In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful

O, Almighty God, bestow upon humanity the perfect human being promised to all by You, and make us among his followers.

Noble Americans,

Were we not faced with the activities of the US administration in this part of the world and the negative ramifications of those activities on the daily lives of our peoples, coupled with the many wars and calamities caused by the US administration as well as the tragic consequences of US interference in other countries;

Were the American people not God-fearing, truth-loving, and justice-seeking, while the US administration actively conceals the truth and impedes any objective portrayal of current realities;

And if we did not share a common responsibility to promote and protect freedom and human dignity and integrity;

Then, there would have been little urgency to have a dialogue with you.

While Divine providence has placed Iran and the United States geographically far apart, we should be cognizant that human values and our common human spirit, which proclaim the dignity and exalted worth of all human beings, have brought our two great nations of Iran and the United States closer together.

Both our nations are God-fearing, truth-loving and justice-seeking, and both seek dignity, respect and perfection.

Both greatly value and readily embrace the promotion of human ideals such as compassion, empathy, respect for the rights of human beings, securing justice and equity, and defending the innocent and the weak against oppressors and bullies.

We are all inclined towards the good, and towards extending a helping hand to one another, particularly to those in need.

We all deplore injustice, the trampling of peoples' rights and the intimidation and humiliation of human beings.

We all detest darkness, deceit, lies and distortion, and seek and admire salvation, enlightenment, sincerity and honesty.

The pure human essence of the two great nations of Iran and the United States testify to the veracity of these statements.

Noble Americans,

Our nation has always extended its hand of friendship to all other nations of the world.

Hundreds of thousands of my Iranian compatriots are living amongst you in friendship and peace, and are contributing positively to your society. Our people have been in contact with you over the past many years and have maintained these contacts despite the unnecessary restrictions of US authorities.

As mentioned, we have common concerns, face similar challenges, and are pained by the sufferings and afflictions in the world.

We, like you, are aggrieved by the ever-worsening pain and misery of the Palestinian people. Persistent aggressions by the Zionists are making life more and more difficult for the rightful owners of the land of Palestine. In broad day-light, in front of cameras and before the eyes of the world, they are bombarding innocent defenseless civilians, bulldozing houses, firing machine guns at students in the streets and alleys, and subjecting their families to endless grief.

No day goes by without a new crime.

Palestinian mothers, just like Iranian and American mothers, love their children, and are painfully bereaved by the imprisonment, wounding and murder of their children. What mother wouldn't?

For 60 years, the Zionist regime has driven millions of the inhabitants of Palestine out of their homes. Many of these refugees have died in the Diaspora and in refugee camps. Their children have spent their youth in these camps and are aging while still in the hope of returning to homeland.

You know well that the US administration has persistently provided blind and blanket support to the Zionist regime, has emboldened it to continue its crimes, and has prevented the UN Security Council from condemning it.

Who can deny such broken promises and grave injustices towards humanity by the US administration?

Governments are there to serve their own people. No people wants to side with or support any oppressors. But regrettably, the US administration disregards even its own public opinion and remains in the forefront of supporting the trampling of the rights of the Palestinian people.

Let's take a look at Iraq. Since the commencement of the US military presence in Iraq, hundreds of thousands of Iraqis have been killed, maimed or displaced. Terrorism in Iraq has grown exponentially. With the presence of the US military in Iraq, nothing has been done to rebuild the ruins, to restore the infrastructure or to alleviate poverty. The US Government used the pretext of the existence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, but later it became clear that that was just a lie and a deception.

Although Saddam was overthrown and people are happy about his departure, the pain and suffering of the Iraqi people has persisted and has even been aggravated.

In Iraq, about one hundred and fifty thousand American soldiers, separated from their families and loved ones, are operating under the command of the current US administration. A substantial number of them have been killed or wounded and their presence in Iraq has tarnished the image of the American people and government.

Their mothers and relatives have, on numerous occasions, displayed their discontent with the presence of their sons and daughters in a land thousands of miles away from US shores. American soldiers often wonder why they have been sent to Iraq.

I consider it extremely unlikely that you, the American people, consent to the billions of dollars of annual expenditure from your treasury for this military misadventure.

Noble Americans,

You have heard that the US administration is kidnapping its presumed opponents from across the globe and arbitrarily holding them without trial or any international supervision in horrendous prisons that it has established in various parts of the world. God knows who these detainees actually are, and what terrible fate awaits them.

You have certainly heard the sad stories of the Guantanamo and Abu-Ghraib prisons. The US administration attempts to justify them through its proclaimed "war on terror." But every one knows that such behavior, in fact, offends global public opinion, exacerbates resentment and thereby spreads terrorism, and tarnishes the US image and its credibility among nations.

The US administration's illegal and immoral behavior is not even confined to outside its borders. You are witnessing daily that under the pretext of "the war on terror," civil liberties in the United States are being increasingly curtailed. Even the privacy of individuals is fast losing its meaning. Judicial due process and fundamental rights are trampled upon. Private phones are tapped, suspects are arbitrarily arrested, sometimes beaten in the streets, or even shot to death.

I have no doubt that the American people do not approve of this behavior and indeed deplore it.

The US administration does not accept accountability before any organization, institution or council. The US administration has undermined the credibility of international organizations, particularly the United Nations and its Security Council. But, I do not intend to address all the challenges and calamities in this message.

The legitimacy, power and influence of a government do not emanate from its arsenals of tanks, fighter aircrafts, missiles or nuclear weapons. Legitimacy and influence reside in sound logic, quest for justice and compassion and empathy for all humanity. The global position of the United States is in all probability weakened because the administration has continued to resort to force, to conceal the truth, and to mislead the American people about its policies and practices.

Undoubtedly, the American people are not satisfied with this behavior and they showed their discontent in the recent elections. I hope that in the wake of the mid-term elections, the administration of President Bush will have heard and will heed the message of the American people.

My questions are the following:

Is there not a better approach to governance?

Is it not possible to put wealth and power in the service of peace, stability, prosperity and the happiness of all peoples through a commitment to justice and respect for the rights of all nations, instead of aggression and war?

We all condemn terrorism, because its victims are the innocent.

But, can terrorism be contained and eradicated through war, destruction and the killing of hundreds of thousands of innocents?

If that were possible, then why has the problem not been resolved?

The sad experience of invading Iraq is before us all.

What has blind support for the Zionists by the US administration brought for the American people? It is regrettable that for the US administration, the interests of these occupiers supersedes the interests of the American people and of the other nations of the world.

What have the Zionists done for the American people that the US administration considers itself obliged to blindly support these infamous aggressors? Is it not because they have imposed themselves on a substantial portion of the banking, financial, cultural and media sectors?

I recommend that in a demonstration of respect for the American people and for humanity, the right of Palestinians to live in their own homeland should be recognized so that millions of Palestinian refugees can return to their homes and the future of all of Palestine and its form of government be determined in a referendum. This will benefit everyone.

Now that Iraq has a Constitution and an independent Assembly and Government, would it not be more beneficial to bring the US officers and soldiers home, and to spend the astronomical US military expenditures in Iraq for the welfare and prosperity of the American people? As you know very well, many victims of Katrina continue to suffer, and countless Americans continue to live in poverty and homelessness.

I'd also like to say a word to the winners of the recent elections in the US:

The United States has had many administrations; some who have left a positive legacy, and others that are neither remembered fondly by the American people nor by other nations.

Now that you control an important branch of the US Government, you will also be held to account by the people and by history.

If the US Government meets the current domestic and external challenges with an approach based on truth and Justice, it can remedy some of the past afflictions and alleviate some of the global resentment and hatred of America. But if the approach remains the same, it would not be unexpected that the American people would similarly reject the new electoral winners, although the recent elections, rather than reflecting a victory, in reality point to the failure of the current administration's policies. These issues had been extensively dealt with in my letter to President Bush earlier this year.

To sum up:

It is possible to govern based on an approach that is distinctly different from one of coercion, force and injustice.

It is possible to sincerely serve and promote common human values, and honesty and compassion.

It is possible to provide welfare and prosperity without tension, threats, imposition or war.

It is possible to lead the world towards the aspired perfection by adhering to unity, monotheism, morality and spirituality and drawing upon the teachings of the Divine Prophets.

Then, the American people, who are God-fearing and followers of Divine religions, will overcome every difficulty.

What I stated represents some of my anxieties and concerns.

I am confident that you, the American people, will play an instrumental role in the establishment of justice and spirituality throughout the world. The promises of the Almighty and His prophets will certainly be realized, Justice and Truth will prevail and all nations will live a true life in a climate replete with love, compassion and fraternity.

The US governing establishment, the authorities and the powerful should not choose irreversible paths. As all prophets have taught us, injustice and transgression will eventually bring about decline and demise. Today, the path of return to faith and spirituality is open and unimpeded.

We should all heed the Divine Word of the Holy Qur'an:

"But those who repent, have faith and do good may receive Salvation. Your Lord, alone, creates and chooses as He will, and others have no part in His choice; Glorified is God and Exalted above any partners they ascribe to Him." (28:67-68)

I pray to the Almighty to bless the Iranian and American nations and indeed all nations of the world with dignity and success.

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad President of the Islamic Republic of Iran 29 November 2006

So the Netherlands is trying to pass a law that would prohibit wearing burkas in public. In case you are unaware, burkas are the long black face coverings that Muslim women wear. I think this is completely rediculous. They claim it's for security reasons, but really its just giving in to other people's bigotry. Sure, some Muslims are extremist and are trying to hurt non-Muslims, but let's put that in perspective. Can you say, witch trials? The holocaust? Anyway, my point is that there are extremists in any faith, people who will do anything for the sake of their God(s). That doesn't give governments the right to make discrimanatory laws. I mean, no one has ever heard of a Muslim suicide bomber who was Dutch.

The fact is that saying burkas should be outlawed is the same as saying crosses should be prohibited in public. It's stupid and discriminatory. Burkas are a sign of religious faith, and by outlawing them you will force these people out of the country. They won't stay; if you were a truly religious Christian and someone put restrictions like that on you, would you stay? I wouldn't. And by doing this it only proves to the Muslim world that Christians and Westerners are too extreme and intolerant of other cultures; it will only confirm their belief that we will never get along, so war and death is the only answer.

Hey, you. Yeah, I'm talking to you. Are you over 18? You are? Then get up. Right now. Get in your car, and go vote. I don't want to hear any excuses, just do it.

That was the message read to us over the intercom today. It was encouraging the registered voters within the student body to go and vote after school. I think it was a wonderful thing to do, but I did have one issue with it. Our principal was the one who read the message; yet, he himself has been very vocal about the fact that he isn't going to vote. He's registered and all of that, but he claims that he is so disgusted with both democrats and republicans that he isn't going to vote. He says his vote won't matter anyway. 

I lost any respect for that man that I might have had after hearing that. The same is true of anyone over the age of 18 who isn't voting today. I've read a lot of blogs from people, including myself, who are really enthusiastic and excited about the election; they are as informed as they can be, and they have been closely monitoring the progress of these races for weeks. The only problem is, these kids aren't old enough to vote. We would give anything to be able to vote, to be able to voice our opinions. And yet everywhere I go I meet adults, mostly young but some older, who aren't bothering to register, let alone vote. I think that is completely idotic and I make sure they know it.

Voting is not a privilage. It's a duty. When you vote, you are voicing your opininon about the governing system of our country. If you don't have an opinion, or if you are like my principal and are discusted with the system, then don't vote for yourself; vote for someone who has an opinion, and does want to vote, but can't because of their age. But don't you dare waste the power that vote can give you, because it does matter.

Both my parents felt voting was pointless, but each election they dutifully went to the polls. But in 1994, they both voted for a state senator from PA who ended up wining by 17 votes. 17! That senator went on to vote in favor of Clinton's budget reforms bill, a bill that was passed by JUST ONE VOTE! Four years later, the budget was balanced. My parents haven't missed an election since.

The story my parents told me over dinner isn't about political parties. It's about the power that we, as citizens of this country, have. The power to make a difference. Each vote does count, no matter what you or anyone else thinks. You matter. So let this country know exactly how you feel.

DO YOUR DUTY. GO AND VOTE.

I think that's enough preaching for one night.

I don't think I've EVER been so ashamed to live in America as I was when I heard about the new legislation that Virginia, with the help of state legislator Robert Marshall, is trying to pass that would make it illegal for doctors to provide unmarried women with any infertility treatment that would "completely or partially replace sexual intercourse as a means of conception." It would, in essence, make it nearly impossible for anyone to get fertility treatments in the state of Virginia. If this bill is passed, it will hurt lesbian couples ready to raise a family. It will hurt single women. It will hurt unmarried heterosexual couples. It will destroy the hopes of married heterosexual couples experiencing infertility who dream of one day holding their own child in thier arms.

This piece of legislation comes from a man who is quoted as saying that artificial insemination is a form of adultery, and who wrote the book "Blessed are the Barren". Are you freaking kidding me?

This is in spite of the fact that single women are legally allowed to adopt children in that state. Apparently, single women are only competent enough to raise children born to other women and not themselves.

Due to the current frenzy in the news world, I would like opinions on the following situation:

In Philadelphia, the owner of a restaurant has refused service to anyone who doesn't order in English, a situation the establishment has mostly encountered when dealing with the local Spanish population. Now that English has recently become the official language of the country, should this be viewed as wrong?

Those opposed claim that it is unlawful to refuse service to any individual based on race, which is what the Spanish community is claiming. They say that it is unamerican and that many of the non-English speaking peoples that have come to this country have done so to escape persecution, not to be confronted with more of it.

However, the store owner's argument is that he is not targeting any specific race of people, nor is he requiring anything perverse. He says his parents were Italian immigrants, and when they came to America they didn't expect everyone to learn Italian to accomodate them. He maintains that even if his customers' English isn't perfect, he will help them to order in English as long as they make an honest effort. He also claims that that not one of his Asian customers, of which there is a very large population, have ever tried to speak only in thier native language and have always attempted to order in English.

As you can probably guess, I side with the store owner. Any thoughts?