Isolationism is said to be the biggest problem with culturism. Culturism is defined as a philosophy that holds that majority cultures have a right to define, defend and promote themselves. That would include Iran’s majority culture.
Iran has recently had huge protests contesting what many think to be a stolen election. My heart goes out to those who defy Ahmadinejad. But according to Pamela Geller, the alternate candidate, Moussavi, helped start Hezballah, created Iran’s intelligence service. Other sources confirm his leadership in the Ayatollah’s 1979 revolution.
One of my oldest dearest friends is an Iranian who toured Iran a few months back. Even in defending Iran, she noted that, as here, those in the heartland are way more conservative than those in the city. Today she estimates that about 35% of Iranians would “be okay with an Islamic government.” Though some fraud occurred, those in Tehran, like those in NYC, SF and LA, may miscalculate the national election results.
I spoke with a man who was leaving a rally in support of the Iranian protesters. He supported Obama’s handling of this situation. If we started to heavily and overtly interfere in Iranian affairs, he said, it would unite the country under the present rulers. I agree. Were China to invade us, all domestic squabbles would be off.
That said, as a culturist, I would never invite Ahmadnejad’s reps to a 4th of July party as Obama has. Why not? Because Iran is threatening to blow up an ally, is working towards nukes and supports terrorism. Iran has a right to be Islamic, but culturism gives no green light to the annihilation of other nations. As nukes are not a part of their traditional culture, culturism would not argue against destroying their nuclear sites.
But after we take out Iran’s nuclear sites, culturism would not suggest an Iraqi style occupation of the nation in order to make them a secular progressive democracy. I hope culturism is wrong and that the people of Islamic nations really support Israel, America's success, and our right to be infidels. But, resentment of the US is high throughout the Islamic world.
Yesterday reporters noted protesters were yelling “Allah Akbar, Death to the Dictator.” Let us not get gullible. Thankfully my Muslim friend denounces the Ayatollah’s choosing of candidates. But fundamentalism runs strong in Iran. Culturism denounces Muslim immigration because many folks take their religion seriously. Culturism considers it unsafe to take the stance that most peoples are lovers of secular progressivism.
As a culturist I do not hesitate to denounce Ahmadinejad as a dangerous thug and am happy to see his hold destabilized. I would like Obama to denounce repression. But, overt U.S. interference would undercut the protesters’ gains. Culturism would strongly denounce accepting refugees on a human rights basis. If financial aid is to flow to any foreign nation, let’s make it an ally. Mousavi is not our friend. Culturism would not expect Iran to be our ally any time soon.
PS I imagine I'll get some hostile comments from this post. I will return to my home this evening to look for them and learn from them. I hope that I am wrong. But, ala Tarantino, I will not put my gun down first.
4 comments:
John,
I don't think that any of us here are so gullible as to believe that Iran under Mousavi could be our ally.
If the United States does speak up in favor of freedom, who will? France and Germany, apparently.
What I find significant right now in Iran is the crack in the mullocracy, the viability of Islamic theocracy.
The Iranian people, many of whom are tech savvy, see from the Internet that their lives do not have to be one of oppression. I think that the United States should encourage them and uphold them -- not financially, though.
Always On Watch,
I agree, at this point, just about anything that could cause the Mullahs to loose some of their power would be a good thing. I personally doubt that Iran will become a genuine secular liberal democracy any time soon, but given the Mullah's determination to destroy, us, anything that could weaken their absolute hold on power, might be in our favor, especially since it might make it harder for them to fund terrorism.
AOW,
I hope this is a protest again Mullocracy (great term). Even if the elections toppled the Mullocracy, would Iran become an ally?
I totally agree with you and Damien, that anything that hurts Ackmaadinnerjihad, is good.
It would be very worrisome if Moussavi got in power and we saw him as a good guy reformer we could do business with. That would make us overly Obama-esque.
BTW, does the fact that this happened under Obama make it a vindication of the Obama doctrine? OOohhh, ignore that joke, I don't want to get banned from IBA!!! : )
Not that I have given as much thought to the subject as you have, Culturist John, but the Pastorius School of Culturism teaches that it is incumbent upon the dominant culture ( and that is unequivocally US) to do away with violent cultures through extreme programs of Imperialism and reeducation over decades.
That's the only thing that's going to fix the problems presented by the Islamic world.
It's a small world after all, and there is not room for the both of us.
We can not live with them, especially as things are, with them holding the oil card.
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