Barack Obama led out with words of hope and a great big gaffe today.
On Iran his words could not have been more apt. Obama offers Iran 'the promise of a new beginning' on CNN calls the message "a dramatic shift in tone from that of the Bush administration, which included Iran, along with North Korea and Iraq, in an "axis of evil."
The text of Barack Obama's address to Iran is here.
He is honouring of their history and culture, conciliatory, and yet not a pushover. Central is the "precious humanity that we all share."
... For nearly three decades relations between our nations have been strained. But at this holiday we are reminded of the common humanity that binds us together. Indeed, you will be celebrating your New Year in much the same way that we Americans mark our holidays – by gathering with friends and family, exchanging gifts and stories, and looking to the future with a renewed sense of hope.
Within these celebrations lies the promise of a new day, the promise of opportunity for our children, security for our families, progress for our communities, and peace between nations. Those are shared hopes, those are common dreams. ...
... I know that this won't be reached easily. There are those who insist that we be defined by our differences. But let us remember the words that were written by the poet Saadi, so many years ago: "The children of Adam are limbs to each other, having been created of one essence. ... "
It is so good to see a world leader speaking to bring people together. "The children
of Adam are limbs to each other, having been created of one essence."
And the Iranian response? The BBC ( Iran seeking change in US policy ) notes that they have welcomed it but said that America would have to change its behaviour, reverse its support for Israel, end sanctions and and apologise for past wrongs. The text of the Iranian response is here. Others interpret it less positively, but it does seem to represent a significant opening up of closed minds.
It seems that Israel's President Shimon Peres has come in on the act and greeted Iran on Nowruz, though his language is less conciliatory and more demanding of change.
Meanwhile, the magic could be said to have lifted for a while today, when the President on the Jay Leno show compared his performance at ten pin bowling to the Special Olympics. But he quickly got on the phone to apologise to Tim Shriver, Chair of the Special Olympics which are for people with learning disabilities. ( Obama sorry for disability remark. ) The BBCsays Shriver's response was to note how "words hurt and words do matter."
"And these words that in some respect can be seen as humiliating or a put down to people with special needs do cause pain and they do result in stereotypes."
CNN ( Obama's late-night slip teaches how words hurt ) puts it this way:
In a quick and clearly unscripted moment, President Obama exhibited the power of words during his history-making visit Thursday with Jay Leno.
They note how March 31st is planned to be a national day of awareness, "a call to Americans to consider their use of the word "retard," or as the organization would prefer, the "R-word." They note:
As I write I note that CNN has Special Olympics really capitalising on this: Special Olympics asks Obama to consider hiring athlete. “In so doing, he could help end misperceptions about the talents and abilities of people with intellectual disabilities, and demonstrate their dignity and value to the world."
So for Obama, gilded diplomacy and his humanity displayed on one day. But in many ways the response to the gaffe could be said to be as significant. A straightforward apology - and hopefully some level of future high profile engagement with those who are different but who can teach us so much. Sarah Palin does not have a monopoly on that. As the Iranian poet said:
"The children of Adam are limbs to each other, having been created of one essence."
Its true of special needs children and adults as much as it is of Iranians.
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