Iranian of the Day

Watch this

See this from about 40% onwards when Broujerdi comes out of his house at night and addresses the people and Basiji guards who are there to arrest him.

As I said the way ahead is from within.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSKDIyoMPFc&feature...

As seculars, we need to

As seculars, we need to embrace the religous people even if we don't agree with them. The Islamic leftists in Iran have realized that and are embracing our pre-Islamic heritage.

I agree we should embrace religious people. In fact many seculars are religious. I know a lot of American Christians who are secular. All we mean by Secular is that we don't want religion mixed with government. We are not an atheist movement. We need to be very much open about it. However we cannot put one religion or one religious faction above others. We should have an open tent for all beliefs: Sunni; Shiite; Sufi; Christian; Zoroastrian and so on. But no elevating one religion above others as Islamists keep doing.

How about changing our name to Secular Islamic. I know I'm going to get flamed for this but at least I said what I really think...

I am sorry but that sounds like "Halal Pork".  You cannot have an Islamic Secular government. I know that it will drive away many people. It will sure drive me away. Look: if people want a religion that it their personal business. I we don't want to do reform  right then lets not bother doing it at all.

Listen twice and think...

mg

قابل توجّه کسانی‌ که فکر میکردند موسوی، خاتمی و  کروبی آزادی و دموکراسی را برای ملت ایران به ارمغان خواهند آورد.

tadarok baraye chi?

has khatami ever made a speech about removal of vf?  he admits there are some "imperfections" with the regime; and therefore, he implies with reform these "imperfections" can be remedied.  i'm not convinced that he has changed his views from what we hear in this video until i see evidence that he wants anything other than vf.  now you can debate when this speech was videotaped.  same goes with other cronies and ex cronies.

even if the video was taped 5 years ago (after 8 years of tadarok chidan), it confirms that he was willing to turn a blind eye to all the atrocities for 26 years with the exception of mentioned "imperfections."  if that is so, his intentions now are questionable and it simply must be a form of rent-seeking behavior (he wants his power back).

As seculars, we need to

As seculars, we need to embrace the religous people even if we don't agree with them. The Islamic leftists in Iran have realized that and are embracing our pre-Islamic heritage.

I don't know if that's part of their propaganda or not but we need to bring everyone into our fold before being hijacked again...How about changing our name to Secular Islamic. I know I'm going to get flamed for this but at least I said what I really think...

ahosseini if I have NO money, might as well go for chelo kabob?!

Everything is sacred.

Democracy

The hard liners are facist. They are opposed to any kind of change. So it does not make any difference. We might as well go for secular changes.

I agree. There is not much to do with them because they will not budge. They have to go. Once they go we might as well get the real thing: 100% Secular.

As for the people, we should do our best to educate our peple and promote secular ideas.

That is the right approach. Sometimes people need to be dragged out of the dark ages. In the US at one point most people were against equal rights for balcks. They were dragged kicking and screaming into the 21 century. Now US has a black president. He was elected with both a majority of votes and a majority of states! He even won some southern ones. It was all done thanks to some forward thinking leaders. Not by accepting status quo. Iran needs that sort of progress.

VPK

Since I don't totally believe the MEMRITV

Could someone present the entire speech and the date of the speech? I am curious as when he declared his position.

I checked Iran Negah, Khatami Web site, and the Iranian news and did not see any mention of this speech.

Thanks.

I disagree with you vildmose

What you are saying is not true.

The hard liners are facist. They are opposed to any kind of change. So it does not make any difference. We might as well go for secular changes.

As for the people, we should do our best to educate our peple and promote secular ideas.

Secular democracy without a

Secular democracy without a civil war in the next 10 years seems to me to be an impossibility. If we want to avoid bloodshed and a civil war we need to take what we can even if it's under "Islamic Democracy" to not alienate a big segment of the society who are sitting on the fence and are equally outraged at the IRI but because of their religious sensibilities are still undecided and want to be good muslims...

Of cours, It's not up to me to choose which path Iranians are willing to take. They will figure it out slowly but surely.

Impossible to establish a non-religious democracy ?

Quel con !

THE ISRCC DOCUMENT is from 1990 and I

don't see his name on it.  But like i said, lets give him the benefit of the doubt within the context of recent events.  However, like other regime reformists his opposition is within the framework of the system so I don't expect anything radical.

Akhoons like him will not lead to the change that the greens are striving for.  They need to start listening to people like bourejardi.  

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSKDIyoMPFc

Let's break all pots and pans on Khatami's head, it's fun!

Everything is sacred.

JJ can I embed this as a Complimentary Video ?

Feel Feel to Delete otherwise.

Dr. Farhang Mehr asks a constitutional question to Khatami, as to when will the Islamic Republic stop discriminating :

If he has changed then he is most welcome to Join ... ;0)

His Future King :

REZA's CALL: An Iranian Solidarnosc... by DK

Like others who have since ...

RESPONDING TO REZA's CALL: An Iranian Solidarnosc in the Making ... by DK

After all take a look at his Very Civilized intellectual discourse with Dr. Farhang Mehr a Prominent Zoroastrian and former Chair of Pahlavi University in Shiraz as well as Former Minister of Education in the Shah's Regime :

Farhang-Mehr Asks A question To Khatami on the plight of Fellow Zoroastrians in Iran under the Islamic Laws ( Boston University) :

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=djArOFSkhD8

People can change, but he hasn't

Yes I also believe that people can change but please read the below letter, I did a little research, he signed this letter when he was the Minister of Culture in Iran, he didn't change his mind even when he became the president of Iran. How am I suppose to think he changed.

And by the way I have never had high expectaions from a clergyman to say otherwise.

THE ISRCC DOCUMENT

(Translation from Persian)

In the Name of God!

The Islamic Republic of Iran
The Supreme Revolutionary Cultural Council
Number: 1327/....
Date: 6/12/6 (25 February 1991)
Enclosure: None

CONFIDENTIAL

Dr. Seyyed Mohammad Golpaygani

Head of the Office of the Esteemed Leader (Khamenei)

Greetings!

After greetings, with reference to the letter #1/783 dated 10/10/69
([31 December 1990), concerning the instructions of the Esteemed Leader
which had been conveyed to the Respected President regarding the Bahá’í
question, we inform you that, since the respected President and the
Head of the Supreme Revolutionary Cultural Council had referred this
question to this Council for consideration and study, it was placed on
the Council’s agenda of session #128 on 16/11/69 (5 February 1991) and
session #119 of 2/11/69 (22 January 1991). In addition to the above,
and further to the discussions held in this regard in session #112 of
2/5/66 (24 July 1987) presided over by the Esteemed Leader (head and
member of the Supreme Council), the recent views and directives given
by the Esteemed Leader regarding the Bahá’í question were conveyed to
the Supreme Council. In consideration of the contents of the
Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran, as well as the religious
and civil laws and general policies of the country, these matters were
carefully studied and decisions pronounced.

In arriving at the decisions and proposing reasonable ways to
counter the above question, due consideration was given to the wishes
of the Esteemed Leadership of the Islamic Republic of Iran [Khamenei],
namely, that “in this regard a specific policy should be devised in
such a way that everyone will understand what should or should not be
done.” Consequently, the following proposals and recommendations
resulted from these discussions.

The respected President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, as well as
the Head of the Supreme Revolutionary Cultural Council, while approving
these recommendations, instructed us to convey them to the Esteemed
Leader (Khamenei) so that appropriate action may be taken according to
his guidance.

SUMMARY OF THE RESULTS OF THE DISCUSSIONS AND RECOMMENDATION

A. General status of the Bahá’ís within the country’s system

1. They will not be expelled from the country without reason.

B. Educational and cultural status

1. They can be enrolled in schools provided they have not identified themselves as Bahá’ís.

C. Legal and social status

1. Permit them a modest livelihood as is available to the general population.

Wishing you divine confirmations,
Secretary of the Supreme Revolutionary Cultural Council
Dr. Seyyed Mohammad Golpaygani
Signature
Note in the handwriting of Mr. Khamenei
In the Name of God!

The decision of the Supreme Revolutionary Cultural Council seems sufficient.
I thank you gentlemen for your attention and efforts.

This is from 2005

I think we should give him the benefit of the doubt that he may be changed his views a bit after Ahmadinejad came to power and the problems it brought.

Criminal, Jerk Mullah Who

used to wear suit prior to IRI/IRR.  he became Akhoond to steal, kill, rape and plunder Iranians.  No Akhoond is good one with suit or without suit.  Shame on him.  I abhore all akhoonds especially the one who has been sucking Iranians' blood.

زورش می‌کنین راجع به سکولار بگه خوب قاطی‌ میکنه!

Everything is sacred.

Research before commenting!

I believe that the speach was given during the last year of his presidencey, and obviously his postition on the issues are not the same. In the beginning he tries to justify why he does not enter into a war with the whole system, and today he is practically at war with the system.

When you watch or read something, it would be valuable to look at the source, and this video was posted without any date or description. It seems that non of the readers who posted a comment belive that a person can change.

این سخنان خاتمی چندش آور است

در انتخابات دور اول خاتمی بیش از ۳۰ میلیون رای آورد. او از این توانایی برخوردار بود که در عرض کمتر از ده روز تند روها را فلج کند. او هیچ گام عملی‌ در مسیر کلمات مردم پسد بر نداشت. او حتی حاضر نشد در مراسم تدفین آیت‌الله منتظری نیز شرکت کند.  

خاتمی با چه منطقی‌ سکولاریسم را با قبول سیطره آمریکا یکی‌ میداند. به این کلمات زیبایی چامسکی کمی‌ تأمل کنید و به ریش خاتمی بخندید.

"اما برای مردم ایران که در یک موقعیت بسیار پیچیده ای گرفتار آمده اند،باید یک راه درست و منطقی وجود داشته باشد. آنها در شرایطی گرفتار شده اند که از یک طرف با قدرتی مثل امریکا سروکار دارند که آن سابقه ی نه چندان روشن را در رابطه با ایران دارد و از طرف دیگر با رنجهای ناشی از یک حکومت استبدادی دست و پنجه نرم می کنند که آزادی های اولیه را نیز از آنها دریغ می دارد."

گفت و گوی جرس با نوام چامسکی

هشت سال سر پیچ ایستاد

شعار‌های خوب خوب داد 

...

دین از سیاست جدا

سوا کنیم دو نهاد

دموکراسی آزادی

زنده و پاینده باد

 رهبر خوب میخواهیم

نه ملای کون گشاد 

Secular = 3 kilo aar!

Everything is sacred.

Maybe Khatami should Try and re-convice her ... ;0)

BBC Hard Talk Narges Kalhor daughter of Mehdi Kalhor ( the fellow who wanted to ban Marjan Satrapi's Persepolis) and who fled Iran:

//www.bbc.co.uk/persian/tv/2008/12/000000_ptv_hardtalk.shtml

Fool Us Once ... Fool Us Twice ... NOT a THIRD TIME !

The Persepolis Generation in the Making ! :

Persepolis- Eye of the Tiger:

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlIAmCfHzbg

POW IN THE EYE OF THE OCTOPUS !

LOL

Halaa een masalan roshan fekreshoone?

If this is the enlightened and more progressive one amongst the ruling clerics then I am terribly sorry for anybody who has had even the slightest hope in the reform movement. I have never been more disturbed by Khaatami.

Iran deserves and will achieve a secular democracy. You just sit back and watch!!

Hopefully this will do the trick for the green movement to cut ties with these charlatans. 

Now did anyone believe for a second

that the clergy establishment (be it khatmai, karoobi, or mousavi without the aba) actually wants democracy??

Islamic is what they want to remain - it's that simple.

____________

IRAN FIRST

____________

Just shut up!

What a coward. It ruined my day!

Unfortunate but lets not jump to gun

I say that because -- we don't know when he said this but more importantly to whom he said this and in what context. 

As a secularist even his points were taken out of context I still don't think it means that it exonerates him for having or stating such viewpoints however knowing the time and place of his speech could bring matters into perspective in the 'grey' world of politics.  

It is as if we see clips of a politician speech ala Obama at an AIPAC conference and assume that s/he is as much hawkish as say the most ardent neocon. 

Finally to all other secularists -- look there are many people who are religious.  Just as I don't want them to prophetize or postulize to me about their beliefs it would be hypocritical for us to do the same to them -- not too mention that such position are destructive and counter productive in increasing the number of people under the Green Movement umbrella.  

How to lose the Akhonds?

Their system needs to start collapsing from the inside,

Its got to happen within all the main elements of this regime, particularly the militarised units.

Lets hope the IRI will implode sooner and we get closer to the secular democratic Iran we hope for.

آنکه

آنکه با مادر خود زنا کند، با دیگران چه ها کند

Of course not!

Of course this criminal Mullah is not going to like it.

Where would they go then and how would they steal from people the way they have been in the last 30 years?

No Mullah is a good Mullah. They are all liaers, cheaters, and criminals.