Peace With Iran is a non-profit organization, on-going project, and website dedicated to people from all over the world who want to see, feel, and experience more peace in the world – specifically in regards to the country of Iran in relations with the United States, Great Britain, Israel, and the rest of the planet’s Nation States. It is our hope, as it probably is for most people in the world, that we all get along in a more peaceful and harmonious, and less threatening and violent, manner. It is an international coalition of many people from all over the world who share this common goal. The project was initially created by Transcendence singer/songwriter Ed Hale after returning from a peace delegation of Civlilian Diplomacy to Iran in March of 2008 in cooperation with the Fellowship of Reconciliation (FOR), the oldest peace organization in the world today.

The site is dedicated to sharing the culture of Iran through presenting photos and videos, discussing Iranian movies, books, posting personal blogs, articles, and interviews about Iran by Americans, Iranians, and people from all other countries. PeaceWithIran.com is a project started by past and future delegates who have visited Iran from the United States and the United Kingdom through the 100 year old peace-promoting Fellowship of Reconciliation organization. We are christians, jews, muslims, buddhists, hindus, humanists, and atheists. Delegates come in all shapes and sizes, from all walks of life, backgrounds, ages, and occupations. They have no shared political affiliation except perhaps the love of freedom and democracy. Our mission in travelling to Iran is Civilian Diplomacy, to see the land, meet the people, and learn more about the culture and the history. Perhaps in turn hopefully create more peace, harmony, and understanding by helping them get to learn a little more about us up close and personal and in the flesh.

If you feel aligned with the mission of the project and feel so inclined, feel free to contribute in any way you can. Perhaps you are an Iranian/American and want to share your own personal story, some photos, or write a blog post now and then. Feel free to shoot us an email and join us in this noble cause.

 

A Personal Message from Leila Zand, Iran Program Director for the Fellowship of Reconciliation

Since 1979, there have been many criticisms about the Islamic Republic Of Iran’s behaviors and actions as a theological regime. Our main criticism of the Islamic Republic of Iran is in its handling of the human rights and the governmental interference in people’s lives as individual human beings. We, the advocates of peace, justice, and human rights, have repeatedly expressed our disapproval of the government in Iran, as well as the United States Administration’s policies toward individual freedoms and the human rights.

We announce our disagreement with the Iranian government in its dealing with women and their unique movement as well as students and labor movements in Iran. We strongly disapprove of the way the Iranian government reacts forcefully and oppresses such existing movements in Iran.

Though we also believe that American interference in the lives of Iranian citizens is illegal and unacceptable and will not further the cause of more peace nor stability to the region nor to the Iranian people. We strongly condemn the American government’s interfering in Iran, just as we strongly condemn the Iranian government’s human rights violations.

Any attempt of regime change or possible military attack from the American administration on Iranian soil is not only illegal, but will also prove devastating and disappointing to millions of Iranian people who truly admire and respect the American people. We believe Iranians are well informed, educated, and intelligent enough to make decisions about their future and for themselves just as the Americans were when they were fighting for their own freedom during their own “revolution.”

Iranian people are a respectable nation with a deep-rooted culture and a remarkable history who have the knowledge to know what they want and what they do not want. We strongly support direct dialogue and negotiation between the two countries of Iran and the United States. This is one of the reasons why we are so committed to the cultural exchange programs that we have created that bring Americans to Iran to meet Iranian people face to face, and that bring Iranian people to the United States to do the same.

Leila Zand
Iran Program Director
Fellowship Of Reconciliation
Box 271 (521 N-Broadway)
Nyack, New York 10960
845-358-4601 Ex.27
Fax: 845-358-4924
E-mail: Iran@forusa.org
www.forusa.org

To learn more about the Fellowship of Reconciliation and how you can become more involved in creating more peace in the world or perhaps even visit Iran on a cultural exchange program click here.

A personal message from Ed Hale

Thank you for visiting www.PeaceWithIran.com. Your presence here is welcomed and appreciated. I want to caveat by saying that though “war is imminent” or “military strikes are imminent” may be an idea or thought or belief that many are carrying around today in regards to the United States and Iran and even Israel, I do not personally hold this thought or idea or belief myself.

Yes I certainly see the news being released everyday about the various issues, and I recognize that parties on all sides feel very passionate about these issues; whether it is the threat of a “nuclear Iran” on one side, or a ”bullying America” on the other side, or a “fearful and hostile Israel” on yet another side. I also certainly understand the potential dangers that all three countries pose against the others and truly against all living beings on the planet today. But I believe that what we think about, what we give energy to, is what we create. We have seen it time and time again. As soon as a country starts beating its war drum, it is only a matter of time until it decides it’s time to “go to war.” Regardless of the loss of life, liberty, respect in the world community, or the burden it places upon the rest of the world. Throughout human history, there has always been one country or another “ready to attack” another country.

The truth of the matter is that this is bound to continue until mass human consciousness changes to the point of what might be called “critical mass” in a way that these people who see “war” as the only answer for “peace” simply no longer exist. In time this will be our reality. It might take our total annihilation and extinction and subsequent reincarnation in yet another form for this to happen, but let us hope not. Let us hope that those of us who see “peaceful means” as the only means available to us to achieve “peace” win this historical battle of wits that is being played out on the world stage.

With that said, let us take it for granted that for the next few months or years even we will have ample opportunity to read about “war” and the “threat of war” in regards to Iran and the United States and Israel if we so choose to. There are plenty of people who find the time and enjoy searching for the latest article or report on what “so and so” said bad about “so and so” and of course in the end it is really nothing but talk leading up to more “war” – even if their intentions are good – meaning that they don’t want “war” – but in fact that is exactly what they will create. Some people have just not evolved to the level of understanding of the “mechanisms of consciousness” yet to the degree that they realize that if they spend all their time thinking and reading about it, they will indeed create it. Whether they claim to want it or not. They are creating it simply by focusing so much attention on it.

But that is not what this particular website is concerned with. Our goals with the www.PeaceWithIran.com website is to show an entirely different side of US/Iran relations and to the country of Iran itself, and the Iranian people. The idea is to literally ignore that pink elephant in the room that at various times is called “war” or “threats of war” or worries or concerns about nuclear energy programs or WMDs or any of that lower-mode primitive-minded nonsense. Because God knows we have plenty of people already giving plenty of energy to those ideas in today’s world.

Remember elementary school? There were always those one or two kids in each class who were the bullies, who picked fights for the slightest reason or for no reason at all, who made fun of other kids, who tried to make us laugh at the expense of others, who tried to pit one classmate against another for the sheer wicked enjoyment they got out of it. Though this isn’t elementary school anymore, it sure seems like it sometimes. Those kids have now grown up. And if we aren’t careful and vigilant to our cause – the safety and survival of our species – these grown up kids could blow us all up simply because they haven’t fully matured yet as most of us have, and also because we haven’t done enough to speak up and tell them to back the fuck down.

It’s too bad we weren’t able to do that in regards to the United States Government’s invasion of the sovereign country of Iraq. Lord knows plenty of people from all over the world tried. But no one was brave enough to really stand up and say “no.” And so in the last five years we have watched in horror over one million innocent people die. It is also equally regrettable that we have thus far been unable to stand up against the Chinese government in regards to how they are slowly but steadily killing hundreds of thousands of Sudanese people right before our eyes.

Of course, the issue of Iran is a bit more complex than Iraq or the Sudan. Both countries were radically unstable and not much of a threat nor a strong foe to begin with. But Iran is a very different matter. The people of the United States of America should feel very lucky that the Iranian people are such a strong, busy, and resilient people that up until this time they have not taken the constant beating of the American war drum by the few barbarians in Washington who do not understand the basic principles of diplomacy too seriously. Instead they choose to just continue on with their lives and hope that eventually America finds someone else to bully. For unlike Iraq or the Sudan or Tibet for that matter, Iran does have the potential to pose a serious threat as a formidable enemy if they ever felt so inclined to. Not only do they have a very proud and loyal populace since their own revolution, they also have the backing and allegiance of many other countries around the world. Luckily for all of us, they instead choose to do their best to just keep on trying to move forward with their day to day lives.

So instead of focusing on war and threats of war and who has the biggest army or the biggest guns or who said what about whom each day in the international press, those of us on the light side need to start focusing our energy on Peace and on People. After all, Iranis a country full of people. So is the United States. And in a nutshell, war isn’t good for people. Nor has it ever done much good for “peace”.

It is easy to find ourselves upset at the US Government, just as it is easy to find ourselves upset with the Iranian government or the Israeli government or the various factions within the Palestinian government. But it isn’t going to do us much good to focus on these feelings of upset. Let us instead choose to focus on Peace itself. Let us instead focus on discovering how many millions of Iranian/Americans we already have living here in the United States who still have family “back home” in beautiful Iran. Let us instead develop a curiosity for this rich and ancient and historic land once called Persia, now called Iran.

Let us instead develop a place online and in our hearts where we who care can share photos, films, books, movies, art, and music from the fascinating cultural exchange that is taking place right this very minute between our two great countries. Iranians love Americans. There is much to like about us. And they can see that. And though many don’t yet know it, Americans love many famous Iranians. Iran has contributed much to the planet in its five thousand year history. Our very own Constitution is said to be inspired by the Persian King Cyrus the Great and his drafting of what many believe to be the very first “constitution.”

PeaceWithIran.com is a story of hope. It is a place to learn and to share. The goal being to add some balance to the already nauseating clutter of war-related stories coming out from the hawks and bullies of the world – and the hapless media lapdogs who follow their every step. We made a grave mistake with Iraq. We never bothered to even look these poor people in the eye before we attacked them; because our hearts were heavy from the events of September 11th, and our minds were confused by falsified “intelligence reports” coming out of Washington. But we will not make that same mistake again.

Let us take a look at the face of Iran – since after all, Iran is a country full of 70 million faces. Our goal is that not one of them is touched, hurt, injured, attacked, maimed, deformed, put out of their homes, or killed by anyone. Just as I am sure most would agree that we have the same goal for ourselves. Let us hold it for our Iranian neighbors as well.

In the meantime, there is much to learn about this truly fascinating people and country. Take your time and look around. And if you have something to share, please feel free. This site is open to all who have something to contribute, even if it is just a photo, a comment, or a message of hope or inspiration. Most of all, share the space in your hearts that we finally acheive that seemingly ever evasive goal of peace not just in words and rhetoric but in actual practice.

Sincerely,
Ed Hale

If you have comments or stories or photos to share please feel free to post a comment or to send us an email. The site is open to all who want to contribute to more peaceful relations with Iran or who simply want to suggest a good book or movie or musician or article. Email: info@peacewithiran.com