Submitted by Scott Baker, Sep 21, 2007 10:33

I'm about the most pro-Israel person I know. I don't believe the Palestinians have done anything to deserve a homeland of their own and I believe Gaza is at war with Israel and Israel has been too moderate in its response, among other things.

However, if America is really going to be the land of Free Speech, and our universities the centers of open debate of all ideas, in the Jeffersonian model, then we really need to allow Mr. Ahmadinejad to speak - of course, only if articulate questioners are allowed to ask the hard questions afterwards, and also if the university gives equal time to a speaker from the other side(s). We must do everything possible to show we are not like Iran, which does NOT allow free speech, or even free thinking, in its universities or anywhere else. Otherwise, we not only sacrifice our ideals, we risk being unfavorably compared to totalitarian regimes like Iran. The subtleties of difference would be lost in the Arab world, where we are still trying to win hearts and minds.

Listen, no one, and most of all, Thomas Jefferson, ever said democracy would be easy. That's why we need an educated, involved population, learning all the time, weighing all points of view, and deciding for themselves. This means we will have to tolerate people we disagree with, even strongly disagree with. If we are ever formally at war with Iran, that will change things, but right now, whatever terrorist actions Iran is taking are decided at, ahem, a "lower" level than Mr. Ahmadinejad's. For the same reason, he should be permitted to visit Ground Zero. But, oh boy, let's show every one of the hundreds of protestors on our Free Press too.

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