Difference between Mousavi, Al Gore

This letter is in response to the reports about the situation in Iran in the wake of the election. As a person who believes in democracy, I applaud the efforts of Mir Hossein Mousavi. This is what former Vice President Al Gore should have done during the controversy surrounding the United States presidential election of 2000. Gore should have continued to protest, regardless of the political risks, until all the votes were counted in Florida. Instead, George W. Bush was appointed by the United States Supreme Court to effectively overturn the will of the people and look what happened to the United States during the eight years of the Bush presidency.

Believe it or not, one thing that trumps capitalism and political correctness in the United States is the right to have one’s vote counted. This is the foundation our democracy is built on. Mousavi should continue to defy Iran’s powerful security forces so that Iranian democracy can be preserved. It is not the reformist movement that is attempting to seize power but rather it is those currently in power who have engaged in fraud to prevent the will of the people from becoming reality. Why else would they stoop to such underhanded tactics to block various means of communication among the citizens of Iran? Why is the government in power utilizing such political strong-arm tactics as the use of violence and false arrest? Why are international journalists being told they should prepare to leave the country? Why would Mahmoud Ahmadinejad leave the country en route to Russia a day earlier than expected? The world knows he can run but he can’t hide from the truth.

The United Nations must be allowed into Iran to monitor the election up to and including a new election. During the new election, let the call go forth among all citizens of Iran that your brothers and sisters in democracy from all over the world are with you during every trial and tribulation you may encounter during this crisis. To the people of Iran, the trumpet of freedom beckons you to rise in protest and ensure your vote to preserve your sacred heritage, promote your children’s future and obtain the blessings of liberty we all cherish.

Joe Bialek, Cleveland, US, published 23 June 2009

Women’s role

Truly, the civil unrest in Iran has become a people’s movement. The people of Iran are seeking greater economic opportunities, more freedom, and greater rights for women and integration with the international community. The results of the presidential elections were merely a trigger to the current unrest. The real issues are deeper, i.e. more freedom and economic progress. The Iranian people do not want to remain isolated any longer. A highlight of the movement is the leading and dynamic role played by women. Even before the elections, women were leading the campaign for more freedom.

Rajendra K. Aneja, Dubai, published 23 June 2009

Western hypocrisy

The Western coverage of the Iran protests exposes the double standard, moral bankruptcy and hypocrisy of the US, UK and others. What solicitude for the Iranian people! People in Gaza, Lebanon, Afghanistan and Iraq must be envying the Iranians, the beneficiaries, of late, of so much of the milk of human kindness! Iranians, we are told, yearn for freedom. Maybe, Palestinians, Afghans and Iraqis yearn for colonial yokes and airstrikes that kill their old, their women and their children.

Samaoen Osman, Cape Town, South Africa, published 23 June 2009

Racism and UK

I have lived in Saudi Arabia for 3.5 years and respect not only the country but also the religion. I came out here knowing there were no churches, no alcohol and no pork products. I accepted the rules and regulations of Saudi Arabia. However, when immigrants arrive in the UK, they expect to have everything they have in their own country. Why? The British have always been too soft and allowed themselves to be trodden upon and it’s about time they started standing up for themselves.

I am by no means racist. I am, however, from Yorkshire but would never dream of voting for the BNP. But I want Britain to start making some rules and regulations and sticking to them!

Sue Ashton, By e-mail, published 23 June 2009

Racism and UK - 2

There have been some outbursts in these columns concerning the two “fascists” who were elected to the so-called European Parliament. So it is necessary to restore not only a little bit of balance into the debate but some common sense and maturity.

The issue of race in Britain has to be discussed sensibly i.e. without emotive and irrational terminology such as “fascist”, “Nazi”, “racist” etc. Childish name-calling proves nothing. Fascism is Italian socialism; those in the BNP are neither Italian nor socialist. The Nazis were international socialists; the BNP are British nationalists. It is also noteworthy that the self-appointed PC saints who are so quick to smear the BNP with lies about their being “fascists and thugs” themselves advocate Nazi- style violence against democratically elected BNP members.

As for Britain welcoming people of other races and faiths, the sort of mass immigration that has occurred since the war is unprecedented and unparalleled in British history.

At last the British worm is beginning to turn and ordinary folks are now saying: “we have had enough of this finger wagging hoity-toity moralizing from self-appointed judges of what is right and what is wrong.” The British people have been cowed and browbeaten by fascistic politically correct bullyboys for far too long. At last they are saying, “Enough is enough”. I would challenge your readers to present a logical and rational argument as to why Britain should not be a white nation. African nations are black, Asian nations are brown and yellow, what is so wrong with nations being predominantly white? I do not grudge the nonwhite races to live in their brown, black, yellow, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, Jewish nations and I would kindly thank them for not grudging me to live in my white Christian island nation. That I wish for my nation exactly what others already have for theirs does not make me a fascist, a Nazi or a racist. If it does, then the world is full of Nazis or racists.

Francis A. Andrew, Oman, published 23 June 2009