Ignorance is alive and well in Iran. Another government official, Gholam Hossein Elham, publicly claimed the Holocaust didn't happen. This is likely an attempt to garner right wing support in the upcoming elections. But it also indicates that Iran's political system favors David Duke-like candidates who run on hatred and anger.

The world should denounce this ugly statement but hopefully we can also retain some political perspective. This man's statements are more an expression of a broken political system than the will of the people.

Statements like this make it harder for Iran to join other nations in building regional stability, but we must be strong enough not to let these crazy men derail what will benefit us all.