Bridge of friendship

Does America need a “bridge of friendship” with Canada and Mexico? Why is one border apparently more problematical than the other? What commonalities do we share with the inhabitants on the other side? What kind of ceremony could be created to affirm our commonalities?

Do we need a “bridge of friendship” with any other cultures, whose borders do not physically touch our own? Who would they be, what do we have in common with them, and what notable differences should we acknowledge and even celebrate?

What do we stand to gain from them? What do they stand to gain from us?

 Does America Need a Bridge of Friendship

BBC Monitoring Middle East – Political
Supplied by BBC Worldwide Monitoring

September 28, 2007 Friday

Iran and Iraq celebrate “bridge of friendship”

LENGTH: 482 words

Text of report by Vision of the Islamic Republic of Iran Khuzestan Provincial TV on 27 September
[Presenter] On the last day of Sacred Defence Week [22-28 September, marking the anniversary of the start of the eight-year Iran-Iraq war 1980-88], the Shalamcheh international border was named as the border of friendship be-tween Iran and Iraq and a ceremony was held today to mark brotherhood between the cities of Khorramshahr [in Iran] and Basra [in Iraq. Both cities were the scenes of fierce battles between the two countries during the Iran-Iraq war].

 Does America Need a Bridge of Friendship

[Correspondent] Simultaneous with Sacred Defence Week and the designation of Shalamche international border as the border of friendship between Iran and Iraq, a ceremony was held today to mark brotherhood between Khorramshahr and Basra.

 Does America Need a Bridge of Friendship

During the ceremony – which took place on the Shalamcheh international border in the blessed month of Ramadan and with the aim of creating further unity between the two Muslim nations of Iran and Iraq – a monument was unveiled representing peace, friendship and brotherhood between the cities of Khorramshahr and Basra to symbolize the two countries’ unity, peace and friendship. Some 110 inhabitants of Basra and a group of civilian and military officials of the two countries took part in the ceremony.
The people participating in the ceremony, particularly the Iraqi citizens, expressed satisfaction at the announcement of brotherhood between Basra and Khorramshahr and said that the event would mark a permanent page in the history of Iran and Iraq.

 Does America Need a Bridge of Friendship

[Correspondent asks a question from an Iraqi man] What is your feeling about taking part in this ceremony and the announcement of brotherhood and friendship between the two cities of Khorramshahr and Basra?
[Iraqi man in Arabic with Persian voice-over translation] We have come here to strengthen this friendship and to say that brotherhood and friendship between us have roots in history, can last forever, and we would like to boost this friendship.

 Does America Need a Bridge of Friendship

[Another Iraqi man in Arabic with Persian voice-over] We offer our congratulations on the occasion of this bridge of friendship between the two countries of Iraq and Iran.
[Iraqi man speaking in Persian] Our feeling resembles those of any Muslim who meets his Muslim brother, hoping to create a panacea for the suffering which we and the Iranian nation endured during the rules of their former regimes.
[Video shows: A road and a bridge, correspondent filing his report beside a large poster showing Iranian and Iraqi religious leaders, the two countries’ national flags and writings both in Persian and Arabic about the border; ordinary people, clerics, military and civilian officials greeting each other, pictures of a bridge with the Iranian flag on the one side and the Iraqi flag on the other and interviews with Iraqi nationals.]
Source: Khuzestan Provincial TV, Ahvaz, in Persian 1630 gmt 27 Sep 07