UPDATED Video: "Iran at a Crossroads" Conference (10 March)

UPDATE 13 MARCH: Layla Armeen of the National Iranian American Council has written a summary of the first panel which headlines the "demand for human rights of Iranian people".



“Iran at a Crossroads”: Scott Lucas Speaks in Washington
The Latest from Iran (11 March): Marathon

Comments

[Rev. Magdalen]

Off topic, but in the interests of full disclosure, it must be said that this video (starting about 36 minutes in) is clear proof that Professor Lucas is much cooler and more attractive than he looks in his profile photo on this blog. Lookin' sharp, Prof! I love that shirt!!

[Anthony]

Great stuff Prof.

[danial]

I actually thought you were British Professor.
There were a lot of things I wanted to bash the United States with (did I say that). :)

But seriously...

tell me Professor, is it sufficient to have only Democrats support non-military solutions to Iran affairs?

I tend to think that the majority of the US population favor leftist ideologies or at least non-rightist ideologies.

[pessimist]

thanks, I missed the beginning, it wasn't posted on NIAC site, then the sound wasn't great at the beginning, and then I had to go shopping, and then I chatted with some folks on the chat, so I'll take an afternoon and listen carefully and thanks for all your efforts Scott, travelling there must have been tiring with jet lag,, I don't know how you do it.

[Scott Lucas]

Danial,

Your points are important and challenging. I think you are right that it is important that a cross-section of Americans --- beyond Democrat and Republican --- support non-military approaches, and I believe that is the case right now (the largeest number of Americans, in many states, identify themselves as "independents").

But I think that, in the Iran case, it is not so much an ideology as much as the knowledge --- true or false --- that an American has of Iran. My concern, which I am working on for an analysis, is that Iran is defined primarily through the nuclear issue or "Israel" rather than the many aspects --- internal politics, rights, social issues, economic challenges --- which you and others discuss here on EA.

S.

[Catherine]

Welcome back Scott!
I, too, will listen over the weekend. But seeing as you mention Israel in your reply to Danial, I'd like to know if you had the impression that participants at the “Iran at a Crossroads” discussion seemed at pains to avoid mentioning the proverbial elephant in the room — Israel. That is, at any rate, the lead used by this report on the discussion, 'Taboo Inhibits Frank Iran/Israel Talk': http://www.consortiumnews.com/2010/031110a.html

[Megan]

Danial,

Most Americans lean toward center. Until a few years ago most Americans identified themselves as either democrats or republicans. That is changing, courtesy of domestic and foreign policy blunders by the two major parties, democrat and republican. Today, progressive Americans call themselves independents and are registered as independents. Some registered democrats consider themselves conservative democrats and some republican voters call themselves moderates. All and all we are seeing the move to the center and the desire toward the principles of the constitution. We have to see how all this will play out this November election.

“is it sufficient to have only Democrats support non-military solutions to Iran affairs?”

Right now democrats are in majority in both houses of Congress and the executive branch is held by democrats so technically the answer is “YES” but in practice the answer is “NO” because the overriding factor is public opinion, the voters.

Green Movement has accomplished a great deal in the U.S. Many Americans now distinguish between Islamic Republic and Iranian people. If you identify yourself as an Iranian, people immediately ask you about the regime and its atrocity. They know Neda. In a recent poll about 70% of Americans said they considered IR as a threat. As the election season gets near we will see more and more politicians running for office taking a position on how to deal with IR. We, therefore, will get a better picture of where Americans stand on the issue of how to deal with IR.

[danial]

Thank you Professor, Megan for your feedback.

Americans are becoming more politically aware which brings me to the question, is it becoming harder for politicians to manipulate public opinion OR have they already done so with all this talk of dealing with Iran, North Korea and other "undemocratic countries" merely to distract the population from their economic incompetence?

I ask this because I don't think the US governments sympathy of this movement is genuine so I want to know if their actions will benefit their cause without bringing harm to Iran.

thanks again

[Bijan]

Danial, Megan -

I came into the discussion late but it peaked my interest. I must disagree with Danial's statement to an extent and will carry Megans statement a bit further. I think the discussion must be taken to a further depth to consider geography, demographics, specifcally age and perhaps income. I would agree most in the "yuppie" segment are moving towards center..would not go so far to say "left", however I would believe most in rural areas are most likely right to "very" right. I think Scott brings a good point that it is a matter of education. I work with many very intelligent people who have a general sense of policy int the greater middle east and the world for that matter, but few know more than general knowledge that was obtained on the scroll bar from CNN.

I agree that Iranians have gained recognition and seperation in the US, again I come back to this is laregely in part by those who are educated. Yes people in my circle of influence distinguish me from Iranian government officials but, still, there is a tag by those who have known me for years to those "crazy middle eastners". I do not bring this up from a discrimination standpoint but rather to point out that there is alittle done by the media and/or government officials to educate people.

The green movements best friend in the US, in my mind, are those like the readers of this site who take the initiative to educate themselves and in turn pass word along through "watercooler" disucssions. Now I have friends/coworkers periodically asking me what is new in Iran and what it means and why it is being done.

Only if we could have adopt an Iranian for a day or take an Iranian to work for the day so more could learn what a kind and generious people Iranians are and to continue to gain support for the Greens in the US so we can massively push communications to Congress to end the current path to sanctions.

Sorry all for the ramblining. Hope my EA "family" are all doing well.

Regards

[Bijan]

Forgot to say thank you for posting the video.

Regards,

[Barry]

@BIJAN

"Only if we could have adopt an Iranian for a day or take an Iranian to work for the day"

I did something like this recently. My wife and I were on a cruiseship - and a younger woman asked us (in the Showlounge) if we could temporarily look after her mother for a very short while (as she needed to go someplace and her mother spoke no English). It turned out they were/are Iranian. The only conversation I could get out of the old woman was "Iran - Bad! Iran- bad! " - with much negative shaking of her head.

Barry

[Bijan]

Barry -

Too funny. Thanks for sharing your story!

[Observer]

Bijan,

Thank you for your comments. You mentioned, " .... there is little done by the media and/or government officials to educate people."

Agreed. These days, however, most can find out much more than those two sources actually do provide. One can read commentary from all over the world -- straight news, opinion and even advocacy media. With a balanced collection like that to draw on, it's much easier to form one's own opinion.

Months ago, I started looking at Iran with a minimal level of knowledge and some uninformed but preset attitudes about some things Iranian. I credit the Iranian people who seek their rights for showing me the way things really are. And more and more friends who are not disinterested, but also do not suffer from this compulsion like I do, are talking about it now, every day. The comments are mostly focused on what's happening in Iran -- 'how are they doing today?' -- rather than 'what should we DO about Iran?' Together we can hope for the nation's safety, peace and freedom.

And the setting for these conversations is quite rural -- many residents with minimum schooling yet with their own brand of wisdom. Their political orientation covers the spectrum. Wishing the Iranian people well is something we can all agree on. Their efforts have wakened so many hearts in this country. Thank you.

[Bijan]

Observer -

Sorry for my late reply but thank you for the response. I am glad to hear that in your environment you are seeing an interest. I agree that I think most people in the US and across the globe for that matter can and do sympathize and perhaphs empathize with Iranians who are risking so much to express their desires for freedom. Speaking specific to the US, I feel if more were aware of (and thus supportive) of the green movement, there will be the potential for exercising more influence on our representatives in Congress. Groups like NIAC and PAIA do work to "lobby" Congress but if it moved to people from all over the country then perhaps Congress would listen. The ultimate question I think of often is how to do this and perhaps for now, as you discussed, it is one conversation at a time!

And please let me clarify...when I used the word educated I was not speaking solely from an academic standpoint. To your comment, many of the wisest people I have known have had minimal formal education.