Comments on: Iran’s got red states and blue states

By: taking issue

taking issue — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 06:29:07 +0000

Why would I pretend to be Iranian? Yes, my family represents a wide spectrum of the socio-economic spectrum in Tehran -- working class to upper middle class. Like I said, it's a very large family. Please read this excellent article written by Hamid Dabashi about how the conflict is not based on class issues here: " target="_blank">http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/06/22/dabashi...

By: Todd

Todd — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 11:21:47 +0000

For what it's worth, the Saudis catch far more flack in the U.S. than Israel does, and Israel is far more of a threat to world peace than either Saudi Arabia or Iran is–and each offers much more to the world in the form of oil than Israel ever could. Maybe Saudi Arabia will come uder fire after Iran is subdued?

By: Marion

Marion — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 04:30:33 +0000

taking issue, Why should we believe that you are in fact Iranian? But I will give you the benefit of the doubt and ask you if you believe your family is representative of a majority of Iranian families? In other words, does your family represent the poorer majority of working class families that primarily supported Ahmedinejad or the upper middle class minority families that primarily supported Moosavi?

By: Dot

Dot — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 15:11:32 +0000

three cheers Todd! Why the hypocrisy about Iran when worse hsappens in Saudi Arabia – the fount of wahhabi fundamentalism? dorothty powell jones I know – i work as a a maid in the gulf

By: stevieb

stevieb — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 10:43:52 +0000

You haven't actually debunked anything. But it's great to read your perspective -thanks very much for that…

By: taking issue

taking issue — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 00:20:51 +0000

I like many of your posts here on Mondoweiss. I'd just like to debunk your statement here that most religious Iranians support Ahmadinejad. My family is an extremely large, very traditional one: several members have held very high-ranking positions within the Tehran religious community, and some still lead services. In my entire family — which consists of dozens and dozens of individuals, I can only name one, very distant relative who is voting for Ahmadinejad. The rest are staunch Mousavi supporters. And yes, they pray regularly, wear chador, the works. Please do not make such strong statements without concrete knowledge, experience, or other evidence. This is a sort of insult to Muslims, unintentional as it may be. Thank you.

By: wake up

wake up — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 19:54:33 +0000

"Are we wishing our own reform/progressive movement on other countries? Yes; because we are elitists at heart. But that is a dangerous game." No, Mr. Weiss, the dangerous game is moral relativism. I am Iranian and I support my people wholeheartedly in their struggle against a dictatorial, brutal regime called "Velayat-e Faqih." I also earnestly support the Palestinian and Israeli peoples in their struggle to establish a democratic state in Palestine that is based on non-religious, non-racist principles. Why is it so hard for some members of the American left to see that criticizing proto-fascism in Israel and criticizing proto-fascism in Iran are not contradictory?? Is it just because the U.S. is "friends" with Israel and has, historically, been an enemy of Iran? Have some nuance, jesus. This line of morally relativistic, quasi Ahmadinejad apologia is so depressing and makes me think that Americans are stupider than they seem. I used to love Mondoweiss because of its strong, principled stance against the disastrous human rights violations of Israel's colonial settler state, and its strong stance against American coverage for it. Now, seeing so many people here questioning the legitimacy of the longstanding, long-suffering movement of the Iranian people for democracy, I am disgusted. All you see is your own goddamn domestic agenda. You don't care at all about the people suffering and dying in Iran and dare to compare the situation, in such a banal way, to "red states" vs "blue states." The Basiji thugs killing people in the streets are not Rush Limbaugh fans! This is a horrible brutal regime we're talking about. Just because I sometimes agree with Ahmadinejad's stance against US intervention and Israeli policy does not change that! Just about EVERY IRANIAN, including Ahmadinejad, Mousavi, and myself, is against US intervention and Israeli policy!! Truly sad. Tomorrow is likely to be bloody Saturday in Iran, and all some people can do is worry about how this effects the Israeli-Palestinian debate.

By: Marion

Marion — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 19:47:19 +0000

I think in this post you have shown that you are continuing to freely think Phil, Bravo! I hope that you will continue along the same path…. I would like to add to your suggestion, "Just to get back on my hobbyhorse, all these folks who are so concerned about regularity in Iranian elections, you would advance your case if you called for the application of international law to the slaughter in Gaza 6 months ago." with the following suggestions, you would also advance your case if you called for an investigation into the regularity and fairness of U.S. elections, and you would advance your case even more if you were to call for an honest evaluation and revision of our double standard foreign policies…

By: jan_gdyn

jan_gdyn — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 19:23:10 +0000

Well said, Phil

By: Todd

Todd — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 17:51:55 +0000

Iranian elections are the business of Iranians. Political corruption in the United States is entrenched to the point to make official American opinions meaningless. Our corrupt two-party system alone, makes official American concerns about other nations suspect at best.