Iran

[Porsche-O-Phile]

*sigh*

I was hoping that this would be a discussion of the CURRENT EVENTS issue. Same way we discuss current events dealing with everything else in PPOT. There is no need for this to become a "political" discussion per se. Nor is there any need for it to become a "religious" discussion per se. Yes, this is a current events issue that deals with a political uprising against a totalitarian theocratic regime, but I fail to see how that alone makes it necessarily a "politics or religion" discussion.

PARF exists so that the blatantly political and religious discussions that flare up from time to time have a place to live without polluting the general OT forum. The benchmark (IMHO) should be "is this a thread that's going to create more heat or more light?" If it's the former, it belongs in PARF. If it's the latter, it goes in PPOT. My hope was that this would be a CURRENT EVENTS discussion to share information, opinions and insight into the goings on over there, not a "political" discussion and not a "religious" discussion. Any mention of either is incidental.

That's why I put it here.

If any of the mods disagree that it's okay to put it here then they're welcome to move it. I'll be disappointed, but unfortunately I can't control the direction of a thread once I start it. It's an organic entity. Hell, someone could post a thread about "what's your favorite color" in PPOT and some other shmuck could come along and say "well it's not red, 'cause that's the color of lousy communists like the Democrats" or whatever, and drag it off into PARF, despite the OP's intention to have an innocent thread.

Anyone know if any of the news outlets are reporting any more about the alleged rumors that police/military units are refusing to confront the protesters?

[varmint]

how do you expect discussions of an uprising in a theocracy to not touch on religion and politics?

[island911]

Originally Posted by legion

Wrong. We have a stockpile of guns we seized in Iraq courtesy of the Iranian government. We could ship their guns back to them, via the protesters.

This will be won or lost by the attitude of those protecting those 'in charge.'

[island911]

Originally Posted by varmint

how do you expect discussions of an uprising in a theocracy to not touch on religion and politics?

I doubt he really does. It's just that the there is an expectation that the mod's will put rules aside, because they don't see anything too offensive here ..such as people arguing. (the horror!)

This is just simple the daily news of a run of the mill revolt . . and dead young women in the streets of Iran. So just keep the offensive "arguing" out of this.

[island911]

Oh, and don't mention the age of our supreme leader.... that might get it booted too.

[Sonic dB]

Originally Posted by slodave

I live in an Iranian community. It's been surprisingly quiet.

When I worked in the SFV, I called on and got to know a lot of Iranian customers. Generally they were all very good people. I was impressed by their lack of apathy towards politics, they were all very much involved in what was going on back home and had strong opinions and ties towards the dictatorial govt. It is not surprising that this uprising has occured.

[Rick Lee]

Jeff, you can visit Iran as a tourist. Obviously, this week is probably not a good time to go. I looked into it about six years ago. Since we have no diplomatic relations, you have to go to the Pakistani Embassy (IIRC), which houses an Iranian Interests Section. There are a lot of tour groups that go from Europe and Turkey. I'd absolutley love to go and, aside from what's going on there just in the last week or so, I'd not hesitate to go. They are a very pro-American country. I wouldn't want to get caught chasing women there or behaving badly. But it would be a great place to visit. I really hope to go someday.

[Ed Bighi]

Beautiful place to go. Persians are a class act. Crappy government. But then again, on some level, we all have that.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qy4difUazd0&feature=fvw

[jyl]

I may not be current. But AFAIK there are still communications in and out of Iran and internal communications in the country. Lame, as far as the govt goes. I mean, if they want to be a first-class repressive dictatorship . . . They really should have control over their domestic telco switches. All Internet, voice, text should have gone black for everyone in Iran by now.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Cool video, if a bit one-sided. I do agree completely with the underlying premise that Iran is a beautiful place rich in culture and history though. It's a shame that the governments of the U.S. and Iran have been at odds for so long - a loss to both people (especially ours) who could benefit from better relations between the two nations.

I did notice in a few of those pictures that there were only women - isn't that prohibited under Sharia Law or am I mistaken? Or is that not enforced as strictly as in some other Muslim countries?

[Tobra]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

How is this thread not about politics and religion when discussing the overthrow of a theocracy?

pipe down with that sort of talk

I have never met a Persian who was not pro-US, but my sample is more than somewhat skewed.

It may turn out okay in the end, but the road there will be ugly.

[flatbutt]

Originally Posted by Tobra

pipe down with that sort of talk

I have never met a Persian who was not pro-US, but my sample is more than somewhat skewed.

It may turn out okay in the end, but the road there will be ugly.

someone once said" freedom is a beautiful thing...earning it is a gruesome task".

Mark Twain maybe?

[legion]

Originally Posted by flatbutt

someone once said" freedom is a beautiful thing...earning it is a gruesome task".

Mark Twain maybe?

Do a Google search.

You'll find the only link to that exact quote points to this thread.