Ahmadinejad at Columbia
(Published 10-31-09)

Dear Editor: Regarding your editorial in the 09/30/07 issue about the invitation of the president of Iran to speak at Columbia University titled, “An awkward invitation”:

Assuredly, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is an unsavory character and ridiculous in his opinions. He may cause much damage in the world. He should, though, be allowed to speak in an open forum in America. (The president of Columbia was hypocritical by inviting Ahmadinejad and then castigating him.)

There is a question, however, that Ahmadinejad asked at his conference (and has been asking in various contexts) to which no one in the West has offered a reply. The media has ignored the question. He said that if the Holocaust happened (and of course it did), it happened in Europe (also true of course)-----and then why should the Palestinians be punished for it?

I would like to read a reply to Ahmadinejad. He has asked a question that deserves an explication for the sake of attempting to straighten out the horrific and relentless contretemps in the Middle East. I wish the Journal would respond from its own resources, or invite a scholar to write an article to resolve the issue.

Sincerely,

T.R. Catanzarite, M.S.W.