Iran: Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

Interesting to read a column of Prof. Dr. Azumardi Azra, Rector of Jakarta Islamic University (UIN) in Republika daily regarding the Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s visit to Indonesia recently which very warmly and enthusiastically welcomed by many Indonesians, people and students alike, contrary to Iran and his own image in the West. According to Mr. Azra, who had done his PhD in the US, if one single factor could explain this phenomenon that should be what he called ‘the psychology of the weaks.’

Iran and he are regarded to represent the weaks community against the powerful (US and the West).

He wrote,

In the psychology of the weak thesis, Ahmadinejad emerges as a symbol of resistance. They see him as an oracle against the superpower who has done injustices and oppression, as though the US is invincible. For Iranian people particularly, following the Islamic Revolution led by Ayatullah Khomeini, America is not an invincible superpower.

… the world is on the verge of a new conflict which will be much worse, while the ongoing violences are still prevalent in Iraq, Afghanistan, Palestine, and some other places.

Therefore, he concludes:

… dialog need to be done continuously; particularly when intercivilizations dialogs had been one primary agenda of previous Iranian president, Muhammad Khatami.

Any dialog carried out with honest intention and good-will will make this world a much better place.

I could’nt agree more.