Controversial speakers come to Boulder
Joe Nguyen, staff writer
March 3, 2006

BOULDER – Michelle Malkin and Dinesh D’Souza spoke in front of a packed audience at an event held by the College Republicans at the University of Colorado Wednesday night.

Photo by Joe Nguyen Michelle Malkin stands at the podium during the "War on Terror" at the University of Colorado.

The event, called “The War on Terror,” took place inside a classroom in the mathematics building. The walls were decorated with flags, patriotically-colored balloons and signs that said “Vote Republican.”

D’Souza began his speech with a joke, something he would do often throughout the presentation.

“Boy this is kind have a narrow podium,” he said. “I’m relieved I remembered to wear pants.”Through his speech, D’Souza said fundamentalism is a useless term to use for the Muslim world. He compares it to fundamentalism inside of Christianity.

“That’s like saying in Christianity, a fundamentalist is someone who believes the bible is the unadulterated, literal word of God,” he said. “But if you use that definition, then every living Muslim is a fundamentalist.”

He said the invasion of Iraq was wrong in retrospect, but the real questions are what is America doing there and is it worth the effort? Iraq was an effort to removing Saddam Hussein and creating democracy.

“Tyrants rarely relinquish power voluntarily,” he said.

He said the only way the United States is allied with 80 percent of the Iraqi population and the only way they can lose the war was to lose it in the American mind.

Photo by Joe Nguyen Dinesh D'Souza and Michelle Malkin answer audience questions at the University of Colorado.

Malkin said President Bush’s definition of those who endorse the strict enforcement of the United States’ immigration laws is a vigilante.

“I’d guess I’ll take this opportunity to make a public declaration," she said, "that by those definitions, I am a vigilante, I am a bigot.”She pledged her allegiance to the United States and renounced “any foreign principle, state or sovereignty.”

She said ethnic advocacy groups were not among those whose patriotism rose after the Sept. 11 attacks.

“Hyphenated leaders who favor lax immigration policies characterized attempts to protect our borders from all enemies, foreign and domestic, as an unnecessary backlash,” she said.

She said open border advocates say the United States is a nation of immigrants, but in response she said it is first a nation of laws.

During the Q&A session, Malkin said that Muslim student groups across the country should be monitored carefully. A Muslim student in the audience asked her to clarify herself.

“Here I’m a college student, about to graduate in Civil Engineering, and you’re telling me that all these people should carefully examine me because of my belief?” Mohammad Said, the secretary for the Muslim Students’ Association on campus, said. “Do you think that is fair and just? Is it just the fact that you’re a Muslim you should be put under the scope?”

At 9 p.m., the two speakers gave their closing statements. D’Souza said that students, both liberal and conservative should demand more forums for these discussions.

“Demand that there be more open debate, more intellectual diversity, more real consideration of these tough issues,” he said. “That’s not for Michelle’s sake or mine; it’s ultimately for your sake.”

Joe Nguyen is a staff writer for asiaXpress.com. You can reach Joe at joe@asiaxpress.com.