Newspapers / The Guilfordian (Greensboro, N.C.) / Dec. 11, 1979, edition 1 / Page 3
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December 11,1979 Iran: a matter of prinicple By Gary Bowen Alumnus The United States is in yet another crisis. A crisis involving the basic foundations which have sustained this nation and made its people strong. A nation of proud people, not always understood, but respec ted by friend and foe alike. The crisis that now exists with Iran, was brought about because those persons whom we have elected and charged with the noble responsibilities of government, have again failed to grasp the tennor of our constitution. They fail to apply simply logic to principle. In stead, our elected officials have traded principle for political gains. Political gains are always short-lived. McCarthyism and Watergate are sad reminders of what will happen when principles and laws are used at the expense of the people *nd in the name of the common good. It is not reasonable to believe our government was unaware of the Shah's caustic rule. There is no principle that will uphold injustice and violation of human liberties. Therefore, it is not reasonable to believe there is principle in the crys from Wash ington about the individual rights of the peoples of the world. Such crys reverberate with hypocrisy. Hollow words, "full of sound and fury and signifying nothing." Because of this dual standard this country is faced with com promising principle in the name of negotiations. Principle can not be negotiated. Principles are accepted truths. It appears that in this demo cracy, principle is accepted as such by our lawmakers and our representatives only when suit able to political gain, or when it is deemed necessary to sell to ATTACK AGAINST MILITARY INDUSTRIAL, AND POPULATION TARGETS COULD DISTRIBUTE RADIOACTIVE PALLOUT OVER LARGE ARSAS OF THE U. S.- objective of the national fallout SHELTER PROGRAM IS TO PROTECT PEOPLE IN CASE OF ATTACK. the American people a dubious cause. If those Americans, held prisoners in Iran are harmed in anyway, all America is harmed. No country can be allowed to terrorize and bring to a halt the normal goings on of an Ameri can Embassy, without this na tion rising up in total indigna tion. We must expect our leaders to act with all haste, with our without the approval of other nations, to protect the rights of this nation and its citizens. We cannot with honor endure men of dual principles, who are without vision and the courage to carry out the provisions guaranteed in our constitution. This nation can no longer afford the luxury of leaders who manipulate rather than uphold the principles this great nation was founded upon. If we conti nue on this path, the logic, reasoning, and rights of the common man shall forever be in a crisis. This government for the peo ple and by the people shall become a government by the government and for the benefit of those who govern. Truth, * right, and wrong will surely become not principles by which reasonable men live, but orna- Guilfordian i! v Ue I our +olra\t and AHa-K- j>KJ-fo.e Awwr'i CAM. Oin,, ij thl. iOdLy / "Hi Mom'/' ments named in the common good, by men bent on a road of disguised loyalty through amended rights and compro mised principles that will even tually enslave us all. The time is come for every American to send word to Washington that we are no longer tolerant of lip service to principle. We are no longer tolerant of the manipulating of the many for the privilege of the few. We can no longer tolerate indecision in the name of peace. Nor shall we wear the crutch of the lame in fear of the mighty. If we be sunk, let it be for honor while still at the gun, not while holding the short stick of hope. Peace of most importance Excerpts From a National Statement by the Pellowship of Reconciliation We are deeply concerned about the crisis in Iran. Not only the safety of the hostages and the sanctity of the embassies and consulates are at stake, but the risk of war and spreading violence pose a situation of utmost gravity. We share in the desire fer vently expressed by Americans and people of good will every where that an effective solution be found to the present Iranian crisis. We join with the parents relatives and friends of the hostages in their vigil of hope and prayer We are convinced that only a nonviolent solution will obtain the safe release of the hostages and lay a foundation for just relations with the Iranian peo ple. No number of tanks or missiles, neutron bombs or warships will accomplish the goal of freeing the hostages or bringing justice to Iran. The present Iranian crisis exposes a tragedy which has been central to our concern for years: that the hundreds of billions of dollars spent annual ly on defense and aid to repressive regimes do not buy peace or security for the Ameri can people. Particularly in the nuclear age, it is vital that we develop peaceful ways to re solve conflict -- in Iran and elsewhere. The immediate cause of the taking of hostages was the decision of the U.S. to admit the ex-Shah into this country. To the Iranians, that decision was as outrageous as a decision to harbor Nazi war criminals in the U.S. would have been to Israe lis. To the Iranians, the decision to admit the former Shah was the ultimate indignity and injus tice. It epitomized our conti nued support of a man whom they fear and despise. U.S., through the CIA, put the Shah in power in 1953. From that time on, until the present revolution, the U S was largely instrumental in keeping him in power. Indeed, our persistent support only made more difficult his eventual ous ter by the Iranian people. Our outrage at the holding of the hostages must not blind us page three to the collective outrage of the 35 million Iranians who feel that they were held hostage in their own country for 26 years by U.S. support of the Shah, whom they hold responsible for their poverty and suffering, torture in the jails, loss of family members by execution and for the Wes ternization of traditional Iran ian/Islamic cultural and reli gious values. But we must move beyond effecting the release of the hostages. The freezing of Iran's assets, the threat of military actions, ruptures in our trade relations and racist actions against Iranian students only add to the list of injustices against the Iranian people. Therefore, we call for nego tiations on this matter, not only to effect the release of the hostages, but also to facilitate the creation of an international tribunal to hear the Iranian case against the deposed Shah. It is time for reconciliation We look to the world's religions to fostrer an atmosphere of trust and hope and to be a force for peace and justice in the resolu tion of this crisis.
The Guilfordian (Greensboro, N.C.)
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Dec. 11, 1979, edition 1
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