Political earthquake
The only good to be salvaged from the earthquake that struck the historic Iranian city of Bam is that it offers an opportunity for nations that have political and ideological differences with Iran to show they care for ordinary Iranians.
World leaders sent messages of condolence to the Iranian government and expressed commiseration with the Iranian people. Iran is unfortunately earthquake prone. It suffered a devastating earthquake in 1978, when 25,000 lives were lost, and again in 1990, when the death toll topped 35,000. Neither disaster attracted as much international support as last week's earthquake, especially from countries that have traditionally not been on good terms with Tehran.
The gesture by the US, which sent aid workers to join in the earthquake relief effort in Iran, was especially appreciated by the Iranian authorities. The US humanitarian relief contingency was the first official representation by Americans since Washington broke off diplomatic relations with Iran following the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Iraq, too, sent a 55-strong team to Iran. This, too, is an important precedent in relations between two countries that fought a bitter war for almost two decades. And so did Egypt and the Arab Gulf countries, all of whom have had either turbulent or uneasy relations with the Islamic Republic for the better part of three decades.
International reactions to the Bam disaster illustrate that people the world over are moved to compassion by the sight of thousands of people left homeless and hungry. The world rushes to give them food, shelter and hope.
It is common humanity that binds us regardless of cultural, religious and political differences. It is in such responses we can place our hopes.
