Democracy, made in Iran

[Duer 157099]

Source: Stephen Kinzer, guardian.co.uk

Despite efforts by Iran's leaders to keep photographers off the streets during post-election protests this month, many vivid images have emerged. The one posted here, above, is the one I found most chilling, poignant and evocative.

By now, many outsiders can identify the man whose picture is on the right-hand side of this protest sign. He is Mir Hossein Mousavi, the reported loser in this month's presidential election. The elderly gentleman in the other picture is unfamiliar to most non-Iranians. He and his fate, however, lie at the historical root of the protests now shaking Iran.

The picture shows a pensive, sad-looking man with what one of his contemporaries called "droopy basset-hound eyes and high patrician forehead". He does not look like a man whose fate would continue to influence the world decades after his death. But this was Muhammad Mossadeq, the most fervent advocate of democracy ever to emerge in his ancient land.

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2009/jun/19/iran-protests-mousavi-mossadeq

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[ohio2007]

1. AHMADINEJAD BREAKS HIS SILENCE - 6 22 09

They hate humor;

AHMADINEJAD BREAKS HIS SILENCE - 6 22 09


It turns out, in Farsi "Twitter" means "ex-dictator."

You have to wonder if Ahmadinejad has checked out Twitter, and if he went through the whole "what the hell do I need with a site that lets me tell the world what I had for lunch" sorta thing we all went through. ...Ha-ha. What a dick.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3puJa2EfcM