Christopher Brown

Delhi’s Christopher Brown is a dedicated Peace Vigil participant, who has written this very sincere letter below:

“Letter to the Fathers and Mothers of Iran

“I am writing this letter to assure you that there are many peaceful people in America, who have families as you do, who are eager for the saber-rattling of our leaders to stop.  I am seeking contact with peacemakers in Iran who share the belief that the angry rhetoric must end.

“Because of political powerlessness, many of us have chosen the hiding place of silence.  With our heads bowed and our hands busy with work, we have chosen not to risk speaking out because of fear of penalties for not going along with post-9/11 aggressiveness.  Fear itself has come to teach us we must speak out for peace.  If we do not speak out now, we will be guilty of placing our children into a future of endless war.

“The United States has become unkind in its attitude toward the international community.  I believe this is in reaction to the vulnerability we felt when we were attacked.  Hatred towards others has become acceptable as well as turning a blind eye to torture, imprisonment without trial, and invasion of privacy--all rationalized as ‘loyal patriotism.’  All of these are a barometer of fear and insecurity.  Combined with our military might, the fears I spoke about are expressed in bullying behavior, meant to intimidate and control others.  It is a paranoid system in which fear leads to hatred which leads to war and further violence.

“When your country's most vocal leader expresses a hatred for America, it further feeds America's fears, hatred, and defiance.  Both of our leaders act like growling dogs competing for dominance.  We are all prisoners of war in that both our countries are being guided by leaders who threaten others with military intervention when their demands are not met.  We are prisoners of fear to the extent that our leaders threaten their critics with accusations against their courage, patriotism, and loyalty to justice.  We have blood on our souls as long as we permit our leaders to commit acts of aggression and acts of injustice.  I apologize for the cruelty and immorality of the actions of my government and for the fear and suffering they have caused.

“Our President has asked Iran to be ‘accountable,’ forgetting that he must be accountable too:  He has humiliated your country and has rejected open diplomacy with your representatives except on his own unrealistic terms.  His administration continues to demand sanctions, causing Iranians inexcusable suffering.  I apologize for these sanctions and for the suffering which they have caused.

“Peace-loving Americans are the same as peace-loving Iranians.  Both are afraid of the aggressive talk and actions of the powerful.  But Americans have more freedom to protest the actions of their government.  Americans are facing a difficult choice:  Should they confront the current leaders to prevent war, or wait and hope the next elected leader will be a peacemaker, or both?  For my part, as a parent writing to other parents, I want to see things changed.

“One of our president’s closest advisors says ‘How dare (so-and-so) dictate foreign policy to the President of the United States?’  I say that in the U.S., a democracy despite the tightening grip of the power elite, we are all equal, each man and woman having the right to free speech and to convictions, personal and global.  It is my right as a citizen to send a message of apology and goodwill to the people of Iran, and to express my dissent to those who bully and are warlike.  May we be blessed with peace and the fruits of peace for both our countries and the world.”