professors by allowing them to make their own judgment and we don't think it's necessary before this speech is even given to come in with a series of claims...
- Certainly he took more than all the time I was allocated to speak, and that's fine with me. We'll just leave that to add up with the claims of respect for freedom and the freedom of speech that's given to us in this country. (Right on!!- see i said, entertainment)


Well actually I recommend reading it- the text.. I think he does okay. And this maybe because I have some Indian culture seeped inside me somewhere, but I think the Columbia President and whoever the moderator are either immature or pressured or seriously missing the point. The whole point of a lecture is to have one. To listen to a point of view. Not to score cheap shots.

And when you are hosting someone... sample this, so called thank you from the moderator:

"I'm sorry that President Ahmadinejad's schedule makes it necessary for him to leave before he's been able to answer many of the questions that we have, or even answer some of the ones that we posed to him. But I think we can all be pleased that his appearance here demonstrates Columbia's deep commitment to free expression and debate. I want to thank you all for coming to participate"

Crap.