Courage to change course
* His courage to change the course of current Iranian policy towards
the west.
<Abbas_Saffari-Fard@biogen.com>
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Right time, right guy
* He is what Iran needed at this time.
Akbar Farahani
<afarahan@eta.com>
(Back to top)
Vision, optimism, and hope
* Since his election by a massive, popular vote, the "Philosopher-president"
by far more than any one else in recent years/history of the country has
positively infuluenced the landscape of Iranian politics and society. He
brought vision, optimism, and hope to the people of Iran, and in part demonstrated
the hidden depth of the Iranian-Islamic culture/civilization to the rest
of the world. Khatami has made the long dream and struggle of the people
for the rule of law and for democracy in Iran eventually a genuine *POSSIBILITY*
.
Alireza Rahbar-Shamskar
<arahbar@ccs.carleton.ca>
(Back to top)
Brought hope
* When you want to vote for the Iranian of the Year, you have to look
at this individual achievements in the past year. Although there are many
great Iranians with great accomplishments, none of them accomplished as
much as Mr. Mohamad Khatami. He went against the odds. The ulama in Qom
had collectively endorsed Nateq-Nuri: the Islamic Republic propaganda machine
was against him, thugs would break-up his speeches and beat his supporters.
In Mashhad, he had to escape during one of his speeches because the Ansar
Hezbollah attacked the mosque where the rally was held. Yet he came out
a victor. Some might argue that he still has not accomplished half as much
as he wanted during his short presidency. But you have to look at what
he has accomplished. He has turned to the people of the world and has asked
for peace. There are many student groups forming today in Iran who are
questioning their state of freedom. The media has become much more relaxed
and more permits are being issued for new, more liberal magazines, but
most important of all, he has brought hope to Iran. He has now allowed
and made an example of questioning the previously questionable regime.
You can't expect the situation in Iran to change overnight. But you can
applaud the individuals who are rolling the ball in the direction of change.
I applaud Mr. Khatami for all his accomplishments this year, I applaud
him for his vision, and I wish him the best of luck to turn his vision
into a reality.
Amir Ali Fassihi
University of California, San Francisco,
School of Medicine
<afassih@itsa.ucsf.edu>
(Back to top)
Respects peoples' rights
* He respects peoples' rights which is part of the duties of the governer
in Islam.
Amir Kiumarsi
<amir.kiumarsi@stonebow.otago.ac.nz>
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Brought honor and dignity
* He brought degnity and honor for the Iranian nation through out the
world.
Amir Kompany
<akompany@lynx.dac.neu.edu>
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Looking forward, not West
* He sees, that Islam has to look foward, not west.
A. Seyrek
<ASeyrek@t-online.de>
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Not all terrorists
* He has given some respect back to the Iranians and made the world
realize that we are not all terrorists!
Bobby
<Cbar@idirect.com>
(Back to top)
Opened doors
* He has made the world think that Iran is not as wild as the U.S. makes
it out to be and in fact has opened many doors to the West. His interview
with CNN was particularly brilliant.
Cameron Douraghy
<Cameron_Douraghy_AT_GE-KRONBERG-PO3%CCMAIL-BO@gillette.com>
(Back to top)
Opening up
* He put the starting point of opening Iran up... to the outside world.
Ebrahim Soujeri
<ESOUJERI@eenet.ee.emu.edu.tr>
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Civility & friendship
* Because of his courageous efforts to bring civil order in Iran, and
to promote peace and friendship among all nations of the world.
<Ed_Sadeghi@3com.com>
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Treading new ground
* For attempting to tread new ground in Iran.
<en14@cornell.edu>
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Open-minded
* Open-mindedness and willingness to once again implement the law and
order in Iran and open up the gates to the International community.
Fariborz Zarfeshan
<mfafxz@mail.gwumc.edu>
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A symbol
* He is the symbol of the Iranian people's desire for change.
<Farr.Farhan@Sciatl.COM>
(Back to top)
Appears genuine
* He appears to be genuinely working for the people of Iran.
Hamid Musavi
<musavih@ttc.com>
(Back to top)
Daring
* He's daring!
<Hamrahi@aol.com>
(Back to top)
More respect
* Because he brought more respect for Iran and Iranians during the past
year than any other person during the past 20 years.
Shahram Hamzai
<hamzai@att.com>
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Compassion toward Americans
* Because of his excellently skilled and widely broadcast presentation
demonstrating knowledge and a compassionate attitude toward Americans.
Hugh Mitchell
<hmitchell@startext.net>
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Tries hard for freedom
* Because he tries hard for freedom.... and most Iranians love him.
<kamalim@pearl.sums.ac.ir>
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Embodies courage, intellect
* His enlightened perspective on politics has given millions of Iranians
(inside and outside) hope; because he's willing to constructively challenge
the opposition (internal and external) has elevated the debate; and finally
because he embodies courage and intellect, and not fear and ignorance.
Feerouz Jafari
<JafariF@ci.denver.co.us>
(Back to top)
Not my real choice
* He has brought some minor changes to the nation. Although, no serious
policy changes has occured yet since stupid radicals are still in power
(Majlis). However, we do not have many choices left in selecting a politician.
My real choice would not be a mulla since politics should never be mixed
with religion.
Kam Dianatkhah
<kamd@m.al8.com>
(Back to top)
Whispered hope
* He whispered new hopes for all.
Kas Ebrahimi
<kas@netscape.com>
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Fresh air
* Fresh breath a of air in such a non-democratic environment.
Kavon Shamloo
<76532.1155@compuserve.com>
(Back to top)
Moderate, open-minded
* Because his moderate approach to Iran's internal affairs and his open-minded
approach to Iran's foreign affairs have brought more positive attention
to Iran that anyone else could do over the past 19 years or so.
Abbas Lotfi
<LotfiA@nasd.com>
(Back to top)
Last hope
* He is the first person in the regime who talks about freedom and respecting
the law. It should be understood that any challenge for a better life,
freedom, and human rights has to take shape in Iran, and not from abroad.
There are no real political parties or movements in Iran. Therefore, the
last and only hope is someone from inside of the regime. Khatami has started
making changes. It is just the beginning. He may be the last hope! There
is no dobt that only he can be the Iranian of the Year.
M.H.Ghaemi
<ghaemi@pg.gda.pl>
(Back to top)
Positive process
* He has started a process that promises to affect many ordinary Iranians
in a positive way.
Mansour Alipour-fard
<alipourf@spot.Colorado.EDU>
(Back to top)
Great impact
* He can have great impact on the future of our country.
Mansour Keshmirian
<mansour@hynet.com>
(Back to top)
Said the unthinkable
* Dared to break ancient molds one after the other, and say the unthinkable.
Masoud Loghmani
<masoudl@earthlink.net>
(Back to top)
Brought freedom
* He is the reason for all the freedom that has been given to the people
of Iran.
Hossein Mehdipour
<Mehdipour@NRDEP.nr.state.ky.us>
(Back to top)
Changed world's perception
* Changing the world's perception of Iran and Iranians and giving new
hope to all Iranians world wide.
Mehrdad Tabrizi
<Mehrdad_Tabrizi@mentorg.com>
(Back to top)
Realistic on U.S.
* For his realistic and factual views on the relations between Iran
and the U.S., and for bravely trying to open a door that has been shut
for the past 19 years.
<mhdehgha@srp.gov>
(Back to top)
What is right
* The only Iranian politician in Iran with real courage to stand for
what is right.
Mike Zibaie
<zibaie@us.ibm.com>
(Back to top)
Turning point
* He made a turning point in Iran's political issues.
Mohammad Hadi Khabbaz
<khabbaz@civeng.unsw.EDU.AU>
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The majority
* For the novel way he has represented the Iranian majority.
<Mzkoohian@aol.com>
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Intelligent image
* Portrayed a positive and intelligent image of Iran and Iranians among
the Western world, especially the Americans.
Babak Nabili
<Babak.Nabili@COMPAQ.com>
(Back to top)
Very special
* His flawless speech [during the CNN interview on Jan 7, 1998] brought
back the dignity the Iranians deserve. After careful examination, U.S.
officials recognized that they can not criticize any part of it. It takes
a very special character to do what President Khatami has done.
Navid A. Seyedali
<navsho@email.msn.com>
(Back to top)
He's the one
* Living in the U.S., I only get indirect feedback on him. But from
what I have seen so far and read by him and of him, I think he is the one.
At the least, he represents a new tide, a new attitude and thinking in
Iran.
Omid Madani
<madani@cs.washington.edu>
(Back to top)
Proved change possible
* He proved that it is possible to strive for change, no matter how
repressive the political atmosphere is and his open mind for more human
freedom and his goals for making Iran a more pleasant place to live.
<parisa.salimi@rss.rockwell.com>
(Back to top)
New face
* Because of the admiration and respect of Iranians and other nations,
for his thoughts, principles, and actions, in presenting a new face of
Iran to the world.
Payman Arabshahi
<payman@fermi.jpl.nasa.gov>
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Knows how to play the game
* Like a good statesman he has vision and like a good politician he
knows how to play the game. He has managed to bring about the thawing of
icy relations between U.S. and Iran. He will manage to maintain the dignity
and integrity of Iran's sovereignty. I think he will seriously have an
impact on Iran's internal political reality and effect relations between
Iran and U.S.
Persis Karim
<persis@mail.utexas.edu>
Can change for better
* He is the person who can change Iran for the better.
Reza Nalbandi
<rezamehr@hotmail.com>
(Back to top)
Many years from now
* Many years from now, we will remember President Khatami as one of
the major reasons behind the creation of a truly democratic and internationally
respected Iranian nation.
Reza Nassib
<Reza_Nassib@ccm.co.intel.com>
(Back to top)
Force of hope
* The single most important force behind the hope that someday, Iran
will be a nation of laws and a land of democracy.
Reza Shadmehr
<reza@bme.jhu.edu>
(Back to top)
Well-mannered
* For showing that some Iranian politicians are educated and well-mannered,
to the rest of the world, through his CNN intrterview.
Reza Shafii
<m1h1@ugrad.cs.ubc.ca>
(Back to top)
Better future
* For giving Iranian hope for a better future.
Majid Safavi
<safavi@lucent.com>
(Back to top)
Human, finally
* After 20 years, he has brought real hope to Iranians. I was in Iran
in January and I could see some changes he has already made. There was
more freedom for women and more respect for people in general. It seems
like there is finally someone with a human heart running the country.
Saghar Barzmehri
<sbarzmehri@hotmail.com>
(Back to top)
Made me proud
* Becasue after his speech on CNN, for the first time I felt proud of
being from Iran. He has a lot more knowledge about politics, history and
culture than other leaders in Iran.
<SEP07@aol.com>
(Back to top)
A democrat
* He represents the hopes and aspirations of all Iranians for a more
tolerant and free society. I believe President Khatami is a democrat and
will do all he can to steer Iran in that direction. His presence has made
Iran the talk of the town.
Shahram Mostarshed
<smostars@corp.cirrus.com>
(Back to top)
From what I saw
* Having spent 10 weeks in Iran this past summer, I feel that the Iranian
of the Year is President Mohammad Khatami.
Shahram Vakilian
<grd280@business.utah.edu>
(Back to top)
Wise enough
* He is wise enough to lead a country like Iran in this situation.
Bita Naraghi
<bita-vahid-donna@worldnet.att.net>
(Back to top)
Reduced tensions
* More than anyone else, he presented a civilized and mature image of
Iran and Iranians last year and greatly reduced the tension that existed
for decades between Iran and the rest of the world.
Vahid Naraghi
<vahid.naraghi@netvantage.com>
(Back to top)
Impact on political landscape
* For his impact on the political landscape of the region and the world,
and the role of democracy in Iran.
<yavar@pacbell.net>
(Back to top)
At long last...
* At long last we have a Head of State who can both articulate and communicate
the real wishes and perspectives of the majority of Iranians, both internally
and to the rest of the world. He has been able to gather overwhelming popular
support, destroying the image of Iranians as fanatics. This image has been
used by all of Iran's enemies to justify hostile actions from sanctions
to invasion. He has the courage to tackle the power of the hardliners and
the skill to do so without isolating himself. His intelligence and erudition
have created a very favourable impression abroad and paved the way for
renewal of U.S.-Iranian ties on a footing favorable to Iran.
Zahir Antia
<zantia@sprint.ca>
(Back to top)
Good communicator
* He gave hope to people in Iran and provided respect for Iran in the
International community. He is also doing his best and trying very hard
to establish the rule of law, something Iran needs more than anything else.
He is a good communicator with self confidence and has a very good grasp
of political reality in the world.
Zia Hosseinipour
<ZiaHosseinipour@ij.net>
(Back to top)
Related links
* Khatami's interview
with CNN(Jan. 7, 1998)
* Surveys
* Bookstore
* Cover stories
* Who's
who
Copyright © 1997 Abadan Publishing Co. All Rights
Reserved. May not be duplicated or distributed in any form.
