Iran Today

Abookamongstthemany

http://www.lucasgray.com/video/peacetrain.swf

trappedinmyradio

Abookamongstthemany wrote:

http://www.lucasgray.com/video/peacetrain.swf

WAR...hugh...what is it good for...ABSOLUTELY NOTHIN'!

LikeAnOcean

I am totally against attacking Iran, BUT.. you have to understand thats pure propaganda. I mean, show Americans all the pretty blonde haired Iranians and some flowers and a few cell phones and cheeseburgers.. I have no idea how things are in Iran but even the worst parts of the world can be beautiful when you choose selective images.. again, blonde Iranians? Cell phones? Flowers? ..Sadly if they were black and poor, Americans wouldn't give a shit... Seriously, there was an Iranian version of Paris Hilton in there. I guess this country is more comfortable with bombing poor people rather than rich people, if that video makes people think twice.

trappedinmyradio

LikeAnOcean wrote:

I am totally against attacking Iran, BUT.. you have to understand thats pure propaganda. I mean, show Americans all the pretty blonde haired Iranians and some flowers and a few cell phones and cheeseburgers.. I have no idea how things are in Iran but even the worst parts of the world can be beautiful when you choose selective images.. again, blonde Iranians? Cell phones? Flowers? ..Sadly if they were black and poor, Americans wouldn't give a shit... Seriously, there was an Iranian version of Paris Hilton in there. I guess this country is more comfortable with bombing poor people rather than rich people, if that video makes people think twice.

i think the photo montage is more about attacking the "they hate our way of life..." rhetoric

Abookamongstthemany

I think it was just showing that life there isn't far part from life here. That these countries who get bombed are filled with beauty and life just like our own. It's just saying we should think twice before being so quick to destroy lives. The only propaganda I see is that this place is worth more than being reduced to rubble and filled with death.

angelica

I love that video. Thanks for sharing Abook!

LikeAnOcean

Abookamongstthemany wrote:

I think it was just showing that life there isn't far part from life here. That these countries who get bombed are filled with beauty and life just like our own. It's just saying we should think twice before being so quick to destroy lives. The only propaganda I see is that this place is worth more than being reduced to rubble and filled with death.

I agree that we should think twice before dropping bombs, and the video did show some beautiful pictures. It was definitely a side of Iran I've never seen before and an eye opener... I guess I'm just sidetracked and bitter about the fact that people find it easier to kill those who are different and less fortunate.

angelica

LikeAnOcean wrote:

I agree that we should think twice before dropping bombs, and the video did show some beautiful pictures.. I guess I'm just sidetracked and bitter about the fact that people find it easier to kill those who are different and less fortunate.

It seems that some people want to imagine the people and places of Iran as backwards and not like ours--and by dehumanizing and depersonalizing them, we can let them be the bad-guy-du jour. It's a lot easier to start strategizing against they whom we've minimized, dehumanized and made into the bad guy. Being realistic, aware and understanding is something else.

Ebizzie

They didn't even have enough pictures to fill out the whole song?

I could take some nice pictures in Compton, too. There is a progressive movement in Iran, and perhaps these pictures helped to highlight areas within that movement. The bottom line is that Iran is far from the place this hippie propaganda make it out to be. Have you ever searched for breathtaking pictures from North Korea? Try it sometime, there are plenty out there. Guess that's a beautiful, freedom loving nation too, eh?

scot88

germany was (and is) a beautiful country, but that doesn't make what hitler did right. people could be high class, the country can be beautiful, and the country can have the best technology in the world. that doesnt mean the government doesn't want to nuke all of western civilization into oblivion.

Abookamongstthemany

Ebizzie wrote:

They didn't even have enough pictures to fill out the whole song?

I could take some nice pictures in Compton, too. There is a progressive movement in Iran, and perhaps these pictures helped to highlight areas within that movement. The bottom line is that Iran is far from the place this hippie propaganda make it out to be. Have you ever searched for breathtaking pictures from North Korea? Try it sometime, there are plenty out there. Guess that's a beautiful, freedom loving nation too, eh?

Take pictures anywhere you'd like...those people will deserve to have peaceful lives not torn by war, as well. This is an attempt to put a face with the 'enemy' that some are all too quick to be against and forget all about these people living lives much like their own. Most people love freedom, beauty and peace.

Ebizzie

Abookamongstthemany wrote:

Take pictures anywhere you'd like...those people will deserve to have peaceful lives not torn by war, as well. This is an attempt to put a face with the 'enemy' that some are all too quick to be against and forget all about these people living lives much like their own. Most people love freedom, beauty and peace.

I completely agree...except for the fact that they voted for that fucking lunatic president they have.

Do you remember that let down after the '04 election when Gdub won again? Do you remember how frustrated you were? Do you remember all the times that we've all said that Gdub is sinking this country and inciting terrorism? Do you not feel that we, by extension of voting for Gdub, deserve the negative connotation that our country's name earned? Do we demonstrate on a daily basis? Do we have the right to speak our displeasure through blogs, make fun of this administration through all forms of media, do all that we can to deflect HIS irresponsibility away from ourselves? I'd say we do. Can Iranians say the same?

When they demonstrate they're arrested. There are no satirical portrayals of their fucking nutcase president because it's not allowed. You think that those well-to-do Iranians captured in those glowing pictures agree and/or voted for that dipshit? Probably not, but by the same train of thought, they want change as well yet are powerless to do so. They don't have the ability to take small, calculated steps to change their society. Unlike America, even the smallest of those steps are quickly squashed by the government.

Unlike Iraq, where there was a VERY small itch for revolution, Iran has been on the brink of revolution for years. They do not hold several different religious sects like Iraq does. An attack on Iran to unseat their government, imo, would be a much less bloody affair than Iraq.

Abookamongstthemany

Ebizzie wrote:

I completely agree...except for the fact that they voted for that fucking lunatic president they have.

Do you remember that let down after the '04 election when Gdub won again? Do you remember how frustrated you were? Do you remember all the times that we've all said that Gdub is sinking this country and inciting terrorism? Do you not feel that we, by extension of voting for Gdub, deserve the negative connotation that our country's name earned? Do we demonstrate on a daily basis? Do we have the right to speak our displeasure through blogs, make fun of this administration through all forms of media, do all that we can to deflect HIS irresponsibility away from ourselves? I'd say we do. Can Iranians say the same?

When they demonstrate they're arrested. There are no satirical portrayals of their fucking nutcase president because it's not allowed. You think that those well-to-do Iranians captured in those glowing pictures agree and/or voted for that dipshit? Probably not, but by the same train of thought, they want change as well yet are powerless to do so. They don't have the ability to take small, calculated steps to change their society. Unlike America, even the smallest of those steps are quickly squashed by the government.

Unlike Iraq, where there was a VERY small itch for revolution, Iran has been on the brink of revolution for years. They do not hold several different religious sects like Iraq does. An attack on Iran to unseat their government, imo, would be a much less bloody affair than Iraq.

I don't think Iranians want their country torn apart by war nor do I think it's our place to decide who gets democracy and at what terms. They can do that for themselves when they are ready.

Ebizzie

Abookamongstthemany wrote:

I don't think Iranians want their country torn apart by war nor do I think it's our place to decide who gets democracy and at what terms. They can do that for themselves when they are ready.

Obviously. Any time they want.

Those looked like some pretty "westernized" groups of people, hardly the type who deny the holocaust, believe in Jihad, fund Hezbollah, arm Iraqi insurgents, and want to wipe all things "western" off the face of the earth....yet that's exactly what their government stands for.

MrBrian

Luv the music,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxIT4b6b76Q

Last Exodus

Ebizzie wrote:

I completely agree...except for the fact that they voted for that fucking lunatic president they have.

Do you remember that let down after the '04 election when Gdub won again? Do you remember how frustrated you were? Do you remember all the times that we've all said that Gdub is sinking this country and inciting terrorism? Do you not feel that we, by extension of voting for Gdub, deserve the negative connotation that our country's name earned? Do we demonstrate on a daily basis? Do we have the right to speak our displeasure through blogs, make fun of this administration through all forms of media, do all that we can to deflect HIS irresponsibility away from ourselves? I'd say we do. Can Iranians say the same?

When they demonstrate they're arrested. There are no satirical portrayals of their fucking nutcase president because it's not allowed. You think that those well-to-do Iranians captured in those glowing pictures agree and/or voted for that dipshit? Probably not, but by the same train of thought, they want change as well yet are powerless to do so. They don't have the ability to take small, calculated steps to change their society. Unlike America, even the smallest of those steps are quickly squashed by the government.

Unlike Iraq, where there was a VERY small itch for revolution, Iran has been on the brink of revolution for years. They do not hold several different religious sects like Iraq does. An attack on Iran to unseat their government, imo, would be a much less bloody affair than Iraq.

Yeah well 51% of our country voted in our lunatic. You cant really look to an Iranian election as being any more reliable than ours can you? From what I here, the average Iranian in the street has no problem with Americans. Id actually considered travelling there to find out. I think Ahamadinajad is the problem. Not Iran the nation. Let's not make the same mistake twice. We can accomplish our task in Iran with one bullet and one airstrike. Done.

Ebizzie

Last Exodus wrote:

Yeah well 51% of our country voted in our lunatic. You cant really look to an Iranian election as being any more reliable than ours can you? From what I here, the average Iranian in the street has no problem with Americans. Id actually considered travelling there to find out. I think Ahamadinajad is the problem. Not Iran the nation. Let's not make the same mistake twice. We can accomplish our task in Iran with one bullet and one airstrike. Done.

Man, that's my point. Iran just needs a nudge and we just might be the country that can give them that nudge. Iraq has/had so many ancillary problems that were hidden beneath the wretchedness that was Saddam Hussein. We were blinded by Saddam and ignored the deep-rooted problems which his despotism held in check. It wasn't until we ousted him from power did those understated concerns rise to the forefront. In Iran, those ancillary issues are not nearly as persistent. Even with the fall of their theocratic democracy (or whatever the hell you wanna call that gaggle of a government) there would still be issues between hardliner theocrats and progressive liberals, but those divisions are found in nearly every nation, even well-functioning democracies.

Also, I agree with what you said about Bush and I tried to touch on that earlier. Here in the states, and in other free nations, dissatisfaction with the government can be voiced proudly and, ideally, can make a difference. The congressional slaughter of the GOP last November, the most vicious attack on an American political party since 1980, is a fine example of how our voices can force change. Iranians do not have that choice. They do vote for officials but the supreme power is held by the theocratic branch of their government. There is nothing the people can do to rid themselves of them outside of a violent revolt. I think the Iranians are ready. I think that the predictions of streets lined with cheering citizens was misplaced in regards to Iraq; those predictions would be much more apt when discussing intervention in a country prime for revolution like Iran.

OutOfBreath

Ebizzie wrote:

I completely agree...except for the fact that they voted for that fucking lunatic president they have.

...after the priest council excluded every and all candidates with an inkling of a reformist or progressive bone in their body. You got a field of regime supporting theocrats, then that's what you'll get. And from what I remember there were worse options than ahmadinejad for president. He ran his campaign on being a popular mayor who swore to help the weakest and so on.

Just saying. Them voting in ahmadinejad (after having most other candidates removed from the race) is not a free ticket to bomb and invade.

I also think that they could use a nudge, but bombs aren't a nudge.

Peace
Dan

Last Exodus

Ebizzie wrote:

Man, that's my point. Iran just needs a nudge and we just might be the country that can give them that nudge. Iraq has/had so many ancillary problems that were hidden beneath the wretchedness that was Saddam Hussein. We were blinded by Saddam and ignored the deep-rooted problems which his despotism held in check. It wasn't until we ousted him from power did those understated concerns rise to the forefront. In Iran, those ancillary issues are not nearly as persistent. Even with the fall of their theocratic democracy (or whatever the hell you wanna call that gaggle of a government) there would still be issues between hardliner theocrats and progressive liberals, but those divisions are found in nearly every nation, even well-functioning democracies.

Also, I agree with what you said about Bush and I tried to touch on that earlier. Here in the states, and in other free nations, dissatisfaction with the government can be voiced proudly and, ideally, can make a difference. The congressional slaughter of the GOP last November, the most vicious attack on an American political party since 1980, is a fine example of how our voices can force change. Iranians do not have that choice. They do vote for officials but the supreme power is held by the theocratic branch of their government. There is nothing the people can do to rid themselves of them outside of a violent revolt. I think the Iranians are ready. I think that the predictions of streets lined with cheering citizens was misplaced in regards to Iraq; those predictions would be much more apt when discussing intervention in a country prime for revolution like Iran.

But that won't happen. Personally I don't think George W is sticking it out in Iraq anymore because of Iraq. Hey, he hung Saddam high last month. He can take the cavalry and ride out. But that leaves a huge power vacuum that Ahmadnijad is ready to jump into. It's no coincidence we are moving another carrier group off the shores of Iran at the same time were sending 20,000 more troops and raiding Iranian consulates in Iraq. The play is on Iran now.
If we leave now, we are totally fucked. Nothing to stop a super Iran from happening which would border Saudi Arabia and force us to come back for Gulf War 3 in a few years. So we don't have a fucking choice. Yes, we created the vacuum, and we are responsible. That's the biggest reason we have to stay. But it's optimistic to think we have the ability to force regime change in Iran right now. They will have to take that on themselves. At best, take out Natanz, reinforce the border with Iraq, and hope for the best. If they fuck with us, we have 3-400 planes in range of Tehran.

El_Kabong

Abookamongstthemany wrote:

I think it was just showing that life there isn't far part from life here. That these countries who get bombed are filled with beauty and life just like our own. It's just saying we should think twice before being so quick to destroy lives. The only propaganda I see is that this place is worth more than being reduced to rubble and filled with death.

it may get turned to rubble but then we get to pay investors and friends of the administration to rebuild it!

freedom don't come cheap

trappedinmyradio

Last Exodus wrote:

Yeah well 51% of our country voted in our lunatic. You cant really look to an Iranian election as being any more reliable than ours can you? From what I here, the average Iranian in the street has no problem with Americans. Id actually considered travelling there to find out. I think Ahamadinajad is the problem. Not Iran the nation. Let's not make the same mistake twice. We can accomplish our task in Iran with one bullet and one airstrike. Done.

no, no, no! i have long said that bush foes should shut up because that vote came in the electorate spoke their mind. they want to cry election foul. i don't care. this is the system...this is what you get. but, REMEMBER...it's not 51% of the country...it's 51% of the voting population, which, in comparision to the total population, was only about 11% of the population.