It’s hard for most of us to imagine what it takes to risk execution in pursuit of freedoms Westerners take for granted. Yet the extraordinary courage of Iranian protesters goes largely unreported, while the Guardian runs a piece by Iran’s foreign minister, and the ridiculous John Simpson dispenses pious evasions from Twitter.
Even now it somehow never fails to shock – the reliability with which the progressive class aligns itself with murderous theocracies while lecturing everyone else on their moral and intellectual failures. How do others not see the obvious hypocrisy?
When freedom finally comes to Iran, I suspect its people will remember who looked away.
Super commentary as ever here from Andrew. A reminder of how tribalism continues to trump or at the very least skew morality. Ever since the end of the Second World War the peace dividend has allowed too many people to function under the illusion of the so-called rule of law both domestic and international… but such laws have always been pure fantasy made real only by the threat or execution of enforcement power. We are witnessing first hand a de-globalisation back into spheres of influence / empires that care not a jot for virtue signallers.
I've had very abnormal sleep patterns since the protesters in Iran went out on the streets on 28 December. I've bounced between YouTube channels Atheist Republic (Armin Navabi), Goldie Ghamari & Mahyar Tousi, moderating on Atheist Republic mainly. Often the Free Palestine trolls arrive and we mods point out this is Iran where the people are actually oppressed and by the same Jihadists they worship. Sometimes a troll will try to combine standing with Iranians and Palestine. I especially love informing them that Palestine is the invention of the unholy alliance of the red (Communists) and black (Islam) which has held Iran hostage for 46 years.
The fact that Iranians love America and Israel is very inconvenient for them so they pretend it's not happening and are hoping it all just goes away. The sickening side of this is the people who are being paid by Qatar/Muslim Brotherhood, who are genuinely worried about their funding evaporating without the funnelling of money through the Islamic regime from their drug trafficking operation in Venezuela. It is very embarrassing to all the keffiyah-wearing terrorist-supporters that a free Iran can be aptly named the Islamophobic Republic of Iran. After 46 years of Shariah no people hate Islam more and Starmer, Albanese, Carney and their ilk will be unable to send their police to arrest the Iranian people for Islamophobia. Iran shows their hypocrisy.
The fact that all these "human" and "womens" rights protestors can never have anything to say about Islamic oppression, just shows you who they really are and what they truly believe in.
They aren't going to protest against Islamic fascism since they share a common enemy with left wing protestors: the West.
Supporting the Palestinians/Hamas against Israel is an indictment of Western values.
Therefore, they will never support the actual freedom fighters on the streets in Iran, since they are rebelling against a regime that is committed to destroying the West.
Their support for human rights have always been selective and I think they have given up on women's rights - on the intersectional ladder of oppression women are way below Islamists and trans 'folx'.
You say if our principles are inconsistent, they don’t exist. And then term this hypocrisy. I would say it’s Realpolitik. I support Trump’s action in Venezuela because it reduces the threat to the US (and gives the West more oil), but I oppose Russia‘s invasion of Ukraine because it’s in my interests as a European to keep Russia weak - but only as long as Russian interests don’t align with my interests. If by chance Russia embraced the West and our values, I’d turn on a dime… Same with Islam and Muslim regimes. I’m perfectly happy with Oman but I dislike Iran. Oman is also a dictatorship with strong Islamic laws, but it has nice beaches, the people are friendly and welcoming and the laws which affect me are not strictly enforced unlike Iran. I support Israel over Gaza because Israel is happy say with the LGBT lifestyle but Gaza is run a a group of murderous thugs. There are a thousand examples of supposed political positions which might seem to be in conflict or hypothetical, but to me it boils down to what’s best for me, my family and community and nation. And so I don’t worry about two racist Sudanese generals kicking the poo out of each other, as I can’t solve the world‘s stupidity and ignorance. I guess it’s just a different way of looking at morality.
I think that what you show here is consistent with your own principles - one could argue that there is not a real principle in self-interest, but I think most people will agree that morality is not an objective truth (the religious tend to pretend that it is, as designed by God), and that we do all have to decide on our own position...
I share your detailed exposition of self interests, without having the positive feelings about Oman or any middle eastern regime. Realpolitik means that all regimes compromise publicly announced, and perhaps PR oriented, statements of belief/principle.
The UK is no exception to this - I've grown used to what some might see as "essential hypocrisy" among politicians.
Real life involves changing one's mind and appearing inconsistent.
Selective outrage and the lack of consistency is across the political spectrum.
Not disagreeing with your point but I would add the following: many oppose Chinese Communist Party interference in the West yet have no problem with US interference in Venezuela. I oppose both.
It’s hard for most of us to imagine what it takes to risk execution in pursuit of freedoms Westerners take for granted. Yet the extraordinary courage of Iranian protesters goes largely unreported, while the Guardian runs a piece by Iran’s foreign minister, and the ridiculous John Simpson dispenses pious evasions from Twitter.
Even now it somehow never fails to shock – the reliability with which the progressive class aligns itself with murderous theocracies while lecturing everyone else on their moral and intellectual failures. How do others not see the obvious hypocrisy?
When freedom finally comes to Iran, I suspect its people will remember who looked away.
As for Queers for Palestine, it’s a textbook case of the “useful idiot,” which I wrote about here: https://www.gadflynotes.com/p/10-traits-of-a-useful-idiot
I'd describe them as "Terminally Stupid".
Super commentary as ever here from Andrew. A reminder of how tribalism continues to trump or at the very least skew morality. Ever since the end of the Second World War the peace dividend has allowed too many people to function under the illusion of the so-called rule of law both domestic and international… but such laws have always been pure fantasy made real only by the threat or execution of enforcement power. We are witnessing first hand a de-globalisation back into spheres of influence / empires that care not a jot for virtue signallers.
I've had very abnormal sleep patterns since the protesters in Iran went out on the streets on 28 December. I've bounced between YouTube channels Atheist Republic (Armin Navabi), Goldie Ghamari & Mahyar Tousi, moderating on Atheist Republic mainly. Often the Free Palestine trolls arrive and we mods point out this is Iran where the people are actually oppressed and by the same Jihadists they worship. Sometimes a troll will try to combine standing with Iranians and Palestine. I especially love informing them that Palestine is the invention of the unholy alliance of the red (Communists) and black (Islam) which has held Iran hostage for 46 years.
The fact that Iranians love America and Israel is very inconvenient for them so they pretend it's not happening and are hoping it all just goes away. The sickening side of this is the people who are being paid by Qatar/Muslim Brotherhood, who are genuinely worried about their funding evaporating without the funnelling of money through the Islamic regime from their drug trafficking operation in Venezuela. It is very embarrassing to all the keffiyah-wearing terrorist-supporters that a free Iran can be aptly named the Islamophobic Republic of Iran. After 46 years of Shariah no people hate Islam more and Starmer, Albanese, Carney and their ilk will be unable to send their police to arrest the Iranian people for Islamophobia. Iran shows their hypocrisy.
The fact that all these "human" and "womens" rights protestors can never have anything to say about Islamic oppression, just shows you who they really are and what they truly believe in.
They aren't going to protest against Islamic fascism since they share a common enemy with left wing protestors: the West.
Supporting the Palestinians/Hamas against Israel is an indictment of Western values.
Therefore, they will never support the actual freedom fighters on the streets in Iran, since they are rebelling against a regime that is committed to destroying the West.
I don’t think these protesters believe in anything. The more I think about it the more they look like paid protesters.
Their support for human rights have always been selective and I think they have given up on women's rights - on the intersectional ladder of oppression women are way below Islamists and trans 'folx'.
You say if our principles are inconsistent, they don’t exist. And then term this hypocrisy. I would say it’s Realpolitik. I support Trump’s action in Venezuela because it reduces the threat to the US (and gives the West more oil), but I oppose Russia‘s invasion of Ukraine because it’s in my interests as a European to keep Russia weak - but only as long as Russian interests don’t align with my interests. If by chance Russia embraced the West and our values, I’d turn on a dime… Same with Islam and Muslim regimes. I’m perfectly happy with Oman but I dislike Iran. Oman is also a dictatorship with strong Islamic laws, but it has nice beaches, the people are friendly and welcoming and the laws which affect me are not strictly enforced unlike Iran. I support Israel over Gaza because Israel is happy say with the LGBT lifestyle but Gaza is run a a group of murderous thugs. There are a thousand examples of supposed political positions which might seem to be in conflict or hypothetical, but to me it boils down to what’s best for me, my family and community and nation. And so I don’t worry about two racist Sudanese generals kicking the poo out of each other, as I can’t solve the world‘s stupidity and ignorance. I guess it’s just a different way of looking at morality.
I think that what you show here is consistent with your own principles - one could argue that there is not a real principle in self-interest, but I think most people will agree that morality is not an objective truth (the religious tend to pretend that it is, as designed by God), and that we do all have to decide on our own position...
I share your detailed exposition of self interests, without having the positive feelings about Oman or any middle eastern regime. Realpolitik means that all regimes compromise publicly announced, and perhaps PR oriented, statements of belief/principle.
The UK is no exception to this - I've grown used to what some might see as "essential hypocrisy" among politicians.
Real life involves changing one's mind and appearing inconsistent.
Selective outrage and the lack of consistency is across the political spectrum.
Not disagreeing with your point but I would add the following: many oppose Chinese Communist Party interference in the West yet have no problem with US interference in Venezuela. I oppose both.
Spot on ,Andrew. The sheer hypocrisy prevalent everywhere ( mostly by left wingers ) in today's society is mind boggling !!