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8 CITY
JULY 29-AUGUST 7, 2015
And once again, we would be trapped in a costly war with a highly uncertain outcome. Nor can we ignore our own history, which is at the root of the current tension between the US and Iran. In 1953, our CIA and Great Britain overthrew Iran’s elected government and put our own choice, Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi, in power. He ruled Iran as a dictator, with our help, until he was deposed in the 1979 revolution, and Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini took control of the country. Iran, Guatemala, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Indonesia, Cuba, Vietnam: our relatively recent history simply sparkles with our violent interference in the affairs of other nations – not just meddling, but being actively involved in getting rid of elected officials we haven’t liked. We’re dealing with the consequences, around the world. At the heart of the debate over the Iran deal, then, is the US mindset: how we picture ourselves, how we view our role in the world: how we think we best protect ourselves, aid our allies, and work for peace in the world. The day after a presidential news conference discussing the deal, the Washington Post’s Dana Milbank complained that Obama “was tough and strong, but in service of the argument that American power is limited – that this is the best deal we could get with our declining leverage.” Obama’s argument supporting the deal, Milbank wrote, was “sadly, a powerful case – for American weakness.” Weakness? Only if you believe that strength can come solely from military might. Diplomacy isn’t a weakness. For years, we’ve assumed that the answer to everything is military power – and that what is in our own best interest is therefore in the best interest of the rest of the world. (Or we haven’t cared what was in the best interest of the rest of the world.) All those years, we’ve deluded ourselves about the meaning of power and the responsibilities of international leadership. And all the while, we’ve spent too much money on arms and too little on strengthening our own people. And we’ve paid too little attention to the plight of the poor and the oppressed in other parts of the world. The Iran deal gives us a chance to change that. Members of Congress need to hear from us, starting with a key Democrat in this debate, New York Senator Chuck Schumer.
For more Tom Tomorrow, including a political blog and cartoon archive, visit www.thismodernworld.com
URBAN ACTION This week’s calls to action include the following events and activities. All are free and open to the public, unless otherwise noted.
Discussing the local economy
The Rochester Business Alliance will present an economic outlook for the Rochester-Finger Lakes area by William Dudley, president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, from 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, August 12. Dudley will share his views on the importance of workforce development for the region. In his role as New York Fed president, Dudley serves as the vice chair of the Federal Open Market Committee, the organization that forms the na-
tion’s monetary policy. The event will include a light breakfast and networking prior to Dudley’s talk. A question- and-answer session will follow. The event will be held at the Hyatt Regency, 125 East Main Street. Cost: $10 per person. Reservations: 256-4614.
The Weathermen on film
The Flying Squirrel Community Space will show the documentary film “The Weather Underground” at 7 p.m. on Monday, August 3. The film by Sam Green and Bill Siegel details the “Days of Rage” in October 1969 when a large group of young people went on a rampage in the streets of Chicago. It was the first demonstration of a group
that became known as the Weathermen, who were protesting the Vietnam War, racism in America, and government repression. The Weathermen disrupted government, broke activist Timothy Leary out of prison, and evaded the FBI for years. It ranks among the most radical anti-government movements during one of the most turbulent times in US history. The film will be shown at 285 Clarissa Street.
Correcting ourselves Last week’s story, “Theater math,” incorrectly stated that RBTL commissioned a 2010 study on a downtown performing arts center. RBTL did not commission or fund the study.