An old friend of mine, a guy I respect quite a bit — a guy I went to high school and to college with; really, really smart guy. And a truly good guy, recently profiled by CNN for his humanitarian work in Laos with MBAs without Borders — anyway, this guy, who defines himself as a “bleeding heart conservative”, wrote one of the most naive things I’ve read in terms of the current situation in Iran.
My friend wrote:
The riots in Iran are baseless. According to objective pre-election polling, Ahmadinejad was predicted to be the clear victor (although not by a landslide). Ahmadinejad is very popular with the rural common folk who make up most of Iran’s population. Moussavi was only really popular with the youth, students, and the wealthy.
Baseless? How anyone describe the struggle for freedom against a brutal dictatorship to be “baseless” is beyond comprehension to me. I think my friend really needs to reconsider his self-gloss as “bleeding heart.”
How can you call this video baseless:
Would you call the death of this young Iranian woman baseless, too? WARNING: Graphic Content of a young woman dying after being shot by her own government for daring to speak out against them.
Neda the martyr
UPDATE: La Figa informs us that this young lady’s name was Neda.
UPDATE II: Thanks to Black Five for providing this picture of Neda.
As I’ve watched the movement transform itself from a protest over election fraud to a full on revolution for freedom and against oppressive rule — my heart has been firmly with the protesters in Iran.
But I’m reminded that even some really smart people just don’t get it.
Like our President, who has been weak at best in his support for freedom and democracy in Iran.
This revolution is no longer about who won the election…it’s grown much, much bigger than that.
From my favorite Professor of Philosophy and a core faculty member of the Program in Western Civilization and American Institutions at the University of Texas:
The Iranian regime has escalated its fight against its own citizens, shooting students and others whether or not they are actually taking part in the protests. President Obama has finally offered some weak words on the subject. PowerLine has been speculating about why the President has not spoken out in favor of the protests. I don’t find any of their explanations credible. My own take is simple: Obama wants the protests to fail. Why? Some have guessed that he’s so committed to his strategy of engagement with the regime that he doesn’t want anything to derail it, even if that something is much more favorable to American interests. I don’t think it’s anything that complicated. He’s on the other side. He wants to comfort cruel men.
What scares me about Obama is I think this observation is dead on.
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Robbie, Obama has run from his Muslim roots like you and I would run from a rattlesnake on top of our car roof. It is quite apparent that he has little interest in the plight of the Iranians who, firstly protested over an obvious rigged election, to finally, their desire to be free from the tyranny they have suffered under for 30 years.
Many do not remember the Iran of 30 years ago, but a good friend of mine does. He remembers that his family, Catholics, were allowed to worship under the Shah. He remembers the construction, the women dressed in western clothing with their heads uncovered, going to universities, becoming doctors. He remembers that yes, the Shah was a dictator, but he was not what they have now. Under the Shah, young boys were not hung from construction cranes based on the mullah’s claims those young boys were gay.
And I remember: I remember Iran’s football teams with it’s cheerleaders in cute little western styled outfits. I remember a nation that was the most pro-western nation in the Islamic world. Beautiful women that you would have thought were Americans by their dress and their actions.
Obama staked his election partly on his willingness to talk to the powers in Iran, unconditionally. He was going to bring a new “civility” to dealing with the Middle East. An era of mutual “respect”. He will not be able to do that if the power in Iran is changed. He has no guarantee that Muasavi will deal with him.
The Iranian protesters are carrying signs in ENGLISH for one reason: they are crying out “America, help us.” What better way for Obama to continue the anti-American feelings by turning his back on them? Then he can say ” Well, I tried to make things better, but alas………….”.
Could it be that this President, who can’t seem to find one church in D.C. that agrees with him after spending 20 years in a church whose doctrine was based on Marxism, really connects more with radial Islam?
Just thinking out loud…………….
My only hope is Obama can comfort cruel men like these in prison:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vern_Schillinger
My thoughts and prayers go out to the Iranian people in their quest for FREEDOM. May they achieve their goal soon. As we all know the cost of freedom isn’t cheap but is well worth the sacrifice.
Obama reminds me of several tyrants who were in power in the 30′s. History has a cycle of repeating itself.
I’ve heard that comment once before, on another blog, from a guy from Australia that claims he got the info from some declassified intelligence reports.
I don’t buy it.
I have a number of Persian friends that I respect and trust, that remain in contact with family and friends in Iran, and I even wrote a story almost four years ago, that is lost in the interweb, that showed Ahmadi-Nejad couldn’t even visit almost two thirds of the country, for fear of death. Considering that most of Iran’s population is contained with three mountain ranges, and in their cities, I still haven’t figured out where this alleged “countryside” is.
As for B-HO, he is wrong on just about everything, yet he will never admit he is wrong on anything. His narcissism will not permit it, and his desire for a Nobel is greater than the desire to see a nation of over 70million people find freedom. But he was more interested in ice cream, than the suffering in the homes and streets of Iran.
I was going to cross-post a story I wrote here, but thought it was too conflicting with yours, Robbie.
As I am waking up this morning, Fox is reporting that the IRG is warning protesters to prepare for a “revolutionary confrontation” if they again take to the streets. Today may well be the bloodiest day so far…It is unfortunate that the protesters are not armed in the traditional sense.
Mousavi is part of the regime – although perhaps more secular and willing to govern instead of rule with an iron fist. However. As I’ve read constant accounts from Iranians on Twitter since this was taking place, it is interesting that many are now expressing not just support for Mousavi – but they are demanding change to take place to include the rights of women and others that remain oppressed. (Didn’t mean to use a lefty line!)
My hat is off to them and my prayers are with them. What frightens me is the amount of death we are likely to see but what frightens me even more is that I doubt seriously the youth or most citizens of THIS country would have the courage to stand up in any similar manner.
My goodness, does the well of wingnut stupidity ever run dry? This wouldn’t even be happening had we not elected Obama. If you and your crazy wingnut leaders had your way a year ago, we’d have killed tens of thousand of these protestors with our freedom bombs, effectively prevented anything like this from ever occurring. The Iranian opposition is well-educated bunch, and they are responding in kind to the Cairo speech. No amount of lame revisionism by Fox News and the dittohead legions can change that hard fact.
Pat, wipe the Obamaide off your chin. It’s not pretty.
Obama’s Cairo speech didn’t have a damn thing to do with Iran except assure the ruling thugs that he was still willing to “negotiate” with them. It took him three days just to mention anything about Iran.
And while Iraq may be a fledgling democracy, it is still young and at least it has free and “fair” elections, something Iranians know they don’t have.
You also bought into the “Don’t Bomb Iran” mantra of idiots like Wesley Clark so has never stood for anyone or anything but himself and was so inept that even a weak kneed POTUS like Clinton fired Clark for his incompetence.
But you continue to buy into all that hopeychange that fooled so many. When even Newsweek is saying that Obama was caught off guard and has been shown to be totally lacking, you know it’s bad.
Since the morning of January 20, 2001, Pat and those like him have been in the habit of blaming every bit of bad news on President Bush (a habit which most of them have yet to give up).
So I guess it just follows logically that worshippers of B. Hussein O. will give him credit for any piece of good news that they hear.
Of course, there’s no guarantee that any good will come from the current situation in Iran; if not, rest assured that the whole thing will be blamed on George W. Bush.
One of these days, Odumbass will really fuck up and some place like Hawaii or the Port of Los Angeles will be a no-go zone.
Only then will it be open season on the fuckwits with Obama bumper stickers on their cars.
I happen to know several Iranian classmates and one young lady I have gotten to know over the past year is in Tehran right now for what was supposed to have been a wonderful summer catching up with relatives she has not seen in years. She was so excited about her trip and the opportunity to vote in the election. Since the government has banned Facebook and blocked cell phone use, we have not been able to contact her to verify her safety. However, we have been somewhat reassured by a report that was somehow leaked out to her father here in Dallas. I am relieved to learn that she and her friend have been staying indoors with her relatives since the streets have become as dangerous as they currently are. That is exactly where I hope she stays since it is such an unfair fight — armed police shooting unarmed, peaceable protestors.
Another Iranian classmate of mine who is the closest friend of the young lady described above has shared with me an upcoming freedom rally to be held in Dallas tomorrow. I had originally not planned on going because I somehow believed this rally should be attended by Iranian Americans only, but have since changed my mind. We should ALL stand shoulder to shoulder with those who are protesting the lack of freedom and repression of ANY people.
I am grateful that I live in a country where I can assemble peaceably to protest injustice and would be honored to join the Iranian Americans in their protest of the brutal repression of their people. I think of it as being a voice for those who are fighting to have their voices heard.
If any of you live in the Dallas metroplex and are interested, the information about the rally is pasted below. Sorry for the length of this post, but since the information regarding the rally is on Facebook, providing a link might not work.
Date: Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Time: 1:00pm – 3:00pm
Location: Dallas City Hall
Street: 1500 Marilla Street
City/Town: Dallas, TX
Brothers and sisters, hamvatans,
In these critical days for Iran , we must all be alert and active. If we sleep now, Iran sleeps forever.
Over the past week many of our friends and acquaintances have gathered together to organize some short term as well as long term goals to enhance the interests of Iran and Iranian Americans.
As of now, we are planning a mass demonstration this Tuesday, June 23rd at the Dallas City Hall to show solidarity with our brothers and sisters back home.
All of the local media, newspapers, and TV stations will be covering the rally. There will be speakers as well as refreshments available for all.
Volunteers are always needed.
Please spread the word about this rally to all friends and family. This is our movement, and this is our time.
Let us NOT land on the wrong side of history. This is an appeal to hope. Hope has two beautiful daughters; anger and courage. We are all outraged at the scenes we have seen from the streets of Iran. Now let us summon the courage to speak out against this injustice.
Young and old, each individual counts. If not you, then who? If not now, then when?
If you have any questions, comments or concerns, please contact Shawn S. Amoei:
Cell: 972-603-5418
Email: [email protected]
So what would be happening if we had bought into Crazy McCain’s “bomb bomb bomb, bomb bomb Iran” mantra? Do you think all the people in the streets this week would be rallying against the U.S., or simply pleading for more U.S. bombs to free them from tyranny?
Having been adult in the 70s and 80s and knowing a number of Iranians, I have no love loss for the way they treated Americans, the Americans they murdered, and their support of terrorism which Mousavi was behind. However, the poll your friend references is bogus. It’s just poorly done and has been attacked for it. All said and done, that is separate from people who initially started out peacefully demonstrating and were beaten for it. It has now escalated to people who are doing nothing getting shot dead in the street. It should be condemned.
A reformed Christian zealot’s view:
Obama’s lessons from the Iranian election:
- Ballot box stuffing is a-ok.
- Bribing the poor for votes is good.
- Censorship of media is good.
- Blocking internet access is good.
Too bad the big-eared motherfucker is going down in a landslide come 2012, no matter how hard ACORN tries to rig it.
Hahahaha!
Ya think Iranians find it a tad ironic to hear all the sturm and drang about stolen elections coming from a country who peacefully allowed its 43rd President to be chosen by judges who were appointed by his father?
Keep repeating that bullshit story, Pat. Obviously, you have a problem with SCOTUS when it doesn’t go your way.
Do Texas a favor and die.
Sam honey, Pat is already dead. in tha head. walking drone. no original thoughts, just mindless copy and paste ….
Obvious the wingnut stupidity doesn’t ever run dry because your dumb ass keeps posting on this site.
And Democrats are liars…you should know that Pat because you lie all the time.
How much longer before you post on here as an Iranian who thinks Ahmadinejad is the smartest man in the world and that Obama is going to save the Arab world.
Take you lies somewhere else!
Only Justices Souter and Thomas were appointed by G.H.W. Bush.
One voted “yea” and one voted “nay”.
Big surprise everyone, Pat is lying again!
BBB, he’s a total LLL moonbat.
In their upside down world, anything they say is perfectly okay, truth or no.
I really don’t even read his comments anymore, but tell me, how much sympathy did he express for Neda, her family, or the other Iranians seeking freedom?
I’m betting not much, if any.
Now you’re expressing sympathy for…MUSLIMS? While you and your jumping beans spin conspiracy theories about our own President’s disturbing ties to Islam, suddenly the death of one female muslim on the streets of Iran concerns you? Now that’s change you can believe in!
How do you know she is a muslim, mohammed, she is Persian, and might very well be Zoroastrian.
You are such a pathetic libtard idiot, always shifting to try and make everything fit into your absurd compartmentalized libtard nonsensical world.
What we do know is, she was murdered by the theocrats who control the Basiji.
Why should we as a country interfere with this issue? It is up to the citizens of Iran to mold their own government. Unfortunately, this will be a bloddy and violent process. However, a process that they must own, not us.
Given how much you seem to care about Neda, how did your all-seeing eye miss this:
And just how do you know who shot her, oh Oracle of Wingnuttria? Perhaps the Mossad or someone else who would similarly benefit from martyring her did it. Either way, you claiming to know anything about this from your Cheetos-encrusted perch is laughable.
Oh, and I really love those run on sentences in your guest posts here. You apparently have never met a comma you didn’t like.
Oh sure, the lying lib believes the Mossad is in Tehran, shooting protesters…OOGAH-BOOGAH!
Good to see you didn’t just copy and paste something, for once, and actually read something, and comprehended it. So she was muslim, she was standing in a street peaceably, and was gunned down by the hired thugs that work for the corrupt mullahs. I don’t tolerate murder, not even of libs.
Glad you like my sentence structure, because there is nothing about you I have found likable.
I have no doubt Patty jerks off to his fantasy that this young woman was murdered by the Mossad. Sick! Sick! Sick!
It would appear that libs like mohammed, are doing everything they can to divert attention away from the Mad Mullahs, in support of their hearts desire, B-HO.
Iran state media: Hey, maybe a protester killed Neda.
/oogah-boogah
Hey mohammed since you hate freedom so much why don’t you book a one way ticket to Iran, North Korea or anywhere else that has everything censored.