Mohammad Khatami, the former president of the Islamic Republic of Iran, spoke on “the ethics of tolerance in the age of violence.” Topics included the history of immigration to America, U.S. world domination, replacing violence with tolerance, the need for more spirituality, and the need to modernize traditions. He denounced imperialism, double standards in the war on Iraq, and violence perpetrated in the name of Islam. Following his address, he responded to questions from students and other audience members.

Translation into English was via a translator standing next to the speaker’s podium.

The event was a John F. Kennedy, Jr. Forum at the John F. Kennedy School of Goverment at the Harvard University Institute of Politics.