A Letter to the Editor of the San Luis Obispo Tribune

by Phyllis Davies

I want to thank the Tribune for your story on my trip as a civilian diplomat to Iran ("Proferring Peace, Politics Aside," February 26, 2007). It was a deep joy to take the hundreds of letters people of the Central Coast wrote addressed to “My unknown friend in Iran,” which I hand delivered to appreciative individuals across Iran.

I traveled to the Islamic Republic of Iran at this time of increased tension between our countries believing that getting to know people and become acquainted with a country makes it easier to become friends. Over the years, in traveling and helping in now 55 countries, I have learned that an enemy is only someone with whom you have not taken time to hear their story.

We on the Fellowship of Reconciliation Civilian Diplomacy team were among only 300 or so individuals holding U.S. passports to visit Iran in the last 12 months. (While many thousands of others from many countries -- for example, over 60,000 Germans -- have come as tourists to visit this historical, spectacular, diverse country and its warm, peace-loving, faithful, educated, and friendly people.) We found that Iran is a large (nearly 1/3 the size of the United States) and modern country.

During our visit we met with Muslim and Christian leaders, government officials, still-hospitalized victims of chemical and other weapons, and students. We talked with thousands of Iranian people as we traveled through the country to many of its World Heritage Sites; Jewish, Christian, Muslim, and Zoroastrian places of worship; and cities and small communities.

We learned that Iran has not started a war with another country in 250 years. Iran lost over 1,000,000 men -- yes, one million -- when Iraq, armed extensively with U.S. and British weapons, attacked Iran in 1980. Iranians defended their country until the war ended with an Iranian victory in 1988.

We saw it is possible for further dialogue and that there can be a new day in U.S.-Iranian relations. The Iranian government has already built a bridge toward the American people by inviting our delegation to come to Iran. We are asking the U.S. government to welcome similar delegations of Iranian religious leaders and government officials to the United States.

When we asked about the nuclear issue, we were asked, "Why can Iran not use the uranium naturally found in its country to peacefully produce the electricity that we need, especially when we realize their petroleum reserves will eventually run out?" It was noted that Iran's far less stable neighboring country Pakistan, as well as its neighbors India and Israel, plus the U.S. and many other countries, have nuclear energy capability.

We heard many times a day, “We love the American people, but we don’t appreciate your government wanting to tell us what to do.” This was often followed by, “We in Iran don’t like our current administration.”

It was very apparent to our group, and to me, that we must build bridges between the United States and Iran by:

• immediately engaging in direct, face-to-face talks between governments;
• ceasing to use language that defines the other using "enemy" images; and
• promoting more people-to-people exchanges, including religious leaders, members of Parliament/Congress, and individuals visiting as tourists.

I believe military action is not the answer, and we can and must build bridges of understanding between our two countries as we work toward just and peaceful relationships within the global community. I will soon be available for talks to groups here in the California Central Coast area, contact me directly.

Appreciatively,
Phyllis Davies (e-mail Phyllis by clicking here)
San Luis Obispo, California