Iranian thugs killing protestors

[ZenGum]

I hate the religious nutcase bastards.
But I don't think the protestors have either the nerve, the organisation, the weapons, or the numbers, to make a successful revolution.
And what I guess will happen is that the genie will be stomped back into the bottle, then over the next year or two the clerics and their thugs will be extra ruthless in dealing with any reformers, progressives, etc.
The failure of this revolution will probably set the cause of revolution back. The only positive I take from this is that many, many Iranian people ahve seen that the electionw as a fraud, have seen that their government is a tyranny clingin to power by violence, and discontent will fester and spread. There WILL be another round, but it's going to be a while coming.

Unless we point out to the Iranians that when a country allows an election to be stolen by a religious whacko with a beligerent foreign policy, that country does not prosper in the long term. If only we had an example....

[Urbane Guerrilla]

Originally Posted by ZenGum

I hate the religious nutcase bastards.


Unless we point out to the Iranians that when a country allows an election to be stolen by a religious whacko with a beligerent foreign policy, that country does not prosper in the long term. If only we had an example....

The example we have is the present Iranian government, of course. This is also the example they will be least responsive to, being too close to the problem.

P.S.: Zen, do not imagine for one second I wasn't getting what you were hinting at. I just discount it as complete BS. W could hardly be described as astoundingly religious, but more nearly a standard-issue American Episcopalian. It's the sort and style of religion you've at least heard of. -- UG

[sugarpop]

Originally Posted by ZenGum

I hate the religious nutcase bastards.
But I don't think the protestors have either the nerve, the organisation, the weapons, or the numbers, to make a successful revolution.
And what I guess will happen is that the genie will be stomped back into the bottle, then over the next year or two the clerics and their thugs will be extra ruthless in dealing with any reformers, progressives, etc.
The failure of this revolution will probably set the cause of revolution back. The only positive I take from this is that many, many Iranian people ahve seen that the electionw as a fraud, have seen that their government is a tyranny clingin to power by violence, and discontent will fester and spread. There WILL be another round, but it's going to be a while coming.

Unless we point out to the Iranians that when a country allows an election to be stolen by a religious whacko with a beligerent foreign policy, that country does not prosper in the long term. If only we had an example....

I have more faith in the Iranian people than that. OTOH, (I believe it was) Reza Aslan said the other day that Iran was at a turning point, and it would either end up like N. Korea, or China. Every person of Iranian descent that I have seen speak about this on TV has agreed the Iran of yesterday is no more. It will never be the same. That could be very good, or very bad.

[piercehawkeye45]

Originally Posted by sugarpop

I have more faith in the Iranian people than that. OTOH, (I believe it was) Reza Aslan said the other day that Iran was at a turning point, and it would either end up like N. Korea, or China. Every person of Iranian descent that I have seen speak about this on TV has agreed the Iran of yesterday is no more. It will never be the same. That could be very good, or very bad.

I am uncomfortable comparing Iran to any other past country because it is so different from any other country. There are two polarized forces tearing Iran apart at the moment, liberalizing youth urban population and militarized government, each of which can swing Iran in any different direction. Though unfortunately, the military and Revolutionary Guard are both conservative and for limitation so an overthrow of the current government is not a realistic option at the moment.

[sugarpop]

Originally Posted by piercehawkeye45

I am uncomfortable comparing Iran to any other past country because it is so different from any other country. There are two polarized forces tearing Iran apart at the moment, liberalizing youth urban population and militarized government, each of which can swing Iran in any different direction. Though unfortunately, the military and Revolutionary Guard are both conservative and for limitation so an overthrow of the current government is not a realistic option at the moment.

What was meant by that statement, is Iran could become even more reclusive and militarized (i.e. N. Korea) or it could become more open, democratic and capitalist (i.e. China).