Voices from Iran & Liberal Malaise
Voices from Iran
The Iranian regime’s violence and killing has escalated against the peaceful mass protests in Teheran. The regime has banned foreign reporters from the streets & from filing reports, and cut cell phone service & otherwise slashed internet & twitter reports being sent from Iranians to the outside world. But we do know there have been massive protests defying their being outlawed by the “supreme leader,” the cleric in absolute power behind Ahmadinejad, and even chants of death to the “supreme leader” (in addition to the dictator) – this is serious stuff. There are reports of over a hundred protesters killed, and many brutal attacks by the plainclothes militia.
In opposition, police motorcycles have been burned, a suicide bombing at the national shrine, and a massive natural gas line explosion at the militia headquarters where militia had barricaded inside, and several of them killed. Now reports of demonstrations in several other major cities. And that Mousawi, the claimant of denied electoral victory, is urging a general strike if he is arrested. Some of his family have reportedly already been arrested. But this is clearly more than just about Mousawi, and more about dissatisfaction with the regime. Many of the young generation have been heard saying they will not continue living in these conditions, and would rather die.
Now the mullahs even admit to election fraud in over 50 cities – more votes than voters, etc. And with the largest turnout in their history & no electronic voting, they announced the results 3 hours after polls closed!? And there are also signs of divisions among the mullahs, within the police and revolutionary guard, etc. The harsh crackdown by the regime and accusations against foreigners are signs of desperation and weakness.
Too Little too Late
There are large Iranian demonstrations in the US (especially LA, the largest concentration) and elsewhere in support of the opposition. I heard a young Iranian interviewed who was in a protest in front of the White House, demanding Obama speak out more strongly in support of them – she had supported Obama’s call for change in the election, and wondered why he wasn’t supporting this change. Well, her hero finally made somewhat of a supportive statement, following the example of other world leaders.
But others of his supporters claim that saying any more would be counterproductive, giving the regime fuel for their constant accusations of US meddling, and that that is not what the opposition really wants. Hogwash on both counts. The supreme leader accused the US of meddling even before Obama’s minimal message, and would do so no matter what we do, now even more tightly controlling the flow of information there. And the regime’s supporters are already hyper-radicalized. So if we get the same treatment whether or not we speak out, why not speak out?
Furthermore, the Left who consider hypocrisy the greatest of sins and worthy of being brought down, might consider the hypocrisy of Iran – the largest supporter of terrorism throughout the world, including Iraq (note the very recent increase in bombings, no doubt in response to events in Iran), Israel, Lebanon (Hezbollah), Afghanistan, Pakistan, etc. And they don’t meddle? But scream bloody murder if we might so much as issue a statement. They can shout death to America, supply IED's to kill our soldiers in Iraq, and threaten to destroy Israel while developing the weapons to do it, and we’re supposed to be afraid of speaking up for our values lest we offend them, lose respect and leverage in negotiating?
I’m reminded of the scripture (Isaiah 5:20) “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil;...” (the Iranian regime), and the saying that “those who are good to the bad will be bad to the good” (the American Left).
But the opposition is clearly calling for more moral support – the protester at the White House, numerous protesters elsewhere in the US & other countries, the protesters in Iran with their many signs in English & with US election references are for external consumption – clearly pleas for attention & support. And I have heard Iranians on their street asking where the support for them in the US is – if anyone cares that they are sticking their necks out at risk of death. Of course they are getting (or have been) twitter/email/blog responses from Americans & news organizations showing great interest & support, but they also seek official statements that support their own legitimacy and undermine the legitimacy of the regime.
Furthermore, this is a great opportunity for change that has the possibility of averting a nuclear showdown or nuclear war w. Iran & Israel. A much greater possibility than pursuing vain talks with Ahmadinejad & the mullahs – we should pursue it vigorously any way we can. The isolation of Iran in the international community, and threat of nuclear response if they initiate a nuclear attack on Israel, also motivate the opposition. More international engagement & openness was one of the planks of Mousawi’s platform. There’s at least the glimmer of hope of change in their support of terrorism worldwide, as well. Do we need any more reasons, in addition to the welfare of the people of Iran, to be more assertive?
That’s Not Leadership – That’s Liberal Malaise
And so perhaps Obama will continue to cautiously follow the example of other countries, or eventually heed the loud voices of Iranians and Americans calling for more support. But that is not leadership. Nor can one who is primarily an apologist on the foreign stage be a leader in promoting our principles of freedom. “Seize the day,” Mr. Obama!
This cautious, almost frozen approach is typical of liberalism’s dual standard. They feel as if conservative (or American) values such as freedom can never be espoused as long as their espousers are imperfect or show the slightest hint of hypocrisy. They love to parade and force down conservatives caught in adultery, but they never step down for the same sins. Of course, it is easier to live your principles when they are so low. We must endlessly apologize and be frozen into inaction just because we imperfectly live up to the values we hold and aspire to.
But they strongly espouse and enact their liberal principles that they can just as easily be shown to be imperfect or hypocritical of. Christ was surely the only one who ever perfectly lived what He preached. But He commanded His followers whom He knew to be imperfect, to teach and espouse what He taught, and strive to live it. Liberals love to point out imperfection of the founding fathers, yet enjoy (and occasionally give lip service to) the principles they espoused. If the founding fathers had been frozen by inaction at a critical time, what would we have today?
So it is with us today. Mr. Obama’s preoccupation with perceived past sins (and transforming America) leaves him frozen in relative silence and inaction at a critical time abroad. A time that by some minimal attention could save us (and the Iranian people & their neighbors) much blood, treasure and hardships down the road.
“The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good [not perfect] men to do nothing.”
The Iranian regime’s violence and killing has escalated against the peaceful mass protests in Teheran. The regime has banned foreign reporters from the streets & from filing reports, and cut cell phone service & otherwise slashed internet & twitter reports being sent from Iranians to the outside world. But we do know there have been massive protests defying their being outlawed by the “supreme leader,” the cleric in absolute power behind Ahmadinejad, and even chants of death to the “supreme leader” (in addition to the dictator) – this is serious stuff. There are reports of over a hundred protesters killed, and many brutal attacks by the plainclothes militia.
In opposition, police motorcycles have been burned, a suicide bombing at the national shrine, and a massive natural gas line explosion at the militia headquarters where militia had barricaded inside, and several of them killed. Now reports of demonstrations in several other major cities. And that Mousawi, the claimant of denied electoral victory, is urging a general strike if he is arrested. Some of his family have reportedly already been arrested. But this is clearly more than just about Mousawi, and more about dissatisfaction with the regime. Many of the young generation have been heard saying they will not continue living in these conditions, and would rather die.
Now the mullahs even admit to election fraud in over 50 cities – more votes than voters, etc. And with the largest turnout in their history & no electronic voting, they announced the results 3 hours after polls closed!? And there are also signs of divisions among the mullahs, within the police and revolutionary guard, etc. The harsh crackdown by the regime and accusations against foreigners are signs of desperation and weakness.
Too Little too Late
There are large Iranian demonstrations in the US (especially LA, the largest concentration) and elsewhere in support of the opposition. I heard a young Iranian interviewed who was in a protest in front of the White House, demanding Obama speak out more strongly in support of them – she had supported Obama’s call for change in the election, and wondered why he wasn’t supporting this change. Well, her hero finally made somewhat of a supportive statement, following the example of other world leaders.
But others of his supporters claim that saying any more would be counterproductive, giving the regime fuel for their constant accusations of US meddling, and that that is not what the opposition really wants. Hogwash on both counts. The supreme leader accused the US of meddling even before Obama’s minimal message, and would do so no matter what we do, now even more tightly controlling the flow of information there. And the regime’s supporters are already hyper-radicalized. So if we get the same treatment whether or not we speak out, why not speak out?
Furthermore, the Left who consider hypocrisy the greatest of sins and worthy of being brought down, might consider the hypocrisy of Iran – the largest supporter of terrorism throughout the world, including Iraq (note the very recent increase in bombings, no doubt in response to events in Iran), Israel, Lebanon (Hezbollah), Afghanistan, Pakistan, etc. And they don’t meddle? But scream bloody murder if we might so much as issue a statement. They can shout death to America, supply IED's to kill our soldiers in Iraq, and threaten to destroy Israel while developing the weapons to do it, and we’re supposed to be afraid of speaking up for our values lest we offend them, lose respect and leverage in negotiating?
I’m reminded of the scripture (Isaiah 5:20) “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil;...” (the Iranian regime), and the saying that “those who are good to the bad will be bad to the good” (the American Left).
But the opposition is clearly calling for more moral support – the protester at the White House, numerous protesters elsewhere in the US & other countries, the protesters in Iran with their many signs in English & with US election references are for external consumption – clearly pleas for attention & support. And I have heard Iranians on their street asking where the support for them in the US is – if anyone cares that they are sticking their necks out at risk of death. Of course they are getting (or have been) twitter/email/blog responses from Americans & news organizations showing great interest & support, but they also seek official statements that support their own legitimacy and undermine the legitimacy of the regime.
Furthermore, this is a great opportunity for change that has the possibility of averting a nuclear showdown or nuclear war w. Iran & Israel. A much greater possibility than pursuing vain talks with Ahmadinejad & the mullahs – we should pursue it vigorously any way we can. The isolation of Iran in the international community, and threat of nuclear response if they initiate a nuclear attack on Israel, also motivate the opposition. More international engagement & openness was one of the planks of Mousawi’s platform. There’s at least the glimmer of hope of change in their support of terrorism worldwide, as well. Do we need any more reasons, in addition to the welfare of the people of Iran, to be more assertive?
That’s Not Leadership – That’s Liberal Malaise
And so perhaps Obama will continue to cautiously follow the example of other countries, or eventually heed the loud voices of Iranians and Americans calling for more support. But that is not leadership. Nor can one who is primarily an apologist on the foreign stage be a leader in promoting our principles of freedom. “Seize the day,” Mr. Obama!
This cautious, almost frozen approach is typical of liberalism’s dual standard. They feel as if conservative (or American) values such as freedom can never be espoused as long as their espousers are imperfect or show the slightest hint of hypocrisy. They love to parade and force down conservatives caught in adultery, but they never step down for the same sins. Of course, it is easier to live your principles when they are so low. We must endlessly apologize and be frozen into inaction just because we imperfectly live up to the values we hold and aspire to.
But they strongly espouse and enact their liberal principles that they can just as easily be shown to be imperfect or hypocritical of. Christ was surely the only one who ever perfectly lived what He preached. But He commanded His followers whom He knew to be imperfect, to teach and espouse what He taught, and strive to live it. Liberals love to point out imperfection of the founding fathers, yet enjoy (and occasionally give lip service to) the principles they espoused. If the founding fathers had been frozen by inaction at a critical time, what would we have today?
So it is with us today. Mr. Obama’s preoccupation with perceived past sins (and transforming America) leaves him frozen in relative silence and inaction at a critical time abroad. A time that by some minimal attention could save us (and the Iranian people & their neighbors) much blood, treasure and hardships down the road.
“The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good [not perfect] men to do nothing.”
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