Engage, Don’t Demonize

Published October 09, 2008 @ 11:52AM PT

(Sept. 29, 2008)

In the wake of Friday’s presidential debate between Senators John McCain and Barack Obama – during which the candidates argued over when and under what circumstances they would consider meeting with Iran’s leadership – Fellowship of Reconciliation Executive Director Mark C. Johnson described as “positive and encouraging” two days of meetings between Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and U.S. peace and religious leaders. President Ahmadinejad was in New York last week to speak to the United Nations General Assembly.

On Wednesday, September 24th, the Fellowship of Reconciliation (FOR) facilitated a historic meeting between Mr. Ahmadinejad and 150 leaders in the U.S. peace and anti-war community. “The Iranian president’s comments showed forward movement over the past four years on some important issues,” said the Iranian-born Leila Zand, who directs FOR’s Iran program. “While I am still disappointed about his comments on several topics, I believe there has been progress and that this shows the importance of increased communication between our countries.”

 The meeting convened by FOR enabled diverse voices to directly address Mr. Ahmadinejad. A range of pointed concerns were raised, from foreign policy issues – such as “back channel” negotiations toward regional stability with Iraq, Pakistan, and Afghanistan; Iran’s nuclear aspirations; and recognition of and relations with Israel – to religious and political freedoms within the country; from efforts to achieve environmental sustainability to the role of youth in Iran’s democratic process (in a country where two-thirds of the population is under the age of 30). Attendees spoke appreciatively of the president’s direct responses to each questioner.

This dialogue offered hope to all who seek to prevent war between our nations and to build bridges of greater understanding,” said Johnson. “We handed the President 50 pages of materials representing concrete examples of initiatives by national groups as well as local individuals to educate Americans about Iran. We hope this conversation will enable more U.S. citizens to obtain visas to Iran, and believe that increased cultural and political ties between us will help prevent preemptive military action by either country.” (All statements and questions are available online through FOR’s blog at FORpeace.net/tag/iran-dialogue-2008.)

 Participating groups represented hundreds of thousands of Americans who support peaceful resolution to conflict, including Physicians for Social Responsibility, the Union for Concerned Scientists, United for Peace and Justice, Peace Action, and Code Pink. Sixty participants returned on Thursday for a strategy session convened by FOR. Each meeting included dozens of people who had joined Iran peace delegations, including FOR’s civilian diplomacy initiatives.

On Thursday evening, Mark Johnson and other FOR members attended “Has not one God created us?” – a gathering of 300 faith leaders convened by five religious organizations (not including FOR). Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb, a long-time FOR leader who co-led FOR’s seventh Iran peace delegation in May 2008, was a featured speaker. “I support dialogue as a religious obligation,” said Gottlieb, who lifted up her FOR work as an example of that commitment.