US Deploys Troops to Philippines

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Originally posted by JMET
If youll look again, I stated their "communist ways", everyone knows they are not communist however having elections does not a democratic government make.

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Uh...I think you should look up the definition of communist. Iran has a free market economy, no communist party, they do not believe in proletarian revolution, they do not believe in the abolition of religion, or recognize the works of Marx in any way.

In other words, they have absolutely nothing to do with communism or "communist ways".

And yes, having elections does a democratic government make, even if it is a limited democracy under theocratic rule.

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Originally posted by StriderKyo
Uh...I think you should look up the definition of communist. Iran has a free market economy, no communist party, they do not believe in proletarian revolution, they do not believe in the abolition of religion, or recognize the works of Marx in any way.

In other words, they have absolutely nothing to do with communism or "communist ways".

And yes, having elections does a democratic government make, even if it is a limited democracy under theocratic rule.

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Perhaps you shouldnt look at your dictionary definition and look at the treatment and restrictions on the people..

The plain and simple fact is that the young Iranian people are not happy with the old fashioned b.s government and will soon topple it...

You have good schooling.. :rolleyes:

But alas your a Canadian, who gives a shit what you people have to say? :p


This is a mute arguement anyways as Iran is a non issue, if you think Sadaam can be reasoned with or the fact that 8 years of not following U.N sanctions isnt reason enough to get him out then your hopeless...

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Originally posted by JMET
Perhaps you shouldnt look at your dictionary definition and look at the treatment and restrictions on the people.

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The plain and simple fact is that the young Iranian people are not happy with the old fashioned b.s government and will soon topple it...[/quote]

Their society has been becoming more and more moderate over the last decade. Yes, they have political and ideological prisoners, but it's not much more restrictive than any other country in the area. Their "old fashioned b.s. government" has been modernizing the country's infrastructure at a rate the US-backed Shah never did. There is no organized military resistance to the government. What the hell are you talking about?

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You have good schooling.. :rolleyes:

But alas your a Canadian, who gives a shit what you people have to say? :p

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You don't even know what a communist is. I wouldn't start putting anybody down if I were you.

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This is a mute arguement anyways as Iran is a non issue, if you think Sadaam can be reasoned with or the fact that 8 years of not following U.N sanctions isnt reason enough to get him out then your hopeless...

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• Mute: one who cannot speak. I think you mean "moot".
  
• I don't see what Iran has to do with Saddam Hussein.
  
• Hussein's been paying a game of brinksmanship over the last decade, but hasn't actually been involved in any sort of military action, and is in no position to do so. If you think the fact that he's been giving the US the finger is a good enough reason to start bombing people, then you're hopeless.

I have been schooled, thanks for the speaking dictionary lessons.

Now back to hugging your trees....

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/mid...st/1622312.stm

http://www.theage.com.au/articles/20...113894426.html

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/middl...iran_2-17.html

http://www.prima-news.ru/eng/news/ne.../28/17617.html

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Originally posted by JMET
I have been schooled, thanks for the speaking dictionary lessons.

Now back to hugging your trees....

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/mid...st/1622312.stm

http://www.theage.com.au/articles/20...113894426.html

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/middl...iran_2-17.html

http://www.prima-news.ru/eng/news/ne.../28/17617.html

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So, what we have here is :

a) Students demonstrating against the government - shocking! That only happens in countries where the government is about to fall!

b) Students demonstrating against the government in an islamic republic - this simply doesn happen draconian regimes like you seem to think Iran is. Was the police response harsh? Yes, and would be considered unnaceptable in the west. In the other 3/4s of the world, it's unfortunately standard practice.

c) A remarkably poorly researched set of articles. The disaffection among Iranian youth has far more to do with a lack of jobs caused by a population explosion resulting from Khomeni's banning of birth control in the 80s than it does wanting to get rid of an Islamic government.

d) Freaking soccer riots. I think you should do a bit more research into exactly what it takes to overthrow a government with full military backing.


The Iranian government does not adhere to the same human rights standards as we do in the west - they're governed by the Sharia, not Voltaireian humanistic ideals. But that doesn't mean that they aren't changing. The Ayatollahs seized power as a reaction to a corrupt regime which was seen as non-Islamic. Their puritan values were not an accurate reflection of the populace's mood as much as they were a backlash against what was seen as an erosion of their culture.

As education and wealth have increased over the last 20 years, there has been a major relaxing of laws - much of the information one of those articles was out of date, specifically concerning the penalties for women not strictly observing the dress code.

The anger over the blocking of reforms by the old guard is legitimate, but said roadblocks won't last forever. Aside from the high ranking Shi'a, they are all subject to re-election, and as such won't be able to survive sustained mass-criticism in the long run.

And that is why they are a democracy.