Meeting to promote peace

PAC pushes for better local understanding for Iraq

By: Stephanie Brown
    MONROE — Members of the Monroe Chapter of Peace Action Coalition say a better understanding of Iran would lead to improved diplomacy between the country and the United States.
    In an effort to address misconceptions of the Middle Eastern country and its people, guest speaker Melissa Van, executive director of Peace Action New York State, spoke to a crowd of approximately 40 people in the Monroe Township Municipal Center on Monday about her recent trip to Iran.
    "I think that the most important thing to say about the country is that there are a lot of similarities between Iran and the U.S.," she said. "I felt very at home with the people there, and I think that they really desire to get their relationship back on track with the U.S."
    Ms. Van spent 10 days traveling throughout Iran during the spring as part of a Friendship and Peace Mission sponsored by the Fellowship of Reconciliation.
    The Fellowship of Reconciliation was established prior to World War I after clergy members of different faiths united to try to prevent the war from breaking out, Ms. Van said.
    The organization sponsors trips to countries that are in conflict with the United States to establish person to person contact, which Ms. Van said creates a better understanding of the situation than what is often portrayed in the media.
    "I consider myself a very educated and open minded person," Ms. Van said. "I really didn’t expect to have a lot of my preconceived notions completely blown away. Everyone of my expectations was wrong."
    Ms. Van said she was surprised to see how diverse the country was after meeting with many nongovernmental organizations, religious groups and simply mingling with people on the streets of Iran’s cities.
   ýPage=003 Column=001 OK,0072.01þ
"We have a sense in this country that Iran is very homogenous in its view points and religious sentiments, even that its people are ethically the same, but that is not true," she said.
    Ms. Van explained that Iran has a very rich culture because it has served as a crossroad to the East and West throughout history.
    Known as Persia until 1935, Iran became an Islamic republic in 1979 after the ruling monarchy was overthrown and the shah was forced into exile.
    "Islam is sort of something cultural that they’ve taken on," said Ms. Van. "It’s part of their heritage, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that they are closed minded about it. The range of how religious a person is varies just as much as it does here."
    Since the revolution, Ms. Van said, some things have improved, like the increased availability of education and women’s rights.
    However, Ms. Van said that political corruption has caused many Iranians to become dissatisfied with their government.
    "Over time, the people who overthrew the shah have become just as corrupt," she said. "There’s not a lot of respect for religious leaders and most people want to see some kind of reform."
    Ms. Van said she was surprised to see how westernized the country was and how open Iranians were to Americans.
    She said Iranians watch American shows like "Friends" and Oprah and eat a lot of the same foods Americans do.
    "I was not expecting to see Frosted Flakes in the grocery store," she said with a laugh.
    While the Iranians welcomed Americans and American culture, Ms. Van said, they are openly opposed to President George W. Bush’s refusal to recognize the country.
    At a United Nations meeting Monday, President Bush firmly denounced Iran and Syria, two nations that he says are working to thwart freedom in the region.
    Speaking at a meeting just ýPage=003 Column=002 OK,0075.06þ
ahead of his speech to the 61st meeting of the United Nations General Assembly, President Bush said the United States would meet with Iran once that nation suspends its uranium enrichment activities.
    Until the Iranians can prove they’ve stopped such activities, President Bush said, negotiations with Tehran will take place only through France, Germany and Britain.
    Members of the Coalition for Peace Action say that the president’s decision not to recognize Iran is a mistake and that diplomatic solutions must be pursued through open dialogue.
    "Diplomacy is everything," Irene Goldberg, the chairwoman of the coalition’s Princeton chapter, said. "Unfortunately, the art of diplomacy is sorely lacking in our government."
    Audience members asked how person-to-person interaction and a subsequent better understanding of Iran could improve international relations.
    Ms. Van said both countries’ leaders are beholden to public support.
    "They have to listen to the world at large," said Ms. Van. "I think we have a lot more power than we think we do."
    "It is our obligation to put pressure on local and federal representatives to make sure (diplomacy) happens," added Ms. Goldberg.