Culture Sucks
Aug 31st, 2009 by pedestrian
This is an update of yesterday’s post. I was going to give it a name with “Cultural Revolution” in there, but then I thought: I really don’t believe these neanderthals (I hesitate to call them men, with all due respect to the neanderthals) care much for culture at all. “Cultural revolution” implies that there is a minimum of cultural values to believe in. While many of us are devastated at the implications of someone like Shafii Kadkani leaving Iran, frankly my dear, I don’t think they give a damn.
Do you know who is Ahmadinejad’s pick to head the Ministry of Higher Education? Kamran Daneshjou, the same notorious man who was head of the election headquarters at the interior ministry for the June 12th election. Many of the hardline MPs were vocal about this in parliament yesterday saying: “how could you select a man who oversaw this recent catastrophe to lead our universities?!”
Tavakoli was amongst them and he said: “the proposed minister of higher education is the same individual who oversaw the election headquarters which resulted in those bitter events. In the eyes of the protesters, he is the main culprit. I personally do not believe this, but this feeling is real and strong for them [the protesters]. It seems that the majority of the universities are among the people who feel this way [notice, this is 180 degrees from the leader's speech later in the day]. Will it be in the benefit of the government to trust the ministry to this individual?”
Loyal to the the leader’s speech, Kayhan wrote yesterday that the “enemy” has “taken over the mother [main] universities.” (Via Mowjcamp)
I keep telling you there’s a second cultural revolution underway! At least there will be strong attempts for one.
The leader met with a group of university professors yesterday, including the father of the student who died under custody, Mohsen Rooholamini. More details have emerged of Mohsen’s death, and it is rumored that the forensic experts who viewed the body said today that he did not die of meningitis, but in fact there was evidence of torture on his body – repeated beatings and blows to his head.
Pointing out the fact that out of the total 3.5 million students in the country, 2 million study in the humanities and social sciences he said: “This fact is worrisome because in the humanities, our local universities and research centers to do not have the capacity to engage in enough Islamic and local research and we do not have enough professors who are strong believers in an Islamic worldview.”
He continued: “much of the humanities is rooted in philosophies which are materialistic and are indifferent to divine teachings and Islam and teaching these sciences will result in a disbelief in Islam and God and teaching these sciences will result in the propagation of doubt in religious teachings and beliefs.”
“The related bodies, be it government, parliament or the High Council for Cultural Revolution must take these matters into serious consideration.”
He emphasized the need to promote spirituality in the university setting and said: “The more students are strong believers and strong followers [of Islamic teachings], the less their thoughts, actions and behavior will be prone to harm and the more society can benefit from them.”
He went on to say that the belief of Islamic society in freedom is real and not tactical. “Freedom in an Islamic society is real and is defined within the frameworks of Islam and the Islamic Republic certainly does not accept the unreal freedom practiced in the West and is not shy of this when approaching the West.”
He pointed to those who had been harmed in the aftermath of the election and said: “all of those who were harmed in these events should know that the establishment does not intend to compromise or turn a blind’s eye. Just as it will seriously react to those who confront the establishment, if there has been wrongdoing or crime committed, it will confront the guilty parties.”
I think it is an excuse to stuff universities with more unqualified basijees and purge students who are not “Islamic” enough.
Being a Roman-catholic by baptism and not being deeply areligious, I thank God/Allah the Almighty that He – in his eternal far-sightedness – hasn’t decreed that his deputy The Pope, at present Benedict XVI, is to occupy also at the same time and automatically for all eternity the position of the German chancellor (Ms Angela Merkel) plus the President of Germany (Mr Horst Köhler) . In that case I might possibly immediately go into exile to Iran, I might stay there for some days, I would find out that there a sort of Pope is also regulating life in detail; after some reflection I would subsequently flee into the Caves of Lascaux (France) to lead a life as a caveman there, painting the cave walls, or to climb back onto the top of one of the German oaks, clad in (teddy) bear fur to lead the life of a Germanic-Teutonic Savage tribesman praying to Wotan and Thor and what not.
German
dmnari, we’ll have to wait and see! The students are on fire right now. If they push too hard, the shit can blow up in their face (even more than it already has). So I don’t know what they’re going to do.
German, in the last of your destinations, (the Caves of Lascaux) I’d join you
After 99 I lot of people thought the student movement was done. From what I have been watching on youtube recently, the student movement is live and kicking. No wonder the regime have going after them (and the women movement) with such brutality.
This guy is speaking truth to power. I don’t think they can silence the people anymore.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VXoyJWv5e0&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Ffleetingperusal%2Eblogspot%2Ecom%2Fsearch%3Fupdated%2Dmax%3D2009%2D02%2D25T09%253A26%253A00%2D08%253A00%26max%2Dresults%3D20&feature=player_embedded
dmnari, as a student in Iran, a few years after the unrest of 99, the university seemed rather dead and dull and there were only little hints of life there. I kept wondering: was it totally gone or was it simply waiting in the ashes?
And in terms of awareness (of both inner and outer demons) I can’t say which side holds more weight: those students who I met who insisted that America had to intervene, that Obama would “help us”, etc. Or those who are clearly aware of both kinds of threats. I’ve met both kinds of students. I certainly hope he majority are smart and alert – no matter which side they lean on.
There are many students like the one in the video you posted. We had a few at our school. I remember one particular time, Ramezanzadeh came to our school. They grilled him. and so calmly, so politely and magnificently.
Again, one of your good ideas – as usual! – But don’t forget to bring your notebook along to the Caves, to continue your marvellous blog!!!! – As for me, I might go hunting – in case, that will lead to our starvation [which it probably will], I would also be prepared to move the hunting grounds to the next French “supermarché”.
German
احمدی نژاد ادامه داد: «برای اینکه فضا را عوض کنم یک مطلب بگویم؛ مثلاً همین آقای لاریجانی که رئیس مجلس هستند خود سپاهی بوده اند، وزیر ارشاد شده اند، رئیس سازمان صداوسیما بودند و یک نگاه فرهنگی داشتند و وارد کارهای فرهنگی شدند و اکنون نیز در مجلس هستند و خدمات ارزشمندی را انجام داده اند و چون احساس تکلیف می کردند در زمانی وارد سپاه شدند و فعالیت نظامی کردند و نمی توان گفت که مثلاً چون فردی بر اساس موقعیت در سمت نظامی حضور داشته است در حال حاضر نمی تواند نماینده مجلس یا وزیر کشور شود، چنین استدلالی باعث می شود که خیلی از راه ها بسته شود.»
This dude is hilarious :http://sarmayeh.net/ShowNews.php?56528
This was amazing! I never tire of hearing this man’s arguments! So witty and hilarious. I just wish he was on Seinfeld instead of running Iran!