Comments about "ASSU urges Rumsfeld to address campus"
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7 Comments on this article:
I agree completely with Senator Goldman. Students should have the opportunity to hear from Mr. Rumsfeld. He has had a long and distinguished career in government and a forum where he (or others) can discuss his successes as well as his mistakes in government would be educational. Opportunities to learn from prominent individuals with a strong background in government is what makes universities such as Stanford special.
I agree completely with Senator Goldman. Students should have the opportunity to hear from Mr. Rumsfeld. He has had a long and distinguished career in government and a forum where he (or others) can discuss his successes as well as his mistakes in government would be educational. Opportunities to learn from prominent individuals with a strong background in government are what makes universities such as Stanford special.
I think Senator Golabek-Goldman is one of the most inspirational senators Stanford has had in a long time. Her ability to listen to both sides of an issue, and come up with creative solutions and great compromises serves as an example to the rest of the student body.
Why on earth would D.R. speak at such an event? Knowing us it would devolve into a public lynching of a former US cabinet member (replete with 9/11 truth acid flashbackers, Roosevelt Institution sophists and a sprinkling of LaRouchites / Paultards). Like him or not, he deserves a forum that is capable of having a civil discourse. Given our history of futile and inflammatory protests -- such as barring a sitting president from visiting a part of the campus -- ours is not a community that is mature enough to hear an alternative view.
What I don't understand is why there's no one standing at the front door of the Hoover institute, greeting Mr. Rumsfeld when he comes to work in the morning with a little piece of the collective mind against him? Allowing this man to concentrate on his work while he's at the Hoover institute is not only a disgrace to Stanford, it also makes the world a more dangerous place. In the six-odd years he was Secretary of Defense, I never saw any action he took that did not harm our nation and the world.
There are individuals (even in government) who deserve a bit of civil discourse. Donald Rumsfeld is not one of them. This is a man who authorized torture. Need to read that again? A torturer, by command if not directly. I feel no need whatsoever to be civil towards him or to welcome him to my campus. My opinion of the Hoover Institution is diminished by their decision to make such an individual a fellow.
Inspired,
Thank you so much for the compliment. I wish I could take credit, but it was another student who came up with the idea of the event and encouraged me to delve deeper into this issue. Although he is not a senator, he is incredibly passionate about serving the student body and thought that an open forum would be appealing to everyone.
Take care,
Sarah

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