Interesting Q&A with an Iranian blogger

[King Sakkeus]

I just stumbled upon an interesting article about life in Islamic Republic of Iran and I think its a good read for everybody interested in the current situation with Iran.
Dispels some of the most ridicilous myths around Iran, its citizens and its government.

http://info.jpost.com/C004/QandA/qa.iranblogger.html

Notice thats its the Jerusalem Post website so I think that any pro iranian propaganda allegations can be forgotten.
Read and discuss.

[Big War Bird]

That doesn't dispel any myths to me, I already knew much of that.

[Last Roman]

a very interesting read.

[Erik]

Nice read, but it only confirmed what I already knew about Iran.

[King Sakkeus]

Yeah there wasnt new info for me either but I thought that somebody would find it usefull.

[Ummon]

A very good fairytale.

[King Sakkeus]

A very good fairytale.

Would you like to give any reasons why its a fairytale? Did you even read it?

[Ummon]

I did.

If I was a dictator/member of an oligarchy and I wanted to buy time for my regime, that kind of supposed "insider testimony" would be the perfect tool to use.

The rosy tone is almost disheartening though. Introducing something which indeed doesn't confirm all the stereotypes of the poor Iranians victims of a few fanatics, would have been more effective.

Besides, if you talk with any decent Zoroastrian exile, that's not what he will tell. Of course, the latter lies, the former doesn't, no?

[Last Roman]

Besides, if you talk with any decent Zoroastrian exile, that's not what he will tell. Of course, the latter lies, the former doesn't, no?

and how many Zoroastrian exiles have you talked to?

[ThiudareiksGunthigg]

If I was a dictator/member of an oligarchy and I wanted to buy time for my regime, that kind of supposed "insider testimony" would be the perfect tool to use.

Hmmmm ... :

When the regime, specifically Khomenei, came into power, Iranians were promised more economic opportunities and more freedoms. These two contentions were at the heart of the 1979 revolution. Yet what Iranians received in return was government that was even more corrupt than the former Shah. The freedoms that they took for granted under the Shah were stripped away from them. What the world can do to help the Iranian population is align themselves with their resistance against the despotic regime of the Islamic Republic.

Er, yeah - that really sounds like the stuff some mouthpiece of the regime would say. ?

Of course, it couldn't possibly be that things in Iran are a bit more complex than the black and white cartoon view of things from the fantasy castles of the American right, could it? After all, remember how accurate their view of Iraq turned out to be ...

[Ummon]

Hmmmm ... :

When the regime, specifically Khomenei, came into power, Iranians were promised more economic opportunities and more freedoms. These two contentions were at the heart of the 1979 revolution. Yet what Iranians received in return was government that was even more corrupt than the former Shah. The freedoms that they took for granted under the Shah were stripped away from them. What the world can do to help the Iranian population is align themselves with their resistance against the despotic regime of the Islamic Republic.

Er, yeah - that really sounds like the stuff some mouthpiece of the regime would say. ?

Of course, it couldn't possibly be that things in Iran are a bit more complex than the black and white cartoon view of things from the fantasy castles of the American right, could it? After all, remember how accurate their view of Iraq turned out to be ...

In truth, it does. Infact, the regime cannot hide its failures. It's always a good strategic principle to use your failures to your advantage when you cannot hide them.

and how many Zoroastrian exiles have you talked to?

Plenty, I happen to love Persian food (and tapestries).

Or do you really subscribe to Ummon's hilariously laughable paranoid conspiracy frothings about how this guy is a subtle ploy by the men in black turbans?

Well, thanks for the kind words. It is indeed unfortunate that today, suspicion is only considered appropriate when democratic governements misbehave. I instead find that suspicion gives always a good measure of understanding in interpreting reality.

There is an Italian saying besides: fidarsi e bene, ma non fidarsi è meglio (to trust is good, but not to trust is better). A remnant of the many Renaissance vendettas, perhaps.

Finally, you are yourself mentioning the term ploy, which I haven't used. The words of this person are merely extremely convenient for the regime.

But equally the perception of the government is false; to portray it as monolithic, tyrannic, and radically conservative is also a very false impression. A true impression of such a complex thing as the Iranian government is pretty hard to build up especially given how it is reported.

The oligarchy is in power still. It's a police state, by the way. The president sends threats of nuclear annihilation to a nearby country. They are getting nukes.

I am afraid that, free, lay and tolerant people, do not suffer these things for long without revolting.

[Tom Paine]

The oligarchy is in power still. It's a police state, by the way. The president sends threats of nuclear annihilation to a nearby country. They are getting nukes.

I am afraid that, free, lay and tolerant people, do not suffer these things for long without revolting.

Again this reference to monolithic organisation of the state which is simply not the case.... and references to nonexistent nuclear threats (its being sent them not getting them!)

[Ummon]

Again this reference to monolithic organisation of the state which is simply not the case.... and references to nonexistent nuclear threats (its being sent them not getting them!)

No monoliths in my point of view. And as to the second assertion, counterfactual.

[Tom Paine]

If I was a dictator/member of an oligarchy and I wanted to buy time for my regime, that kind of supposed "insider testimony" would be the perfect tool to use.

Yeah.... using the wonderful allied journalist and media of the Jerusalem Post, no less?

[Caelius]

it's also not the ultra-oppressive dark age theocracy certain people with an agenda like to portray it as.

Have any idea how many people have been hung in Iran just this year?

[Kretchfoop]

Have any idea how many people have been hung in Iran just this year?

Compared to where? Give me some figures. I'm willing to think that some of our "allies" are not much better in this regard. Also, it's not like we have such a great track record with capital punishment here in the US. Anyways, I'm not pro or anti Iran. I just think we need to keep a little objectivity when looking at the situation. Portraying Iran as some sort of hell on Earth is no different than them calling the US the Great Satan. Both are just as preposterous.

[Caelius]

And how many have faced the death penalty in America? The problem seems to be in the method. And there wasn't a problem there when Saddam or his cronies were hung either... double standards much?

It's not just the method, it's also the motive. I don't think adulterers and teenagers who where raped and then falsely accused hold a candle to Saddam or capitol offenders. Though i'm not surprised people are ready to jump to Iran's defense.

Compared to where? Give me some figures.

Compared to where? How said there's a need for comparison? The fact that it happens is bad enough alone.

I'm willing to think that some of our "allies" are not much better in this regard. Also, it's not like we have such a great track record with capital punishment here in the US.

Read my other post above.

Anyways, I'm not pro or anti Iran. I just think we need to keep a little objectivity when looking at the situation. Portraying Iran as some sort of hell on Earth is no different than them calling the US the Great Satan. Both are just as preposterous.

I agree, we should keep some objectivity, and to be honest I don't see Iran as being some hell on Earth, or any other kind of depiction that would put them in a negative light, just the facts. On the other hand i'm not going to see it as being full of laughs, kisses, and gum-drop smiles either.

[Kretchfoop]

Good read, thanks for the link. Nothing really new or insightful in there for me at least, but interesting nonetheless. I really wish people would read more of this stuff to get better understanding of Iran. Especially with so many clowns out there calling for military intervention when they couldn't even locate it on a map. While it's certainly not the pinnacle of human existence it's also not the ultra-oppressive dark age theocracy certain people with an agenda like to portray it as. Although I am forced to question how representative is a blogger for an Israeli newspaper of the average Iranian?

[Tom Paine]

And how many have faced the death penalty in America? The problem seems to be in the method. And there wasn't a problem there when Saddam or his cronies were hung either... double standards much?

[Tom Paine]

Yes, its bad. Note uniquely so, and not the worst, so why the concentration on this aspect of it to the exclusion of those places that are worse? Oh. Its an enemy, and they are allies, or at the minimum were... Objectivity appears not to enter into it.