Christian American and Government Policy - Essay Example

Christian American and Government Policy Iran, an Islamic republic, is located in Western Asia. Initially, thecountry was known as Persia and it has a population of over seventy million people. The country is home to one of the worlds oldest continuous major civilizations which have a history of urban settlements that date back to 7000 BC. The country is one of the founding members of United Nations, Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), OIC and NAM. The official religion in Iran is Shia Islam. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is the president of Iran which has many resources even though peace has eluded the country for quite a long time. According to its president, it is the responsibility of the Iranian government to furnish its citizens with equal and appropriate opportunities, to provide them with work and to ensure that their basic essential needs are met. Mahmoud has previously attacked the Jews for its leadership style and morals (Andrew 2006). The country has nuclear enrichments. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has previous portrayed very strong anti-Semitic and anti-Israel views. In his two letters, one addressed to the then American president Bush, and the other addressed to the noble people of United States of America, he highlights a number of issues which he considers very critical to the two countries and to the coherent existence of humanity the world over. He clearly and repeatedly demonizes the State of Israel and rebukes the support he claims United States has offered to “Palestinian destructors”. In the two letters, the November letter which was eighteen pages and the April one which was five pages, Mahmoud argue differently on issues related to peace, governance, religion, domestic and foreign policies of America. The November letter is addressed to the entire people of United States of America while the April letter was dedicated and intended to be read by the then president Bush. The two letters carry very strong messages regarding America and its activities and the rest of the world. President Mahmoud discusses history and the past activities of the world in which both United States of America and Iran have been actively involved. He also highlights a number of religious issues to President Bush and ensures that the United States of America’s president also pays attention to matters of international relations. On theological issues, Mahmoud believes that it is contradictory for one to claim to be a follower of Jesus Christ yet fail to pay attention to the suffering human race of the world. In the April letter to President Bush, the Iranian president wonders how liberalism is being presented by the United States as civilization. Mahmoud portrays America in a very sarcastic manner. According to him, it is very impractical to have a country or a government that intends to have a much unified and peaceful world yet the same government works against such effort. Jesus Christ is in both countries viewed as the symbol of peace. He is viewed as an icon that represents the existence of goodwill and peaceful living among people. To the contrary, the letters do not portray any peaceful existence among people. Foreign issues are also addressed in the letters. The Iranian president wonders why and how it is possible for a given government to work towards having a unified world yet it still participates in activities that do not support the efforts of unifying various nations. The community to be created should be much unified internationally. It is very needless to make ones slogan to be terror. Fighting is therefore condemned. It is unreasonable to attempt to justify the fighting that goes on the world over. Though the fighting may have had good intentions initially, the overall results do not reflect the good will that was portrayed to exist at the beginning. On the other hand, there are domestic policies perceived to protect the America people. For instance, there is the announcement of the America position as fully opposing the proliferation of nuclear weapons. Domestic policies in America are made and intended to influence other international policies in other countries. The establishment of the state of Israel in the Middle East and the support of such state by various western countries portrays the divisions that existed in the domestic policies which are considered biased and very self centered. In the letters, various issues addressed are clear indicators that a conflict does exist between Islam and the Christians. The establishment of a regime that does not show mercy to children and destroys houses while the occupants are still in them, announces beforehand its list and plans to assassinate Palestinian figures, and keeps thousands of Palestinians in prison. Such a phenomenon is unique and favors a specific religion against another thus the reason for conflict existence. Its people are religious, believe in fairness, trinity in which case there is God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit and equity. Moreover, Christians, just like the Americans, believe that judgment takes place, upon death. United States has a secular government which is a common phenomenon with most Christian nations. On the foreign policies, Israel was established and as a result, many thousands were killed, millions of indigenous people were made refugees, hundreds of thousands of hectares of farmland, olive plantations, towns and villages were destroyed. The domestic policies in America also portray the Islamic religions as being evil and intended for no good. Throughout the letters, Mahmoud’s voice and tone of writing indicates strong differences in the belief and actual practice of some religious practices. The domestic policies in the two countries also favour their respective religions instead of unifying them. They do not practically address policies that promote and protect freedom, human dignity and integrity. Christianity in United States can be revealed in various ways of living. The country believes in preservation of mankind and justice and the equal treatment of all people. It also claims to 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. Revenge is not warranted too and the constitution recognizes Christianity as the official religion of the country. Cooperation and the calling for all people to be faithful are highly upheld in the United States. The foreign policies of the country have a reflection of Christian aspects since they champion for human freedom and the right to life. There is also a calling for better approaches to war. Terrorism which leads to human death is condemned. America’s domestic policies provide for the need to share resources, enhance peace and political stability and the government to provide security and peace of mind for thecitizens (Mahmoud, 2008). Iran and United States have a numbers of issues which they uphold. In my honest view and analysis, the two countries have a great deal of similarities in their policies and strategies regarding theology, domestic and foreign policies. The two countries view violence and other forms of war as evil. They also believe in freedom of expression, justice and the need for independence of Palestine and open foreign and domestic policies that open up to the rest of the world. However, United States of America do not clearly give its reasons for infringing on other countries’ leadership (Mark 2004, 127). America’s refusal to have active membership in various world organizations such as United Nations reveals a number of ill motifs. It is clear that the domestic and foreign policies of the United States are majorly intended to protect its interests and not the interests of other countries. America’s domestic and foreign policies also have lot of favoritism towards its people. In attempting to solve world problems, no open negotiations are enhanced. On the other hand, Iran does not fully explain why its foreign and domestic policies do not open up to other countries such as Israel when attempting to address challenges that exists. The best modality for building better relationship between the two countries and the rest of the world would be through focused, candid, open, sincere, justified and sincere dialogue through involvement of the citizens involved with a common good of the people. Works Cited Andrew, Newman, “Safavid Iran”: Rebirth of a Persian Empire, I. B. Tauris, March 30, 2006. Mark, Bowden, Guests of the Ayatollah: “The Iran Hostage Crisis: The First Battle in Americas War with Militant Islam.” ISBN 0802143032, Grove Press. 2004. 127. Mahmoud, Ahmadinejad. Mahmoud’s two letters to American people. Accessed 5-23-2008. < http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/09/AR2006050900878.html>. . . Read More