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President Bollinger Keep Your Promise
24.9.2007
By Gerald A. Honigman, eKurd.net Contributing Writer
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September 24, 2007
-Gerald A. Honigman, (ekurd.net)
Iran's President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, is slated to
arrive in the United States this week to address the
United Nations. Columbia University's president, Lee
Bollinger, has also extended an invitation to him to
address his prestigious university.
Bollinger's colleague, Dean John Coatsworth,
subsequently stated that if Hitler was alive, he'd
also invite him as well, primarily to ask a series
of tough questions. It is fitting that he made this
analogy since Ahmadinejad has repeatedly promised to
pick up where Hitler left off vis-ŕ-vis the Jews.
And, as with the latter, Bollinger promised that
he'd introduce the Iranian Hitler wannabe with a
series of tough questions
Regardless of Columbia's president's claims, I have
some serious concerns.
Since most of academia, the United Nations, media
folks, and such treat visiting Israelis far
differently than they do
representatives from Muslim countries, I will be a
non-believer until I see otherwise. |
Gerald A. Honigman is a Florida educator who has done extensive
doctoral studies in Middle Eastern Affairs. He has created and
conducted counter-Arab propaganda programs for college youth, has
lectured on numerous campuses and other platforms, and has publicly
debated many Arab spokesmen. His articles and op-eds have been
published in dozens of newspapers, magazines, academic journals and
websites all around the world. |
Whether the Israeli is from the left or the right,
he or she can expect non-stop grilling at such
visits. At times, they have been prevented from even
speaking.
Too often those who confront Israel about every and
all of its alleged sins cower at any semblance of
the above when interviewing Muslim counterparts.
Since Columbia has become a hotbed of anti-Israel
activity, the concerns are even more serious.
Considering this, I have a few questions that Id
like to ask President Bollinger to pass along to
Iran's leader.
Firstly, why is it that Iran can demand a second
state for Arabs in "Palestine" (Arabs historically
never had one there, and purely Arab Jordan was
created from some 80% of the original 1920 Mandate's
borders when Transjordan was carved out in 1922) and
support groups like Hamas and Hizbullah which aim to
destroy Israel (with Iran stating this as a goal
itself), yet millions of Arabs, in what Iran calls
(oil rich) Khuzestan but which for centuries has
been known as Arabistan (even by Iranians
themselves) because of the millions of Arabs who
have lived and at times ruled there, remain
suppressed and deprived of such aspirations? Not
long ago, a neighboring Iraqi Arab Saddam fought a
bloody war with Iran over this.
Why are the rights of Arabs to that additional state
in Palestine more important than those in Arabistan?
Secondly, while on the same subject, why are the
rights of millions of Kurds--who have lived in what
is now Iran as long as Iranians themselves--any less
than those who proclaim that Arab state # 22 must be
created on the ashes of the Jews microscopic,
resurrected one?
For months now, Iranian artillery has been
indiscriminately shelling Kurdish civilians across
the border in Iraq, supposedly because of a fear
that Iranian Kurds, who wish for autonomy in Iran,
are taking refuge there. Imagine if Israel was doing
this in Gaza.
Indeed, Turks, Iranians, and Arabs have been
collaborating with each other in ways to deal with
their respective Kurdish "headaches." All have
constantly worked to deny over thirty million Kurds
political rights in a nationalist age. Yet all are
quick to demand Israels suicide to create that
second Arab state in Palestine. Recall that half of
Israel's Jews were refugees from the Arab/Muslim
world many from Iran as itself.
And, finally, Mr. President, what about Iran's own
dealings with Azeris, Baluchis, and all the others
you have come to dominate in your own imperialist,
pre-nationalist age but who now have aspirations of
their own as well? These folks make up at least half
of your own alleged nation. And, again, you've
ruthlessly and routinely squashed their aspirations.
What makes Iranian national rights more valid than
those of others seeking their own small share of
justice and fair play in the modern age especially
since they have not been permitted this within your
own domain?
Why Palestine but not Arabistan?
Or Kurdistan? Or Baluchistan?
Yet you demonize an Israel less than the size of
Americas small state of New Jersey because it
refuses to return to its suicidal, 1949 armistice
line-imposed, nine-mile wide, rump state status.
In short, Mr. President, when will you and your
country drop the hypocritical double standards which
characterize your foreign and domestic policies?
President Bollinger, please propose to your guest
that the day his own country grants independence to
Arabistan or Kurdistan will be the day Iran gains
the right to lecture and accuse Israel. Unlike the
former, which had plans to even outlaw the Arab
language over its own "Arab problem," Israel made
Arabic the second official language of its state.
And finally, President Bollinger, please ask
Ahmadinejad this last summary question?
How can you, President Ahmadinejad, and Iran sit on
your moral high horse while you butcher and suppress
the rights of
millions within your own borders?
eKurd.net,
Copyright by Gerald A. Honigman. You may reach the
author via email at: honigman6 (at) msn.com .
Gerald A. Honigman is a Florida educator who has
done extensive doctoral studies in Middle Eastern
Affairs. He has created and conducted counter-Arab
propaganda programs for college youth, has lectured
on numerous campuses and other platforms, and has
publicly debated many Arab spokesmen. His articles
and op-eds have been published in dozens of
newspapers, magazines, academic journals and
websites all around the world. Visit his
website at
http://www.geraldahonigman.com/
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