An excellent article about lofty ideas and their place in the real world (see below). Before that, however, here are some questions and reality-checks for those patting themselves on the back today and proclaiming yesterday's spectacle at Columbia University a victory for freedom of speech:

Who and what was this spectacle for?

* For the world, to show them the wonders of our democracy? Reality-check: Our friends in the world know it and our enemies couldn't care less about it.

* For the ignorant and uninformed, to show them that Iran's president is a liar and a genocidal maniac? Reality-check: Nice idea, except it assumes the ignorant and uninformed have the knowledge and information to recognize a lie when they hear one.

* For us, to prove to ourselves that we're an open-minded and enlightened society? Reality-check: this incessant need to prove who and how good we are, is a clear indication of our insecurity and lack of understanding about what we stand for. There's a big difference between being open-minded and being blissfully ignorant.

* For others, to showcase our willingness to listen and dialogue with even the most heinous of world rulers? Reality-check: Noble-sounding but myopic and self-centered. It ignores those who live under the repressive rule of this heinous individual, demoralizes and undermines their efforts to fight for the very freedoms we insist on showcasing, and shows freedom-fighters around the world that America is an unreliable ally that affords repressive rulers the same freedoms it affords those who fight for such freedoms.

High-minded and lofty ideals of freedom are wonderful, but of little value when implemented at the expense of those they're designed to protect.