We may see real change in Iran

Elections are coming up in Iran. Unlike what some might think (all muslims = evil animals), the majority of Iranians are under 40 and quite progressive. They do not want iran to be isolated and considered evil with an evil leader...the majority do not support their current president and lament the fact that Iran is excluded from the world stage. They are proud of Iran and believe Iran has some of the best and brightest in the Islamic world...I tend to agree.

Some might be shocked at how westernized that country truly is and how smart and educated their population is....and how they cringe every time their crazy leader says something crazy. The reformist condidate is Mehdi Karroubi, if he wins then I think Obama will have a leader there who will sit down with him and listen...someone he might be able to find common ground with...and things might change for that country. Karroubi (and the other reform candidate as well) does not deny the holocaust and has said he would, if he is allowed, put Iran on a path to reentering the world stage again...we'll see.

 

I for one certainly hope that you are right Dru I realy do

 

That would be awesome.
Free elections are tough to come by in that type of government tho, lets all cross our fingers.

 

Egads!

We're all agreeing and hoping here. Having a leader of a major mideast powerhouse with a bit of an open mind would be, well, mind boggling.

 

true...one still must content with the islamic council that still controls the country regardless of elections. I have seen video coming out of Iran that gives one a bit of hope for a new generation coming up there. In Tehran at least. See, the problem is, they are trying to groom a new generation that is well educated and able to move Iran forward...but education is dangerous to tyrants.

 

Dont get your hopes up guys. I believe the curs that took over the American embassy were young and progressive too. College students and all. Free elections in Iran. Yep. Youre free to vote for whoever we tell you to

 

No, the ones I speak of, with their faces blurred out of course...spoke about changing Iran from the course of those particular people. They were not only embarrassed of their leader but agreed that Iran should not have nuclear capabilities until he is gone. One can at least hope this new generation of western friendly young people end up in positions of power there...hell, these guys are so enamored with western culture they hold underground raves and drinking parties

 

Ya. They are known as hypocrites. Now I see both canidates are claiming victory.

 

absurd...these are ordinary people who risked their lives to speak out against the current regime...they are not hypocrites, they are people wishing to align themselves with the US and bring Iran into the world community and living the kind of lives they want to live under the radar. I am sure if you were in the same situation you would be so much more brave and wear your beliefs openly...you would be do dead because of it.

Supposedly, acording to leaked results, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad came in third and the progressive candidates both got more votes than him...now there are protests...good news indeed but sadly they may be forced to live with him again as president. One Iranian said it all...he is embarrassed to have Ahmadinejad as their representative to the world....they are taking to the streets

 

Lets see if he repeats the Sha's mistakes and responds with brute force

 

I have no doubt that the elections were rigged. But on the off chance that it wasnt, and Ahmainejad won; wouldnt the US use such propaganda as what you just posted to win over thier citizens? According to leaked resilts? From who? And you believe thats accurate? Wasnt the president of Iran just an ordinary college student in 1979? And dont be so sarcastic, buddy. If I felt oppressed in a country I lived in, I would move somewhere else. And dont give me that maybe they love thier country. I like america because its a good place to live. If it wasnt I would leave. I was embarraassed to have Bush Sr. as our represenitive to the world. But I didnt ''take to the streets''. Sorry I wrote Iraq instead of Iran.

 

I dont know who leaked it but it is being reported on some online news sites that Mahmoud Ahmadinejad actually came in 3rd. Whether this is true or not, I dont know. Yes, Ahmadinejad was a student.. At the time, the students were rebelling against western influence...as often students do, they went to the far extreme. Many of those students are now adults who are also not happy with the way things turned out and are embarrassed to have him represent them. Thing is, they showed pissed off students could make a change. The current batch of young that are pro-west also go to the extreme in the way the emulate western culture...getting nose jobs, going to raves, western dress and western music....

You act like taking to the streets to remove a madman is wrong? I guess I miss read you, I thought you would say you would stand up for what you think is right...instead you say you would leave the country. Which is, of course, your right.

this is a big problem in islamic nations...instead of staying and fighting for what is right, people flee and come to America. Thus all the level headed sane and educated people are drained from the nation leaving nothing but the oppressors and those they oppress. I dont blame people for leaving...I understand people just want to live a normal life, they dont want to be freedom fighters. Like my wife and her family...they chose to leave.

I think those who want to stay and make real change and are willing to go out into the streets and risk their life for that change are truly brave and I hope they do not do this in vain...I hope they bring about real change in that country. I would never leave the US...if it got to the point where we had a real nutjob like Iran, I would take to the streets and that is saying a lot as it would have to be pretty bad because in general, I have a job and other interests...I am not one to join protests...but I would never leave the US...I would stay and try to fix it.

More power to them.

 

One problem Craig is that many are unable to leave even if they wanted to, regiems like the one currently in Iran keep a very close guard on there borders, just have a look at a map of the area. You have Iraq, Turkey, Kuwait on one side all basicly heavely guarded and to some extent a war zone mentality then you have Afghanistan and Pakistan on the other again war zones that leaves Turkmenistan as the only possible way out now have a look at that country and tell me if you would try it plus about 80% of the place is desert.

Sorry forgot to mention borders with Armenia and Azerbijan

 

Its not that hard. Iranians fled in the '80s. And it was tough then too. There are lots fleeing the country now.

 

Because of your situation, you cannot look at this objectively. Never leave the US? Its just real estate man. A place on the map. The values and morals you have will not change if you chose another country to live in. Would it? I guess you dont know what happens to insergents in this country. If people here took to the streets, the US would swifty quash such sedition with deadly dispatch. To be truthful; if I were to find a better place to live now without any chaos in this country, I would leave. Thankfully we dont have to take a loyalty oath in this country. Altough I bet some on here wish we did. Take to the streets to remove a madman. In whos opinion is he a madman? Dont you think he loves Iran as much as a factory worker? I am always ready to take arms against this country if its policy ever went sour. I was talking about leaving if I felt oppressed. Do you actively fight for the rights of gays? Are you willing to take to the streets on thier behalf?

 

I dont think the US is just real estate. I travel for my job and have been all over Europe, Singapore, Pakistan, Nigeria (worst place I have been), Brazil, etc...and I can tell you the US is not just real estate. I do feel an affinity to this country and how things are here. I dont agree with a lot, I agree with a lot...but there is so much, even down to the minute details that make this the only country I would want to call home. That is just me and I dont think less of anyone who would leave or does not see it like I do. I just wouldnt leave, I would stay and take the consequences.

I, and many many others see him as a madman...he is a world leader who denies the holocaust, denies that there are gays in his nation...he is, IMO, a madman and an embarrassment to any educated, sane Iranian...again...an opinion which I and many hold...the nation would be better off...far better off... without him and I think many in that country see him as one of several aspects of the government that has turned them into a global pariah. He may love his country, loving ones country and being fit to be the face of that country are two different things entirely.

I said in my previous post that I do NOT take to the streets, it would take a lot to get me to do so as I think there are quite a few aspects of our countries policy that is oppressive and robs adults of their rights...but no...I do not go out and march for gay rights although I would never act or vote against them having full rights and the right to be married...

I am not a fan of taking to the street for every cause...I have a job and a family to support and I dont have the freedom to travel here and there to take up causes. I said in my last post that if someone as mad as Mahmoud took office here...I probably would be inspired to take action that I felt might make a difference. As bad as Bush is, we have never had a leader as bad and crazy as this man in the highest office and I hope we never will...in fact many Iranians wish he had invaded Iran instead...

As odd as it might seem to you, this is my country and my home and while I love to travel as see how the rest of the world lives...and I respect how they do things differently,I wouldn't want to live anywhere else.

 

Craig in the late 70's when the Sha was overthrown those who left had the money to get out, there was no war in Pakistan, no war in Iraq (the Ba'ath Party welcomed many) many were aided in getting out by western goverments a compleatly different scenario. Dont forget up till the end the Sha's militery and police still controlled the airports etc

 

Drusus what you describe as a madman; is the same reason the bolcheviks overthrew Nichoilas II. So they were justified in your opinion. I'm not putting words in your mouth, but he was ruining Russia. And the Iranians were right to kick the Shah out. He was a brutal dictator whom we supported right to the end.

 

Certainly the Shah and The Tsar were both awful and oppressive totalitarian rulers.

Craig...going out, as the leader of a nation...and denying the holocaust calling it a 'myth'...this alone makes him a madman...If you do not agree...that is your right....I could spout off his crazy rhetoric all day but I will just leave it by simply saying the man, IMO, and I am far from alone in this in the west AND in Iran itself, is not fit to lead a dog on a leash let alone the great nation of Iran.

Its all rather moot anyway since the ayatollah and the shadowy Islamic council is the true power in that country.

 

Thats tue.