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| azzuri |
Iranian president bans western music..............see - http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4543720.stmIranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has banned Western and "indecent" music from state-run TV and radio stations. The ban follows a ruling in October by the Supreme Cultural Revolutionary Council, which he heads, to ban Western songs from the airwaves. "Blocking indecent and Western music from the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting is required," a statement from the council said. Songs by artists such as Eric Clapton and George Michael will be affected. 'Lack of knowledge' Songs such as Clapton's Rush, Michael's Careless Whisper and The Eagles' Hotel California are often used as background music on Iranian TV programmes. Songs by American easy-listening artist Kenny G are also often featured. "This is terrible," said Iranian guitarist Babak Riahipour, a musician whose songs featured on state TV and radio. "The decision shows a lack of knowledge and experience." Mr Ahmadinejad became president this year promising to reverse a recent series of reforms and return Iran to the ultra-conservative atmosphere of the 1979 revolution. "Supervision of content from films, TV series and their voice-overs is emphasized in order to support spiritual cinema and to eliminate trite and violence," the council said on its website in reference to the October ruling. Mr Ahmadinejad's programme has included sacking more moderate members of the government and replacing them with ex-military commanders and politically inexperienced religious leaders. In recent weeks he launched an outspoken attack on Israel, calling for the Jewish state to be "wiped off the map". He also claimed the Nazi Holocaust, which killed six million Jews, was a "myth". Is this guy for real? Surely he knows Bush is waiting for him to slip up. It's just one more thing to add to Bush's justification 'freedom list' |
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| Gypsum_Fantastic |
Re: Iranian president bans western music..............
I wondered how Bush would get the blame for this one... I love the use of 'slip up' as if these are simply occasional errors by an otherwise sane administration. |
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| SLG |
Well the people voted for him. I'm sure what he says appeals to a cetain type of Iranian.
I'd imagine he is thinking (along with myself) that it is just a matter of time before America go into Iran. Even just the other day Bush was saying that he was concerned that the failure of intelligence in Iraq (wrt WMD) would make it difficult for the US administration when it comes to make the case to go into Iran. |
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| Gypsum_Fantastic |
Indeed, and to hell with those with whom it doesn't appeal whose lives in the short term, inasmuch as we all live in the short term, have been ruined. I guess, even Hitler appealed to a certain type of German.
And this is why he bans Western music, you think? |
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| SLG |
Most of what we have been hearing is nationalist rhetoric. That is a direct response to the perceived threat from the west. And that is why he was voted in in the first place against more established moderates.
Absolutely! America are the enemy, so it becomes unacceptable to promote their culture. Even now, I know some English folk who won't buy German or Japanese cars because of the two world wars. It's the same sort of thing. |
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| Gypsum_Fantastic |
Like threatening to wipe other countries off the map, for example.
I see. If the West would only stop enquiring what they were up to then they wouldn't be threatening to wipe countries off the map. Mea culpa.
Is Kenny G representative of American culture, in your view? And why is that the most virulent anti-American countries are the ones that, secretly, most wish they were America - baseball in Cuba, for example. |
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| azzuri |
baseball in cuba? baseball is also very popular in Japan - not exactly 'the most virulent anti-American country' | ||||||||||||
| Gypsum_Fantastic |
Then again, I never said baseball was *only* popular in anti-American countries. Though I find it psychologically interesting that it should be so in anti-American countries - bit like the Iranian madman banning Western music, don't you think? |
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| azzuri |
So what you are saying is, some American things are popular in both anti-American and pro/neutral-American countries. Given that American culture has shaped the world we live in today - I don't see that as very astonishing.
And that anti-American countries might ban these things - fascinating, given they are anti-American. And no, I can't see how that would somehow make them want to 'be like' America, whatever that means. 
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| SLG |
Yes. That is nationalist rhetoric. Iran is not going to attack Israel. It's about selling America and her allies (esp Israel) as enemies of Iran. This makes the population more sympathetic to their leaders. It's quite similar to the rhetoric of the US administration which tell the American people that everyone else in the world is out to get them and they have to defend themselves pre-emptively.
I'm glad you see that now. America has recently invaded their neighbouring country against the wishes of the international community and it would not be unexpected should they invade Iran. That is more than enquiring what they are up to. Israel is, as I'm sure you know, more complicated, but they are also seen as America's main ally in the region.
Come on. No one thing is representative of American culture. That is why they won't just be banning western music. I'd imagine it has become much less popular to watch American films, watch American sports etc. This is common practice when two countries are at, or close to, war. |
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| Gypsum_Fantastic |
It is interesting in countries that have a strong anti-American culture. Perhaps for you it isn't but for people who think about these things, it is.
You don't think it represents an insecure, narrowly-defined nationalism with a vain attempt at stopping your people liking 'The Enemy'? No, I suspect you don't. 
It means to have the freedoms and luxuries of Western life - the kind of things you might take for granted like, for example, looking at Internet sites of your choice or posting anti-government material on the web - but equally pretending that you are secure in your 12th century backwater. That's what it means. |
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| Gypsum_Fantastic |
Where the confidence?
Of course, there is the equally chilling prospect that he ain't some Iranian Alistair Campbell with a nod, a wink and a leer but actually, very actually and very really, believes what he is saying. Hell, the Protocols of the Elders of Zion are taught as factual documents in Arab schools. Hey, buddy, I'll take my chance that Iran is deadly serious, old bean.
I can see why France, China and Russia objected being, as they were, the biggest exporters of arms to Saddam but was the 'international community' really up in arms (no pun intended)? And what about the Iraqi people? It cannot be argued, even by the most lunatic anti-war fanatic, that quite a lot of Iraqis wanted Saddam out and supported the invasion. Or do they figure lower down the scale than the, erm, 'international community'? Who is that anyway? The UN?
America has never stated an intent to invade Iran. It has even left the handling of oil-rich Iran's nuclear plans (for energy, you know) to the EU. And what a great job the Europeans have done of that.
In my experience, they are very easily offended. I remember the Iranian football team at the World Cup in France objecting to a Sally Field film because it contained an unfair depiction of Iranian terrorists - presumably there is a fair depiction. It's my jihad and I'll cry if I want to. |
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| SLG |
OK, to put it another way, IMO there is far more chance of the US invading Iran than that of Iran invading Israel.
That would be Alistair Campbell who helped brief on the 'dodgy dossier' amongst other things that led to an illegal invasion of a sovereign state. Just because Campbell is a friendly tabloid personality doesn't make him a nice guy. Of course they shouldn't be promoting the "Elders of Zion" in Iran. No-one should condone there recent talk regarding Israel. What I was trying to do was put some of this into the context of a country feeling very threatened. Do you see no correlation with the Iranian electorate deciding to vote in Ahmadinejad in favour of the moderates, and the invasion of Iraq and the aggressive stance of the US?
So are you saying that there is no place in the world for international law? Do you think the millions of people in the west who protested against the war work in the arms industry? No-one in the anti-war community were fans of Saddam, and of course many Iraqis wanted rid of him. It is the manner in which this was done that was of concern.
They have hinted very strongly. I think there are two reasons why they have not invaded Iran so far. The PR fallout of the Iraq war and subsequent failure to stabilise the country has damaged the US in the international community and amongst their own people (in a previous post I mentioned Bush's statement admitting that intelligence failures in Iraq had made it much harder for them to be trusted in attacking Iran). Also, due to the ongoing malaise in Iraq and Afghanistan, US forces are stretched. They are already trying to free up troops from Afghanistan (being replaced by UN forces).
Well, I've only met one Iranian, and I wouldn't describe him as easily offended. Maybe I'm just too polite though. Or maybe it's just footballers... |
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| barney |
Re: Iranian president bans western music..............[quote="rs_azzuri"]see - http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4543720.stmIranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has banned Western and "indecent" music from state-run TV and radio stations. The ban follows a ruling in October by the Supreme Cultural Revolutionary Council, which he heads, to ban Western songs from the airwaves. "Blocking indecent and Western music from the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting is required," a statement from the council said. Songs by artists such as Eric Clapton and George Michael will be affected. 'Lack of knowledge' Songs such as Clapton's Rush, Michael's Careless Whisper and The Eagles' Hotel California are often used as background music on Iranian TV programmes. Songs by American easy-listening artist Kenny G are also often featured. "This is terrible," said Iranian guitarist Babak Riahipour, a musician whose songs featured on state TV and radio. "The decision shows a lack of knowledge and experience." Mr Ahmadinejad became president this year promising to reverse a recent series of reforms and return Iran to the ultra-conservative atmosphere of the 1979 revolution. "Supervision of content from films, TV series and their voice-overs is emphasized in order to support spiritual cinema and to eliminate trite and violence," the council said on its website in reference to the October ruling. Mr Ahmadinejad's programme has included sacking more moderate members of the government and replacing them with ex-military commanders and politically inexperienced religious leaders. In recent weeks he launched an outspoken attack on Israel, calling for the Jewish state to be "wiped off the map". He also claimed the Nazi Holocaust, which killed six million Jews, was a "myth". Is this guy for real? Surely he knows Bush is waiting for him to slip up. It's just one more thing to add to Bush's justification 'freedom list'[/quote] i have also banned george michaels music in my house. |
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