Shalom, Mr Ahmadinejad

[Aemilius Paulus]

Bah, this sounds like all those times I hear "Jewish jokes" (read: anti-semitism done for humour) and the bloke telling the joke starts off saying "I am 1/x Jewish, so this is OK".

Who cares if he is right? Little comfort I receive from knowing that the world's second largest anti-Semite whose idea of a wet dream is a load of atomics falling on Israel is a Jew and thus not anti-Semitic. Call it flu or call it influenza - either one kills.

That said, I support Ahmedindzhad much more than I do anyone else in Iranian politics...

bah

Even such sincere and righteous hate as yours does not justify spam... Although I see little else you can say, still, I know your fondness for post count .

[Louis VI the Fat]

The world is full of anti-Semites. They always fail. Except the ones who turn out to be part Jewish.

Even in this respect anti-Semites are beaten by the Jews.

That said, I support Ahmedindzhad much more than I do anyone else in Iranian politics...

W..why?

[Aemilius Paulus]

W..why?

Got any better choices? Same reason why I support Putin. He is not perfect, but in comparison to others - he is a genius.

Ahmadinezhad is the right person for Iran. Well, almost. He really should tone down his war-hawk image, and his Israel-hating, but otherwise, he keeps Iran stable without turning it into a hellhole. There is some semblance of freedom in Iran, and at least it is not as strict as, for example, Saudi Arabia - whom we (as the US and the West) support.

Put Mousavi, and you will have chaos. For one, the youth. Half of them, if not more, were just looking for an excuse to riot. This happens all the time. Nor does the youth have any understanding of real politics, or of what is possible in Iran, and what is not. Iran is a theocracy. You can slowly decrease the clerical influence, but this process is best executed slowly (unless for some reason you gain overwhelming popular support). My bet was that with Mousavi, little would change. If he tried to do any real reforms, that would be his end.

Too much instability. Iran is not ready for Mousavi. Try something centre-right - that by itself will be a miracle.

[Rhyfelwyr]

It's not like he's the first anti-Semite that's got some Jewish blood in him...

[Hax]

He's not anti-Semitic, he's anti-Zionist.

[Aemilius Paulus]

He's not anti-Semitic, he's anti-Zionist.

Technically, you are correct. So most of his speeches indicate. He himself declared himself to be an admirer, not hater of Jews, merely disagreeing with their polciies.

But one never knows - his zeal is intimidating - with so much hate towards the state of Israel, who knows if some of that hate cannot sip through and drip down on the Jews as a whole. His statements are quite radical for a simple anti-Zionist. Send all the Jews to Alaska? Hmmm...

I am neither agreeing nor disagreeing with yo, Hax. I am not completely certain myself.

[Hax]

Well you know...I think it's hard for people generally not to generalize at a certain point. There are quite some Jews living in Iran, though, and they haven't had it too tought (as far as I know). I'm pretty sure some high-ranking figures have visited Jewish communities.

EDIT: A short visit to Wikipedia:

The Constitution of Iran says that Jews are equal to Muslims. Imam Khomeini visited with members of the Jewish community and issued a decree ordering the adherents of Judaism and other revealed religions to be protected. Jews are entitled to self-administration and one member of the 290-seat Majlis is elected by only Jews. Jewish burial rites and divorce laws are accepted by Islamic courts. Tehran has over 20 synagogues. Iran has one of only four Jewish charity hospitals in the world. The hospital has received donations from top Iranian officials, including President Ahmadinejad.

Jews are conscripted into the Army like all Iranian citizens. Many Iranian Jews fought during the Iran-Iraq war (1980-1988) as drafted soldiers. About 15 were killed.[59] It has been reported that Jews in Iran are proud of their heritage. Thus, they have not settled in Israel despite being encouraged by some groups.[58]

[Azathoth]

Put Mousavi, and you will have chaos. For one, the youth. Half of them, if not more, were just looking for an excuse to riot. This happens all the time. Nor does the youth have any understanding of real politics, or of what is possible in Iran, and what is not. Iran is a theocracy. You can slowly decrease the clerical influence, but this process is best executed slowly (unless for some reason you gain overwhelming popular support). My bet was that with Mousavi, little would change. If he tried to do any real reforms, that would be his end.

Too much instability. Iran is not ready for Mousavi. Try something centre-right - that by itself will be a miracle.

Does the position of President hold more power than that of Prime Minister in Iran?

[Aemilius Paulus]

Does the position of President hold more power than that of Prime Minister in Iran?

Yes, the President is more powerful, but no if by PM you mean the Supreme Leader. In theory, the Supreme Leader is more powerful. In practise, it is difficult to tell. Supreme Leader has the final say in many matters, but of course, the President carries out the majority of the executive responsibilities.

[Jolt]

He himself declared himself to be an admirer, not hater of Jews

HOLY is he still President of Iran? *Goes to google news to see the flashnews of Ahmadinejad killed by a random Bassij*

[Lemur]

For one, the youth. Half of them, if not more, were just looking for an excuse to riot.

Are you trolling or is this truly your belief?

[Azathoth]

What happened to Mousavi? He was a loyal PM during the 80s.

[Hax]

Are you trolling or is this truly your belief?

It's called elitism. Jusitified, perhaps.

[Aemilius Paulus]

Are you trolling or is this truly your belief?

Of course it is my belief. By now, I know better than to troll in the Backroom. By now, I have received a warning or sometimes even an infraction for every little thing I can think of. I would be out of my mind to attempt trolling. Not to mention, the only place I troll is in the EB Tavern, where nearly everything is permitted. Backroom is the last place I can think of to troll…

It's called elitism. Jusitified, perhaps.

Two questions. Why would you call it elitism? I see little connection. Two: why justified? I am lost…



In general, I have noticed most teenagers and young adults have severely skewed sense of politics, or more often, do not take enough interest in politics to vote, let alone riot. If that is not enough, most adolescents do not participate in politics at all. I’ll be sodomised in the rump if more than 5% of the youthful rioters actually deliberated for an hour, at the minimum, on the political/social/economic/or at least personal aspects of Mousavi and/or demonstrating before going out to “peacefully protest & demonstrate”. Instead, all throughout history and our planet, youth tends to be easily inflamed, easily drawn into rebellion, and to be easily consumed by it.

It is no peculiar concurrence that so many social and political upheavals feature the youth as the driving element. And if you are to suggest that this is a positive fact, that the youth is energetic and dauntless, then I will disagree, and point out that you, as a middle-aged adult, Lemur, or any elderly citizen are both quite often fond of reminding us, the young, that you, the older segment of the populace know more than us, that you are wiser than us, the young. This is a fact I do not dispute. I would rather entrust critical governmental reforms to the middle aged than the young. Maybe not the old, though, as for all their wisdom, their reason may be clouded by various impediments, such as nostalgia, stubbornness, complacency, and such.


By now you are likely to have an image of me in the form of a sour-faced, die-hard Republican gramps in your mind, but I merely call it realism, or pessimism - whichever you prefer. I am no Republican, nor a social conservative. I do not wish to regulate behaviours, religions, or lifestyles. That does not stop me from criticising perceived (IMHO) foolhardiness as I see fit, however.


Lastly, I have witnessed the Ukrainian Orange Revolution from its beginning moment of insurrection to what the effects are today. I am Ukrainian on my father’s side. My family was closely monitoring the progression of events, and so was I. I remember those days with a hearty laugh.



I was twelve years old at the time, and already well into politics and history, and often debated politics with other adults. I remember my parents at that time, full of hope for Ukraine, supporting Yushchenko wholeheartedly. Especially my mother, who always relied more on feelings than logic, despite very educated, with two Uni degrees. She was always, IMHO, the more naïve one. Then there was my more pragmatic father, though he still supported the change. I, on the other hand, was the skeptic, skeptical of Yushchenko’s talent overall, and sceptical that he would pass any legislation in such a brutally, bitterly divided nation. Sometimes, it is my weakness. I admit I am overtly pessimistic. However, with the nature of this world, the more common outcome in such large scale enterprises is the opposite of meaningful success.



Right I was. Yushchenko is now called a weak leader, even when the most uncooperative climate surrounding him. His supporters see him as a well-intentioned, but an ineffective politician. His opponents… well, let us not go there. The end result is that there was no change. Russia is provoked enough by Ukraine to the point where it would love nothing more than to intervene, if not for the long-term effects of such folly. Yanukovich, the opponent of Yushchenko is an imbecile, suspected to have almost raped a woman (the degree of consent is debated). He was but a puppet.



Yet for all this, he would have difficulty doing any worse. Especially with Russia. Why should Ukraine look to West? They have nothing certain to offer. Siding with Russia is not exactly progressive, but at the very least you have an assurance of a solid, and proximate trading partner. Who cares if Russia wants to influence Ukraine? Ukraine is in deep, deep manure, controlled by oligarchs. Putin would be an improvement, as would nearly anything.




I hope you read it, Lemur, because I doubt anyone else will - too tl;dr for a casual passerby.

[Kralizec]

Hax, the Iranian constitution:
1) contradicts itself
2) is about as effective at protecting people as the toilet paper I wiped my backside with this morning

Got any better choices? Same reason why I support Putin. He is not perfect, but in comparison to others - he is a genius.

I see...you dismiss the Iranian protestors because they've got skewed views of political reality, yet support Putin because he cultivates an image of a strong leader.

That makes sense.

[gaelic cowboy]

The way I see it the best vote a person can give in Iran at the moment is an application for a visa to Europe or America

[CountArach]

Got any better choices? Same reason why I support Putin. He is not perfect, but in comparison to others - he is a genius.

Ahmadinezhad is the right person for Iran. Well, almost. He really should tone down his war-hawk image, and his Israel-hating, but otherwise, he keeps Iran stable without turning it into a hellhole. There is some semblance of freedom in Iran, and at least it is not as strict as, for example, Saudi Arabia - whom we (as the US and the West) support.

Put Mousavi, and you will have chaos. For one, the youth. Half of them, if not more, were just looking for an excuse to riot. This happens all the time. Nor does the youth have any understanding of real politics, or of what is possible in Iran, and what is not. Iran is a theocracy. You can slowly decrease the clerical influence, but this process is best executed slowly (unless for some reason you gain overwhelming popular support). My bet was that with Mousavi, little would change. If he tried to do any real reforms, that would be his end.

Too much instability. Iran is not ready for Mousavi. Try something centre-right - that by itself will be a miracle.

Any words I could say to you would get me banned.

[Aemilius Paulus]

Any words I could say to you would get me banned.

Hehe, I do not like these strict rules either. Nor am I easy to offend. Just VM me . Or PM if it really nasty .