Wednesday, April 02, 2003

Stir Continues Over Columbia Professor's Comments
De Genova told a campus "teach-in" last Wednesday that he wanted to see the U.S. defeated in Iraq and suffer "a million Mogadishus" — a reference to the 1993 Somalia ambush that left 18 Americans dead.

"The only true heroes are those who find ways that help defeat the U.S. military," he said at an anti-war event attended by students and faculty.

What is it about being an American he likes? There are plenty of countries and peoples that refuse to defend themselves against tyranny. Just get an atlas.

"I am shocked that someone would make such statements. Because of the university’s tradition of academic freedom, I normally don’t comment about statements made by faculty members. However, this one crosses the line and I really feel the need to say something. I am especially saddened for the families of those whose lives are at risk," Bollinger said in his Friday statement.

Bollinger would usually keep quiet, because academic freedom is the holy water of campus life. Academic Freedom seems like a good idea when it comes to teaching different ideas, but how is wishing pain on his fellow citizens teaching? This clears up the question of whether higher education aspires to teaching or indoctrination.

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