GlobalStudies06

18 responses so far ↓

• 1    globalspartan // Oct 24, 2006 at 6:51 pm

  1. One quote from the Ahmadinejad interview that influenced my view of Iran’s President is “They believe that they own the entire world, so they speak from that position, looking down at us. Some politicians in the United States think that nuclear issue is a way to put pressure on Iran, but they are wrong”(Ahmadinejad 1). The Iranian President believes that the United States is trying to rule the whole world but does not think of it as the United States lending a hand to try and help the countries that are in need. The other quote from the interview that influenced my view of Iran’s President is “Why do you call them terrorists? If someone occupied the United States and the American people rose to defend their home, would you call the American people terrorists?” (Ahmadinejad 1). This quote shows that the Iranian president feels that what the Hamas, and Palestinian Islamic Jihad are doing is not terrorism. They are just fighting for their country.

  2. I agree with Zakaria that “instead of getting scared and spooked, America should view Tehran with a healthy dose of calm and confidence.” Iran’s fortunes will decrease and oil prices will eventually head down. The Arab regimes in return “will get more assertive in responding to the rise of Iranian power. Washington could take the initiative on Lebanon and Palestine, which would vastly improve the political atmosphere.” If this were to become true many countries may benefit from this.

  *Allison Berger*

• 2    globalspartan // Oct 24, 2006 at 7:56 pm

  1. the first quote I picked was “Why do you call them terrorists? If someone occupied the United States and the American people rose to defend their home, would you call the American people terrorist?” I agree with the Iranian President because he is sticking up for his people. Not everyone in Iran are terrorist and he is just stating the same situation that would occur in the United States. The second quote I picked is “Let the Palestinian people decided their fate in a free and fair referedum, and the result, whatever it is, should be accepted.” This kind of shows me that the president isn’t in full control. He is going to let anything happen in order for people to decide their own fate. I do not think he is looking at what might happen while people try to do this.
  2. I agree with Zakaria that “instead of getting scared and spooked, America should view Tehran with a healthy dose of calm and confidence.” If the US does this they could help improve the policitcal atmosphere in Lebanon and Palestine. The US could also delay Iran’s nuclear program long enough for Iran to stop reprocessing which would be a good thing for all countries.

  Jamie W

• 3    globalspartan // Oct 24, 2006 at 9:54 pm

  1-
  “Why do you call them terrorist?… American people Terrorists?”
  This quote re-affirms the view that Palestinians are in fact victims as much as they are offenders. I like to have some kind of balance in my perspectives, and even though I have many friends that are devout Jews who visit Israel regularly, I think the other sides position is very important to have in mind.

  “We need to look at the scene…. Not even a day of peace.”
  These very simple, cutting theories are remarkable. Those kinds of statement are what culture mass hatred. This group-thought can easily be swayed to suit a leaders needs. Ahmadinejad is among the leaders who have the ability to spur movements through effective propaganda and rhetoric.

  2- I agree with Zakaria in that America has to stop resorting to its previous role of “democratic-defender”; America’s important position as The Free World Power during the Cold-War allowed it to act as an international peace-keeper. Much of this credibility has decomposed over the last decade.
  America is facing a very similar problem with Cuba. Cuba has grown independent of its old-time trade ally, the United States. Our years of relentless trade and travel embargos have weaned the Cuban state from us and we need to re-embrace our once close partner. America can’t take the isolationist route it has been taking with either Iran or Cuba and needs to take initiative to work with these countries, even if this means sacrificing some pride.

  roro

• 4    globalspartan // Oct 24, 2006 at 10:10 pm

  1A- “Why should we agree [to stop enrichment and reprocessing activities]? There is no such provision in the NPT.” This, to me, reeks of arrogance and superiority. These characteristics befit a teenager who has not gone out and seen the world, not the president of an entire country. The question required only a simple yes or no, maybe an explanation. The way in which the president answered is almost mocking to the interviewer, as if Weymouth asked a stupid question (which he didn’t).
  1B- “The people with no roots there are now ruling the land.” I felt very sensitive to this one because this is how America came to be formed, by lots of people with no roots here. And after having read the second article which described how Ahmadjinejad gets what he wants done, I would not be surprised if this remark is intentional. He knows he is being interviewed by an American, how better to push his buttons that insult his national pride. It also shows a new side to his arrogance because later in the interview he flaunts Iran as a country rich with culture and history. Something a country made up of transients would not have.
  2. I agree with Alli and Jamie, Zakaria is right in his analysis. The reason for this is that the situation in Iran is much like that of China back in the sixties. China was all-powerful and on the verge of taking over the world with its nuclear arms, but that never came to be. Keeping our cool and not reaching for our guns at first sign of alarm will help to convince other countries that we do not “jump the gun,” and will hopefully pull them to us. While the ability to do lots of harm seems easier now then it was in the sixties, so is communicating and gathering intelligence, and these should use these as our greatest weapons.
  ~Kara B.

• 5    globalspartan // Oct 24, 2006 at 10:13 pm

  1. “ The United Stated believe that they are the own the entire world , so they speak from the position, looking down at us.” I don’t feel like we are looking down on them why would we agree for them to make nuclear bombs if they don’t’ like us. 2.I took a quoted from the interviewer “ Your suggestion is to wipe Israel off the face of the earth?” the interviewer asked that question three times and every time the Iranian president tried to get around it when it only had to consist of a yes or no answer. Though this interview I didn’t like him and didn’t feel like he was acting like a president he would answer ?s with ?s.
  Monica C

• 6    globalspartan // Oct 24, 2006 at 11:50 pm

  1.)
  A)”Our suggestion is very clear… Let the Palestinian people decide their fate in a free and fair referendum, and the result, whatever it is, should be accepted… The people with no roots there are now ruling the land.”
  The Iranian president doesn’t care about these people or what would happen to them. I could possibly see where he’s coming from, but he does not have an alterior plan and does not care enough to think of one.
  B) “You’ve been quoted as saying Israel should be wiped off the face of the earth. Is that your belief?
  “What I have said has made my position clear. If we look at a mat of the Middle East from 70 years ago…”
  To me, he sounds like any other polititian who refuses to answer a direct question, even about something he’s said himself.

  ~Jihan H.

• 7    globalspartan // Oct 25, 2006 at 8:06 am

  1. “Israel currently occupies Palestine. Where did they come from? They should return.”
  Hearing this man say these things makes me see that he is very unkind man that believes that Israel is a problem because he believes they should not even be a country.

  “Our suggestion is very clear… Let the Palestinian people decide their fate in a free and fair referendum, and the result, whatever it is, should be accepted… The people with no roots there are now ruling the land.”
  This is very shocking to hear where does this man have the right to talk about Palestinian in that the country should be ruled and he is the man that most likly wants to rule them.

  2. I agree with Zakaria about “[i]nstead of getting scared and spooked, America should view Tehran with a healthy dose of calm and confidence.” With this new help the people there can make a better life and increase the power of the political power to grab control of the country.

  [Nick Deviso]

• 8    globalspartan // Oct 25, 2006 at 9:55 am

  2)
  I agree with Zakaria when he says that “instead of getting scared and spooked, America should view Tehran with a healthy dose of calm and confidence.” Iran is using scare tactics to get the surrounding countries to follow them. The country has experienced a major economic boom when other nations around them. If the US just waits it out and does not react the way Ahmadinejad says, the countries will most likely not feel compelled to side with Iran and things will level out eventually, as history has proven a number of times.

  ~Hope Hoilett
  (Jihan H.)

• 9    globalspartan // Oct 25, 2006 at 10:03 am

  1. “We need to look at the scene in the Middle East- 60 years of war, 60 years of displacement, 60 years of conflict, not even a day of peace. We need to address and resolve the root of the problem.” This quote from Ahmadinejad suggests that his intentions are good. He wants there to be peace in the Middle East, however the way he wants to go about getting this done is sheer blasphemy. To eradicate all of Israel, as he suggests, would only bring the Middle East closer to turmoil and despair, and turn them away from their goal of unified nation. In reference to the Holocaust Ahmadinejad said “It’s not the numbers that are important…We know this was a historical event that happened. But why is it that people who question it are persecuted and attacked?” To answer Ahmadinejad’s question, the reason people get persecuted and attacked is because it is outrageous to question the Holocaust. It was a terrible thing that happened and it was done be an evil man. Why would anyone question it? Instead, have some compassion and empathy for those who lost their lives, and for the families still grieving today. Much of the interview made me think that Amadinejad does have an agenda. He knows what he wants done but he does not stop and think how empty and soulless his actions are. Amadinejad should reevaluate himself as a person and really think before doing some of the things he wants to do.

  2. I agree with Zakaria. America should stop and think before making any rash decisions when it comes to Tehran. If they let things settle and calm down than maybe we won’t have another Iraq situation on our hands.

  -Mike H

• 10    globalspartan // Oct 25, 2006 at 10:38 am

  1. “Is this a test? Do you respect the right to self-determination for the Palestinian nation? Yes or No?” The Iranian President seems to just stray from every question that Mr. Weymouth asks. He tries to weasel his way out of answering any questions that would turn the world against him.

  2. I do disagree with Zakaria because I believe that the people of America have no choice but to be afraid of what could come next from the Middle East. We have not seen anything but horror coming from those countries so we don’t know any better then to be afraid.

  —Brynley Q.

• 11    globalspartan // Oct 25, 2006 at 1:13 pm

  1. a) “we need to look at the scene in the middle east- 60years of war, 60 years of conflict not even a day of peace. We need to address and resolve the root problem.”
  The Iranian president has an issue with Iran but as no good solution of taking care of it. All Iran and Israel do is fight. Why can’t they come to an agreement if this fighting as been going on for so long?
  b) “If someone oppupied the U.S. and the American people rose to defend their home, would you call the American people terrorists?”
  -I feel as though he as completly forgotten about the attack on the U.S. from some of his people. I do not find us as terrorists we are simple defend ing ourselves. We didn’t invade Iran for no reason.

  2. I think that Bush should have stand calm about 911 instead of jumping right into war.

  -Torri c

• 12    globalspartan // Oct 25, 2006 at 1:21 pm

  1.) “Are you serious when you say that israel should be wiped off the face of the earth”
  “You’ve made staements about the holocaust, saying it was exaggerated”. Both of these quotes are stated by Weymouth, directed towards Ahmadlinejad. Everytime Ahmadlinejad would respond he would somehow try to find away to get around the truth.
  2.)” RIght now, Iran is riding high….Most important, the U.S. is tied down, its influence and political capital in the region at an all time low”. I think that the U.S. must stay calm. By overreacting, it would not give them a chance to sit back and think about the consequences of there actions before they act.
  Shawna O.

• 13    globalspartan // Oct 25, 2006 at 6:29 pm

  1. One quote that influenced my view about the Iran president is “Our suggestion is very clear… let the Palestinian people decide their fate in a free and fair referendum, and the result, whatever it is should be accepted…” (Ahmadinejed 31). This made me feel that this man does not clear weather or not Israel is wiped of the face of the earth. He feels that what ever happens will happens and that is crazy to me. The second quote that influenced my opinion on Iran’s president is “I sent a very detailed and caring letter [to President Bush]. I truly mean it when I say hat I hope Mr. Bush will change his behavior and attitude” (Ahmadinejed 34). This made me feel that this man is a hypocrite. He does not want anyone to tell him what to do but he feels fine telling other what they should do. He feels that everyone should let him do what he wants with the Nuclear Weapons but he feels that he can tell President Bush what he is doing wrong.
  2. I feel that the U.S should not get scared, they need do something because like we read in the article interviewing the Iran president he is serious about building and having Nuclear Weapons. The United States can not just stand around and let things happen because if they do then it could result in whole nations being wide off the face like what Iran wants to do to Israel. Or like what happened in China where millions of people being killed for no reason. However, if the U.S steps in they could help save many lives. The United States and other nations need to do something so that innocent people do not die.
  Erika I.

• 14    globalspartan // Oct 25, 2006 at 7:06 pm

  1. One quote that Influenced my view on Ahmadinejed was when he said “Our suggestion is very clear… let the Palestinian people decide their fate in a free and fair referendum, and the result, whatever it is should be accepted…The people with no roots there are now ruling the land” (Ahmadinejed 31). This quote scared me. He is basically saying that he would not care if Israel got whipped off the earth. From this quote I realized that the Iran president is crazy. Another quote that reinforced this was “…A powerful Iran will benefit the region, because Iran is country with a deep culture and has always been a peaceful country”(Ahmadinejed 31). This quote really makes me think that he is crazy because just a few questions before he was talking about how he believes that Israel’s should be whipped off the face of the earth. And then he says that Iran is a peaceful country. He has been accused of building nuclear weapons and that is definitely not peaceful. Before I didn’t really know a lot about him but after reading this I realize that he is a very dangerous man.
  2. I agree I do not think that the U.S should get scared I think that they need to make sure that Iran doesn’t to build up nuclear weapons. Getting scared is not going to stop Iran from building weapons and becoming stronger. The U.S needs to just help to make sure that Iran does not build Nuclear weapons that will make them even more powerful then they already are.
  Jamie I.

• 15    globalspartan // Oct 25, 2006 at 10:00 pm

  1.) “Israel currently occupies Palestine. Where did they come from? They should return.” after reading this quote I believe that Ahmadinejad wants a war with israel, either from him or palestine, in order to fuel his feelings about Israel. Wether he states this out right or not, I feel that he wouldn’t mind using such an event to speak openly, or even act with a solid reason.

  2.) “Why do you call them terrorists? If someone occupied the United States and the American people rose to defend their home, would you call the American people terrorist?” I read this quote with understanding for his views, however, I don’t find them to be so far from my own. Although I am not motivated enough to pick up arms and fight the U.S. I do agree with what he is saying in this analogy and do not find pride in being generalized as simply an American who would call his people terrorists. I am sure that he is not happy about his people being categorized and generalized in a similar way (terrorists).

  J.B.

• 16    globalspartan // Oct 25, 2006 at 10:39 pm

  1. “Our suggestion is very clear… Let the Palestinian people decide their fate in a free and fair referendum, and the result, whatever it is, should be accepted… The people with n o roots there are now ruling the land.” “Is this a test? Do you respect the right to self-determination for the Palestinian nation? Yes or no?” These quotes influence and further consolidate my already previous ideas about Ahmadinejad. The quotes prove how he tries to sound like he wants the Palestinian people to do what the want on their own but at the same time he is saying that he won’t be happy if they don’t achieve what they want. Which also means he may intervene. The second quote proves how defensive he became when Lally tried to make him admit to what he had previously said about Israel and how it should be wipes off the face of the earth.
  2. I agree and disagree with Zakria’s quote. As other people said, keeping out cool may have a good outcome and not acting to fast to grab our guns may be best. However I also believe that Zakria’s article gave an example supporting his side but there are also examples in history that don’t support him. If the world reacted quicker in World War II many lives would have been saved, that is why staying in Iran, not necessarily grabbing guns, is a good idea.

  ~Carly S.~

  -sorry about doing the other questions last night instead of these.

• 17    globalspartan // Oct 26, 2006 at 10:09 am

  2. I also agree with everyone Iran is craving for power they want to be the stronghold of the Middle east claiming that it will benefit the region because Iran is a country with a deep culture and has always been a peaceful country as Ahmadinejad says.

  5. Iran is picking a fight again to feel powerful. The U.S. is trying to tell them what they can or cannot do and by doing this they are making Iran fell like they are supposed to bow down to the U.S. like everyone else preety much does

  (Jay Long)

• 18    globalspartan // Oct 30, 2006 at 1:12 am

  1. “Why do you call them terrorists? If someone occupied the United States and the American people rose to defend their home, would you call the American people terrorists?” I agree with this and feel Ahmadinejad is right, he must stand up for his people. “Let the Palestinian people decide their fate in a free and fair referendum, and the result, whatever it is, should be accepted.” This causes me to view Ahmadinejad as a person who beleives people deserve the right to determine their own future, which i afree with.

  2. I agree with Zakaria in that “instead of getting scared and spooked, America should view Tehran with a healthy dose of calm and confidence.” I agree because America seems to be jimoing the gun when it comes to Tehran. They seem to not be thinking things out. They need to calm down before things get worse.

  -Dylan L.

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