More reflections on the Ahmadinejad meetings
An excellent article appears in the current issue of The Jewish Week, focused on Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb’s presentation at the interfaith "iftar" dinner with Iranian President Ahmadinejad last Thursday, September 25th. Titled "Speaking Up to Iran Leader — Gingerly," the article describes the courageous speech by Gottlieb at the event, as the only Jewish leader speaking that evening. Rabbi Lynn is a long-time leader in the Fellowship of Reconciliation, having worked at FOR many years ago with the Jewish Peace Fellowship and having led some two dozen interfaith peace-building delegations to Israel & Palestine over the past quarter-century. In April-May 2008, Rabbi Lynn co-led a civilian diplomacy and peace-building delegation sent by FOR to Iran.
Comments also continue to flow in to FOR (and to be posted on blogs, etc.) about the meeting that FOR hosted one day earlier, between President Ahmadinejad and member of the U.S. peace community (the iftar event was hosted by five other organizations). Here is a selection of recent reflections we’ve received and columns we’ve found online:
- From the Erie Times News (Erie PA) — highlighting David Robinson, executive director of Pax Christi USA and a member of FOR’s May 2006 delegation to Iran: "Pax Christi head met with Iranian president"
- From the Democrat and Chronicle (Rochester NY) by Lynda Howland, a peace and international human rights solidarity activist in Pittsford NY, and member of FOR’s Feb./March 2008 delegation to Iran: "Meeting with Iranian leader reinforces need to seek peace"
- Joe Lombardo, founding member of both Bethlehem Neighbors for Peace (based in the Capital District of New York, aka Albany NY) and the Muslim Solidarity Committee: "Meeting with President Ahmadinejad"
- Paul Kawika Martin, organizing and policy director at Peace Action and a member of FOR’s March 2007 delegation to Iran: "Meeting with Iranian President Ahmadinejad"
- Ed Hale, cofounder of the Peace With Iran web site and a member of FOR’s February/March 2008 delegation to Iran: "Summary of Meeting with President Ahmadinejad — Part 1 of 3"
The Unitarian Universalist Association issued this press release on President Bill Sinkford’s participation: The UU membership has responded in numerous ways to the statement and Sinkford’s participation. One positive example is a posting by Rev. Kit Ketcham to her blog (which received numerous comments from readers). A condeming response titled "Welcome for Ahmadinejad?" on the other hand, was posted by Victoria Weinstein on her "Peacebang" blog.
The following remarks are excerpted from a message from Tom Cornell, long-time leader in the Catholic Peace Fellowship and also the New York Catholic Worker:
I’m glad I came… Mark Johnson [executive director of FOR] was most impressive. His introduction to the program was well conceptualized and well constructed. Pres. Ahmadinejad was personable. I understand why questions had to be filtered. I am glad that their authors were allowed to present them. Medea Benjamin [co-founder of CodePink and Global Exchange] made a strong impression with her questions about visas denied and granted for no apparent reason and restrictions put upon delegations to Iran, especially in regard to access to NGOs there. Mr. Ahmadinejad spent his first 35 minutes stringing banality to cliche. He justified the US-UK invasion of Iraq! Astounding! Then he ignored some questions, gave others short shrift. The spirit of the exchanges was nevertheless positive. Mr. Ahmadinejad and his delegation were given respect and a polite reception along with some hard questions.
The principle aim of the meeting was met: to keep lines of communication open for dialogue. FOR deserves great credit for that.
