Chesler Chronicles

June 21st, 2009 9:58 am

Obama Fiddles While Iran Burns

Iran is on fire. And as I watch a potentially revolutionary, internet-driven uprising unfold over vote-counting, (vote-counting!) and not over the torture, unlawful imprisonment, and mass murder of Iranian citizens by its own leaders, I only now begin to appreciate the possible psychological impact of that first free, public election held in Iraq, courtesy of brave American blood.

I have been watching the coverage and reading the news about what is happening in the streets of Teheran. I’ve also been contacting Iranian dissident friends and colleagues. I am terrified and outraged (by the heartless Iranian regime), thrilled (by the bravery of so many young Iranians), mortified (by my own government’s cautious refusal to “take sides”). After all, we are talking about a nuclear-obsessed tyranny that has threatened to genocidally exterminate Israel and to re-establish a world-wide Caliphate. Yes, on American soil too if they can.

Several young Ivy League students tried to explain it to me. Quite simply: If America does anything, we will be accused of “colonialism, racism, imperialism, and over-reaching.”

Oh, is that all? Thus, while Iranian youth risks its life and its lifelong health in the streets, our youth, fatally indoctrinated by the professorial disciples of Stalin and Said, remains primarily concerned with how the world sees us, with whether we look good or not in the eyes of evil tyrants. President Obama represents them well, he’s their main man.

Yes, I appreciate Obama’s ostensible eloquence, and the genuinely “pretty” figure that he cuts; he could easily be a movie star, a rock star, a basketball star. I am now convinced that many young American voters want a President who looks like this and who sounds like a “cool,” left European.

While America may not be economically able to ride to the rescue each time evil rears its ugly head abroad, and while we may have an economy, an educational, and a health care system in urgent need of rescue first—still, are we not obliged to have a principled and universal view in favor of freedom, democracy, human rights, and women’s rights?

Yes, even if President Bush had one too? Yes, even if we ourselves are imperfect? After all, aren’t we the country that finds torture abhorrent? Is torture only abhorrent when Americans allegedly perpetrate it on Muslim jihadists captured in battle—but not when Muslims perpetrate it on innocent Muslim civilians? What kind of diabolical double standard is this?

Anyway, the fashionable European approach will not work. Appeasement never does.

Even after Obama bowed, low, to the Saudi King, flattered the Islamic world in Cairo with lies and half-truths—offered it Israel’s neck on the chopping block, threw Muslim women under the bus, and refused to condemn the Iranian regime for seven days—even then, the Ayatollah, his henchmen, and their supporters called for “Death to America, Death to Britain, Death to Israel.”

Dr. Afshin Ellian who teaches Philosophy of Law at Leiden University, Netherlands, sent me a copy of his Open Letter to Ayatollah Khamenei, which he published in the European edition of the Wall Street Journal.

He writes to me: “Iranian people are really in danger. I hope that democracy and reason overcome the tyranny and irrationality of militant Muslims. The distribution of this letter is very important, please do what in your opinion is necessary. Maybe we can influence the opinion of politicians.”

Ellian describes the monstrous tyranny that has imprisoned all Iran for the last thirty years: The mass, anonymous graves, the continuous torture and murder of political opponents and of peaceful dissidents alike. Ellian writes: “The ruling elite is despised by the people…your puppet Ahmadinejad is reviled. The revolution that had begun in freedom, ended in the rule of President Ahmadinejad, with anti-Semitism and Holocaust denial…many like me feel a deep shame at this uncivilized and un-Persian anti-Semitism.”

While noting that the “mothers of the members of my family who were executed will never forgive you,” Ellian nevertheless promises Khamenei that “they will let you withdraw peacefully, for the sake of freedom and of their grandchildren.” Ellian’s Ph.D thesis is on the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Based on this work, Ellian believes that it is, theoretically, possible “for a political transition to take place peacefully (in Iran) and without the shedding of blood.”

I know, I know: Moussavi (unless he’s just had a massive change of heart and mind), is not that different from Amadinejad. I realize that the people are not just risking their lives because of uncounted votes; rather, they are protesting thirty years of being confined in a prison state. I know that women’s rights are key to their protest. Even Moussavi has called for an end to the stoning of women.

Soona Samsani is a religious Iranian Muslim who lives in exile but who never ceases to fight for Iran’s freedom. She is a member of the National Council of Resistance, a group led by Maryam Rajavi that has wrongfully been classified as a “terrorist” group.

Samsani is the one who helped organize a very impressive United States Senate press hearing on the matter of Iran. I spoke for her group in D.C., about Islamic gender apartheid on a panel whose words were beamed up live via satellite into Europe, the Middle East, and Iran and simultaneously translated into Farsi, Kurdish, and Arabic.

I again spoke for her at the United Nations where I saw Samsani personally and impressively face down eight hijabbed members of the Iranian delegation. She also organized the Iranians who “sat in” to protest Amadinejad at the United Nations. In fact, she came to visit and brought two other Iranians along, including a Zoroastrian—a very sweet man who described the extraordinary persecution of his people by the Islamist Iranians.

Samsani responded to my note of concern and support in this way: “Please write a story in support of women and youth in Iran demonstrating. So many killed today.” Others have told me that at least 40% of the demonstrators are women. There have been some unconfirmed reports that, in the last 24 hours, women have been shot on sight for not wearing any—or for not wearing proper—“covering.” She told me about the very large rally just held in Paris. Now, she tells me this:

“Hundreds of students from universities in Tehran, Esfahan, Shiraz and many other cities have been arrested in recent days. Agents of the mullahs’ notorious Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS) late on Tuesday raided the dormitory for female students at Abu-Ali Sina University in Hamedan. They assaulted the female students and arrested a number of them, dragging them on the ground into vehicles belonging to the MOIS.”

I wonder whether or when American and European feminists will stand up for the women and pro-women activists risking their lives in Teheran? I have just been told that the long-time NOW leadership has been ousted and that a new day has dawned. Stay tuned for more details. I will certainly press them to issue a statement on behalf of freedom in Iran.

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28 Comments

1. Pajamas Media » Why Should Obama Speak Out on Iran? Let Me Count the Ways:

[...] Rosett, Richard Fernandez, Phyllis Chesler and Ron [...]

Jun 21, 2009 - 10:32 am 2. MiamaMan:

Karma has its ways. For Khamenei, Ahmadinejad, and the others, it could be pay back time. We do not know yet. As you mentioned, and, as expected, the arrests must be in the hundreds if not thousands already. The wheels of torture and evil are grinding today in Iran.

The silence of President Obama is deafening. I would like to tell him: “Mr. President, please forget the entire political BS, whether there will be influence from your intervention, and get on your pulpit and denounce them, as America had always done, in favor of the downtrodden, the oppressed, and the weak, don’t be a coward”.

I know, I was once picked up by the G2 at 3 AM, thrown in jail, beaten and tortured by people of similar mind frame, and of my own race, just for wanting to be free. I saw profound hate on their faces. And who came to my help? Good old USA. That’s why I kiss the soil of this blessed country.

Jun 21, 2009 - 10:50 am 3. George Jochnowitz:

In March of 1989, while waiting on line in Beijing to get into the new Kentucky Fried Chicken, I had a conversation with some visitors from Iran. The woman at the end of the line asked where I was from, and then said, “We are old friends.”

I must have looked surprised. “The mullahs are not your friends and are not our friends,” she said. “WE are old friends.”

This was way back in March 1989. Beijing Spring had not yet begun.

Jun 21, 2009 - 10:50 am 4. Z Budapest:

Darling Phyllis!
Obama “bowed” to the Saudi King because he was in a wheel chair! The king is OLD! Please, lets not project on our hard working persident a false sense of humbleness.
And what could we do other then jawbone the situation? How much good would that do to the young Iranians? They have to slug this out on their own. If we cannot back it up with something real, jawboning seems cheep dont you think?

Jun 21, 2009 - 11:02 am 5. David Thomson:

“If America does anything, we will be accused of “colonialism, racism, imperialism, and over-reaching.”

The irony is that Barack Obama did not have to “take sides.” He merely needed to exhort the mullahs to live up to their explicit promises. Did they not guarantee the elections would be fair? Were these men of the cloth lying? Iran is also a member of the United Nations and supposedly supports the right of its citizens to demonstrate in a peaceful manner. Alas, it’s too late now. Obama missed his opportunity. Speaking out now makes the president seem like the gambler who wants to place a bet after the race is over.

A large percentage of Iranians perceive themselves to be Caucasian. They are therefore stunned to learn that America’s politically correct elites consider them to be dark skinned victims of white oppression! But that is indeed the case. Life can be so funny.

Jun 21, 2009 - 11:03 am 6. MiamaMan:

4. Z Budapest:

[Darling Phyllis!
Obama “bowed” to the Saudi King because he was in a wheel chair! The king is OLD! Please, lets not project on our hard working persident a false sense of humbleness.]

Darling, check video below, tell me where is the wheel chair. Or may be your sense of humor is too subtle for me, I am sorry. Just stop the video at “Obama’s lowest point”, notice how funny it is, about a foot lower than the lofty “King”.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WlqW6UCeaY

Jun 21, 2009 - 11:21 am 7. Howard Rotberg:

The war between radical Islam and the West is a test of wills. When your President Obama rationalizes his lack of support for the necessary revolution in Iran, it is because he fears the Islamists’ threats that America do nothing or risk derailing whatever progress has been made. This is an argument of the Islamist regime in Iran, not of the protesters/revolutionaries. Obama submits to these threats, just as he submits on every aspect of Islamism – deep bows to the Saudi king. making the repair of relations between Muslim countries and the U.S. the sole responsibility of America, rewriting Jewish history to make the establishment of the state of Israel, not the culmination of a 3500 year history in the land, but, just as the antisemitic Islamists state, a result of the Holocaust only, praising Muslims inappropriately (“throughout history, Islam has demonstrated through words and deeds the possibilities of religious tolerance”) and doing everything possible to have one of the greatest countries in terms of the protection of individual rights and liberties submit its values to those of the Islamists. The Islamists know it is a test of wills, and they think they are winning.
I write this from the Western Galilee, where Jews, Druze, Arab Christians and Muslims live peacefully. Peace is possible without submitting to alien values. Just convince the Europeans, before their countries collapse completely to stand with the U.S., not to pressure the one liberal democracy in the Middle East, but to pressure the Iranian regime and the various Palestinian groups including Iranian proxies Hamas and Hezbullah that use torture, intimidation, brainwashing and the propogation of hatred and weapons in place of progress and peace. It is time for Americans to take to the streets also – to protest a President who does indeed agree with his former Preacher that America is a damned country – before one of the brightest lights in human history fades before the onrushing jihadism, shihadism, abuse of women and young people, and opposition to fundamental human freedoms,

Jun 21, 2009 - 11:32 am 8. Ted Wisniewski:

We should all be awed and moved by what’s unfolding in Iran, wherever we normally reside on the political spectrum. It’s unfortunate you had to engage this historically special moment with an anti-Obama article, with comments on his “appearance and image,” etc. We might disagree with Obama’s initial tactics of “treading carefully,” but there are some smart people who do agree with them and they’re not all leftists, Phyllis. Senator Lugar isn’t a leftist. Neither am I. Like so many others we want these demonstrators who have put their lives on the line to succeed in bringing about change. We also know that fundamentalist hardliners in Iran would just love to have blamed all of this on America from the outset. How to respond to this challenge has been and is no easy affair, and you should not reduce it to a ding-dong dispute between Ivy League leftists and rightists.

Jun 21, 2009 - 12:27 pm 9. Norman Simms:

Dear Phyllis

I have deep reservations about the so-called moderates and rebels in Iran. My gut feelings are with the street protesters, and yet revolutions have a way of devouring their own children. Mousavi was in charge during the war with Iraq. But anything that will stabilize the regime must be good, and a destabilized Iramn may not be able to support Hizbollah and Hamas.

Jun 21, 2009 - 1:43 pm 10. Self-hating Boomer:

If America does anything, we will be accused of “colonialism, racism, imperialism, and over-reaching.”

Why are so many protest signs in English?

Jun 21, 2009 - 1:45 pm 11. George Washington:

Phyllis whta on earth do you want the man (obama) to do–declare war? These folks out there in the streets are NOT friends of Israel, you, Netanyhu & the tribe. They want democracy yes…but they also want iPods, nosejobs, AnnTaylor Loft and Xbox. It is as much about a social paradigm shift domestically as it is their self vision. None of these folks want, say, the return of the Shah, or being a US puppet. They might not want the return of the Caliphate (come on, Phyllis, only the loonies–the equivalent of our own wingnut right) but they are religious, and they are nationalistic. As middle class, educated younger people, they merely have aspirations separate and apart from the rural hyperreligious sots (something analogous to the USA as well). That’s what this is all about, so what, then is Obama to do? Demanding more is utterly foolish. I heard one idiot on Fox (of course) say: “They’ll accuse us of meddling and fronting for Israel anyway, so we may as well meddle and front for Israel.” huh?

Jun 21, 2009 - 3:42 pm 12. Still4Hill:

Phyllis – Thanks for this and I promise to start doing more than sitting on Twitter and RTing everything – but some of that seems urgent right now. Especially embassy maps, first aid instructions etc.

@Z Budapest: Please do NOT! Do not tell me that I did not see what I saw! Do not pat my little blonde head and tell me you know so much more than I do. I have seen WAY TOO MUCH of that over the past year!

@ David Thomson Iranians are the original Aryans. Caucasians are all people to the west of the Caucasus Mountains. They ARE white.

Jun 21, 2009 - 3:46 pm 13. We didn’t vote for him » Blog Archive » Chesler Chronicles » Obama Fiddles While Iran Burns:

[...] Chesler Chronicles » Obama Fiddles While Iran Burns. This entry was posted on Sunday, June 21st, 2009 at 3:58 pm and is filed under Dems hangout. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site. [...]

Jun 21, 2009 - 5:13 pm 14. Obama Fiddles While Iran Burns « Looney Left:

[...] via Chesler Chronicles » Obama Fiddles While Iran Burns. [...]

Jun 21, 2009 - 5:16 pm 15. Violet:

While Ahmedinejad’s supporters are chanting “Death to America, Death to Britain, Death to Isreal”, there are Iranians who wish that the United States would offer their support.
I appreciate Ms Chesler’s valid concerns and good intentions but every once in a blue moon I have to disagree with her.
I very much believe that the Iranian people are more than capable of sorting out their own problems and to imply otherwise would be insulting. I fear that any outside interference may prove pejorative.
I am not one to be concerned with political correctness or how Americans may be percieved by the international community, but if the Iranian people want their freedom they will have to fight for it.

Jun 21, 2009 - 5:19 pm 16. john from cinncinatti:

you wanted moderate Muslims to stand up and be counted. well you got them by the thousands, will the real president of the USA stand with them!!!!!!

Jun 21, 2009 - 5:35 pm 17. MiamaMan:

4. Z Budapest:

Where is the wheel chair, please? Am I missing something here?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WlqW6UCeaY

11. Still4Hill:

[@ David Thomson Iranians are the original Aryans. Caucasians are all people to the west of the Caucasus Mountains. They ARE white.]

There is an Indo-Iranian language and culture. Iran’s Zoroastrian religion, not differently from others, was overtaken by Islam in the 7th century, refugees went to India (Gujarat), and that is where it still survives as a religion (they call them Parsis in India). Although Iranians can be loosely cataloged within the white race, the term Aryan I would reserve, as used in the Vedas, for a certain type of person, a certain behavior, and not a race. For example, I totally reject the so-called Aryan invasion of India, it never happened.

9. Self-hating Boomer:

[Why are so many protest signs in English?]

Good point, John McCain agreed with you yesterday at Fox’s Hannity’s show.

Jun 21, 2009 - 6:33 pm 18. David Thomson:

“[@ David Thomson Iranians are the original Aryans. Caucasians are all people to the west of the Caucasus Mountains. They ARE white.]”

I completely agree—but that’s not how the politically correct leftists perceive the Iranians. They see darker skin people, however slightly, who often wear flowing robes and turbans on their head. What can I tell you? I only live in the world and am not responsible for the craziness of others. Ever heard of the term “Hispanic?” What sense does that make? I can assure you of this much: when the leftists saw the Ayatollah Khomeini—they did not mistake him for Bubba who lives in the deepest part of Mississippi.

Jun 21, 2009 - 6:57 pm 19. Greenconsciousness:

I am urging people, especially women, to wear green bracelets in solidarity with our Iran sisters and brothers – will you do it ? And tell others?

Jun 21, 2009 - 7:30 pm 20. Lawrence Kohn:

Just remember Mousavi’s connections to the Tudeh party and Hizballah and the KGB. Vocal support for Iranians in the street is worthwhile but we really don’t know if genuine democratic forces will emerge or just “reformers” who are not democrats. Yeltsin was not a democrat thought the US thought he was. We were entranced by the August coup which featured Gorbachev somehow able to make a video broadcast to the world while under house arrest and the black berets somehow just couldn’t bring themselves to shoot Yeltsin on his tank nor even cut his lines of communication. When Yeltsin got in all of Russia’s dictatorial allies continued to be fed weapons and political support and Yeltsin built a new nuclear weapon. He stayed long enough for Russia to be taken into Western economic institutions, for Bush I to end the technology restrictions and Clinton to cut the military. Then off Yeltsin went not before appointing Putin and then the KGB re-emerged publicly. So, what is going on in Iran. We just don’t know. So we need to stress our goals and values but avoid picking a reformist horse and we need to keep our eye on the nuclear ball. No matter who emerges it is important to set back Iran’s march to nukes.

Jun 21, 2009 - 8:33 pm 21. David W. Lincoln:

Lawrencekohn, sometimes you have to work with what you have. In other words, go with the bird
in hand, rather than count on getting the two in the bush.

Mousavi could be a transitional figure, but I am willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.

Just as Dubcek wanted to introduce, “Socialism with a human face”, he learned enough in the 21 years between the “Prague Spring” and the Velvet Revolution, that “Socialism with a human face” makes as much
sense as putting pancake makeup on a corpse.

For, the best way for one area of life to defend itself from another area of life is to
have a stronger hold on the univeral. Which,
to my knowledge, is a succinct summary of Baconism.

Jun 21, 2009 - 9:19 pm 22. Sylvie7:

Your comments are so right and well thought out. Those kids have the guts to stand up to the authorities unarmed. They for the most part are not hiding their faces. Some of their confrontations have taken place in and in front of the University. The same location the Shah sent his Savak in the long ago days before the “revolution.” These kids are so heroic and inspiring and genuine. They are refreshing after the staged political campaigns in our country. They want real freedoms, things we enjoy all the time, and take completely for granted. So where is our new leader? Where is his passion? Where is his forceful support for this generation of Iranians. Apparently, no one has scripted it yet. This is the “Messiah” who mesmerized our youth, youth which has not learned to distinquish between cold reality and the biases of our media.

Jun 21, 2009 - 9:42 pm 23. MiamaMan:

21. David W. Lincoln:

[For, the best way for one area of life to defend itself from another area of life is to
have a stronger hold on the universal. Which,
to my knowledge, is a succinct summary of Baconism.]

Way before Bacon, his “Idolas” and his “The New Atlantis”, the SANITY of “taking a strong hold on the universal” was extolled in the Vedas, precisely in the Vedanta or Upanishadic philosophy. It is a cornerstone of the Vedantic phylosophy.

Take for example one the shortest, but no less important, The Isha Upanishad (only 18 verses).

Shloka (verse) 1 states:

“All this is for habitation of the Lord, whatsoever is individual universe of movement in the universal motion. By that renounced thou shouldst enjoy; lust not after any man’s possession.”

and Shloka 2:

“Doing verily works in this world one should wish to live one hundred years. Thus it is in thee and not otherwise than this; action cleaves not to a man.”

WHATSOEVER IS INDIVIDUAL UNIVERSE OF MOVEMENT IN THE UNIVERSAL MOTION:

a) Requires not regarding the universe as an object of possession.
b) Proposes liberation of the spirit from craving after the forms of things.
c) The terms are freedom from egoism and from personal desires.
d) The attitude is founded on the perception of unity.

Transcending the Ego and realizing the one Self, we possess the whole universe in the one cosmic consciousness, THUS DO NOT NEED TO POSSESS PHYSICALLY.

So, the winning formula is not to defend oneself from one area of life to another, but, instead, to encompass the realization of the whole life.

This freedom, the Upanishad confirms, does not depend upon inaction; alas, the doing of works in the material world is accepted, without cleaving to its fruits by ceasing to identify oneself with the movements, recovering the true identity in the Self of things who is their Lord.

Jun 22, 2009 - 5:27 am 24. Gerlad M. D.:

Isn’t it amazing how they were able to count and total hand written cast votes in less time than we can get results in the States with our electronic votes?

The only thing better is publishing the final count before the first vote is even cast.

Jun 22, 2009 - 5:30 am 25. C. Whipple:

It is important for us as a country and for our leaders as US citizens to stand up for Freedom everywhere! Because this is what our basic principles are all about. Whenever anyone here fails to do this they are actively failing themselves. Humans have a need for freedaom and the USA is the first country ever to fully recognize this fact and impliment it in its laws (Constitution). As our present leader now fails to take a stand for freedom with Iran, ask yourself why? and where that places our country now.

Jun 22, 2009 - 10:53 am 26. SportLife » Obama Fiddles While Iran Burns:

[...] and reading the news about what is happening in the streets of Teheran. I’ve also been contacti Go to Source Leave a comment Related PostsJune 19, 2009 — Can Enterprise 2.0 Afford to be Boring? (0)June [...]

Jun 22, 2009 - 1:36 pm 27. chi hair straightener:

I have a story.one mother says she’s aware something is very wrong, but she doesn’t want to hear about it because she just wants to “be with her children and see them grow up happy.” I tell her ,“But, if we don’t stop this, your children may not get to grow up at all.” so basically, she’s using her kids as an excuse for her own inability to face reality.

Jun 23, 2009 - 12:18 am 28. Solkhar:

There was no wheelchair, he was in it before hand at various times. Health issues. I am not sure if that made for Obama to be a bit unsure and over-cautious but the other issue is height, standing a little too far away than he should have – either way it turned out bad and those on the right are trying very hard to cash in on it.

As for Iran, so what can he do, he has condemned the crackdown, anymore and he will set backards the opportunity to communicate with the government there – a serious diplomatic mistake. The time now is for constructive engagement. Face it, if Obama had not started the process of constructive engagement with Iran, these demonstrations may not even have happened as they did, so for me the very willingness in his Cairo speech to be the first US President to go out of his way to admit that there is a world out there other than that of the USA has started a process.

Jun 24, 2009 - 4:27 pm