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cover of episode Christmas in Tehran During the 1979 Iran Hostage Crisis

Christmas in Tehran During the 1979 Iran Hostage Crisis

2024/12/24
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Reverend M. William Howard Jr.: 在1979年圣诞节期间，我作为美国全国教会理事会主席，应邀前往德黑兰，为被伊朗革命者扣为人质的美国大使馆工作人员举行圣诞仪式。此举并非没有政治考量，但我也看到了降低美伊紧张局势，避免军事冲突的可能性。到达德黑兰后，我受到了媒体的热烈关注，并在圣诞夜午夜抵达大使馆。 在与人质会面时，我首先感受到的是他们对我的怀疑和戒备。为了赢得他们的信任，我坦诚地表达了自己的处境，并强调我此行的目的是为了表达美国人民对他们的关心。在交流中，他们首先询问了美国橄榄球联赛季后赛的情况，这让我意识到他们需要一些与日常生活相关的联系。随后，我们进行了一次简短的祈祷，这成为了我们之间交流的顶点。 除了宗教仪式，我还为他们提供了牧师式的咨询，并帮助他们与家人联系，这成为了他们与家人之间联系的桥梁。在与人质会面后，我与其他神职人员还与扣押人质的伊朗学生和神职人员会面，了解了他们对美国在伊朗的所作所为的控诉。 这次经历让我深刻地认识到，在面临外部力量的控制时，人类是多么的无力和孤独，而正是这种处境促使人们对信仰的追求。 Adam Howard: 我的父亲，Reverend M. William Howard Jr.，在1979年伊朗人质危机期间，前往德黑兰为被扣押的美国人质举行圣诞仪式。这不仅是一次宗教外交行动，也反映了当时美国社会对人质危机的担忧和复杂情绪。 在危机期间，伊朗革命者袭击了美国大使馆，扣押了50多名人质，原因是美国与伊朗前国王沙阿的关系。我的父亲在危机持续七周后，收到了伊朗革命委员会的邀请。 这次行动既有宣传价值，也有降低紧张局势的可能性。我的父亲意识到，如果人质问题得不到解决，可能会导致美国入侵或军事干预。他希望通过这次行动来降低这种可能性。 这次经历也让我深刻地了解到，在面对重大国际事件时，公众的认知和情绪是多么重要。公众对伊朗历史的无知，以及由此产生的愤怒情绪，构成了一个危险的组合。

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Key Insights

Why did Reverend M. William Howard Jr. accept the invitation to perform Christmas services for the hostages in Tehran during the 1979 Iran hostage crisis?

He saw it as an opportunity to reduce tensions and prevent potential military intervention by the U.S., which was a growing concern at the time.

What was the reaction of the American public during the Iran hostage crisis?

The public was quite riled up, with many fearing military action and widespread protests, including the famous yellow ribbon campaign.

How did the Iranian revolutionaries justify their occupation of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran?

They demanded the return of the Shah, who was receiving medical treatment in the U.S., claiming that America's support for the Shah was a betrayal of Iran.

What was the significance of the Christmas services conducted by Reverend Howard and his colleagues?

It was the first time American clergy had been allowed to see the hostages, providing a direct link between the captives and their families, and offering a moment of spiritual comfort.

How did the hostages react to Reverend Howard's presence during the Christmas services?

Initially suspicious, they eventually warmed up to him, asking about the NFL playoffs and requesting prayers, which they found comforting.

What challenges did Reverend Howard face during his visit to the U.S. Embassy in Tehran?

He was blindfolded upon arrival and faced armed students with rifles, creating a tense and surreal environment, but he managed to maintain calm and conduct the services.

How did the Iranian students and mullahs view the U.S. involvement in Iran?

They were deeply critical of America's support for the Shah and its role in overthrowing Mohammad Mossadegh in the 1950s, viewing it as a historical betrayal.

What impact did the Iran hostage crisis have on Reverend Howard's understanding of faith?

It reinforced his belief that faith is often developed in moments of powerlessness and isolation, as people turn to it when they have no other options.

How did the American media and public react to Reverend Howard's return from Tehran?

He was featured on numerous media outlets, including the Donahue show, where audiences were often uninformed and angry about the crisis, reflecting a lack of understanding of Iran's history.

What was the lasting legacy of Reverend Howard's experience during the Iran hostage crisis?

It deepened his understanding of the role of faith in times of crisis and highlighted the importance of addressing political and religious tensions through dialogue and compassion.

Chapters
In December 1979, Reverend M. William Howard Jr. receives a surprising telegram inviting him to conduct Christmas services for American hostages held in the U.S. Embassy in Tehran during the Iran hostage crisis. The invitation comes amidst heightened tensions and speculation about potential military intervention. The decision to go is discussed within the family and with government officials.
  • Reverend Howard receives a telegram inviting him to conduct Christmas services for the American hostages in Tehran.
  • The invitation arrives during the Iran hostage crisis, seven weeks into the ordeal.
  • The decision to accept the invitation is made after consulting with family, colleagues, and government officials.

Shownotes Transcript

In 1979, as Christmas approached, the United States Embassy in Tehran held more than fifty American hostages, who had been seized when revolutionaries stormed the embassy. No one from the U.S. had been able to have contact with them. The Reverend M. William Howard, Jr., was the president of the National Council of Churches at the time, and when he received a telegram from the Revolutionary Council, inviting him to perform Christmas services for the hostages, he jumped at the opportunity. In America, “we had a public that was quite riled up,” Reverend Howard reminds his son, The New Yorker Radio Hour’s Adam Howard. “Who knows what might have resulted if this issue were not somehow addressed? . . . Might there be an American invasion, an attempt to rescue the hostages in a militaristic way?” Reverend Howard was aware that the gesture had some propaganda value to the Iranian militants, but he saw a chance to lower the tension. Accompanied by another Protestant minister and a Catholic bishop, Howard entered front-page headlines, travelling to Tehran and into the embassy. He gave the captives updates on the N.F.L. playoffs, and they prayed. It was a surreal experience to say the least. “It was in the Iranian hostage crisis that I understood how alone we are, and how powerless we are when other people take control,” Reverend Howard says. “And really it’s in that setting that one can develop faith.”

This segment originally aired on December 15, 2023.