An Open Letter

Q: Do you have any message to Americans beyond the slogans you chant at demonstrations that say "Death to America?"

A: We do not have any problem with the people of the United States. If there was not the obstacle of the U.S. government, we were prepared to send assistance to the victims of Katrina. My government has decided to facilitate travel to the United States for Iranian nationals. I want a direct flight. We want peace and calm for all peoples of the world and human dignity for all people. For us, humanity is important. Nationality is not important. We believe that all humanity has the right to live in peace and dignity. Our criticism is targeted to a limited number in the ruling establishment.
American journalists come to Iran and they don't face any problems and they can meet all Iranian officials. It's not the same in the United States. They do not allow our journalists to go there and they put a lot of limitations on their activities.

(an excerpt from an article in U.S.A. Today - an interview with Iran's President Ahmadinejad)

Granted, he's still a politician, and it's U.S.A. Today...it's just that his words, when relayed in well-translated English, are of a lovely philosophical sort - not at all the way you'd imagine, after the way they butchered the translation of his speech at the U.N.
And in so much of what he says, I see correctness and virtue and humanity, along with an exhausting desire to be left alone - no longer bullied or confined or managed.
Say whatever you want - I've always been astounded by the vast philosophies in every aspect of human being and I believe I found something there in President Ahmadinejad's answers. Something crucial that the people of the United States should be made aware of alongside the glut of news reports and harsh translations designed to perpetuate fear.

I've copied in two more of the 20+ questions he answered, below. The link above takes you to the entire article which is worth reading.


Q: Is there anything the U.S. can say or do to change your mind? (re: allowing U.S. officials to permanently set up shop in Iran again)

A: They think they can solve everything with a bomb. The time for such things is long over. Today we have the rule of rationality and thought. For example, a president has asked a question about the Holocaust. So many questions and publicity that the president is a warmonger. I think the Americans still don't know what's happening in the world. They think in a world manufactured by themselves. They have given support to those who published the cartoons and this is not the right thing to do. This kind of defamation is an insult and will not contribute to the resolution of problems. The wave of disgust toward U.S. policies is increasing. They only recognize their own friends, not others. We have in this world 6 billion people. It's not an American club. The majority are not Americans and are not interested to be Americans.

Q: But didn't you form some impression from looking out the window of your car? (re:the President's impressions of New York)

A: It's not the buildings that make the city, it's human relations. You have to see how people live with each other and how much they like and sympathize with each other. What is important is the soul of the city. Unfortunately, I was not able to contact that soul. I saw many tall buildings and cars but they are made of steel and concrete. They do not reflect the sentiments of the people and that only comes from direct encounters. But generally speaking, people are the same everywhere and New Yorkers are no exception. They like peace and justice and tranquility.

I'd love to see more well-translated speeches and quotes from the Iranian president in mainstream American and British media.
When Ahmadinejad addressed the United Nations, H read to me from the speech itself, transcribed to the Persian news.
The speech, in Farsi, translated through the eyes of a young Iranian who has no political leanings and dreams of peace in the world like the rest of us, was the first exposure I had to their president's ideas, and way of communicating outside of what my own country had prepared for me.
When I read and heard the officially translated versions in western media I was saddened but not at all suprised by the journalistic freedoms taken in interpretation.

The president's words are, for me, an open letter to the American people, offering, and at the same time asking for, peace and acceptance of eachother's ways of life - not such a bad idea considering the current state of world affairs.
And so, in some way, is my own writing an open letter to Iran, to America, to whoever believes they have a stake in what's going on.