In his perceptive second letter, Ayatollah Khamenei speaks matter-of-factly on those challenges and calls on today’s young people to meet that challenge through constructive dialogue and a demand by world powers to stop linking up with “backward political systems” in the Middle East region – read Saudi Arabia – to spread its venomous discord by not allowing the region to respond to its own political and economic awakening.

He also points especially to contradictions by the United States in supporting movements such as backing Saudi paranoia in addition to its support to Israel while remaining silent on its actions to stifle the Palestinian people in the region from realizing their own destiny.

He also points to the demented influence of the ISIS which has grown out of western interference and conflict in the region for a millennia and now takes advantage of young people in the West who are subjected to political, economic and social disparity which has isolated them in western societies.

In appealing to young people for a major change, Ayatollah Khamenei calls for a positive “natural” cultural interaction of young people across the world that will result in “growth, development and richness.” It is a sincere call for serious dialogue to “uncover the apparent layers of your own society and untie and disentangle the knots and resentments.” Such a call should not be ignored.

Instead, international forum, particularly at the United Nations, should convene a series of international youth conferences to discuss and develop a positive approach to Ayatollah Khamenei’s timely appeal. In addition, Iran also can assert world leadership by convening a series of international youth conferences to keep that dialogue going. Such an important subject will require continuous attention for many years to come.

The article has been written by F. Michael Maloof on www.cgsgs.com published in 2015/12/03.

S/SH