Harvard and Yale in a race to the bottom
Harvard and Yale, two of America’s elite universities, are in a race to the bottom. What is the goal of this race? Surely it has nothing to do with education. Perhaps it is a game to see who can insult the most Americans?
As my friend Todd said, “Always trying to out do Yale.” So true. Yale had its Taliban Man, Harvard has the former terrorist leader of Iran.
Harvard University could hardly solidify itself more in the September 10th camp could they?
Romney orders state agencies to boycott former Iranian presidentâ??s visit to Harvard
Governor Mitt Romney denounced Harvard University today for inviting former Iranian President Mohammed Khatami to speak at the school on Sept. 10 and ordered all state agencies to boycott the visit by refusing to provide state police escorts and other service typically given to former heads of state.
“State taxpayers should not be providing special treatment to an individual who supports violent jihad and the destruction of Israel,” Romney said in a written statement, calling Khatamiâ??s visit a “disgrace” on the eve of the fifth anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.
The governor said that the U.S. State Department listed Khatami as Iranâ??s number one state sponsor of terrorism, saying that he oversaw the torture and murder of dissidents who spoke out for freedom and democracy.
Khatami is scheduled to speak at Harvardâ??s John F. Kennedy School of Government at 4 p.m. on Sept. 10. Harvard did not immediately return several phone calls seeking comment.
I can hear the liberals around town now, saying Romney is simply playing politics, “he’s running for president you know”. Ah, yea, that’s true. Much of what Romney does these days in positioning himself for 2008 (hello Big Dig), but does that mean he is wrong to take the action he did? Only if you think its a good idea for Harvard to roll out the red carpet for the world’s most influencial sponsor of terrorism on the eve of September 11.
September 6th, 2006 at 8:59 am
Engaging Iranian leaders in civilized discussion rather than hostile threats seems like a step forward to me. Harvard should be commended for providing this forum.
September 6th, 2006 at 2:57 pm
While I agree with your basic thought John, don’t you think the timing (eve of 9-11) leaves something to be desired. I am all for open discussion. But come on, they couldn’t wait til the next week.
September 6th, 2006 at 3:31 pm
John & The Optimist,
Sure, civil discourse is great, if you are willing to put aside the fact that it matters who you are having a discourse with. Iran is the world’s largest sponsor of terrorism. They brutally supress basic human rights of their citizens. They fund and arm groups whose practice it is to murder innocent civilians, women and children, they bomb buses, sub shops and nightclubs. They are knee deep in funding and fueling the insurgency in Iraq. Their stated goal is to wipe Israel off the map. They repeatedly snub their noses at the international community, and on and on it goes.
I for one see no value in inviting their former president to speak at Harvard. What does it say about the lefties at Harvard that George Bush would receive a larger, more vocal protest than Kohmeni? Moral relativism is alive and well.
Kevin
September 6th, 2006 at 3:35 pm
This guy has jailed students, repressed religion, advocates for the destruction of Israel, sponsors terrorism, sponsors Hezbollah, etc., etc. and he’s giving a lecture on tolerance? Harvard has officially jumped the shark. This is the same university who uninvited Regan to speak at its 350th anniversary celebration because a few faculty member got their panties in a bind. Tolerance? Neither Harvard University nor Khatami should be lecturing anyone on tolerance. I wonder what Teddy thinks about this guy speaking at a school that bears his dead brothers name. Cue the crickets! What are the odds that his speaking fee will go to sponsor more global terrorism? I’d bet dollars to donuts with anyone on that. Disgraceful.
September 6th, 2006 at 4:34 pm
John,
How can you engage in a civilized discussion with someone who oversaw the torture and murder of his dissidents who spoke out for freedom and democracy? I bet the September 6th, 2006 edition of the Boston Globe left that out.
Harvard University Kennedy School of Government said:
“We can understand and often share his (Romney’s) disagreement with the positions of Khatami, the school nonetheless believes that active and open dialogue are a critical part of effective education and policy”
What is “effective” about the advocation of murder and torture to college students John? Don’t tell me, tell the 3040 plus family members of 9/11 who are having way too much space rented in their heads of the tragic loss of their loved ones five years ago. Are you even remembering that day? Do you need to see some footage of that day again?
It does not surprise me that Harvard University, AKA a “Kennedy run indoctrination camp”, would have this TERROIST come to their school. After all, all the bleeding heart liberals need to conjure up votes by sympathizing with the “misunderstood” radical extremists for the upcoming election.
GIVE ME A BREAK!!
September 6th, 2006 at 7:42 pm
All that one needs to know about Hah-vaad is that they will pay this terrorist to speak the week prior to the 5th anniversary of 9-11 in an effort to cultivate and advance civil “discourse,” “understanding,” and “tolerance” (and all that other multiculturist new age mumbo jumbo feel good nonsensical phraseolgy they have classes in their at Harvard)but opposed ROTC from coming on campus to recruit during war time puportedly b/c they “discriminated” against gays, bi-sexuals, and transvestites but has no trouble inviting and paying a known terrorist sponsor/supporter whose fellow religionists routinely maim and murder homosexuals. This is a perfect example of what happens once God is taken out of intsitutions of “higher learning” and replaced with this new age secular humanism-moral relativsm world veiw. Harvard by the way was founded as a Bible college based on the Judeo Christian teachings. Now, these so-called “professors” wouldn’t recognize truth if it bit them in thier bottom. This is what happens when moral relativism replaces moral absolutes. Truth becomes relative. And what might be right for you isn’t necessarily “right” for somebody else. And we shouldn’t pass judgement on anybody including this former president of Iran. But ROTC, we can pass judgement on them.
Gregg
September 6th, 2006 at 8:52 pm
“What is â??effectiveâ?ť about the advocation of murder and torture to college students John? Donâ??t tell me, tell the 3040 plus family members of 9/11 who are having way too much space rented in their heads of the tragic loss of their loved ones five years ago. Are you even remembering that day? Do you need to see some footage of that day again?”
I appreciate your response, Scia. Iran had nothing to do with 9/11 and neither did the fictional Al Qaeda. 9/11 was a CIA/Mossad operation undertaken with the full complicity of the Bush administration. This entire war on terror is false, and it was conceived well in advance of the 9/11 attacks.
I understand what the coming response will be and accept all insults. I stand 100% behind what I just wrote and guarantee this truth will become known.
September 7th, 2006 at 6:41 am
John,
You have to stop reading the New York Times. Your thought process is NOT shared,or has any LOGICAL and DOCUMENTED backing, by many and is narsasistic and arrogent at best.
Good luck.
September 7th, 2006 at 7:26 am
I can imagine one good reason for hosting Khatami in the U.S. — debriefing him (or his aides)for military intelligence on Iran’s nuclear sites and obtaining his help for the upcoming invasion. Somehow I doubt Harvard has the same goal.
September 7th, 2006 at 8:28 am
I am laughing at the “Harvard Elite”…will Khatami Lecture them about the Evils of ABORTION, GAY MARRIAGE, etc.. all FORBIDDEN by ISLAM or will he talk over their heads? I am forced to accept Gay Marriage, Abortion, ridicule of all other Religions…for the Elites in this State, yet they will Invite a man who represents a country that has its main Goal of Conversion to Allah of the West and the eradication of Israel…HARVARD ELITES HATE BUSH, WANT DIALOGUE, AND ARE BLINDED BY THEIR HATRED AND WILL BE “MADE FOOLS” BY THE TALK. WHEN THEY WAKE UP AND FIND “THEIR RIGHTS” TAKEN AWAY BY THE FOLLOWERS OF ISLAM I WILL laugh at them all..Ronald Reagan a President of the United States was dissed by them, as was Condoleeza Rice’s invite to BC..but they invite a Terrorist supporter…NAIVE IS THE ONLY WORD I CAN USE TO DESCRIBE THESE SO-CALLED “Brilliant” Harvard Leaders…who can’t see beyond HATRED and what they are Told by their “nutty Professors”…A NOTE TO THE BRILLIANTS…WHEN YOU CONVERT TO ISLAM..THE ONLY WAY OUT IS DEATH..IT IS NOT IGNORABLE..YOU MUST PRACTICE IT OR SUFFER THE CONSEQUENCES…and the Consequences are NOT PRETTY..think back to Danny Perl or Nick Berg..
September 9th, 2006 at 7:06 pm
Carla,
Great Points. John, you remember to let us know about the terrorist attacks that Bush orchestrated with “mosad” (aka them Jewish “neocons”). Were all the 9-11 Muslim Hijackers part of the conspiracy too or were they actually made up too? You seem to “know” this as if it were factual yet you can never seem to substantiate any of your claims. Typical conspiracy theorist. The most dangerous part about it John is that you deal in speculation. Nothing you assert is ever grounded in substantiated fact. That’s why people don’t take you seriously. But keep it up if you wish. It’s pretty good entertainment at this point. But it kind of seems like you could find more substantial things to do in life no?
September 11th, 2006 at 12:11 am
The case against khatami seems to break into 3 categories:
1. Support for “terrorists”: Guys please bear in mind that Khatami comes from a part of the world where Hezbollah are the heroes and Israelis are the repressive bad guys usurping land belonging to muslims. Still Khatami never called for Israel to be wiped off the map (although as khatami said at Harvard we need to remember thats exactly what happened to palestine 50 years ago). He actually endorsed a two state solution.
2. Closing of newspapers and Jailing of dissidents: In Iran the president has very little real power. The Judicial system is not under the control of the president but rather is controlled by unelected conservatives. The newspapers that got closed while he was president never even existed before his time and were published as a result of his liberal policies. The political freedom of post and pre khatami era in Iran are incompareable.
3. Development of Nuclear program: Guys a nuclear program is different from a nuclear “weapon” program. IAEA has been investigating Iran for 3 years and they have yet to discover a single shred of evidence that would point to a nuclear weapons prgram.
Please remember that Khatami was the president of Iran with an unprecedented majority of the vote for both his terms in the office. He might not have been very effective but he cannot be called an extremist by any stretch of imagination.
The surprising amount of opposition to his visit seems to be widely a result of misinformed propaganda and only goes to show why its necessary to try and listen to him.
September 11th, 2006 at 6:51 am
Foru,
Thanks for your thoughtful note, but I respectfully disagree. These Iranian dissidents, who were there, who were arrested and tortured by Khatami’s regime, would beg to differ with your assessment, so would the thousands of students he crushed when they tried to rise up against the regime.
http://pajamasmedia.com/2006/09/coming_soon.php
What you are saying is that the good things that ‘allegedly’ happened on his watch were because he was a moderate. The bad things that happened, the stifling of free speech, the arrests, the torture, that he had nothing to do with? Sorry.
There is no value in giving him a forum for his propaganda. A lesson in Ethics from a former Irianian president? Please. He will tell the audience what they want to hear, then he returns to Iran, the world’s largest exporter of terror. No point whatsoever.
Kevin
September 11th, 2006 at 7:23 pm
I watched the video Kevin. I am truly sorry for people who suffered in Iran while Khatami was president.
Khatami tried to reform the Islamic Republic from within the system, thats all he ever promised. The unelected conservative branches of the government did all they could to stop him e.g. cracking down on papers and students. I don’t know maybe it was a fool’s errand to begin with, but as it is conservatives hate him for trying to reform the system and reformers hate him for sticking with the system. But I think ultimately history will judge him as one of the good guys.
I think Romney’s statement sums up the case againt him pretty well, Hooman Majd addresses his points on HuffPo here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/hooman-majd/you-tell-em-gov_b_28806.html
I guess there isn’t much that is new here but if you agree with Romney that Iranian reformists need to be engaged in Iran you’ll have a hard job finding a better candidate than Khatami.
Peace