<p>Unfortunately, western and educational thinking gives license to the system to listen to these people and invite them, since we think as a “civilized” people would - wanting to learn and discuss and perhaps work with him. However, those who have lived beneath the oppression of tyrants and religious zealots (or had family members who did) know that those people do not see this in the same manner as we do, and use opportunities such as this for propaganda. I can just hear the talk now - even H invited me, so I and my theories can’t be so bad, or they wouldn’t have invited me. And they hate the govt. so much that is invading us, that they invited me. They want to show their disapproval of what their govt. is saying adn doing. It is difficult for a civilized people to think like some of the terrorists, but think that way we must. We must think of what the ramifications to such actions can be. The propaganda is possible because in other countries such a situation would not be allowed - Cheney would never be invited to speak to U of Iran, because that is deemed an honor there. Therefore, in their eyes, he is being HONORED, not brought to discuss. There is little discussion there, somthing we need to understand before we take such actions. I think back to Vietnam and Jane Fonda. She has apologized in recent years because she finally saw how her actions were used and manipulated. I did not quibble with her right to believe what she wanted, or to protest, but to allow herself to be used as propaganda and put our boys in POW camps in jeopardy was unconscionable. That is what I object to here. Having parents who escaped the east block, and having relatives who stayed behind, I have seen what can be twisted into propaganda. This will do nothing more than add to his prestige. Do you really think that the people in Iran will ever see any part of the debate where he might look weak, etc.? It will be edited and make him a “great” man who even “lectured” at H. It would be the equivalent of allowing Goehring to come to H during WWII, and having him go back to Germany and say whatever he wanted about how the great American U wanted his input.</p>
<p>ejr1 – very thoughtful post.</p>
<p>Celloguy, thank you for answering my question. I skimmed the OP since I thought it was the same article I had just read in the Boston Globe.</p>
<p>Marite, this seems to me to be a little bit like the DNC convention a couple of years ago. Boston residents and businesses were assured that the increased revenue from tourists and attendees were compensate for the associated costs. If I recall correctly, that wasn’t the case – the convention was a net economic loss.</p>
<p>Well - it certainly does look like the CITY of Boston and Cambridge will be footing this bill - not state funds…Mayor Menino is an agreeable kinda chap isn’t he - the State Dept must have asked nicely.</p>
<p>Jeepmom:</p>
<p>Yup. Two democratic strongholds that get to foot the bill while a GOP governor cum prospective presidential candidate gets to make hay.</p>
<p>^^^ good one Marite LOL</p>
<p>On that note, have a look at today’s Boston Globe editorial on this. I especially liked the line about political thinking vs. the real thing.</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/editorials/articles/2006/09/07/romneys_foreign_folly/[/url]”>http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/editorials/articles/2006/09/07/romneys_foreign_folly/</a></p>
<p>Quote:
I could also write a dissertion about United States participating (replace Israel with North Korea and Iran) in the same things… it’s easy to point fingers at other regimes. The US has been a state-sponsor of terrorism for a longer time and is partly responsible for the state of Iran today. I suggest you get off the self-righteous moral highground and learn something about history instead. </p>
<p>I saw this one coming, it never takes too long Likening the US as a state-sponsor of terrorism to the regimes calling to murder every Israeli citizen is no different from calling Israeli people fascist Zionists and using this as a moral ground for denying or defending Holocaust. The recipe is simple: replace (Israel with North Korea and Iran or else) and use the same argument, after all offence is the best defense. Want to know the real difference between the US and the terrorist states? In the US you can call the State or the goverment any name you want, return home, sleep in your own bed and live happily ever after. Try to do the same in North Korea or Iran Have you seen lately anyone celebrating and dancing on the street after painting their face with blood of freshly murdered people? This is what happens in the terrorist states. Why is this so difficult to understand that the propaganda is a weapon? Great post, ejr1, but it does take to escape the east block, to have relatives who stayed behind or to loose a loved one to appreciate what you have. Yet, some people never learn I am sure that the boys who were put into POW camps really appreciate Jane Fonda’s recent apologies, providing of course that they have survived </p>
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<p>So far, this is true, most of the time. I believe that is one of the freedoms we’re interested in protecting. Khatami was invited to speak at the UN and several universities, in the interest of free and open discussion in a troubled world. On this very board at least one poster has suggested (jokingly, I hope), that it would nice if someone shot him. The Gov. of Massachusetts has essentially said that Khatami is not worthy of police protection. With this attitude, how can we remain confident that U.S. dissidents will get to sleep in their own beds and live happily ever after.</p>
<p>I don’t think anyone has said that Khatami doesn’t have the right to visit the US, speak at the UN or visit universities. What the governor has said is that it is not the responsibility of the state of Massachusetts to use taxpayer dollars to provide SPECIAL protection to Khatami. He should, of course, be entitled to the same protection that any visitor to the state would receive. Personally, I don’t want any of my taxes spent providing police escorts worthy of a dignitary. Thankfully, I don’t live in Cambridge or Boston, so I think I’m safe.</p>
<p>sjmom, how do you read this?</p>
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<p>I read it as his personal opinion regarding the wisdom and sensitivity of inviting Khatami to speak, particularly on the day before the fifth anniversary of 9/11. I agree with him wholeheartedly. Just because I don’t like someone doesn’t mean I think he should be denied the basic rights of any visitor. It DOES mean that I’m not interested in offering special treatment. Is that so hard to understand?</p>
<p>sjmom, governors don’t have “personal” opinions when they speak as government officials. They represent their governments. Romney was quoted as saying it was a disgrace for Harvard to invite Khatami to speak, and backed it up by refusing security. That’s a government action and, to my mind, a clear infringement of basic free speech that we pride ourselves on.</p>
<p>celloguy,</p>
<p>Infringement on free speech, how so? Khatami is free to speak. It is just that the government won’t be paying to provide security. It is similar to art. If the government does not provide funding to the arts that does not mean that the artist is prohibited from producing their art.</p>
<p>A right is one thing, government support for that right is quite another.</p>
<p>For me, I say let him speak. I just don’t want to pay for it with my taxes. I have enough things to pay for with my taxes . . . i.e. fixing a tunnel to get to Logan airport.</p>
<p>OOO COME now EAGLE - you ARE asking for ALOT!!! LOL - but sadly you are right - we MASSites are gonna be paying for that hole under the harbor and in the ground for generations to come 
- whether we ever drive thru it or not.</p>
<p>From sjmom’s post #71:
From the Boston Globe editorial:
</p>
<p>Yeah, now we can blame the Iranians for 9/11, too. Hello! Anyone actually check where the 9/11 hijackers came from, who trained them to fly planes, and what brand of Islam they preached?</p>
<p>Anyhow - the police aren’t out there for the purpose of protecting Khatami - they could easily done by a couple of private Pinkertons.</p>
<p>Marite, I didn’t realize that. I do think, though, that his record regarding imprisoning students is still worth noting. Mini, I don’t know anyone who blames Iran for 9/11. To invite a controversial figure this weekend still seems tacky to me.</p>
<p>Agree on the jailing of students. But given his expression of sympathy in 2001, I think it is a good idea to invite him this weekend. He can reiterate that expression of sympathy.</p>
<p>“Mini, I don’t know anyone who blames Iran for 9/11.”</p>
<p>Wait, it’s coming. The last try, Iran without the “n”, add a “q”, didn’t stick real long, and it’s about time to get the goods on that “axis of evil”.</p>
<p>Reading this thread, it is clear to me that few here have any real sense of who Khatami was within the political life and culture of Iran. </p>
<p>The current leader is scary…Khatami was merely incompetent, if not hopelessly irrelevant.</p>