Stars of Persia, Allium christophii
President Obama's extraordinary, groundbreaking message yesterday to the people and leaders of the Islamic Republic of Iran is amazing. Just amazing. On the occasion of Nowruz, the Iranian new year, President Obama offered Iran a new beginning in diplomatic relations and he committed his administration to a future of honest and respectful diplomacy. A long-awaited, bold, hopeful prelude to renewal. Astounding.
On the occasion of your New Year, I want you, the people and leaders of Iran, to understand the future that we seek. It's a future with renewed exchanges among our people, and greater opportunities for partnership and commerce. It's a future where the old divisions are overcome, where you and all of your neighbors and the wider world can live in greater security and greater peace.
I know that this won't be reached easily. There are those who insist that we be defined by our differences. But let us remember the words that were written by the poet Saadi, so many years ago: "The children of Adam are limbs to each other, having been created of one essence."
With the coming of a new season, we're reminded of this precious humanity that we all share. And we can once again call upon this spirit as we seek the promise of a new beginning.
- President Barack Obama
:image kaitymae via deviant art; message transcription via wsj
6 comments:
If I weren't an atheist I would say Obama was the new Messiah.
This touched me too. I am interested to hear how the people of Iran responded. So far, their leaders have said that Obama is all talk. That sort of depresses me. Isn't this kind of talk what we've been missing since Bush came to office? Dialogue? Discussion? Words of respect and understanding? I think it's where we need to start.
I love your corner of cyberspace. Thank you for inviting me in. It feels nice in, feels smart, eloquent, right, and softly powerful.
It was a great overture. Dialogue is the only way to resolve our differences. Too bad the Iranians responded by demanding the US change its policies. Let's hope that's just Iranian bluster and not the predicator of their refusal to engage in real dialogue.
fantastic!
Bravo, Barack! And his speech was well received, as reported.
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