If Christ were on Earth today he'd probably watch Iranian President Ahmadinejad's British Christmas day speech over the Queen's.
The fact is, the "sombre" message (as it is being officially endorsed) of a jewel encrusted and glorified dynastic ruler is a far cry from the values of humility and humanity that Jesus Christ represents for those of the Abrahamic faiths. Especially as the worst economic crisis of the last 100 years is bringing the world to its knees.
Ahmadinejad, on the other hand -- with his deliberately modest attire and his customized religious everyman image -- is quite a bit more in tune with a Christmas message.
That and the fact that Britain's Channel 4 enjoys stoking controversy have made this year's "alternative to the Queen's Christmas message" (as per a C4 tradition that started in 1993) quite a showstopper as far as boring speeches about peace and humanity by powerful leaders go.
It's hard not to be fascinated by the fact that a man living in the bubble of the Islamic Republic of Iran has proven to be the greatest media mind in contemporary global leadership. Not content with effortlessly reducing major American journalists (not so fast Diane Sawyer) to defensive interviewees, Ahmadinejad has perfected the au courant rule of celebrity media success: never leave the limelight (or the paparazzi flashes, as it may be.)
Like Paris Hilton before him, Ahmadinejad continually reminds the world that he exists and along the way picks up more and more attention. Any news is good news in the world of 24 hour global media and somehow the unshorn leader of an isolated Muslim country has outmastered his Western Armani-wearing counterparts in the game they invented.
But unlike Hilton (and the Queen, whose own speech is so deep it will be complemented with home video of her playing with a toddler Prince Charles), Ahmadinejad has substance. His speech is a clever combination of Christian beliefs and his own analysis of the direction of international politics. His detailed appreciation of the character and values attributed to Jesus Christ are a concerted effort to demonstrate what many an honest theologian will tell you: there is very little difference between the 3 Abrahamic religions and it's almost laughable that most believers of these faiths don't seem to realize it.
To top it off, Ahmadinejad - always quick on the uptake - has borrowed a phrase from today's messiah Barack Obama: change. "Today, the general will of nations is calling for fundamental change. This is now taking place. Demands for change, demands for transformation, demands for a return to human values are fast becoming the foremost demands of the nations of the world." Indeed Ahmadinejad's speech is not merely a media coup but a smart melding of religious language, Abrahamic values, and exactly the kind of anti-war, pro-humanity talk that is dominating the sensibilities of an entire world that is exhausted by the corporate wars that are currently being fought in the name of peace.
Ultimately, if you get past the religio-talk, Ahmadinejad's uniting message of peace and human rights may be the only world leader speech you can agree with this Christmas. Here's to hoping he'll take his own advice.
Finally Hamas published a manifesto on the British newspaper Guardian that said we have no quarrel with Jews. We have a quarrel with a bunch of people who have stolen our land who happen to be Jews. This is a political quarrel.
Much as I support Israel's need to exist, it's hard to find fault with Ahmadinejad's argument that goes this way. The holocaust you describe took place in Europe. The murders were perpetrated and condoned by Europeans. Why should Palestinians who have always treated Jews humanely pay the price. Why isn't Germany paying the price?!
Unfortunately the state of war between Israel and the Palestinians results in each side demonizing the other. For the Palestinians, the state of Israel will come to define all Jews.
You quote the speech "demands for a return to human values are fast becoming the foremost demands of the nations of the world." Indeed this has been a constant theme of Ahmadinejad's in speeches over the years. The Iranian revolution was, itself, a rejection of "modernist" Western values more than anything else.
The rise of fundamentalism, whether it be Islamic, Christian, Judaic, or Hindu, is just as much a rejection of "modernist" Western values as it is an embrace of theology. While there is a global middle class extending across borders into most countries that do embrace "modernist" Western values, they are the ones who have benefited. Others in societies have experienced "modernist" Western values through exploitation and/or culture/future shock and react with rejection. If you read Ahmadinejad's speeches, whether given in the Moslem world or South America, one word keeps popping up - humiliation.
Hopefully the current financial meltdown (and the end of "bling" as a lifestyle) may cause "modernists" to dig deep into their nest to rediscover the humanity of Western values.
Thank you, Shirin Sadeghi. Your articles are always as insightful and thought provoking as they are courageous.
You may criticize the Queen, but the last time I checked England doesn't execute people because of their sexual preference. Not being content to just execute homosexuals, Iran leads the world in child executions. So much for Ahmadinejad's "compassion."
It's the Holiday Time, maybe a little warmness and being openminded wouldn't kill. Beyond that, I found his speech to be fine. The media is just bored.
We have officially been in the 21st century for some time now but I don't really think that we have collectively taken that step over the threshold in order to expand on how religious concepts and values control our every day dialogue and actions. Maybe.... just maybe we should all stop and listen...
Sorry. Can't do it.
From the speech: "All Prophets called for the worship of God..."
And: "...All the problems that have bedevilled humanity throughout the ages came about because humanity followed an evil path and disregarded the message of the Prophets..."
And, finally "We believe, Jesus Christ will return, together with one of the children of the revered Messenger of Islam and will lead the world to love, brotherhood and justice...."
This IS a religious speech delivered for a Religious occasion. Sugar coat it all you want, but his words do not give me hope towards changing from a planet consumed by humans killing each other over their belief systems.
Just more propaganda to keep the masses confused.
If the Christ were on earth today, He'd be locked up in a maximum security prison somewhere as a dangerous radical.
And given He's from the Middle East and has a beard, probably subject to all sorts of horribly unimaginable interrogation techniques.
This is why we have to fight secular nation-hating Christian fundamentalists as if the very survival of America the Free depended on it.
Oh dear, as to your presentation on Jesus, it seems that he was as bad as Bush. He did not oppose any evil in his society such as slavery, warmongering, imperialism.... What a prophet (or whatever) to follow!
As to Ahmadijejad, Ms. Sadeghi makes absolutely corrcet assessment. He is a man of peace and human values based on the teachings of his religion. Iran supports justice and helps curb injustice, the most outstanding example of which is Israeli atrocities and crimes against the Palestinians. Why would that bother you?
As to the Queeen, who cares? She is a super rich nobody when it comes to world affairs.
of course you did...that's how propaganda is done