Iran sanctions bill

I am having a hard time understanding just what the proposed new Iran sanctions bill (“In debate over Iran sanctions, what the sides are arguing about,” Jan. 29) is supposed to accomplish. Its detractors say it may upset the negotiations.  Its supporters argue that it will signal our resolve, and that it actually does not impose any new sanctions unless Iran fails to keep its word. Some say it may obligate the U.S. to support a war that might be initiated by Israel. It’s supporters say it does no such thing. The Obama administration says it has no trouble with the proposed new sanctions and would impose them immediately (without the new bill) if Iran breaks the interim agreement. But the administration thinks the timing of the proposal is destructive.

So what is the point? If both sides agree that the proposed new sanctions would be reasonable to impose if Iran violates the interim agreement, why blare about them in a beligerent new piece of legislation? Are American politicians and Netanyahu merely playing to their bases or to please AIPAC? Or are there actually people in the U.S. and Israel who don’t want a peaceful resolution through diplomacy?

How can anyone really believe that it will further our national interests or enhance our diplomatic efforts to poke our thumb in the eye of Iran in the midst of the first real, promising negotiation with them in decades? I have made my living for 50 years by negotiating.  I can tell you with certainty it does not bode well for a good result when one party insults the other or when voices who are not at the table send strong signals that the negotiators do not have sufficient authority to make a deal.

Norman Selner, Creve Coeur 

More programs needed to promote racial unity

I applaud Cultural Leadership, the anti-bias/social justice program geared towards Jewish and African-American high school students (“Cultural Leadership to start program for middle school students,” Jan. 22). The program’s expansion to middle school students is something I wish would have happened earlier. It is never too early to join in the effort to combat bigotry and prejudice.

However, I would love to know if the program has produced the results it was intended to achieve, among both the students involved in Cultural Leadership and in the overall population between the two groups in the St. Louis area. Has the program been a positive influence in the way the Jewish and African-American communities view and interact with each other racially and culturally, or have the results been and confined to participants? 

Racially speaking, St. Louis is one of the most polarized cities in the nation and we (and many other cities nationally) need to improve upon the number of programs similiar to Cultural Leadership, which promote and encourage racial unity, harmony and acceptance — not just tolerance — of all people, young and old. 

Gene Carton, Olivette