November 29, 2006

Message to the American People

In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful

O, Almighty God, bestow upon humanity the perfect human being promised to all by You, and make us among his followers.

Noble Americans!
Were we not faced with the activities of the US administration in this part of the world and the negative ramifications of those activities on the daily lives of our peoples, coupled with the many wars and calamities caused by the US administration as well as the tragic consequences of US interference in other countries; Were the American people not God-fearing, truth-loving, and justice-seeking, while the US administration actively conceals the truth and impedes any objective portrayal of current realities; And if we did not share a common responsibility to promote and protect freedom and human dignity and integrity;

Then, there would have been little urgency to have a dialogue with you.

While Divine providence has placed Iran and the United States geographically far apart, we should be cognizant that human values and our common human spirit, which proclaim the dignity and exalted worth of all human beings, have brought our two great nations of Iran and the United States closer together.

Both our nations are God-fearing, truth-loving and justice-seeking, and both seek dignity, respect and perfection.

Both greatly value and readily embrace the promotion of human ideals such as compassion, empathy, respect for the rights of human beings, securing justice and equity, and defending the innocent and the weak against oppressors and bullies.

We are all inclined towards the good, and towards extending a helping hand to one another, particularly to those in need.

We all deplore injustice, the trampling of peoples' rights and the intimidation and humiliation of human beings.

We all detest darkness, deceit, lies and distortion, and seek and admire salvation, enlightenment, sincerity and honesty.

The pure human essence of the two great nations of Iran and the United States testify to the veracity of these statements.

Noble Americans!
Our nation has always extended its hand of friendship to all other nations of the world.

Hundreds of thousands of my Iranian compatriots are living amongst you in friendship and peace, and are contributing positively to your society. Our people have been in contact with you over the past many years and have maintained these contacts despite the unnecessary restrictions of US authorities.

As mentioned, we have common concerns, face similar challenges, and are pained by the sufferings and afflictions in the world.

We, like you, are aggrieved by the ever-worsening pain and misery of the Palestinian people. Persistent aggressions by the Zionists are making life more and more difficult for the rightful owners of the land of Palestine. In broad daylight, in front of cameras and before the eyes of the world, they are bombarding innocent defenseless civilians, bulldozing houses, firing machine guns at students in the streets and alleys, and subjecting their families to endless grief.

No day goes by without a new crime.

Palestinian mothers, just like Iranian and American mothers, love their children, and are painfully bereaved by the imprisonment, wounding and murder of their children. What mother wouldn't? For 60 years, the Zionist regime has driven millions of the inhabitants of Palestine out of their homes. Many of these refugees have died in the Diaspora and in refugee camps. Their children have spent their youth in these camps and are aging while still hoping to return to their homeland.

You know well that the US administration has persistently provided blind and blanket support to the Zionist regime, has emboldened it to continue its crimes, and has prevented the UN Security Council from condemning it.

Who can deny such broken promises and grave injustices towards humanity by the US administration?

Governments are there to serve their own people. No people wants to side with or support any oppressors. But regrettably, the US administration disregards even its own public opinion and remains in the forefront of supporting the trampling of the rights of the Palestinian people.

Let's take a look at Iraq. Since the commencement of the US military presence in Iraq, hundreds of thousands of Iraqis have been killed, maimed or displaced. Terrorism in Iraq has grown exponentially. With the presence of the US military in Iraq, nothing has been done to rebuild the ruins, to restore the infrastructure or to alleviate poverty. The US Government used the pretext of the existence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, but later it became clear that that was just a lie and a deception.

Although Saddam was overthrown and people are happy about his departure, the pain and suffering of the Iraqi people has persisted and has even been aggravated.

In Iraq, about one hundred and fifty thousand American soldiers, separated from their families and loved ones, are operating under the command of the current US administration. A substantial number of them have been killed or wounded and their presence in Iraq has tarnished the image of the American people and government.

Their mothers and relatives have, on numerous occasions, displayed their discontent with the presence of their sons and daughters in a land thousands of miles away from US shores. American soldiers often wonder why they have been sent to Iraq.

I consider it extremely unlikely that you, the American people, consent to the billions of dollars of annual expenditure from your treasury for this military misadventure.

Noble Americans!
You have heard that the US administration is kidnapping its presumed opponents from across the globe and arbitrarily holding them without trial or any international supervision in horrendous prisons that it has established in various parts of the world. God knows who these detainees actually are, and what terrible fate awaits them.

You have certainly heard the sad stories of the Guantanamo and Abu-Ghraib prisons. The US administration attempts to justify them through its proclaimed "war on terror." But everyone knows that such behavior, in fact, offends global public opinion, exacerbates resentment and thereby spreads terrorism, and tarnishes the US image and its credibility among nations.

The US administration's illegal and immoral behavior is not even confined to outside its borders. You are witnessing daily that under the pretext of "the war on terror," civil liberties in the United States are being increasingly curtailed. Even the privacy of individuals is fast losing its meaning. Judicial due process and fundamental rights are trampled upon. Private phones are tapped, suspects are arbitrarily arrested, sometimes beaten in the streets, or even shot to death.

I have no doubt that the American people do not approve of this behavior and indeed deplore it.

The US administration does not accept accountability before any organization, institution or council. The US administration has undermined the credibility of international organizations, particularly the United Nations and its Security Council. But, I do not intend to address all the challenges and calamities in this message.

The legitimacy, power and influence of a government do not emanate from its arsenals of tanks, fighter aircraft, missiles or nuclear weapons. Legitimacy and influence reside in sound logic, quest for justice and compassion and empathy for all humanity. The global position of the United States is in all probability weakened because the administration has continued to resort to force, to conceal the truth, and to mislead the American people about its policies and practices.

Undoubtedly, the American people are not satisfied with this behavior and they showed their discontent in the recent elections. I hope that in the wake of the mid-term elections, the administration of President Bush will have heard and will heed the message of the American people.

My questions are the following:

Is there not a better approach to governance?

Is it not possible to put wealth and power in the service of peace, stability, prosperity and the happiness of all peoples through a commitment to justice and respect for the rights of all nations, instead of aggression and war?

We all condemn terrorism, because its victims are the innocent.

But, can terrorism be contained and eradicated through war, destruction and the killing of hundreds of thousands of innocents? If that were possible, then why has the problem not been resolved? The sad experience of invading Iraq is before us all.

What has blind support for the Zionists by the US administration brought for the American people? It is regrettable that for the US administration, the interests of these occupiers supersedes the interests of the American people and of the other nations of the world.

What have the Zionists done for the American people that the US administration considers itself obliged to blindly support these infamous aggressors? Is it not because they have imposed themselves on a substantial portion of the banking, financial, cultural and media sectors?

I recommend that in a demonstration of respect for the American people and for humanity, the right of Palestinians to live in their own homeland should be recognized so that millions of Palestinian refugees can return to their homes and the future of all of Palestine and its form of government be determined in a referendum. This will benefit everyone.

Now that Iraq has a Constitution and an independent Assembly and Government, would it not be more beneficial to bring the US officers and soldiers home, and to spend the astronomical US military expenditures in Iraq for the welfare and prosperity of the American people? As you know very well, many victims of Katrina continue to suffer, and countless Americans continue to live in poverty and homelessness.

I'd also like to say a word to the winners of the recent elections in the US:

The United States has had many administrations; some who have left a positive legacy, and others that are neither remembered fondly by the American people nor by other nations.

Now that you control an important branch of the US Government, you will also be held to account by the people and by history.

If the US Government meets the current domestic and external challenges with an approach based on truth and justice, it can remedy some of the past afflictions and alleviate some of the global resentment and hatred of America. But if the approach remains the same, it would not be unexpected that the American people would similarly reject the new electoral winners, although the recent elections, rather than reflecting a victory, in reality point to the failure of the current administration's policies. These issues had been extensively dealt with in my letter to President Bush earlier this year.

To sum up:

It is possible to govern based on an approach that is distinctly different from one of coercion, force and injustice.

It is possible to sincerely serve and promote common human values, honesty and compassion.

It is possible to provide welfare and prosperity without tension, threats, imposition or war.

It is possible to lead the world towards the aspired perfection by adhering to unity, monotheism, morality and spirituality and drawing upon the teachings of the Divine Prophets.

Then, the American people, who are God-fearing and followers of Divine religions, will overcome every difficulty.

What I stated represents some of my anxieties and concerns.

I am confident that you, the American people, will play an instrumental role in the establishment of justice and spirituality throughout the world. The promises of the Almighty and His prophets will certainly be realized, Justice and Truth will prevail and all nations will live a true life in a climate replete with love, compassion and fraternity.

The US governing establishment, the authorities and the powerful should not choose irreversible paths. As all prophets have taught us, injustice and transgression will eventually bring about decline and demise. Today, the path of return to faith and spirituality is open and unimpeded.

We should all heed the Divine Word of the Holy Qur'an:

"But those who repent, have faith and do good may receive Salvation. Your Lord, alone, creates and chooses as He will, and others have no part in His choice; Glorified is God and Exalted above any partners they ascribe to Him." (28:67-68)

I pray to the Almighty to bless the Iranian and American nations and indeed all nations of the world with dignity and success.


Source

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

I read Mr. Ahmadinejad letter to the American people. I printed it out and took it home with me after I got off work. From what I read I felt there was nothing but allot of rambling and criticizing of America. We do not need to be preached too.We get enough of that already.

The first problem I seen within the letter isMr. Ahmadinejad talking about Palistine. What about the Jews? We have a saying which is "it takes two to pick a fight and takes two to make up." It just is not one countries fault. We Americans want Palistine to become a state but they also have to understand that Israel has a right to exsist. I also noticed in the letter he referred Israel as the Zionists. I noticed throughout the letter Mr. Ahmadinejad blamed the Jews for everything.

Now on one side Mr. Ahmadinejad did ask some interesting questions and in part on some of those questions I agree.

I as so many American's believe if Mr. Ahmadinejad had never made the statement that Israel needs to be wiped off the face of the earth we Americans might ackowledge that he is not anti-sentimic. The point is Mr. Ahmadinejad is just that ant-sentimic". How can we American's believe anything he says. If he seriously wants the American people to become friends and etc then he needs to change his whole attitude. He is right that their are many Iraians that live here in America. My question to him is why did they leave Iran if Iran is so great? In fact my dentist is an Iranian and he is a great guy. He chose to live in America not in Iran.

One other thing I have found is Mr. Ahmadinejad can be quite confusing. He says one thing and turns around all sweet and nice. To many mixed signals.

Rick said...

Here is my reaction to his letter:

Well, the dear president does seem to understand what words to say, which is more than we can say for our own Dear Leader. However, this letter seems aimed, instead of driving progress toward normalized relations, at driving a wedge between President Bush and the American people.

Thank you, President Ahmadinejad, but we really don't need your assistance with this; we are already there.

Many of us in America understand that our president has illegally invaded Iraq.

Many of us in America understand that our president had no plan for improving the nation of Iraq or the lives of its people.

Many of us in America understand that our president has intentionally committed war crimes and granted himself national immunity for these crimes.

Many of us in America understand that our president lied to drag our nation into this war, and that he is in denial about the situation which our military, and our nation, now find ourselves in.

But frankly, President Ahmadinejad, we don't need you to point out these things.

I am a believer that people should call others into question only when they are prepared to be questioned themselves. Thus, until you are prepared to discuss the oppression of the Iranian people by the Ayatollahs of your land, perhaps you want to be careful about daring to moralize to us.

I recognize that the United States has meddled in the politics of Iran, supporting the rise of the Shah and his oppressive regime. I recognize that in general U.S. foreign policy has been less than visionary and has been limited to short-term thinking. And I recognize that Iran has little reason at this time to trust the United States of America.

None the less, I do hope for a time when we see normalized relations between our two nations.

But I am not naive, nor are most Americans.

We are well aware of what your regime represents.

We are aware of your torture and mistreatment of ethnic Arabs.

We are aware of your denial of a higher education to anyone holding views contrary to that of the government.

We are aware of your torture of a human rights activist who utilized the internet to call for a more open and democratic society in Iran.

We are aware of your use of the death penalty for those whose political views are contrary to the government, as well as your use of capital punishment against youth under the age of 18.

We are aware of your imprisonment of those whose religious views differ from that of the Ayatollahs.

We are aware of your police's beating of hundreds of people gathered to advocate for women's rights.

We are aware of the arrest of laborers who were arrested for striking to improve their own lives.

We are aware of your imprisonment and execution of gays in your society.

We are aware of your executions of Kurdish protestors.

I could go on, but I believe the point has been made. Those who live in glass houses should be very careful about throwing stones.

The fact of the matter, President Ahmadinejad, is that within a democracy, we the citizens are free to express our disapproval with our government, as well as to vigorously protest against it. Our Constitution and our laws assure our protection in an open and free society. And while President Bush has done damage within the United States as well as outside of it, the fact remains that we are free to conduct our struggle in public, and to elect people who will turn this nation in the direction that we desire.

Do not pretend that the same can be said of Iran.

Do not pretend to able to moralize to us.

Do not pretend that the government of Iran is noble, or that it is just.

Do not pretend that you do not have ambitions that would be advanced without an American military presence in the region.

The conflict in Iraq is a regional one, and will require regional participation to resolve. But no matter how much we hate Mr. Bush, please don't ever confuse that with our desire to abdicate the region to your influence. We are aware of your ambitions and will protest an expanded Iranian military presence far more vigorously than we oppose our own.

Don't make the mistake of believing that just because one inept president miscalculated the situation in Iraq, that we will be content to abide by the Shi'ia oppression of Sunni Islam.

You see, Mr. President, in this nation we not only have freedom of religion, but we have freedom from religion as well. We separate church and state, believing that oppressive societies arise where religion is a forced choice. Your nation seems to represent a good example of what we mean.

President Ahmadinejad, mind your own country while we mind ours, and let's hope that we can come together on issues of mutual interest, to evetnually become partners in the world.

genebko said...

Apparently, humility is necessary for all those considered.

While we are quoting of the Holy Qur'an:
028.056
Surely you cannot guide whom you love, but Allah guides whom He pleases, and He knows best the followers of the right way.

It is not up to us to “wipe out” or eliminate those who speak differently from us. It is not we on this earth who are capable of making that judgment.

Jesus spoke these same words; Matt. 7:1 "Do not judge, or you too will be judged."

Mister President, please remember that you are raised up through the providence of the Holy God and you will be judged more harshly by Him due to your influence of the people you serve. How do you wish humanity to remember you? How do you wish God to remember you?

Randy Kirk said...

I arrived at this site not knowing whether it was a joke, a parody, or the real thing. As I read this speech (exerpts of which I heard on various radio talk show programs), I couldn't help thinking I was reading a speech that could have been given by past President Carter, or Senator Kerry, or ...

Kønig Hasemörder said...

Please God lets not bring God up when we speak of Humanity. God has been a very poor sport in the keeping the peace game.

JCM said...

Great blog, nice to see him by his words, instead of through American propaganda.

BTW, on God. He created you, gave you free will. If he were to stop wars and etc, there owuld be no free will, blame him not for our stupidity.

Max Estrella said...

it is too difficult to express all the problems of de middle east area only by a letter to president bush...
the policy of the us (not america,america is south america too and canada)is not contributing to peace but is not the only responsable of the situation....
regards from spain

JohnnyT. said...

I agree with Randy on this one, and Rick, except for the part about hating our President. Ahmadinajhad is a double talker of the order very few have been able to attain. Why was no-one in the middle-east worried about the Palastinians before 1948? That is really the question that if Mahmood answered honestly would knock down his tower of Babble logic.
Maybe America has been overzealous in defending her interests these last 2 centuries, but if we did not we would not be here or would be speaking German.
So to anyone who says bad things about our country I say "too bad!"Who else in this world is standing up for what is right?

Anonymous said...

Thats good.The only problem is that the American people never listen,usually!.Now they even wants to send more soldiers to Iran.Dont they ever learn!?.Waiting for the wars they have started in the world to take part on there own homeground.Maybe they listen better that day!. :) Sweden

IBN BAHYA - إبــن بهيـــــــــــــة said...

In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful

Al salamo Alaykom wa rahmato allah wa barakato

If you know Mr. president Ahmadi Nejad, please tell him look at Arab people (not gov.).. we like our brothers in Iran and we considering them are our strategic stor for Islam .. Sonah and Shea'ah .. no difirence.

before tow monthes ago, there is some survay in egypt asking people which contry is very good for us and wich country is very bad?

many people chosed Iran as a very good country for us and very good brothers for us in Egypt.. it is tru..nevermind from governements.

Al salamo alaykom
thank you

Anonymous said...

While I agree that his motives are somewhat suspectand he speaks from his own agenda what most Americans fail to comprehend is that his views of America are pretty much the views of the rest of the world.
Under this president, America AND it's form of government has become the laughing stock of the rest of the world.
Under your president farcial decisions have been made which only denigrates the image of western democracy. The Muslim world assumes that Britain, France and the rest of the democratic countries of the world are as corrupt and incompetant as America and encourage them to further acts of terrorism.
Your system and style of government is actually giving terrorists the will to continue.

Anonymous said...

To Janice
Why does many Americans choose to live in other countries?
Perhaps your Iranian dentist has nothing to do with any of the points that President Ahmadinejad

made.
Unlike Mr Bush, who has such a long record of oppressing, deceit and well, generally being

atypical of the US mentality of overbearing stupidity.
Go and read his Very long list of accomplishments, still being updated as I am writing this.
You may find it at http://www.topplebush.com/bushresume.shtml

Here's just a few quotes from there:

• Ran for congress and lost.
• Produced a Hollywood slasher B movie.
• Bought an oil company, but couldn't find any oil in Texas, company went bankrupt shortly after

I sold all my stock.
• Bought the Texas Rangers baseball team in a sweetheart deal that took private land using

tax-payer money. Biggest move: Traded Sammy Sosa to the Chicago
White Sox.
• With father's help (and his name) was elected Governor of Texas.
Accomplishments: Changed pollution laws for power and oil companies and made Texas the most

polluted state in the Union. For two years in a row, Houston
had the most days of high ground-level ozone [correction from viewer JP]. Cut taxes and

bankrupted the Texas government to the tune of billions in borrowed
money. Set record for most executions by any Governor in American history.
• Became president after losing the popular vote by over 500,000 votes, with the help of my

fathers appointments to the Supreme Court and voter fraud committed
by brother Jeb and Katherine Harris in Florida.

And the list goes on.
****
dear Rick :

Understanding and recognizing things about your own leaders but, not doing anything about it and

then making as if there was nothing that you could do about it, doesn't absolve the US from

anything.

Perhaps you should tell MR Bush what you dedicated to President Ahmadinejad: Perhaps you should

mind your own business, stay in the US, stop occupying other terrotories and let people live

their lives without forcing your immoral ways on the rest of the world.

You said: "President Ahmadinejad, mind your own country while we mind ours, and let's hope that

we can come together on issues of mutual interest, to eventually become
partners in the world."

I doubt if Iran will ever side with the US on things of mutual interest. You see, Iran never

started war, dropped atomic bombs or invaded other countries, just to take out one leader.

I could go on but, I don't think you'd understand anything I say.

****
genebko :

Perhaps you are talking to your own president; perhaps you should write a letter to your

representative and they might just listen to you, if they have not been bribed yet.
****

Dear Randy Kirk :

You sound like someone with an enquiring mind.
Perhaps you wish to visit http://informationclearinghouse.info and read up some more on your

government.

And you said it JCM . I agree entirely with you.


Iran is standing up more than what the US is JohnnyT. .
Perhaps you don't know enough; perhaps you elect to stay in the dark.
"People who shut their eyes to reality simply invite their own destruction, and anyone who

insists on remaining in a state of innocence long after that
innocence is dead turns himself into a monster.": James Baldwin Biography - Fiction Writer,

Essayist, Social Critic, 1924-1987

Liberty can not be preserved without general knowledge among people." (August 1765) John Adams

****
IBN BAHYA :
I am sure that real thinking people knows that and that you need not be concerned for God is

All-knowing and merciful.

And finally to Bronzed Aussy

Perhaps you should also read up some more on your president, your country and all their

invasions; I'd hang my head in shame if I were you.
But, then again, Americans don't have shame; or do they?

Rådgivende ingeniørfirma said...

Thank you for the letters and for the President thank you also and I hope that you will speaks to your people with your heart and soul because you are a public servant and also a respectful leader of your country. Again thank you for the nice article like this.