Comments on: God bless the democracy in Iran http://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/01/27/god-bless-the-democracy-in-iran/ Promoting a fierce but respectful dialogue among the highly diverse youth of the Middle East Tue, 07 Oct 2008 16:07:23 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=4649 By: Mohammad Memarian (Iran) http://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/01/27/god-bless-the-democracy-in-iran/#comment-109931 Mohammad Memarian (Iran) Thu, 31 Jan 2008 21:37:13 +0000 http://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/01/27/god-bless-the-democracy-in-iran/#comment-109931 MyTwoCents: in the case of repression and human rights abuses, one might hardly come up with a good guess: its absolutely a wrong idea to believe that one side is "clearly, certainly much worse than the other", thus we need an accurate comparison which is alsmot impossible due to many reasons including: (I) lack of reliable resources: the available data might be exaggerating in the case of Shah regime, and misleading or obscuring in the case of IRI. The opposie is possible as well: exaggerating about IRI, obscuring about Shah. (II) lack of a comprehensive standard to compare two regimes: suppose that the number of executions is higher on one side, and the number of political prisoners sentenced to a life time prison is higher on the other side; which is worse? and so much more cases difficult to judge about. in the case of "standards of living", people now live a better life, for sure. but who contributed more to this 'improvement'? again, its next to impossible to point to winner, I think. there has been a kind of gradual improvement in both periods. many factors, such as the number of hospitals per 100.000 population, show a fair increase in both periods. I think that Shah indeed tried to do a favor to his people, and IRI has contributed to progress as well; but who did it better? I do not know, neither those who express some naive ideas based on the hatred they feel about the either side. MyTwoCents:

in the case of repression and human rights abuses, one might hardly come up with a good guess: its absolutely a wrong idea to believe that one side is “clearly, certainly much worse than the other”, thus we need an accurate comparison which is alsmot impossible due to many reasons including:
(I) lack of reliable resources: the available data might be exaggerating in the case of Shah regime, and misleading or obscuring in the case of IRI. The opposie is possible as well: exaggerating about IRI, obscuring about Shah.
(II) lack of a comprehensive standard to compare two regimes: suppose that the number of executions is higher on one side, and the number of political prisoners sentenced to a life time prison is higher on the other side; which is worse? and so much more cases difficult to judge about.

in the case of “standards of living”, people now live a better life, for sure. but who contributed more to this ‘improvement’? again, its next to impossible to point to winner, I think. there has been a kind of gradual improvement in both periods. many factors, such as the number of hospitals per 100.000 population, show a fair increase in both periods. I think that Shah indeed tried to do a favor to his people, and IRI has contributed to progress as well; but who did it better? I do not know, neither those who express some naive ideas based on the hatred they feel about the either side.

]]> By: MyTwoCents http://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/01/27/god-bless-the-democracy-in-iran/#comment-109904 MyTwoCents Thu, 31 Jan 2008 20:04:07 +0000 http://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/01/27/god-bless-the-democracy-in-iran/#comment-109904 In terms of repression, human rights abuses, and standard of living, would you say things are better or worse than they were under the Shah? In terms of repression, human rights abuses, and standard of living, would you say things are better or worse than they were under the Shah?

]]> By: City boy (Iran and UK) http://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/01/27/god-bless-the-democracy-in-iran/#comment-109877 City boy (Iran and UK) Thu, 31 Jan 2008 18:25:29 +0000 http://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/01/27/god-bless-the-democracy-in-iran/#comment-109877 Lord, do you believe participation in this fake elections actually achieve something? I'd love to know what. I believe that it is unlikely that there are many Iranians left, in the world, who are still delusional about this false hope in reforming Islamic Republic. By losing hope and not participating it seems to me that there will be more urge for a revolution (however unlikely). If I am not mistaken, you posted about Bahai's in Iran. Do you really think a reformist president in power of Islamic Republic will change the understanding of Islam (of I.R.) and the situation will be any better for such religious minorities?! C'mon, lets not kid ourselves. Cheaper price of eggs under future Khatamis may make day to day life easier, but it is the suffering that wakes people up to stand up and say NO MORE! Lord, do you believe participation in this fake elections actually achieve something? I’d love to know what.

I believe that it is unlikely that there are many Iranians left, in the world, who are still delusional about this false hope in reforming Islamic Republic. By losing hope and not participating it seems to me that there will be more urge for a revolution (however unlikely).

If I am not mistaken, you posted about Bahai’s in Iran. Do you really think a reformist president in power of Islamic Republic will change the understanding of Islam (of I.R.) and the situation will be any better for such religious minorities?! C’mon, lets not kid ourselves.

Cheaper price of eggs under future Khatamis may make day to day life easier, but it is the suffering that wakes people up to stand up and say NO MORE!

]]> By: elinor(Iran) http://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/01/27/god-bless-the-democracy-in-iran/#comment-109493 elinor(Iran) Wed, 30 Jan 2008 16:47:55 +0000 http://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/01/27/god-bless-the-democracy-in-iran/#comment-109493 Lord, Let the democracy be there then I guess G-d will decide to bless it, how would he bless the non-existing be3forehand? I mean he could but he wouldn't :) Lord,
Let the democracy be there then I guess G-d will decide to bless it, how would he bless the non-existing be3forehand? I mean he could but he wouldn’t :)

]]> By: Lord Kavi http://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/01/27/god-bless-the-democracy-in-iran/#comment-108899 Lord Kavi Mon, 28 Jan 2008 22:06:51 +0000 http://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/01/27/god-bless-the-democracy-in-iran/#comment-108899 Another disaster is on the way, when no one cares about! When you ask people about this upcoming election, it seems that also no one would participate in and it makes the problems worse! Because there's no motivation! Damn this anti-democratic acts! Another disaster is on the way, when no one cares about!
When you ask people about this upcoming election, it seems that also no one would participate in and it makes the problems worse! Because there’s no motivation!

Damn this anti-democratic acts!

]]> By: Elinor (Iran) http://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/01/27/god-bless-the-democracy-in-iran/#comment-108813 Elinor (Iran) Mon, 28 Jan 2008 15:10:00 +0000 http://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/01/27/god-bless-the-democracy-in-iran/#comment-108813 Mohammad How would you even consider the impossible, they need to age and pass away perhasp, in groups, because i don't even think any one is ready to replace them. Mohammad
How would you even consider the impossible, they need to age and pass away perhasp, in groups, because i don’t even think any one is ready to replace them.

]]> By: Mohammad Memarian (Iran) http://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/01/27/god-bless-the-democracy-in-iran/#comment-108808 Mohammad Memarian (Iran) Mon, 28 Jan 2008 14:30:14 +0000 http://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/01/27/god-bless-the-democracy-in-iran/#comment-108808 Guardian Council is doing a great mistake, even with regards to supreme leader's will. someone should wake them up. Guardian Council is doing a great mistake, even with regards to supreme leader’s will. someone should wake them up.

]]> By: City boy (Iran and UK) http://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/01/27/god-bless-the-democracy-in-iran/#comment-108767 City boy (Iran and UK) Mon, 28 Jan 2008 10:43:13 +0000 http://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/01/27/god-bless-the-democracy-in-iran/#comment-108767 As long the system has unelected institutions it will never be democratic, whether president is a reformist or not. The only acceptable change is real and complete change. A change that will most likely will not come from election ballots. As long the system has unelected institutions it will never be democratic, whether president is a reformist or not. The only acceptable change is real and complete change. A change that will most likely will not come from election ballots.

]]>