VIEW

Terry McBride

I am not going to copy and paste the Quran for you as you did with your Book. But here is some information on your history and how the two brothers fought each other until one killed the other to become the only leader of Baha'I faith. Man, if your leader does that to his brother, what can we expect from him in doing to others? But for now you are toothless wolves, just as the Jews used to be. Frankly, I have talked to Baha'is and they are just as fanatic to their beliefs as a fanatic Muslim, christian or Jew.  Sorry if I broke it to you this way, but Reality bites. However, I must say, I am against any harm to anyone with any faith, religious or not.

I am a Muslim and once a friend of mine was joking and he said, If Imam Medi show up, He must be given a "F" for being absent for so long. All of a sudden one of our friends started yelling and screaming. Then we realized he is a Baha'I and as you know Baha'is claim that Bahaollah was Imam Mehdi.  Then you speak of Muslims being fanatic?

//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bah%C3%A1'%C3%AD_Faith

@ Darish A

Blatant insincerity

“I had the American public and the politicians, not iranians, in mind."

Are saying there are two truths, one for Iranians and one for others?

And in opposition to “war” you “had the American public and politicians” in mind when you wrote about all the goodness of the Islamist Rapists?

This kind of blatant insincerity only helps those who advocate military solution.  It reinforces their argument that the regime is not going to fall without foreign military intervention. 

You're Right

I should have been much more critical of the IRI regime (although I have said that I'm against it and for the Green Movement).  I wrote this article while there was a lot of drum beats for war against Iran and I had the American public and the politicians, not iranians, in mind. I will soon send an explanation in Farsi.  Tooraj

well said

well said

Terry McBride

IRI hasn't executed Christians. That is being done in Pakistan, Israel and most of all in good old USA and other western countries. Face it Terry! How many Christians are executed and killed in USA every day?

As for IRI, for every minority they have executed, they have executed thousands of Muslims, but every time a Baha'i or a Jew complains, they say ,IRI is killing Baha'is and Jews (not them and Muslims). Of Course, IRI haven't even executed any Jew, but they always whine because that is their nature and when they are in majority then you get to know their humane side as you see in Israel toward Palestinians and Lebanese and even Israelis who oppose their government's genocide.

Then You wrote,   sorry if you want fairness you must be an advocate for justice...

This was a classic one.  US has killed millions with all kinds of chemical, biological and nuclear weapons already and continues to kill innocent civilians everyday and you speak of advocating justice.

Then You say, I don't want war, but......

Who gave you the right to dictate what others should do? You yourself are an obedient of Israeli government. They kill your civilians and military personnel and you cannot do anything about it. Ahmadinejad is doing Americans a favor by educating you about the Zionists agenda. One day you will open your eyes and find an Oxygen meter connected to your nose. You are halfway there already.

peace

Agree with Abarmard. It

Agree with Abarmard.

It seems some in our group are susceptible to this shortcoming, in relatively larger representation than other peoples.

Unfortunately, it provides a very poor reflection upon the rest of us.

I'm especially reminded of this every time I see a middle-aged exile waving an oversized lion-puss flag at a demonstration. 

Fred Wrote,   "There is

Fred Wrote,   "There is no “anti-Iranian” propaganda as you wrongly and clumsily claim. There are loads and loads of anti-Islamist Rapist opposition which their minions try to portray as “anti-Iranian“.

So Fred, if Islam was the problem not Iran, then why help kashani to bring down Mosaddegh?

If western countries problems are Islam? Why they bend over and kiss King Fahd, Faisal, Mubarak and other Arab?

Aren't your comments Zionist/neocon propaganda?  

How many times should people repeat this to get it into your head? It is all about US interest. If Hitler had guaranteed US interest, US would have never gotten involved with the war to save your people. 

Here we go again

The uber-nationalist act of Islamist Rapists and their civilized world
based lefty supporters might lull their sense of isolation, but trying
to push it this overtly is just well, too Islamist.

I wonder what some do here talking about things they do not know much about. It is the US that has won the reputation to be the biggest rapist in the world. From raping korean, Philipino, Japanese women to Abu Gharibin Iraq and bagram Airport in Afghanestan. 

As our onboard Zio-fascist, Fred is pretty ignorant when it gets to global facts! 

;-)

Here we go again

In the islamic repub we have elections, blah blah blah...... Last time I checked Rigged elections didn't count, and even if they were not rigged, then why do we only have islamists to chose out of rather than actual normal Iranians?  so save us your excuses, stop comparing Iran with this pathetic excuse for a government, stop trying to lighten the image of this islamist shameless regime with lies, once you can do that then go ahead and write a blog.

 Iran as a mid-eastern country is alot better than it's neighbors I admit, and that's only cause of the hard working Iranian people, not the islamist leach, but it's potentials are being crushed by these filthy ayatollah roaches, if we continue like this then every single one of our neighbors will be ahead of us in 20 years, and if that day becomes a reality then You'll regret this just like you regret the 1979 revolution (talking to the author and the people who took part in the rev)

Be Fair to whom (IRR)???

It is very obvious that you are defending one of the worse totalitarian dictatorship regimes in history, and feeding off of same crap that is coming out of its so called leaders. Iran is not a modern country and in fact is going backward for the last 30 years, it does not have elections, they have SELECTIONS, and it has been a prison for majority of its citizens, The only reason that IRR is in power, is the tremendous wealth from OIL and GAS that is used to pay off for guarding this huge prison.  I bet you if tomorrow most of the countries that have Embassies in Iran declare that they will offer free VISAS for any Iranians that wants to leave the country, 80% of population under 35 will leave. Majority of Iranians that live outside Iran since 1980 kept a very low profile and were ashamed to be known as Iranians until last year, when Millions of Iranians marched the streets of every city through out the country in support of Democracy and Freedom, which the whole World saw what happened, and realized that there is a distinguish between the IRR and Iranian people. Unity of true Iranians will eliminate the Arab roots from this land once and for all.

The Two Sides of the Coin

America’s aspiration to be the Roman Empire of today, have them  snagged in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and drained their resources close to economic collapse, and now they’re beating their chest to get in Iran.  These people are blind folded by feeling of grandeur and World domination under the banner of “New World Order”.  As for Islamic Republic, they have given the World every reason to be disdained for their obscene treatment of Iranian citizens, beyond description in few words.  As for us Iranian-Americans, we each are responsible for our own respect.  Someone once said “If you don’t respect yourself, don’t expect it from others”.

To fanatics

The world is black and white. To fanatics you are either on one camp or another. You have to always say the exact things and see everything from one lens. Good from the other side means bad regardless. 

We have many fanatic contributors on this site.

Be Nice to Iranian People

Be Nice to Iranian People

I like that title better.

Let’s not use the electric button on the middle-age women. Let’s not use the clubs on peaceful protesters. Let’s not detain and torture people. Let’s not hold their wives and kids until they come out of hiding. Let’s not hold their homes as collateral. Let’s respect the election results. Should I say more?

Yes, I know. They just need time to reform themselves. As soon as they find better reformists, they will get with the program.

And there is no corruption. Sure, the whole economy is run by mafia style Pasdars. They have divided the territory among the Corleone, Tattaglia, and Barzini and a few other Dons.

I am not going to put a label on anyone here, but you folks somehow decided that it is better that your team wins, sitting thousands of miles away, in the comfort of the West, no matter what the cost is to the hopes and aspirations of young Iranian people. They came on the streets and asked for a little breathing room, a little respect for their opinions, maybe a little shorter scarf. And you know what happened.

This whole argument that the “Barbarians are at the Gate” so every body please shut up and support the tyranny is the oldest trick in the book!

I have to agree with most

I have to agree with most people here. You cannot compare elections in Iran to those in Europe or the US. A candidate in the US or Europe is not disqualified because he does not have revolutionary Islamic credentials. Sure, that candidate may not get many votes if he is not with the mainstream Christian way of thought. What real power does an elected official in Iran have anyway, when there is Khamenei who has absolute power? How is that different from the Shah's dictatorship? Its even worse because now it is religious fascism. The author also says the IRI is less corrupt than its neighbors. I disagree, its simply more organized corruption which is well hidden. Besides, it doesnt make it better if you are a little corrupt, versus very corrupt. With that argument, the Shah was less corrupt than Khamenei and his bunch, but that does not mean he was good.

Grand delusions

To the critics of this piece: You're wrong. Just because you don't like what the author says, it does not make him an IRI mercenary. Just as those who oppose the IRI cannot and should not be called CIA or MOSSAD agents. Also, questioning the authenticity and sincerity of this piece means you are denying that millions and millions of Iranians think this way. You are denying that an opposing view other than yours could even exist! And that's another sign that we're ALL little dictators, with the same mind set and attitudes of our rulers today and throughout history.

To the supporters: What is there to cheer? What is being defended here? What are the author's priorities?

First of all he's surprised that Americans have a lesser opinion of Iranians compared to 1979? Why is that surprising? Is it really, honestly, because of Israeli propaganda? Yes. I'd say one percent of the negative perception of the IRI is due to Israeli and other foreign propaganda. Okay 10%. But what about the other 90%? What about the Islamic Republic's own atrocious behavior since 1979?

Who are we kidding here? We are Iranians. We KNOW what has happened in Iran by the hands of its own rulers. Why do we get defensive and pretend that what has happened in front of our own eyes, to our own people, to our families and to ourselves is nothing as bad as what IRI's enemies say? How can you think that way?

Secondly, it's obvious that the author doesn't see a difference between elections in Iran and the U.S. He thinks just because people in both countries go the polls every four years then their even. I guess Communist China and the old Soviet Union were also democracies because they too have/had regular elections. I didn't realize that!

And he doesn't even see Iran as a totalitarian regime. Ok. Let's say Iran is not a totalitarian regime. Then what should we call a state ruled by a cleric with absolute power? What do you call a Supreme Leader who interferes in state affairs on a daily basis, with no regard to people's true wishes? HE decides what the people want. HE knows what's good for the nation and Islam. HE chooses the head of the Judiciary. HE picks the head state broadcasting. HE's the Commander in Chief and appoints the heads of all branches of the armed forces, notably the IRGC. HE selects the clerics on the Council of Guardians which get to veto bills passed by the Majles.

Just on the basis of Khamenei's absolute rule and actions, without going back to the Khomeini era or mentioning case after case of atrocities and abuse of ordinary citizens and extraordinary backward policies, the Islamic Republic is what is: An utter failure. A disgrace to Islam and all religions. An historic catastrophe. An embarrassment to humanity.

And if we can't admit that to ourselves, our country will never change. If we think we should be more concerned with defending our nation against foreign propaganda, rather than demanding change inside Iran, then we'll be forever lost. We'll be defending a cruel regime that puts on an anti-imperialist mask.

No one can deny the imperialist and aggressive policies and intentions of the U.S. and Israel. But to say that the IRI is protecting our national interests and aspirations is the biggest delusion of all.

What a load of crap ... from the IRI mozdoors

"... due to propaganda the Iran's image has suffered ..."

Yep, forget about the US embassy hostages of 1979/80

... look over attacks and kidnapping of US citizens in Lebanon

... forget about the Khobar bombing, Argentine bombing, Europe assassinations ...

... close your ears when every minute of every day, IRI's troopers are religiously chanting "Death to America" ...

It's all propaganda ... which should be countered ;-)

Rubbish

I wonder if there is a centeral web site for all these omati and IRR supporters to rehash same rubbish time after time and post it inhere as if every one is moron!

The usuall crap always starts with  :" I fought the shah" (probably from the local disco in Baltimore) "how Isreal is influencing media"
(Yup I knew it was comming! sooner or later, jews have to be included)
" how IRR is not a dictatorship" (No, it's a beautifull system that makes swedes jelous, it;s that good!) 

"all the killings and tortures never happend, or if it did happen it was done by few people,
"the regime is good becuase it built a lot of roads"  (i was shocked during time of shah we didn't have any roads),
I didn't see water before at time of shah till I came to U.S, but the new regime made water available.
Iranian regime is much less corrupt than its counterparts in the area.( But I' ll be damn if I invest two dollars in there!)

THis last one takes the cake. The regime is not corrupt even though no one can account how much revenue was
generated in the last four years when the averge price of oil was around 70 to 140 dollars per barrel! and why 50% of population
is below and right on poverty line (This one is a falut of jews, neocons, and the death shah)
you can write the rest......

We do not live in a perfect world

But with the Iranian government PERSECUTING religious minorities such as Christians and Bahais I see that Iran has earned it's BLOODY REPUTATION...

sorry if you want fairness you must be an advocate for justice...

BTW I do not want war either but Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Ali Khamenei are on a head strong push for WW III

A verb, a noun and 9/11

Wasn't a republican moron that all his presidential campaign was based on the above BS. Well, we all witnessed how he became the laughing stock and before the primaries had started he had to put his tail between his leg and run for the cover. Well, we have another moron with similar strategies and slogan, this time on IC and with slogans such as "Islamist XYZ, anti Semite ABC, and Nazi 123"

And then they import them from Cybress !!!!

Mehrdad

Simple and to the point

That's a good read. Thanks

Islamist Palestinian crop-dusters

Instead of moaning and acting like a Naziabadi puppy all the time, the rabid Islamist Palestinian crop-dusters living off Iranian people’s wealth should blog too.

Of course they can simultaneously continue to bite me.

I didn't know Fred has a sense of humor as well?

"There is no “anti-Iranian” propaganda as you wrongly and clumsily claim"

There is a two-blog-a-day “anti-Iranian” propaganda [garbage] on this very same site.

Now I may not agree with ALL that Tooraj has said here, particularly about the freedom and open opposition to the current regime, but there are some very valid points specially about the propaganda campaign against Iran instigated and paid by AIPAC.

Mehrdad

So much for your article.

I read up to this point

" But unlike the widely held view I do not think that today's Iran, at
least on the government level, is a totalitarian dictatorship."

and figured out it is not worth reading the rest of the article. For the record, after the anti-government riots in Iran last year, everyone knows that Iranians are hostages held against their will in their homes by a fascist government.

I am smiling

I do visit various blog sites when I have some free time, and have found this site uniquely interesting and informative based on the following observations:
1) No profanity is allowed;
2) Blogs that are very well articulated and presented are under pseudonyms. I have difficulty understanding why many well written articles* are posted under pseudonyms. 
Cheers,
Sean
*I am referring to the composition and the logical discourse and not the content of some articles.

Are we watching the same news closet-war activist Fred?

Of course to Fred, the closet-war-activist whose umbilical cord is attached to the Likud lobby he wont see it as anti-Iranian propaganda. To those of us who have an ounce of iranian-ness left in us, we are concerned about our family members back home, and of course alarmed by people like you and their desire for another war in the middle-east that will put back the democracy for generations.

You can sugar coat it however you like. war and sanctions will involve the majority of iranians.

As the Iraq war has shown, propaganda works. you are doing a good job Fred, keep it up! see where it gets you.

---This is a response to Fred and not the article.----

Clumsy Islamist propaganda

There is no “anti-Iranian” propaganda as you wrongly and clumsily claim. There are loads and loads of anti-Islamist Rapist opposition which their minions try to portray as “anti-Iranian “.

The uber-nationalist act of Islamist Rapists and their civilized world based lefty supporters might lull their sense of isolation, but trying to push it this overtly is just well, too Islamist.

BTW, with the rosy picture you paint of IRR and all its social services and benefits, are you sure you have not mistaken it for lets say Switzerland?

well put tooraj

i particularly like the slogan 'be fair to iran'. it's very apt.

if i may make a suggestion (disguised as a question!): why should we really care what the americans think of us? it's more important to discuss what we think of them.

i am not ignoring realities of power relations. quite the opposite. the reality is changing. it is time to tell them what we think of them and how they should change.

peace.