Discussions
Bloggers Unite to Free Iran
Posted by TonyB • 6/21/09 • Subscribe to this Discussion [RSS] • Report This Topic
Topics: bloggers unite, free iran, human rights, iran
June 29th Bloggers Unite to Free Iran.
How can we get the message out to other bloggers/tweeters, traditional media?
How can we really make a difference with our blogs?
Join the event www.bloggersunite.org/event/free-iran and post your ideas.
If you are a designer please design other Action Badges for bloggers and the media to use
User Comments
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I support the Iranian protesters but I do not support American intervention.
The US has two wars and a monster recession to recover from, we cannot get involved in yet another nation's civil unrest. Plus, if we so much as set a toe in Iran, we are undermining the credibility of the protesters. They will be reviled as puppets of the US.-
Couldn't agree with you more.
We just launched a discussion area on Bloggers Unite. Please share any ideas here too
www.bloggersunite.org/discuss/entry/what-can-we-do-to-help-in-iran
The great thing about bloggers is we live all over the world so it is far from a US based initiative. It's more like a socialsphere one. -
@stillthinking & TonyB
I agree too. Although I have no bright ideas I joined the campaign and I will blog about human rights tomorrow. -
American intervention doesn't seem called for. The ayatollahs are doing a fine job on their own, tearing down their status and support among Iranians.
Interestingly, Britain is being used as the bogeyman in Iran now, according to some of the news reports.
I don't think British intervention is called for, either: for the same reasons. -
Im not sure that government intervention is called for as much as for citizens of the world to stand up and let the people of Iran know that we are supporting them in their fight for freedom. Standing up for the protestors is not meddling. It is doing the right thing at the right time.
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Exactly tonyb,this is isn't a US thing it's a world thing!!! -
Interesting choice of words choosing to quote "meddling" from Obama's speech. I believe that the GOP calling out Obama for not doing more about the Iranian protesters is a giant tactical distraction from health care reform, which is a MAJOR issue for every American.
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At least not overt assistance. I can see maybe some special ops backup, strategic assasinations, smuggled arms, et cetera but I know that because of Iran's traditions, history and sense of identity with it's land, no nation even under optimal credibillity would ever be able to overtly interfere there without experiencing the full and uninhibited wrath of its people. If you thought Iraq was bad (where 15% of the population opposed us), just wait until you see Iran (where 100% of the population opposes.) The Iraq War would be nothing in comparison to the sheer level of bloodshed required to bring our peace to Iran. -
Covert ops have to be off the table too. We do not need to go back to the bad old days of assassinations in the 1950s. We're still dealing with that legacy.
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@markstoneman: The reason we are "dealing with that legacy" is because we used those covert ops to promote dictatorships, including in Iran. If we had used them to make these societies freer instead, no one would've cared as the only people who get hurt are a bunch of politicians anyways.
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I general, I would say people need to make themselves free, if the result is to have legitimacy and endure. Certainly this is true of a proud nation like Iran.
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Absolutely, but just as the French gave us a little push during our revolution, we could always give them a little shove too. Brings the peace quicker and prevents the wars and revolts from becoming multiple as they did in Russia.
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Really bad historical analogy. We were at war with the British. The French had been at war with the British for the better part of the 18th century. France was absolutist and had no interest in our freedom. They simply gave military assistance because we were fighting their enemy.
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From the strategic perspective though it's basically the same idea. Yeah, I know, the politics are different but the warfare is (close to) the same, except we wouldn't want to actually send soldiers, we'd just send arms and maybe carry out some limited millitary sabotage and espionage and possibly some assasinations.
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Nothing is the same. It is a bad analogy. But why are you trying to sidetrack a thread that wants to get bloggers behind a campaign? Bad manners.
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@MS: Something is actually the same, but that's okay.
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Good point. Cheers to all the brave Iranian people seeking a more just and free society.
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I support freedom of speech, freedom of choice for all persons in Iran, regardless of political opinion choice.
Peace and well wishes to all Iranian people.
Unity in diversity through music-
Me too...and freedom for musicians.
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I will blog, I'm thinking it through
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Anyone seen the Neda video?
I won't link to it here, but it's a sad thing to watch
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Yes. It was terrible to see a 16 year old peaceful protesting shot dead.
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Most sites are saying she was 16, and some say she was 24. Whatever her age was, it must have been the worst thing that her father's ever had to witness.
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For sure - I'm still troubled by it and prone to weeping when I think about it.
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I'll be writing about it, for sure, when more (factual) info on her is available.
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It's horrific.
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Do you think she will become the become the "face" of a revolution?
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Sadly, I think that may be the case.
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Neda as "face" of the revolution?
First, I'm not entirely convinced that there's a revolution going on: but what we're seeing certainly suggests that this is the case.
Second, I think Neda already is the "face" of Iranians who aren't all that pleased with the Islamic Republic's policies and leadership: for many people, at least.
My take: anotherwaronterrorblog.blogspot.com/2009/06/rip-neda-world-cries-seeing-you... -
And, no: I haven't seen the video. A still image, yes.
A very sad situation. -
well give me the link in my shout box please
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A Google search for Neda video or Neda Iran you give plenty of results for it. A lot of sites have it embedded.
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Can we just carpet bomb the entire middle east already? I'm getting tired of the same bullshit always going on there. The news is getting predictable.-
This was predictable?
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There is absolutely nothing "the same" or "predictable" about this except for the tiresome reactions of a few bloggers.
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*fumes* there was no reason to delete that post.
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Actually, Siuil is right. Why was that comment deleted? It was rational and came to the defense of the middle east. ADMIN!!! Please restore the comment!
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Please restore the comment.
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I've been discussing the Iranian presidential election situation off and on for several days. My latest post: anotherwaronterrorblog.blogspot.com/2009/06/rip-neda-world-cries-seeing-you...
No time to check out the Bloggers Unite thing, but may tomorrow.
Any chance of sticking this thread near the top? -
I am livid over Republicans using this to distract the public from health care reform and as an opportunity to attack Obama. EPIC FAIL as the US has no business interfering with the elections of a foreign power.
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Finally tonyb,I was wonderin' where u were
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Great to see you again. Are you going to join Bloggers Unite
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Like I said in my Iran thread I'm soooooooo sick and tired of the selfishness that goes on in the west!....... have u ever gotten up and said,today is a good day 2 be stoned to death,or hey I would soooo love to get my 5 yr old daugter raped, and my 7 yr old son indoctrinated,and forced to use guns against his own family?
I don't think so...... If you think our mess over here is anything compared to the rest of what's truly going on we have a walk in the park compared to other nations of the world.
Even I have stopped promoting my cause bc I wanna show my support for IRAN -
FYI, there's a related thread on the politics board: www.blogcatalog.com/politics/discuss/entry/iran-1
And I've done a few posts on this (markstoneman.wordpress.com/). Timing would seem to matter, though it might be hard for people to get a handle on everything, both because of the unfamiliar nature of the Iranian political system and because now reporters from our usual media outlets are being denied access to Iran's streets. My own short posts just reflect my trying to understand things.
Finally, if you're on twitter, you might have noticed a bunch of green icons appearing over the past week, and perhaps you noticed some people changing their location to Tehran and time zone to GMT + 3.5.-
One other thing about twitter that I keep forgetting: If you have space in your tweets, use the following hash tag, in order to make your related tweets easier to find: #IranElection
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To change your avatar on Twitter to one with a green overlay use the following site
helpiranelection.com/
It will automatically do it for you.
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Thanks 4 that link! Everybody was asking how I changed my avatar. There was a tab on twitter u could click on but it's gone now
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I "greened" my avatar ar twitter and read news stories and watched videos on Iran until I felt sick to my stomach. I cobbled together a quick post leaving out how emotional I feel and submitted the url to Bloggers Unite. I'm hoping and even praying that when I get up in the morning things will have improved.
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Even if it is isreal on twitter,isreal is not in iran shouting from the rooftops "death to the dictator
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Yes, it is Isreal, and there is proof. It's all propaganda. -
@bizmashashups: Sounds like you've swallowed some propaganda from the regime in Iran, although anti-Semitic conspiracy theorists elsewhere could have come up with it on their own. And as Holly suggests, the real issue is what is going on on the streets, not the internet, though the slogans I read about were different: "God is great!", which is more plausible.
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Like I said above if it was all propaganda then there wouldn't be 100 of thousands shouting from the rooftops
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You got one supporter here........... for Iran!!... Freedom!-
Freedom! Freedom! Freedom!
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I will surely with my best -
Are we sure that the protesters are right? I mean there are about 45% of americans who wanted McCain to win, should Obama be kicked out and America "Freed" if they had taken to the streets in violent protest?
It seems to me that we are for the protest just because we don't like The current pres. That may well be, but unless we are certain that the election was false and actually favored him isn't supporting the protestors in fact supporting something that isn't in the least Democratic?
Are we looking for change in Iran despite method, or are we looking for democracy, if the latter, shouldn't we be sure about the facts before we rattle our sabres?-
What do you mean by "right"? The claims to a victory of their own? We don't have enough evidence for that. The claim of vote rigging? There is an excellent case to be made for that. Just see the following argument and keep in mind the paper ballots:
> It is not just Mr Ahmadinejad’s margin of victory that has
> cast doubt on the result, however, but the speed with
> which 39.1 million votes were counted – and the fact that
> the incumbent enjoyed a consistent two-to-one lead even in
> his opponents’ political strongholds.
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article6510663.ece
And you know about BC's politics boards where you can argue to your heart's content: www.blogcatalog.com/politics/discuss -
I'm not arguing anything. Just saying that I don't see how any of this is really anything more than the wishes of many that he wouldn't win.
How to count 39 million votes that quick? That has to be the least valid resorce How long from the close of the polls were Obama declared a winner? Must have been something wrong with that since McCain conceded already at 11pm on election day.
It's just silly, get the PROOF that something is wrong, or at least admit that we don't care if it was democratic or not, as long as the guy you want wins. -
The operative modifier is paper. We are talking about paper ballots. Presumably you are aware of the differences between counting those and electronic ballots. They announced results in less than two hours after the polls closed, despite these paper ballots. Paper ballots are fewer in the US, though they still exist. If McCain had wanted to, he could have waited till every last vote was counted. No officials declared a final result for their jurisdiction before the ballots were counted.
Other initial indicators: They did not count the ballots in front of representatives of the candidates, as had been the practice in the past. And the margins make no sense for many of the regions covered, especially the standout one of Mousavi's city, which is even a different ethnic group.
This has all been all over the news for over a week. There's no real doubt about the results being fabricated. Where the doubt lies is in the actual results. It is impossible to say which side garnered a majority. It is impossible even to refer to an accurate and recent opinion poll. Everything is a big unknown. If the regime had not been so crude in its methods, it might have offered a convincing case for Ahmadinejad's victory, but it chose to call it a landslide everywhere with no witnesses to the counting and no time to do that counting. -
Reverse scaling would allow you to count ballots inside hours regardless. we do it in sweden all the time. on PAPER Ballots.
again, this is just a case of "we don't like the current pres." Which is fine, neither do I. But don't pretend that you care about the real results when you're striding to action before you even understand them. -
Sweden is a tiny country compared to Iran, 9 million versus 65 million according to the 2008 CIA Fact Book. It has a different culture and it is organized completely differently as well. You might also look at its area, the way its infrastructure looks, and so on and so forth. Also, see the link I offer here: www.blogcatalog.com/discuss/entry/bloggers-unite-to-free-iran#comment_10004... This is the most recent case for voting irregularities. And don't forget that the Guardian Council itself has pointed to irregularities in 50 cities, although it decided not to finish its investigation.
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By the way, your interpretation is the same as Ahmadinejad's.
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The abrupt politicization of this Twitter generation - to the extent that some are questioning the authority of the spiritual leader Ayatollah Khomeini - has titillated the West. From Obama downwards, policy makers are exploring the potential of internet social networking becoming a handle in the fight for change in Iran. Yet, in embracing the modernists so enthusiastically, the West has prepared the ground for a conservative retaliation. The backlash may not necessarily take the form of a Tiananmen Square-type massacre but in days to come the Twitter-bugs are certain to be subjected to two charges. They will, predictably, be accused of being un-Islamic and morally degenerate. But far more damaging will be the charge of colluding with the West against Iranian nationalism.
It's a charge they may find difficult to counter. In its 20 years of existence as an Islamic Republic, Iran has acquired a siege mentality. This stems contradictory impulses: a fierce desire to protect its civilizational vitality and the realization that cultural purity is impossible in a shrinking world. Indifferent economic progress has driven Iran towards populist adventurism which, however flawed, enjoys mass endorsement.
The Twitter-bugs of Tehran want to push Iran into acknowledging a national failure. Unfortunately, they haven't factored the biggest hurdle to Iran's return to the modern world: national pride.
If you doubt that the Iranian election media bombardment was deliberate, ask yourself - Do you know who won last months Panamanian election ? Did you even know there was an election? It’s not your fault if you don’t. Actually, I don’t see how you could know without a functioning media.
Have you heard much about the democratic elections in Saudi Arabia lately? Of course not. They don’t have elections. Any media outrage for the people of Saudi Arabia? A country ruled by one of the most repressive regimes on the planet. But hey, they’re our allies. We don’t talk about them (and certainly won’t tweet it).
What about the 2006 (monitored) democratic election in Gaza in which the people resisted western threats and bribes and elected Hamas as their leader? We responded by punishing the people of Gaza and cutting aid to the region. Well, they committed a supreme crime. They voted the wrong way and must be punished for it. I’m waiting for a sympathetic #GazaElection hashtag on Twitter, though I won’t hold my breathe.
The #IranElection hype has nothing to do with democracy and everything to do with effecting US public opinion. Why are “Iranian’s” microblogging in English and on Twitter (which they do NOT use)? According to Mehdi Yahyanejad, manager of a Farsi-language news site based in Los Angeles, “Twitter’s impact inside Iran is zero..here, there is lots of buzz, but once you look . . . you see most of it are Americans tweeting among themselves.” The Alexa rankings confirm that Twitter’s penetration in Iran is nearly 0%.
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You assume a monolithic public opinion in Iran, which the evidence on the streets does not support. You also seem to assume that because the world is far from perfect, what Iranians are doing in Iran should not interest us, at least I think that's what you're saying. You dance around a lot without actually addressing the events on the ground in Iran. Indeed, it seems that all you are doing is denying anything is happening. That is an untenable position.
I'm not talking about twitter, by the way. That is beside the point. (So is what Alexa says, unless you can prove people actually use it in that part of the world.) Talking about twitter's effect will certainly be interesting in future, but you are using your twitter argument to say nothing is happening in Iran. That won't work.
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I'll be writing a series of posts to show my support for Iranians and their desires for peace and democracy. There is always a mood for change in Iran and we can help keep the momentum of their cause going.
And by other bloggers around the world adding their voice in support of freedom for Iranians, then we're helping them in their fight against oppression. -
And those Americans who talk about human rights abuse in Iran should know better to first put their own house in order and reflect on the blatant human rights violations in Guantanamo Bay detention camp.
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Many of us have taken a stance against Guantanamo Bay for years, and we are supporting its closure, but to point to that as an example of "you are doing it too" is not an argument, except perhaps against your other arguments in your previous remarks.
Look, if you want to argue, go to BlogCatalog's politics boards (www.blogcatalog.com/politics/discuss). This is supposed to be an announcement to rally people in support of this Bloggers Unite thing.
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You picked a heck of a place to spam.
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Just a tick-
If they ban my blog or blogger Unite? -
I just posted my first new article in weeks concerning the Iranian elections.
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The case for the election having been stolen (new study): features.csmonitor.com/globalnews/2009/06/22/was-iran’s-election-stolen-n...
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@markstoneman
Thanks for posting that link and all the others too. I appreciate it.
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I really could care less about Iran or any other country in the midle east right now. The pentagon is sending me back to Iraq and for what??? Cause a country of grown folks can't handle their own. You don't need a darn country if you keep messing it up like you do. You selfish ungrateful, little kids!-
@tjeff
I'm not fixing to pretend to understand what you are fixing to endure in Iraq. I am gonna say I appreciate very much u,going back. I say that to all my friends and family that are going back. I don't know if it was right or wrong to go in the 1st place,but it's too late for shoulda,coulda.woulda's.
Now what's going on in Iran is the people coming together and TRYING with all their might to over throw another HITLER (u know crazy dude who thinks a whole nation should be wiped off the map) There is absolutely nothing wrong with what they are doing. There is nothing wrong with civilians like myself and all the others across this planet supporting them.
I have a feeling when it comes down to it,those people half way around the globe want nothing more that what u and I have, FREEDOM.u know that little word that we in the western hemisphere take for granted
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Nothing can be done in any Talibanised society as the society and their mullahs are not that advanced rather advanced enough to stop the wind of change. Closed society and closed mind. Let them fight without anyone's intervention. It is said that people wage war for peace!! I would not write anything in my blog for any such close society.
thanks-
"Talibanised" and closed? You make is sound as if everyone in Iran were the same. If that were the case, there would be no conflict right now. Only there is.
And no one is talking about an interventions. Just blogging our concern and support. -
He's speaking of their society, markstoneman, not the people in it. Societies take on a life of their own, often at odds with the people that live in them, as everyone feels the pressure to conform or revolts, which is in it's own way conforming as it antagonizes people and forces them to take a side, most often with society.
Iranians are well-educated, sophisticated, cultured people who value traditions, ideas, and have far more in common with William Buckley then Osama Bin Laden, but at one time the Mullahs were the only alternative to the Shah, and now they have power, and turn Iranian against Iranian to keep their control, and that I believe is what our friend is referring to. -
"He's speaking of their society, markstoneman, not the people in it." --- I cannot wrap my mind around that line, despite your valiant effort to explain. Societies are composed of people and their interrelationships, and they are as dynamic (in the sense of constant change) as the people and interrelationships in them.
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@markstoneman: The problem though is that those relationships are often of fear, and relationships of fear are completely one-sided. Hope relationships are only slighlty less so in that the person actually has to want it. Power relationships distort society beyond repair.
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Gosh ... I thought this thread was for letting BC bloggers know about the Bloggers Unite event. I assumed those who wished to participate in the event, which is aimed at expressing support for the desire for at least part of the Iranian population for achieving civil rights and freedom in the future, would post to this thread. I also assumed that those who wanted to discuss or debate the issues in Iran would do so in threads in the political issues forum.
Maybe I'm wrong but I don't believe that this event is aimed at encouraging the protesting Iranians to embark on a civil war. If they did they many would be needlessly slain. Even if there was another election that was fairly conducted and the other candidate was elected, he is a political insider. He would not be in a position to affect the broad and sweeping changes that bringing full civil rights and democracy to Iran would entail any time soon. -
@TT: It is for encouraging Bloggers to Unite to Free Iran, I just have a different method! Come to my tent.
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Well tt, ur wrong! This has nothing to do with politics! This has to do with real people dealing with serious problems! This has to do with people who just want to live as u and I do,without the fear of being murdered. Seriously that isn't too much to ask. They just wanna live.period end of story
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Count me in, Tony--I agree with many others who point out that this is not a case for U.S. intervention (we need to learn to keep our big, fat, noses out of other people's business).
I do support the Iranian people's uprising though! Power to the people, right on! -
Lets join and Free Iran.....-
Ya, Let's free Iran...from US and European intervention. I'm all for it.
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If it wasn't for the internet, we wouldn't have known what was going on in Iran!
Hoo-ray for technology!-
true, the interned and electronic media's propaganda. Why does the media not speak out in case of Gaza and Saudi Arabia? Because they are they (Israel and Saudi Arabia) are US allies?
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Isn't it just plain ludacrious,seeing people being total hipocrits,when it comes to Iran Tonyb. They say the usa has no business interfearing with what's going on,then in the same breath those citizens say " I SUPPORT IRAN " it's a total oxymoron! I support iran,BUT I don't support the officials I elected to support IRAN! Just a little 2 faced for me
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Fine. You invade Iran and you pay for it.
I am sick of the US getting involved in foreign conflicts when the previous ones are still unresolved. If the US so much as sets a TOE in Iran, we are inviting jihad from every Muslim terrorist organization in the Middle East.
Has everyone forgotten that we have a health care crises in our country affecting our citizens??? -
America is not the world police force and declaring war on every government that oppresses its people is not going to help America or the people being 'liberated'.
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So u would rather just see more neda's? Well, whatever floats ur boat! I'm just saying,u can't have the cake and eat it to. U either support them whole heartedly or u don't support them at all. You can't have it both ways. That is called being 2 faced
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I am more concerned with what's going on in our country and in our government.
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sounds like the bush administration: you're either with us or against us.
Statements like that I find quite naive because you can support the Iranians and not support the idea of the U.S. getting involved. What would you have the U.S. do? Invade Iran over questionable election results and the death of protesters? No one invaded the U.S. when citizens were beaten and killed in anti-Vietnam or civil rights protests.
While I do feel the need to show my support for the Iranians and their right to elect their officials and protest peacefully without repercussions; I also respect their sovereignty as a nation and know that it is not the job of the U.S. or any other nation to force change there. -
@ jay
Yea
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That's fine. I'm sorry my heart is too big.
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@Holly
If you turned your support to riling up support for affordable health care for everyone, you would be formidable indeed.
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It. Doesn't matter what cause I'm fighting for. The bottom line is people suffer and my heart hurts for them. That's all
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Aside from the fact I'd get ridiculously merry on Smirnoff Coolers if someone assassinated Khameini...
There's no way of knowing the election was fixed. Suspicion... evidence etc... but that can be wrong too. -
Bloggers who have joined BloggersUnite have already started posting about Monday. If you haven't signed up for BloggersUnite.org and joined the event, please do.
Here the posts www.bloggersunite.org/event/free-iran/posts -
if every blogger just puts a single banner on his blog regarding this then it could mean alot
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I don't really support intervening in Iran. However, the situation worries me. My brother just returned from a tour in Iraq a few months ago, and he said all the guns and weapons the insurgent use flow across the border from Iran. So Iran is killing Americans. I generally think we ought to just stay the hell out of the whole region and let them kill each other, which they've been doing for thousands of years. -
Let the Iranian stands with their country / nation. And stop AMERICA's intervention to other countries... History shows that AMERICA's intervention in the case of iraq and afghanistan much more bring those countries into worse situation , crisis, while those countries still need fund to do development, AMERICA's attack and intervention destroy them, raise multiaspect crisis, murder children and women. in the same time, AMERICA made it such a way that impreess the world they are heroes and problem solver for those countries... FREE IRAN... -
A tyranny will not last forever... Iran will find its way to freedom and develope its own democracy safely with the conciousness of its people who can think wisely and straight to have the brightest great perspective and its leaders whom can manage their counrty to be more open-minded and liberal to the world outside ! -
No other country got involved with our vote problems when they had o recount votes back a while ago. I did not see one country step in and tell us how to handle that situation. May be would should learn by example. -
No offense, but no. Let Iran deal with its own problems. We got too many issues here in the US for us to be sticking our nose where it's not wanted... -
I'm about to post, do I post at my blog?
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join the event on BloggersUnite.org and you can post a short description and a link to your post there.
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Done
It's a very different approach
acousticguitarists.net/2009/06/25/for-people-in-iran-and-the-rest-of-us/ -
I am with the people no with the politicians or any outside influences. I say Leave them to it justice will eventually prevail without people interfering.-
Just like it prevailed in apartheid South Africa? It didn't prevail until the world community took notice and took action against South Africa's apartheid government.
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I DO NOT support any kind of US intervention.
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Neither do I. I do NOT support the intervention of any country or group of countries into Iran's affairs.
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Do you think South Africa would have ended apartheid if it handed been for the world community standing together and imposing sanctions and raising awareness about the abuses that were taking place there?
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The Iran situation is not really like apartheid in SA at all. If anything it is more like the Zimbabwe election last year and the international community didn't do too much then either.
The thing is that there isn't really a way that outside forces can change things without causing suffering to the people it's trying to help. Whether there is military or economic action taken against the Iranian government it would be the people who suffered most.
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Maybe seeing this video of Neda being shot to death will change peoples minds about intervention!
mashable.com/2009/06/21/neda/
What if this happened in America?-
The problem for people who are saying "no intervention" is they are using the word intervention in a very limited sense. They are saying that the US shouldn't intervene with a heavy handed approach. They are ignoring that there are other approaches that can be taken by the world community that do not involve physical force.
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TonyB, what kind of intervention would you suggest?
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I thought about this a couple of nights ago: having a small group get in the middle of the protest, quickly set up some speakers and a screen, and start singing "Hey Jude". While I'd rather have it be "Imagine", its lyrics, if understood by the Iranian audience, would be too much right now.
In my mind, it worked, as people stopped protesting and read the lyrics on the screen and sang along. In reality, it would probably result in tragedy.
Yes, I'm so very lame
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Look I am not suggesting war-mongering or bullying.
People from around the world should stand up for these same principles by highlighting the atrocities that are going on in Iran.
The democratic countries of the world should join together an call for the end of this tyranny and suppression of free speech. They should also condemn any detention of citizens who have been charged because they have been protesting. The President of the US should call on the government of Iran to stop the violence against peaceful protestors. -
I think that's exactly what has already been happening.
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@Siuil, to a degree though I haven't seen any united efforts by the world's nations condemning what's going on. What about sanctions?
We've uploaded new Action Badges for your blogs
www.bloggersunite.org/event/free-iran -
@SAR & TonyB: Mediocre responses, in the world of foreign affairs, achieve nothing. Condemnation worked somewhat well in South Africa, which, for all of it's flaws, was a democracy, but in Iran, a country that probably didn't even vote for this government, it will mean little, as that government would much rather be feared then liked. Also, America and most Western nations already have some sanctions on Iran, and the Iranian state themselves stops most Western trade to benefit local businesses who are often in the hands of political allies.
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Sanctions? Like what? Imposing trade embargoes? Trade sanctions only hurt the people and do very little to depose tyrannical governments. Look at North Korea.
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Korea doesn't export oil like Iran does. Sanctions worked against South Africa.
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I am still saying no because sanctions in this case may incense the Iranian people against the West even further.
I firmly believe in voting with your dollars. Conserve energy and lower your carbon consumption by driving less and carpooling or using public transportation, using less disposable petroleum products (no more bottled water folks), and installing energy efficient appliances. The less oil dependent the world is, the less power tyrannical governments have in oil producing nations and that includes the not so democratic nations in South America.
One last thing, I find it highly disturbing that a very important piece of legislation regarding health care is making it's way through Congress and public conversation about health care reform has been completely derailed. I am more than a little perturbed at posturing being done by GOP politicians on Iran in order to DISTRACT the general public from one of the most pressing issues to face US AS AMERICANS.
Yes, it's sad. Yes, it's tragic, but if health care reform fails, we are allowing the insurance corporations and Big Pharma own our future.
Doesn't anyone else see the manipulation??? -
The situation in South Africa was very different to what's happening in Iran.
Economic sanctions would affect the Iranian people more than the government, and I think that might even prolong the problem by adding a new dimension to it.
I'm not saying that if there was something someone could do to stop the violence quickly and without lasting effect that I wouldn't support it, but I think the reason no one has done anything is because there's not really anything anyone can do. -
Im for bloggers uniting and raising awareness and doing whatever we can to highlight the atrocities that are going on in Iran and anywhere else.
If you are to, please join www.bloggersunite.org/event/free-iran and perhaps by each of us sharing our own ideas and viewpoints with our readers, something good will come out of it
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My article was submitted but not included, was something wrong?
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I don't think your are alone on that.
It takes one day for my post -
I found it, my panda went walkies and I couldn't see it
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@TonyB I will suggest you to remove the BC and add BU in the Badge
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Things are getting bad for the president Russian isn't helping and this could signal that uncle Sam will take over -
I became a member of the www.bloggersunite.org a few days ago. Really cool .org for finding something you are passionate about and using your own blog to make a difference. I highly recommend it!
I also wrote about this on my bog a few days ago here: allennile.com/bloggers-unite-for-the-people-of-iran/
Great cause! -
Fine. You invade Iran and you pay for it.
I am sick of the US getting involved in foreign conflicts when the previous ones are still unresolved. If the US so much as sets a TOE in Iran, we are inviting jihad from every Muslim terrorist organization in the Middle East.
Plus everyone else bitching about us about being the 'police of the world'
We got enough problems here to deal with.-
Who said one thing about invading iran?
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GOP is doing a whole lot of political posturing on this one.
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@TonyB
Who said one thing about invading iran?
No one did in this thread but there sure as heck are those who are war mongering.
@stillthinking
GOP is doing a whole lot of political posturing on this one.
I received invade Iran comments on my bloggerunite posts that I marked as spam. There's no way I will ever post that war mongering and hatred on my blogs -- not now -- not ever. -
Im not hearing the war mongering going on. Ive been listening and reading to many different media outlets and to date haven't heard one single person say that the US should attack Iran. What you are saying is false.
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@stillthinking - No, they are definitely calling Barack soft but they have not called for an invasion so much as slightly more toothy diplomacy.
@TonyB - Good, my estimation of human intelligence has slightly increased. -
The GOP posturing is all just a deliberate manipulation of the public from the more pressing issue in the US: health care reform.
Also, I never said that the GOP is calling for an invasion. I said they are doing a lot of political posturing. My comment to Holly was meant facetiously because she accused the government of being hypocritical in supporting the protesters verbally, but then not following through with action. By extension, she was accusing all of us who support the stance the president has taken (like myself) of being hypocritical and cold-hearted.
I don't make stuff up. Go back up and read the thread before you think you got me. -
@TonyB
I'm not hearing the war mongering going on. Ive been listening and reading to many different media outlets and to date haven't heard one single person say that the US should attack Iran. What you are saying is false.
Hello! My comment above was not about what you are hearing on the media. My comment was about the two comments I received on my Bloggers Unite posts (1 on each blog post from 2 different email addresses).
Read it what I said again please. I said:
"I received invade Iran comments on my bloggerunite posts that I marked as spam. There's no way I will ever post that war mongering and hatred on my blogs -- not now -- not ever."
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Interesting discussion going on here. I am not really updated with world news but the thing that really triggered my feelings was the Neda incident. I think that sort of broken the floodgates. Now I am reading.And yes reading through this thread which was a task LOL. -
Out of curiosity, how would you feel if someone started a huge Twitter campaign to free America from Obama?-
Are you trying to flip the viewpoint? As in what would happen if the rest of the world started a huge Twitter campaign to get rid of our president?
I wish they did just that during the Bush administration. In fact, I wish Americans were more aware and active in protesting Bush while he was in office.
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I want to see a free Iran. thanks to BloggersUnite for such a noble effort. I have posted an article aiming at freeing the Iranians from their current situation.
But first of all, I’d like to beg the forgiveness to the people of Iran and to Neda Agha Soltan for being ignorant for so long. For not keeping my eyes open for what is happening around me. How could I be so self centered?
You can find the post here: lifeasiknowit22.blogspot.com/2009/06/bloggers-unite-for-free-iran.html i've submitted this post to bloggers unite (waiting moderators approval at this moment) -
If you are on Twitter, you can show solidarity with Iran and support for democracy by adding a green overlay to your avatar at this link:
helpiranelection.com/
It looks good - here's a link to mine so you can see what it looks like:
twitter.com/alcomum -
mihanep.blogspot.com/2009/06/dying-for-democracy-iranian-issue.html is another great post about Iran.
If you haven't joined BloggersUnite.org for this event, please do.
www.bloggersunite.org/event/free-iran
Write a post tomorrow. Add an Action Badge to your Blog. Submit your blog post to BloggersUnite.org and help the people of Iran. -
What the problem with you about Iran? Because he don't accept US wishes? Because he don't let USA to enter there and spread the porn, interest and Dollar?
Iran is already free and nobody needs to bother about that.-
Tell that to the people who have been jailed for peacefully speaking out against the government.
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and those who said nothing but have been arrested simply for working as civil servants in the UK embassy
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This has happened after US and Western media started to interfere in Iran elections. And still it’s quite normal in the current situation and pressure on Iran government.
US want to have a US puppy as the president of Iran who says yes for all their wishes just like in Pakistan and other stupid countries.-
@sohahm
IMHO the only stupidity I have witnessed has come from a minority of paranoid people who parrot what you have presented in this thread. No nation or coalition of nations is proposing anything other than that the democracy promised by this brutal theocratic regime be actually delivered to the Iranian people. The regimes choice was lie and to defraud the population and that IMHO was a stupid choice. It has led to suffering and death and is bound to lead to even more of the same. -
"No nation or coalition of nations is proposing anything other than that the democracy promised by this brutal theocratic regime be actually delivered to the Iranian people"
Promise! Their constitution" states:The Supreme Leader of Iran is responsible for delineation and supervision of the general policies of the Islamic Republic of Iran.[121] The Supreme Leader is Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces, controls the military intelligence and security operations; and has sole power to declare war or peace.[121] The heads of the judiciary, state radio and television networks, the commanders of the police and military forces and six of the twelve members of the Council of Guardians are appointed by the Supreme Leader.[121] The Assembly of Experts elects and dismisses the Supreme Leader on the basis of qualifications and popular esteem.[122] The Assembly of Experts is responsible for supervising the Supreme Leader in the performance of legal duties."
BUT tt its constitution doesn't support a democracy, never did, so did American's just wake up?????? For Iran to be free there has to be a total revolution and that won't happen unless a majority of Iranians support full overthrow of their current government and it's constitution.
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today is the day...let's get blogging!!!
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Cheers to the brave Iranian people seeking a more just and free society.
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I want to reduce white space between sidebar's widgets
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wrong place to post
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I will share my own later
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When you say free Iran what do you mean exactly?
I mean sure we all support human rights etc, and the right for citizens to speak out, but are we calling for and supporting a revolution that will depose a theocratic controlled government, or just the more moderate sanctioned losing candidate who will continue to work within their control? -
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"So what am I doing wrong?"
Posting in completely the wrong place, for a start. -
You have copyrighted material on your page. Do you have permission to use these images? Also, there is no actual blog. It's just a series of stolen images.
Spam site!
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Irani government arrested Irani national people. They were not UK national so nobody needs to worry about that because it’s their internal matter and they must have some proof against them.
US and Western have the only one power that’s control over media game. That game is being played for Iran now and they dream to do with Iran what they did with Iraq. Just to tell you that in 1870s, George Washington was declared the world no. 1 terrorist by the UK government and after few years, he became the president of US… a great example of double policy.
By the way, anyone who thinks US did right in Iraq and Afghanistan and Israel did right in Gaza then he/she is animal, not human.
Bloggers don’t need to blog about Iran. Better get back to the problems of your own country and don’t interfere in others internal matters.-
Calling people who disagree with you animals is not exactly going to lend credence to or even gain empathy for your opinions in the eyes of other readers.
Siehe bitte die Regeln hier: www.blogcatalog.com/discuss/entry/read-before-posting-1
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@sohahm
- I'm wondering what part of the one day Bloggers Unite campaign that occurred on Monday, June 29th, 2009 and is now over, you failed to take notice of?
That campaign was focused on supporting those Iranians who desire to live in an actual democratic nation, as opposed to living in a theocracy where bogus promises of democracy and rigged elections prevail.
In case you haven't noticed it no nation or coalition of nations has proposed invading Iran, and that's NOT what the Bloggers Unite campaign was focused on.
A large number of citizens of planet Earth, including many who are bloggers, believe that basic human rights, including the right of freedom of speech, and the right to peacefully assemble and protest government actions in their own country ought to be exist in all nations in this world.
Please stop lecturing us and take care of your own business and we shall take care of ours.-
Exclude Iran. Iran is not miserable and you better take care of the problems in your own country.
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her country is canada
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many of us see serious problems in our own countries which need attention, and we wish for our problems and Iran's to be solved in a democratic intelligent manner, each by its own people without outside interference and with respect for the diverse views within each country. Many of the bloggers who have posted have done so without being in support of any particular party, this needs to be made very clear. If the Iranian people choose a government, regardless of what their policies may be it is the right of the Iranians to do so and I'm confident that most people would respect that right. America had George Bush, then his party lost the election, whether people like the current government is a personal issue but that is the elected government. And if they stuff it, well maybe the people will vote them out. May all people be happy, all children well fed and the diversity of differences be respected in a manner that is respectful to human beings, with wisdom, compassion and understanding.
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"You better take care of the problems in your own country" sounds like a threat, but I'm wondering if you mean it that way, since you blog in German. Literally translated into German, it would not be a threat.
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