Thursday January 18, 2007

I've Been Thinking:

The vast majority of Iranians dislike Western policy, but love Western culture. The vast majority of Iranians actually like the West, they even like Israel.
It is not Iranians who are so anti, it is Iranian leadership.
The real problem in Iran is Iranian leaders.

Take a look at British football, or soccer, as Americans call it.
On the team called Bolton Wanders there is a new Iranian mid-fielder and there are two Israeli players.
In a recent match Andranik Teimourian, the Iranian, scored a goal in the 49th minute.
And who was there to give him a huge hug - Idan Tal, one of his Israeli teammates.
They socialize, they talk, they eat one another's food, they enjoy one another's company - and they play well together.

The Hug was seen across the soccer world.
Teimourian got calls from Iran, not chastising him but congratulating him.
He is still on Iran's national soccer team, the youngest member on the team.

Sports, the great equalizer, the great neutralizer.
If only world leaders would play.