Get out and vote this time!

Iranians once again must believe in themselves and the power of THE PEOPLE

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Get out and vote this time!
by David ET
14-Apr-2009
 

It is easy to sit outside and tell those who have to live every day under the current oppressive regime of Iran not to vote. But the undeniable fact is that the Islamic Republic is in power and everything possible must be done to reduce the power of its extremists.

If voting for someone more moderate can help achieve and open the smallest channels to breath even a little more and to help somewhat soften the policies of the government in the international arena, ... that option should be examined. The experiences of the past 30 years have clearly proven that not voting has played directly in to the hands of the least tolerant elements within the regime.

This time around if the other choices are even slightly better than now, we should vote.

After 30 years in power, not voting no longer questions the legitimacy of the Islamic Republic as it has not in the past, but voting for the most moderate elements, in masses sends a strong message to those within and outside Iran that Iranians do NOT approve of extremism and if they are given even a small room to express their true wish, they will.

The talking-heads of Persian Satellite TV's sitting in the comfort of their San Fernando Valley USA garage like studios with a green background, should start minding their own business of selling concerts in Dubai and around the world and let Iranians in Iran do what is best for them.

This time we must do the opposite and vote for the most moderate and vote in masses , then even Khamenei can not deny the will of the people in what they really want. People must exercise their power and SEE for themselves that they can make differences as small as they might be, because only then they will believe in themselves and the power of the people again. We should break this cycle of indifference and extremism that has been promoted by ALL sides from the Islamic Republic of Ghom to the Reza Pahlavi of Washington to the cult of Rajavi and the left in Europe.

And after winning, we should not expect miracles but to stay active and hold the winning candidate fully responsible to his promises. The picture of Iranian students questioning Ahmadinejad in Amirkabir universities spoke a thousand words. If people stay involved and concerned about their destiny using any and all channels available to them, they will re-organize, regain power and eventually make a major difference. Sitting at home does nothing as it has not in the past.

Having control of the ballot boxes the extremists may even change the results but that will not be without public outrage and consequences if millions vote. Either way tactically the people will come out as winners.

Let people exercise their power and use Islamic Republic's own ballot boxes to show that they are fed up with extremism and yes it will still be Islamic Republic under its supreme leader but the message will be loud and clear: NO MORE EXTREMISM!

Iranians once again must believe in themselves and the power of THE PEOPLE and this can be a start. Get out and vote for the most moderate and get the word out.

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more from David ET
 
Darius Kadivar

FYI/ Food for Thought: Tiananmen legacy (bbc)

by Darius Kadivar on

Unlike Poland's Civil Struggle through Solidarnosc, the Chinese Tienanmen Demo's ( which took place the same week as Khomeiny's death by the way in 1989) were tainted with impatience and demands for immediate change rather than progressive change. We saw the result was a bloody repression that followed.

Below Hong Kong students debate the 1989 protests

//news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8003815.stm


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Deh! ananymous 7-e azize khodam

by KouroshS (not verified) on

Bah bah.

Ananymous haft
hala ma shodiim radical? Something told me that i MUST read every single comment in this thread and that it will be so interesting. Heh. Guess what. Now i know why.
YOu are suffering from major, major fundamental lack of common sense and a good sense of Judgment my friend, and it shines right through when you think that one by saying that a murderous regime who has no mercy for its own ilk and kills and maims indiscriminately, has no real legitimacy in the eyes of the people it is ruling over BY FORCE and by OPRESSING, is classified as a radical.
If It were up to people like you, hanging youngsters from crane, would have a great chance to eventually become one of iran's national sports ,even surpassing soccer! because Heck. as far as you are concerned the IRI IS in power and if that is what they decide is the best way to go and is justice, then you wish them success. Just like obtaining nuclear technology.

David ET

I love the fact that you are encouraging an en masse movement, a united front, With all the positive outcomes that, But you should go back and re-read your own comment. Without realizing, You have in fact counted so many reasons as to why this regime is not going to just stand there and listen to the will of the people. They are using their armed and forceful suppression against people in every day life.
You are in fact encouraging us to be mere minimalists. I absolutly am in favor of doing what we can with little we may have, but at what cost and at whose expense?
Is the fact that, The prisoner's family member is now able to make concessions and make demands vs before, a type of freedom?? why have people arrested for what they believe in, in the first place? Why should we reduce ourselves to nothing and feel sorry for ourselves, just so we can use that as an incentive to go and Vote?? Is that cause for celebration?
What makes you believe that they are "forced" to grant any kind of Political freedom? have they so far? Are you aware of the number of people who have dared to speak up and on the basis of their political freedom!! and faced the severe repercussions?

Of course, there is partial expressing of the feelings, which sadly, more often than not ends in Long and indefinite jail periods, and sometimes in "accidental deaths". Are we to be proud of that??
The president is questioned... oh sure, But i don't think that you really would want to be the questioner, since once you are done with your questions, the process of tormenting you and your family begins, and who knows how it will end.
If to you, all of these "Things" or rather The Dast avard-haye revolution, are well worth preserving, or that they should be cherished then i can point to about a good 40 million people, the ones who are not below the age of 30, who seriously beg to differ.


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Teabag

by KouroshS (not verified) on

Maybe i don't quite understand what you are trying to say here. Itis a fact that they would not create a situation under which they'd lose the election, But how could it be that even if "the votes are not counted" Iranians could actually make an statement about the illegitimacy of the regime??? The truth has already been revealed and that IS THE MAIN REASON why some people may choose to not vote at all, since to them it is considered as a show of support for the system and lends legitimacy to it.


rosie is roxy is roshan

del

by rosie is roxy is roshan on

del


David ET

Ms. Rusta

by David ET on

I reply to you this time because you were not name calling me as you did in your prior remark 

First let me tell you that I know and feel where you are coming from I have been there and I do not think any less of you for not voting because it is because you care and I understand but we simply have different views at this point of time and if that makes me a fraud in your view so be it  But do not hate me if I am shattering your world with my words, it can hurt sometimes but don't shoot the messenger , next time someone else on the other side can do the same to you and you won't like that but this happens because we allow it. 

and if by any chance you happen to argue to simply feel a sense of winning at other people's cost and if that really makes you happy, I humbly retreat. You won , I am a fraud and you can now live happily . 

But as for your recent comment: 

I asked two specific questions and instead of answering. You gave a presumptious answer on my behlf!! and then attacked it!!!

When you answer the questions that I asked (YOUR view not mine) then I will be happy to give my view too if you want to know instead of presuming .

But please do not put words in my mouth that what I think matters or not. I and readers are a little smarter than that. I repeat the questions :

 

1-  Legitimacy in the eyes of whom? World? Iranians? whom?

2- What difference the past boycotts (or attendances) have made in IR with regards to this legitimacy concept? 

 

and I also have asked another question few times on this thread with no answers. I rephrase it again:

3- Do you realistically see a major boycott happening on June 12, 2009 less than two months from now? If so show me some signs , proofs and proponents of it in Iran.

If not what are you even talking about?!!!!!!!!! Could this simply be an imagination in your head or simply as you wish things have been?!

and if you  do not want to directly answer them, thats fine too. They were not directed at you in the first place. 

Respectfully


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David: Did you read my

by teabag (not verified) on

David: Did you read my reply. Here it is.

"" Why do you think Ahamdinejad and his Miliatry Junta will allow the votes to be counted correctly?

"Why would they allow themselves to lose?? Reading that article should further convince you that voting will not result in a different outcome. However, voting against Ahmadinjad even if they are not counted,1) it will further prove the illegitimacy of IRI system in the long run when truth is revealed; 2)it would be recorded in history that the Iranian people were not complacent.

If that is your argument, then I agree."""

After reading the article, I have basically agreed with you, however, based on a variation on theme.


David ET

Tea Bag- Your answers:

by David ET on

 

1- The piece you took from article is a clear proof that Khamenei wants Ahmadinejad to win and Ahmadinejad defeat is his defeat and later being afraid of the consequence of such defeat to him they tried to play it down.

But in this blog you can also see those who questioned my notion that Khamenei and Ahmadinejad are in one camp and that by itself can tell you how some are so alienated from the landscape of Iran's present politics and how much they are still stuck in their outdated perception of it.

The article also shows some data as to how destructive Ahmadinejad and his militia have been to Iran's economy , assets, natural resources and reserves comparing to his predecessors. Our nation simply can not afford allowing such control of our homeland by the most extremist of the country who believe in coming of Mahdi and their deep pockets. 

As for human rights and their record in the past 4 years I do not even have  to explain! Read Rosie latest comments.

Now if you and others tell me voting does not matter, I think the burden of proof beyond slogans is on you since I already in simple terms explained that this military gang is worse than all of the others and especially that THE SYMBOL OF THE REGIME, KHAMENEI is the head of this gang.

As for Khatami, he is a mullah and believes in Vali faghih . I never cared for him and never will, He was both a wus and a liar. It doesn't matter now. What matters is what we learned from the experience of the boycott 4 years ago.

No! The brutal system of Vali faghih will not just walk away, they will be forced to leave ONE WAY or ANOTHER and voting against its leader and his puppet is part of that process and it does not count as being part of the regime as some try to illustrate it as not voting does not count as not caring about Iran. we each have our own views and must excercise or not excercise our rights according to our beliefs . I do not call proponents of boycott a fraud but suddenly a handful call me that because they have no tolerance of other views! ...Hezbollahi attitude has nothing to do with religion, nor shahollahi nor Rajaviollahi, nor...... That has to change! or even if IR goes another intolerant self righteous gang shows up.

The only thing I have no tolerance of, is intolerance. 

Back to subject: If it was up to Khamenei , he would have cancelled this election but then they have to answer the people too.. 

You know why he said do not campaign until 2 months before the election because that always works in the favor of those in power .

Because IR was child of a revolution and claims to be revolutionary and claims to be democratic and claims to be of public, they are forced to allow certain institutions, channels and very limited political freedoms (in fact more political freedom than Shah's rastakhiz party), so no they are not democracy but families of prisoners can go and make demands while they couldn't before. As difficult as it has been million signature campaign and others still partially express their feelings,. Ebadi , Ganji. etc etc are there, President is questioned .... My point is there are some things that were gained due to the revolution and IR keeps trying to take them away and yes if we let them, they will take them ALL , and sitting and boycotting exactly accomplishes that today.

I was wrong last times when I asked for boycott and I might be wrong this time too, but you better come up with better reason that legitimizing IR because this has been proven not to make any difference unless all people not vote and we both know that has not happened before and definitely will not happen this time.

So would you prefer to use the little we have to our advantage or as someone said here, ghar konim and just be observers or couch quarterbacks! 

As for slogans, labels, etc etc, we all have heard them all, such things have no more buyers either.

 

Do not underestimate those in Iran anymore. You and I do not have to legitimize or illegitimate this regime for them, they feel the regime in their homes, TVs , pocket books, inflation, addiction and the regime proponents  see them in the money that they have been stealing or collecting or in their 12th Imam. We have passed that stage of legitimzing, the lines have been drawn in the sand already.

On a lighter note, have you seen the night on the Ruxbery when the two guys take the girls to their bedroom and start opening lines!? The girls eventually tell them, look we are in your bedroom, we have passed that stage!

IR too has been in our bedrooms for a long time! We have passed that stage.

Where is Mr Kadivar when you need him to show the clip! :-) 

 


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Hard principles...

by Anonymous non-voter (not verified) on

In a meaningful democracy, I vote to favor one over the other, to choose the direction of the country. I do not vote to choose between the more criminal and the less criminal would be leaders.

There are some hard principles that a decent human being should not compromise. The IRI regime leaders, from the best of them, say khatami, to the worst of them, Khamenei, Ahmadinejad, and rafsanjani, have "thick" blood on their hands. I do NOT want to endorse their murder, torture, and imprisonment of iranians, not even minimally. No moderation is worth having atrocities of the regime on my conscious, not to mention looting of the country, and incompetence.

I want my conscious to be free of any responsibilities for murder, even indirectly. And I know it for sure that whoever is elected, will continue to be part of IRI regime and will participate in their atrocities to hold power and control the wealth of the country. Remember that chain murders and arrests, imprisonments, and torture of students all happened during the rule of that smiling mulla khatami. I am glad that I had no part in endorsing him and never cheered for him for bringing temporary relief in dress code while being silent when oppression was going on under his nose.

These people, IRI leaders and would be leaders, belong to prison if not on electric chair for their atrocities and betrayal of iranians. A vote for any of them is endorsement of their criminal activities and helps their regime of murder and deceit last longer.


Farah Rusta

Legitimicay is what the regime needs

by Farah Rusta on

Let me first make it clear that whether all the viewrs/commenters of this blog or similar blogs decide to vote in or boycott  the elections, it makes ZERO difference on the outcome. The outcome is decided inside Iran but not by the people of Iran. We are here merely as a debating society in a language which is alien to our average man on the street in Iran.

So, let us for the moment focus on this blog, regardless of its being influential or not. I hate to personalize the issue more than it has already been done, no thanks to the author's leader-like aspirations to campaign for and convince the readers that there are indeed some benefits, no matter how small they might be, in participating in these elections.

The latest argument offered by the author is this: why should we care for the legitimacy of the regime? Does it matter if the world views the regime of Tehran as legitimate? implying that it make no difference what the wolrd or indeed the Iranian people think. The question that the author should ask himself is this:

if the view of the world did not matter so why he and his co campaigners strive to make the world aware of the child execution in Iran?

And as for suggesting that we have way past the legitimacy because a 34 year old does not remember anything but this regime please read my comment about the Solidarity movement in Poland. In 1989 a 45 year old Polish activist who had boycotted the previous elections did not remember anything but the communist regime, yet he did not regard the regime as a legitimate one! Your time limit for passing the legitimacy test is way too short :))

Again Mr ET 's arguments are self defeating.

 

FR


rosie is roxy is roshan

ps I'm thinking about what I wrote below..

by rosie is roxy is roshan on

Now mind you, I'm just as paranoid as all the rest of you, we Eastern European Jews sharing that noble trait with Iranians, so...please take verything I say with a grain of salt. :o) Oh and I don't think this makes much sense without reading the one below first)

I was telling you the orchestration of the trials of those long accused, new arrests and punishments of labor leaders in Khuzestan and Kurdestan was like a ballet. So perfectly choreographed. And that began in mid-February when I'd posted this newsfeed:

//english.farsnews.com/newstext.php?nn=8711300979Ir

(Iran offers to share advice with other countries about its newly completed computerization of the judicial system).

There are a couple of central organized labor groups in Iran. This choreography from both epicenters of action terrified them. Not to mention they of course were targeted too.

Ahavan, Amirkabir, desecrate a martyr's cemetery, create a martyr's cemetery. In the middle of a university, the traditional home of political dissent. (And blogging). Do you think it could be possible that Amir Kabir were provoked, even had agents provacateurs, or was the reaction to the burials so out of left field that it couldn't've ever been predicted or even planned/provoked?

well maybe that's a stretch. But what isn't a stretch is that of the I bellieve 70 arrested, a feed I fed not long ago revealed eight were still in prison. Communication with outside world, virtually none. Condition, unknown.

Source of information: Amir Kabir Islamic Students for Human rRghts bloggers.

I'm sorry, I believe we are watching a ballet. And the most important difference between the Reformists and the Hardliners IMHO is the relative tolerance of a free press. And suddenly, to repeat,  it's a young blogger (btw also very beautiful, photogenic, poster child for just how far we will go, not a fat ugly pockmarked blogger--just like our girl here.) who dies out of the clear blue sky..

And you don't think voting matters? Even to give it a SHOT this time after the FIASCO of the last election with the boycotts? I have not come across one single person here from the Left to the Right who did not believe a) that Rafsanjani is repulsive; and b) that in comparison to Mahmood he was without question the better choice. before the election took place, not in retrospect.

And look what Mahmood did, internally AND externally. Do you really think all that yapping about the Holocaust and the pages of time and so from Mahmood REALLY did anyone any good in the long run, including the Gazans.I mean REALLY? As I understand it, and please correct me if I'm wrong, even Khamenei had doubts about the over the top rhetoric, and yet it prevailed. So doesn't that mean that presidents have impact? Some impact? Any impact at all?


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David: I read the article.

by teabag (not verified) on

David: I read the article. Hope you read my reply.

Excerpt from the article:

"The most sensational aspect of Khamenei’s speech came when he told the
ministers they should not think of themselves as lame ducks and having only one
more year in office. He told them to work and plan as if they had five years left in
their tenures. In other words, he appeared to be effectively guaranteeing an
Ahmadinejad victory in the upcoming presidential election. Though the Islamic
Republic News Agency (IRNA), the country’s official news agency, and run by
staunchly pro-Ahmadinejad forces, reported and emphasized these parts of the
speech, before long, under apparent pressure from other powerful factions in the
regime, Khamenei had to partially retract his statement. His office made its own
version of the speech public. Glaringly absent from the new version was any
mention of the promise of the ‘‘five-year tenure.’’
Aside from his uncharacteristically open support for Ahmadinejad’s
reelection, there are also signs that"...

//www.twq.com/09april/docs/09apr_Milani.pdf


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well said ET.

by Anonym7 (not verified) on

I only needed to read your first paragraph to say that. Ironically I recently bumped into a "radical" who said IRI "has no business" being in power! ... as if empty slogans are going to solve anything.


rosie is roxy is roshan

Someone once asked some time ago what difference is there

by rosie is roxy is roshan on

living under the Reformists and the Hardliners with Khameini always at the helm and such attrocities still going on and so on. And I replied:

Under the Reformists when someone was hanged from a crane you could blog about it.

If I was wrong, please tell me so. I do not believe that the death of the young blogger was an accident timewise. There has been a lot of dissent along with many purges going on in Iran at the same time. The million signature campaign a terrible purge of organized labor activists (their centers being Khuzestand and Kurdistan so that kills two birds with one stone, you get the regionlist factor in there too), the human rights lawyers, Amir Kabir, the trial of the Seven Bahai, the desecration of Akhavan cemetary, the destruction of many Sufi temples, the arrest of the iranian American journalist (surely symbolic, I think), even doctors, and now even the pornographers. What do all these movements have in common? It is their dependence in the information age on information technology, which basically translates to blogging, since the hegemony of "accredited" news agencies has eroded (bloggers are there at the scene of the crime, they report things long before they hit the accredited media and often are the only ones who report them. Are they "legitmate" or do they create urban myths? Irrelevant. Is all the covert propaganda of the New York Times legit? Etc.

And in order to foment grassroots movements (and even sales of pornography) it's the I'net an general and the bloggers that really  matter.

So the young man dies. I'm not sure, but I believe after Zara Kazemi IRI wery careful not to have these "accidental" deaths in prison, I actually think she may have been the last til now. and suddenly it's a blogger. I think that's a way to convey a very strong message from the hardliners. We will get at the central nerve of ALL the movements and we will paralyze you.

When I was studying the labor purge recently it was inccredible how the trials (of people years ago accused even..) in the two epicenters, Kurdestan and Khuzestan, and new arrests, were orchestrated and staggered like a perfect ballet. within just a couple of weeks, and shortly after all of this the blogger.

And now we have Delara. What is special about Delara? That's a rhetorical question really. Beautiful, gifted, educated, most probably INNOCENT...she's like the blogger..symbolic...she's a poster child for how far the hardliners will go, the girl could be Miss Iran or a poet laureate, and I cannot believe that after all the years she's been incarcerated, that suddenly out of the blue she gets a death sentence when her lawyer has every grounds for appeal.

Now as to why this seems to be coalescing now, with the geopolitcal shift since Obama, and the coming elections and so on...that is speculation for me...but unless someone can correct me if I'm wrong (and please do) I want to say it again;

What is the difference between hardliners and Reformists in governance?

Under the Reformists if there was a crane hanging you could blog about it.

I'm not Iranian. I can't read Persian. I may be putting my foot in my mouth big time. But that's what I've come to believe llately. 


MiNeum71

Wussies

by MiNeum71 on

Nobody said, that these elections are free as we know them in Europe; and nobody said, the Supreme leader will know the winner as an equal partner. I really understand the frustrations after 1997/2005 elections.

But in 2005 not voting made things worse. It is not intelligent just to think about the result of an act, it´s also important to think about the result of non acting.

I often read articles and comments of ex Iranians, who think boycotting the elections is important. But let me write something: The Islamists have something over these the iranian.com contributers: this is the intelligence. 1977/78 they didn´t stay at home and said Na, velesh kon, fayde nadare. They stood up and fought for theis beliefs. They weren´t those half witted wussies like many of YOU are.

 


David ET

Replies

by David ET on

To; hahaha

Pakistan and Afghanistan were Obama's war since the campaign...timing of such "LEAKS" always reminds me of "wag the Dog"  

 

To: Teabag

TO AVOID REDUNDANCY, will you kindly take 15 minutes and read the article that I referred to and if still you have the same viewpoint,or questions  I promise to address all your points individually. 

As for your last question I already have addressed that in the article:  "Having control of the ballot boxes the extremists may even change the results but that will not be without public outrage and consequences if millions vote. Either way tactically the people will come out as winners."

and also please answer two important questions for me! You and many are concerned about legitimacy of regime by votes in their ballot boxes

1-  Legitimacy in the eyes of whom? World? Iranians? whom?

2- What difference the past boycotts (or attendances) have made in IR with regards to this legitimacy concept? 

Please reply pragmatically and in real world and Iran and not just based on mental perceptions.

My friend we have way passed this legitimacy question long time ago. As Rosie said for some people frozen in time, it is still early years of revolution but a 34 year old Iranian (wo)man does not remember anything but this regime. a 34 year old married Iranian with kids and all? Ah so many outside Iran just like the white russians never did, just like cubans in US kept dreaming, still refuse to face the reality that is in their face every single day...

 

Thank You 


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I'm Voting

by Mosleh (not verified) on

My vote may not count. The vote is probabley rigged but come June 12th I'm going out to vote against this THUG Ahmadinejad.

PS: Oh and by the way I apologise to the thug community of Iran for comparing this piece of s**t to them.


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David: Why do you think

by teabag (not verified) on

David: Why do you think Ahamdinejad and his Miliatry Junta will allow the votes to be counted correctly?

Why would they allow themselves to lose?? Reading that article should further convince you that voting will not result in a different outcome. However, voting against Ahmadinjad even if they are not counted,1) it will further prove the illegitimacy of IRI system in the long run when truth is revealed; 2)it would be recorded in history that the Iranian people were not complacent.

If that is your argument, then I agree.


David ET

A must read article

by David ET on

//www.twq.com/09april/docs/09apr_Milani.pdf

This article , although weak in the end , clearly defines the state of Iran under Khamenei/Ahmadinejad.

I think it should answer much of Rosie's question also but if still after reading it , any questions are left I will try to reply on my part.

It is 16 pages but well worth reading. 

All I wish to add at this point is what I mentioned 4 years ago after Ahmadinejad came to power. His selection was as close to a coup-de-tat as one can define and since then the country has gone more and more toward a police state with full support and plan of Khameni.

Having said that re-s-election of Ahmadinejad will give 4 years to fully take control of whatever is left of Iran's assets, economy and armed forces.

But here is also a possibility: If They do not win and if they feel threatened enough, they may just take over at anytime by an all out coup.

Regardless, I anticipate to see major polarization (which has already begun) and then serious frictions, on one camp extremists under leadership of Khamenei and on the other camp basically everyone else!

(Of course there are always few sensationalist who never have counted and never have done anything except repeating the same talk for 30 years whom will have no effect as they never have except distractions) 

Defeat of Ahmadinejad can mark the beginning of the permanent defeat of the extremism in Iran and they are well aware of this.

and one more thing to watch out for: If these guys stay in power and finalize their nuclear power, the Mehdiat's will not leave even if it ends in a big BANG somewhere in Iran or middle east... 

Voting matters this time. 


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This is absolute MUST READ

by sickofiri (not verified) on

This is absolute MUST READ for everyone:

//www.twq.com/09april/docs/09apr_Milani.pdf


Hajminator

Rosie,

by Hajminator on

In my view, when Ahmadinejad was first pushed by the system as a candidate; it was mainly because Clinton had rejected all the openings proposed by Reformists to the US. At that time (before the war in Iraq) many mullahs including Rafsanjani, had proposed to suspend the uranium enrichment program in exchange of a guarantee that the US wouldn’t change the regime in Iran. The Clinton administration has rejected this offer and when Bush attacked Iraq things changed for mullahs mainly because they knew that the US wouldn’t have the possibility to make war to another country in the Persian Gulf. At that time Bush had a virulent rhetoric against mullahs in Iran and I think that Ahmadinejad was been chosen in order to give back what Bush gave to mullahs, ie to fight fire with fire.

Ahmadinejad’s electoral promises (for example to bring the money of Oil into people’s table and his easy way of living) deceived many inside the country. Since his 4 years of governance, he did the opposite of all his misleading promises. Recently, the high commission of finance said that they found 1 billion dollars missing in the government budget and all Ahmadinejad found to say was that the high commission did mistakes in their calculations! Since his 4 years of governance, he disappointed many people specially those who believed in his promises. And for some conservative parties (Oosoolgarayan) he became simply a Persona no Grata.

What will happen in 4 years if reformists win the elections is pure speculation, especially with mullahs who are known to change daily their minds. But what is true, is that 4 more years of Mahmoud will plunge Iran even deeper in the sh*t it is already with a major risk of a war at the end. People living abroad telling to not to vote, will not pay for the mess so it’s easy to talk. I think that people living everyday with these monsters, don’t simply care as what’s important is that things don’t become harsher than what they are already for them.


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bad news for the mullahs

by hahahaha (not verified) on

Pakistan soon to be an Islamic state:

//www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/17/pakistan-...


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"Ahmadinejad for all his

by abc (not verified) on

"Ahmadinejad for all his (consiiiiiiiiderable) flaws, is a man of the people and he speaks their language and shares their concerns. As you know he was a brilliant student and self-made man from that class. i believe people saw him as a sort of Jesus riding into Bethlehem on a donkey.

I believe that people who won't see this are making the same mistake they made back in 79."

Rosie jan: You're so incredibly deluded. That is not how Iranians relate to their leaders not even those they revere.


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Thank you David Jan:

by teabag (not verified) on

David ET: Doing something for the sake of just 'doing' is useless.

What are long-term and short-term consequences of voting or not voting?? In other words, what are the costs and long-term pros and cons...

There are ample evidence that voting is an exercise in futility and is used as a systemic tool to keep the sheeple pacified. Are there any evidence historically against this assertion?

In the best case scenario, someone moderate will come into power and make some cosmetic changes in order to calm the pent up tensions in the society. As I said this is a game of two steps forward, and thress steps back that the regime has played masterfully. This is not democratic regime where democractic infrastructures can lead to reform and more liberty through a democratic process.

How do you explain Khatami's era? Do you believe he truly wanted a democratic and secular government for Iran?

Where in the history of mankind anyone has changed a brutal,fanatic, fascist oppressive, cunning government like the IRI into a nice and cuddly and moderate one?

Your argument would have have been more credible, if IRI was even a semi-democracy but it's not.

The whole election process is nothing but a ruse designed to fool the world community.
Khomieni shrewdly agreed to an Islamic Republic precisely for that reason because he was aware of the Western mindset.

Have you read this book? The book explains in details the sham election of Ahmadinejad:

//www.amazon.com/Ahmadinejad-Secret-History-R...
"The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results."--Ben Franklin


rosie is roxy is roshan

I have three questions concerning elections.

by rosie is roxy is roshan on

The first one I wrote down below to Max in reply to his long complex post. But mine is actually a simple two point question.

1) Is it true as Max says that the main electoral issues for most Iranians are economic rather than human rights and geopolitics 9as opposed to along with..) and if so is there a socioeconomic divide wherein the wealthier more educated sector feels more in synch with the expats?

2) Is it true, and this has been my thesis which I've often stated but no one has ever confirmed or denied it, that of all factors the military flanking of Iran by Bush was responsible for the hardliner backlash? Because if so, the new geopolitical scene could strongly influence outcomes in favor of Reform.

3) Ahmadinejad: I have read and believe that one of the reasons for Khomeini's rise was that the intellectuals who spearheaded the Revolution were so out of touch with the ordinary people and unable to 'speak their langugae" that they hoped to be able to use Khomeini to do it for them, and of course it backfired.

Does this sound "kosher" to you? And if so, it seems to me that the people who were "seeing Khomeini's face on the moon" and reading Explanation of Problems are still the same "wretched of the earth" whom these intellectuals (especially expat) so frequently mock. They do not understand superstitions provide these people with a foundtion for making meaning in their lives, and their woldview is legitimate. For them. At this moment.

Ahmadinejad for all his (consiiiiiiiiderable) flaws, is a man of the people and he speaks their language and shares their concerns. As you know he was a brilliant student and self-made man from that class. i believe people saw him as a sort of Jesus riding into Bethlehem on a donkey.

I believe that people who won't see this are making the same mistake they made back in 79.

What do you think of my idea here?

Any reply to any of the three points would be greatly appreciated.


Hajminator

Rosie jan,

by Hajminator on

People, who have contempt for other people, are not usually known for their compassion – now you speak of human rights, which is a bit strong in my view – As you know, some evils are cured by contempt, that’s all one might have in such case.


David ET

Teabag Q&A

by David ET on

I am not sure what question(s) you are talking about.

If you want to know what Mossadegh would have done, I can assure you that he would not have suggested doing nothing as I see being proposed by some.

Ask specific questions and I will try to reply as specifically as I can. 

Meanwhile here is the answer IR is giving you:

//iranian.com/main/2009/apr/ahmadinejads-campaign-video#comment-163786 


rosie is roxy is roshan

Farah, Koroush, that beautiful girl will probably die tomorrow

by rosie is roxy is roshan on

and all you two can do is sit there at your computers and pat each other on the back for proudly revealing David's fraudulence to the world IN THE NAME OF DELARA. David gets Delara's poems from her sister, do you grasp this and gives them to YOU to try to wake you out of your hate-filled imbecillic stupor. What has Delara given to you? What have you given to her? Farah you never did answer the first question I asked you. What have you EVER done for human rights in Iran? How dare you denounce David in the name of Delara?

How dare you two even mention that girl's name?

Now go drink your capuccino and gloat. 


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Sorry, I couldn't keep quiet!

by sickofiri (not verified) on

I think Rosie is a closeted neocon. Neocons a la Struass are averse to separation of Church and State since they view religion as a tool to keep the populace malleable.

Please don't take her prescriptions for Iran seriously.

Rosie: Please don't go berserk on me. This is what I truly think of you and I don't mean to offend you, but that is my honest impression of you having read your posts and comments for the past year.

I hope I'm wrong.


rosie is roxy is roshan

David, what happened? I need to know.

by rosie is roxy is roshan on

check the SCE blog. What should I do?


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Rosie and farah.

by KouroshS (not verified) on

Dear farah

Oh please. Don't even mention it. It was a pleasure. But what amused me the most was that even the commenters themselves finally revealed that they understood what the main point was, However one of them in particular... is hell-bent on making me spilling my guts out, as to why i ever even dared to try to explain your message! and in the process becoming an ardent defender of yours:)

Rosie
I did not find your letter offensive, nor do i find anything about Farah's word disgusting. She is telling it the way it really is. All i was trying to sstate, was to make it farah's intentions clear to you and that other lady (sorry i am under strict orders to not mention her and your name in one line, please don't ask me why... another indication of making things way way too personal). As it turned out, Both of you happened to got the message really well anyway, yet wanted to continue to argue.

Like i said, Nobody is denouncing David's efforts in trying to restore Human rights in iran, and By the nature of it, and even accroding to what he said in his last post, He is not going to, nor should he want to, get in the middle of all this minute and insignificant score-keeping and nickle and diming of one another.
Can't you see that you are doing a 360 rotation in terms of completley changing the subject on this thread? It is a settled matter that we all care for delara's life and we all want her not going to the gallows. No need for Lableing anyone, No need for elaborate and completely pointless psycological analyses. If you think you are dealing with a bunch of paranoid people, Fine, we have heard you a billion times by now, please move on! No need for ever re-expressing the same old opinion.

So therefore. I don't have any interests in entering discussions on explaining the essoterics and non-essentials with you lady. That ought to be as CLEAR as it can get.