Sunday, December 12, 2004
Iran's tradition of humility
Rolling through Kenneth Pollack's new book, The Persian Puzzle, I came across the text of the preamble to the English version of the Treaty of Friendship and Commerce signed between the United States and Iran in December 1856:
Old "Young Hickory of the Granite Hills" must have decided that the commercial returns on flattery were more important than American dignity. It is enough to make you wonder whether we didn't deal with Iran on the right terms from the get-go.
The President of the United States of North America, and his Majesty as exalted as the Planet Saturn; the Sovereign to whom the Sun serves as a standard; whose splendor and magnificence are equal to that of the Skies; the Sublime Sovereign, the Monarch whose armies are as numerous as the Stars; whose greatness call to mind that of Jeinshid; whose magnificance equals that of Darius; the Heir of the Crown and Throne of the Kayanians, the Sublime Emperor of all Persia, being both equally and sincerely desirous of establishing relations of Friendship between the two Governments, which they wish to strengthen by a Treaty of Friendship and Commerce...
Old "Young Hickory of the Granite Hills" must have decided that the commercial returns on flattery were more important than American dignity. It is enough to make you wonder whether we didn't deal with Iran on the right terms from the get-go.
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