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While attending an overnight space-related meeting in early 1998, I happened to come across a newspaper editorial concerning an interview that the recently elected president of Iran, Mohammad Khatami, had given to CNN. In his interview President Khatami expressed his wish for a 鈥渄ialogue among civilizations鈥� between the U.S. and Iran, and for this to include 鈥渆xchange visits of scholars鈥� between the two countries.

I had been a Midshipman in my senior year at the U.S. Naval Academy during the time of the hostage crisis in Iran in 1979, and our class considered it within the realm of possibility that we might graduate from the institution early and be sent over there to fight. Ever since that time I had held the mental view of Iran that probably most Americans held: blindfolded American hostages, Iranian crowds chanting 鈥淒eath to the Great Satan!鈥� and so on.

I was intrigued, however, by President Khatami鈥檚 statements. Whether or not I might be considered a 鈥渟cholar鈥� is perhaps debatable, but early 1998 was less than one year after the appearance of the comet that bears my name, which the people of Iran undoubtedly saw just like everyone else around the world. With the knowledge that a total solar eclipse would be crossing Iran a year and a half in the future, it occurred to me that perhaps I was in a good position to lead a delegation of American scholars and students on such a visit to that country.

With the collaboration of the D.C.-based organization Search for Common Ground, I was able to do precisely that. For two weeks in August 1999 our group traveled throughout Iran speaking at universities and other venues, and interacting with the Iranian people on a person-to-person basis. Our visit was widely publicized there and was so well received that I was invited to bring another delegation to Iran a year later to participate in a global astronomy conference in Esfahan.

I consider my two visits to Iran a quarter-century ago to be among the highlights of my life. The Iranian people were incredibly friendly and welcoming to us, and everywhere we went I had Iranians coming up to me and telling me how happy they were to see Americans in their country again. To this day I continue to retain friendships with some of the people I met during those visits.

There were good people on both sides who worked tirelessly to open the door between our two countries. It is most unfortunate, and infuriating, that subsequent political leadership in both countries acted to close that door. And with the war that our nation鈥檚 government has recently started against Iran, which among many other things includes the killing of all those school children in southern Iran, that door would now seem to be slammed shut harder than ever.

Regardless of what goes on between our respective governments, the people of Iran are not, and never have been, our enemies. They are just like us, with the same dreams, the same joys, the same heartbreaks, the same ups and downs of daily life. I have grandchildren the same age as those who were killed in that school, and my two sons are the same age as the parents grieving over the deaths of those children.

As I write these words, the war continues on, and there is a very real possibility that American ground forces will become involved. So, more American blood will be spilled. And more innocent Iranian blood as well. And for what? And just what kind of legacy are we leaving? I can only grieve for all those lives 鈥� on both sides 鈥� who have been and will be lost, and for the betrayal of the hopes I felt when I visited that beautiful and ancient land all those years ago.

Alan Hale is best known for being co-discoverer of Comet Hale-Bopp which was viewed around the world in 1997. He continues to be actively involved in various worldwide astronomical research and educational efforts. He was raised in New Mexico and has resided in Cloudcroft for over 30 years.