[Illbay]

I wonder what you want him to do, Jeff.

The guy has his right of free speech. Columbia is a private institution.

According to the young lady from his class who was on Hannity & Colmes yesterday, as well as on Laura Ingraham's radio show today, di Genova does not use his classroom as a bully pulpit; he does not discriminate against those few who support our war effort.

His comments, though they were disgusting, were his own.

I support YOUR right to publicly condemn him, and excoriate him to the high heavens for his disgusting remarks, but that's the extent of it, as far as I'm concerned.

We still have the PRINCIPLE of free speech in our Republic, and so long as this guy is representing himself and his own views, I'm not in favor of anyone "doing something" about it.

[Anamensis]

Columbia is a private institution.

They get millions in tax dollars every year, private or no.

[Jeff Head]

I want them to fire him, plain and simple.

His remarks went beyond free speech. He advocated the death of Americans by our enemy, and then went on to encourage American soldiers to kill their own as the Sgt. in the 101st did.

That is beyond mere free speech, that is inciting.

Sorry, you may disagree on that, but there needs to be responsibilty and accountability for what is said, just like there would be for crying fire in a crowded theater.

If you don't agree, fine, that is your right, but I am going to go about exactly what I have said in my letter to Bollinger. I will do all in my power through my contacts with Alumni there and through my own representatives to get their funding cut off until Columbia removes this guy, Plain and simple.

[DBtoo]

What kind of prof. is he and what were his outrageous comments? Professors making outrageous comments are nothing new. I've been away from the news for a couple of days so I missed this one.

[DBtoo]

Nevermind, I clicked on Jeff's HERE link above and found it, wishing a million Mogadishus (sp) on our troops. That is sick; what a jerk. He should go to Iraq and join up with those ill-equiped men over there.

[Spiff]

We still have the PRINCIPLE of free speech in our Republic, and so long as this guy is representing himself and his own views, I'm not in favor of anyone "doing something" about it.

There's free speech and expressing ones private views and then there is sedition. De Genova clearly crossed the line. We allow this cancer to exist within us at our own peril.

[Mr. Mojo]

No one is denying the idiot his first amendment rights. He has the right spout any political opinion he wants, regardless of how insane. But Columbia alums can withhold their donations if they think the University isn't taking the appropriate action (firing the SOB). This, and the pressure brought to bear by us regular folks who want to see his traitorous ass ousted, is entirely appropriate. No one is suggesting that any government action be taken. I think you completely misunderstand the concept of first amendment rights.

[vrwcregistered]

Free speech does NOT imply freedom from ANY consequences from exercising it. Think of it as "there is no LAW against speaking out."

It is kind of sad that so many of us don't really understand what free speech means.

Your rights STOP where my nose STARTS.

[Diva Betsy Ross]

You state that she said "he does not discriminate against those few who support our war effort."

Both the young woman on Hannity and Combs and yourself appear to be a bit naive here. The statement should be "he does not APPEAR to disciminate ..." Anyone who can make statments as full of hate and confusion as he has must have some bias in his thought processes.

I don't think the University should fire him, however, lets ask ourselves some honest questions: (These are definitely not my statements or opinions, but examples of similar nonsensical vitriol) If he said "Kill all the Blacks" there would be outrage and he would be censured. If he said "Rape all the women" there would be pandemonium. The only reason he still has a job is because he attacked a safe target for the liberals and liberal establishments - white males or the military. He only said in effect "Kill all the military".

The university needs to be consistent in its policies. If they have ever censured or acted against a professor for any statement regarding any of these "protected groups" - gays, minorities, women, etc, then they should act against this professor in the same way. His statement is heinous even in peacetime - the problem is if it were peacetime it would never even have been reported.

If an organization acts in a way that is hypersensitive to "hate speach" regarding some groups then it needs to enforce those rules of behaviour concerning all groups.

By the way - he is an associate professor. We just need to keep the pressure on so he will not get tenure. But he will be replaced with a similar thinking person.

[bdeaner]

We still have the PRINCIPLE of free speech in our Republic, and so long as this guy is representing himself and his own views, I'm not in favor of anyone "doing something" about it.

I agree with you, Illbay. 100% and without a doubt, this guy has every right to voice his opinion, no matter how twisted and insane it might be.

On the other hand, I hope this situation does motivate the public to do something about our higher education system. We need to use our financial power as doners and tax-payers to get these institutions to create more balanced views in higher education. For now, there is no doubt that institutions of higher learning are a breeding ground for leftist radicals. This will not end until the public steps up the pressure on these institutions to make policy changes.

I'm a psychologist, and I recently read a survey on the political opinions of psychologists in higher education. Over 95% of them are democrats! And these are the same folks going around preaching diversity. In actuality, diversity only applies to populations and perspectives that suit them. The same kind of numbers, I'm sure, can be found across departments in institutions of higher education -- the difference being only a matter of degree. Some departments are more radically left than others, but they all lean heavily to the left.

The only way this will change is if higher education feels the impact where it hurts -- in the wallet.

[Movemout]

We still have the PRINCIPLE of free speech in our Republic, and so long as this guy is representing himself and his own views, I'm not in favor of anyone "doing something" about it.

I think that Jeff Head has the same right. There are many well paid positions of responsibility in and out of government. In the private sector, if I had a VP who taught community college at night and advocated sacrifice of chickens to promote a voodoo agenda I would fire his butt. I would do this because his actions reflect on my enterprise. This prof's public comments reflect on the enterprise known as Columbia University. If his top priorities include advocating beliefs that are detrimental to national policy then I say fine, he has that right. Let him do it without the financial backing of a "private" university partially subsidized by my tax dollars and the generous donations of alumni who do not agree that our forces in the field should be subjected to many "Mogadishus.".