Wednesday
February 28, 2001
Power of unity
I would like to appreciate the initiatives of the author of "Petition
by one" for encouraging over one million Iranian Americans to
write personalized letters to their senators and congressmen in order to
oppose the regulations of fingerprinting and luggage searching of Iranians
at U.S. airports. This is a highly effective and extremely productive campaign.
To reiterate the importance of the above mentioned recommendation from
a personal standpoint, not only have I already forwarded several similar
letters to related senators and congressmen, but I have also contacted
them personally, both via phone and by meeting them or their representatives
in person including Senator Dianne Feinstsein and Congressman Tom Lantos.
However, I would like to suggest that such personal initiatives not
be considered as a substitute for collective actions such as petitions.
They should be viewed as supplementary actions. Hence, it is important
to reiterate the success of the "petition
of concerned citizens to President Bush requesting lifting the fingerprinting
and excessive luggage-searching of Iranian travelers at U.S. airports"
has already obtained over 1,800 signatures within less than four weeks
after its launch in internet.
Those who have signed and supported such successful petitions should
indeed seriously consider writing personalized letters to their representatives
as suggested by the author of "Petition
by one", which in my opinion has nothing to do with "Power
of One". In no way do I have the intention to analyze or criticize
the doctrine of "Power
of One" and its other agenda in disguise, nor do I wish to try
to comprehend the association between the two above-mentioned "Ones".
Nevertheless, despite previous confrontations and oppositions that are
mostly based on political and psychosocial diversities, I would like to
reiterate that when it comes to opposing discrimination, even two opponents
can work with each other and demonstrate "The Power of Unity".
Kamiar Kallaantar
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