Opinion: The Legacies of Iran's Revolution
Ya Libnan / Emile Hakayem, Political Editor
06-Feb-2009 (8 comments)

..Henry Kissinger once said that Iran had a choice between being a nation or a cause. Clinging to the latter is doing enormous damage to the former. A nation is not built on slogans such as “Death to America” and “Death to Israel”, but on national cohesion and purpose. So for all the confidence and pride on display this month, from the launch of a satellite to the inevitable military parades, the revolution is far from settled and victorious.

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Obama Sent Kissinger On

by peeraashki (not verified) on Sat Feb 07, 2009 11:18 AM PST

Obama Sent Kissinger On Secret Russian Talks

//www.russiatoday.com/features/news/36969


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rosie is roxy is roshan

You are right about the quote, Q,

by rosie is roxy is roshan on Sat Feb 07, 2009 08:17 AM PST

and it is supremely ironic that Kissinger, a cynical man who perpretuated the American myth of cause, would say it.

You are right about this need for a cause for oung nations and goveernments.,But for more mature nations it is best to leave it behind.

IRI is not a mature governtment. I think the Reformists wereo n their way and they got ousted because of the hardliner advantage when the US flanked Iran militarily.

I think the shifting geopolitical situation will help IRI grow. My views on this in My General Opinion, in my recent feed on Russia and Iran

Ultimately I hope it grows into a secular parliamentary democracy. Here are my views on this (post: My Opinion)

//iranian.com/main/news/2009/02/04/former-president-khatami-set-run-elections-iran

I do think IRI is currently brutal but it has also made progressive advancees that most people who agree with me won't admit.

I think the only way governments can stop building themselves on slogans and ideologies is if the UN is restructured and has more clout to exercise the real will of most people: pacifism and adherence to tuniversal values of tolerance. I believe the ultimate nation we should all belong to is the world.

I don't think it will happen in our time.

 


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Q

I don't think the quote is hot either, Rosie

by Q on Fri Feb 06, 2009 06:41 PM PST

First, isn't America a nation based on a cause? That's part of the American mythology that this is an "ideal" not a normal nation.

The fact is, like it or not, when you establish a government that is different than the past 3000 years for the first time in your history, you can't help but also be a cause. There is a causal component to Iran, exactly the same as US, post-revolutionary France, Russia, China, Vietnam. Achamedian dynasty was a cause too, for it's time.

"Death to America", of course is a gross caricaturization of what IRI is "built on".


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rosie is roxy is roshan

Kissinger /Fish

by rosie is roxy is roshan on Fri Feb 06, 2009 05:32 PM PST

IMHO a war criminal, a murdere..

but that doesn't mean he can't be right about certain things..

or come up with a goodquote.

It seems half the people here know the answer to everything. About evrybody. I see, you know all about Niloufar. You also know her real name. But ahe knows nothing about you except that you know everything about her.

Just a casual observation, xsniperfish. 

 

 


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Niloufar Parsi

Kissinger

by Niloufar Parsi on Fri Feb 06, 2009 04:36 PM PST

is a war criminal and a hypocrite. should be put away - ask the cambodians.


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I do agree with Kissinger's

by who'snotsectarian? (not verified) on Fri Feb 06, 2009 04:26 PM PST

I do agree with Kissinger's sentiments. IRI needs to make up its mind before it's too late as Abbas Abdi pointed out in a recent interview.

NP: You call yourself non-sectarian! purely rhetorical, I already know the answer.


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rosie is roxy is roshan

I know, the Kissinger thing was over the top, not the quote,

by rosie is roxy is roshan on Fri Feb 06, 2009 02:55 PM PST

the Kissinger.


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Niloufar Parsi

interesting perspective

by Niloufar Parsi on Fri Feb 06, 2009 02:43 PM PST

though clearly a sectarian christian lebanese one. and to end with kissinger as a credible voice is a little weak too...

good read tho. thanks :)


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