islam gets a free ride?

[SRW]

Is it a conspiracy or does very little happen in the Arab world? I was listening to Penn Radio July 28, and he dedicated the entire show to a Iranian/American woman who blasted th American media for ignoring what is going on in Iran. Even if you dislike Penn this show is worth a listen (he actually shuts up for a changes an lets someone else do the talking.)

One of the Points she made is that there is a revolution going on in Iran against the Mullahs, and no one is paying attention.

Here is a link to the pod-cast, http://www.penn.freefm.com/
Any thoughts on this being a conspiracy or political correctness?

[kookbreaker]

Does she have evidence? There was a lot of anger at the Mullahs a few years back by the Iranian youth, but they relented on allowing some Western luxury products and the anger movement lost its steam. What has brought on this new revolution?

[Brandon Pilcher]

First, Iranians are not Arabs. They identify as a different ethnicity.

Secondly, Arabs often get news coverage, especially when concerning Israel, Iraq, or those Danish cartoons. I will agree that other topics involving Arabs rarely get covered though.

[SRW]

First, Iranians are not Arabs. They identify as a different ethnicity.

Secondly, Arabs often get news coverage, especially when concerning Israel, Iraq, or those Danish cartoons. I will agree that other topics involving Arabs rarely get covered though.

This is part of what she was talking about, the confusion in the west about Arab/Persian/Muslim all lumped together as one.

[SRW]

Does she have evidence? There was a lot of anger at the Mullahs a few years back by the Iranian youth, but they relented on allowing some Western luxury products and the anger movement lost its steam. What has brought on this new revolution?

I'll look at some of the places she referenced, I listened to the podcast in my car so I did not get a chance to write them down. She did say however that the movement has not lost it's steam but is just not being reported. She mentioned a London paper covering a demonstration where only a few hundred people showed up. And she states in reality hundreds of thousands showed.

After I listen again I'll see if anything looks verifiable.

[jimtron]

Is it a conspiracy or does very little happen in the Arab world?

Quite a lot happens in the Arab world. What conspiracy?

There's tons of stuff happening all over the world, and I think many, if not most of us are aware of only a tiny percentage of it.

[bob_kark]

First, Iranians are not Arabs. They identify as a different ethnicity.
Persians for those in the know.

[geni]

Any non western group tends to lack coverage. Do you know how the war in chad is going? Can you name more than one person who stood for president in the election in the DRV? Why are christian groups complianing in the Indian state of Chhattisgarh. Where is Chhattisgarh and since when did english allow you to have two "h"s in a row?

[jimtron]

...since when did english allow you to have two "h"s in a row?

It was right around the time they started fluoridating the water, and not long after all those strange pods started appearing all over the place.

[SRW]

I went to her website (or one she supports) and it looks a bit...well
weird.

http://www.activistchat.com/

Her name is Banafsheh Zand-Bonsai


Interesting subject but I guess no conspiracy just some ignorance.

http://www.iranpressnews.com/english/

http://regimechangeiran.com/

Edited to add her real Web sit which is more sane.

[Katana]

Where is Chhattisgarh and since when did english allow you to have two "h"s in a row?

Um. The Degobah system?

[TriangleMan]

Many Middle Eastern countries have english-language newspapers if anyone wants to catch up on Arab news, here's two:

Gulf News (www.gulfnews.com) from Dubai
Gulf Times (www.gulf-times.com) from Qatar

[Polaris]

Is it a conspiracy or does very little happen in the Arab world? I was listening to Penn Radio July 28, and he dedicated the entire show to a Iranian/American woman who blasted th American media for ignoring what is going on in Iran. Even if you dislike Penn this show is worth a listen (he actually shuts up for a changes an lets someone else do the talking.)

One of the Points she made is that there is a revolution going on in Iran against the Mullahs, and no one is paying attention.

Here is a link to the pod-cast, http://www.penn.freefm.com/
Any thoughts on this being a conspiracy or political correctness?

She's probably overstating the "revolution" against the mullahs. I know a lot of Iranians, and they do despise the mullahs. But their form of fighting back is secretly drinking and having sex, and constantly saying "it can't last much longer". Of course, by now they've already had their youths stolen from them by the Islamic thugs, and their children will grow up also having their youth stolen - and they'll still be saying "it won't last much longer" for the next 26 years.

I predict that after Ahmadinejad, a more moderate candidate will be appointed (there are no true FREE elections in Iran, even without a massive popular boycott), and will withdraw some of the harsher measures the current whack-job has decreed. At this point, people will take measures to make sure his kind doesn't gain power again. This isn't armchair politics to Iranians - Ahmadinejad is playing nuclear brinkmanship after all.

[blutoski]

Is it a conspiracy or does very little happen in the Arab world? I was listening to Penn Radio July 28, and he dedicated the entire show to a Iranian/American woman who blasted th American media for ignoring what is going on in Iran. Even if you dislike Penn this show is worth a listen (he actually shuts up for a changes an lets someone else do the talking.)

One of the Points she made is that there is a revolution going on in Iran against the Mullahs, and no one is paying attention.

Here is a link to the pod-cast, http://www.penn.freefm.com/
Any thoughts on this being a conspiracy or political correctness?

I think the other posters have covered the best explanation: people are more interested in local politics, and when it comes to foreign countries, only when it affects them in some important way. Foreigners read more US news than Americans read foreign countries' news, because the ramifications are asymmetric.

I'm pretty sure a poll of Iranians will reveal that they haven't kept up with Japanese politics, and why should they?

Penn's guest has unreasonable expectations if she thinks the world should be on the edge of their seat, monitoring her personal project.

[gumboot]

I think the other posters have covered the best explanation: people are more interested in local politics, and when it comes to foreign countries, only when it affects them in some important way.


I agree. :)

I'm prone to think of the "Cedar Revolution" in Lebanon. In my opinion, the only reason my local papers covered it so well was because it all started with a spectacular violent event - the assassination of Hariri. Had the protests been spontaneous and not preceeded by the bomb attack, I doubt it would have got much of a mention here.

Instead it was front page news a number of times.

-Andrew

[kedo1981]

“Drinking and sex”
Wow that’s the revolution for me.
I hereby declare war on the Mullahs, and with my vast fortune I will create a mighty squad of 19 and 20 year old Iranian female revolutionaries (providing they are properly lip and bikini waxed) and we will take this battle to my bed room. Viva La Revolution.

[SRW]

I think the other posters have covered the best explanation: people are more interested in local politics, and when it comes to foreign countries, only when it affects them in some important way. Foreigners read more US news than Americans read foreign countries' news, because the ramifications are asymmetric.

I'm pretty sure a poll of Iranians will reveal that they haven't kept up with Japanese politics, and why should they?

Penn's guest has unreasonable expectations if she thinks the world should be on the edge of their seat, monitoring her personal project.

I agree in most cases, however Iran has not exactly been a back page issue in the news over the last 6 months or so. Listening to CNN this morning I think Iran gets mentioned (in relation to the Iranian support for Hesbulla) once every two minutes or so. The Negations with the world on the nuclear program in Iran have been getting would wide airplay. Not to mention the statements made by, and travels of Iran's president. Why all the news if nothing significant is happening in Iran?

[blutoski]

I agree in most cases, however Iran has not exactly been a back page issue in the news over the last 6 months or so. Listening to CNN this morning I think Iran gets mentioned (in relation to the Iranian support for Hesbulla) once every two minutes or so. The Negations with the world on the nuclear program in Iran have been getting would wide airplay. Not to mention the statements made by, and travels of Iran's president. Why all the news if nothing significant is happening in Iran?

Well, I think this is different. The Iranian government is developing nuclear weapons and preaching genocide. That's news. The internal mechinations of party politics is probably not so interesting, because it doesn't matter much. Penn's guest is asking why her political movement is not getting much coverage: the reason is that it's almost irrelevant, unfortunately.

[RyanRoberts]

More moderate

Didn't Ahmadinejad's relatively moderate opponent at the last election make very similar noises about wiping out the Jews?

Wiping out Israel seems to have 'cross bench' support in Iran from the Mullah approved.

[gumboot]

Didn't Ahmadinejad's relatively moderate opponent at the last election make very similar noises about wiping out the Jews?

Wiping out Israel seems to have 'cross bench' support in Iran from the Mullah approved.


Yup. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of Iran since 1989 (and before that President) has consistantly called for the extermination of the Jews and conquest of the world.

That's one thing to remember about Iran, the President is not the top of the chain, and he is not the top of influence. The Supreme Leader rules for life, and he is directly in command of the armed forces.

-Andrew

[Polaris]

“Drinking and sex”
Wow that’s the revolution for me.
I hereby declare war on the Mullahs, and with my vast fortune I will create a mighty squad of 19 and 20 year old Iranian female revolutionaries (providing they are properly lip and bikini waxed) and we will take this battle to my bed room. Viva La Revolution.

It's why a lot of "revolutionaries" join movements. Like Carlin said "Let's kill this **************** then go to the peace really and get laid."

I think I'll open up a second front of your revolution.

[MarkyX]

“Drinking and sex”
Wow that’s the revolution for me.
I hereby declare war on the Mullahs, and with my vast fortune I will create a mighty squad of 19 and 20 year old Iranian female revolutionaries (providing they are properly lip and bikini waxed) and we will take this battle to my bed room. Viva La Revolution.

Yes I was about to mention that. From what I understand, the revolution is young students having sex a lot.

Wish I was there :boggled:

[Peephole]

Maybe if the US wouldn't have harrassed Iran as much, Ahmadinejad wouldn't be in power in the first place.

[Peephole]

Didn't Ahmadinejad's relatively moderate opponent at the last election make very similar noises about wiping out the Jews?

I don't think so.

[Polaris]

Maybe if the US wouldn't have harrassed Iran as much, Ahmadinejad wouldn't be in power in the first place.

The reason Ahmadinejad was elected by and large was that the majority (who are moderate) were so alienated by the choices presented by the Supreme Council of Guardians (I'm confused as to whether these are leaders of a theocracy or Go-Bots), that they boycotted the election. And so the religious fanatics' choice was a shoe-in.

Ahmadinejad was 5% US influence and 95% internal politics.

[Sword_Of_Truth]

I know a lot of Iranians, and they do despise the mullahs. But their form of fighting back is secretly drinking and having sex, and constantly saying "it can't last much longer".

Sounds like the 9-11 twoof movement.

Only without the sex... ANY of it.

[Polaris]

Sounds like the 9-11 twoof movement.

Only without the sex... ANY of it.

The troofers make up for that with delusions of grandieur and self-importance that the Iranians don't have.

[Dave1001]

Also, near hegemonic elements in American culture want brown male enemies: folks like Ahmenijad (sp?) and Chavez. Mexican illegal immigrants. Arab terrorists. Dissident Persians who are moderate add confusion to the narrative.

[Polaris]

Also, near hegemonic elements in American culture want brown male enemies: folks like Ahmenijad (sp?) and Chavez. Mexican illegal immigrants. Arab terrorists. Dissident Persians who are moderate add confusion to the narrative.

Last time I checked, Chavez and Ahmadinejad were going out of their way to have white Western enemies.

I guess all Mexican illegals are male? Hmmm, I didn't know that. The cleaning ladies at my job site must hide it rather well.

We don't want any enemies. The ones we have just happen to be brown (and I wouldn't even count Mexican illegals as enemies, per se - parasitic, yes, but not coming here to do specific harm deliberately).

[Dave1001]

Last time I checked, Chavez and Ahmadinejad were going out of their way to have white Western enemies.

I guess all Mexican illegals are male? Hmmm, I didn't know that. The cleaning ladies at my job site must hide it rather well.

We don't want any enemies. The ones we have just happen to be brown (and I wouldn't even count Mexican illegals as enemies, per se - parasitic, yes, but not coming here to do specific harm deliberately).

Well, I agree they have an informal quid pro quo: help provide a brown male bogeyman for the US, in exchange for international celebrity and the ability to us the US and the West as a foil in their own Straussian domestic politics. Ahmedinajad said as much is his blog, when he described being grateful for his "15 minutes". The losers in these conflict kabukis are coexistence Persian, Venezuelan, etc. moderates, in my opinion, because in the zero sum world of public attention, Ahmedinajad, Chavez, and others are taking the full share.

[Polaris]

Well, I agree they have an informal quid pro quo: help provide a brown male bogeyman for the US, in exchange for international celebrity and the ability to us the US and the West as a foil in their own Straussian domestic politics. Ahmedinajad said as much is his blog, when he described being grateful for his "15 minutes". The losers in these conflict kabukis are coexistence Persian, Venezuelan, etc. moderates, in my opinion, because in the zero sum world of public attention, Ahmedinajad, Chavez, and others are taking the full share.

I'm more of the school of thought that every last one of those clowns is making it up as they go along.

[Dave1001]

I'm more of the school of thought that every last one of those clowns is making it up as they go along.

By the way it's an honor to make it into your sig, and particularly for that quote.

It makes me feel like much more of a free thought envelope pusher than I actually am.

Anyways, thanks! :)

[Polaris]

By the way it's an honor to make it into your sig, and particularly for that quote.

It makes me feel like much more of a free thought envelope pusher than I actually am.

Anyways, thanks! :)

Um....welcome.:jaw-dropp