Iran won't be Bullied

[fastpat]

Bush'ists had better calm down, and I mean right now.

Excerpt:

A central assumption behind the West's hostility toward Iran is guided by a stereotype. Iran is seen as a kindred version of Saudi Arabia or Talibanist Afghanistan, with a brand of Islam that is intolerant, doctrinaire, and inflexible. Iranian society is regarded as backward, anti-modern, and marked by medieval attitudes. Within the stereotype, most people readily submit themselves to fanatical mullahs, who regulate their daily life.

These assumptions are not supported by reality. Sociologists and scholars say that Islam in Iran is more ritualistic than ideological or doctrine-driven. In the streets of Tehran, one comes across portraits of various prophets and the great Shia imams, including Hossain.

Middle-class Iranians are more interested in Hindu spiritual gurus and cult-figures like Rajneesh, Sai Baba, Mahesh Yogi, Satya Sai Baba, and Sri Sri Ravi Shankar than in Islamic clerics. Many are yoga enthusiasts and vegetarians.

The clerics do not command universal respect in Iran. Taxi drivers often refuse to be hired by them. They are seen as overbearing and intrusive on people's privacy. The hijab dress code can only be imposed with a degree of coercion. Many women defy it subtly or overtly. They routinely wear lipstick, expose their ankles, and cover their heads only partially.

Young Iranians hate to be regimented and are thoroughly modern in outlook. In their behavior on a university campus or in cafes, they are not particularly distinguishable from say, Indian, Thai, or South African students. Iran has high Internet connectivity and the world's third largest number of blogs. Farsi is the fifth most-used language by bloggers worldwide.

Unlike in many parts of the Middle East, Iran has an active, lively civil society as well as a vibrant intellectual and artistic life.
http://antiwar.com/bidwai/?articleid=8947

[Leland Pate]

Are we being a bully to Iran?

[techweenie]

Both Iran and Iraq have been more modern/Western in the recent past. Both have suffered a backlash because of this progress, allowing fundamentalist Islam to gain a foothold.

It will take a few decades for their march toward a 'liberal Western-influenced' society to be truly significant. Seeing that sort of society in their own region will help. We can hope that Afghanistan and Iraq don't slip backward too far, but they are both currently slipping backward.

[Mulhollanddose]

[fastpat]

Originally posted by Mulhollanddose

That's too funny. Iran positioned as a internationally fearsome nuclear power, what utter silliness.

They can't produce sufficient amounts of fuel grade uranium yet, but you're howling scared about it.

You Bush'ists are such cowards.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Do you really want to wait until they DO pose a legitimate threat before doing something about it?

I don't like the idea of getting dragged into another stupid war over purported WMD threats either, FWIW. However I WOULD back intervention by Israel - even preemptive action - seeing as they are the ones who are most threatened by this.

Sadly, I fear the U.S. will end up being Israel's patsy, doing their dirty work for them and suffer the reprucussions of doing so for decades.

But that's still better than a nuclear-armed bunch of fanatical wack-jobs, IMO. Neither choice is good, but a nuclear-armed Iran (THIS Iran) is the worse of the two choices as I see it.

[Dixie]

Pat,

Why don't you just renounce your citizenship and move to the Middle East? You're obviously not happy with this country. And don’t say it’s because of Bush. You're posts all illustrate that you’re not happy with this countries history, its present, or its future.

Why make yourself miserable? Move!

[fastpat]

Originally posted by Porsche-O-Phile
Do you really want to wait until they DO pose a legitimate threat before doing something about it?

Yes, of course. I expect that situation to never occur, so yes, waiting makes sense, in fact, it's the only legal recourse.

I don't like the idea of getting dragged into another stupid war over purported WMD threats either, FWIW. However I WOULD back intervention by Israel - even preemptive action - seeing as they are the ones who are most threatened by this.

Back the only nuclear bully in the middle east? Bad idea.

Sadly, I fear the U.S. will end up being Israel's patsy, doing their dirty work for them and suffer the reprucussions of doing so for decades.

That's entirely possible, and that's the action I'm working to stop. America and Americans have no business even having a single soldier or sailor in the middle east. We need a Constitutional Amendment forbidding it.

But that's still better than a nuclear-armed bunch of fanatical wack-jobs, IMO. Neither choice is good, but a nuclear-armed Iran (THIS Iran) is the worse of the two choices as I see it.

Since the Bush'ists ARE nuclear armed fanatics, you're much too late.

[fastpat]

Originally posted by Capt. Carrera
Pat,

Why don't you just renounce your citizenship and move to the Middle East?

No, why don't you?

You're obviously not happy with this country.

On the contrary, I'm extremely happy with my country. It's the government that needs to be destroyed. It's obvious that, olike most Bush'i9sts, you're confabulating the nation with the government. You're of course, transparent in that attempt, and failing utterly.

And don't say it's because of Bush.

Of course it's not because of Bush and the Bush'ists, like yourself. There have only been about two presidents after James Van Buren that have adhered, mostly, to the Constitution. You Bush'ists have a long list of bad presidents to use as precedents, and it would appear that you're using most of them.

You're posts all illustrate that you're not happy with this countries history, its present, or its future.

Again, as I've stated, you're confabulating government with the nation. Won't fly.

Why make yourself miserable? Move!

No, you should move. May I suggest Cuba, it's a miserable fascist state, much more so than you've been able to make America into. Go there, and be sure to not come back.

I see you're living in the South. Aren't you uncomfortable living in an area that stuck it up the US government's collective butt so thoroughtly in the past?

You should be.

[ianc]

The hijab dress code can only be imposed with a degree of coercion. Many women defy it subtly or overtly. They routinely wear lipstick, expose their ankles, and cover their heads only partially.

Oohh! How utterly daring and 20th century! Now there's enlightenment for you!

What are you trying to say Pat? That not all Iranians are backward, medieval terrorists with no conception of modern rights and freedoms? Yeah, that clip did a great job of showing us that!

ianc

[fastpat]

Originally posted by ianc
Oohh! How utterly daring and 20th century! Now there's enlightenment for you!

What are you trying to say Pat? That not all Iranians are backward, medieval terrorists with no conception of modern rights and freedoms? Yeah, that clip did a great job of showing us that!

ianc

Yeah, I knew it was too subtle for some folks.

What the author, with whom I agree, is trying to say is that Iran isn't Arabia or Afghanistan.

While there was no mention that Iran is the same as America, it is a fact that the US government wishes America were more like Iran.

[ianc]

it is a fact that the US government wishes America were more like Iran.

Actually, the Iranian gov't wishes Iranians were more like Americans,

ianc

[Leland Pate]

I think your running low on tin foil, Pat. Better make a trip down to the Piggly Wiggly and stock up for the coming of Hale Bop II.

[Don Ro]

Originally posted by fastpat
...that's the action I'm working to stop.

You're "working to stop"...?..."...working..."?
In what way are you "working"?
Are you a member of a group, an organization?
If so, wouldn't you and those benefit by spreading the word so others might add their energies?
Or are you "working" solo?.
If so, is posting on the Pelican OT forum a facet of your work?...or the totality of your work?

Feel free to share details?

[Don Ro]

Looks like you replied...but removed it?
I didn't know that could be done. What the hell, eh?
.
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[d993]

Originally posted by Capt. Carrera
Pat,

Why don't you just renounce your citizenship and move to the Middle East? You're obviously not happy with this country. And don’t say it’s because of Bush. You're posts all illustrate that you’re not happy with this countries history, its present, or its future.

Why make yourself miserable? Move!

I second that motion.

[VINMAN]

Originally posted by Capt. Carrera
Pat,

Why don't you just renounce your citizenship and move to the Middle East? You're obviously not happy with this country. And don’t say it’s because of Bush. You're posts all illustrate that you’re not happy with this countries history, its present, or its future.

Why make yourself miserable? Move!

I'll pay for the moving vans.

[fastpat]

I can assure all of you in your little Bush'ist circle jerk that you'll leave America long before I will.

[fintstone]

Originally posted by fastpat
I can assure all of you in your little Bush'ist circle jerk that you'll leave America long before I will.

You are old Pat....Thankfully, most of us will outlive your sorry terrorist-loving arse...as well as your generation of folks who seem to hate the very country that has provided them so much prosperity and freedom.

[Racerbvd]

Originally posted by fastpat
I can assure all of you in your little Bush'ist circle jerk that you'll leave America long before I will.

Now, that sounds like a threat!!