In honor of the Persian holiday of Nowruz — I shit you not — President Obama has sent another video to the people of Iran. He starts off:

Today, I want to extend my best wishes to all who are celebrating Nowruz in the United States and around the world. On this New Year’s celebration, friends and family have a unique opportunity to reflect on the year gone by; to celebrate their time together; and to share in their hopes for the future.

Nowruz is the Persian new year, by the way. It’s year 1389 on the Persian calendar, which is ironic because that’s exactly where Iran’s social policies are stuck on the Gregorian calendar.

Continuing onward:

One year ago, I chose this occasion to speak directly to the people and leaders of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and to offer a new chapter of engagement on the basis of mutual interests and mutual respect. I did so with no illusions. For three decades, the United States and Iran have been alienated from one another. Iran’s leaders have sought their own legitimacy through hostility to America. And we continue to have serious differences on many issues.

One year ago I sent a video to you and things have only gotten worse since then. So I’m sending you another one today. Also, we have serious differences on issues. Like whether we should publicly beat women or execute homosexuals, or perhaps send government-directed mobs to shoot protesters in the streets.

I said, last year, that the choice for a better future was in the hands of Iran’s leaders. That remains true today. Together with the international community, the United States acknowledges your right to peaceful nuclear energy – we insist only that you adhere to the same responsibilities that apply to other nations. We are familiar with your grievances from the past – we have our own grievances as well, but we are prepared to move forward. We know what you’re against; now tell us what you’re for.

They’ve already told you what they’re for. They want a nuclear program, seek more regional power, and plan to wipe Israel off the map. Start paying attention.

For reasons known only to them, the leaders of Iran have shown themselves unable to answer that question. You have refused good faith proposals from the international community. They have turned their backs on a pathway that would bring more opportunity to all Iranians, and allow a great civilization to take its rightful place in the community of nations. Faced with an extended hand, Iran’s leaders have shown only a clenched fist.

Our overtures for peace have been rejected for reasons only known to the Iranian leadership? Really? It’s that big of a mystery as to why bat-shit insane Mullahs bell-bent on killing Jews aren’t willingly giving up their pursuit of nuclear weapons that could reach a country populated by about 8 million mostly-Jewish people?

Last June, the world watched with admiration, as Iranians sought to exercise their universal right to be heard. But tragically, the aspirations of the Iranian people were also met with a clenched fist, as people marching silently were beaten with batons; political prisoners were rounded up and abused; absurd and false accusations were leveled against the United States and the West; and people everywhere were horrified by the video of a young woman killed in the street.

Let’s keep in mind that Obama refused to take any partisan stance at the time, opting to keep out of the apparently domestic matters of killing protesters in the streets. And this was around the same time Obama invited Iranian officials to Fourth of July parties at embassies.

The United States does not meddle in Iran’s internal affairs. Our commitment – our responsibility – is to stand up for those rights that should be universal to all human beings. That includes the right to speak freely, to assemble without fear; the right to the equal administration of justice, and to express your views without facing retribution against you or your families.

Which is why I insisted on remaining neutral on those topics and invited your oppressive leaders over for hot dogs on the day dedicated to celebrating freedom.

Finally, let me be clear: we are working with the international community to hold the Iranian government accountable because they refuse to live up to their international obligations. But our offer of comprehensive diplomatic contacts and dialogue stands. Indeed, over the course of the last year, it is the Iranian government that has chosen to isolate itself, and to choose a self-defeating focus on the past over a commitment to build a better future.

What are the chances the Iranian government actually permits this video, or at least that segment, to be shown freely within Iran? This was a country who spent man-hours hunting down dissenters on Twitter last year.

Obama finishes by quoting the poet Saadi:

Last year, I quoted the words of the poet Saadi, who said: “The children of Adam are limbs to each other, having been created of one essence.” I still believe that – I believe it with every fiber of my being.

Saadi also said:

O wise man, wash your hands of that friend who associates with your enemies.

Perhaps Obama should have taken that quote into consideration before associating with Jeremiah Wright, who calls for God’s damnation of America and reprinted the Hamas terror manifesto in the church’s bulletin. It would have served him, and this country, well.

Saadi has quite a bit of wisdom to share. Obama? Not so much.