<p>"It's the equivalent of Hitler coming back to life and coming to Boston," said Nick Giannone of Quincy, Massachusetts. "This guy's a straight-up fascist. I also find it pretty appalling that someone would pay $2,500 to sit in a room with a war criminal."</p>
<p>Contrast Cheney's reception to the gushing welcome being readied for the Iranian terrorist -in-chief at the JFK School - where the guy didn't have to pay to rent the room, and where he will no doubt enter through the front door!</p>
<p>Byerly, to be fair, every article written on Khatami's visit (be it in The Crimson, The Globe, etc.) has included the points of view of people at Harvard who don't want him there. Also, many people at Harvard/KSG disagree strongly with Khatami's views--and have openly expressed this--but still feel it's essential that a university allow for free discourse.</p>
<p>That "free discourse" mantra is a red herring, IMHO. </p>
<p>The decision to showcase such a character - on this weekend in particular - displays remarkable insensitivity.</p>
<p>I think it is a coincidence that Khatami is in the US on this particular weekend. Harvard really can't be blamed for the timing of it.</p>
<p>Yes they can.</p>
<p>cheney's deeds are a thousand times worse than khatami's.</p>
<p>in fact, as far as iranian leaders go, khatami was extremely progressive. he worked to enfranchise all iranians in the electoral process, and his political ideology of "dialogue among civilizations" is certainly more civilized than cheney's "flatten everyone who disagrees with us" policy.</p>