I’m a tad under the weather and so won’t be posting as per usual today.
Like many people though, I’ve been riveted by what’s happening in Iran. Andrew Sullivan has been a great clearinghouse for information, the Boston Globe has some incredible photos, and #iranelection on Twitter is chaotic but has been full of realtime news, circulation of proxy server addresses for use by Iranians, successful schemes to jam official state websites, and eyewitness reports from the ground.
And the videos speak for themselves:
Re: "for that matter Hitler too was a democratically elected leader"
Just to clarify:
https://www.fff.org/
freedom/fd0403a.asp
Also see https://en.wikipedia.org/
wiki/German_election,_1933
"In the presidential election held on March 13, 1932, there were four candidates: the incumbent, Field Marshall Paul von Hindenburg, Hitler, and two minor candidates, Ernst Thaelmann and Theodore Duesterberg. The results were:
Hindenburg 49.6 percent
Hitler 30.1 percent
Thaelmann 13.2 percent
Duesterberg 6.8 percent
At the risk of belaboring the obvious, almost 70 percent of the German people voted against Hitler, causing his supporter Joseph Goebbels, who would later become Hitler’s minister of propaganda, to lament in his journal, “We’re beaten; terrible outlook. Party circles badly depressed and dejected.”
Since Hindenberg had not received a majority of the vote, however, a runoff election had to be held among the top three vote-getters. On April 19, 1932, the runoff results were:
Hindenburg 53.0 percent
Hitler 36.8 percent
Thaelmann 10.2 percent"
Re: "A blond moment!"
Not cute.
Re: "Anon, relating the Holocaust to passivity w.r.t. AIDS is overly specious… it's like comparing the black death to visiting Mexico and getting the swine flu."
I don't think comparing AIDS to swine flu is accurate either…I dislike "Holocaust" being used to describe various historical events (some ongoing, like AIDS) because I think it shuts off the critical part of your brain…you end up glossing over the specific history of antisemitism in Europe, or homophobia in US, or the "New World" slave trade – would there have been a Holocaust if not for WWI? And would there have been WWI if not for really old ideas about masculinity and violence, or violence and political power? And how does that relate to antisemitism? Or homophobia? Or women's participation politically? Or rates of violence of black men against other black men, under the Reagan administration? And how does that relate to economic policies spanning decades, if not centuries?
I feel with the word "Holocaust," it's like there's a competition going on between different forms of oppression, different historical events – rather than asking, how are these related? It seems if you understand problems in a more comprehensive way, you'll come up with more comprehensive (and effective) solutions (i.e., economic policies, legislation, etc).
Oh well. "Writing is thinking." And sometimes up on a soapbox.
Re: Iran election – I can't help thinking of Tiananmen Square, and how things turned out there – I wonder, does this mean "most favored nation" trading status is on the way for Iran?
(Yes, I'm still pissed off about Tiananmen Square)
Wanda, what you just say about understanding the larger picture, rather than debating which was worse – that was wonderful!
I haven't heard it said so well. And I plan to borrow that argument when the issue comes up.
Thanks.
Wanda, I agree, the magnitude isn't exactly the same – the analogy was intended more to show proportionality and display intent (i.e., Holocaust victims had negligible free will, whereas many AIDs victims do/did) – slavery is more analogous (though on a much slower drip-line, though probably no less painful).
And I will go to my grave believing that there is no such thing as a comprehensive solution – cultures, religions, people, are too disparate… First world/western arrogance makes too many believe that problems can be legislated away… Frequently, evolution is achieved through war, sad as they may seem to people from countries who have already have made the transformation.
Bane, I do think there is a solution; and it's one that I am working toward myself, all the time.
Coming at it from the inside out, rather than outside in.
As long as people are so emotionally messed up, they will handle power poorly. This is true whatever polictical system is created or imposed.
So, my goal is to contribute, in whatever small way, to the character development of the human race.
And…that's where good writing comes in.
Mira, as I once told my brother, do what you can for others; if you can help even one person, you've done more than most. Altruism isn't only laudable, it's what we should all strive toward.
I'm all for a global solution, but people far smarter than me throughout history haven't come close. Do what you can for others, but don't expect the world to change.
Well, I think it's important to paint with a larger brush. Not years, decades, but centuries.
For example, the world is changing. Look at Iran. It's awful, heart breaking and terrifying, but, it's also amazing and inspiring, and truly profound; the fight for freedom against oppression.
I may be in the minority in this opinion, but I think the human race is improving over time.
It will take much much longer than one lifetime. But I believe: contribute in whatever way you can, with the hand that you are dealt, in the ways that you can uniquely contribute.
That's my belief anyway.
Nathan must still be under the weather. Feel better, Nathan!
Andrew Sullivan's blog has a great point–these people taking to the streets, who we ought find brave and inspiring, are the same people that will be bombed if/when the neocons get their way. Iranian people are highly cultured, the women are educated, the manners and welcoming of strangers in Iran are second to none. People toss around rhetoric of good and bad, evil axis etc, but these are people, people. Remember these images. Remember these people.
Nathan,
Hope you are feeling much better.
Take Care.
It's like someone I work with said today: Iranian elections have the unique distinction of being unfree, unfair, and unpredictable.
I met CNNFail today. Or, one of them. For those not in the know, this was one of the twitter "hashtags" that was coordinating information about the Iran situation, and helping get the news out of country. When CNN and Fox, etc. saw CNNFail and FOXFail being tweeted around, they basically were shamed about covering the news story.
And while the president of Iran may be a not-very-powerful position, the real point is that this may lead to an overthrow of the real power in Iran–the Ayatollah-led government.
Hope you feel better soon, Nathan.
Yesterday Washington Post, Dallas News and some others have carried articles (links below – sorry can't hyperlink – here on proxy too)
Ken Ballen and Patrick Doherty conducted polls in Iran (MR methodology given in the Washington Post article – a must read for all I believe) May 11- May 20 interviewing 1000 candidates across 30 areas in Iran. The results showed Ahmadinejad leading 2 is to 1 and the article further says that the actual election results are in line with their study, if at all Ahmadinejad's margin of victory is lesser since the polls. The study's estd margin of error was 3.1%
Ken Ballen is president of Terror Free Tomorrow: The Center for Public Opinion, a nonprofit institute that researches attitudes toward extremism. Patrick Doherty is deputy director of the American Strategy Program at the New America Foundation.
The article further gives links to the details of the study.
I think it is important to separate facts from opinions.
BBC link that I provided also gives a run down on Mousavi – the PM during the Islamic revolution after 1979. He brought in all the repressive laws and shut down universities ad has been in semi retirement for almost 20 years. Ahmadinejad is a loved leader in Iran especially in the rural and poor Iran has been reported inBBC and Al Jazeera.
In fact the most matured response thus far has been from Prez Obama who said yesterday that he is disturbed by the violence and urges Iranian govt to act on it but Iran must be free to chose its leader.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/14/AR2009061401757.html
https://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/opinion/viewpoints/stories/DN-ballen_16edi.8369040f.html
Nathan 8:33pm. Yes you are right. There are things that could suggest foul play and also have been highlighted in the BBC article.
So that side of the story holds too.
Only there are also enough pointers to the contrary and I though those too must be highlighted in equal measure.
Wanda B ontheshelves 9:17 am. I would not give a differet link – yours is good enough. If you summarise your own article :
Hitler lost prez election Mar 1932
Thus Hindenburg became President.
But July 1932 parliamentary elections produced a major victory for Hitler's National Socialist Party.
Jan 1933 Pres Hindenburg appointed Hitler as Chancellor (as is constitutional – leader of the largest party..)
Later on civil liberties were suspended by both Hitler and Hindenburg.
This is a distraction – so anyone interested in the full story can go to that link (or wiki)
@Bane of Anubis 11:28 am. That is a wonderful perspective – I wish more people had. The world is too disparate and a comprehensive solution may not be possible. To add to that, what works for one may not work for another.
@ Mira, I agree with what you said that we can only make contribution in the way that we can. (writing may not be such a small way – pen is mightier …etc. etc)
Mira, it was great to read your last post, to see what you're aiming to do in your writing. I haven't read any newly published fiction for a while as much fiction seemed to heading down the dirty realism track. It really grossed me out. I use to read a lot 20-40 years ago when there was a greater proportion of uplifting reads. But then came a time when I couldn't find anything I liked. Admittedly, I moved out to the country where there are no book shops to be had, and I rarely visit libraries, so I'm not really in touch so much these days with what's out there. However, over the last 20 years this has been my impression.
I think many people want to read the uplifting, the empowering, the beautiful. This is what I strive to write. Not so sure how successful I am with these aims, however. I would love to read your work at some point, Mira.
Get well soon, Nathan! We miss you.
Sorry to seee you're still under the weather, Nathan. Get well and return to us soon. We miss your informative and witty posts.
Re: "comprehensive solution"
I had written comprehensive solutions (plural), not solution (singlar):
"It seems if you understand problems in a more comprehensive way, you'll come up with more comprehensive (and effective) solutions (i.e., economic policies, legislation, etc)."
The plural makes a difference.
Since we're all writers…let's respect the power of the plural.
@Nathan 8:33pm.. Forgot to mention this. About the Thailand example, I guess you are right. As I think about it, it is the wrong choice of an example. There is a similar urban rural divide and worse violence but the comparison ends there. Iran issues are different and more complex and they affect the entire world much more. Thanks for pointing out!
Btw, to explain my reference to the term 'dirty realism': this was a lit sub genre referred to often in writing courses and in the media here in Australia when the genre was becoming trendy a while ago. Not sure if it's a term used elsewhere or even currently over here. It refers to projects that focus on the gritty and mundaine frustrations of human existence.
pity Americans weren't so militant when their own elections were rigged by a religious fanatic.
Wendy, thanks, what a nice thing to say! I'm looking forward to reading your inspirational writing, too!
Although I think you misunderstood what I meant; or rather, you and I are making different points. I agree with your point, too: about the need for uplifting literature.
What I was saying though, was that writing can be a powerful way to contribute to social change. However, I'd include all types of writing in that. "Dirty realism" can wake people up. That's good.
I think we've all been given an opportunity to make a unique contribution, whether it's writing or something else.
Re: "Holocaust victims had negligible free will, whereas many AIDs victims do/did)"
This sounds similar to the reasoning back in the 80s, that pediatric victims of AIDS didn't "choose" to get AIDS, but gay men did (by their sexual behavior), so therefore gay men weren't really victims of AIDS like babies or children. Gay men therefore "brought it on themselves," which slides into "God is punishing gay men for being gay."
So no, I don't think "free will" is the pivotal issue. The issue is you have two distinct historical events (the Holocaust, the AIDS epidemic), one of which is still ongoing – globally – AIDS.
And then on a related note – regarding comparison of writers Paul Monette and Randy Shilts with Anne Frank – I don't like it because it transforms Anne Frank into something other than an ordinary human being caught in monstrous circumstances – like she's some kind of Mount Everest of human tragedy that victims of other tragedies "aspire" to – and while we're at it – I completely hate the European witch persecutions being referred to as "the women's holocaust." Frickin' HATE IT.
Nathan- I hope you are feeling better today. Take it easy and no more 30 days of working non-stop.
Pc
Me too, I hope you feel better very soon, Nathan. So sorry you're not feeling well.
Wanda, I didn't say they weren't victims; I'm saying they had some choice in the matter. It may seem callous (though it's not intended to be), but it is true (and I think most would agree that people who contract diseases through transfusions are greater victims than those who contract them via other, less ironic accidental means).
RE: Comprehensive solution(s): To me, comprehensive implies only one solution, which, again, I don't believe in – if you try and make the solution more multifaceted or plural, my faith goes to 0… Even the idea of a bureaucracy of solutions gives me the willies.
On a slightly glib note, I do have a singular comprehensive solution: Isolationism – the ignorance is bliss approach; but, ultimately, I don't think that would work b/c we've got to keep our foot on the pulse of everyone else (angels and cockroaches alike) to ensure our safety.
Nathan, thought I'd put my question here b/c today's post is piling in fast:
If an agency's guidelines dictate that you don't submit to multiple agents in the group (not at once, but overall – i.e., if one rejects, all reject), is it okay to send project X to one agent and project Y to a different one (b/c project Y would better suit the second agent), or is that bad form?
Anyway, I hope that made sense. Thanks.
BofA-
I think that's ok, but I wouldn't do it simultaneously.
Thanks!
Nathan, can you recommend contemporary Iranian authors? I imagine there are works translated and also written in English.
There are so many Iranian Americans it's strange so little is known about them.
Thank you.
Anon 1:39 why not start with "Reading Lolita in Tehran"?? It's by an Iranian American.
https://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2009/06/greening-google.html
VOTE!
I hope you're feeling better soon. The news from Iran is riveting. We're watching history unfold.
It tells me the video cannot be viewed in my country due to copyright laws. I am in USA – why can't I see this?
Hope you are feeling better.