This article references an external link -- click here to visit 
http://www.globalsecurity...07/iran-070926-irna01.htm
http://www.globalsecurity...07/iran-070926-irna01.htm
|
Iran's President's UN Speech calls for global peace and cooperationRate this:
 
Published Thu 27 Sep 2007,
666 Views,
34 Comments
|
7thdirection
34 Comments
That whole speech is a hypocritical lie.
His actions speek louder than a bunch bs he spouts off to a group of rose tinted colored glass wearing individuals.
The whole world has to wake up to the fact that this world we're in is a ball - and we're filling up the outside. Peace has to be brought to mankind - and soon - otherwise there may come a time when someone in power realises this town ain't big enough for the both of us. A World-scale war at this point in our potential history would probably end humanity forever.
This means that we simply have to become friends and the only way we can do that, is to show each other how we feel and say what we think. For then we can bring out the real reasons why we do things and once we've done that, we can look at how, together, we can accommodate our differences of opinion. Ordinary people living and working together can do this, they do, all the time. If something about my culture appears offensive to you in some way, then I would hope that you would tell me why it's offensive, but even if you didn't, I'd be happy not to impose it upon you - but I would expect a reciprocal arrangement. Thinking along these lines involves some of the changes in the world structure suggested in the speech. But not all of them.
I do find it worrying that the speech calls for an end to oppression (a sentiment I heartily endorse) by creating a global Theocracy. I do, totally and utterly believe that a live-together-in-peace religion makes for a more peaceful life. But it stifles man's advancement. It has often been said that our technological development is dependent upon our research into more and more effective weapons. This is unfortunately a part of our nature-driven, god-given psyche. We are patriotic to a country or a football team or a pop singer because we're made that way. Originally this was an aid to survival, but unfortunately if we cannot rise above it, it will be the cause of our destruction. A successful, peaceful religion in which an entire population can find solace, ethics, morals, belief and hope would bring about that eternal peace - or would it?
If Man cannot stop being curious and his intelligent mind needs to invent things, then we need a common goal that is not aggressively or even defensively based, but constructively based. We need a world project that can stretch our technological advancement needs that will do something FOR the world and its people.
But man cannot invent if he is not free to let his mind look at alternatives, and in a theocracy, certain notions are often heretical, and religion has a bad record historically, on perceived heresies. So clearly, any attempt to bring about world peace has to, indeed must, involve accepting differences and getting to know and understanding that what you do, others may not like, so, like them, you do not push it and be glad not to, because you do not feel under threat from them - nor they from you. We all know the clichéd adage: Live and Let Live. But that only works if everyone sticks to it.
If we need an alternative to warfare to vent our god-given brilliant minds, then why not look at our planet and see that it's filling up. And it'll soon be full. Rather than killing each other off to make room, why not put our endeavours together and see if we can find other places to go. If all the money currently being spent, by every nation on the planet on war-related technology and resources was to be used instead for a world-wide collaboration to develop technology and utilise resources in the collective Human Endeavour, good money will bet that we'd be out pioneering within a few generations. We could look at energy sources that do not fill the nest with toxic waste; we could find a hundred world-improving projects to work on.
But a total end of war means that there can be no oppression. By any one country against another, nor any one religion against another - even if 'another' here includes atheists. With the freedom to choose to believe what you will, tempered perhaps by how your culture defines, then provided we all follow the golden rules; love (and understand) thy neighbour, don't kill each other, don't nick stuff, we have both our world peace and perhaps, for the first time ever, worthwhile goals towards which Humanity can reach.
Perhaps the message should be Let live and Live, rather than the other way round. Any such solution will involve complete freedom of movement for the entire population. It will mean that traditional enemies must discuss their differences, give a little, and arrive at compromises, often real compromises in order to save the world - but if we all do it, we all lose and gain but the world is a better place. It means that religions must work together, appreciating their differences and between them, foster the pastoral, cultural and appreciative peace we need.
There is nothing in any bible I know that says the Glory of God and the achievements of Man cannot spread out across the galaxy together and in harmony.
What aggressive actions has Iran taken? None. They incessantly repeat they have no will to attack another nation. They also mention again and again that their nuclear program is for energy. They have shown UN inspectors that all of their uranium is not weapons grade. The US on the other hand organized a violent revolution in Iran three dozen years ago, supplied Saddam with chemical weapons to kill 2,000,000 Iranians, and has basically authorized war against them.
US arms used in Iranian attacks
http://inpursuitofhappine...us-arming-iranian-rebels/
US gives Iran nuclear blueprints
http://www.guardian.co.uk...y/0,12271,1678219,00.html
Bush authorizes Iran defamation campaign, admits repeated contact with al-Qaeda organization
http://blogs.abcnews.com/...7/05/bush_authorizes.html
25,000 Jews living peacefully in Iran
http://www.aljazeera.com/.../newsfull.php?newid=25781
Iran wants Israel "wiped off the map" rumor (printed in every major AP outlet, yet totally wrong)
http://www.antiwar.com/or...rouzi.php?articleid=11025
Directives from the Office of the Vice President to numerous news organizations supporting military action in Iran
http://www.prisonplanet.c.../040907_cheney_orders.htm
Spanish government leaked transcripts with Bush that show peace was not an option and the war was inevitable
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/054196.php
Do you think this war is any different? They just changed one letter. WE are the aggressors, not them.
"Adolf Hitler made numerous calls for peace, prior to his annexation of Czechslovakia, and his invasion of Poland, most tyrants, push the peace angle, prior to their evil deeds."
Yeah, and he also staged a false flag operation for the German media to rally his people against the "attack" from Poland. If you want to talk about tyrants...
"When we talk about war, we're really talking about peace." -George W. Bush
Snak, great post, I totally agree. I gave up on organized religion years ago, but I think that our idea of God is an outdated term. There is obviously some sort of divinely inspired force running the universe (contrary to the 2nd law of thermodynamics, suggesting that we increasingly move towards disorder). The solution to many problems is, like you said, compromise. Through compromise, we can reach another level of unity. Aldous Huxley calls this individual union the "Not Two", another possible word is nonduality. We must cease to make decisions between two polar opposites. Fuck capitalism, fuck socialism, let's try social capitalism (or capital communism? lol) We obviously need some sort of system to ensure everyone has food, clothing and shelter - but there must be some sort of competition to nurture the market. (which has plenty of avenues to go besides basic needs) Fuck monotheism, fuck polytheism, let's try theism. Just the recognition that divinity exists and one should work to attune themselves to the supreme order that governs reality. Anyways, it works in a lot of contexts.
I think he was suggesting that rather than fighting over whose God is right, just accept that they are all manifestations of the same divine being. Certainly a step in the right direction. I doubt that he is implying to persecute atheists. Your last 2 paragraphs sum it up pretty well!
Looks like nobody read the speech, read the words "Iranian President" and "Peace" in the same sentence and their illogical, emotionally fed beliefs about Iran led them to vote the article down.
completely agree with "Looks like nobody read the speech, read the words "Iranian President" and "Peace" in the same sentence and their illogical, emotionally fed beliefs about Iran led them to vote the article down. "
and by the way erynn, bushs speech is just as hypocritical, religious, and filled with lies as the iranian leader
infact, id say they were cut from the same homophobic, theocratic, ignorant cloth
Dana, I've already said it once before, Bush acts more like a Dem these days than a Republican. Frankly, you can have him.
:)
It isn't like they haven't done this for years. COINTELPRO created propaganda to demonize the Black Panthers through a racist coloring book and even the overt murder of civil-rights activist-actress Jean Seberg and her child. Through "the usual sources" (quote from the CIA memo) they were to tell LA gossip columnists to report she was pregnant with a Black Panther leader's baby. The stress caused her to suffer a miscarriage and she finally attempted suicide three times before it worked. Our government never ceases to amaze me and when I see what is going on today it amazes me even more that nobody really cares. The Freedom of Information Act can't do anything about shit that happens 40 years ago. We probably won't even have it in 40 years at this rate. It's almost funny that Rumsfeld and Cheney were partially responsible for forcing Ford to veto the FOIA strengthening Privacy Act of 1974. Sure is helpful that Bush's executive order after 9/11 restricted the records of past presidents, and the Intelligence Authorization Act of 2002 that restricts foreign governments or even "international governmental organizations". Accountability to the world? Nah.
They are obviously creating an underlying hate to pursue private ends certainly not in the best interest of our country. War is in their interests, and if the sorry excuse for fair and balanced bologna that is currently being fed to (enough of) the people keeps up, war is what they will get.
Cheney said in '94 not only that invading Iraq would be a "quagmire" but also that there was no point in losing any more American lives over there. But then again, he wasn't getting 3281% returns on his Halliburton stock options that year, guess he changed his mind. Ahmadinejad had the balls to come to a country whose executive branch tells the media to demonize him. Even if Bush decided to take up Ahmadinejad's offer to speak at an Iranian university, I highly doubt he would even have to tell the Iranian media to do anything. :)
"AHMADINEJAD (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): Don't you think that a lot of problems in the world come from the way you look at issues because of this kind of way of thinking, because of this sort of pessimistic approach toward a lot of people, because of a certain level of selfishness, self-absorption that needs to be put aside so that we can show respect to everyone, to allow an environment for friendship to grow, to allow all nations to talk with one another and move toward peace?"
Anyways, this guy gives a speech about peace, Palestinian oppression and the poverty problem while we have a president who thinks talking about war is talking about peace... and you don't believe anything their president has to say? Us and Them by Pink Floyd lays it down.
Us, and them
And after all were only ordinary men.
Me, and you.
God only knows its not what we would choose to do.
Forward he cried from the rear
And the front rank died.
And the general sat and the lines on the map
Moved from side to side.
Black and blue
And who knows which is which and who is who.
Up and down.
But in the end its only round and round.
Havent you heard its a battle of words
The poster bearer cried.
Listen son, said the man with the gun
Theres room for you inside.
I mean, theyre not gunna kill ya, so if you give em a quick short,
Sharp, shock, they wont do it again. dig it? I mean he get off
Lightly, cos I wouldve given him a thrashing - I only hit him once!
It was only a difference of opinion, but really...i mean good manners
Dont cost nothing do they, eh?
Down and out
It cant be helped but theres a lot of it about.
With, without.
And wholl deny its what the fightings all about?
Out of the way, its a busy day
Ive got things on my mind.
For the want of the price of tea and a slice
The old man died.
of course Columbia has a right not to invite him and a right to invite him. It even has a right to invite him then have its President insult him viciously before he's said anything. But it didn't cover itself in glory by doing that. And by doing it, if anything, it strengthened his position in Iran (where he is not all-powerful, by any means).
http://www.tehrantimes.co...ndex_View.asp?code=154005
The man speaks out of both sides of his mouth and for the sake of propaganda and nothing more. A pretty speech does not make up for saying things such as "There are no gays in Iran.", the day before. Why, because they're rounded up and shot. Or any of the other numerous hate filled and felt statements he has made over and over and over again.
There are a lot of people that fall for it. Mostly, I believe because their opposition to America, and a rather extravagant hatred they feel toward their own privileged circumstances, is actually greater than their support for "progressive" values.
At any rate, I do enjoy reading your post. I simply do not agree.
Ah, Pink Floyd. Probably THE best concert I ever attended. Never saw so many drugs in one place. A pharmacutical convention all of it's own. *L*
Anyways, the point I'm trying to make is that you have to accept another person's right to affirm their views while being able to disagree with them. If you fail in the first step, the only possible next step is towards more conflict, which produces evidence of negativity on both sides, leading to an argument which goes nowhere, and solves nothing. However, if that 1st step is taken, one can rationally debate, find common ground, and work together in mutually beneficial arrangements. This present propaganda rhetoric will not allow that to happen. That is exactly what he is trying to say in the snippet I posted above. I have not "fallen" for anything. I certainly don't have an opposition to America, "Loyalty to the country always, loyalty to the government when it deserves it." (Mark Twain) But I'm not really sure what you are trying to imply about the arguably existent amount of self-guilt that betrays support for progressive values.
I'm so jealous you got to go to a Pink Floyd concert :) My last pharmaceutical exploits at a Pink Floyd laser show were certainly entertaining, but probably nothing like the real thang.
I can understand the point you're trying to make about listening and keeping lines of communication open, but you have to have some common sense about it. You can talk until you're blue in the face and not get anywhere, which is precisely what's happening here with this situation. He's saying one thing, but his actions are completely opposite of his words.
"But I'm not really sure what you are trying to imply about the arguably existent amount of self-guilt that betrays support for progressive values."
What I was saying is this, a lot of people know about the really horrible things that dictators do, however, they are willing to over look these things because their anger with their own country and governemnt is greater.
The laser light show's are paltry compared to the real Floyd experience. You don't even have to take any drugs. Usually there's enough people surrounding ya that you get a great contact high. *L*
I can understand the point you're trying to make about listening and keeping lines of communication open, but you have to have some common sense about it. You can talk until you're blue in the face and not get anywhere, which is precisely what's happening here with this situation. He's saying one thing, but his actions are completely opposite of his words.
"But I'm not really sure what you are trying to imply about the arguably existent amount of self-guilt that betrays support for progressive values."
What I was saying is this, a lot of people know about the really horrible things that dictators do, however, they are willing to over look these things because their anger with their own country and governemnt is greater.
The laser light show's are paltry compared to the real Floyd experience. You don't even have to take any drugs. Usually there's enough people surrounding ya that you get a great contact high. *L*
Holocaust Denial:
Ahmadinejad just wants another historical look into the Holocaust. Multiple members from his cabinet, as well as Iran's UN representative has said the "the Genocide of the Jews did happen, and it should never happen again." The "myth" of the Holocaust that he claims (as well as numerous Holocaust revisionists) is the amount of people affected. Estimates range from a few hundred thousand to twelve million. The main point of their claim is that the public would not have had such overwhelming support for the creation of the Israeli state in Palestine (a country that was not even involved in WW2). A Palestinian historian has gathered evidence that suggests that Zionists (a terrorist organization that bombed innocent civilians pre-Israel and some of their leaders were given political positions in the new Israeli state) and Nazis actually worked together to create this genocide. It is a valid claim that our media will never dig any deeper into besides to defame the source. Some revisionists say that the Holocaust never happened, which is an extreme view that is unbelievable since we have had multiple stories from Germans and the Jewish community. Which brings us to their next point, why wasn't Israel made in Germany? The current Israel/Palestine conflict is a PRIMARY source of tension for "terrorist" groups in the MIddle East. The current Israeli Prime Minister is actually attempting peace plans but we'll have to see how it works out.
Israel should be "wiped off the planet":
Although I posted the link earlier, here it is again.
http://www.antiwar.com/or...rouzi.php?articleid=11025
"Imam ghoft een rezhim-e ishghalgar-e qods bayad az safheh-ye ruzgar mahv shavad."
The full quote translated directly to English:
"The Imam said this regime occupying Jerusalem must vanish from the page of time."
Nowhere was the word "wipe out" or "map" used, except by every major AP outlet, politicians and Israel. In his speech, Ahmadinejad declares that Zionism is the West's apparatus of political oppression against Muslims. He says the "Zionist regime" was imposed on the Islamic world as a strategic bridgehead to ensure domination of the region and its assets. Palestine, he insists, is the frontline of the Islamic world's struggle with American hegemony, and its fate will have repercussions for the entire Middle East.
As Iran's U.N. Press Officer, M.A. Mohammadi, complained to the Washington Post in a June 2006 letter:
"It is not amazing at all, the pick-and-choose approach of highlighting the misinterpreted remarks of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in October and ignoring this month's remarks by Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, that 'We have no problem with the world. We are not a threat whatsoever to the world, and the world knows it. We will never start a war. We have no intention of going to war with any state.'"
Religious government Islamic revolution:
At least he talks about peace. Our religious 'leader' throws us into multiple war theaters and is planning one for Iran as we speak. I'm an atheist, and I'd rather have their religion any day of the week.
IAEA:
Iran has shown UN inspectors that none of their uranium is enriched to weapons grade (90% - all of theirs is at 5%). Their dissatisfaction stems from the fact that Iran has met IAEA requirements for building nuclear ENERGY for the past decade, and the IAEA continues to throw them additional requirements that severely hinder their progress. They have consistently said they are working on nuclear energy, and just so you know, nuclear energy is currently one of the cleanest sources for our environment. Our own CIA has said that they will not have nuclear weapon capabilities for at least ten years. Why not work with them to secure an ally rather than antagonize them incessantly?
Backing of terrorist organizations:
The US government has been the world's leading arms supplier for nearly the past hundred years (and we even fund both sides of a conflict). Over 9 billion dollars worth went missing in Iraq after handing over the weapons to the Iraqi guard. We not only funded the rebels to help install the Shah, but even today, the US government arms terrorist Iranian factions that strike Iranian civilians.
http://inpursuitofhappine...us-arming-iranian-rebels/
Really, all of the fighting done over there is because of the continued stupidity and arrogance of both sides. The SOURCE is from the installation of Israel into Palestine, and the subsequent Israeli takeover of land not provided by their UN charter. Israel refuses to reach peace with Palestinians and terrorist organizations refuse to stop fighting until Palestine achieves independence. The only reason Israel does not cooperate is because of the US' blind support. The US vetoes any UN sanctions against Israel and is supporting this silliness simply for the endless profit provided to military industrialists. George Washington warned us of petty alliances:
"A passionate attachment of one nation for another produces a variety of evils. Sympathy for the favorite nation, facilitating the illusion of an imaginary common interest in cases where no real common interest exists, and infusing into one nation the enmities of the other, betrays the former into a participation in the quarrels and wars of the latter without justification. It leads also to concessions to the favorite nation of privileges denied to others which is apt doubly to injure the nation making the concessions; by unnecessarily parting with what ought to have been retained, and by exciting jealousy, ill-will, and a disposition to retaliate, in the parties from whom equal privileges are withheld. And it gives to ambitious, corrupted, or deluded citizens who devote themselves to the favorite nation, facility to betray or sacrifice the interests of their own country, without odium, sometimes even with popularity; gilding, with the appearances of a virtuous sense of obligation, a commendable deference for public opinion, or a laudable zeal for public good, the foolish compliances of ambition, corruption, or infatuation."
Commerce with all nations, alliance with none, should be our motto.
-Thomas Jefferson
Look at what is happening today and compare. If we dealt economically and diplomatically with nations rather than siding with one and assaulting the other we would be well on our way out of this mess. I urge you to have some common sense when you hear something in the news and discover the truth for yourself. The media says one thing about his actions when they are often times the complete opposite.
It's not that I support the horrible things that he does, but I am far more concerned about the root causes of the disruption in the Middle East that nobody besides "terrorists" and "cruel dictators" seem to address.
7th, I realize this is not the same translation as "Israel should be wiped off the planet" however I take both statements to mean exactly the same intentions. The Imam certainly means them ill will. It's funny you cite various middle eastern presses and even aljazeera as your sources, don't you suppose they are a bit biased to say the very least? True, the truth may be somewhere in the middle. I will put a LOT more faith in the free press then I could ever put in the guy with a gun to his head telling us "The U.S. is arming Iranian Rebels" Surely you recognize obvious bullshit propaganda when you see it.
As far as commerce with all nations goes, by trading with terrorists and cruel dictators you are supporting their cruelty and giving them the very bullets they will then shoot at you.
Doesn't anyone wonder why a nation drowning in oil reserves needs to have nuclear power plants? I have been around power plants and I can attest to the fact that fuel oil will certainly run a plant and provide plenty of electricity rather cleanly when using modern technology and scrubbers.
Why
Certainly non-mainstream news will be biased, but at least they will report facts that ours refuses to accept or acknowledge. Our media's bias is the true monster that tends to distort and vilify truth to a degree that is barely recognizable. Hundreds of men have had guns pointed at their heads and tortured for years at Guantanamo and so far none of them have provided the US with any worthwhile evidence to justify our human rights violations (some that have provided information have completely made it up and at the same time been completely convinced that they have done it - years of psychological trauma does scary things to people)
Nobody said that we have to trade weapons; there are other resources that are far more valuable, yet that doesn't stop us from supporting military coups and striking deals afterwards to commoditize a nation's natural resources. And umm, anyone that trades with us is supporting a nation that has a history of abuses far longer and more severe than your average 2nd or 3rd world country.
It is smart economic sense for Iran to have nuclear power. The country produces a large chunk of the world's oil, and if they could sell it off by switching to cheaper energy they would have large savings in the long run. They also probably realize that it is a finite commodity, and weaning their nation off of it as fast as possible is ideal. (they use an increasingly large amount of their oil every year)
And yes, Hawkwind is badass too. :)
Thoughtful, learned, perceptive, fair, judicial, reasoned, reasonable... other good things. :)
There truly are powers that be. They do have an agenda. They do manage/own the media. Would you, if you had that kind of money and power? Perhaps all that's being said is completely accurate. But, perhaps it's not.
It could very well be that this man is genuine in some capacity. After all, if Israel and Iran go at it, kiss Starbucks goodbye because the fallout will go global and it won't be pretty.
He may well be a maniacal monster. But to close the door is foolhardy and a losing proposition.
Awesome.
Just because one is willing to find fault with one's own country doesn't mean one should be blind to transgressions abroad (and the converse too).
See http://bahai.org/dir/worldwide/persecution if you'd like some information on the systematic harassment by the highest level of the government of the law-abiding and nonviolent religious minority (the largest in Iran), the Baha'i Faith.
Or you could agree to disagree, find similarities to build upon, establish positive trade relations, improve national relations and actually have a voice that they would be willing to listen to.
We need more energy than we can provide without trashing the environment, we have an in-built need to procreate. The problems facing mankind today should not be 'our political system versus theirs' or even 'our religion versus theirs', but 'how can we live together and work towards the common good?'.
The world is far too small to support the old 'us and them' paradigm. There are two ways to make it bigger:
1. Work together (for divided we fall) to ensure a future
2. Kill each other to make more room
But what good is more room with no-one left to live in it?
At the bottom of my email signature is the line: 'You have only borrowed this planet from your grandchildren, please do not print this email unless you have to'. It's a sad fact that not many people see the world in that context. It's time they did.
Hey you know AdGuy always gets the last word! ;)