Isn't It Time to Put Peace On the Table? A State of the Union Commentary

In his State of the Union Address to Congress Tuesday night, referring to Iran and its nuclear ambitions, whatever they might be, President Obama said,

And we will safeguard America’s own security against those who threaten our citizens, our friends, and our interests. Look at Iran. Through the power of our diplomacy, a world that was once divided about how to deal with Iran’s nuclear program now stands as one. The regime is more isolated than ever before. Its leaders are faced with crippling sanctions. And as long as they shirk their responsibilities, this pressure will not relent. Let there be no doubt: America is determined to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon, and I will take no options off the table to achieve that goal.  

But a peaceful resolution of this issue is still possible, and far better. And if Iran changes course and meets its obligations, it can rejoin the community of nations.  State of the Union Transcript

What was interesting to me, interesting and heartbreaking, was the response of the audience: when the President said, “I will take no options off the table to achieve that goal”, he received a standing O.  [Minute 56:26].  But when he said, “a peaceful resolution of this issue is still possible”, four or five people gave a few claps [Minute 56:47].  And when he concluded with the hope that Iran might rejoin the community of nations, there was absolute silence.  [Minute 56:54].

When the President said that he would “take no options off the table”, the meaning is plain in American political parlance: the President retains what he views as his prerogative to use nuclear weapons against Iran.  Setting aside for the moment the implications of that statement, simply consider the response of the elected representative body of the United States to it:  universal approval.  Everyone or virtually everyone in that hall stood up and applauded the threat to drop nuclear bombs on Iran.

But when the President immediately followed with the statement that peaceful resolution remains possible, only four or five people even offered a few claps of approval.  And when he concluded with the hope that Iran rejoin the international community, he was met with a silence deafening in its contrast to the standing ovation of just moments ago.

I am left wondering: would our world be different if our yearning for peace were as strong as our desire for war?  Would our world be different if we longed for peace with the same enthusiasm we bring to our force and threats of force?  Would our world be different if we understood peace to spring from strength and force from weakness?

Isn’t it past time to put peace at the center of the table?

I have to think so.