Iranian Blogger Executed

[Jeff Lebowski]

May be you could educate me on "the holy place of insult " in a political discourse?

I certainly consider the right to free speech to be sacred. That's probably the last right I would be willing to part with.

[LA Ute]

May be you could educate me on "the holy place of insult" in a political discourse?

First, we need to stick with what I actually said. No one is defending or extolling insult. But I am defending and extolling free speech. I'm familiar with the very Western view of that principle developed and expressed in the Anglo-American legal system. The notion that "insulting" the government can land someone in jail is astonishing to us and foreign to our worldview. I think it is really quite repugnant to anyone who values freedom. I am an occasional blogger, for example, and am often critical of my local and federal government and of specific officeholders. That I might be imprisoned for doing that is simply unimaginable. Are you taking an opposing position?

[ERCougar]

I have got no access to the other side of the story yet ,but i will keep my eyes and ears open to hear from other sources But this is what i have learned from the story .First of all this was not an execution .The guy was taking his heart medicine while overdosing on tranquilizers, supplied by the prison.He did receive treatment in the prison infirmary. but unfortunately deceased nonetheless.

Great. They didn't shoot him. How nice.

Aren't you a little troubled that he's in jail for what he wrote? It's pretty mild stuff.

[wuapinmon]

May be you could educate me on "the holy place of insult " in a political discourse?

Some cultures don't want freedom of speech; they fear openness. Apparently Iran has the exact government its people deserve.

[byu71]

Some cultures don't want freedom of speech; they fear openness. Apparently Iran has the exact government its people deserve.

Are you sure you believe that. I really think a lot of people do not get the government they deserve. Unless you are saying all people should gather together and revolt violently if they don't get the government they deserve.

[wuapinmon]

Are you sure you believe that. I really think a lot of people do not get the government they deserve. Unless you are saying all people should gather together and revolt violently if they don't get the government they deserve.

I'm saying that if MindfulCoug is happy to have a "civil" discourse free from insult of the government so that the discourse is elevated, then she deserves to live somewhere where her criticism of the government could get her thrown in jail. Freedom is freedom to say whatever the hell you want to whomever you want, as long as it doesn't slander someone, libel them (in print), or incite to riot. If she's okay with a few checks on that freedom, let her have the Ayatollahs; she deserves them.

And yes....if my government tried to take away my freedom to say whatever I wanted to, especially a one-religion-led government, I would revolt violently if I couldn't leave first.

[TheAzzuri]

May be you could educate me on "the holy place of insult " in a political discourse?

I'd really like it if you could educate me on what is an is not an "insult." Who decides?

[il Padrino Ute]

Can you imagine how much fun Bush/Cheney/Rove would have had if they could have operated under Iranian speech laws? Not that they would have, of course, but I'm sure they would have had some delightful fantasies.

Or the Clintons? Or the current Administration?

[BlueHair]

Can you imagine how much fun Bush/Cheney/Rove would have had if they could have operated under Iranian speech laws? Not that they would have, of course, but I'm sure they would have had some delightful fantasies.

No doubt. This group had wet dreams about killing the constitution.

[MindfulCoug]

First, we need to stick with what I actually said. No one is defending or extolling insult. But I am defending and extolling free speech. I'm familiar with the very Western view of that principle developed and expressed in the Anglo-American legal system. The notion that "insulting" the government can land someone in jail is astonishing to us and foreign to our worldview. I think it is really quite repugnant to anyone who values freedom. I am an occasional blogger, for example, and am often critical of my local and federal government and of specific officeholders. That I might be imprisoned for doing that is simply unimaginable. Are you taking an opposing position?

No single thing that i disagree with.

As you might be acquainted with cyberspace law enforcement,every corespondent blogger has to sign a legal agreement before inaugurating their cyber hall.They all would be held accountable for the material and the method they devise to convey their messages.In Islamic judiciary, Lying libeling ,insulting ,insubstantially accusing ,are considered sin and requires proper actions.There are tons of bloggers who are constantly criticizing the government ,writing political jokes ,deriding the authorities...etc, and they barely get interrupted .

[MindfulCoug]

Great. They didn't shoot him. How nice.

Aren't you a little troubled that he's in jail for what he wrote? It's pretty mild stuff.

Mild stuff? does it mean you practice Farsi in ER?

I am thinking if i could follow your logic and come to this conclusion that Mr.Ahmadinejad did actually have right to enjoy free speech when citing his famous line?

[MindfulCoug]

I'm saying that if MindfulCoug is happy to have a "civil" discourse free from insult of the government so that the discourse is elevated, then she deserves to live somewhere where her criticism of the government could get her thrown in jail. Freedom is freedom to say whatever the hell you want to whomever you want, as long as it doesn't slander someone, libel them (in print), or incite to riot. If she's okay with a few checks on that freedom, let her have the Ayatollahs; she deserves them.

And yes....if my government tried to take away my freedom to say whatever I wanted to, especially a one-religion-led government, I would revolt violently if I couldn't leave first.

Not so sure about you ,but Iranians were given the opportunity of choosing the type of government they were going to have two months after Islamic revolution in 1979. Thanks for the concern though!

[MindfulCoug]

I'd really like it if you could educate me on what is an is not an "insult." Who decides?

Its no easy job.But lets hope these are not the same people who define "terrorist".

[PaloAltoCougar]

Or the Clintons? Or the current Administration?

Absolutely; I wasn't trying to be partisan with my comment. It simply struck me that Bush/Cheney/Rove were the recipients of more insults (rightly or wrongly) than anyone in memory, and thus would have had much more fun than most in applying anti-insult laws. Obama (again, rightly or wrongly) hasn't yet received nearly the same amount of insults from the MSM.

[wuapinmon]

Not so sure about you ,but Iranians were given the opportunity of choosing the type of government they were going to have two months after Islamic revolution in 1979. Thanks for the concern though!

Right.....the radical Muslims roaming the streets in 1979 let you 'choose' to give up your freedoms in the name of civility......right. Let me know how that works out for you.