Words of an Evil Man???

[Murali_Mohan_das 0]

Are these the words of an evil man??

 

Some of what he says (in bold) sounds like a Vaishnava speaking.

 

 

http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/hourlyupdate/202820.php

 

 

MR. COATSWORTH: Thank you, Lee.

Our principal speaker today is His Excellency the president of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Mr. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Mr. President. (Applause.)

 

INTERPRETER: The president is reciting verses from the Holy Koran in Arabic. (Not translated.)

 

PRESIDENT AHMADINEJAD: Oh, God, hasten the arrival of Imam al- Mahdi and grant him good health and victory, and make us his followers and those who attest to his (rightfulness ?).

 

Distinguished Dean, dear professors and students, ladies and gentlemen. At the outset, I would like to extend my greetings to all of you. I am grateful to the Almighty God for providing me with the opportunity to be in an academic environment, those seeking truth and striving for the promotion of science and knowledge.

 

At the outset, I want to complain a bit on the person who read this political statement against me. In Iran, tradition requires that when we demand a person to invite us as a -- to be a speaker, we actually respect our students and the professors by allowing them to make their own judgment, and we don't think it's necessary before the speech is even given to come in -- (applause) -- with a series of claims and to attempt in a so-called manner to provide vaccination of some sort to our students and our faculty.

 

I think the text read by the (dear ?) gentleman here, more than addressing me, was an insult to information and the knowledge of the audience here, present here. In a university environment, we must allow people to speak their mind, to allow everyone to talk so that the truth is eventually revealed by all. Most certainly he took more than all the time I was allocated to speak. And that's fine with me. We'll just leave that to add up with the claims of respect for freedom and the freedom of speech that is given to us in this country.

 

In many parts of his speech, there were many insults and claims that were incorrect, regretfully. Of course, I think that he was affected by the press, the media and the political sort of mainstream line that you read here, that goes against the very grain of the need for peace and stability in the world around us.

 

Nonetheless, I should not begin by being affected by this unfriendly treatment.

 

I will tell you what I have to say, and then the questions he can raise and I'll be happy to provide answers. But for one of the issues that he did raise, I most certainly would need to elaborate further so that we for ourselves can see how things fundamentally work.

 

It was my decision in this valuable forum and meeting to speak with you about the importance of knowledge, of information, of education. Academics and religious scholars are shining torches who shed light in order to remove darkness and the ambiguities around us in guiding humanity out of ignorance and perplexity. The key to the understanding of the realities around us rests in the hands of the researchers, those who seek to undiscover (sic) areas that are hidden, the unknown sciences. The windows of realities that they can open is done only through efforts of the scholars and the learned people in this world. With every effort, there is a window that is opened and one reality is discovered.

 

Whenever the high stature of science and wisdom is preserved and the dignity of scholars and researchers are respected, humans have taken great strides towards their material and spiritual promotion. In contrast, whenever learned people and knowledge have been neglected, humans have become stranded in the darkness of ignorance and negligence. If it were not for human instinct, which tends towards continual discovery of the truth, humans would have always remained stranded in ignorance and no way would have discovered how to improve the lives that we are given. The nature of man is, in fact, a gift granted by the Almighty to all. The Almighty led mankind into this world and granted him wisdom and knowledge as his (kind ?) gift, enabling him to know his God.

 

In the story of Adam, a conversation occurs between the Almighty and his angels. The angels called human beings an ambitious and merciless creature and protested against his creation, but the Almighty responded, quote, "I have knowledge of what you are ignorant of," unquote. Then the Almighty told Adam the truth, and on the order of the Almighty, Adam revealed it to the angels.

 

The angels could not understand the truth as revealed by the human beings.

 

The Almighty said to them, quote, "Did not I say that I am aware of what is hidden in heaven and in the universe?" unquote. In this way, the angels prostrated themselves before Adam.

 

In the mission of all divine prophets, the first sermons were of the words of God, and those words "piety,faith" and "wisdom" have been spread to all mankind. Guiding the holy prophet Moses -- may peace be upon him -- God says, quote, "And he was taught wisdom, the divine book, the Old Testament and the New Testament. He is the prophet appointed for the sake of the children of Israel, and I rightfully brought a sign from the Almighty. Holy Koran -- (inaudible word) -- sura," unquote.

The first words which were revealed to the holy prophet of Islam call the prophet to read, quote, "Read, read in the name of your God, who supersedes everything," unquote. The Almighty, quote again, "who taught the human being with the pen," unquote; quote, "the Almighty taught human beings what they were ignorant of," unquote.

 

You see in the first verses revealed to the holy prophet of Islam words of reading, teaching and the pen are mentioned. These verses in fact introduce the Almighty as the teacher of human beings, the teacher who taught humans what they were ignorant of. And another part of the -- (inaudible word) -- on the mission on the holy prophet of Islam -- it is mentioned that the Almighty appointed someone from amongst the common people as their prophet in order to, quote, "Read for them the divine verses," unquote; and, quote again, "and purify them from ideological and ethical contaminations," unquote; and, quote again, "to teach them the divine book and wisdom," unquote.

 

My dear friends, all the words and messages of the divine prophets, from Abraham and Isaac and Jacob to David and Soliman and Moses to Jesus and Mohammed, delivered humans from ignorance, negligence, superstitions, unethical behavior and corrupted ways of thinking with respect to knowledge and a path to knowledge, light and rightful ethics.

 

In our culture, the word "science" has been defined as "illumination." In fact, the "science" means "brightness" and the real science is a science which rescues the human being from ignorance to his own benefit. In one of the widely accepted definitions of science, it is stated that it is the light which sheds to the hearts of those who have been selected by the Almighty; therefore, according to this definition, science is a divine gift, and the heart is where it resides.

If we accept that "science" means "illumination," then its scope supersedes the experimental sciences, and it includes every hidden and disclosed reality. One of the main harms inflicted against science is to limit it to experimental and physical sciences; this harm occurs even though it extends far beyond this scope.

 

Realities of the world are not limited to physical realities. And the material is just a shadow of supreme realities, and physical creation is just one of the stories of the creation of the world. Human being is just an example of the creation that is a combination of the material and the spirit.

 

And another important point is the relationship of science and purity of spirit, life, behavior and ethics of the human being. In the teachings of the divine prophet, one reality shall always be attached to science. The reality of purity of spirit and good behavior, knowledge and wisdom is pure and clear reality. It is -- science is a light. It is a discovery of reality, and only a pure scholar and researcher, free from wrong ideologies, superstitions, selfishness and material trappings, can discover the reality.

 

My dear friends and scholars, distinguished participants, science and wisdom can also be misused, a misuse caused by selfishness, corruption, material desires and material interests, as well as individual and group interests. Material desires place humans against the realities of the world. Corrupted independent human beings resist acceptance of reality and even if they do accept it, they do not obey it.

 

There are many scholars who are aware of the realities but do not accept them. Their selfishness does not allow them to accept those realities. Did those who in the course of human history wage wars not understand the reality that lives, properties, dignity, territories and the rights of all human beings should be respected? Or did they understand it but neither have faith in nor abide by it?

 

My dear friends, as long as the human heart is not free from hatred, envy and selfishness, it does not abide by the truth, by the illumination of science and science itself. Science is the light and scientists must be pure and pious. If humanity achieves the highest level of physical and spiritual knowledge, but its scholars and scientists are not pure, then this knowledge cannot serve the interest of humanity, and several events can ensue.

 

First, the wrongdoers reveal only a part of the reality which is to their own benefit and conceal the rest, as we have witnessed with respect to the scholars of the divine religions in the past too. Unfortunately today we see that certain researchers and scientists are still hiding the truth from the people.

 

Second, scientists and scholars are misused for personal, group or party interests. So in today's world, ruling powers are misusing many scholars and scientists in different fields, with the purpose of stripping nations of their wealth.

 

And they use all opportunities only for their own benefit.

 

For example, they deceive people by using scientific methods and tools. They, in fact, wish to justify their own wrongdoings, though, by creating nonexistent enemies, for example, and have insecure atmosphere. They try to control all in the name of combatting insecurity and terrorism. They even violate individual and social freedoms in their own nations under that pretext. They do not respect the privacy of their own people. They tap telephone calls and try to control their people. They create an insecure psychological atmosphere in order to justify their warmongering acts in different parts of the world.

 

As another example, by using precise scientific methods and planning, they begin their onslaught on the domestic cultures of nations, the cultures which are the result of thousands of years of interaction, creativity and artistic activities. They try to eliminate these cultures in order to separate the people from their identity and cut their bonds with their own history and values. They prepare the ground for stripping people from their spiritual and material wealth by instilling in them feelings of intimidation, desire for imitation and mere consumption, submission to oppressive powers, and disability.

 

Making nuclear, chemical and biological bombs and weapons of mass destruction is yet another result of the misuse of science and research by the big powers. Without cooperation of certain scientists and scholars, we would not have witnessed production of different nuclear, chemical and biological weapons. Are these weapons to protect global security? What can a perpetual nuclear umbrella threat achieve for the sake of humanity? If nuclear war wages between nuclear powers, what human catastrophe will take place? Today we can see the nuclear effects in even new generations of Nagasaki and Hiroshima residents which might be witness in even the next generations to come. Presently, effects of the depleted uranium used in weapons since the beginning of the war in Iraq can be examined and investigated accordingly. These catastrophes take place only when scientists and scholars are misused by oppressors.

 

Another point of sorrow, some big powers create a monopoly over science and prevent other nations in achieving scientific development as well.

This, too, is one of the surprises of our time. Some big powers do not want to see the progress of other societies and nations. They turn to thousands of reasons, make allegations, place economic sanctions to prevent other nations from developing and advancing, all resulting from their distance from human values, moral values and the teachings of the divine prophet. Regretfully, they have not been trained to serve mankind.

 

Dear academics, dear faculty and scholars, students, I believe that the biggest God-given gift to man is science and knowledge. Man's search for knowledge and the truth through science is what it guarantees to do in getting close to God, but science has to combine with the purity of the spirit and of the purity of man's spirit so that scholars can unveil the truth and then use that truth for advancing humanity's cause.

 

These scholars would be not only people who would guide humanity, but also guide humanity towards the future, better future. And it is necessary that big powers should not allow mankind to engage in monopolistic activities and to prevent other nations from achieving that science. Science is a divine gift by God to everyone, and therefore it must remain pure. God is aware of all reality. All researchers and scholars are loved by God.

 

So I hope there will be a day where these scholars and scientists will rule the world and God himself will arrive with Moses and Christ and Mohammed to rule the world and to take us towards justice.

See the link for the complete text of President Ahmadinejad's remarks

[Guruvani 0]

He is a religious zealot that is full of himself and suffering from delusions of spiritual grandeur that Islam is the only genuine religion in the world.

 

Maybe the USA is evil.

But, these Muslim zealots are also evil and their way of dealing with the great satan is equally as evil as any evil in the world.

[Murali_Mohan_das 0]

You read very quickly. I only posted this two minutes ago.

 

If you read what he says, he does not sound like a zealot any more than any Vaishnava acharya does (think about that for a second). He is clearly a man of faith (i.e. his faith is much clearer to see than that of GW Bush).

 

I don't know about you, but I *pray* for a little zeal in my spiritual life.

 

 

He is a religious zealot that is full of himself and suffering from delusions of spiritual grandeur that Islam is the only genuine religion in the world.

 

Maybe the USA is evil.

But, these Muslim zealots are also evil and their way of dealing with the great satan is equally as evil as any evil in the world.

[Murali_Mohan_das 0]

For those without the patience to read, here are my selected highlights:

 

 

Academics and religious scholars are shining torches who shed light in order to remove darkness and the ambiguities around us in guiding humanity out of ignorance and perplexity.

 

...

 

Whenever the high stature of science and wisdom is preserved and the dignity of scholars and researchers are respected, humans have taken great strides towards their material and spiritual promotion. In contrast, whenever learned people and knowledge have been neglected, humans have become stranded in the darkness of ignorance and negligence.

...

The Almighty led mankind into this world and granted him wisdom and knowledge as his (kind ?) gift, enabling him to know his God.

 

...

My dear friends, all the words and messages of the divine prophets, from Abraham and Isaac and Jacob to David and Soliman and Moses to Jesus and Mohammed, delivered humans from ignorance, negligence, superstitions, unethical behavior and corrupted ways of thinking with respect to knowledge and a path to knowledge, light and rightful ethics.

 

In our culture, the word "science" has been defined as "illumination." In fact, the "science" means "brightness" and the real science is a science which rescues the human being from ignorance to his own benefit. In one of the widely accepted definitions of science, it is stated that it is the light which sheds to the hearts of those who have been selected by the Almighty; therefore, according to this definition, science is a divine gift, and the heart is where it resides.

...

 

Realities of the world are not limited to physical realities. And the material is just a shadow of supreme realities, and physical creation is just one of the stories of the creation of the world. Human being is just an example of the creation that is a combination of the material and the spirit.

 

And another important point is the relationship of science and purity of spirit, life, behavior and ethics of the human being. In the teachings of the divine prophet, one reality shall always be attached to science. The reality of purity of spirit and good behavior, knowledge and wisdom is pure and clear reality. It is -- science is a light. It is a discovery of reality, and only a pure scholar and researcher, free from wrong ideologies, superstitions, selfishness and material trappings, can discover the reality.

 

My dear friends and scholars, distinguished participants, science and wisdom can also be misused, a misuse caused by selfishness, corruption, material desires and material interests, as well as individual and group interests. Material desires place humans against the realities of the world. Corrupted independent human beings resist acceptance of reality and even if they do accept it, they do not obey it.

 

There are many scholars who are aware of the realities but do not accept them. Their selfishness does not allow them to accept those realities. Did those who in the course of human history wage wars not understand the reality that lives, properties, dignity, territories and the rights of all human beings should be respected? Or did they understand it but neither have faith in nor abide by it?

 

My dear friends, as long as the human heart is not free from hatred, envy and selfishness, it does not abide by the truth, by the illumination of science and science itself. Science is the light and scientists must be pure and pious. If humanity achieves the highest level of physical and spiritual knowledge, but its scholars and scientists are not pure, then this knowledge cannot serve the interest of humanity, and several events can ensue.

 

First, the wrongdoers reveal only a part of the reality which is to their own benefit and conceal the rest, as we have witnessed with respect to the scholars of the divine religions in the past too. Unfortunately today we see that certain researchers and scientists are still hiding the truth from the people.

 

...

 

Dear academics, dear faculty and scholars, students, I believe that the biggest God-given gift to man is science and knowledge. Man's search for knowledge and the truth through science is what it guarantees to do in getting close to God, but science has to combine with the purity of the spirit and of the purity of man's spirit so that scholars can unveil the truth and then use that truth for advancing humanity's cause.

 

...

 

Science is a divine gift by God to everyone, and therefore it must remain pure. God is aware of all reality. All researchers and scholars are loved by God.

[Guruvani 0]

 

You read very quickly. I only posted this two minutes ago.

 

If you read what he says, he does not sound like a zealot any more than any Vaishnava acharya does (think about that for a second). He is clearly a man of faith (i.e. his faith is much clearer to see than that of GW Bush).

 

I don't know about you, but I *pray* for a little zeal in my spiritual life.

But, my friend, I have read other things he has said about wiping Israel off the face of the Earth.

One snippet does not properly explain this man.

 

He has denied the Jewish holocaust and said that Israel should be annihilated.

Hey, I don't agree with the UN and the USA and Britain giving the Jews the country of Israel after WWII either, but now that it is done I think the best thing to do is just deal with it like human beings.

 

Maybe the Palestinians deserve better?

Maybe they don't.

Their collective karma has deprived them of their homeland and now they live like refugees.

Karma is a bitch.

Deal with it.

[theist 1]

 

Words of an Evil Man???

 

Words. Words are cheap. I refuse to be bought off with words. Intent is everything. Let Iran have Nukes and what do you have? A nuclear armed suicide bomber.

 

God save us from the naive.

[theist 1]

Please use the proper forum.

[theist 1]

Murali, check the article I placed on World Review about this crazy Iranian character.

[gHari 0]

Talk of God? But who or I guess more precisely, what is this God our man is praising? It's actually a long way from Vaishnavism.

[Kulapavana 0]

Are these the words of an evil man??

 

As Theist pointed out, words are cheap. So lets judge this man by his deeds.

 

How many people died as a result of his decisions? How many wars did he start? How much misery has he caused?

 

Dare to compare him to Bush using these criteria? Words are indeed cheap, my fellow Vaishnavas.

 

As to his words... they are deep indeed and show some measure of true spirituality.

[mahak 0]

Im with Kula and Murali on this one. Im not ready to surrender to this dude as spiritual master, but his inclination to mention the guidance of allah comes off thousands of times more authentic that Bush's claim of direct communication with jesus.

 

Kula makes a great point. While he has fiery rhetoric, who has he destroyed by war. He may have clients in hezbollah, but again, one mans terrorist is anothers freedom fighter. Even out former president Carter acknowledges the repression of Israel in it apartheid policies toward their own non-jewish people. So maybe a rat to the wall bares his teeth and commits suicide as a last resort.

 

Iran as a state has been in a constant siege by the USA. First, we overthrew theiur duly elkected leader and replaced him with our puppet, the Shah, who brutalizerd them with his nazi-like secret police. Then the ayatollah took over, empowered the people with fanatic zealotry, and our guy was with the students who held our hostages. 444 days, Stockholm Syndrome and all, a horrid display, but all were returned. How many hostages died in captivity? Better question: who prevented their rescue? Who gained from the hostage crisis (30 years ago, BTW). Now one of those students is president, and makes his statements. Frustration.

 

Frustration that the USA trained and supplied their arch-enemy, the stalinist saddam hussein, to kill millions of Iranians in an eight year war, using WMDs supplied by the USA. Now the USA occupies the border, and yes, Iran does send troops to protect the shias in Iraq. And yes, Iran is fortified, with a standing army of a million, an air force, plenty of weapons, possibly nuclear. And with good reason. Their arch enemy is the USA, led by fundamentalist fanatics who kill in the names of a god that rejects them fully for their evil doing.

 

The only ones who could never accept any true statement from an enemy are those who reject truth. The status as enemy overrides any ability to discxern fact from fiction. A blowhard leader saying stupid things???? I really dont think this is an Iranian problem, this is what blowhard leaders always do, say stupid things. Churchill, Carter, Reagan, Bush I & II, Clinton I & II, Ayatollah, Knesset, Putin, Ze Dong.

 

All of WWII was a holocaust, it is not the sole property of the Jews. I dont minimize their suffering, but I dont see Israel welcoming the victimized Roma into their "never again" shelter. I dont see Israel welcoming anyone, for that matter. They engage in espionage against the USA despite our unwavering support for their cause.

 

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad makes stupid statements. Words. If nukes fly our way from his silos, this is an act of war, but this war is not his making, he is defending his soverignity. He is surrounded. It is foolish to think that he should wait and see when he fully knows the intent of the USA. As soverign, he has the right to amass weapons he deems necessary to defend himself, as do all other nations. It seems that the USA is the only nation presently going elsewhere with their war machines, aggressive, inflicting mass murder everywhere.

 

Hezbollah and Hamas are not Iran anymore than Nicaraguan Contras are the USA. Sponsorship is a very vague reasoning to determine animosity, especially by stone throwers in their glass houses. As a nation, Iran has not even been provocative. It is the USA that works their citizenry into this go to war frenzy with Iran. But unlike all the bush follies like panama, Afghan, Iraq and the reagan wars against the mighty grenada, Iran has a military. Iran has sophisticated fighter aircraft and talented pilots. The USA cannot defeat Iraq who has no aircraft, no modern weapons (except for the ones they stole from US contractors). The USA cannot bring one very tall arab to justice. Yet we bite at the bit of a futile war against Iran, who will form a coalition against us if we attack. Unlike the great bush coalition of Tonga, Uzbekistan and Australia, Iran will have China, Russia and maybe even France and Germany on their side.

 

Lovely place, this death star of Kali Yuga, eh?

 

mahaksadasa

[Murali_Mohan_das 0]

Thanks for saving me some time and effort, Mahaksa-ji, in refuting some of the empty claims made by the Fox News junkies.

 

I'll comment further once the orange juice kicks in!!!

 

 

For now, let me just say that, after hearing what the President was *reported* to have said, I did a bit of further research. Nowhere in the transcripts of his actual speeches which I have seen, has Dr. Ahmadenijad denied the existence of the Holocaust. Nor has he threatened or called for the extermination of Israel. Those claims by others are war-mongering spin.

 

If you read the entire text of his speech, his positions will be much clearer to you (if one can read without prejudice).

 

 

Im with Kula and Murali on this one. Im not ready to surrender to this dude as spiritual master, but his inclination to mention the guidance of allah comes off thousands of times more authentic that Bush's claim of direct communication with jesus.

 

Kula makes a great point. While he has fiery rhetoric, who has he destroyed by war. He may have clients in hezbollah, but again, one mans terrorist is anothers freedom fighter. Even out former president Carter acknowledges the repression of Israel in it apartheid policies toward their own non-jewish people. So maybe a rat to the wall bares his teeth and commits suicide as a last resort.

 

Iran as a state has been in a constant siege by the USA. First, we overthrew theiur duly elkected leader and replaced him with our puppet, the Shah, who brutalizerd them with his nazi-like secret police. Then the ayatollah took over, empowered the people with fanatic zealotry, and our guy was with the students who held our hostages. 444 days, Stockholm Syndrome and all, a horrid display, but all were returned. How many hostages died in captivity? Better question: who prevented their rescue? Who gained from the hostage crisis (30 years ago, BTW). Now one of those students is president, and makes his statements. Frustration.

 

Frustration that the USA trained and supplied their arch-enemy, the stalinist saddam hussein, to kill millions of Iranians in an eight year war, using WMDs supplied by the USA. Now the USA occupies the border, and yes, Iran does send troops to protect the shias in Iraq. And yes, Iran is fortified, with a standing army of a million, an air force, plenty of weapons, possibly nuclear. And with good reason. Their arch enemy is the USA, led by fundamentalist fanatics who kill in the names of a god that rejects them fully for their evil doing.

 

The only ones who could never accept any true statement from an enemy are those who reject truth. The status as enemy overrides any ability to discxern fact from fiction. A blowhard leader saying stupid things???? I really dont think this is an Iranian problem, this is what blowhard leaders always do, say stupid things. Churchill, Carter, Reagan, Bush I & II, Clinton I & II, Ayatollah, Knesset, Putin, Ze Dong.

 

All of WWII was a holocaust, it is not the sole property of the Jews. I dont minimize their suffering, but I dont see Israel welcoming the victimized Roma into their "never again" shelter. I dont see Israel welcoming anyone, for that matter. They engage in espionage against the USA despite our unwavering support for their cause.

 

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad makes stupid statements. Words. If nukes fly our way from his silos, this is an act of war, but this war is not his making, he is defending his soverignity. He is surrounded. It is foolish to think that he should wait and see when he fully knows the intent of the USA. As soverign, he has the right to amass weapons he deems necessary to defend himself, as do all other nations. It seems that the USA is the only nation presently going elsewhere with their war machines, aggressive, inflicting mass murder everywhere.

 

Hezbollah and Hamas are not Iran anymore than Nicaraguan Contras are the USA. Sponsorship is a very vague reasoning to determine animosity, especially by stone throwers in their glass houses. As a nation, Iran has not even been provocative. It is the USA that works their citizenry into this go to war frenzy with Iran. But unlike all the bush follies like panama, Afghan, Iraq and the reagan wars against the mighty grenada, Iran has a military. Iran has sophisticated fighter aircraft and talented pilots. The USA cannot defeat Iraq who has no aircraft, no modern weapons (except for the ones they stole from US contractors). The USA cannot bring one very tall arab to justice. Yet we bite at the bit of a futile war against Iran, who will form a coalition against us if we attack. Unlike the great bush coalition of Tonga, Uzbekistan and Australia, Iran will have China, Russia and maybe even France and Germany on their side.

 

Lovely place, this death star of Kali Yuga, eh?

 

mahaksadasa

[Murali_Mohan_das 0]

 

Please use the proper forum.

 

Give me a break!!

 

Somehow, discussions about cosmology (moon, Rahu) are spiritual discussions, but the declaration of faith of a world leader in front of some of the most prestigious Western scholars is not???!?!?!

 

The remarks of the President are eminently *spiritual* in nature. I left out the part of his speech where he effectively dismembers the criticism that had been leveled against him.

 

If you choose to focus on his politics rather than his ideals, that's *your* choice!

 

Srila Sridhar Maharaja says that a man is judged by his ideals.

[Murali_Mohan_das 0]

 

Talk of God? But who or I guess more precisely, what is this God our man is praising? It's actually a long way from Vaishnavism.

Can you point out precisely how this is not a Vaishnava conception?

 

 

Realities of the world are not limited to physical realities. And the material is just a shadow of supreme realities, and physical creation is just one of the stories of the creation of the world. Human being is just an example of the creation that is a combination of the material and the spirit.

 

Can you point out any other place in the President's remarks where he says something in opposition to the Vaishnava conception?

 

[Murali_Mohan_das 0]

 

Words. Words are cheap. I refuse to be bought off with words. Intent is everything. Let Iran have Nukes and what do you have? A nuclear armed suicide bomber.

 

God save us from the naive.

 

Since you want to talk politics and not spirituality, the President addresses your regurgitated specious claims here (later in the speech; note how the question is phrased--it's not "are you", it's "why are you"):

 

 

MR. COATSWORTH: Which was posed by President Bollinger earlier and comes from a number of other students. Why is your government providing aid to terrorists? Will you stop doing so and permit international monitoring to certify that you have stopped?

 

 

PRESIDENT AHMADINEJAD: Well, I want to pose a question here to you. If someone comes and explodes bombs around you, threatens your president, members of the administration, kills the members of the Senate or Congress, how would you treat them? Would you award them or would you name them a terrorist group? Well, it's clear. You would call them a terrorist.

 

 

My dear friends, the Iranian nation is a victim of terrorism. For -- 26 years ago, where I work, close to where I work, in a terrorist operation, the elected president of the Iranian nation and the elected prime minister of Iran lost their lives in a bomb explosion. They turned into ashes.

A month later, in another terrorist operation, 72 members of our parliament and highest ranking officials, including four ministers and eight deputy ministers, bodies were shattered into pieces as a result of terrorist attacks. Within six months, over 4,000 Iranians lost their lives, assassinated by terrorist groups, all this carried out by the hand of one single terrorist group. Regretfully that same terrorist group, now, today, in your country, is being -- operating under the support of the U.S. administration, working freely, distributing declarations freely. And their camps in Iraq are supported by the U.S. government. They're secured by the U.S. government.

Our nation has been harmed by terrorist activities. We were the first nation that objected to terrorism and the first to uphold the need to fight terrorism. (Applause.)

 

 

MR. COATSWORTH: A number of questioners, sorry, a number of people have asked.

 

 

PRESIDENT AHMADINEJAD: We need to address the root causes of terrorism and eradicate those root causes.

 

 

We live in the Middle East. For us, it's quite clear which powers sort of incite terrorists, support them, fund them. We know that. Our nation, the Iranian nation, through history has always extended a hand of friendship to other nations. We're a cultured nation. We don't need to resort to terrorism.

We've been victims of terrorism ourselves, and it's regrettable that people who argue they're fighting terrorism, instead of supporting the Iranian people and nation, instead of fighting the terrorists that are attacking them, they're supporting the terrorists and then turn the fingers to us. This is most regrettable.

[Murali_Mohan_das 0]

Regarding the Holocaust:

 

 

MR. COATSWORTH: A further set of questions challenge your view of the Holocaust. Since the evidence that this occurred in Europe in the 1940s as a result of the actions of the German Nazi government, since that -- those facts are well-documented, why are you calling for additional research? There seems to be no purpose in doing so, other than to question whether the Holocaust actually occurred as an historical fact. Can you explain why you believe more research is needed into the facts of what are -- what is incontrovertible?

 

PRESIDENT AHMADINEJAD: Thank you very much for your question. I am an academic, and you are as well. Can you argue that researching a phenomenon is finished forever, done? Can we close the books for good on a historical event? There are different perspectives that come to light after every research is done. Why should we stop research at all? Why should we stop the progress of science and knowledge? You shouldn't ask me why I'm asking questions. You should ask yourselves why you think that it's questionable.

 

Why do you want to stop the progress of science and research? Do you ever take what's known as absolute in physics? We had principles in mathematics that were granted to be absolute in mathematics for over 800 years, but new science has gotten rid of those absolutism, gotten -- forward other different logics of looking at mathematics, and sort of turned the way we look at it as a science altogether after 800 years. So we must allow researchers, scholars to investigate into everything, every phenomenon -- God, universe, human beings, history, and civilization. Why should we stop that?

 

I'm not saying that it didn't happen at all. This is not (the ?) judgment that I'm passing here. I said in my second question, granted this happened, what does it have to do with the Palestinian people? This is a serious question.

[Murali_Mohan_das 0]

Regarding women (and this is just *part* of the President's answer):

 

 

But as for women, maybe you think that being a woman is a crime. It's not a crime to be a woman. Women are the best creatures created by God. They represent the kindness, the beauty that God instills in them. Women are respected in Iran. In Iran, every family who's given a girl is given -- in every Iranian family who has a girl, they're 10 times happier than having a son. Women are respected more than men are. They are exempt from many responsibilities. Many of the legal responsibilities rest on the shoulders of men in our society because of the respect culturally given to women, to the future mothers. In Iranian culture, men and sons and girls constantly kiss the hands of their mothers as a sign of respect, a respect for women, and we are proud of this culture.

[Murali_Mohan_das 0]

Regarding Iran's "nuclear ambitions":

 

 

And as for the second topic, Iran's nuclear issue -- I know there's time limits, but I need time. I mean, a lot of time was taken from me.

 

 

We are a country. We are a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency. For over 33 years we were a member state of the agency. The bylaw of the agency explicitly states that all member states have the right to the peaceful nuclear fuel technology. This is an explicit statement made in the bylaw. And the bylaw says that there is no pretext or excuse, even the inspections carried by the IAEA itself -- that can prevent member states' right to have that right.

 

 

Of course, the IAEA is responsible to carry out inspections. We are one of the countries that's carried out the most amount of -- level of cooperation with the IAEA. They've had hours and weeks and days of inspections in our country. And over and over again, the agency's reports indicate that Iran's activities are peaceful, that they have not detected a deviation, and that Iran has -- they've received positive cooperation from Iran. But regretfully, two or three monopolistic powers, selfish powers, want to force their word on the Iranian people and deny them their right. They keep saying -- one minute. (Laughter, applause.)

 

 

They tell us you don't let them -- they won't let them inspect. Why not? Of course we do. How come is it anyway that you have that right and we can't have it? We want to have the right to peaceful nuclear energy. They tell us, "Don't make it yourself. We'll give it to you."

 

 

Well, in the past, I tell you, we had contracts with the U.S. government, with the British government, the French government, the German government and the Canadian government on nuclear development for peaceful purposes. But unilaterally, each and every one of them canceled their contracts with us, as a result of which the Iranian people had to pay the heavy cost in billions of dollars.

Why do we need the fuel from you? You've not even given us spare aircraft parts that we need for civilian aircraft for 28 years, under the name of the embargo and sanctions, because we are against, for example, human rights or freedom? Under that pretext you deny us that technology?

We want to have the right to self-determination towards our future. We want to be independent. Don't interfere in us. If you don't give us spare parts for civilian aircraft, what is the expectation that you'd give us fuel for nuclear development for peaceful purposes?

 

 

For 30 years we've faced these problems; for over $5 billion to the Germans and then to the Russians, but we haven't gotten anything, and the worst have not been completed. It is our right, we want our right, and we don't want anything beyond the law, nothing less than what international law. We are a peaceful-loving nation. We love all nations.

[Murali_Mohan_das 0]

Regarding Israel:

 

 

MR. COATSWORTH:The first question is: Do you or your government seek the destruction of the state of Israel as a Jewish state?

 

 

PRESIDENT AHMADINEJAD: We love all nations. We are friends with the Jewish people. There are many Jews in Iran living peacefully with security. You must understand that in our constitution, in our laws, in the parliamentary elections, for every 150,000 people we get one representative in the parliament. For the Jewish community, one-fifth of this number they still get one independent representative in the parliament. So our proposal to the Palestinian plight is a humanitarian and democratic proposal.

What we say is that to solve the 60-year problem we must allow the Palestinian people to decide about its future for itself. This is compatible with the spirit of the Charter of the United Nations and the fundamental principles enshrined in it. We must allow Jewish Palestinians, Muslim Palestinians and Christian Palestinians to determine their own fate themselves through a free referendum. Whatever they choose as a nation everybody should accept and respect. Nobody should interfere in the affairs of the Palestinian nation. Nobody should sow the seeds of discord. Nobody should spend tens of billions of dollars equipping and arming one group there.

 

 

We say allow the Palestinian nation to decide its own future, to have the right to self-determination for itself. This is what we are saying as the Iranian nation. (Applause.)

 

 

MR. COATSWORTH: Mr. President, I think many members of our audience would be -- would like to hear a clearer answer to that question, that is -- (interrupted by cheers, applause).

The question is: Do you or your government seek the destruction of the state of Israel as a Jewish state? And I think you could answer that question with a single word, either yes or no. (Cheers, applause.)

 

 

PRESIDENT AHMADINEJAD: And then you want the answer the way you want to hear it. Well, this isn't really a free flow of information. I'm just telling you where I -- what my position is. (Applause.)

I'm asking you, is the Palestinian issue not an international issue of prominence or not? Please tell me, yes or no. (Laughter, applause.)

There's a plight of a people.

 

 

MR. COATSWORTH: The answer to your question is yes. (Laughter.)

 

 

PRESIDENT AHMADINEJAD: Well, thank you for your cooperation.

It is -- we recognize there is a problem there that's been going on for 60 years. Everybody provides a solution, and our solution is a free referendum. Let this referendum happen, and then you'll see what the results are. Let the people of Palestine freely choose what they want for their future. And then what you want in your mind to happen, it will happen and will be realized. (Applause.)

[Murali_Mohan_das 0]

More on nukes and other WMD's:

 

 

Making nuclear, chemical and biological bombs and weapons of mass destruction is yet another result of the misuse of science and research by the big powers. Without cooperation of certain scientists and scholars, we would not have witnessed production of different nuclear, chemical and biological weapons. Are these weapons to protect global security? What can a perpetual nuclear umbrella threat achieve for the sake of humanity? If nuclear war wages between nuclear powers, what human catastrophe will take place? Today we can see the nuclear effects in even new generations of Nagasaki and Hiroshima residents which might be witness in even the next generations to come. Presently, effects of the depleted uranium used in weapons since the beginning of the war in Iraq can be examined and investigated accordingly. These catastrophes take place only when scientists and scholars are misused by oppressors.

[Guruvani 0]

I don't think that talking about this asura is a spiritual discussion.

It is asura-katha.

 

I can't appreciate it at all.

[Murali_Mohan_das 0]

Fine, go argue with the sleep-vadis, then, since you have nothing of substance to add.

 

Point out one demoniac statement by the President. Just one.

 

You are brainwashed by the trash that passes for TV news and the so-called "History" channel.

 

 

I don't think that talking about this asura is a spiritual discussion.

It is asura-katha.

 

I can't appreciate it at all.

[Guruvani 0]

 

Fine, go argue with the sleep-vadis, then, since you have nothing of substance to add.

 

Point out one demoniac statement by the President. Just one.

 

You are brainwashed by the trash that passes for TV news and the so-called "History" channel.

 

Don't get your panties all in a bunch.

You are the only one in here that thinks the idiot is worth talking about.

[Murali_Mohan_das 0]

And your comment just pushed this topic in which nobody but me is interested back to the top of the list.

 

Folks without a ground on which to stand resort to ad hominem attacks like calling folks "idiot".

 

If anybody is naive, it is you and theist, who are only too eager to believe the liars and cheaters when it comes to war on the Muslims.

 

I'm not saying the President of Iran is a saint, but he's a lot more saintly than anything I've seen in the political scene of the U.S.A.

 

If the Right succedes in changing the Constitution to allow Arnold (the closeted Nazi by some accounts) to run for President, I start my campaign to allow foreign heads of state to run for President of the U.S.A.

 

 

Don't get your panties all in a bunch.

You are the only one in here that thinks the idiot is worth talking about.

[gHari 0]

 

Can you point out precisely how this is not a Vaishnava conception?

 

 

 

Can you point out any other place in the President's remarks where he says something in opposition to the Vaishnava conception?

 

During Ramadan I've taken the opportunity to engage Islam in dialog about God. They are more receptive then. I've yet to meet one who knows that God is a person. When I suggest that God is a person I fear for my life for the hatred is not far below the surface, and my death is sanctioned by Muhammed (PBUH) in his mind.