It may have been stupid for the them to have done so, but there's no harm in it. If you, personally, are opposed to the idea, ask yourself why it's harmful. Do you think his audience can't think for themselves? Do you think he speaks the truth, but you don't want to hear it? Clearly they can think for themselves, and I seriously doubt you believe him. Anyone who buys his line was already thinking along those lines. To most of us, though, he's only managed to further marginalize himself.
If we were to prevent him speaking, many people would think we are afraid of what he has to say. If we are afraid of his words, they will think, there must be some truth to them. Our actions would speak louder than his words.
Benjamin Franklin said, at the opening of a hall in Philadelphia "if the Mufti of Constantinople were to send a missionary to preach Mohammedism to us, he would find a pulpit at his service." Historians have debated the specifics of Franklin's religion, but he was clearly a Christian and did not advocate Islam.
If we listen to those we disagree with, we will always learn something. We may find some truth in their words, we may find the weaknesses in their arguments. Whatever happens, we grow stronger in the truth. Only if they have something of value to say will it benefit them. Let us not forget to speak our own thoughts, but let us pause from time to time and allow others to speak.
Now that more people know that Ahmadinejad speaks foolishness, they may pay more attention to what his opponents have to say. Ands that is one of the few things I have in common with President Bush, we both oppose the Iranian government. Of course, I have vastly different ideas on what should be done about that.
