"We Need To Talk..." to Iran

Relations between Iran and the United States have been very strained over Tehran’s nuclear program, but the government isn’t doing much to help the situation. However, finally, there is a way for the people to make a difference in the mess of politics that run our country. There now exists a newly created hotline between the United States and Iran! Located in New York, it’s simply a phone bank that allowed any one to come up and use a phone to call the other country just to talk. It’s hosted by a peace activist group called “Enough Fear”, and they’re eager to see progress. There are translators for both sides in order for the conversation to go smoothly. It was made to resemble the hotline between the White House and Kremlin during the Cold War. This is the exact same thing, except now citizens get to use it!

Supports of this idea state that it should be between the two governments, but someone has to be the adult and step up. Everyone has a story, a human story with love and pain, despair and hope, and now people are able to share it with one another. Will this do any good? Or will there be too much anger and resentment, and this ordeal will just cause more problems than there were? Cultures are so different - the exchange of stories might become brutal because of the unique and sometimes clashing styles of beliefs.

The whole idea was started by a Nick Jehlen, a magazine art director, who claimed to be inspired by the internet bloggers between Iran and the United States. He believes that working together in peace will be more productive than just having lone, separate peace movements.

It makes me want to write a letter to “Enough Fear” and to Nick Jehlen, and thank them for trying. I hope it goes well, but I fear that citizens will explore from pent up anger. Who knows how emotions will flare up when confronted? Should those who use the hotline educate themselves on the situation, on the culture of Iran, before calling up a citizen?

I think, also, that internet blogging is a brilliant idea, but it’s also easier to be cruel and nasty in writing - it’s harder to spit hateful words at a listening ear. But I’m glad that someone’s trying. Sometimes it’s better for the citizens of the country to take matters into their own hands, show other countries that there’s more to America than the crazy (sometimes messed up) government. You can’t argue or make amends if you have your parents do it for you (our governments being our parents).