From an economic point of view they are not doing bad, that was my argument.
It seems facts mean nothing to you
http://www.farsnews.com/newstext.php?nn=13951122000111
Take a good look at the video at the bottom of the page on that site and that's a video from all across Iran! Millions out in every city! Whether you like it or NOT Iranians WANT this system with all it's imperfections & they show it here and at the ballot box!
FYI Iran is ranked among the top ten countries in the world in the
% of Female University Students, % Female University Graduates, % Of women working in Industry and in the economic activity growth of women!
And NONE of these figures are according to Iranian government! All are from none Iranian NGO that came to Iran & got their answers!
Yes Hejab by force is BAD! And I am against Hijab by force, ban on alcoholic beverages and any other thing that effects Iran's tourism industry in all of Iran!
Quran say's "La ekraha fed deen" so I believe that laws needs to be implemented in 1%-5% of Iranian soil. (NOT all of Iran but some parts) Why? So whomever wants to live that type of life can freely do so within his or her country & Iran can become a more attractive tourism destination! For Tourism is the most important industry in the world for it's direct & indirect benefits not only out way any other industry but it's an industry that effects the masses!
People like you need to accept that there is also a large portion of Iranians that want Hejab by force including women! And large portion that don't want their kids to go to mixed schools & be exposed to western culture!
But Hejab is one issue & if enough Iranians unit they can achieve that within the confines of the laws and regulations of this system & for me it's either within this system or NONE at all!
Fact is sitting outside Iran and talking about Hijab is easy but if you go talk to the vast majority (NOT ALL) of the girls who don't cover fully they'll tell you Hijab shouldn't be forced but even if it wasn't they would dress the same way!
My issue with Hijab is more of an economic nature and has more to do with Tourism than anything else![/QUOTE]
@VEVAK I don't disagree that many Iranians do in fact like IRI. And I do believe they rather have IRI than an imposed "order", or be told what they should have for government. My point is that IRI is imperfect, deceitful, imprisons its citizens for criticizing the elite, mis-treats religious and ethnic minorities, is corrupt and is mis-managed. If you truly love your country and IRI, you must be honest with yourself about its imperfections, and admit that those defects exist and must be remedied. There is no shame in admitting failure. What would be shameful is to ignore, rather cover-up, the moral bankruptcy of IRI. IRI claims to represent the downtrodden, and yet is plagued with some of the worst elite corruption on earth. Let alone the violence that it hands out to its critics. And yes corruption is not exclusive to IRI, even the US suffers from elite corruption as we witnessed during the 2008 financial melt down, perpetrated by bankers' greed, and yet no criminal charges were brought up against any of the CEOs, CFOs, or politicians who made it possible. The difference is that I freely and willingly admit it, publish it, and can talk about it without fear of retribution. Can you freely criticize Mr. Khamenie in Iran? Can a journalist question his wisdom the way we do our elected officials?
And perhaps the Iranians are OK with IRI's imperfections, there is no free and unbiased study to prove me wrong or right, and that's the tragedy. The promise of Iran's 1979 revolution was liberty, freedom, and independence. I should know, I was among the many millions of Iranians who participated in the revolution. But now I live in the US, fearful to ever go back, unwilling to live under the yolk of religious zealotry and dogma, and willing to be a minority in my second home. But I am free here. I have rights here. And I am unafraid to speak my mind.
IRI is the order that millions of Iranians have chosen. I don't dispute that and I respect their right to choose. I choose to speak the truth about it, it's failures, and shameful conduct when it comes to its own citizenry. I differ with you and your beliefs, but I still respect your opinion.