{"id":277,"date":"2009-03-20T12:58:21","date_gmt":"2009-03-20T12:58:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/cityofbrass\/2009\/03\/transcript-obamas-nowruz-messa.html"},"modified":"2009-03-20T12:58:21","modified_gmt":"2009-03-20T12:58:21","slug":"transcript-obamas-nowruz-messa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/cityofbrass\/2009\/03\/transcript-obamas-nowruz-messa.html","title":{"rendered":"TRANSCRIPT: Obama’s Nowruz message to Iran (with word cloud)"},"content":{"rendered":"

This is the transcript and word cloud of Obama’s video to the Iranian people for Nowruz<\/a>, which goes far beyond the general Nowruz statements issued by previous Presidents Bush and Clinton.
\"obama-nowruz\"<\/a>
The word cloud is notable in that the words “New” and “future” are so dominant. Interestingly, so too are the words “United States” – there is much about the shared values here, a direct appeal to the people of Iran to see us as friends and not a threat. <\/p>\n

Transcript follows:<\/p>\n

\n

THE PRESIDENT: Today I want to extend my very best wishes to all who are celebrating Nowruz around the world.<\/p>\n

This holiday is both an ancient ritual and a moment of renewal, and
\nI hope that you enjoy this special time of year with friends and family.<\/p>\n

In particular, I would like to speak directly to the people and
\nleaders of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Nowruz is just one part of
\nyour great and celebrated culture. Over many centuries your art, your
\nmusic, literature and innovation have made the world a better and more
\nbeautiful place.<\/p>\n

Here in the United States our own communities have been enhanced by
\nthe contributions of Iranian Americans. We know that you are a great
\ncivilization, and your accomplishments have earned the respect of the
\nUnited States and the world.<\/p>\n

For nearly three decades relations between our nations have been
\nstrained. But at this holiday we are reminded of the common humanity
\nthat binds us together. Indeed, you will be celebrating your New Year
\nin much the same way that we Americans mark our holidays — by
\ngathering with friends and family, exchanging gifts and stories, and
\nlooking to the future with a renewed sense of hope.<\/p>\n

Within these celebrations lies the promise of a new day, the promise
\nof opportunity for our children, security for our families, progress
\nfor our communities, and peace between nations. Those are shared hopes,
\nthose are common dreams.<\/p>\n

So in this season of new beginnings I would like to speak clearly to
\nIran’s leaders. We have serious differences that have grown over time.
\nMy administration is now committed to diplomacy that addresses the full
\nrange of issues before us, and to pursuing constructive ties among the
\nUnited States, Iran and the international community. This process will
\nnot be advanced by threats. We seek instead engagement that is honest
\nand grounded in mutual respect.<\/p>\n

You, too, have a choice. The United States wants the Islamic
\nRepublic of Iran to take its rightful place in the community of
\nnations. You have that right — but it comes with real
\nresponsibilities, and that place cannot be reached through terror or
\narms, but rather through peaceful actions that demonstrate the true
\ngreatness of the Iranian people and civilization. And the measure of
\nthat greatness is not the capacity to destroy, it is your demonstrated
\nability to build and create.<\/p>\n

So on the occasion of your New Year, I want you, the people and
\nleaders of Iran, to understand the future that we seek. It’s a future
\nwith renewed exchanges among our people, and greater opportunities for
\npartnership and commerce. It’s a future where the old divisions are
\novercome, where you and all of your neighbors and the wider world can
\nlive in greater security and greater peace.<\/p>\n

I know that this won’t be reached easily. There are those who insist
\nthat we be defined by our differences. But let us remember the words
\nthat were written by the poet Saadi, so many years ago: “The children
\nof Adam are limbs to each other, having been created of one essence.”<\/p>\n

With the coming of a new season, we’re reminded of this precious
\nhumanity that we all share. And we can once again call upon this spirit
\nas we seek the promise of a new beginning.<\/p>\n

Thank you, and Eid-eh Shoma Mobarak.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Original transcript via The Washington Post<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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City of Brass is his weblog, which was founded in 2002 under the name UNMEDIA. He is a co-founder of the annual Brass Crescent Awards. The name City of Brass refers to the Story of the City of Brass in the Thousand and One Nights, and the poem by Rudyard Kipling of the same name: Here was a people whom, after their works, thou shalt see wept over for their lost dominion; And in this palace is the last information respecting lords collected in the dust. -- Thousand and One Nights, Story of the City of Brass IN A land that the sand overlays, the ways to her gates are untrod, A multitude ended their days whose fates were made splendid by God, Till they grew drunk and were smitten with madness and went to their fall, And of these is a story written: but Allah Alone knoweth all! -- Rudyard Kipling, The City of Brass (1909)"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/cityofbrass\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/277","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/cityofbrass\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/cityofbrass\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/cityofbrass\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/165"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/cityofbrass\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=277"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/cityofbrass\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/277\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/cityofbrass\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=277"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/cityofbrass\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=277"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/cityofbrass\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=277"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}