[PAA-Discuss] Peace and Iran Re: ahmadinejad meets rabbis

Sun Sep 30 12:36:06 EDT 2007

My reply in blue. Massoud

I would agree, Massoud that we should be critical of all injustice and think critically but also work for JUSTICE in order to achieve peace. I don't believe one can have peace until justice has been meted out.

This is a formal logic. Justice and Peace are not absolute concepts. Historical facts are against your claim. After the 8 years of Iraq-US war against Iran, both countries agreed to end war and have Peace, but justice was not done.

Would you agree with that assertion? 

No.

I am not advocating bombing Iran in order to achieve justice for the Iranian people. I am saying in all things justice should be served for people who have been and are being oppressed before one can hope to achieve peace. 

Again, your concept of Peace is so abstract. The people of Iran in comparison to the people of Iraq and Afghanistan are living in Peace today. Their internal problems are their problems. But a drive toward war by the US against Iran is your problem, an American problem. You have to do everything you can to prevent the US from bombing and executing thousands upon thousands of Iranian homosexuals, heterosexuals, women and children from the air.

The people of Iran must get justice for the atrocities committed against homosexuals, women etc before they can even hope to have a secular, democratic government if that is what they choose. 

This has nothing to do with preventing war and maintaining the Peace. I'm convinced now that you don't know what a vital role Iranian women played in the revolution and the tremendous gains they have achieved by their struggle. Today they are an undeniable force in Iranian politics. Today, there are more women artists, filmmakers, musicians, politicians, doctors, attorneys, educators, journalists, scientists  .than ever in history of Iran. 

Would you not agree that justice must be served in Palestine before peace can even be a glimmer in the eye of one Palestinian? 

No. I don't agree. Peace is justice for Palestinians. 

Would you agree that justice must be served for the people of Iraq and Afghanistan before they can hope to work toward peace among themselves and peace with other nations?

For the people of Iraqi and Afghanistan, an end of the occupation is Justice and Peace. How can these nations achieve Justice while their countries are occupied by foreign military forces? Again, this is an American problem.

My Iranian friend helped me to see this necessity of demanding justice in order to achieve peace. Please respond to my post and thanks.

Are you saying that I'm not your Iranian friend! :) 

Kris

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  From: Massoud Nayeri [mailto:massoud1 at alltel.net] 
  Sent: Saturday, September 29, 2007 11:16 PM
  To: discuss at paa-tx.org
  Cc: graham2639 at mindspring.com; 'Codepink Houston'; nick at indymedia.org; 'Pat Nichols'; 'Greg Leroy'; Lee Loe
  Subject: Peace and Iran Re: [PAA-Discuss] ahmadinejad meets rabbis

  The Question of Peace and Iran

  To understand any phenomenon, we have to study its facts and have a clear picture of reality surrounding those facts. Political questions don't happen for us to approve or disapprove. The "Islamic Republic of Iran" has been committed many crimes under the name of "Islamic Justice" or for the sake of Iran's "National Security". The people of Iran will never forget these assaults and will, as they are doing now, continue their fight for the Human Rights and freedom of speech. The history of Iran after revolution is a history of painful and hopeful journey of independence from the US imperialism and confronting the "new" face of capitalism under the Islamic facade.

  Now the question is what should Americans do with all these facts about Iran? Should they become political inspectors or political score keepers of who has been good or who has been bad in Iran? The fact is that at the end of the day when everyone has typed their last words of their analysis and have turned off their computers, this analysis will cause no major shift in Iran.

  So what should American people do? In my opinion, they should embrace Peace and not fall into the trap of the warmongers. Supporting those who call for Peace does not mean you support everything about them. In politics you can support a group or an individual on a single issue - if you agree that cause would be beneficial to all. 

  Iranian people do not support any war against their neighbors or the US. There are factions in Iranian government that would advocate a military confrontation with the "infidels", BUT the majority of the Iranian government, for many diverse reasons, does not support the war. It is the American government that has a different view. They are preparing the American public for a new conflict after Iraq. Meanwhile, an elected Iranian President who has deep Islamic convictions, comes to the US with one crucial message - his government and his country do not seek any war against the US. Media starts a campaign to demonize him. Now even some anti war Americans are questioning themselves that should they believe him or reject and distrust him for his anti-homosexuality sins?

  The fact is Homosexuality is an issue that will never be solved under the Islamic government or any other capitalist governments. This struggle just reaches a new level in these countries. There are gays and lesbians in Iran who are fighting for their rights in their own unique way in a very harsh and difficult situation. But one shouldn't try to defend this section of oppressed people in Iran only in reaction to Fox News venom. As we have seen before -time after time- no one (neither Iranians nor Americans) would gain anything when the right-wingers become the defenders of Human Rights anywhere! This is the ABCs of the politics. 

  A war against Iran would be a bloody war. This American war would not be like the past wars against Granada, Panama, Yugoslavia, Afghanistan or Iraq. This war will drag other major countries into a long disastrous conflicts in the dangerous age of ticking nuclear bombs.

  We should be Critical but we should Embrace Peace by all means.

  Massoud

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