Opinion > October 4, 2007

By Monica Petrescu and Kyle Grochmal | Guest columnists

The “Axis of Evil” scheme has already been brainwashed into most Americans. However, the ethnocentrism and ignorance demonstrated by American people, officials and intellectual leaders in the past week had led some to question the definition of evil.

Common courtesy dictates some respect for guests, especially when they are world leaders. American responses to the visit of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, from the UN General Assembly to the streets, show no such tact.

The treatment of Ahmadinejad should make us feel ashamed for disrespecting the values we flaunt to the world. Not only are we openly limiting our own free speech through the renewal of the Patriot Act, and calling all Bush opponents “un-American,” but we are now mocking proponents of differing world views.

Lee Bollinger, president of Columbia University, introduced Ahmadinejad as a “petty dictator” with a “fanatical mindset” who “lacked intellectual courage.” Yet it was Bollinger himself who proved a “lack of intellectual courage,” by “vaccinating” his students against the guest. By predisposing them to his own bias he denied them the right to make their own intellectual decisions.

It is rather ironic that Ahmadinejad, whom we love to criticize for limiting freedoms in his own country, had to lecture the leader of a prestigious American university on open-mindedness.

Ahmadinejad did not walk out of Columbia University, despite being insulted. It was American diplomats who walked out, right when Ahmadinejad began addressing the United Nations General Assembly the next day. The Iranian President did not resort to petty name-calling of the United States, refusing to sink to the “Columbia level.” In fact, he actually called for world peace: a call that America’s administration is clearly not interested in hearing.

The willing sacrifice of diversity of world views is dangerous to intellectual freedom. We condemn intellectual oppression as a sign of great evil, so why are we imposing it on ourselves?

Bollinger sacrificed his principles, and America’s principles; the saddest part is that he did so due to the pressure of public opinion.

If Wake Forest was ever honored with the visit of President Ahmadinejad, I hope that we would embrace the values of free intellectual exchange and freedom of speech. After invading another country in the name of liberty, we should at least protect our own.

Monica Petrescu is a sophomore history major from Vernon Hills, Ill., and Kyle Grochmal is a sophomore from Rehobeth, Mass.