Restating the Obvious About Dictatorships
At a time when the current administration considers it appropriate to cozy up to enemies, it seems appropriate to understand why we have enemies. Moreover, rather than assume these enemies are victims of American colonial ambitions or historical misdeeds, these regimes should be evaluated on one simple criterion: how they treat their own people.
When we remove the blinders of ideological myopia, what is revealed does not square with Obama’s apologies or the belief that all the wrongs, or most of the wrongs, in the world can be attributed to the United States.
Yoani Sanchez is a dissident blogger in Cuba who has pointed out the dictatorial control of the Castro brothers and the police state environment they have fostered in the island nation. On October 6, she was walking down a Havana street with three friends when Cuban agents in civilian clothes forced her into an unmarked car and proceeded to beat her relentlessly. They screamed at the same time that she had better stop criticizing the government.
Despite the elite American celebrities who travel to Cuba and return to sing the praises of Fidel, this assault highlights how little has changed in the country’s record of repression. According to the American Press Association, a watchdog group, there are currently 26 journalists in jail and 102 incidents against Cuban bloggers and writers, including arbitrary arrests, death threats, and beatings.
Some contend that the attack against Ms. Sanchez was not personal, but rather a state campaign against the blogger phenomenon that has the potential to undermine the existing government.
Apparently Ms. Sanchez’s poignant vignettes of daily aggravations and humiliations can’t be easily silenced. Earlier this year, she won a journalism prize from Columbia University but was barred by the Cuban government from accepting the award. Her courage and drive will assuredly be tested again by a government that cannot tolerate dissent.
On another front, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards has formed a new organization to quell internal dissent. Shaken by the scale of street protests that followed the presidential elections in June, the mullahs are intent on repressive measures to thwart the dissidents — suggesting, in effect, that the existing intelligence units cannot be relied on. State media named Hassan Taeb, commander of the Basij paramilitary organization known for its brutal methods, as the new head of the intelligence operations.
You have to remember that Obama sees the world in a fundamentally different way than most of us. To him, such behavior on the part of foreign leaders is simply a natural expression of the “specialness” of their individual cultures. Fidel, like his proteges’ Chavez’ and Zelaya, is a classic “strongman” of the type so beloved of the Hispanic culture (think; Spanish conquistadors) that created modern Latin America. The Iranian regime’ is simply the latest expression of the absolute rule of the ancient Persians. And when both threaten, menace, torture or kill anyone who disagrees with them, they’re just doing what is “right” for their own special cultures.
To Obama, it’s the Cubans and Iranians who are voicing opposition who are in the wrong- they are rebelling against their “proper culture”. In fact, they’re acting like (gasp!) Western, civilized people. And that’s just wrong, to him.
As for the rest of us here in the West, for us to criticize those “culturally enlightened” regimes’, even slightly, is Western Cultural Imperialism of the worst sort. And The One will smack you a good one for even suggesting we should do it.
Rather like the psychiatrist played by Graham Chapman in the old Monty Python skit about the Piranha Brothers, The One’s opinion of Castro and the mullahs in Iran is “they’re loonies, but they’re happy loonies.”
And like the psychiatrist, I suspect that under his breath, he’s muttering, “Lucky b*****ds”- and wishing he had the power to do likewise to anyone here who dares to disagree with him.
clear ether
eon
obama made a speech in which he defended women wearing the veil. He would probably also defend the Islamic position on abortion. yet to him I am sure western people who oppose abortion are evil and or stupid.
The standards by which he judges the west are very different from those by which he judges non western cultures and Islam. The west can never be liberal enough. Until the day comes that there is absolutely no racism or any ism of any kind or any inequality of any kind, the west is bad. No one else is required to meet these standards. The view is that non western cultures should live according to their tradition and custom. Western ideas of oppression or freedom do not apply to them. Those non western people who desire such freedom are the tools of westerners. So the same people who tell you that the US is a fascist nation praise Cuba and Iran. Exactly why they praise it is not clear. One thing that is clear is that at base of liberal thinking is a hatred of the west, an ailment that started centuries ago and has been gaining strength, an ailment from which no other people suffer in regard to their own people, nation, culture, or religion.
From Obama’s viewpoint, there may be some logic to his views. His feelings may be based on race and a desire to be loyal to those he regards as his own people. More puzzling is that white liberals think like this. I dont like making this racial. I am just trying to work it out based on what I have heard and read. For many african americans, the tensions between the west and Islam or any non western nation is due solely to the west’s racism. When the president’s former pastor says God Damn America, he is not damning blacks, native americas, arab americans, hispanics. He is damning white americans. Many african americans regard all non western or non white people as victims of the west who must join together to resist. This may be partly where the president is coming from.
I don’t think its racist. I think it is much worse. The world leaders that President Obama likes to align himself with actually represents his feelings on how he wants to change America. The fear that he is trying to destroy America and create a new tyrannical government appears more and more real each day. Why the liberal Congress is willing to follow is even more concerning.
Keep on trying to push against these people and attack their character and competence whenever and wherever you can. We must get the Democrats out of government in 2010 and 2012 and with luck the democratic party will collapse of its own accord.
Not to worry, I can bend over farther and all will be well!
Mr. Herbert London:
First of all let me appologize for mispelling an grammer.
what disgusts me about you and most of the people on this site is your clear hatered of muslims who you portray as bunch of back ward people who are taking over Europe and America and Islam for it violence(which by the way you are correct it is violent)and black people one of whom by the way is running our country, are coming to the rescue of the same people you hate!!!!! The Iranian people. remmeber they are or I should say we are mulims!!
I have read your article here and not only it is pointless but it also does not make sense… I am from Iran and I travel there there at least 15 times a year.. my 85 year old mom goes out to protest.. and since she is frail her contribution is that she sets up a stand and offers the protestors water… and her theory and reasoning is so what they are going to get me I lived a good life!!! I participated in the 1979 revolution and I was 18 and back then I knew the Mullahs are no good..
Look here all of you high school drop out simpletons and you included Mr. Herbert:
1- Obama is running the show and he will be doing do so for the next 7 years. you can moan and groan all you want!!
2- what he is doing with Irania government is exactly the right thing to do.. Notice 8 years of confrontational attitude by President Bush did not acheive a thing.
3-The last thing Iranian people need now is direct meddling of president Obama and the best thing the Iranian government needs now is interference with President Obam. then they go and say we told you so it is the American who are instigating this. The Iranian people specially of this generation is going to bring this govenment down and it is only a matter of time. The train has already left the station…
4-Mr. Herbert: Here what is most troubling about you and people like you. you talk about freedom and helping other coutries with evil regims etc.. but you pick and choose what country in order to advance your racist agenda and discredit our president because he is black. here are a list of some of the most dispacable governments out there who are killing thier own people ro others. Ready: you will be shocked and thisis simply because of your lack of education and not your intellegence…
Saudi Arabia
Syria
Iran
Egypt
Venezuela
China
Israel: they are very smart and they eliminate Palastinians with the help of our federal tax dollars.. Jews they are smart!!! this part meant to be funny only. I love Jews and I am dating one..
Zimbabwe
Guniea
Iraq
should I keep going Herbert or do you get the point. May be a few more:
Zaire
Morrocco
North Korea how could I have not mentioned that earlier.. and Herbert you ready for this here is the bomb shell you are not going to believe this soverign nation whose crime against humanity is unspeakable.. are you ready? Here you are baby:
VATICAN!! shocked aren’t you now Herbert!!! you could say MR I can understand the other countries but VATICAN?! how: Celibacy I say to you Herbert!! Celibacy!!! you are gain in state of shock and saying MR I do not understand How. and here is the answer you simpelton: in order to keep celibacy going Vatican encourages their priests to molest 8 year old boys in order to reieve themselves of sexual fruatration. now this is an unspealable CRIME and I am sure you agree to this.
so If you want help a cause do it then honestly it is very sipmle.
so all of you simpletons: did your favorite president that is Bush did he send our mighty air force to bomb these countries:NO NO NO so do not expect president obama to do it either that is not how things work. I encourage you people to ge back to high school and persue further education and you will be enlightened!!
Mr. Herbert: I have a question for you:
1- how would you feel if colin powell or condi Rice were our president? they are after all republicans!!! and black I will be intrested to know..
after all what I am really amazed about all the people here who hat muslims and blacks there is a clear tolorance for gays!! I know Dan Bawer who writes regularly here is gay!!!! and if it wasn’t for ACLU he would still be screwing his partner in the closet!!! that could be hot!!!
Ok now simpletons: I have spent a lot of time here and I am off to the mosque now and will pray to the mighty Allah to further Islamise the west!!! woo hoo!!!
Dear Mr. mr,
Some of what you say may have merit. Unfortunately, it is well nigh impossible to glean it from the rest of your incomprehensible ramblings. And, if you are serious about impacting others’ thoughts, knock off the ad hominem attacks. Of course, if you are not serious, rave on!
” in order to keep celibacy going Vatican encourages their priests to molest 8 year old boys in order to reieve themselves of sexual fruatration.”
Whatever cred you may have earned disappeared with that one.
Incidentally, where can you find any hint that posters here “hate” blacks. As you suggest yourself, we love Condi Rice Mike Steele, Walter Williams, Alan Keyes (most of the time).
You bring up some of the world’s most awful governments. Yes, they are awful. Does that make the Castros or the mullahs any better?
#6: I was wondering if you could tell me which part have merits which parts don’t. thank you.
7 Bohemond: if you really think they turn a blind on that you should really go and ivestigate it. t is sick..
I also said most people and not all….
and I smoke cigars with Mark Steele once a month…
and as for your last paragragh I am not sure what you are tring to say.. non of those leaders are any good…
Mr. London (or is it Dr. London? If it is I apologize) — I would go one step further: Mr. Obama seems to like to cozy up to dictators. Yet, he has done everything he can to distance himself from our democratic allies. I have wondered whether it reveals something about his psyche — does he envy dictators who get what they want at the snap of a finger?
To have an idea of what is in store for us once the precarious protections still to be had from the last tattered remaining shreds of what was once the American Declaration of Independence, the united States Constitution and its first ten amendments, one has to look no further than to the fascistic thuggery and mass murder that was visited upon Mr Randy Weaver and his wife, Vicki and Sammy, their son and their friend, Kevin Harris, at Ruby Ridge, Idaho and upon the Reverend David Koresh and his wife and children and around a hundred or so of Reverend Koresh’s parishioners, students and all of their families and friends at Waco, Texas.
It should be well noted that when it came down to it — and not withstanding that the recidivist, treasonous, lying, looting, thieving, mass-murdering co-serial-rapist Clinton Crime Family appeared absolutely without shame and offered neither credible rationalization nor justification for the mass murders they and their perfumed-puppet, Wesley Clarke and other apparatchiks ordered and/or perpetrated — the pretending to different political leanings of the “administrations” at the time of each of those atrocities, mattered not a tuppenny damn.
What was demonstrated is that these eighty-odd years after the congressional “Democratic” potty began its organized invasion and takeover of the machinery of our feral gummint — which takeover was completed by the traitor, Roosevelt and by his so richly-Soviet-agent-larded “administration” — an abjectly-politicized and effectively-totalitarian force exists within our beloved fraternal republic that has already demonstrated its ability and its willingness to project its totalitarian mindset. And it demonstrates it somewhere every hour of every day.
Let us never forget that FReedom is not FRree and nor that the Tree of FReedom must from time to time be watered with the blood of Patriots and tyrants. For we will lose sight of these truths at the cost to Mankind of our greatest-ever nation and of the very Judeo-Christian/Western/Human Civilization that, for approaching two hundred years already, has existed only at the enormous cost to us of hundreds of thousands of gallons of our Warriors’ blood and of Trillions of Dollars of our treasure!
Brian Richard Allen
Lost Angels – Califobambicated 90028
And the Very Far Abroad
9@Jack in Silver Spring
>I would go one step further: Mr. Obama seems to like to cozy up to
>dictators.
That’s US policy, in case you have been living in a cave.