As you may have recently heard, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has put pen to paper and addressed the citizens of the United States personally. This letter was released yesterday to the United Nations and then subsequently to the U.S. media... which subsequently seemed to lose it.
You'd think that in this day and age, with tensions between the governments of The United States and Iran tightening on a minute-by-minute basis, modern media outlets would relish the idea of sharing a glimpse into the mind of the opposition with the citizens of the United States. Unfortunately, our media seems to have chosen to report snippets of the message rather than broadcasting it in its entirety. After a few minutes of digging (I can't believe that it actually took a few minutes of digging... Google "Paris Hilton's favorite cocktail" and I'll bet that it comes up on the front page) I was able to find the text on CNN.com, I will paste it below.
This isn't an effort on my part to defend the Iranian government... I want to make that clear. Iran isn't exactly known as a hot-bed of civil liberties and/or human rights. However, neither is the U.S. these days. I'm presenting this to you simply because it's relevant. With the unthinkable prospect of military action in Iran looming over our heads I feel that there is a sense of urgency in the air. This urgency demands that we ALL learn more about this nation, the people and their history. This urgency demands that we look for common ground and negotiate, bilaterally if we must. This urgency demands that we put down that copy of People Magazine and demand a peaceful resolution to our differences, lest we find ourselves in another, and considerably bloodier, Iraq.
I'll be direct with you, the prospect of war with Iran scares the hell out of me. I'm 27 years old, so draft or no draft I won't be fighting in the desert any time soon. I live in rural Eastern Kentucky, so nukes or no nukes I doubt I'll be ducking and covering either. However, another poorly-planned quagmire in the Middle East (atop our current two poorly-planned quagmires) will not only throw the entire region into chaos, but will certainly bring not only more terrorism to our streets but international scorn on a level that would make our Iraqi invasion look like D-Day.
One last thing, before I get on with the letter. Can anyone explain to me exactly why we're angry with Iran? Maybe that seems like a silly question, but maybe not. So many Americans are up in arms, yelling that we must "do something about Iran now, before they get the bomb!" But can anyone point to a specific reason that we're at odds with this country? I can't recall being threatened by Iran in any real capacity since Jimmy Carter was president... and in the years following that incident we even sold them weapons!
Just because our president stands up on national television and declares a country to be evil, with no hard data to back it up, doesn't make it so. If you don't believe me, then ask yourself this... if you could take it back, would you still have our brave men and women marching through Iraq right now? Keep that in your mind as you pick through those Thanksgiving leftovers, shop for Christmas gifts and relax in your warm, comfortable living room with your widescreen tv and recliner.
Let's not do this again... please.
(CNN) -- In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
O, Almighty God, bestow upon humanity the perfect human being promised to all by You, and make us among his followers.
Noble Americans,
Were we not faced with the activities of the US administration in this part of the world and the negative ramifications of those activities on the daily lives of our peoples, coupled with the many wars and calamities caused by the US administration as well as the tragic consequences of US interference in other countries;
Were the American people not God-fearing, truth-loving, and justice-seeking, while the US administration actively conceals the truth and impedes any objective portrayal of current realities;
And if we did not share a common responsibility to promote and protect freedom and human dignity and integrity;
Then, there would have been little urgency to have a dialogue with you.
While Divine providence has placed Iran and the United States geographically far apart, we should be cognizant that human values and our common human spirit, which proclaim the dignity and exalted worth of all human beings, have brought our two great nations of Iran and the United States closer together.
Both our nations are God-fearing, truth-loving and justice-seeking, and both seek dignity, respect and perfection.
Both greatly value and readily embrace the promotion of human ideals such as compassion, empathy, respect for the rights of human beings, securing justice and equity, and defending the innocent and the weak against oppressors and bullies.
We are all inclined towards the good, and towards extending a helping hand to one another, particularly to those in need.
We all deplore injustice, the trampling of peoples' rights and the intimidation and humiliation of human beings.
We all detest darkness, deceit, lies and distortion, and seek and admire salvation, enlightenment, sincerity and honesty.
The pure human essence of the two great nations of Iran and the United States testify to the veracity of these statements.
Noble Americans,
Our nation has always extended its hand of friendship to all other nations of the world.
Hundreds of thousands of my Iranian compatriots are living amongst you in friendship and peace, and are contributing positively to your society. Our people have been in contact with you over the past many years and have maintained these contacts despite the unnecessary restrictions of US authorities.
As mentioned, we have common concerns, face similar challenges, and are pained by the sufferings and afflictions in the world.
We, like you, are aggrieved by the ever-worsening pain and misery of the Palestinian people. Persistent aggressions by the Zionists are making life more and more difficult for the rightful owners of the land of Palestine. In broad day-light, in front of cameras and before the eyes of the world, they are bombarding innocent defenseless civilians, bulldozing houses, firing machine guns at students in the streets and alleys, and subjecting their families to endless grief.
No day goes by without a new crime.
Palestinian mothers, just like Iranian and American mothers, love their children, and are painfully bereaved by the imprisonment, wounding and murder of their children. What mother wouldn't?
For 60 years, the Zionist regime has driven millions of the inhabitants of Palestine out of their homes. Many of these refugees have died in the Diaspora and in refugee camps. Their children have spent their youth in these camps and are aging while still in the hope of returning to homeland.
You know well that the US administration has persistently provided blind and blanket support to the Zionist regime, has emboldened it to continue its crimes, and has prevented the UN Security Council from condemning it.
Who can deny such broken promises and grave injustices towards humanity by the US administration?
Governments are there to serve their own people. No people wants to side with or support any oppressors. But regrettably, the US administration disregards even its own public opinion and remains in the forefront of supporting the trampling of the rights of the Palestinian people.
Let's take a look at Iraq. Since the commencement of the US military presence in Iraq, hundreds of thousands of Iraqis have been killed, maimed or displaced. Terrorism in Iraq has grown exponentially. With the presence of the US military in Iraq, nothing has been done to rebuild the ruins, to restore the infrastructure or to alleviate poverty. The US Government used the pretext of the existence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, but later it became clear that that was just a lie and a deception.
Although Saddam was overthrown and people are happy about his departure, the pain and suffering of the Iraqi people has persisted and has even been aggravated.
In Iraq, about one hundred and fifty thousand American soldiers, separated from their families and loved ones, are operating under the command of the current US administration. A substantial number of them have been killed or wounded and their presence in Iraq has tarnished the image of the American people and government.
Their mothers and relatives have, on numerous occasions, displayed their discontent with the presence of their sons and daughters in a land thousands of miles away from US shores. American soldiers often wonder why they have been sent to Iraq.
I consider it extremely unlikely that you, the American people, consent to the billions of dollars of annual expenditure from your treasury for this military misadventure.
Noble Americans,
You have heard that the US administration is kidnapping its presumed opponents from across the globe and arbitrarily holding them without trial or any international supervision in horrendous prisons that it has established in various parts of the world. God knows who these detainees actually are, and what terrible fate awaits them.
You have certainly heard the sad stories of the Guantanamo and Abu-Ghraib prisons. The US administration attempts to justify them through its proclaimed "war on terror." But every one knows that such behavior, in fact, offends global public opinion, exacerbates resentment and thereby spreads terrorism, and tarnishes the US image and its credibility among nations.
The US administration's illegal and immoral behavior is not even confined to outside its borders. You are witnessing daily that under the pretext of "the war on terror," civil liberties in the United States are being increasingly curtailed. Even the privacy of individuals is fast losing its meaning. Judicial due process and fundamental rights are trampled upon. Private phones are tapped, suspects are arbitrarily arrested, sometimes beaten in the streets, or even shot to death.
I have no doubt that the American people do not approve of this behavior and indeed deplore it.
The US administration does not accept accountability before any organization, institution or council. The US administration has undermined the credibility of international organizations, particularly the United Nations and its Security Council. But, I do not intend to address all the challenges and calamities in this message.
The legitimacy, power and influence of a government do not emanate from its arsenals of tanks, fighter aircrafts, missiles or nuclear weapons. Legitimacy and influence reside in sound logic, quest for justice and compassion and empathy for all humanity. The global position of the United States is in all probability weakened because the administration has continued to resort to force, to conceal the truth, and to mislead the American people about its policies and practices.
Undoubtedly, the American people are not satisfied with this behavior and they showed their discontent in the recent elections. I hope that in the wake of the mid-term elections, the administration of President Bush will have heard and will heed the message of the American people.
My questions are the following:
Is there not a better approach to governance?
Is it not possible to put wealth and power in the service of peace, stability, prosperity and the happiness of all peoples through a commitment to justice and respect for the rights of all nations, instead of aggression and war?
We all condemn terrorism, because its victims are the innocent.
But, can terrorism be contained and eradicated through war, destruction and the killing of hundreds of thousands of innocents?
If that were possible, then why has the problem not been resolved?
The sad experience of invading Iraq is before us all.
What has blind support for the Zionists by the US administration brought for the American people? It is regrettable that for the US administration, the interests of these occupiers supersedes the interests of the American people and of the other nations of the world.
What have the Zionists done for the American people that the US administration considers itself obliged to blindly support these infamous aggressors? Is it not because they have imposed themselves on a substantial portion of the banking, financial, cultural and media sectors?
I recommend that in a demonstration of respect for the American people and for humanity, the right of Palestinians to live in their own homeland should be recognized so that millions of Palestinian refugees can return to their homes and the future of all of Palestine and its form of government be determined in a referendum. This will benefit everyone.
Now that Iraq has a Constitution and an independent Assembly and Government, would it not be more beneficial to bring the US officers and soldiers home, and to spend the astronomical US military expenditures in Iraq for the welfare and prosperity of the American people? As you know very well, many victims of Katrina continue to suffer, and countless Americans continue to live in poverty and homelessness.
I'd also like to say a word to the winners of the recent elections in the US:
The United States has had many administrations; some who have left a positive legacy, and others that are neither remembered fondly by the American people nor by other nations.
Now that you control an important branch of the US Government, you will also be held to account by the people and by history.
If the US Government meets the current domestic and external challenges with an approach based on truth and Justice, it can remedy some of the past afflictions and alleviate some of the global resentment and hatred of America. But if the approach remains the same, it would not be unexpected that the American people would similarly reject the new electoral winners, although the recent elections, rather than reflecting a victory, in reality point to the failure of the current administration's policies. These issues had been extensively dealt with in my letter to President Bush earlier this year.
To sum up:
It is possible to govern based on an approach that is distinctly different from one of coercion, force and injustice.
It is possible to sincerely serve and promote common human values, and honesty and compassion.
It is possible to provide welfare and prosperity without tension, threats, imposition or war.
It is possible to lead the world towards the aspired perfection by adhering to unity, monotheism, morality and spirituality and drawing upon the teachings of the Divine Prophets.
Then, the American people, who are God-fearing and followers of Divine religions, will overcome every difficulty.
What I stated represents some of my anxieties and concerns.
I am confident that you, the American people, will play an instrumental role in the establishment of justice and spirituality throughout the world. The promises of the Almighty and His prophets will certainly be realized, Justice and Truth will prevail and all nations will live a true life in a climate replete with love, compassion and fraternity.
The US governing establishment, the authorities and the powerful should not choose irreversible paths. As all prophets have taught us, injustice and transgression will eventually bring about decline and demise. Today, the path of return to faith and spirituality is open and unimpeded.
We should all heed the Divine Word of the Holy Qur'an:
"But those who repent, have faith and do good may receive Salvation. Your Lord, alone, creates and chooses as He will, and others have no part in His choice; Glorified is God and Exalted above any partners they ascribe to Him." (28:67-68)
I pray to the Almighty to bless the Iranian and American nations and indeed all nations of the world with dignity and success.
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
President of the Islamic Republic of Iran
29 November 2006
You'd think that in this day and age, with tensions between the governments of The United States and Iran tightening on a minute-by-minute basis, modern media outlets would relish the idea of sharing a glimpse into the mind of the opposition with the citizens of the United States. Unfortunately, our media seems to have chosen to report snippets of the message rather than broadcasting it in its entirety. After a few minutes of digging (I can't believe that it actually took a few minutes of digging... Google "Paris Hilton's favorite cocktail" and I'll bet that it comes up on the front page) I was able to find the text on CNN.com, I will paste it below.
This isn't an effort on my part to defend the Iranian government... I want to make that clear. Iran isn't exactly known as a hot-bed of civil liberties and/or human rights. However, neither is the U.S. these days. I'm presenting this to you simply because it's relevant. With the unthinkable prospect of military action in Iran looming over our heads I feel that there is a sense of urgency in the air. This urgency demands that we ALL learn more about this nation, the people and their history. This urgency demands that we look for common ground and negotiate, bilaterally if we must. This urgency demands that we put down that copy of People Magazine and demand a peaceful resolution to our differences, lest we find ourselves in another, and considerably bloodier, Iraq.I'll be direct with you, the prospect of war with Iran scares the hell out of me. I'm 27 years old, so draft or no draft I won't be fighting in the desert any time soon. I live in rural Eastern Kentucky, so nukes or no nukes I doubt I'll be ducking and covering either. However, another poorly-planned quagmire in the Middle East (atop our current two poorly-planned quagmires) will not only throw the entire region into chaos, but will certainly bring not only more terrorism to our streets but international scorn on a level that would make our Iraqi invasion look like D-Day.
One last thing, before I get on with the letter. Can anyone explain to me exactly why we're angry with Iran? Maybe that seems like a silly question, but maybe not. So many Americans are up in arms, yelling that we must "do something about Iran now, before they get the bomb!" But can anyone point to a specific reason that we're at odds with this country? I can't recall being threatened by Iran in any real capacity since Jimmy Carter was president... and in the years following that incident we even sold them weapons!
Just because our president stands up on national television and declares a country to be evil, with no hard data to back it up, doesn't make it so. If you don't believe me, then ask yourself this... if you could take it back, would you still have our brave men and women marching through Iraq right now? Keep that in your mind as you pick through those Thanksgiving leftovers, shop for Christmas gifts and relax in your warm, comfortable living room with your widescreen tv and recliner.
Let's not do this again... please.
(CNN) -- In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
O, Almighty God, bestow upon humanity the perfect human being promised to all by You, and make us among his followers.
Noble Americans,
Were we not faced with the activities of the US administration in this part of the world and the negative ramifications of those activities on the daily lives of our peoples, coupled with the many wars and calamities caused by the US administration as well as the tragic consequences of US interference in other countries;
Were the American people not God-fearing, truth-loving, and justice-seeking, while the US administration actively conceals the truth and impedes any objective portrayal of current realities;
And if we did not share a common responsibility to promote and protect freedom and human dignity and integrity;
Then, there would have been little urgency to have a dialogue with you.
While Divine providence has placed Iran and the United States geographically far apart, we should be cognizant that human values and our common human spirit, which proclaim the dignity and exalted worth of all human beings, have brought our two great nations of Iran and the United States closer together.
Both our nations are God-fearing, truth-loving and justice-seeking, and both seek dignity, respect and perfection.
Both greatly value and readily embrace the promotion of human ideals such as compassion, empathy, respect for the rights of human beings, securing justice and equity, and defending the innocent and the weak against oppressors and bullies.
We are all inclined towards the good, and towards extending a helping hand to one another, particularly to those in need.
We all deplore injustice, the trampling of peoples' rights and the intimidation and humiliation of human beings.
We all detest darkness, deceit, lies and distortion, and seek and admire salvation, enlightenment, sincerity and honesty.
The pure human essence of the two great nations of Iran and the United States testify to the veracity of these statements.
Noble Americans,
Our nation has always extended its hand of friendship to all other nations of the world.
Hundreds of thousands of my Iranian compatriots are living amongst you in friendship and peace, and are contributing positively to your society. Our people have been in contact with you over the past many years and have maintained these contacts despite the unnecessary restrictions of US authorities.
As mentioned, we have common concerns, face similar challenges, and are pained by the sufferings and afflictions in the world.
We, like you, are aggrieved by the ever-worsening pain and misery of the Palestinian people. Persistent aggressions by the Zionists are making life more and more difficult for the rightful owners of the land of Palestine. In broad day-light, in front of cameras and before the eyes of the world, they are bombarding innocent defenseless civilians, bulldozing houses, firing machine guns at students in the streets and alleys, and subjecting their families to endless grief.
No day goes by without a new crime.
Palestinian mothers, just like Iranian and American mothers, love their children, and are painfully bereaved by the imprisonment, wounding and murder of their children. What mother wouldn't?
For 60 years, the Zionist regime has driven millions of the inhabitants of Palestine out of their homes. Many of these refugees have died in the Diaspora and in refugee camps. Their children have spent their youth in these camps and are aging while still in the hope of returning to homeland.
You know well that the US administration has persistently provided blind and blanket support to the Zionist regime, has emboldened it to continue its crimes, and has prevented the UN Security Council from condemning it.
Who can deny such broken promises and grave injustices towards humanity by the US administration?
Governments are there to serve their own people. No people wants to side with or support any oppressors. But regrettably, the US administration disregards even its own public opinion and remains in the forefront of supporting the trampling of the rights of the Palestinian people.
Let's take a look at Iraq. Since the commencement of the US military presence in Iraq, hundreds of thousands of Iraqis have been killed, maimed or displaced. Terrorism in Iraq has grown exponentially. With the presence of the US military in Iraq, nothing has been done to rebuild the ruins, to restore the infrastructure or to alleviate poverty. The US Government used the pretext of the existence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, but later it became clear that that was just a lie and a deception.
Although Saddam was overthrown and people are happy about his departure, the pain and suffering of the Iraqi people has persisted and has even been aggravated.
In Iraq, about one hundred and fifty thousand American soldiers, separated from their families and loved ones, are operating under the command of the current US administration. A substantial number of them have been killed or wounded and their presence in Iraq has tarnished the image of the American people and government.
Their mothers and relatives have, on numerous occasions, displayed their discontent with the presence of their sons and daughters in a land thousands of miles away from US shores. American soldiers often wonder why they have been sent to Iraq.
I consider it extremely unlikely that you, the American people, consent to the billions of dollars of annual expenditure from your treasury for this military misadventure.
Noble Americans,
You have heard that the US administration is kidnapping its presumed opponents from across the globe and arbitrarily holding them without trial or any international supervision in horrendous prisons that it has established in various parts of the world. God knows who these detainees actually are, and what terrible fate awaits them.
You have certainly heard the sad stories of the Guantanamo and Abu-Ghraib prisons. The US administration attempts to justify them through its proclaimed "war on terror." But every one knows that such behavior, in fact, offends global public opinion, exacerbates resentment and thereby spreads terrorism, and tarnishes the US image and its credibility among nations.
The US administration's illegal and immoral behavior is not even confined to outside its borders. You are witnessing daily that under the pretext of "the war on terror," civil liberties in the United States are being increasingly curtailed. Even the privacy of individuals is fast losing its meaning. Judicial due process and fundamental rights are trampled upon. Private phones are tapped, suspects are arbitrarily arrested, sometimes beaten in the streets, or even shot to death.
I have no doubt that the American people do not approve of this behavior and indeed deplore it.
The US administration does not accept accountability before any organization, institution or council. The US administration has undermined the credibility of international organizations, particularly the United Nations and its Security Council. But, I do not intend to address all the challenges and calamities in this message.
The legitimacy, power and influence of a government do not emanate from its arsenals of tanks, fighter aircrafts, missiles or nuclear weapons. Legitimacy and influence reside in sound logic, quest for justice and compassion and empathy for all humanity. The global position of the United States is in all probability weakened because the administration has continued to resort to force, to conceal the truth, and to mislead the American people about its policies and practices.
Undoubtedly, the American people are not satisfied with this behavior and they showed their discontent in the recent elections. I hope that in the wake of the mid-term elections, the administration of President Bush will have heard and will heed the message of the American people.
My questions are the following:
Is there not a better approach to governance?
Is it not possible to put wealth and power in the service of peace, stability, prosperity and the happiness of all peoples through a commitment to justice and respect for the rights of all nations, instead of aggression and war?
We all condemn terrorism, because its victims are the innocent.
But, can terrorism be contained and eradicated through war, destruction and the killing of hundreds of thousands of innocents?
If that were possible, then why has the problem not been resolved?
The sad experience of invading Iraq is before us all.
What has blind support for the Zionists by the US administration brought for the American people? It is regrettable that for the US administration, the interests of these occupiers supersedes the interests of the American people and of the other nations of the world.
What have the Zionists done for the American people that the US administration considers itself obliged to blindly support these infamous aggressors? Is it not because they have imposed themselves on a substantial portion of the banking, financial, cultural and media sectors?
I recommend that in a demonstration of respect for the American people and for humanity, the right of Palestinians to live in their own homeland should be recognized so that millions of Palestinian refugees can return to their homes and the future of all of Palestine and its form of government be determined in a referendum. This will benefit everyone.
Now that Iraq has a Constitution and an independent Assembly and Government, would it not be more beneficial to bring the US officers and soldiers home, and to spend the astronomical US military expenditures in Iraq for the welfare and prosperity of the American people? As you know very well, many victims of Katrina continue to suffer, and countless Americans continue to live in poverty and homelessness.
I'd also like to say a word to the winners of the recent elections in the US:
The United States has had many administrations; some who have left a positive legacy, and others that are neither remembered fondly by the American people nor by other nations.
Now that you control an important branch of the US Government, you will also be held to account by the people and by history.
If the US Government meets the current domestic and external challenges with an approach based on truth and Justice, it can remedy some of the past afflictions and alleviate some of the global resentment and hatred of America. But if the approach remains the same, it would not be unexpected that the American people would similarly reject the new electoral winners, although the recent elections, rather than reflecting a victory, in reality point to the failure of the current administration's policies. These issues had been extensively dealt with in my letter to President Bush earlier this year.
To sum up:
It is possible to govern based on an approach that is distinctly different from one of coercion, force and injustice.
It is possible to sincerely serve and promote common human values, and honesty and compassion.
It is possible to provide welfare and prosperity without tension, threats, imposition or war.
It is possible to lead the world towards the aspired perfection by adhering to unity, monotheism, morality and spirituality and drawing upon the teachings of the Divine Prophets.
Then, the American people, who are God-fearing and followers of Divine religions, will overcome every difficulty.
What I stated represents some of my anxieties and concerns.
I am confident that you, the American people, will play an instrumental role in the establishment of justice and spirituality throughout the world. The promises of the Almighty and His prophets will certainly be realized, Justice and Truth will prevail and all nations will live a true life in a climate replete with love, compassion and fraternity.
The US governing establishment, the authorities and the powerful should not choose irreversible paths. As all prophets have taught us, injustice and transgression will eventually bring about decline and demise. Today, the path of return to faith and spirituality is open and unimpeded.
We should all heed the Divine Word of the Holy Qur'an:
"But those who repent, have faith and do good may receive Salvation. Your Lord, alone, creates and chooses as He will, and others have no part in His choice; Glorified is God and Exalted above any partners they ascribe to Him." (28:67-68)
I pray to the Almighty to bless the Iranian and American nations and indeed all nations of the world with dignity and success.
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
President of the Islamic Republic of Iran
29 November 2006
posted by Cory | 5:27 AM
4 Comments:
if the president and the news media decided not to release this letter of lies to the american public, then why would you? at 27, you're to young to remember the evil Iran of the past several decades. we tried to help them and help them be more like us, but they bit the hand that feeds. you can try to feed a mangy, dirty stray dog, but if it bites you or your family, you have to put it down. just like saddam. this letter shows the iranian leader's clear intention. he only quotes from his Qur' an.he talks down to us from that Qur'an. he and his kind need to realize that America is a great and powerful nation with religious freedom for Godly people. they can not make us all like them no matter how bad they want to. every citizen that sees this letter should be hearing the growl of a sick, rabid dog, ready to bite. only a madman or liberals full of sympathy for tyrants hiding behind religion would allow that dog to bite us first. noble americans know we have to pick up a good stick and teach that dog to heel. with compassion we can train it to be a good pet. if it will not obey we have to know when to take the evil beast out to the country and be done with it.
- victor d.
I believe that the Iran president summed it up. And it seems like this guy is reasonable to talk to. Bush had better not decide to even think about invading this country. Actually, Bush better not decide to invade any other country. The chaos he has caused in Iraq is proof enough. And it wasn't long ago that Bush was wanting to talk to North Korea instead of invading them. But, we are being aggresive towards Iran? It seems as though we are big bullies. Trying to pick on the weak and when a threat comes along we try to talk to them. Which should be the first solution to everything. The loss of life should never be the first choice. And I would like someone to argue that point. The way of peace and maintaining it should always be the ultimate goal. Not lying just to finish something Daddy started. We need to start doing something right now. This administration is giving America a black eye. The world is beginning to hate us. And we are essentially are becoming what we originally set out to destroy in the eyes of the world. And you for one Victor are contradicting yourself. You talk of peace and love but are saying the Iranian people are dogs and we need to beat them into submission. I have never hit my dog and she does what I ask. She can sit, heel, roll over, lay down, etc. The only thing I had to do was give her a treat every now and then. There are times where I raised my voice with her but the point is I didn't beat her into submission. I left her strong will alone. Also, she would never bite me. She trusts me and will never lash out at me. Why? Because I treated her nice and let her personality come out and didn't bend her will into what I wanted. But these people aren't dogs. They don't want to be like us. They want to be their own people. Now, how can you blame them for wanting to live like they want to live. They are a completely different culture. I would like to see you bend the will of the samurai of feudal Japan. Yes, there are things that seemed weird to us and they lived differently but it was their own. The things we do seem weird to others. I know I am rambling and I will leave you with this. I know it may sound cheesy and for you nerds you have heard it a thousand times. But it holds alot of truth. Victor, you talk about America being powerful. So, here it is.. I will leave with this. "With great power comes great responsibility." -Ben Parker.
Later taters,
temporarily sane
Well put, Temp.
The Iranian people have the right to live as they choose to live, just the same as everyone else in the world.
The nations of the world don't want to be a series of clones of the United States, I can understand that. There are so many positives to the American way of life, far too many to mention, but can you blame the world for decrying our borderline-blasphemous worship of Hollywood or our ever expanding waistlines (mine included) thanks to a fast-food, tv culture?
Live and let live. Don't bully people around. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Those things made sense in the first grade and they make sense now.
A few points:
The Iranian president's letter is like a list of what is wrong in this country. We have to remember that just because we don't agree with people, or they don't agree with us, they are not necessarily dumb. These are smart people, and it's time we start respecting them as such. I don't think this letter was translated, and if not, I cn safely say the Iranian president has a better command of the English language than most of the people I know.
Iran is a nation, that for whatever reasons (and many of them are our fault and many of them them are theris), contains a lot of people who hate America, including an oligarchy whose policy is directly in contradiction to many of the things their secular leader states in his letter. It isn't necessarily wrong to keep an eye on them. Who is to say the Ayatollah's might no give the bomb to whatever militant faction they think can use it to hurt us? Still, all-out war is a preposterous idea. We need to work harder to show that we can be peaceful, and maybe that will be the first step toward gettingthose people to tolerate us.
That brings me to the second point. Temporarily Sane says, "Actually, Bush better not decide to invade any other country. The chaos he has caused in Iraq is proof enough." Isn't it clear that a big part of the harm done to the military of this country by our president is by showing that we don't have any idea when or why we should use our military in the first place. Iraq is proof enough that the current administration isn't competent handling the dogs of war, and most of us have decided for now on he should keep those dogs in the kennel. That could have disastrous consequences. If Iran is planning to do something or in some way strengthen its position toward an evil end, they can count on American Public opinion to virtually guarantee that any action against them will be limited. Bush has hurt our miltary position by making such a fool of himself.
Cory makes the point that we should do unto others as we want them to do unto us. That could not be more true. How can we expect other countries not to try to change American policy through force when we regularly practice that very method. Sure, we use smart bombs and shaped charges, and precision strikes, presumably to limit civilian casualties. Our enemies do not enjoy the luxuries of our advanced weapn systems. That they fight us with terror of civilian deaths and collateral damage simply shows that they are primitive, and that they are vastly outgunned. The only way to win the war on terror is to put an end to war altogether. God forbid our enemies ever DO have the luxury of fighting with the types of weapons we use every day. Then instead of 2997 dead in the United States, we might have 50,000 dead, like Iraq does today.
Post a Comment
<< Home