Former Iranian President at Harvard

Mohammed Khatami, the former president of Iran, spoke at Harvard yesterday. His appearance generated a great deal of controversy among students, faculty, and the general public. Many people, including the Republican governor of Massachusetts, called Khatmi a terrorist and demanded that the speech be cancelled. Thankfully, officials at Harvard did not bow to public pressure and the principals of academic freedom were protected.

Khatami has generated controversy because of Iran’s ties to militant groups like Hezbollah and Hamas. Conservatives have criticized the Bush Administration for giving him a visa and some have even called for Khatami to be arrested upon his arrival to the United States. The right-wing seems to believe that allowing any forum for alternative viewpoints is tantamount to treason.

This is ludicrous. Young people need to hear unorthodox perspectives to contextualize the major foreign policy challenges faced by our country. Since September 11^th, the United States has become increasingly involved in the Middle East. Despite neoconservative fantasies, Iran is going to play a major role in the region. Khatami’s ideas might be reactionary, but they represent the beliefs of millions of people.

Inviting Khatami to speak does not equal the endorsement of those views. Allowing different perspective is an essential part of any academic institution. The free exchange of ideas is one of the most important components of an open society. Students should be exposed to a wide variety of opinions in order to understand the world in which we live.

After all, students have to understand the issues before they can make decisions about their own beliefs. Khatami’s views might be reprehensive, but allowing him to speak is actually helpful to the struggle against religious extremism. His speech has allowed a public response that defends secular and pluralistic values. Our vision of an open society is vastly superior to a theocratic state like Iran. Comparing the two side by side is an excellent way to show students the superiority of democracy.

Conservatives almost seem afraid of Khatami’s ideas. Frankly, the entire effort to silence Khatami has no place in a democratic society. Censorship is something done by authoritarian governments, not the United States. Perhaps conservatives are uncomfortable with Khatami’s ideas because the two philosophies have some striking similarities.

Students must have access to a variety of ideas to fully participate in critical discussions about the future of our nation. This does not only apply to young people. The general public needs to hear from people like Khatami in order to make informed decisions about politics and policy. Colleges and universities are uniquely structured to provide a civic space for dialogue. Khatami’s speech and the ensuing backlash is a great example of the discussion that can be generated by controversial speakers.

These dialogues are good for students and good for general public. Academic institutions are not only for the people attending and teaching classes. Millions of public dollars are pumped into universities and colleges—they should be tools of engagement for the democratic process. Khatami’s speech at Harvard is an affirmation of the importance of higher education in our society.