The Bare Knuckled Pundit
06-19-2009, 01:20 PM
While Americans have eagerly embraced the image of Mousavi the Reformer and the idea of a second Iranian revolution, they would be well advised to take a closer look beyond the headlines and eye-catching imagery.
While Mousavi parts ways with Ahmadinejad on strict enforcement of the state's Islamic-based moral codes, he shares the incumbent's views on Iran's unrestricted right to pursue nuclear power. Though he believes Ahmadinejad's belligerence and denial of the Holocaust have given the nation a negative image globally, he believes only that the tenure of the regime should be changed and not it's fundamental structure.
Are Iranians marching in tens of thousands against perceived electoral fraud and governmental corruption, yes. However, they're not fighting in the streets with their children at their feet. Let's be starkly clear. There's no popular groundswell calling for the overthrow of the current political structure, no talk of a new constitution for one to tip their hat to.
Allow me to open up the Big Book of Bare Knuckled Bubba Political Analogies, if you will. In essence, the crux of the controversy is akin to choosing between Bud and Bud Light. You're merely deciding which flavor you want; in the end you're still drinking beer. If you opted for vodka, whiskey or my personal favorite, Jagermeister, then you'd be talking about a substantive change. Granted, you'd still be drinking alcohol, but it would be a completely different form of alcohol from that of beer.
Applying Bubba's beer analogy to the current situation in Iran, the Iranian people are arguing over the choice between Regime or Regime Light - one is the tried and true, status quo King of Repression while the other is less filling and has a lighter moral code that tastes great. Both are nothing more than brands distributed by the same brewery. Furthermore, the brewery enjoys an iron-clad monopoly on it's market. One that it has no intention whatsoever of relinquishing, mind you.
In the end, the choice is between whether the iron gauntlet of the regime and the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei will be sheathed in the Member's Only jacket of Mr. Ahmadinejad or the velvet glove of Mr. Mousavi. Regardless of who ultimately wears it, the iron gauntlet remains. Americans should remain ever mindful of that, lest their emotions get the better of them and they once again find themselves bitterly disappointed that what appeared to be promising blips of change on Iran's political radar were nothing more than false echoes.
While Mousavi parts ways with Ahmadinejad on strict enforcement of the state's Islamic-based moral codes, he shares the incumbent's views on Iran's unrestricted right to pursue nuclear power. Though he believes Ahmadinejad's belligerence and denial of the Holocaust have given the nation a negative image globally, he believes only that the tenure of the regime should be changed and not it's fundamental structure.
Are Iranians marching in tens of thousands against perceived electoral fraud and governmental corruption, yes. However, they're not fighting in the streets with their children at their feet. Let's be starkly clear. There's no popular groundswell calling for the overthrow of the current political structure, no talk of a new constitution for one to tip their hat to.
Allow me to open up the Big Book of Bare Knuckled Bubba Political Analogies, if you will. In essence, the crux of the controversy is akin to choosing between Bud and Bud Light. You're merely deciding which flavor you want; in the end you're still drinking beer. If you opted for vodka, whiskey or my personal favorite, Jagermeister, then you'd be talking about a substantive change. Granted, you'd still be drinking alcohol, but it would be a completely different form of alcohol from that of beer.
Applying Bubba's beer analogy to the current situation in Iran, the Iranian people are arguing over the choice between Regime or Regime Light - one is the tried and true, status quo King of Repression while the other is less filling and has a lighter moral code that tastes great. Both are nothing more than brands distributed by the same brewery. Furthermore, the brewery enjoys an iron-clad monopoly on it's market. One that it has no intention whatsoever of relinquishing, mind you.
In the end, the choice is between whether the iron gauntlet of the regime and the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei will be sheathed in the Member's Only jacket of Mr. Ahmadinejad or the velvet glove of Mr. Mousavi. Regardless of who ultimately wears it, the iron gauntlet remains. Americans should remain ever mindful of that, lest their emotions get the better of them and they once again find themselves bitterly disappointed that what appeared to be promising blips of change on Iran's political radar were nothing more than false echoes.