Code Pink Activists Blaze the Trail for Obama's 'No Preconditions'

By Linda Milazzo, AlterNet. Posted November 23, 2008.

Tonight the students from Miles for Peace who bicycled across the US came at about 11:00 to beg Medea for time to take her to see their Iran. They also told us about their plans for a friend to swim the Persian Gulf for peace, and an agreement they have for the US soccer team to play the Iranian soccer team in April and then 50 Iranian/Americans to come to Iran and bicycle across Iran as they had done across the US.

 

 

There is so much more but I am exhausted.

 

 

Hey president-elect Obama, Iranians are wonderful people. They don't deserve harm. In my life as an educator, I work with many Iranian adults. My students are physicians, engineers, educators, scientists and more. Iranians living in America are frequently more wealthy than those in Iran today. They left Iran with their riches. Most define Iran by "before the [Islamic] Revolution" and "after the Revolution." They are some of the best-traveled, most sophisticated and generous people I know. Most Iranians I've met, who are naturalized citizens, voted for you in hope you'd negotiate a lasting peace with Iran.

I also have Iraqi students -- but just a few. Of my Iraqi students, one always comes to mind. He's an incredibly handsome young father of a very famous young son. His son was the beautiful five year old boy who was set on fire in Iraq, terribly disfigured, and brought to the U.S. to be treated. The young father is making a life here in America. He smiles and tells me of his young son's progress. About his many operations. In each conversation I feel his sense of pain. In each conversation I feel my sense of shame.

President-elect Obama, take a lesson from the citizen diplomats who have traveled to Iran. "Let's talk!" Let's stop the next war now!!

Recently in New York City, Codepink distributed a faux edition of the New York Times, displaying the headline, Iraq War Ends! It was enthusiastically received!

Last week in Washington, DC, Codepink visited the Syrian, Iranian, Cuban, Venezuelan and Bolivian embassies to deliver doves, apple pies, flowers and cards. All five countries have had strained relationships with the Bush administration. The Codepink message to these embassies was yes we can live in peace. As you can see, we're ready for change. 

So tell us President-elect Obama, now that you're taking office with your commitment to change, when's a good time to talk?

See more stories tagged with: iran, peace, ahmadinejad, codepink, medea benjamin, jodie evans

Linda Milazzo is a Los Angeles based writer, educator and activist. Since 1974, she has divided her time between the entertainment industry, government organizations & community development projects, and educational programs.

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