VOTE

To Farah Rusta

"One calls me a MKO member, the other says I am a Shahollahi and I was even called a Hezbollahi."

Could it be something about the way you express your opinions that people associate you with these lovely creatures?

From what I know, these groups have all something in common; they are fundamentalists, radical, aggressive, and intolerant of other people's views, and of course they are very quick at labeling others.

Parham and Arshia

If you choose to close your eyes to the tremendous social changes that occurred in Iran because of the 8 years of Khatami, that's fine. But have you ever asked yourselves why every democratic movements, including the Iranian women rights movement, the student movement, journalists, artists, and all other democratic forces inside Iran love and support Khatami? Have you ever asked yourself why all of them have rallied behind Mousavi?!

Feel free to call everybody a "traitor" or "ignorant", but the real reason is the Iranian civil society fully recognizes Khatami's contributions and wants to experience it again. That's why they are backing Mousavi. You can deny all that and stick to your superficial analysis, but the fact is that you and people like you are pretty marginalized.

Khatami changed Iran's political discourse to the point that even the most radicals are now speaking of Human rights. He educated people on their rights. He revived hope and aspirations. He laid the foundation of many social and democratic movements and allowed a whole new generation of journalists and activists to flourish. He instituted a new political culture, a new mentality within the elite, the average people and even the ruling class. If there is resistance to the likes of Ahamdinejad and his backward mentality today, it is PRECISELY because of Khatami's contributions.

That's why he is a recognized and respected figure around the world and inside Iran. It is funny that it took an Ahmadinejad to make people like Abbas Milani and Mehrangiz Kaar realize what Khatami really did for this country. But the good news is that they're on board too now. It's yet quite sad to see that there are still people like you who obstinately stick to their shallow view of Iranian politics.

As someone who has lived in Iran, and "experienced" Iran first hand (unlike most of you), I can tell you that I have see and felt the benefits of 8 years of reform movement and I can't wait for Mousavi to win and resume Khatami's policies again.

Parham

You ask people to name "one reform" that they have accomplished, I ask you to name just ONE ALTERNATIVE SOLUTION that you people, in the boycott camp, have offered?! And I mean a PRACTICAL solution.

And to answer your question about reforms, over 90 newspapers were opened in the first year of Khatami's presidency. Sure, a lot of them were clothes. But at least they tried something, they failed, and now they are trying again. What have you done expect armchair theorizing?

Farah

Why do you say that, because I have posted my own picture? I mean, that's a problem now? Pretty soon you'll be telling me why I use my own name! :)

Btw, last time I checked you were shahollahi, weren't you?? ;)

Please get your facts right

You guys are giving me MPD (I thought we have one on this site already). 

Arash78,

One calls me a MKO member, the other says I am a Shahollahi and I was even called a Hezbollahi.  I am none of these. I may be many things but I do my best  not to be a hypocrite. For as long as JJ allows me to write here, I will. 

Molla Mammad Jan,

Are you, by any chance, a closet monarchist? Your avatar, if I am not mistaken,  was commisioned by the last Shah to commemorate 2500 yeasr of Monarchy- Shahyad Aryamehr. It was later stolen by the Mollas and renamed, hypocritically, Azadi square! Is this a fair description of your political stance?

Warning:

I have no problem to be ranked with Ms Gilani and Parham but I am not sure if their feelings are mutual. After all Parham and I fell out with each other on several issues but I am glad to see we seem to be in agreement on the current topic. Parham is incurably romantic: he is in love with his own image. :))

FR

And...

... I agree with Arshia 100%. It's not going forward, it's actually running in circles to say the least and standing still (if not going backwards just because of that).

Anonymous1234

Seems you are distorting, wait no, CHANGING COMPLETELY what I'm saying! It doesn't surprise me, people with a dictatorial mind or those in cmplete denial always function that way. Just go back and read what I say to Mammad: I say we have to FIGHT! It's a couple of posts down, dammit!

More, haven't I heard that "fall from the sky" bull elsewhere? Don't we know each other??

And I'm not saying the system "is not perfect", I'm saying it's actually extreme bi-sharafi to have the system set this way! What, you already have a sub-group of people ruling, then from that sub-group you filter everyone to get to four people you like, and then tell everyone boodoor ke var door? Zereshk!

Even more, what did you do during the last period you supposedly had your field open? What did you accomplish? Again and again, NAME ONE REFORM! It's not ike we haven't been here before...

Do you get it?

You want to fight, great, let's see what you'll do! It's not like the republic is going to fall from one day to another! Let's see what you'll accomplish.

To Anonymous1234: you are beating a dead horse

Azis go and vote for all I care.

u said "Whereas our argument is, "in order to improve the system, we need an environment in which we can work. And that environment can only be created by a reformist candidate. So we'll vote for him and progressively change things"

You think all those heavyweight influential hardliner mullahs who are holding onto every single lever of power in Iran will just sit, take it and let it happen like that?!!!

Mind you nothing substantial or fundamental could be done during the eight years Khatami was in power and any small tiny little thing done was quite reversed later on! Do you remembr that there was constant bickering and infighting behind the scenes and out in the open which made Khatami quite impotent(even though Khatami was spineless to begin with); ALL in spite of the fact that Khatami had the majority of the parliament, all the people's votes, and the entire world behind him!

what we are saying is what is the use of beating a horse to rise up when we know the horse is dead or is forced to be dead?!

what is the use of retrying something which has been tried before and failed BIG TIME? t is just like running in circles around onself but be my guest go
ahaed and do it you guys will all end up in the same place you started at!

Parham

You say "The present election propagandists will have you believe what you have to do is vote, and then sit on your behind for the next few years."

Don't distort what people say. It looks like you missed the whole point. What those who advocate voting clearly say is "vote for someone who will make the environment more suitable for the civil society (women rights movements, students movements, writers, journalists, etc.) to function". What we want is a better economy, a more relaxed social environment, better relations with the world, so that we progressively advance the democratic agenda.

On the other hand, boycott propagandists like yourself, want to sit and wait until somehow a perfect political system falls off the sky, so that "ghadam rajneh befarmaayand" and vote.

Your argument is "the political system is not perfect, so I won't vote". But you offer no real solution other than the unrealistic fancy "if 90% of people don't vote, things will change" thing. Whereas our argument is, "in order to improve the system, we need an environment in which we can work. And that environment can only be created by a reformist candidate. So we'll vote for him and progressively change things".

Got it?

Mammad...

I am amazed that you know so little about iran or maybe what you know passes through a thick prism of ideology and turns into nothing resembling the reality.

My proof is in the single paragraph that you are denying what historians universally give credit to reza shah for, and suddenly you reverse yourself and blame M.R. shah for Bahrain (that I incidentally agree with since I am consistent). You do not see the flaw in your logic, do you? Credit to people (who have miserably failed in the last 30 years) and blame on the shah; unless it is IRI then things reverse in your mind and you continue to blame the late shah 30 years after his death. This is bias and ideological twisting of logic at its best

If credit were exclusively due to people of iran, they would have not lost caucasian territories twice (golestan and turkaman chai) and they would have not lost caspian basin oil fields recently. The rest of your claims are similarly shallow and flawed.

Dr. Strangelove's banned readings

The Islamist collaborator says that he does not read a certain person because that person is for a stance contrary to that of the nuke lover’s. Translation: I only read those who agree with me and never expose my pristine Islamist mindset to contrary points of views that might be convincing. Years and years of regurgitating Ali Shariati and Ale-Ahmad’s nonsense will go to waste and that is not a good thing for an avowed Islamist.

 In another post he attempts yet again to discredits a rival because of his recanted past beliefs. Never mind the chap was not Stalinist as the nuke lover claims rather as that person himself has said on number of occasions was even worst, while in Berkley of all things he became a  Maoist.

That chap is now in the same camp as the nuke lover that is advocating participation in the “election”, what does that say about the nuke lover’s stance? And the sudden reason for the collaborator’s attack wouldn’t be because of where the former Maoist has been in the past few days would it?

Mammad

Of course, there is not a simple solution to the present situation. In fact, it would be foolish to think otherwise.
BUT...
There is always one solution that has to remain constant, and that is FIGHT AGAINST DESPOTISM. At least that's a start.

In the upcoming elections, no matter if one votes or not, the biggest part is the one that comes from FIGHTING afterwards.

The present election propagandists will have you believe what you have to do is vote, and then sit on your behind for the next few years. That's NOT true. If you're in the camp that votes, you'll have to stand up against every bull you see thereafter, just like the rest of us. It only seems to me those who won't vote will just do that (meaning fight), and those will vote, won't.

More, I also believe if people don't vote BY A LARGE MARGIN, that will send a clearer signal to those in power that they'll need to treat people better, than if they do vote. That will only send a signal to the power structure that they have once again succeeded in fooling the crowd.

In any case, I think this leaving people to chose between getting their head cut by cotton or saw (which I believe this ultimately is) is very much of a "na mardi", and my reaction to choices like these is always not to make a choice and fight instead.

I hope that makes my position clearer to you.

Tehranian

Despite your long post, you missed the main point of my comment about super-duper Aryan advocate: One terrible regime (IRI) does not justify another horrible regime (the Pahlavies). In fact, as I have discussed it many times in this column, the Revolution of 1979 that led to the present terrible situation is the direct result of what the Pahlavies did and did not do.

No, it has been the brave people of Iran who have held Iran together. Mohammad Reza Shah gave up Bahrain, remember?

Mammad

Calm down Farah

No amount of name calling or labeling will deter me, scare me, make me think twice, etc. So, if you have something to say, say it without wasting your time.

I did not lie (unlike many on this site). As soon as Parham pointed out that the National Front in Iran has called for the boycott, I said I "stand corrected," even though I have not read their declaration. That is far more than what many people do on this site who insist on their lies and exaggerations. 

But, as I said before, how much influence does the NF have in Iran? Practically nothing. Obviously, you could not refute any of the solid facts that I pointed out regarding who is for and against boycott within and without Iran. So, all you could cling onto was the powerless, influenceless NF.

As for Dr. Zarafshan: I do not "love" Dr. Zarafshan. In fact, I am opposed to many of his stances regarding various issues.

But, I do respect Dr. Zarafshan's courageous stance against the chain murders, his representation of the families of the victims, and the fact that he was willing to go to jail over his principles, rather than "repent" to avoid it at his old age. That is much much much more than whatever one can say about your type who, from the comfort of your home outside Iran, issue secular Fatwas.

I also respect Dr. Zarafshan's stance against Dr. Abbas Milani, who attacks all of his opponents as a Stalinist (just like what you are doing, which says a lot about you). I suppose it takes a Stalinist to know another Stalinist, given that Milani himself is a former Stalinist, before he reprented in Shah's jail, wrote articles against leftists that were used by the SAVAK, and is now a cheerleader for revisionist historians, and at same time thinks that the rest of us have amnesia and have forgotten what he did.

No, Dr. Zarafshan does not represent any political group in Iran. Do you know any group that associates itself with Dr. Zarafshan?  Name one. 

Mammad

Parham

I do not read Mr. Kazemzadeh's posts, simply because they are usually sheer slogans rather than a realistic assessment of the situation. In addition, he has called for UN Security Council sanctions against Iran. That is a declaration of war, as far as I am concerned. In my opinion, no true Iranian nationalist calls for sanctions against Iran, when we know that, (a) only ordinary people will get hurt, and (b) sanctions - that are low-intensity wars themselves - usually lead to high-intensity military wars.

What is your solution for the present situation?

Mammad

To Warning: say it more clearly

In other words, make sure this Wesbite is an exact replica of the government orchestrated Websites inside Iran otherwise we would all leave because we cannot tolerate any more to read views contrary to ours and crossing the red lines determined by the IRI.

JJ Please note

Unfortunately with more and more unintelligent people on this site (I don't blame them) the more intelligent ones will be going away.

It would be really sad for the day that contributors such as Mammad or Niloufar Parsi and many more leave and be replaced with some others (which I have nothing against, personally) like Farah Rasta, Leila Gilani or Parham.

Of course we can't do anything about it.

To Farah Rusta

From your angry bitter tone, completely delusional view on Iranian politics and quick labellings of others, I assume you are a member of the MKO, am I correct?

Molla Mammad Jan! Why Lies?

First you lie and then, when your bluffs are called, as Parham did with Jebhe Melli's stance, you  retract. And if I am not mistaken you have a claim on being a good muslim. Shame.   In fact, you lie first and then auto correct. By the way, your love for the Stalinist Zarafshan is noticed. Doesn't he represent a political group? One must admit you are very Stalinist with your definition of "groups."

FR

The commenter said: "Stay

The commenter said:

"Stay away, or wake up. Wake to the fact that the "Ariyan race" is neither an electoral issue, nor a concern for Iranians living in Iran. None of them cares if their race is superior to others. None of them cares to call himself "Persian" instead of "Irani". All they want is to improve their lives, improve their economy and progressively move towards a better political system. They have concrete needs and concrete expectations for TODAY. They don't give a damn about who invaded Iran some 14 centuries ago"

Obviously this person has not been to iran for a long long time. Contrary to his claim, iranians, specially youths, are going back to their roots. Once after the revolution the book stores were displaying all sorts of religious books, are now displaying pre-islamic history books. The religious books are moved to the back of the bookstore collecting dust. Nobody cares anymore what sh*t the liar fanatic Dr. Ali Shariati's book is about as people have sensed what he was up to for the past 30 years: deceit and oppression. A book store owner said that pre-islamic history books sell like hot cakes these days.

Yes people care about who invaded who some 1400 years ago and who turned a first-rate country into a third-world country after 1400 years of dominating all aspects of life there. They do care far more than they ever cared that I can remember, and certainly far more than when shah was in charge.

 Ananymous 123456789...

 Ananymous 123456789... says

"But of course, people who oppose voting on this forum (those who have been outside of Iran for decades) somehow, and for some weird reason, consider themselves more IRANIANS than them. They think they are more entitled than people who have stayed and worked in Iran to determine what's good for the country. All I have to say to them is, stay where you are, and let people improve their lives. "

What an absolutely shallow and hate-based statement to make. Not than anyone would heed and gives a slight bit of attention to your request, But it only takes a real ignorant person to constantly overlook the real reason behind the suggestion for boycotting the elections. Why would some people want to purposely overlook that and turn this around to be about something it is not, is beyond the rational processing of a sane mind. I am sure they know that as well. But they just like playing this verbal game. 

"Stay away, or wake up. Wake to the fact that the "Ariyan race" is neither an electoral issue, nor a concern for Iranians living in Iran. None of them cares if their race is superior to others. None of them cares to call himself "Persian" instead of "Irani". All they want is to improve their lives, improve their economy and progressively move towards a better political system. They have concrete needs and concrete expectations for TODAY. They don't give a damn about who invaded Iran some 14 centuries ago"

A simple comment writer takes it upon himself to declare what issues are and are not on the ballot and of concern. Very nice. Some people better practice what they preach...

SUre. Let us move toward a progressive and pragmatic and effective and workable political system, within a system that is based on torture and suppression and would in no way shape or form allow change or reform to take place.

We are racists and delusionals who still Think IN THE 21st Century!!!!!!!!!! Ladies and gentlemen... Apparently someone here does possess superior analytical skills and follows a very solid logic who thinks that by "responding" rules are being broken and it is proven that others are oh.. so "out of touch".  Sounds like somebody is trying to use force to shove his beliefs through...

COuld someone please tell me what century we really living in? I am not sure anymore.

hamsade

LOL!

This actually reminds me of Tom & Jerry episodes where Tom would chase Jerry and catch him only to find out he has ended up right in the face of the huge bulldog who protects the little mouse every once in a while. Tom would then begin acting very nicely with Jerry until he is sure the dog is far away, where he'd start being mean to him again.

(I mean c'mon, if they don't catch that analogy, they're really mongols!! I'm outa here for now anyway... cheers)

parham

back in the days, my friends and i would go to clubs that would advertise 'ladies night' where the women get in free or half off drinks.  many times we would end up with a ratio of 10:1 guys to girls.  it took us a while to smarten up.  this is the islamic version of 'ladies night.'  astakhforellah.

hamsade

That's actually one thing I was wondering about and actually wondering who chose that picture for the article above!

pretty girls voting and campaigning, how enticing....

i find it curious that in a country that they boast of not commercializing women's image as in the west, in every election they like to post pretty women's pictures rooting for the reform party.  just like the obama girl, there were khatami girls, rafsanjani girls (ugh), and now mousavi girls.

Mammad

If I'm not mistaken, it was Masood Kazemzadeh who posted Jebhe Melli's stance here a little while ago.

About your second point, I guess no one knows how the majority will come out this time. My guess is they'll just shine Ahmadinejad's shadow so much on people's existence that there will be a good amount (although mostly young ones probably) who will vote, and vote for Mousavi. But that's only a guess.

I personally won't vote, not even for Karrubi who at least has a bunch of managers like Karbaschi on his team. I just feel fed up with this bull. I mean come on, it's been thirty years! I feel like if I do, for one thing I'll be insulting my own intelligence, and for another I'll be losing a lot of self-respect for having played these guys' game. No really, enough.

Parham

1. I have not seen the statement by the National Front in Iran that has called for the boycott. But, if you say so, I have no reason to disbelieve you. I stand corrected.

2. You are absolutely correct. One does not need to justify his vote, or lack thereof. But, that was not the point of the post. The point was, the people who claim in this column to represent "the vast majority of the Iranian people" represent only themselves. 

Mammad

One more thing...

There is nothing worse than being islamist for iran and iranians today. The super-duper aryans have done nothing, NOTHING, nil, zilch, to harm any iranian (or non iranian) for a long long time; they have only victims, at least for the past 30 years, and maybe for the past 1400 years. Can you say the same thing for islamists?

Islamists still angry?

Islamists are still angry that Reza shah or his son did not hand over the rule to islamists 56 years ago, much sooner so they can set up the same shop of oppression sooner rather than later!

Mammad: how did you get so much venom against the one iranian ruler that saved iran from disintegration, and his son who brought the best days of iran in the last 200 years, who educated likes of you to bite his hands? You wanted them to hand in the rule to a bunch of islamist students so they can create an afghanistan in iran sooner and with much ease?

It is easy to criticize, but the only thing that islamists, leftists, and intellectuals could do once M. R. Shah was out of the way was either to remain in iran and commit murder and loot the country or run away. That is why they wanted pahlavis out of the way for, otherwise they had no sympathy for iran or iranians, and no ability to do any better than any Shah.

You should learn from so many iranians "within" iran who curse M.R. Shah for not standing up to the mullas in 1979, while they send him lots of respect and "khoda biyamorz" and long for those days that he ruled. Lots of things have changed since 30-40 years ago; obviously you must have been doing quite well in the west that you curse and have not been to iran for a long long time to empathize with iranians and wake up and get real. If you see that some encourage the vote, it is out of desperation not content or hope, and they are wrong the same way that they were wrong when they welcomed and voted for the devil to rule in 1979. You have heard about "khar dajjal" haven't you? That is the islamic republic.

Put the Qoran aside and read a few unbiased history books to see what iran and iranians and iranian rulers are all about. All the answers are not in the islamic lens which was created 1400 years ago for a bunch of arabs in arabia. And iran was neither born 30 years ago nor 1400 years ago.

At least look around you and learn something from the society that you live in, and ask yourself why you are here if anything islamic is as good as you believe, and why your children (if you have any) will never see iran and feel iranian: it is not because of aryans or the shahs, it is because of islamists, the cancer that has been growing inside iran for 1400 years that even islamists cannot tolerate anymore and run away from despite their complete dedication to the deadly tumor that islam is.

And while you are at it, take a look at the flyer from inside iran that was posted on this site a while back advertising sale of two little girls, a 4 year old and a 7 year old, to see what the islamic republic has done to iranian culture. Cleanse your heart of hatred and open your eyes to relieve from total brain wash in your failed ideology that has caused over 4 million iranians to turn into exiles and refugees.

Mammad

Actually, Jebhe melli, both inside and outside (US and Europe), has called for a boycott.

But then why do you feel you have to see who will or who won't. You don't need to justify your voting to anyone, do you? Go vote if you wish! It's NOT a free country anyway!