Skepticism at forefront of student thought at Columbia University

There has been quite a bit of controversy surrounding Iranian president Ahmadinejad's visit to Columbia University.

Fox News ran a story about military families and their negative reaction to his visit; many seemed to feel that it was an insult to those who died in Iraq.

But here is the thing: Ahmadinejad isn't the president of Iraq, he is the leader of Iran. Although there may be some interference in Iraq on the part of Iran, it is important for everyone to realize that these are different countries, though they are in the same region. We rarely see Canada blamed for the mistakes of America.

If people aren't willing to look at the other side of an issue, they will remain dangerously ignorant. For those who believe Iran is the enemy, isn't it best to know how your enemy thinks and what they believe?

Columbia did nothing to insult military families. It did what all universities are supposed to do: encourage discussion, expose students to diverse opinions and teach them to think for themselves.

Presidents speak at universities fairly often. The more information students have about the major players in the political world, the better they will be able to make decisions concerning what they believe.

Students rarely have the chance to speak so directly with people in such high levels of government in a country hostile to their own. This was hardly a brainwashing session. These are some of the smartest students in America. Why shouldn't they have the opportunity to use that intelligence and question the leaders of other nations?

Lee Bollinger, the president of Columbia University, had harsh words for Ahmadinejad, and audience members asked tough questions about the Iranian leader's treatment of women, academics and homosexuals. The students didn't take what he said as any sort of gospel; instead, they pushed for answers to important questions. Essentially, they treated him as we should treat all of our politicians: with skepticism.

Too much knowledge has never done anyone harm; it is only through ignorance or the direct denial of facts that we end upfighting wars we can't win in countries we know nothing about.