Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Monday, June 29, 2009
Religion and the US military
by Julie Jigsawnovich
I was taken to Evangelical churches as a child, but really never believed in the religion. I liked the directness with which opinions were expressed by the preacher, but strongly disagreed with most of them. And I distrusted the emphasis on emotion and belief as opposed to intellect and reason.
I have always been interested in ethics, however, and am sometimes surprised to find myself in accord with religious people. Here in the U.S., religion may offer alternatives to the hedonistic materialism overshadowing the earlier concept of sovereign liberty in our culture.
Yet, one of the reasons I like our system of government is that it was founded with a separation of church and state. Trends toward fusing religion with the state--and in particular, with the military--run counter to fundamental liberties and rights. We can see the extreme result of such a fusion in Iran. I recently visited the Islamic Republic of Iran, and I have also lived in a town in the "execution state" of Texas which did not allow alcohol or movie theaters or night clubs, and forced most businesses to close on Sundays for religious reasons. The differences between societies based on Fundamentalist Christianity and societies based on Islam are sometimes a matter of degrees. So I am wary of a rise of evangelical Christian impact on legislation and on the US military, just as I would be wary of the rise of any other religion's impact on our state and military.
Here is an interesting video and article: http://english.aljazeera.net/programmes/faultlines/2009/06/200962675254610845.html
I was taken to Evangelical churches as a child, but really never believed in the religion. I liked the directness with which opinions were expressed by the preacher, but strongly disagreed with most of them. And I distrusted the emphasis on emotion and belief as opposed to intellect and reason.
I have always been interested in ethics, however, and am sometimes surprised to find myself in accord with religious people. Here in the U.S., religion may offer alternatives to the hedonistic materialism overshadowing the earlier concept of sovereign liberty in our culture.
Yet, one of the reasons I like our system of government is that it was founded with a separation of church and state. Trends toward fusing religion with the state--and in particular, with the military--run counter to fundamental liberties and rights. We can see the extreme result of such a fusion in Iran. I recently visited the Islamic Republic of Iran, and I have also lived in a town in the "execution state" of Texas which did not allow alcohol or movie theaters or night clubs, and forced most businesses to close on Sundays for religious reasons. The differences between societies based on Fundamentalist Christianity and societies based on Islam are sometimes a matter of degrees. So I am wary of a rise of evangelical Christian impact on legislation and on the US military, just as I would be wary of the rise of any other religion's impact on our state and military.
Here is an interesting video and article: http://english.aljazeera.net/programmes/faultlines/2009/06/200962675254610845.html
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Ten companies to stop buying from if you support democracy in Iran
Choices you make as a consumer could impact wealth at the disposal of the Supreme Leader of Iran.
http://journalsquared.blogspot.com/2009/06/boycott-list-of-companies-doing.html
The GAP apparently also does business in Iran. I saw a GAP billboard in Tehran, when I was there recently.
[BTW, I would like to thank the writer at journalsquared for lending me his umbrella during the rainy march to the demo last Friday.]
http://journalsquared.blogspot.com/2009/06/boycott-list-of-companies-doing.html
The GAP apparently also does business in Iran. I saw a GAP billboard in Tehran, when I was there recently.
[BTW, I would like to thank the writer at journalsquared for lending me his umbrella during the rainy march to the demo last Friday.]
Saturday, June 27, 2009
DEFEND HUMAN RIGHTS IN IRAN! Rally in NYC
photo: Julie Jigsawnovich
by Julie Jigsawnovich
This rally was co-hosted by Amnesty International USA, Human Rights First, International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, and The Green Wave.
The Green Wave met at Union Square, and marched 45 blocks uptown to the rally at Columbus Circle through an intense thundershower. Better rainwater, than a rain of bullets! Chanting, "Down with the Dictators!" in the relative safety of New York--with encouragement from tourists, Afghan cooks and Seek cab drivers--was in stark contrast to terrifying violence inflicted upon voters demonstrating in Iran.
But in the back of my mind I knew that, in this age of lethal "non-lethal weapons" and proposed legislation which could further limit the rights of citizens to legally assemble, the voter demonstrations in Iran--and international rallies supporting them--are sure to be closely watched by companies and individuals who would profit from expanded "crowd control."
Friday, June 26, 2009
Ballsy Iranian politician tells it like it is
Rowdy Conservatives in Majlis [Iranian Parliament] tried to shout Ayatollah Alikhani down and get him off the podium, but he humored them and continued:
"...announcement of an outcome totally opposite of this vote and people's will from those who are involved in the election process have caused astonishment and disappointment of large portion of the people of Islamic Iran. In its first step it caused a rift in people's trust in the system and people in charge. What happened was below the dignity of the epic Iranian people: that they stole the people's vote through plunder of public resources in the name of justice by some [sic] from organizations in power from before and up to the day of election, and biased position of the national media and other sources of media dependent on the government, creation of an atmosphere full of fear and supported by accusations."
This video is reportedly from June 16th, transliterated from the Islamic calender date.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Crackdown near Parliament in Tehran
Heartbreaking reports from a trusted source.
[most recent post first, going back in time to 23hrs ago]
Allah - you are the creator of all and all must return to you - Allah Akbar Sea of Green
thank you ppls 4 supporting Sea of Green - pls remember always our martyrs - Allah Akbar - Allah Akbar - Allah Akbar
we must go - dont know when we can get internet - they take 1 of us, they will torture and get names - now we must move fast
Everybody is under arrest & cant move - Mousavi - Karroubi even rumour Khatami is in house guard
they pull away the dead into trucks - like factory - no human can do this - we beg Allah for save us
Lalezar Sq is same as Baharestan - unbelevable - ppls murdered everywhere -
they catch ppl with mobile - so many killed today - so many injured - Allah Akbar - they take one of us
in Baharestan we saw militia with axe choping ppl like meat - blood everywhere - like butcher - Allah Akbar
reports of street fighting in Vanak Sq, Tajrish sq, Azadi Sq - now - Sea of Green - Allah Akbar
rumour they are tracking high use of phone lines to find internet users - must move from here now
phone line was cut and we lost internet - - getting more difficult to log into net
all shops was closed - nowhere to go - they follow ppls with helicopters - smoke and fire is everywhere
ppl run into alleys and militia standing there waiting - from 2 sides they attack ppl in middle of alleys
so many ppl arrested - young & old - they take ppl away - we lose our group
saw 7/8 militia beating one woman with baton on ground - she had no defense nothing
they were waiting for us - they all have guns and riot uniforms - it was like a mouse trap - ppl being shot like animals
I see many ppl with broken arms/legs/heads - blood everywhere - pepper gas like war
just in from Baharestan Sq - situation today is terrible - they beat the ppls like animals
Larijani pressing for Mousavi to be given airtime on IRIB to discuss elections
MOUSAVi - on his wesite - Wed Sea of Green is 100% confirmed - no cancellation will be made
Wednesday 4pm Baharestan Sq, Tehran - Sea of Green
Mousavi has stated 'If I am arrested or killed - strike until the Gov falls'
Kayhan - Iranian Gov newspaper - has tonight called for the arrest of Mousavi
all hospitals is surrounded by militia to check why ppl going in - if gun or baton injury - they arrest and beat u
all foreign embassys surrounded by militia to stop ppl going in -
The parks in north of city are closed at night and militia attacking any ppl in park or walking in streets
we have report of large street battles in east & west of Tehran now -
there is militia controlling movement from downtown to north of Tehran to stop ppl joining Sea of Green
tomorrow Mousavi annouce start of a new type of protests - peaceful and silent - soon there will be strikes
the only question now is how will the end happen - peacefully or with civil war
the ppl have lost all faith in this Gov - Iran can never be same as b4 again
all normal life in Iran has stopped - now everybody only talk about Sea of Green and rumours of how Khamenei will go
APRIL 14, 2010 UPDATE: LIBRARY OF CONGRESS ANNOUNCES THEY ARE ACQUIRING THE ENTIRE TWITTER ARCHIVE. IT WILL INCLUDE THE ABOVE TWEET FROM PERSIAN KIWI, THE TRUSTED SOURCE I WOULD NOT REVEAL AT THE TIME. IRANIAN INTELLIGENCE HAD BEGUN TO TRACK DOWN IRANIAN OPPOSITION VOTERS BY THIER TWITTER TWEETS.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
"THEY CAN'T ARREST 30 MILLION PEOPLE"
Chat with my teenage protester friend in Tehran:
Julie:
I read that Iran's government is reading emails now.
Adrenaline:
Iran has one of the most powerful security organizations--one of the top 5 in the world !
We all are already on their list. We = Persian protesters. There's nothing we can do about it.
Julie:
I'm glad you haven't been arrested.
Adrenaline:
They can't arrest us. Prisons and jails are limited. They can't arrest 30 million people.
Julie:
30 million people there are protesters!?
Adrenaline:
Before it was. But now, it's like 5 million protesters in Tehran, 1 million in Esfehan, 1 million in Tabriz, and 3 million in other cities. These are active ones! Other ones are scared--maybe they're old, maybe something else. But I'm sure at LEAST 40 million in Iran are supporting us...in their minds, in their speeches, behind their computers. They're helping us in the internet, and so on.
Julie:
What do you think the future for Iran is now?
Adrenaline:
More people are going to be killed and everything's going to be the same. Its not our war. The real war is for power between big bosses--between Khamenei and Rafsanjani. We're just nothing--some kind of toys and dolls for them. You can't even imagine the power of Khamenei !
Julie:
You don't think Rafsanjani could be a better Spiritual Leader?
Adrenaline:
They're all the same. There's not much difference between Khamenei and Rafsanjani.
Julie:
The American press says Rafsanjani supported Mousavi.
Adrenaline:
True. But Mousavi is not the super hero. It's like we choose between bad and worse. There's no good in it!
Julie:
What do you think the American government should do or not do?
Adrenaline:
I just sent a video to you. You will get your answer in that video.
[Adrenaline sends a link to the video,
"Reza Pahlavi Speaks About Events in Iran."]
Julie:
You agree with Reza Pahlavi?
[The son of the deposed Shah of Iran.]
Adrenaline:
In some parts.
Julie:
With which do you agree? With which do you disagree?
Adrenaline:
None of them totally, but he DOES have some good points in his speech.
Julie:
What are the best points?
Adrenaline:
Helping us with communication and media, like internet, mailing big organizations like U.N. and others, joining the Persian protesters in U.S., and things like that.
Julie:
Mamnun. [Thank you.] Do i have your permission to copy this conversation, change your name to Adrenaline, and post it to my blog at http://jigsawnovich.blogspot.com ?
Adrenaline:
Yes you do, even though my English sux :-p:-p
Julie:
Do you want me to correct your English before I post it?
Adrenaline:
I dunno...u can do it IF U Want.
Julie:
Kheyli mamnun! [Many thanks.]
Adrenaline:
yw
Julie:
I read that Iran's government is reading emails now.
Adrenaline:
Iran has one of the most powerful security organizations--one of the top 5 in the world !
We all are already on their list. We = Persian protesters. There's nothing we can do about it.
Julie:
I'm glad you haven't been arrested.
Adrenaline:
They can't arrest us. Prisons and jails are limited. They can't arrest 30 million people.
Julie:
30 million people there are protesters!?
Adrenaline:
Before it was. But now, it's like 5 million protesters in Tehran, 1 million in Esfehan, 1 million in Tabriz, and 3 million in other cities. These are active ones! Other ones are scared--maybe they're old, maybe something else. But I'm sure at LEAST 40 million in Iran are supporting us...in their minds, in their speeches, behind their computers. They're helping us in the internet, and so on.
Julie:
What do you think the future for Iran is now?
Adrenaline:
More people are going to be killed and everything's going to be the same. Its not our war. The real war is for power between big bosses--between Khamenei and Rafsanjani. We're just nothing--some kind of toys and dolls for them. You can't even imagine the power of Khamenei !
Julie:
You don't think Rafsanjani could be a better Spiritual Leader?
Adrenaline:
They're all the same. There's not much difference between Khamenei and Rafsanjani.
Julie:
The American press says Rafsanjani supported Mousavi.
Adrenaline:
True. But Mousavi is not the super hero. It's like we choose between bad and worse. There's no good in it!
Julie:
What do you think the American government should do or not do?
Adrenaline:
I just sent a video to you. You will get your answer in that video.
[Adrenaline sends a link to the video,
"Reza Pahlavi Speaks About Events in Iran."]
Julie:
You agree with Reza Pahlavi?
[The son of the deposed Shah of Iran.]
Adrenaline:
In some parts.
Julie:
With which do you agree? With which do you disagree?
Adrenaline:
None of them totally, but he DOES have some good points in his speech.
Julie:
What are the best points?
Adrenaline:
Helping us with communication and media, like internet, mailing big organizations like U.N. and others, joining the Persian protesters in U.S., and things like that.
Julie:
Mamnun. [Thank you.] Do i have your permission to copy this conversation, change your name to Adrenaline, and post it to my blog at http://jigsawnovich.blogspot.com ?
Adrenaline:
Yes you do, even though my English sux :-p:-p
Julie:
Do you want me to correct your English before I post it?
Adrenaline:
I dunno...u can do it IF U Want.
Julie:
Kheyli mamnun! [Many thanks.]
Adrenaline:
yw
Monday, June 22, 2009
UPDATE: Videos Tagged "Iran Election Fraud"
Two videos showing men filling out and signing multiple Iranian voting ballots have recently surfaced on youtube.com. The videos may document fraud in regard to the recent presidential election in the Islamic Republic of Iran. They could have been shot covertly on a cell phone, as their subjects seem unaware of the camera. Yet the videographers managed to get close enough--especially in the video shot over the shoulder of a man filling ballots out--that the Iranian presidential ballots are clearly recognizable.
One video is silent, the other has the voice of a male, apparently present, in the background. A native Persian speaker told me, "You really can't hear what they're saying because they changed the sound's format to bad quality to hide who they are! Its about election and cheating on that with others' social security numbers--and making votes for someone else." I found these videos via a feed by a Twitter user whose posts from Iran have thus far been proven accurate through corroborating documentation posted later to mainstream media websites.
Opposition candidates and their supporters have strongly contested the election results their government has claimed. Members of the Islamic Republic of Iran violated their own laws by declaring the official winner within only a few hours of the closing of the poles. IRI law requires more time to accurately hand count the millions of paper ballots before an official announcement of the winner is made. The consistent 2-to-1 margin of votes for incumbent president Ahmadinejad throughout even regions of Iran that opposition candidates hail from and have headquarters in, is also highly suspicious. A trusted source in Tehran told me that the supposed counting of presidential election ballots was performed by the Basij militia, who are strong supporters of Ahmadinejad, that they did not allow independent monitors at polling places, and that many people in districts known for supporting opposition candidates were turned away early before they even could vote--having been informed that "they'd run out of ballots."
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Saturday, June 20, 2009
"Basij shoots to death a young woman in Tehran's Saturday June 20th protests"
WARNING: Graphic
After watching it, please read the information by the person who posted it to youtube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ck3n4WCS4k
After watching it, please read the information by the person who posted it to youtube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ck3n4WCS4k
Monday, June 15, 2009
FROM TEHRAN WITH HOPE
Will democracy and free speech survive
the efforts of the Islamic Republic to stifle them?
by Julie Jigawnovich
I messaged my friend, Adrenaline, who is in Tehran now.
He and his friends voted for Mousavi or Kourubi for president
of Iran. They are protesting the claims Ahmadinejad
is making that he won the election.
3:16pmJulie
anyone you know hurt or arrested?
3:16pmAdrenaline
lol
more than u can imagine
3:17pmJulie
are the police firing real bullets and killing people?
3:17pmAdrenaline
first u gotta see it :
http://i42.tinypic.com/28802yq.jpg
3:17pmJulie
who is that?
3:17pmAdrenaline
one of moosavi fans
there are hundreds of them
3:18pmJulie
hurt by police or by sepah?
3:18pmAdrenaline
and not just boyz,,,they also beat girls as well
by anti-riot units
3:18pmJulie
did your friend take the picture?
3:18pmAdrenaline
yup !
3:19pmJulie
could we use the photo?
3:19pmAdrenaline
sure
3:19pmJulie
is Mousavi safe? he's not hurt?
3:20pmAdrenaline
hes safe
3:20pmJulie
is there a nickname of the photographer who took the photo?
3:20pmAdrenaline
he was in streets
with crowd
3:20pmJulie
should i put anonymous as the photographer?
[to protect him/her from prosecution]
3:21pmAdrenaline
wait,,,im asking him
use http://i42.tinypic.com/28802yq.jpg
shit
sorry
i mean use anonymous
3:22pmJulie
mamnun! [thank you, in Farsi]
3:23pmAdrenaline
khahesh mikonam [your welcome]
3:23pmJulie
anything else you want to add?
3:24pmAdrenaline
i dunno
i cant focus on that article right now
3:25pmJulie
ok. i hope all your friends live and will be healthy.
3:26pmAdrenaline
tanx
Later
5:30pmJulie
who started the violence today?
5:31pmAdrenaline
police killed four people today
5:32pmJulie
did the police kill people who were peacefully demonstrating?
5:32pmAdrenaline
yup. actually not police, some units like undercover polices and
security units."
Yesterday
5:25pmJulie
when you voted for Mousavi, what change were you hoping for?
5:26pmAdrenaline
obviously, if we start a another revolution, we will be like afganistan
but with the right president we can reach our goals!
5:28pmJulie
how will you be like afganistan?
what are your goals?
5:29pmAdrenaline
its so complicated. we want democracy, free speech, freedom!,
having respect in international and so many other things that you
already know.
5:30pmJulie
do you want diplomatic relations with the US?
5:30pmAdrenaline
that's what everyone wants--but not being used by other countries.
independence is the most important thing for iran
5:32pmJulie
some of the amadi supporters probably think he is independent.
but he is too mean sometimes. he makes it too easy for zionists to
talk about war with iran. real independence is very hard to find.
5:34pmAdrenaline
i cant speak for all of the people!
5:34pmJulie
US wants to be independent. in reality we are becoming economic slaves.
we owe so much money to China.
5:34pmAdrenaline
i just giving u my opinions
5:35pmJulie
i am also just giving my opinions.
but it is so nice to be able to talk!
5:35pmAdrenaline
true!
5:36pmJulie
i'm going to write letters. the white house pays attention when people take the time to write letters. talk to you later, Adrenaline!
the efforts of the Islamic Republic to stifle them?
by Julie Jigawnovich
I messaged my friend, Adrenaline, who is in Tehran now.
He and his friends voted for Mousavi or Kourubi for president
of Iran. They are protesting the claims Ahmadinejad
is making that he won the election.
3:16pmJulie
anyone you know hurt or arrested?
3:16pmAdrenaline
lol
more than u can imagine
3:17pmJulie
are the police firing real bullets and killing people?
3:17pmAdrenaline
first u gotta see it :
http://i42.tinypic.com/28802yq.jpg
3:17pmJulie
who is that?
3:17pmAdrenaline
one of moosavi fans
there are hundreds of them
3:18pmJulie
hurt by police or by sepah?
3:18pmAdrenaline
and not just boyz,,,they also beat girls as well
by anti-riot units
3:18pmJulie
did your friend take the picture?
3:18pmAdrenaline
yup !
3:19pmJulie
could we use the photo?
3:19pmAdrenaline
sure
3:19pmJulie
is Mousavi safe? he's not hurt?
3:20pmAdrenaline
hes safe
3:20pmJulie
is there a nickname of the photographer who took the photo?
3:20pmAdrenaline
he was in streets
with crowd
3:20pmJulie
should i put anonymous as the photographer?
[to protect him/her from prosecution]
3:21pmAdrenaline
wait,,,im asking him
use http://i42.tinypic.com/28802yq.jpg
shit
sorry
i mean use anonymous
3:22pmJulie
mamnun! [thank you, in Farsi]
3:23pmAdrenaline
khahesh mikonam [your welcome]
3:23pmJulie
anything else you want to add?
3:24pmAdrenaline
i dunno
i cant focus on that article right now
3:25pmJulie
ok. i hope all your friends live and will be healthy.
3:26pmAdrenaline
tanx
Later
5:30pmJulie
who started the violence today?
5:31pmAdrenaline
police killed four people today
5:32pmJulie
did the police kill people who were peacefully demonstrating?
5:32pmAdrenaline
yup. actually not police, some units like undercover polices and
security units."
Yesterday
5:25pmJulie
when you voted for Mousavi, what change were you hoping for?
5:26pmAdrenaline
obviously, if we start a another revolution, we will be like afganistan
but with the right president we can reach our goals!
5:28pmJulie
how will you be like afganistan?
what are your goals?
5:29pmAdrenaline
its so complicated. we want democracy, free speech, freedom!,
having respect in international and so many other things that you
already know.
5:30pmJulie
do you want diplomatic relations with the US?
5:30pmAdrenaline
that's what everyone wants--but not being used by other countries.
independence is the most important thing for iran
5:32pmJulie
some of the amadi supporters probably think he is independent.
but he is too mean sometimes. he makes it too easy for zionists to
talk about war with iran. real independence is very hard to find.
5:34pmAdrenaline
i cant speak for all of the people!
5:34pmJulie
US wants to be independent. in reality we are becoming economic slaves.
we owe so much money to China.
5:34pmAdrenaline
i just giving u my opinions
5:35pmJulie
i am also just giving my opinions.
but it is so nice to be able to talk!
5:35pmAdrenaline
true!
5:36pmJulie
i'm going to write letters. the white house pays attention when people take the time to write letters. talk to you later, Adrenaline!
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Iran's Stolen Election
Basiji controlled the counting of the ballots, and Basiji are Ahmadinejad supporters. They wouldn't let anyone from the opposing candidates monitor the counting of the votes, and Iran does not allow International monitors. There were also voting places that ran out of ballots long before many people waiting to vote had cast their vote. And Ahmadinejad was declared a winner when 20% of the ballots had still been uncounted.
Sepah is in the streets. And it is dangerous to demonstrate and protest.
Today the IRI government is blocking Facebook to internet users in Iran again.
Sepah is in the streets. And it is dangerous to demonstrate and protest.
Today the IRI government is blocking Facebook to internet users in Iran again.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
