Posted on 05/14/2012 1:59:18 PM PDT by Eleutheria5
A first time ever telephone poll of what researchers claimed was a representative sampling of Iranians living in Iran shows that the majority of Iranians are in favor of democracy. The questions in the poll were prepared by Israeli researchers, and were presented in a non-political framework, so as not to frighten off participants who fear the country's dictators and clerics.
Despite holding conservative beliefs in many areas, the poll showed, a large majority of Iranians 94% - supported free choice for individuals, while 71% advocated tolerating people of all backgrounds. The results of the poll were compared to the results in 64 other countries, and based on the comparison, the potential for a successful democracy in Iran is stronger than in many other countries, including Arab countries like Morocco and Egypt. Iranians have more liberal views than do residents of Russia, Ukraine, and Romania...
(Excerpt) Read more at israelnationalnews.com ...
Yeah and California is the most conservative state in the Union. :)
They very well may be.
It’s irrelevant so long as the Mullahs have the guns.
That and a nickel buys a nice hot cup of Jack Squat.
It matters little what the people of a country are like, if the government is made of savages. The savages have guns and secret police.
It could well be, given the fact that they’ve been under the heel of corrupt, oppressive clerics for over 30 years, and the fact that they’ve got a large educated class. On the other hand, that educated class also put the clerics in charge 30 years ago. I’m not saying either way.
I’m sure the vast majority of Germans were against gassing the Jews during WWII.
The vast majority of Germans, however, did have an extremely authoritarian mind-set, as was reflected in their family life, their choice of leaders, and their acceptance of a totalitarian dictatorship. That mind-set was especially evident after the Weinmar Republic had failed them so utterly. Conrad Heiden writes in Der Fuhrer that “Everything had come to Germany too late...Democracy came too late...” or words to that effect.
Having a more democratic-minded citizenry in Iran means squat right now. But it’s a hopeful nutrient in the collective soil that shouldn’t be totally dismissed out of hand.
American liberal democrats would like nothing more than to bury American consrvatives up to their necks and thow rocks at them untill they were dead.
Oh goody. They’re democrats. I’ve known since I saw Ahmadinejad go wizard at the UN.
No wonder those Ivy League students are so into him.
I don't think Iran is like Egypt except in being it's opposite in some ways. Egypt long had the heavy hand of Mubarak suppressing a well-entrenched and large Muslim Brotherhood element. In Iran there is no Sunni Muslim Brotherhood and instead of the authorities imposing a degree of artificial moderation on a naturally radical society as in Egypt, the Iranian government imposes an artificial radicalism on a naturally more moderate people.
If the West can finesse its way through this nuclear crisis without having to force the Iranian regime and people together through military action, that nation may yet resume its natural role as an asset to regional peace and stability as it was under the Shah.
And Egyptians are not so inclined towards democracy. Take note, Obama. Or perhaps that’s why he was so “helpful” over there.
It didn't work.
When Iranians put Ahmadamnednutjob’s head on a pike and turn the mullahs into a crimson mash, I’ll believe in their good, democratic intentions. Until then, they are simply sheep putting up with serfdom.
But elevated rhetoric worked great for Charley Chaplin. He just made a big speech about mankind uniting, and all of Tomania cheered.
Wonder if Mr. Obama has a globe in the Oval Office?
“Its irrelevant so long as the Mullahs have the guns.”
Exactly. I never thought the people were crazed fundamentalist islamists in the first place. But the people aren’t in charge.
I thought that many felt that there was a sizable pro-western element within the Iranian population.
They tried that in the green revolution and many were killed.
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