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Written by: Kamran Mofid

Published: 20 April 2018

Hits: 1378

‘I can’t believe that this world can go on beyond our generation and on down to succeeding generations with this kind of weapon on both sides poised at each other without someday some fool or some maniac or some accident triggering the kind of war that is the end of the line for all of us.’-President Ronald Reagan, May 16, 1983

‘We are in the era of the thermonuclear bomb that can obliterate cities and can be delivered across continents. With such weapons, war has become, not just tragic, but preposterous.’-Dwight D. Eisenhower, Republican National Convention, August 23, 1956.

A Syrian boy, an innocent soul, walks with his bicycle, wondering why and what has happened to his beloved family, home, city and country.

Photo: afp.com

Imagining a Better World

The Path to the Heart of True Human Possibilities

A Poetic and Spiritual Pilgrimage to Wisdom to Build a Better World for All

O You Who’ve gone on Pilgrimage

Come, Come, Whoever You Are, Come

Ours is not a caravan of despair.

Ours is a Journey of Hope          

What You Seek Is Seeking You ~ Rumi

‘To my mind, there is no doubt that, we need all the wisdom we can receive, especially in relation to the dark thoughts, the shame and the malice from which no person is immune. We need hope, love, beauty and wisdom to guide us in all we do. We need to be agents of goodness and light, whilst projecting them onto others. Taking this path, I am sure the world would, in due course, be less fractured and in pain than it is today.’ Kamran Mofid, A Poetic Pilgrimage to Wisdom

Poetry, literature and spirituality: The Language of Dialogue and Diplomacy

An Investment of Heart and Spirit: Balancing Humility and Ambition

It is worth remembering the centuries-old and timeless wisdom of the Persian poet, Sa’di:

Human beings are like parts of a body

Created from the same essence.

When one part is hurt and in pain,

the others cannot remain in peace and be quiet.

If the misery of others leaves you indifferent and with no feelings of sorrow,

You cannot be called a human being.

Another of his poems is inscribed at the entrance of the Secretariat of the United Nations in New York:                                                     

The Children of Adam

Are limbs of one another,

In terms of Creation,

They're of the self-same Essence

Poetry and literature: The language of dialogue and diplomacy

It may sound strange and irrelevant at glance to connect poetry, literature and spirituality (PLS) with politics or foreign policy in this so called digitized and gadget-driven age. However, the more I look, the way I see it, (PLS) are the perfect allegories that one must understand in order to envision a foreign policy that is built on diplomacy and dialogue for the common good, rather than relying on bombs and weapons.

(PLS) embodies the good and evil that exists in each one of us, and how one must strive to achieve the goodness, wisdom and beauty in spite of having evil qualities. If only politicians and policy makers chose to follow the path of dialogue, many wars and conflicts can be avoided. It is in each one of us to choose the path of dialogue, take actions in the interest of the common good, and achieve a lasting peace, building a world of harmony and prosperity for all and not a few.

To press this point further, I wish to share with the reader, a Blog I wrote a few years back, celebrating the successful nuclear treaty between Iran and the P5+1, reflecting on the words and philosophy of the Persian sage and poet, Farid al-Din 'Attar.

The more I read Attar’s poetry and the more I discovered about his philosophy, the more I realised that his poetry and literature promote the language of dialogue and diplomacy, very relevant to today’s needs to address the multiple global crises. His words, ideas and poetry foster human potential and the art of building true relations, nurturing dialogue, understanding, empathy and compassion to cultivate peace and harmony throughout the world.

In our troubled and suffering world of continuing and deepening crisis, our political leaders that take actions in our names, must show and stand up for a greater vision and courage, projecting honesty, humility and trust and invest not in shiny, new, smart missiles and boast about them, but, make substantial investment in wisdom, beauty, heart and spirit.

In order to show them a way in which this might be achieved, I can do no better than share what I had put together in an article in 2006 (updated in 2013 and again in 2015).

Iran and the US: A Mystic and Poetic Path to Conflict Resolution and Peacemaking

Kamran Mofid 6 May 2006

Dialogue: Our mystic Journey to Build a Better World

Kindness, love, compassion and forgiveness can unlock the door to peace in oneself, peace in others and then peace in the world

Life is a Journey of Transformative Dialogues of Self-Discovery of Knowing you, Knowing me

Photo:centerforpersonalevolution.com

As the Founder of the Globalisation for the Common Good Initiative, and as a person who has embraced spiritual economics, I always thought that there must be a better way, a more just path, to reconcile the West (US) and Iran. I felt that they must move away from concentrating mainly on the material aspect of their relationship to a more spiritual appreciation of who they are, what they believe in, what they share and what they have in common.

I strongly felt that this must be the first step, moving back from “All options are on the table”, and “Death to America - The Great Satan”, to a more meaningful dialogue for the Common Good: A Dialogue of Civilisations, the Dialogue of Discovery and Hope, celebrating our common humanity, kindness, trust, dignity, mutual respect and love.

But, the question was how this may happen, how it may begin? The answer, I believe, rests in Spiritual Diplomacy for the Common Good, choosing love which is the path to world peace with responsibility.

In a simplistic sense, as it has been noted, the idea is to see spirituality, universal human themes, religion and God as part of the solution to conflicts, as opposed to part of the problem. The tools and mechanisms that emerge from centuries of spiritual quests may provide a basis for communication, understanding and ultimate agreement.’ ... Continue to read

Photo:bing.com

Iran Nuclear Deal is truly the Triumph of  Dialogue, Humility, Courage, Wisdom, Diplomacy, Hope and a Visionary Leadership; over Foolishness, Arrogance, Selfishness, Weakness, Fear, Extremism, Warmongering, and Short-sighted leadership. This has been a gift to the world. Long may it be so.

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Written by: Kamran Mofid

Published: 10 April 2018

Hits: 3044

Photo: bbc.co.uk

Today, Tuesday 10 April 2018, marks 20 years since the Good Friday Agreement (also known as The Belfast Agreement), which set in place terms that would bring peace to Northern Ireland.

The historic deal has brought Britain and Ireland closer than ever. However, today, Brexit has put the Agreement under a huge amount of stress and uncertainty.

In the words of former US secretary of state, Hillary Clinton, writing in today’s Guardian “We cannot allow Brexit to undermine the peace that people voted, fought and even died for. Reinstating the border would be an enormous setback, returning to the ‘bad old days’ when communities would once again be set apart.”

Clinton adapts a famous Blair quote from the time of the original Belfast agreement to warn: “If short-term interests take precedent over solving the long-term challenges that still exist in Northern Ireland, then, it is clear that the hand of history will be both heavy and unforgiving.”

To neglect the peace process now is a grave mistake

What, then, is the answer?

HOPE, I say

Hope for the region lies in the transformative power of forgiveness and reconciliation, lest we forget

Courage and good-heartedness to take action in the interest of the common good to build a lasting peace

It may sound strange to talk about ‘Hope’ in these challenging times in Northern Ireland. Despite a period of relative stability, peacebuilding and economic development, a sense of hopelessness and despair has taken over people’s life and sentiments about the peace process, togetherness, communities and neighbourly relationships.

At the time of writing, the Northern Ireland Assembly has not sat in Stormont since January 2017, amid a renewable heating scandal, and unionists and nationalists seem unable to resolve issues ranging from same sex marriage to the use of the Irish language in the region. Furthermore, issues related to Brexit and the Conservative Government's power sharing agreement with the Democratic Unionist Party is said to have threatened the peace brought by the Good Friday Agreement those 20 years ago.

To cut a very long and complicated story short, for me, reflecting back, looking at Northern Ireland today, I feel that, a great deal of political hopes have been realised beyond expectations and dreams. However, the current uncertainty calls for an urgent need for a deeper understanding and healing. The boil and the pains of bitterness, hurt and sectarianism has not yet been fully lanced. This has to change if the peace of the last 20 years is to continue.

Paraphrasing many comments that have been made already, it appears that,  the underlying issues, affecting the Good Friday Agreement, are constitutional, as well as the need for forgiveness, repentance, truth, justice, as well as the core issues of identity – Irishness and Britishness.

In short, people  need to ask of themselves: How do we live well as neighbours, and who is our neighbour?

This relational aspect of reconciliation is necessary for true healing to take place, not only in Northern Ireland, but, also in all places of conflict, wars, injustice and destruction.

No Future Without Forgiveness: ‘Forgive and forget’ will not do. ‘Remember and forgive’ is the Hopeful Path to Reconcile and Build Peace with Justice

The Good Friday Agreement anniversary is a chance to redouble the focus on duty to reach full reconciliation

To suggest a hopeful path for a better understanding of forgiveness, reconciliation, healing the wounds of the past, peace and justice, I can do no better that offer you the excellent and timeless address by former President of Ireland, Mrs. Mary Robinson, given at the launch of the Coventry Centre for the Study of Forgiveness and Reconciliation, delivered at Coventry Cathedral on Monday 11 March 1996.

'Forgiveness & Reconciliation'

Mary Robinson

The President of Ireland

(3 December 1990 – 12 September 1997)

Forgiveness & Reconciliation Mary Robinson

“I am deeply honoured to have been invited to inaugurate your Centre for the Study of Forgiveness and Reconciliation with this lecture, and to act as the Centre’s Patron.” -Mary Robinson, President of Ireland

Related Links:

Coventry and I: The story of a boy from Iran who became a man in Coventry

The Western World and Japan: The Ambassador Lecture Series Inaugural Address by H E Hiroaki Fujii, Coventry University, 26 October 1995

Former President F.W. de Klerk’s Address at Coventry Cathedral, 2 September 1997

Centre for the Study of Forgiveness and Reconciliation

Forgiveness and Reconciliation in Pursuit of the Global Common Good

Ambassadors’ Lecture Series: The Prelude to the Establishment of the Centre for the Study of Forgiveness and Reconciliation at Coventry University in 1996

‘Father Forgive’: Coventry Cathedral and my life's journey of discovery

The Coventry Litany of Reconciliation: The Charter for Forgiveness and Reconciliation the World Ever Needs

Forgiveness and Reconciliation: Provost Howard-The Man who made Coventry the City of Peace, Forgiveness and Reconciliation

What is the Good Friday Agreement that brought peace to Northern Ireland?

Listen to people of all ages reading aloud from the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement

‘The Belfast or Good Friday Agreement is now in its 20th year.  We at times forget how important it was that the people of both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland voted for a future together.

In 1998 we witnessed the courage of people who crossed the constitutional divide when seeking accommodation and recognition of the need to build inclusive partnerships and values of tolerance and mutual respect. The Agreement has not been perfect and we have witnessed a range of political fallouts and disagreements but we have also witnessed a sustained decline in violence and new relationships that have formed across the sectarian divide.

We must never forget that the Agreement was the people’s process. It was the people who voted for it and they who sustained it through their commitment to creating a better society that one day will be released from the agonising grip of fear, intimidation and ultimately cultural and political futility.

Our obligation is not to merely remember the Agreement but to remind ourselves of one very central and important question.

What is my civic duty?

Let’s remind ourselves that 20 years after the Agreement that we must strive to build reconciliation, promote trust and most of all dedicate ourselves to a non-sectarian future.’

Prof. Peter Shirlow (FacSS), Director, Institute of Irish Studies, University of Liverpool

Watch the Video:

Listen to people of all ages reading aloud from the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement