President Barack Obama recorded a video message of celebration for Nowruz, the Persian New Year. After decades of mindless demonization, this is an especially amazing reaching out to the Iranian people:

This year, the President wanted to send a special message to the people and government of Iran on Nowruz, acknowledging the strain in our relations over the last few decades. "But at this holiday we are reminded of the common humanity that binds us together," he says.

After committing his administration to a future of honest and respectful diplomacy, he continues on to address Iran's leaders directly: "You, too, have a choice. The United States wants the Islamic Republic of Iran to take its rightful place in the community of nations. You have that right -- but it comes with real responsibilities, and that place cannot be reached through terror or arms, but rather through peaceful actions that demonstrate the true greatness of the Iranian people and civilization. And the measure of that greatness is not the capacity to destroy, it is your demonstrated ability to build and create."

Now, I'm sure that this will make the neo-cons and their media leaders burst a blood vessel...but let us not forget who the last president was that reached out to the Iranian people: St. Ronnie.

Transcript below the fold

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