Why is he taken so seriously?
I wonder why western media have taken Ahmadinejad's recent gibberish talk so seriously. It wasn't the first time an Iranian official talked nonsense, it will neither be the last. Why doesn't Britain react to all those Marg bar Ingilis shouted every single Friday during prayers in every single city? Why doesn't Israel complain about the Marg bar esrail thing every week? Not only Iranians but the world know that most of the buzz and propaganda coming out of Iran is nonsense and would/should/must be ignored.
Unfortunately unlike most of the world, profanity and foul language in politics is something that exists in the current Iranian political scene. The world should know that the absolute majority of 'threatening' things said by Iranian politicians are nothing more than just cheap swear words; an effort to divert local people's attention from domestic problems to imaginary enemies and threats. People inside Iran never take them seriously, so should people around the world. I mean this public swearing and cursing of imaginary (local or foreign) enemies by politicians is very embarrassing for us, but we have learnt to ignore it completely.
This Ahmadinejad guy is clearly thisrty for both local and international attention. This is his cheap and dirty way of attracting international attention. He also has very cheap ways of pleasing his local masters. Just ignore him and he will cry!
Finally as an Iranian I would like to add that I am against any form of racism and war, from both of which we have suffered a great deal. Peace and Progress
Well so we like the world not take our president seriously?! I guess that changed when Khatami came to power. He said we should not wish death to anyone, even our enemies. Remember? The world started to look at us more positively and now ... we are going back with the speed of light to 25 years ago. The worst part is that this monkey does not even have the power and charm (if I may used this word) that Kheomeini possessed. He is just an immitator.
There is a difference between when Hassani preaches in Friday prayers or the president talks in an international conference.
People please stop blaming this fiasco on western media and so on. Let's just face it, our country is in a very fragile situation right now and the last thing we need is a moron making more enemies.
(at December 15, 2005 11:35 PM)
No one took Adolf Hitler's minority opinions seriously either. And look what happened. In no way do I believe that the president's comments are indicative of the population's opinions, but it not a representative government. It is a regime.
(at December 15, 2005 11:37 PM)
I believe Germans did take Hitler's opinions seriously, whereas most Iranians are disgusted.
Look at where Ahmadinejad made his last comments: in the gathering of Basijis in Zahedan!! wow, what a significant event, inhabitants of Alaska and Bavaria must be scared to death now!
I'm not washing away his guilt, I'm just saying he's been taken too seriously, because realistically speaking our government can hardly manage local affairs, not to mention making decisions for countries which don't even border us. and yes, I agree that we're going back to 25 years ago in terms of government's public relations.
(at December 16, 2005 12:08 AM)
I think we (iranians) should be much more scared than any other country of the consequences of these speeches. At this time every eye is fixed on our country. It doesn't matter if he is among military in Zahedan, or in some international conference (where was it? last week or so), whatever he says is going to be noticed. So, we have to get used to that. Let's face it right now, we are one of the few scary, dark, dishonest, misterious, you name it country in the world. So it is normal that whatever is done by our representatives is view under the microscope and of course used against us.
(at December 16, 2005 03:43 AM)
It's not something to joke about with,loads of people have been killed,let's put ourselves in their shoes,if somebody keeps saying the Iran- Iraq war was very peaceful and nobody lost their family and it's just a myth how do we feel?By the way I love the picture which describes his intention and why is he doing this.
(at December 16, 2005 09:04 AM)
Nazanin: "I believe Germans did take Hitler's opinions seriously, whereas most Iranians are disgusted."
After it was too late and he was swept into power. The world didn't take him seriously either initially. When one is a leader of a country, what one says should be able to be taken seriously. And what he said in Zahedan is being passed on in Qom.
TEHRAN (Reuters) - A senior Iranian cleric on Friday backed President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's recent comment that the Holocaust was a myth, the official IRNA news agency reported.
"The recent comments made by the president ... are completely logical and are what all Iranians say," Ayatollah Ali Meshkini told worshippers at Friday prayers in the city of Qom.
I agree with you, Nazanin, that most Iranians would be disgusted with these remarks. But all movements start with ideas. And these ideas are not held by just any citizen. He is the leader. President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's ideas are dangerous and should be taken seriously, especially when his statements are now being backed up by other leaders.
(at December 16, 2005 09:50 PM)
I truly believe the majority of Iranians find these statements outrageous, and given the opportunity to free themselves from this repressive regime, we would see how much they really crave democracy. However, I think that Ahmadinejad's rantings help to remind people that these racist attitudes are still out, and that they're actually shared by many in the Muslim world. In fact, most people aren't even aware that Palestinian Authority president, Mahmoud Abbas, is also on record as a Holocaust denier. But, in his case, there's been no outrage on the part of the civilized world.
(at December 17, 2005 09:22 AM)
I met an undergraduate electronics student while playing football indoors, from a gujeratii immigrant families who moved to Africa, he was born and brought up in Africa, Muslim but with the typical indian looks. He was so amazed at the comments I was making (SIMILAR TO WHAT MOST OF YOU HAVE SAID ABOVE) and said to me: Iran is a great country, it's so different, it stands by its words, it faces the west, I love Ahmadinejad, he has to awaken the lame Iranian teenagers who never met Imam Khomeini.
I was wordless, had lots of mixed feelings, "what is he talking about?" "I should be ashamed of myself?" I'd like to know how you guys would react if you were in my place?
(at December 18, 2005 06:08 PM)
Saman I think what you said requires its own post with its own comments and discussion. Why don't you write about it?
(at December 18, 2005 08:34 PM)
Abtaahi had a very similar commnet related to Saman's post few days ago, check it out.
(at December 19, 2005 04:02 AM)
Afasan thanx for the link, I wish we coudl all argue for Iran's corner like that
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