VOTE

“MKO is it?”

SmartAss wrote: “All I know about "murder" is that your group (MKO is it? ) murdered a bunch of mullahs and in response mullahs murdered a bunch of you.”

Let me answer your question loud and clear: I strongly oppose any form of Islamic government with or without mullahs. The mullah-less version of Islam as advocated by MKO is another form of dictatorship. Our nation and political activists must be vigilant so that we don’t replace one form of Islam with another.

We want freedom from Islamic oppression! Need I say more?

The Illusion of “Our Government”

MitraYazdi wrote: “In the end, every vote counts. Realizing how lucky we are to have this freedom of choice, this right of selection, is key to filling up our polling stations and forwarding the progress of our government.”

Hesam Samimi wrote: “We have to learn as a nation to improve our government…”

Because of thirty years of oppression, IRI is no longer a representative of our nation. IRI is a system of government whose sole survival depends on how fast and how effectively it can kill its citizens. Such a regime must be overthrown by the people.

Running around advocating small changes from within only prolongs the oppression and gives the masses false hopes.

صدها شخص مستحق ترازاین 4نفر

نظارت استصوابی وحذف صدها شخص مستحق ترازاین 4نفر نشان آشکاری از این موضوع است که در ایران تنها دارودسته ولایت فقیه همه کاره وتصمیم گیرنده هستندوخواهند بودوپاسخ روشنی به کسانی است که دراین دور تسلسل واهی دنبال برون رفت از مشکل ویا رسیدن به دموکراسی هستند
وبه روشنی مشخص است که عمل رژیم یک انتصاب بوده وکسی حق ندارد خارج از چهار چوب فکری ولایت فقیه ویا خارج از تفکرشیعه درراس مسئولیتی قرار داده شود
آیا به روشنی مشخص نیست که مردم هیچ نقشی در این نظام نداشته واین عمل انتصاب است نه انتخاب؟

Abarmard: My last comment was mean to say "your analysis"

Regards

Mehrdad

Abarmard: not sure if I agree with our analysis

Not voting in great numbers is a good indication of disapproval of the system and since there is no real systematical prosecution of people who don't vote, means that they do have a vote and that is not voting. On the other hand if good majority of folks in Iran go ahead and vote, that is also an indication of that they generally support the system and the opposition (most of us I guess) ought to respect that. This is of course if we truly believe in the wishes of majority.

Mehrdad

The problem with assumptions

Your assumptions including “Iranian governing system is based on independence and secure channels to promote the idea of a true republic” are as demonstrably wrong as the one you make about my nationality.

 You cannot on one hand say or at least infer that the Islamist constitution is not based on some “western” standard and yet describe it as a quest to achieve “true republic”. With republic being as western created concept as the device we are communicating with this very moment it makes your argument demagogic which Islamists excel at.

 There are at least five fallacies that I noticed in your response which in itself is an improvement over others who try to twist and turn the Islamist constitution to present it as a progressive document. The little problem all the Islamist constitution cheerleaders confront is the reality of that document being put to practice in the Islamist republic.

LalehGillani

People like you know it all and don't need to learn anything. They visit Iran, talk to the people of Iran and know Iran well. Is that true?
Doesn't that tell you something about you? Making a judgment without knowing it well...
I know that you are probably a young person, but don't grow up judging without knowledge. That's not good.

Think about it

LalehGillani: evidence for "30 years of murder"

Is there any evidence for your sweepingly wide statements that IRI has been killing non-stop for 30 years? Are you saying over 70 million people in Iran are all vampires without a soul? What have you been smoking? At least say something that doesn't discredit you from the start. Just how much exaggeration is too much in your book?

All I know about "murder" is that your group (MKO is it? ) murdered a bunch of mullahs and in response mullahs murdered a bunch of you. Is that what you see as "30 years of murder, etc?"

there *is* a difference

We have to learn as a nation to improve our government (even though gradually and painfully) by means of democracy... even if it means choosing between worse nad worst. Other nations have done it before us. We can too.

People forget how much of a big step we took when we elected Khatami. It may not be obvious to many of us (usually those of us living abroad), but life in iran HAS changed even after Khatami, and during Ahmadi nejad, becuase certain things just can't go back...

Boycotting is giving up, and means no progess will be made.

Go and vote for who you believe will be less bad.

Thanks for your article.

Say Yes to Meaningful Changes!

Bystander wrote: “every small change is a change! And it is your vote and my vote that can make that small change.”

Mullahs in Iran are sly, nimble power players who have sensed their own demise. All of a sudden, they are advocating “small changes” to pacify the masses into compliance.

Meaningful changes are the vehicles to end mullahs’ dark ages. We demand freedom from Islamic oppression! Nothing less will suffice!

Fred, tafraghe rafti dadash

You can't try to divert the real issue here. you wrongfully accused the constitution as a flaw based on some "Western" standard, that is not even working in your country, and I explained exactly what it is and why it is so.

So now you are asking a different question, meaning that you have agreed with my reasoning and want to find some "flaw" with the constitution.

Yes I am happy to explain it to you.
The Iranian governing system is based on Independence and secure channels to promote the idea of a true Republic. I am not sure what part of the article 107 you are concern about. It is basically saying, and I copy paste:

..."he experts will review and consult among themselves concerning all the fuqaha' possessing the qualifications specified in Articles 5 and 109. In the event they find one of them better versed in Islamic regulations, the subjects of the fiqh, or in political and social Issues, or possessing general popularity or special prominence for any of the qualifications mentioned in Article 109, they shall elect him as the Leader. Otherwise, in the absence of such a superiority, they shall elect and declare one of them as the Leader. The Leader thus elected by the Assembly of Experts shall assume all the powers of the wilayat al-amr and all the responsibilities arising therefrom. The Leader is equal with the rest of the people of the country in the eyes of law. "

Which puts leader as a regular citizen who can be replaced if done wrong. Ask an specific question if you got one and I'll explain it to you. You got someone who knows the constitution and willing to share it with you. The qualification of an elected or electable official in any democratic or Republic is based on some simple criteria. In Iran, based on our great traditions, culture, and religion, we realize that this is the best common denominator. Since we are living in a Republic, based on the concepts of Republic, one should be chosen to direct the mass there would not be chaos and continuous and proper plans are looked after regardless of the short lived presidents. But there should be a way to take that position away, and our great constitution supports that.

You other question is about Mr. Karoubi and the leader's orders so on and so forth. In this case you need to see what the country is going through. What was the reason for the leadership to decide such actions. It was not the leader alone. It is not possible in Iran to make such political move without a vast political support from the majority of the system behind it. If what the leader said was not in line with the best interest of the country, he would have been challenged and proper actions would have taken place. The leader had certainly consulted the legal representatives before making such demands.

I give you an example. If there is a threat for the government of the United States, the the national security council, CIA or whoever plays the role of the leader (which remains in place regardless of the government), they forbid publication of any news, pictures and so on, because it's based on national interest.
The groups who define what's best are unknown to the general public, not elected, and would enforce rules, with consultation of other elected officials, to implement a new rule.

Any other questions Mr. Fred? While you got me, take advantage because there is only one of me around here.

Is This It?

Shahpour Gholamreza wrote: “IRI is no angel… In fact, it was your kind of attitude 4 years ago that brought Mamoud to power.”

It was the Supreme Leader who brought Ahmadinejad to power, and it will be the Supreme Leader who will determine his replacement. You are delusional to think otherwise.

“IRI is no angel…” Is this all you have to say about IRI? After thirty years of looting and murdering, is this it?

IRI is a murderous regime run by thieves and thugs. Participating in any political charade orchestrated by various factions within the government will prolong this dictatorship.

Electoral College has the same power as the Supreme Leader

Fred, what do you say about the democracy in America? Is it useless here to vote here in America just because the electoral college picks the president, not the vote of the people?

You are missing the point here: every small change is a change! And it is your vote and my vote that can make that small change.

If we don't find a small change worthy of our time and only go for the big change, we may as well wait for Imam-e Zaman (the Messiah)!

LalehGillani

"For thirty years, IRI has oppressed our people, ravaged our land, and embezzles our wealth."

What nonesense. If that is the case how come Iran is not like Somalia or Afghanistan or Iraq or other failed countries?

IRI is no angel but it is a living Govt that is moving right along despite illusions of those who will only consider the establishment of a western society in Iran as progress and the only way forward.

In fact, it was your kind of attitude 4 years ago that brought Mamoud to power. The same kind of attitude that got George W Bush reelected despite his enormous failures.

Down with IRI or Long live IRI, the fact that you see things as black and white will make both slogans the same for you.

Democratic Constitution of IRI

Yes please do explain. It would be of great help if you start your Islamist republic constitution class by copy and pasting the articles you are basing your wishful thinking on. Start with catch 22, the Leadership Council,  Article 107 and the qualification for its members and who "elects" them.

While you are at the checks and balances part please explain away the "leader's order" which ordered the Islamist Majlis speaker, Karoubi, to tell the "elected" representatives of the people that their request for reforming press law is not going to happen.

The Sin of Accomplices

The Islamic Republic of Iran is a dictatorship run by theocracy. All IRI officials from the highest levels to the lowest levels have the blood of innocent Iranians on their hands. For thirty years, IRI has oppressed our people, ravaged our land, and embezzles our wealth.

There is absolutely no difference between any of these candidates: They are puppets dancing to the beat of Islamic Sharia. Superficial “reforms” is the carrots they are dangling in front of our nation while beating us with their sanctimonious sticks.

By boycotting this election, Iranians say it loud and say it in unison: Down with IRI!

Fred -Article 11 and 112. Don't stop, keep reading.

Say the rest. The Islamic Republic of Iran constitution was set to not allow any one man, similar to the neighboring countries, to take charge as an administer of the country. There are many parallel organizations within the same body and that is to secure the pluralization of the system.
If you have said the article of 110, please continue with the article 11 and 112. Those indicate that after the "leaders request" the councils shall meet and review such demand.
There are those who elect the leader, and they are directly elected by the people themselves. And there are those councils that review the leaders demands.

As you can see, based on any documents, the leader has not used his power because the system does not require it. Why? Coming from a Monarchy and having no concept or experience with running a Republic, the constitution was rightly set to secure the transition of power to the next administration.
If at any time the leader makes demands that are not in line with the parties of the entire government, he will be replaced. It is in the constitution. It's not as you have mentioned here. There are many parallel powers and clergy of different levels to secure the concept of "no one man" in charge. That's why your government in the U.S. and other Western countries have not been successful in dealing with Iran. They believe Iran is like one man show like Saddam, King of Saudi, or Sheikh of some country. You are fallowing a blind, listen to me and learn.

Do you now understand or would you like me to explain more?

To the Absent-Minded

Four years ago, according to foreign reporters such as those from the Guardian, BBC and a lot of others such as Scottish and Australian news sources, it was reported over and over on this very same site by various commentators, sympathizers, worshippers, apologists and lovers of the IRI that majority of people in Iran voted. Right or wrong, I don't care.

I don't know why all of a sudden the sore losers affiliated to Rafsanjani and Karrubi gang, here and there started their nag and claimed that a lot of people in Iran did not participate and boycotted the election after Ahmadinejad came out of the ballot box.

We are with you Mr. Mousavi

موسوی ا‌ی مرد بزرگ وار ميهن
ای مرد ايرانزمين
به تو اميدواريم ای صدای آزادی

يا حسين مير حسين

The 110 problem

You say: “If every person were to decide their vote made no difference, then democracy, in essence would be incapable of implementation. It is the power of singular votes which come together to form a majority; majorities do not spontaneously happen on their own. “

Could not agree with you more, but are you in essence saying the Islamist republic is a democracy? If so then you have to explain away the 110 problem.

 Under article 110 of your Islamist republic’s constitution the unelected lifetime absolute leader among other dictatorial  powers has the right to summarily dismiss the people chosen (majority elected) president. The chap that you are encouraging people to “vote” for legally cannot even assume his people chosen role without the approval of the unelected lifetime leader.

Simply put all votes count for zilch, one man rules. It is like the famouse Henry Ford's saying: " You can have any color as long as it's black".

The more apt title for your high school level writing assignment  Under the current Islamists' rule should’ve been if Iran were a democracy....

Well said

Voting is not electing an official alone. Suppose a candidate, honest or not, emphasizes the importance of freedom, or woman's Rights, I do not vote for the candidate to only support him, but support what he preaches.

This in a way is a signaling mechanism that the government could use to see what most people truly want.

The same goes for mr. Khatami. People didn't vote for Khatami as an individual or the support for the system. They voted for him because he stood for the idea of justice and freedom. I make the argument that during Mr. Khatami's presidency, Iran witnessed a better and milder version of the system.

It's not about the candidate but what candidate stands for. The world is also watching. If Ahmadinejad gets elected the system could make the argument that the general public is pro the conservative policies. If Mousavi gets in, the government can't make the same claim.

Yes indeed this is an important election and since there are no polls, this is the only voice that people have.

I believe that most Iranians inside will vote.

Go and vote for Moussavi I beg of you

Even Aboli Baniharf has sensed the doomsday:

//news.gooya.com/politics/archives/2009/05/08...

آیا آقایان كروبی و موسوی در وعده‌های خود صادقند؟

//www.iran-emrooz.net/index.php?/politic/more...

What are you talking about?

Are you serious.
The whole "Elections"  idea is useless, when none of the so called "elected Officials" has any authority for anything.

As is, everything would need to be approved by the "Supreme Leader",or the lead Mullah, no?

So, what is the difference?

Aww.

That's all I have to say!
Well no, I'll add: Baba veghahat ham haddi dareh.