Edited by Gerald Boerner
Commentary:
In recent history, world events have become front row attractions on the big screen of our homes — during our evening TV viewing. It began with the live broadcasts of the daily body counts from Vietnam. It continued during the Iran Hostage Crisis with the advent of ABC’s “Nightline” with its daily updates of what was (and was NOT) happening to the status of these 66 Americans. And, in my opinion, reached its peak during the first Gulf War when the action went on all night long. Our news feeds were continuous!
In this day of Twitter and Facebook, when we are updated by every move our friends as they get on with their exciting lives, we are over-informed of happenings that we may not really care about. But what’s the problem with that? We sometimes lose perspective on the important things that are going on. Furthermore, we are inundated by superficial fact rather than by the background context and principles involved.
On today’s topic, the Iran Hostage Crisis, it is very important to consider what prompted the Islamic Revolution in Iran in the first place. Our CIA put The Shah of Iran on the throne in 1941; he, of course, steered a course favorable to the west. He modernized his country over the objections of the conservative Islamic clerics. He spent the country’s money on westernizing Iran. He treated his opponents ruthlessly for the many years of his reign. When he fell ill and could only be treated in American medical centers, but when he was, the militant students took their displeasure out on our Embassy.
We suffered from the years of abuse of the Shah. Eventually the hostages were released after Ronald Reagan was sworn in as President. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. But we apparently learn our lesson very well; we are locked into another battle of wits over the atomic developments in Iran. Here we go again!
But let’s get going with our exploration of The Iran Hostage Crisis… GLB
These Introductory Comments are copyrighted:
Copyright©2011 — Gerald Boerner — All Rights Reserved[ 4337 Words ]
Quotations Related to HOSTAGES:
“I have a wife, I have sons: all of them hostages given to fate.”
— Lucan
“In fact, this is a blackmail of the terrorists at the expense of the suffering of the hostages.”
— Alberto Fujimori
“He that hath wife and children hath given hostages to fortune; for they are impediments to great enterprises, either of virtue or mischief.”
— Francis Bacon