Ahmadinejad's courageous dream of a just and equal global society
By Guest Post • Apr 22nd, 2009 at 9:13 • Category: Analysis, Counter-terrorism, No thanks!, Hasbara Deconstruction Site, Israel, Newswire, Opinions and Letters, Palestine, Religion, Resistance, War, Zionism
WRITTEN BY AVIGAIL ABARBANEL (artwork by Alessio Marazzi)I read or heard somewhere that Ahmadinejad's speech was denying the Holocaust. I just read the full text. There is no Holocaust denial in this speech at all. He is also labelled racist by Israel and of course he is not. He is not talking about the character of any people. He criticises Western governments for present and historical injustices against others and against their own people, and for greed and brutality. He is also talking about the inequality in the world community that gives countries like the US the right of veto in the UN Security Council, and the ability to get away with things like the attack on Iraq etc. He is trying to say that hypocrisy rules rather than justice, equality or freedom.
I don't know why everyone attacks this guy. He needs a little bit of editing perhaps, but his speech is right and good. I think it's fashionable to dislike him and dismiss him but his only crime is that he is not complying with the rules of 'politeness' in world diplomacy that mean that everyone ignores what isn't 'pleasant' or politically profitable to talk about, while in the meantime continuing to commit crimes against humanity and injustices everywhere. Ahmadinejad does not see himself bound by Western rules of political politeness and he has the courage to say what he thinks and what needs to be said, knowing full well that this makes him unpopular among world leaders. Wouldn't hurt if more leaders were prepared to speak more plainly and say things honestly.
Ahmadinejad talks about his dream of a just and equal global society. Is this wrong? When he talks about the destruction of Israel he is talking about an end to the exclusively Jewish state, which all anti-Zionists around the world including those from within Israel, are calling for as well. Israel likes to twist this around and say that he wants to destroy Israel or kill Jews. But that's not what he is saying. Funny that Israel with 200 nuclear weapons ready to deploy, and with a rogue government ready to attack civilians at any time, accuses others of developing nuclear weapons. Funny that an apartheid state accuses others of racism… But I guess there is nothing new under the sun. It's just that we want people in the mainstream media to sift through the material and show things as they really are, not as Israel or the US or even the Australian PM Rudd, say they are.
Ahmadinejad believes in god. Surely his understanding that god would want justice for everyone in the world regardless of nationality, should be shared by Jews and by Christians everywhere. Rudd and even Obama flaunt their religious beliefs and Israel's entire project is based on a belief in god (at least on the belief that god has given them the land). Anyone who believes in god should be able to easily identify with Ahmadinejad's just god and his vision of a healthy and just world community.
Anyway, in case you haven't read the speech here it is. I encourage journalists to print the speech so that readers can make up their own minds about it. It has been published in many sites, so it is available for people to read and judge for themselves. I don't want to see the the mainstream media just participating unwittingly in the hate campaign against Ahmadinejad that is based on Israeli propaganda needs rather than anything he is actually saying.
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As European citizen I am profoundly embarrassed by the cowardly delegates who left as soon as Dr. Ahmadinejad mentioned Israel. These are the same people who fill their mouths with self-congratulatory ‘human rights’ pronouncements on each and every occasion. But, like the infamous holocaust 'denial' kangaroo courts in Germany, Canada and elsewhere, when it comes to Israel, telling the truth is no defence. All that counts is that Israel not be criticised or put under the spotlight – even if they commit the most heinous human rights abuses in Palestine and ignore every single UN resolution. There are two sets of rules at work in the world today – those that apply to Israel and the countries under Zionist rule, and the others. Guess who counts and who does not?
Thank you Avigail for a good, courageous and true article!
thanks for boldly stating the truth about this story, which is NEVER stated in MSM. I keep telling people that we need to clear up our rhetoric regarding soundbyte phrases like "destruction of israel". The only ones talking about "throwing Jews in the Sea" are Zionists trying to play on peoples fears.
I have noticed a surprising tendency amongst "anti-zionists" to shower this man with praise for simply stating what we have all known since 1948, while completely ignoring current the actions of the government which he represents. Specifically, the COLLABORATIVE role that Iran has played in the ongoing occupation/ethnic-cleansing of Iraq.
After the American invasion of Iraq, Iranian back political parties where the first to legitimize their presence by joining the imposed government. Since then, sectarian militias (backed by Iran) have been responsible for the displacement or murder of most of Iraq's 30,000 Palestinians (not to mention millions of Iraqis) while the sectarian (read Iran backed) government has (so far) issued Iraqi citizenship to at least 2 million Iranians.
If the Iranian role in Iraq has any historical parallel, it is that of the Zionists in Palestine before and after 1948.
However, if the modern history of Palestine is any indication, it will be at least 50-60 years before the fringe "left" of western academia begins to listen and understand what every Palestinian / Iraqi child always has.
@Adeeb –
Adeeb, I got a very long and detailed letter from the director of Uruknet stating much of what you are saying here. I wish it was in English, because then I could copy and paste some of the information here without needing to translate it.
I agree in essence with what you say, that many are praising him for saying things that to us are completely obvious. Perhaps it is that someone is saying it when they know the cameras are turned on, and they hope that some of this information filters through.
In fact, hearing that he has refused to stop business with Veolia upon request of BDS group is a very bad piece of news. There needs to be really constructive debate on the role of this figure in the scene. Whether or not he is doing the job. The content of the speech is fine, but is it effective and again, is the noise around it more important than the actual issue. In fact, that is where it all ends.. the noise persists and the song remains the same.
thanks for your comments.
Truth and Idols… http://arabwomanblues.blogspot.com/2009/04/truth-and-idols.html
Mallee, I read it and for most of it, I have no argument against it. I have been getting a lot of letters about the issue, and as I've said here, a few important ones from Paola, and I can only say, Yes… you are right about so much.
On the other hand, I do not agree with Layla that the real truth of "the most evil" is Iran This may or may not be true. I have not had to live as a victim of any kind of violence or oppression, so I can't put things on a scale and say what is worse.
All I can say is, Zionism has had the support and arms of the most powerful parts of the world to maintain their predominance. For that reason alone, it is sinister and it controls free minds. No one is free to even think a thought that the Zionists don't approve of. This is imprisonment and enslavement that extends beyond national borders and it pollutes everything. I can't personally see Persian hegemony in the area as being on the same level.
I have my scale of values, they may be wrong, due to lack of information, and all information that is truthful is good and important and I thank Layla (can't do it on the site, no comments left there) for her views and her harsh words, which I agree with to a certain extent. My own view on the issue is on another thread, so I don't need to repeat it here. I however continue to think that the war against imperialism (and her put down of anti-Imperialists I thought was exaggerated and almost reactionary) we haven't got any kind of unity. For instance, one issue is bigger in our hearts and thoughts than another. It is not that one does not care, it is a matter of closeness. We have to hear the truth, for sure, but we can't pretend we know it all, because there is always something we don't know.