By Jamie Neben
Twenty years ago we watched incredible events unfold before our eyes. Tiananmen Square, people dancing on the Berlin Wall, the fall of the Iron Curtain. We’re in the fishbowl now, watching unverified accounts of events in Iran. We know there are lessons, but we won’t know what they are for some time. Right now, we’re dealing in the visceral reactions in the innate human need for freedom and self-regulation. What comes next for Iran, for the world?
I’ve been watching the coverage all day. Too bad MSNBC has chosen to ignore everything and air pre-packaged programs that aren’t even news. But that’s for another day, I suppose.
One thing that strikes me, and this was especially pronounced on Fox “News,” is that the republicans have wasted no time in taking this situation as yet another opportunity to bash the president. Is there nothing they stand for but their own Phyrric victories?
Thank you, Golden Guard.
To play devil’s advocate for a minute, do you believe the republicans have a point by saying that the president’s rhetoric is too weak in the wake of what this election has turned into?
Hey, I’ve got to jump in here and I’ll do so with a simple question. What would have been the reaction of the American people if the Iranian government interjected its opinion while the 2000 election results were disputed?
Hi Cady,
Good question. We would not have allowed that by any measure, as it’s not up to them to make decisions in our politcal process. So, while I posed the question, I believe that President Obama is doing what is right by Iran, by the U.S., and by the world in his approach to this mess.
Oh, man, that’s lame. This isn’t about supporting or opposing Obama, which is what the like of Fox want it to be.
Sorry, I submitted too fast. Shouldn’t we be putting the events in Iran into context, comparing them to other uprisings? What, really, was the result of China’s actions 20 years ago? They’re now enjoying “most favored nation” status, they hosted an Olympics, and they could bring our country down in an minute if they stop buying our debt. Is the answer for Iran to embrace unbridled capitalism, which we’ll love, and then their government, like China’s, gets a free pass on suppression of basic human rights and civil liberties?
This is a really interesting discussion! I was just thinking of the politics here. I hadn’t thought of the other things that have been brought up.
Indeed, and what is the bigger travesty? Having an Iranian government that we don’t support, or one that we do but the economic system trumps human condition?
I would love to continue this conversation, but I have an engagement I promised to attend, so hopefully other viewpoints will be shared in the meantime until I can get back to this.
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