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Sharing words of peace

Submitted by Mark Johnson on September 30, 2008 - 12:33pm.

As a part of last Wednesday's meeting with the President of Iran, our group presented him with a gift. It was a framed work of calligraphy, seen at right. The risks of a direct translation by a non-Arabic speaker are high. Above is a photo of me presenting the gift to President Ahmadinejad.

The work of art by Mamoun Sakkal illustrates, in classical Kufi script, a verse from hadith (sayings of the prophet Mohammad). A paraphrase of the Sura might be understood to remind us that “it is good to begin each day with a reflection on how we will personally advance the cause of peace and justice in our lives and work."

We acknowledged our appreciation for the opportunity to share concerns from the peace movement with Iranian leadership as a part of a busy schedule around the opening of the U.N. General Assembly fall session with a memento.

Mark Johnson's blog

Did anti-semitism come up?

Submitted by Roger Gottlieb (not verified) on October 1, 2008 - 4:15pm.

Hi there,
I have nothing against talking to anyone. The question, however, is what you say when you talk.
Did anyone at the gathering mention A's potentially lethal anti-semitism? his call for the dismantlement of a sovereign nation? the fact that he uses anti-semitism as a rallying point for Iranians dismayed by his mismanagement of the economy?
I don't think you need to be insulting to state very clearly that hatred of Jews is not 'peaceful.' And if you want to say 'Oh, he's not anti-Jewish, just anti-Israel" take another look at what he says, and the virtual mountain of hatred of Jews coming out of the Islamic world.
If you didn't confront that issue, you supported his anti-Semitism.
And you gave him a lovely plaque that makes him that much more 'legitimate.' If you want to give him something, why not an illustrated history of the Holocaust, or a copy of Sartre's Anti-Semite and Jew?

All questions to Pres. Ahmadinejad are posted online

Submitted by FOR on October 1, 2008 - 5:30pm.

Dear Mr. Gottlieb,

You will find all the questions that were posed to the Iranian president posted openly on this blog at the following URL:
http://www.forpeace.net/blog/mark-johnson/what-concerns-us-peace-movemen...

You might be particularly interested in question #6 regarding various recent comments by Iranian leadership about the Israeli state and people.

FOR is working to access and create a transcript of the president's remarks (as translated) in the coming days, and will share that information publicly as soon as possible.

FOR/Ahmedinejad meeting

Submitted by Susan Donaldson (not verified) on October 1, 2008 - 5:48pm.

How glad I am to learn of this meeting! Through efforts like this one come perception and understanding, and from broadened perception and understanding, the willingness to examine our own attitudes and behavior--and sometimes to change them.

You can't shake hands with a clenched fist.

Submitted by Leonard Eiger (not verified) on October 2, 2008 - 7:38pm.

I am heartened by FOR's facilitation of last week's meeting with President Ahmadinejad. It was yet another important step in engaging Iran in a process that may ultimately lead to the peaceful resolution of a number of issues (rather than another war). There are, of course, certain issues that will be overriding for some people. Yet, we must stay focused on the bigger picture. That being said, the variety of questions did include a pertinent question regarding Iran's position regarding Israel.

What is so important now is that since our [United States] government (for the most part) refuses to engage in open, unconditional dialogue with Iran, it is up to civilian peacemaking entities to play this critical role. Thanks to FOR and everyone involved in the recent meeting.

You can read an interesting perspective on last week's meeting with President Ahmadinejad at my blog: http://subversivepeacemaking.blogspot.com/.

Transcript of President Ahmadinejad's remarks

Submitted by Karla Hansen (not verified) on October 13, 2008 - 1:12pm.

Dear friends at FOR,

On October 1st the posting to Mr. Gottlieb mentions a transcript is being created from the translation of President Ahmadinejad's remarks. Is this somewhere on the FOR website. I have been unable to locate it. I am working on an essay of my thoughts on the meeting and have been waiting to get the transcript for accuracy in my remarks.
Peace,
Karla Hansen
Des Moines Iowa