MAY 1 WORKER'S DAY SIGNS: CLICK TO ENLARGE AND PRINT

Votes Turn Map Green

Share this! Each time you vote for ATTN: Mr. Democrat, the country you are in turns slightly greener on the Google analytics map. Here's how to vote:

1.) Sign in to YouTube.

2.) Go to  http://www.youtube.com/democracychallenge

3.) Click on VOTE button.

4.) Search for ATTN: Mr. Democrat and click on it when it comes up.

5.) Enjoy the video and click the green "thumbs up" button.

Vote once a day. Tell your friends! Competition ends June 15th.

Watch the world turn green! ATTN: Mr. Democrat Google analytics map http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KI6oOgG-HRg&feature=player_embedded

To help promote the video, LIKE the page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Vote-FREDs-video-to-victory/124935710859617?ref=ts , and suggest it to friends.

  

If you have time, also support the video from Azerbaijan, "Democracy is…POSSIBLE"! It's great too, and Azerbaijan is in Europe/Eurasia--not in competition with ATTN: Mr. Democrat, from the Near East.

Sex Laws in Iran: Rapper Discusses Consequences

                                                                                photoshopped photo: Reza

by Julie Jigsawnovich

READER DISCRETION: L

Yesterday a teenage gangsta rapper friend in Tehran posted a general question for any friends to answer:

Reza: "Why do they become homosexual when there's a lot of girls?" :D

JJ: They are narcissistic sometimes. Or sometimes their grandma did something to them when they were little that freaked them out later. Or sometimes they were just born gay--and even if they try to get excited about females, they are still more excited by males. That's just what is natural for some people.

Reza: Yes, that's true outside of Iran! Because if you walk with your girlfriend in Iran, you will get caught by cops and get f*cked up! Or if that didn't happen, you will get caught by your parents (some parents are like that) and they will knock you out! So you will be scared that, "Oh, no more girlfriend." So you will go and have physical contact with boys, and you will think, "Oh yeah, I'm havin' contact with a girl." And suddenly you'll hear a sound like "But I have a d*ck, you dumb ass."

And I really hate it when two boys are kissing each other! (UGHH) wtf! I can even give them free non-haram girls so it won't be a sin anymore! Go and have fun with them!

JJ: Iran is so strict about dating, romance and sexuality that it actually drives young people into gay relationships. But gay people in Iran can be executed, which is terrible.

Can you explain to me the difference between haram and non-haram girls?

Reza: "Haram" means "not legal". But non-haram = Sighe movaghat [temporary marriage] =)) :)) [emoticons expressing laughter]--the thing that mullahs [clerics] are always doing! It's like a woman who lost her husband comes to mullah to ask for some help, saying, "Hello Mr. Haj, sir! I lost my husband, now I need some help. I have two orphan kids." And Haj agha [sir] will be like, "Ooowww that's grrrreaat! Inshallah [God willing] get ready for..."sighe" [temporary marriage]--and that's a big help for you."

Yesterday I saw a mullah in a taxi that had 40 sighe wives! WHAT???? 40??? I don't know how he can call them, like, "Hey my 27th sighe wife, come here for some hot non-haram f*ck."

And they will ruin the true Islam! And thats f*cked up! That's why many young people convert to other religions!

JJ: Aha, non-haram is temporary marriage! 40 sighe wives! They would need a bus! So maybe the mullahs like it when people are poor and desperate because it means cheap, easy sex for them?

Reza: Yeah, exactly! So they don't have to pay!

JJ: You mean so they don't have to pay a prostitute, or so they don't have to pay to support a regular wife?

Reza: In fact both of 'em! First of all, according to true Islam, "marrying or temporarily marrying a prostitute is haram." Mullahs do it now, but they have to pay money! So they don't wanna pay money, and they're looking for a woman whose husband is dead or left her! And also, they do not really support the woman! They just give them little foods and beat her child!

JJ: Beat the child to make the cleric seem like he is moral, even though he is not?

Reza: I don't know why they beats them! Last week I saw a mullah beat a 17year old girl in front of us, in the street! He punched the girl and said, "You don't have to call him again, I'm your stepfather!" And me and our friends went there and beat the mullah!

JJ: Wow! Was this in Tehran?

Reza: Yeah! We live in Tehran.

JJ: How did the girl react when you beat the mullah?

Reza: She said, "Thank you," and left!

JJ: Eyval!!!!!!!!!!! (You did a good thing.) You are a good man!

Reza: LOL (Laughing out loud)! Thanks!

JJ: Can you tell me more about the true Islam that they are ruining? Tell me more about how it is supposed to be?

Reza: Well, according to Dr.Shariati, the man who wanted to show the true Islam--but they killed him, he said that other religions such as Paganism and...that were in the past--in those religions it says you are what you are! God made you like that! If you don't know anything, if you're poor, it is what it is! But Islam (true version) is against this, and said you must have knowledge! You must have a great civilization. Work! Think! And also in "vaen yakad" a thing in Quran, it says that "Religion is not obligatory!" But now they're saying if you are not Shi'a, then you must die! But when Muhammad & twelve Imams came to show the people true Islam some guys who claimed they were Muslim, while in fact they were not--Like Muawiah, they start ruining it. And after that, some Iranian mullahs! In fact Islam is for the knowledge, is for the better life! But they are ruining it! Go and buy Dr. Shariati's "Religion against Religion" book, and read it! It's really great!

JJ: Wow! "Religion against Religion" sounds good! Who killed Dr. Shariati?

Reza: I don't know! Some years before the revolution, while Shariati was in London, some men rushed into his hotel and beat him, then killed him with oxygen injection! I think maybe it was mullahs' work because they were about to start the Revolution, and they didn't want people to know about true Islam. Or maybe British government sent them to kill him because they also didn't wanted people to know about true Islam!

JJ: I would like to publish this on http://jigsawnovich.blogspot.com. Do I have your permission?

Reza: LOL! Go on! Publish everything from me!

Sign for Protest at UN on May 3rd

by Julie JIgsawnovich

Something we all can agree on? Here's my new slogan. Feel free to print it out and bring it to the park across from the United Nations headquarters 10am-12noon tomorrow--at 47th Street and 1st Avenue, in Manhattan. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is scheduled to speak in the morning as part of the summit on nuclear non-proliferation. There are many reasons to strongly dislike Ahmadinejad, and these will surely be expressed at the UN--and at the Millennium Hotel if he does indeed stay there.

World Press Distracted by Boobquake while Iran Maneuvers Into Women's Rights Commission

by Julie Jigsawnovich

Blogger Jennifer McCreight, who created Boobquake, must now use her marketing skills, new-found fame, and press contacts to seriously address international women's rights. And organizations seeking to elevate women's rights must acknowledge the power that sexuality has in marketing to the West. The fine lines between freedom of expression, distraction, empowerment, exploitation and oppression may have entered public debate between Islam and the West in new ways thanks (there's some irony here) to McCreight and the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Fox New reports:
"NEW YORK — Without fanfare, the United Nations this week elected Iran to its Commission on the Status of Women, handing a four-year seat on the influential human rights body to a theocratic state in which stoning is enshrined in law and lashings are required for women judged 'immodest.'

"Just days after Iran abandoned a high-profile bid for a seat on the U.N. Human Rights Council, it began a covert campaign to claim a seat on the Commission on the Status of Women, which is "dedicated exclusively to gender equality and advancement of women," according to its website.
Buried 2,000 words deep in a U.N. press release distributed Wednesday on the filling of 'vacancies in subsidiary bodies,' was the stark announcement: Iran, along with representatives from 10 other nations, was "elected by acclamation," meaning that no open vote was requested or required by any member states — including the United States."

Meanwhile, the Official facebook page for Boobquake gathered 213,899 confirmed guests (myself among them), and 70,619 guests maybe attending.

In her article for The Daily Beast, Jennifer McCreight, the blogger who initiated Boobquake includes information about the press she received regarding the event. McCreight reports that, "I was interviewed by CNN, BBC, CBC, ABC, FOX, WLFI (our local news affiliate), and that’s just naming a few. Articles about Boobquake appeared on every continent except Antarctica…Boobquake received support and commentary from people like Roger Ebert, Penn Jillette, Phil Plait from the Bad Astronomy blog, “The Bloggess,” Bill Corbett of Mystery Science Theater and Philip DeFranco, the video blogger. But the cherry on top was a skit about Boobquake on the Colbert Report."

With international press frothing over Boobquake, who covered the letter signed by international women's rights, human rights, and anti-violence groups and notable Iranian activists both inside and outside Iran sent to the U.N. ? Well, Radio Zamaneh and En.IranGreenVoice.com reported it. I hope others also reported this letter.

This article posted by S.B. Anderlini, Hadi Ghaemi, and Dokhi Fassihian on ForeignPolicy.com expressed the devastating implications of Iran having a seat on the UN Commission on the Status of Women, including:

"First, Iran will claim the win as a major diplomatic victory and indication of an international community that supports and respects it. Second, as a member of the CSW Iran will be well placed to shape the agenda for discussion and the recommendations made. It will bring the same regressive attitudes and cynicism towards women that it enacts in Iran to the global community. No doubt it will have cheerleaders among other nations that prefer to see women as second class citizens.

"Finally, as a CSW member, Iran will be well placed to block the participation of independent women's human rights groups from UN forums, while easing the way for its many counterfeit or ‘government-led non-governmental organizations' (GONGOs) to participate at the UN as if they are legitimate independent civil society and human rights defenders."

PROTEST AT THE U.N. AGAINST AHMADINEJAD SCHEDULED FOR MONDAY

I enjoyed drawing this. Synchronizing Roman letters with Arabic Persian script was a nice challenge. This phrase is my response to Ayatollah Kazem Sedighi's blaming women for earthquakes. Here are earlier versions.

British-Iraqi Rapper Lowkey is in New York

by Julie Jigsawnovich


Tonight British-Iraqi, Palestinian and American rappers will perform and have a panel discussion at 7:30pm in Held Auditorium, Barnard College in Manhattan. They are seeking to promote Hip Hop as a means of addressing social justice problems.

Included will be MC Lowkey, a half-British half-Iraqi rapper, who created a song called, "Long Live Palestine" together with Palestinian, Syrian, Iranian and American rappers. Part 2 of the song specifically addresses the Israeli bombing of Gaza.

I saw Lowkey speak on a panel with Professor Norman Finkelstein, Jody McIntyre, Jajla Said, Hurriyah, Lamis Deek, MC Immortal Technique, MC Hasan Salaam and others a few nights ago at Alwan for the Arts in Manhattan. Key points generally advocated during the discussions were: 1.) Ending ethic cleansing of Palestinians 2.) Equal rights for Palestinians and Jews 3.) A secular, non-racist government which would govern a single state which would include what is currently named Israel and the Palestinian Territories. The majority on the panel didn't seem to believe a two-state solution is feasible any longer.

Although some of their ideas may seem politically radical within the generally pro-Israel context of New York, they reflected a spirit of fairness rather than retribution. And the proposals were based on reason rather than religion. In fact there was a marked absence of religious and/or violent rhetoric. Although the speakers were passionate, their language was not fiery.

During the discussion, MC Lowkey did mention the level of military support the U.S. gives to Israel. And Lowkey recently made a song and video bitterly critical of President Obama, and of specific historical and current U.S. foreign policies and actions. The irony of course, is that his right to make these criticisms here in the U.S. is guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution, by American cultural norms and even, one could argue, by U.S. foreign policies and military actions which have defended freedom of speech. Yet Lowkey's criticisms have an element of Kant's Categorical Imperative. As part of the process of finding out whether something is morally correct, one asks oneself--how would the world be if everyone did the same thing I want to do?

I talked to Lowkey briefly before the panel discussion, and showed him An Open Letter of Reconciliation and Responsibility written by two former specialists, U.S. Army--one of whom carried the 10 year old Iraqi girl in his arms in the infamous "Collateral Damage" video leaked to Wikileaks--as he sought to bring her to medical treatment. Lowkey responded to my placing this letter in his hands by saying, "I wondered how it was for the people there on the ground." He told me he would read the letter later in private. It will be interesting to find out his response to it, and see him speak again tonight.

I truly cherish the rights to free speech and public debate so associated with America. This country gave birth to Hip Hop. It's hopeful to see people from other countries exploring the constructive potential of this art form, especially when they advocate winning hearts and minds for positive social change rather than advocating violence. And when they have such mad skills and flow on the mike!

Drunk Girls PSA

Didn't like this video at first. But after a friend posted on Facebook that he passed out from drinking for the first time...well, I admire LCD Soundsystem for producing this entertaining public service announcement.

Support Science, Sexual Freedom & Personal Responsibility

by Julie Jigsawnovich

I drew this freehand with pencil and paper today.  It could make a good stencil. Perhaps people in oppressive places will want to make posters or t-shirts with my design. If you do-- in a country that does not block websites--please include my site address. Kheyli mamnoon.


It says:
man elm , azadie jensi va masooliat e fardi ra hemayat mikonam
I support science, sexual freedom and personal responsibility.

Israel, Iran, Hizbullah and the NPT

by Julie Jigsawnovich


I think Sepah (Iran's Revolutionary Guards) and Hizbullah probably do want nuclear weapons simply for the prestige and fear they generate--if nothing else. But Israel having nuclear weapons certainly feeds that desire. And Israel's nuclear threat is used by Iran's regime in their effort to rally support. 


Getting Israel to sign the non-proliferation treaty could erode what popular support remains in Iran for the brutality exhibited by Sepah and military Basij under Supreme Leader Khameini on behalf of alleged President Ahmadinejad.  And since support for them also entails financial support for Hizbollah, Israel should recognize that joining the NPT could help erode financial and popular support for Hizbullah. 


If this could also be explained to low income people in Iran who are benefiting from improvements and handouts from the Ahmadinejad administration, despite his mishandling of the economic issues--which has contributed to unemployment and inflation--and if the general public in Iran could see the Israeli bogeyman reduced so that less money seemed to be needed for defense, they might sigh a collective sigh of relief. Iranians have a lot of economic problems at home that need to be dealt with. Friends in Iran (including Muslims) have told me they would prefer that Iran's wealth benefit the citizens of Iran and their quality of life rather than be spent on Islamic hardline militants.

(I wrote this in response to Reza Aslan's "Stop Talking Down to Iran" in the Daily Beast.)

Re-writing History in Texas and Iran

by Julie Jigsawnovich


Iran's Education Minister set up a committee to eliminate kings from textbooks. That's a lot of kings! Iran's history goes back thousands of years!  Would the Minister like to pretend it only goes back to 1979? The ancient Iranian king, Soroush (Cyrus), wrote the first human rights document. Now the Education Minister wants to delete him altogether? http://www.iranian.com/main/2010/apr/removing-kings-history

The Texas School Board is considering removing Thomas Jefferson from the list of Enlightenment thinkers.  Jefferson was a strong proponent of the separation of church and state, in addition to drafting the American Declaration of Independence!  This is only one of many changes being considered.  The vote on changes is in May. http://english.aljazeera.net/news/americas/2010/04/20104933515560979.html

These proposed removals surely recall the character in George Orwell's book, 1984, whose job was to constantly remove anything and anyone from books and media that did not support propaganda currently put forth by Big Brother.  Will the book, 1984, itself is removed someday? --Julie Jigsawnovich

ARASH "DASA BALA" (OFFICIAL VIDEO) FEAT. TIMBUKTU, AYLAR & YAG

Young Iranian director and editor Fred Khoshtinat made this superb Arash video featuring starlet turned singer, Aylar Lie, and rappers Timbuktu and Yag. Fred also edited the music video sections of Bahman Ghobadi's Cannes award winning film, "Nobody Knows About the Persian Cats". Fans of Iran's Hip Hop culture may already be familiar with Fred's direction and editing via Hichkas' "Ye Mosht Sarbaz" video, and Taham's "Ghamnaameh" video. "Dasa Bala" is slang for "put your hands in the air" and "Googooli" is slang for "cute" in Persian/Farsi .--Julie Jigsawnovich


Click through for widescreen

International superstar Arash Labaf was born in Iran, and lives in Sweden. The platinum-selling singer and producer has had hits in Russia, Ukraine, Sweden, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Serbia, Greece, Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Iran, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, India, and the Arab Middle Eastern countries.

Young Iranian girl begging God to kill her and not let 4 Basiji men rape her

I don't understand Farsi well enough to verify that is what she is saying, so I'm hoping a Farsi speaker will verify it for me. I've been told that rape is against Islam. Will Basiji who are committing these crimes, and the regime allowing or encouraging these crimes, cause a splitting off of Basij who are allegedly moral and interested in social justice? Somebody made this audio recording.  And somebody leaked it somehow.  

Strategies for Green Outreach in Iran

by Julie Jigsawnovich

An Iranian friend asked me, "What do you think is the best method to get the Green Movement's aims across? The outreach is to get less well-off people in Iran to support the movement. If they do, we will succeed". I answered:

1. Give children's shoes to poor people. kafsh-e bachche be mardom faqir dahid.
2. Volunteer to teach people to read. mardom khaandan aamuzesh daad.
3. Volunteer in health clinics. dar darmangah ha nirooye davtalab begirid.
4. Volunteer in shelters for people at risk. dar panaahgah ha baraye mardom nirooye davtalab begirid.
Charity work matters a lot. Some mothers in Iran don't send their children to school because they don't have money to buy shoes for their children. And some mothers enroll their children in religious schools because they don't have enough money for other schools. Basij recruits are often from poor neighborhoods. There seems to be a lot of class snobbery in Iran. Maybe poor people are frustrated, and think the only way they can enjoy a reasonable standard of living is if they work for the security forces. Show them alternatives. Show how the Green Movement would improve their education, etc. for a better life--so they don't have to brutalize their fellow Iranians as their job. Another Iranian friend pointed out that, "Ahmadinejad gave poor people some foods and fruits before the election--then they submited their vote for him".

5. Show a plan for how the Green Movement would manage the resources and economy better. tarhi baraye inke chetor jonbeshe sabz betavanad eghtesad ra edare konad erae dahid.

6.Show people how they could make more money if trade sanctions were removed and normal trade relations established. be mardom neshan dahid ke agar tahrim ha bardashte shavad chegoone mitavanand poole bishtary be dast aavarand.

7. Show that Green Movement is against Israel building on East Jerusalem. That's a big selling point for the regime to attract the attention of Muslims. And they are correct on that point, anyway. It's not a radical position. Israel should not be building on Palestinian land. It's illegal and it must stop--even the chief of the United Nations said that.

8. Show Muslims and secular people working together and respecting each other. neshan dahid ke mardome secular va mardome mosalman mitavanand dar kenare ham zendegi konand va be yekdigar ehteram begzarand. Have secular Green Movement talk about the beauty of mosque architecture. Find Muslims living in secular countries who lead happy lives, do good works and practice their religion--and have them talk about what it is like for them living in a country with no Sharia laws.

9. Show people that the Green Movement is proud of Iranian history, and Eastern culture. be mardom neshan dahid ke jonbeshe sabz eftekhare tarikhe iranian va farhange shargh ast. And bring up the fact that the great Iranian leader Soroush (Cyrus) wrote the first human rights document, allowed people of different religions to practice their religions, and he freed slaves.

10. Show how laws must be reformed so that women's rights increase. neshan dahid ke chegoone ghavanin bayad dobare tadvin shavand agar hoghooghe zanaan bishtar shavad. Show which laws the Green Movement wants to reform so that women have more freedom not only in terms of what they choose to wear, but whether they want their children to live with them after a divorce, how much their testimony counts in court, whether they can be exonerated if they kill someone in self-defense, and whether they have access to abortion and to the morning after pill--at minimum in the case of rape. Address employment discrimination against women. There are more female college graduates than male, but fewer of them are hired. Plus, I've heard there are 100,000 prostitutes in Tehran, maybe more in Qom. Show them how the Green Movement could create opportunities for better jobs.

2nd UPDATE: I've received many responses to the ideas in this article, and will publish more of them soon in an upcoming article. Here's a lengthy response: http://jigsawnovich.blogspot.com/2010/04/basij-green-movement-social-justice-and.html

UPDATE: My friend Dalir said, "I'm all for the aforementioned ideas on how The Green Movement can reach Iranians. I would add: an overhaul of the judicial system, invest in education, technology (non-military), agriculture and medical related issues."

REVOLT Online Graffiti Exhibition at Dirty Pilot

by Julie Jigsawnovich

Graffiti is a felony in New York City, yet this town launched the international graffiti art movement. REVOLT is one of the founding fathers of this movement, and this show gives collectors the opportunity to snap up vibrant early works in addition to hot new REVOLT drawings and paintings. You can own a piece of history and show appreciation for a rebel artist who helped to revolutionize the urban landscape.

This fun-loving exhibition is a welcome contrast to the political hate graffiti that's been in the headlines lately.

"Born and raised in New York City, with graffiti roots in the early 70’s, REVOLT is an original member of the historic NYC subway graffiti crew, The Rolling Thunder Writers (RTW). Known for his ultra-colorful tags and elaborate pieces on the Broadway #1 line, with heavily influenced psychedelic and comic art stylings, and later, taking it “all-city”. With contributions to the seminal classic hip-hop films, “Wild Style and “Style Wars”, his participation in the 80’s East Village art gallery scene, variousmusic videos and, album covers, animation, comics, vinyl toy design, and creating the classic “YO! MTV Raps’ logo. His early 80’s tour of duty in the city of Baltimore is legendary, where he, like a “Messenger of Style”, singlehandedly kick-started a graffiti scene there that still feels his influence today." His place in the history of “graff-dom” is set.

"His work has been seen in various publications and art galleries globally. Recent collaborations and conspiracies include: Roger Waters’ Live Earth show, Pepsi, Mountain Dew, VH-1, Scion Installation, Swindle Magazine, Illmatic, ChocolateBar, Kid Robot, Dickies, The Stussy World Tour, E.S.P. The Tri-CoastalGraffiti Show, Juxtapoz, Sony Music, Graffiti: Spirit of an Age @ 40 × 10, Bethel Center For New Media Arts, Le TAG au Grand Palais, The Draw Show, Definition: The Art and Design of Hip-Hop, Nimbus Vapor, Back to the Fun Gallery @ Meltdown, NYC Black Book Masters, and Zune Arts." --Dirty Pilot press release

Consider Sanctions Against Israel

Knesset Member Aryeh Eldad compared British to dogs.

by Julie Jigsawnovich

There's a Persian saying that 'the yellow dog is the brother of the jackal.' In other words, the yellow dog cannot be controlled--it is not loyal like other dogs.

As Britain reacts to forged British passports possibly having been used by Israeli agents, Press TV reports: "The expulsion of an Israeli 'diplomat' from Britain over the terrorist murder of a Palestinian leader in Dubai has provoked outrage in the Israeli Knesset, comparing the British to 'dogs'. "I think [the] British are behaving hypocritically and I don't want to offend dogs on this issue, since some dogs are utterly loyal,' said Aryeh Eldad, National Religious Party lawmaker in the Israeli Knesset (parliament), quoted by the Sky News." (I take Iran state media Press TV with a grain of salt--but check the link. This was reported in Sky News.)

So, is Eldad implicitly saying the US are Israel's loyal "dogs"? The US carries the burden/moniker of being 'Israel's closest ally.' US taxpayers are stuck with billions of dollars in military aid to Israel each year. Yet Israel is biting the hand that feeds them in ignoring US demands that Israeli construction in occupied territories stop.

At the same time the US searches for a solution to what it perceives as a potential nuclear threat from the (coup government) of the Islamic Republic of Iran, perhaps the US should consider not only a sharp reduction in aid, but even sanctions --against Israel, not just Iran. The Israeli mistreatment of Palestinians is a major rallying point for the minority in Iran who still support Ahmadinejad and Supreme Leader Khameini.

"The enduring hostilities between Israel and some of its neighbors present distinct challenges to our ability to advance our interests in the AOR. Israeli-Palestinian tensions often flare into violence and large-scale armed confrontations. The conflict foments anti-American sentiment, due to a perception of U.S. favoritism for Israel. Arab anger over the Palestinian question limits the strength and depth of U.S. partnerships with governments and peoples in the AOR and weakens the legitimacy of moderate regimes in the Arab world. Meanwhile, al-Qaeda and other militant groups exploit that anger to mobilize support. The conflict also gives Iran influence in the Arab world through its clients, Lebanese Hizbullah and Hamas."--STATEMENT OF GENERAL DAVID H. PETRAEUS, U.S. ARMY COMMANDER U.S. CENTRAL COMMAND BEFORE THE SENATE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE ON THE POSTURE OF U.S. CENTRAL COMMAND 16 MAR 2010, pg.12 

UPDATE After I posted this article on Iranian.com, the following comment was posted there by Bavafa, "Don't impose sanction on Israel JUST because it is a rallying point for the IRI hardliners--but because it is the right thing to do. Here is a country that has been occupying their neighbors country/land, accused of a number of war crimes, has imprisoned million of people of Gaza because they have elected a government that is not to the liking of Israel, and practices apartheid regime in its own land."

Anti-Healthcare Reform Graffiti and Smashed Glass Lack Artistic Merit

Art Review by Julie Jigsawnovich

I recently reviewed the graffiti installation foisted upon former presidential candidate Mehdi Karroubi's home in Tehran while Iranian police and Iranian security forces looked on. Now I turn my attention closer to home, to the spate of glass smashings and the woefully inept graffiti plaguing political and government offices in the United States around the time of the recent vote on Healthcare Reform.

"DORKS" seems an appropriate tag for the toy graffiti writer whose awkward lettering on windows of the Knox County Democratic Headquarters in Ohio belies a complete lack of understanding of the importance of style. Although he may not have grown up anywhere near a subway train, handball court, or gang jacket--prime urban canvasses upon which this contemporary artform first bloomed--that's no excuse! There are plenty of documentaries and books from which to copy from the masters, and then add new innovations.

Perhaps contributing to obvious problems "DORKS" had in executing his piece is the fact that he chose an uneven surface to hit. His "D" seems intimidated by the wooden piece above it, he gains stride with the "R", drops the ball with a pathetic "K" and trails off with a wimpy "S." And "S" is such a hot letter, so beloved to many graffiti writers! "DORKS'" "S" makes me shake my head in disgust.

Yes, location is everything, but even within the outlaw world of graffiti, there are certain codes of conduct. I'm not sure that placing such a lowgrade work in such a visible place really does much to further "DORKS'" cause, especially since we have to guess at what his cause really is, and why he might believe in it. Plus, "DORKS'" placement of his miserable folly on political headquarters is likely to result in a crackdown on graffiti in general--at least in that county. This would surely bring hate upon him from any serious graffiti artist whose goal is to create masterpieces.

Now, let's examine the smashed glass windows and doors of elected representatives' offices. These pieces up the ante in terms of performance. Breaking glass is not only much louder than the application of spraypaint, is it even more associated with crime than with free speech. Graffiti may be destructive or constructive, depending on the skills of the author, and where it is placed, but breaking glass is almost always considered destruction.

photo: smashed glass at Rep. Gabrielle Gifford's (D-AZ) Tucson Office

Yet, there are exceptions. The glass in Marcel Duchamp's mixed media piece, The Bride Stripped Bare by her Bachelors, Even (The Large Glass) was accidentally broken while in transit. Duchamp is reported to have commented with satisfaction, "Now the work is complete."

But the smashed glass windows of the following representative's offices were not in transit, they were apparently not broken by accident, and their destruction lacks artistic vision. Amanda Terkel of ThinkProgress.org reported that, "On the morning of March 19, someone threw a brick through the front window of Rep. Louise Slaughter’s (D-NY) Niagara Falls office. Monroe County Democratic Committee officials also said that a brick shattered the glass doors at their party’s headquarters in Rochester, NY on Saturday or Sunday. Someone reportedly threw a fist-sized rock threw a fist sized rock through the front window of the Hamilton County (Ohio) Democratic Party headquarters Sunday night after Congress passed the landmark health insurance overhaul. Caleb Faux, the party’s executive director, finds it 'hard to believe the incident wasn’t related to the legislation’s passing.'" And out west, "The glass front door of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords’ (D-AZ) Tuscon office was 'smashed out' a 'few hours after she voted in favor of health care reform,' said Giffords’ spokesman C.J. Karamargin."

In summary, while it has been interesting to compare street art and performance art with acts of political vandalism and destruction by non-artists whose goal is apparently to terrorize specific political figures who expressed their views, serious street artists and performance artists more frequently seek to enlighten than frighten. I will close with a very positive street piece by the talented young Iranian artist, ICY. The child depicted holds the Farsi/Persian word for "Peace."