Jun 24, 2009

Dissent

I'm sure all of you are familiar with the situation in Iran, but I find most people are unmoved by the protests and their ensuing carnage. The theocratic government has pulled all measures ensuring that dissent is silenced by jailing, beating, and even killing all citizens engaged in the discourse. Even Iran's state run media is now blaming the US for encouraging the chaos, which thankfully few in the country even pay attention to or give it any credence.

Now the government has decided to permanently retire the Iranian soccer players who wore green wristbands during a match with South Korea showing their support for those unhappy with the latest election results. The players responded by falling down needlessly, grabbing their ankle and wincing in pain, then jumping up and running in full sprint.

Now I don't enjoy professional soccer, cause I really can't wrap my head around why watching people take dives for a few hours could be fun, but I can't understand why any government would try and anger fans of the sport. I always thought soccer enthusiasts usually riot at the drop of a hat. I'd be angry already if my national sport consisted of pansies faking injuries all the time. Why fuel the fire?

But this is Iran, a young country that hardly displays Jeffersonian democracy. I wish the protestors well in this time of strife and hope somehow they can succeed in bringing forth a more stable government that's not interested in nuking Israel or making a mockery of basic human rights.

"I don't think that Iran with a nuclear capability will be just the problem of the state of Israel. This is a matter that concerns the whole world." - Moshe Katsav

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Um, not to be argumentative, but Iran is not a young state. It's the remains of a very old, very large state.

"The Achaemenid Persian Empire (550–330 BC) was the largest empire of the ancient world and it reached its greatest extent under Darius the Great and Xerxes the Great — famous in antiquity as the foe of the classical Greek states (See Greco-Persian Wars). It was a united Persian kingdom that originated in the region now known as Pars province (Fars province) of Iran."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persian_Empire

Unknown said...

Anonymous-- I think you are misunderstanding "young country" in the context of the blog. I guarantee you, Wiwille is well aware that the country existed before Alexander the Great. What he means is (correct me if I'm wrong, Wiwille), that they are young when it comes to Democracy.

Another side note: if you want to quote a website to back academic information ... don't use Wikipedia. The articles are written and edited by any fool with Internet access.

JLee said...

I think people should reflect on events such as these when they complain about our government. Although far from perfect, it at least tries to be fair and just.

Rebecca said...

Although in the past I have disagreed with you politically, I give you a hearty "here here" on this one.