The Preamble to the Constitution - “We The People”
By Edward Biamonte
Photos - Edward Biamonte
It is our right and our duty to question our government about - everything! And the Town Halls represent the best of our nations freedoms. Kudos to Senator McCaskill for opening up the debate with her constituency and for coming to the conservative stronghold called Springfield Missouri in “The Show Me State” !
Split on the issues, the protesters stood peacefully in line while waiting for admittance into the theatre. To be sure the democratic republic of the US is practicing their 1st amendment rights, although no conclusion to the debate is in sight many want reform. Many believe we have to do something and that’s the issue. What are we doing? Many who are fearful of the socialistic agenda of the far left held up signs in protest, while those from the far left protested the deliberation over health care in congress. They just want health care. And, they want the government to pay for it - no debate, just do it- Now!
Blue Dog Democrats have entered the health care debate to voice their opinion in rejection to some of the Obama health care bill and for maintaining a deficit neutral plan that supports a more free capitalist society and to stop any government lead take over of the nations health care system. Senator Claire McCaskill voiced her opinions which led me to believe she is a centrist Blue Dog. She supports a plan that includes across state line purchasing power which is well received by many and is capitalistic in nature but also supports the public option? She wants lower prices for all, which is also well received. She rightly quoted the billions in profits made by the health insurers at the expense of the public. McCaskill talked about Medicaid, Medicare, tax payer penalties created by fraud, insurance companies and the hospitals who have to raise prices to stay in business. And then there’s Tort reform? Oh those greedy trial attorneys and their lobbyist. Capitalism, Socialism and Tort reform!
Obama wants a government plan to make sure the insurance companies have to lower their prices. So what’s wrong with that? Lower prices are good for everyone. Has anything the government has ever done made money or did not cost the tax payers billions more than projected? Does Freddie MAC, Sallie MAE and the US Postal Service ring a bell? And then there's the government panel that decides who, what, where and why; isn’t it a bit socialistic-- and not regulated by competition in the free market?
The last time I looked our Constitution openly supports the free market. Isn’t that why we fought the Revolutionary War against England? The reason there are Tea Parties all over the nation. It appears that millions will March on DC September 12th 2009. Fujah will be there to cover it.
And -- No mention by Obama to support Tort reform!
Missouri has two Senators and both are well aware of the tensions being voiced by the people of the free Republic called the United States America. Springfield's Town Hall meeting was everything we have come to expect. Everyone from the far left to the far right were packed into the Gillioz Theater to ask the junior Senator from Missouri questions concerning the Health Care debate and any other political issue they might need answers to. Typical of Hall Town meetings there were many vocal opponents for and against current Democratic or Republican positions.
Senator Claire McCaskill walked on the stage and the theater of more than 1000 people erupted with resounding applause and boos for the junior Senator from Missouri. The “Show Me State” Town Hall attendants were demanding McCaskill did just that; from the far left and right they shouted at each other and McCaskill their positions while many in attendance tried to get the folks to chill. After a bit of free expression by the crowd the meetings started with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance. Once the preliminaries were over Claire began her very brief introduction to a Town Hall that was ready to debate.
The first question to Claire was about her loyalty, was it to the “Show Me State” or President Obama and the Democratic parties agenda? The crowd erupted in applause from both sides of the isle to the question and in large part amid shouts of “we are the people”. McCaskill stated- “my job is to represent the people of Missouri... I have on many times voted differently from my party... This bill must pass a common sense test for me - it’s about what’s in the bill”.
Question 2 - Was about the funding of the bill and it’s inclusion to fund abortion. McCaskill stated she “read the complete Senate bill” and the Senate bill “does not have one federal dollar allocated to fund abortion.” Shouts concerning the House bill were brought up by the audience that does include the funding. McCaskill stated that there are three amendments which are being debated in the house and that the Senate bill in present form is online at www.help.senate.gov which reveals the hundreds of hours put into into the bill with bipartisan efforts.
McCaskill then took time to state typical Democratic talking points (which immediately received boos and cheers from the audience) she stated, “there has been a lot of misinformation about the bill in question” grumbling started from the audience as Claire went on to say “I might have the record for doing the most wide open town hall meetings in the Senate”.
Then Claire took a minute to give Senator Kit Bond a cheep shot for rejecting her invitation to the Springfield Town Hall gathering and for going to a rally in Kansas City instead? Some Dems in the audience applauded her effort to discredit Senator Bond, while many less partisan attendants shook their heads in disbelief - so much for bipartisanship? The junior Senator went on to state “one of the things I have learned from traveling around the state is that there is such negativity and cynicism about government”. The audience erupted again.
Was this a Freudian slip concerning her statement about Kit Bond or just a self implicating or defecating statement about her parties leadership? A simple suggestion or word to the junior Senator, don’t cheep shot your opponent to make yourself look good; Independents and Reagan Democrats hate childish behavior and rhetoric. Stick to the point and answer the questions. This is why there is such negativity and cynicism about government; and why 70% of the independents who voted for Obama will vote against the Dems in 2010 (Rasmuessen non-partisan polls).
It’s the trust factor Claire! Obama, Reid and Pelosi have created a quagmire for the Democratic party. It’s all about deception, fast tracking, the deficit, pork spending, Anti Israeli / Pro-Islamic rhetoric, and a socialist leading far left agenda mandated by 20% of the electorate. Seventy percent of the public are sick of the special interest groups from California, the West cost, East cost and large urban cities like Chicago demanding far left ideology be adopted by the country and the people are fighting back. The federal government is at its lowest approval ratings since the Carter administration that led to the Reagan years.
McCaskill went on, “we need to show we are sincere”… we must pass a health care bill and “that we will have the exact same plan as the rest of the country”. The audience erupted with applause as the statement resonated with the fervor of many who question If the public option is so great, why do federal employees have their own policy and are excluded from the debate? You can see the whole debate online at many of the news outlets like KSPR or the Springfield News Leader’s web site.
In retrospect - For some on the left or right it didn’t matter what McCaskill said, they would shout her down or applaud her which was totally unnecessary and a waste of the publics time. Yet for the majority of the audience they wanted real answers to some tough questions and that is the real issue at hand. Did Senator McCaskill answer the questions or did she refer to her parties talking points?
Senator McCaskill made centrist stands respective of Blue Dogs but referred to the standard talking points and views of many in her democratic party. This pauses one to wonder if we’ll ever see the statement “we need to show we are sincere” come to pass based on truth, facts and tenacity to keep America Free and Strong. Although her stump points were not as blatant as many in the far left, and I liked 50% of what she said-- it’s about what she didn’t say that reminds me of song a from the “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas” by Charles Durning. “Ooooo I love to do a little side step”. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mNDHTfdn1A
Claire to often repeated-- Missouri as you know is split right down the middle... Polls that we have taken reveal the split so it is up to me to make common sense decisions when the polls are so close... The crowd immediately picked up on the fluff. It’s Missouri-- “ The Show Me State ” remember? Politics in 2010-- I it’s going to be a wild ride.
Saturday, September 19, 2009
IRANIAN ISLAMIC EXTREMISM
IRANIAN - ISLAMIC EXTREMISM
Part 1 - Voice, her views on the Iranian government and the nuclear power plant.
by Tomas Drawde
Photography by Edward Biamonte
Before working on this story I had to ask myself, why do a story about the Iranian elections, a murdered girl named Neda and the Hijab or burka? And why use the stories to support a fashion feature in a lifestyle magazine? Here’s the back story.
The murder of Neda, the Iranian elections were explosive and captured the news for days. A huge block of Iran’s voters were denied their rights to have their votes counted by their terrorist Islamic state that murdered one beautiful innocent by-stander named Neda during one of many protests. And, after her death the murder of many protesters who were arrested while waiting for trial by Iran’s Islamic extremist jailers.
Also, French President Sarkozy while speaking to the French Parliament stated he want’s the “Hijab banned from France.” Three weeks prior Sarkozy’s statement hitting the press, President Obama delivered an address in Egypt concerning US relations and the Islamic world. In contrasting views, French President Sarkozy want’s the Hijab banned while President Obama wants it accepted and supports law that defends the Burka in public use.
Obama stated, “Moreover, freedom in America is indivisible from the freedom to practice one's religion. That is why there is a mosque in every state in our union, and over 1,200 mosques within our borders. That's why the United States government has gone to court to protect the right of women and girls to wear the hijab and to punish those who would deny it. So let there be no doubt: Islam is a part of America…”
His statement caused the publisher of Fujah to ponder the drastic change in US diplomacy, but one we were told was on the way. However, in Ironic contrast-- who would have ever thought a forceful voice for liberty would come from France. And, a tepid response at best from the US by President Obama concerning the hijab, suffrage and murder of innocent Iranians.
With all do respect to President Obama his rhetoric is called political side stepping. Why is he trying to appease a group that are greatly responsible for terrorism around the world (i.e.) Islamic Extremist. Does he realize his appeasing double talk is a direct confrontation to Americans and all who have suffered from Islamic terrorism? Does he not realize the Hijab is a blatant sign of oppression, death and terrorism? Or that extremist only care about their ideological position and they want to purge the world of all who do not believe the way they do?
The fact is - Islam is directly responsible for most of the terrorism around the world. Be it the Saudis or the current Iranian regime, Sunni’s or Shia's they openly promote it’s expansion around the world. Furthermore - US son’s and daughters are being blown up by Iranian extremist as they fight for the liberty of those oppressed by Islamic extremism? If Iran gets enough high grade plutonium, which evidence shows Iran is on the fast track to process, is President Obama so naive the Iranians will not kill millions?
Perhaps President Obama should have stated the facts about the oppression of women who have to wear the hijab. The women beaten and even killed for breaking this and other oppressive Islamic laws. Simply summarized, Obama’s rhetoric, overt political correct ideology and confusing actions are leading many to ponder if they made the right decision on one fateful day in November of 2008. Recently- Fathima Rifqa Bary, a Muslim raised teenager converted to Christianity and fled the state of Ohio and her family in fear of being killed by her father. Honor killings are practiced by many Muslims through out the world. A Florida court will decide the fate of the teen, return Fathima to her family or allow her to stay in Florida.
Fujah decided to fuse politics with fashion to create an edgy editorial about Neda’s death and a fashion feature “Free the Beauty” concerning the hijab or Burka, oppression of women and world politics. But how could Fujah get the information for the editorial? The internet was shut down by the Iranian Government and Western reporters were not allowed in. Information had to come from an insider and what we were getting was little streams of grass root information which in whole has turned out to be very powerful and a valid condemnation to any government that would support the current terrorist regime in Iran. Fujah was able to interview a young Iranian women concerning Iran. In Neda’s honor she speaks candidly concerning her governments Islamic extremism, oppression, women’s rights, Israel, Iraq, the nuclear power plant and the big question Revolution.
Some might ask, what can a 21 year old woman from Iran possibly know anything about the politics of Iran and it’s global relations? Why should her opinion matter? She is the Voice of the youth in the streets. Their whispers matter, they are the heart beat of a new Iranian majority and they want true democracy. Her perception “a grass roots perception, is a common perception held by many in the streets and one that Fujah had no idea existed do to government propaganda by the mullahs and lack of press.
A restaurant owner from where I hail is Persian, he didn’t want me to use his name and he doesn’t use the moniker Iranian do to the extreme negative baggage created by the ruling terrorist. I ask my friend if he would do an interview, he hasn't been to Iran since the Shah was deposed and exiled so he would have no current heart beat on Iran. However, troubled by the recent news he paused a bit to reflect. With a twinkle in eyes he stated “I recently met a young Iranian woman, I will contact her to do the interview.” She agreed, I will call her Neda in respect to the voice that was silenced by a terrorist’s bullet. This is her perception, a grass roots perception, a common perception held by many in the streets and one that Fujah had no idea existed do to government propaganda by the mullahs and lack of press.
Not really knowing what to expect I waited patiently for my Iranian interview, for Neda, to arrive at a local restaurant. The door to the lounge area off the patio opened. Out of the bright light stepped a young small frame tan women in a pastel sun dress. Her delicate shoulders and long tousled hair was far from the black burka / hijab I thought she would be wearing. She walked over to where my friend and I were waiting for her arrival. She engaged us with a beautiful smile and kind greetings. After brief introductions we sat down as her brown almond shaped eyes gave me her full attention. Her English was broken yet surprisingly good and her voice soft, slightly nervous. Her name is Voice to protect her identity. She may want to return home and Fujah want’s to protect her. This is what we talked about:
Fujah: Where are you from?
VOICE: Tabriz, the second largest city in Iran
Fujah: How old are you?
VOICE: 21
Fujah: Have you lived in Iran your whole life?
VOICE: Yes
Fujah: Your English is surprisingly good, where did learn English?
VOICE: In school.
Fujah: Iran is pretty bent on the destruction of the US - how is it that you would have an option to learn English?
VOICE: It’s the largest language group and the second language used by most people, we learned English based on British rules.
Fujah: A great concern many Americans have are the extreme intensions by your current President Akmadinijad, what is your opinion of your President?
VOICE: He doesn’t care about people - all he cares about is power.
Fujah: In the last election - the primary candidates are not really different in view point. How did you vote?
VOICE: I was not there for the recent election but I did vote in the prior election. They reduced the age to allow 16 year olds to vote to get more votes. What I remember, I voted against every thing that was against the government.
Fujah: What I want to get is an understanding of your perception and what your demographic, your age group thinks about the ruling Mullahs and the current government?
VOICE: The President before Akmadinijad, Rafsanjani came up and was in office for 8 years. He came up and talked about change and did not do anything even though he came up wanting change. History repeating, no one does anything.
Fujah: So you’ve seen a lot of hypocrisy, a lot of promises mentioned that were never going to become reality. Why do you think these men run for office, is it power, financial security, establish their families?
VOICE: It’s power and money. Rafsanjani, is one of the richest men in the world because he got a lot of money as president.
Fujah: So basically they’re just spoke persons for the Mullahs? Why would the people pick some body like Akmadinijad? Someone who is seen by most of the world as a complete nutcase, somebody unstable, an extremist?
VOICE: Um- after Rafsanjani, The whole regime felt they were loosing power over people, the whole world. Rafsanjani didn’t do anything different but they wanted somebody to show power, to bring back the power. Akmadinijad was a good choice because he does not care about people and he can and will do anything he wants.
Fujah: Someone who is seen by most of the world as a complete nutcase, somebody unstable, an extremist?
VOICE: Um- after Rafsanjani, The whole regime felt they were loosing power over people, the whole world. Rafsanjani didn’t do anything different but they wanted somebody to show power, to bring back the power. Akmadinijad was a good choice because he does not care about people and he can and will do anything he wants.
Fujah: In your last election many people were disenfranchised and believed Akmadinijad lost the election. We saw people go into the streets in peaceful protest against the government. What is your opinion of this and do you think this is the beginning of something powerful for the people of Iran?
VOICE: In the beginning I was saying this is just history repeating, I did not want to vote but my friends said they wanted to be part of it this time. I wasn’t there at the time of the elections and I was never in college in Iran so I really don’t get where they’re idea is right now. In the beginning it was all about religion and not the people, after the election it was not about religion but all about the people and you know, the people that got killed and arrested, right now it’s all about the people.
Fujah: About the perception of the rest of the world then, they really don’t care do they?
VOICE: No they don’t. When Akmadinijad came up, this whole atomic bomb and atomic energy came up. It seems like they feel like when they have that their supported and they don’t have to care about anything, they wanted to show that they have the power and no one could shake them.
Fujah: Ok - let’s talk about that whole energy issue. Especially with wind, solar, natural gas and oil there is no need for Iran to have nuclear power. Many feel that it’s basically to create the inevitable. When you here about the response of the world community and you lived there, how does it make you feel as an Iranian?
VOICE: Of course it makes me feel bad, but most of the people know that they as Iranians are different from the government.
Fujah: How do we know that?
VOICE: The more we go on and travel the people realize that the people of Iran are different. The people on the outside and inside are trying so hard to show we are different to show the world we don’t want this. Many people want us to be Persia not Iranian, but the world doesn’t know what Persia is? We want to be proud. There’s a lot of channels that are broadcasting from the states like from LA and London. The Iranian channels are mostly entertainment but some are just about politics.
Fujah: They’re are many people that feel there will be a military strike against the new power plant. What is the word on the street in Iran about
the reality of this happening?
VOICE: If someone wanted to they could do it and many of the people would help them.
Fujah: Wow- what your saying is that the people would help to destroy the power plant? Why don’t they do it themselves?
VOICE: They don’t have the power or the support to. If someone were to give them the support they would or they would help them to.
Fujah:So the people are actively trying to show the rest of the world that they are different and want to change the current government? What do you think it’s going to take? I studied a little bit of Iranian history and about Persia. Persia was a name given by the Greeks. Iran really identifies you as a people as a culture, the people in their struggle? What do you think it’s going to take for the people to take your country back? We know there was a revolution to depose the Shah 1979, do you want to return to that, to the time of the Kings or do you want a real democracy like in the west?
VOICE: We have always had a royal family except for the last years after the Shah, I think we are over having a Royal family, we want a real democracy- not something like this a dictatorship. The Son of the Shah, the Prince - he is really trying to help. He says he doesn’t want to be the King or part of the government after this regime. He wants a real Democracy, the prince realizes it’s not working for him to be the Prince or leader of the country anymore. We want something democratic - modern.
Fujah: Do you want it to look like a democratic republic in the US or like the British- what do you want it to look like? What is the word on the street? A Republic that is governed by the people?
VOICE: Yes!
Part -2 September 7th.
Fujah: That’s pretty cool. I‘d like to go in a different direction. There’s this whole political ordeal that we have to talk about concerning the word on the streets about Israel...
Video Link - Will Iran get Nuclear Weapons?
http://www.foxnews.com/video2/video08.html?maven_referralObject=8672196&maven_referralPlaylistId=&sRevUrl=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,543040,00.html
Part 1 - Voice, her views on the Iranian government and the nuclear power plant.
by Tomas Drawde
Photography by Edward Biamonte
Before working on this story I had to ask myself, why do a story about the Iranian elections, a murdered girl named Neda and the Hijab or burka? And why use the stories to support a fashion feature in a lifestyle magazine? Here’s the back story.
The murder of Neda, the Iranian elections were explosive and captured the news for days. A huge block of Iran’s voters were denied their rights to have their votes counted by their terrorist Islamic state that murdered one beautiful innocent by-stander named Neda during one of many protests. And, after her death the murder of many protesters who were arrested while waiting for trial by Iran’s Islamic extremist jailers.
Also, French President Sarkozy while speaking to the French Parliament stated he want’s the “Hijab banned from France.” Three weeks prior Sarkozy’s statement hitting the press, President Obama delivered an address in Egypt concerning US relations and the Islamic world. In contrasting views, French President Sarkozy want’s the Hijab banned while President Obama wants it accepted and supports law that defends the Burka in public use.
Obama stated, “Moreover, freedom in America is indivisible from the freedom to practice one's religion. That is why there is a mosque in every state in our union, and over 1,200 mosques within our borders. That's why the United States government has gone to court to protect the right of women and girls to wear the hijab and to punish those who would deny it. So let there be no doubt: Islam is a part of America…”
His statement caused the publisher of Fujah to ponder the drastic change in US diplomacy, but one we were told was on the way. However, in Ironic contrast-- who would have ever thought a forceful voice for liberty would come from France. And, a tepid response at best from the US by President Obama concerning the hijab, suffrage and murder of innocent Iranians.
With all do respect to President Obama his rhetoric is called political side stepping. Why is he trying to appease a group that are greatly responsible for terrorism around the world (i.e.) Islamic Extremist. Does he realize his appeasing double talk is a direct confrontation to Americans and all who have suffered from Islamic terrorism? Does he not realize the Hijab is a blatant sign of oppression, death and terrorism? Or that extremist only care about their ideological position and they want to purge the world of all who do not believe the way they do?
The fact is - Islam is directly responsible for most of the terrorism around the world. Be it the Saudis or the current Iranian regime, Sunni’s or Shia's they openly promote it’s expansion around the world. Furthermore - US son’s and daughters are being blown up by Iranian extremist as they fight for the liberty of those oppressed by Islamic extremism? If Iran gets enough high grade plutonium, which evidence shows Iran is on the fast track to process, is President Obama so naive the Iranians will not kill millions?
Perhaps President Obama should have stated the facts about the oppression of women who have to wear the hijab. The women beaten and even killed for breaking this and other oppressive Islamic laws. Simply summarized, Obama’s rhetoric, overt political correct ideology and confusing actions are leading many to ponder if they made the right decision on one fateful day in November of 2008. Recently- Fathima Rifqa Bary, a Muslim raised teenager converted to Christianity and fled the state of Ohio and her family in fear of being killed by her father. Honor killings are practiced by many Muslims through out the world. A Florida court will decide the fate of the teen, return Fathima to her family or allow her to stay in Florida.
Fujah decided to fuse politics with fashion to create an edgy editorial about Neda’s death and a fashion feature “Free the Beauty” concerning the hijab or Burka, oppression of women and world politics. But how could Fujah get the information for the editorial? The internet was shut down by the Iranian Government and Western reporters were not allowed in. Information had to come from an insider and what we were getting was little streams of grass root information which in whole has turned out to be very powerful and a valid condemnation to any government that would support the current terrorist regime in Iran. Fujah was able to interview a young Iranian women concerning Iran. In Neda’s honor she speaks candidly concerning her governments Islamic extremism, oppression, women’s rights, Israel, Iraq, the nuclear power plant and the big question Revolution.
Some might ask, what can a 21 year old woman from Iran possibly know anything about the politics of Iran and it’s global relations? Why should her opinion matter? She is the Voice of the youth in the streets. Their whispers matter, they are the heart beat of a new Iranian majority and they want true democracy. Her perception “a grass roots perception, is a common perception held by many in the streets and one that Fujah had no idea existed do to government propaganda by the mullahs and lack of press.
A restaurant owner from where I hail is Persian, he didn’t want me to use his name and he doesn’t use the moniker Iranian do to the extreme negative baggage created by the ruling terrorist. I ask my friend if he would do an interview, he hasn't been to Iran since the Shah was deposed and exiled so he would have no current heart beat on Iran. However, troubled by the recent news he paused a bit to reflect. With a twinkle in eyes he stated “I recently met a young Iranian woman, I will contact her to do the interview.” She agreed, I will call her Neda in respect to the voice that was silenced by a terrorist’s bullet. This is her perception, a grass roots perception, a common perception held by many in the streets and one that Fujah had no idea existed do to government propaganda by the mullahs and lack of press.
Not really knowing what to expect I waited patiently for my Iranian interview, for Neda, to arrive at a local restaurant. The door to the lounge area off the patio opened. Out of the bright light stepped a young small frame tan women in a pastel sun dress. Her delicate shoulders and long tousled hair was far from the black burka / hijab I thought she would be wearing. She walked over to where my friend and I were waiting for her arrival. She engaged us with a beautiful smile and kind greetings. After brief introductions we sat down as her brown almond shaped eyes gave me her full attention. Her English was broken yet surprisingly good and her voice soft, slightly nervous. Her name is Voice to protect her identity. She may want to return home and Fujah want’s to protect her. This is what we talked about:
Fujah: Where are you from?
VOICE: Tabriz, the second largest city in Iran
Fujah: How old are you?
VOICE: 21
Fujah: Have you lived in Iran your whole life?
VOICE: Yes
Fujah: Your English is surprisingly good, where did learn English?
VOICE: In school.
Fujah: Iran is pretty bent on the destruction of the US - how is it that you would have an option to learn English?
VOICE: It’s the largest language group and the second language used by most people, we learned English based on British rules.
Fujah: A great concern many Americans have are the extreme intensions by your current President Akmadinijad, what is your opinion of your President?
VOICE: He doesn’t care about people - all he cares about is power.
Fujah: In the last election - the primary candidates are not really different in view point. How did you vote?
VOICE: I was not there for the recent election but I did vote in the prior election. They reduced the age to allow 16 year olds to vote to get more votes. What I remember, I voted against every thing that was against the government.
Fujah: What I want to get is an understanding of your perception and what your demographic, your age group thinks about the ruling Mullahs and the current government?
VOICE: The President before Akmadinijad, Rafsanjani came up and was in office for 8 years. He came up and talked about change and did not do anything even though he came up wanting change. History repeating, no one does anything.
Fujah: So you’ve seen a lot of hypocrisy, a lot of promises mentioned that were never going to become reality. Why do you think these men run for office, is it power, financial security, establish their families?
VOICE: It’s power and money. Rafsanjani, is one of the richest men in the world because he got a lot of money as president.
Fujah: So basically they’re just spoke persons for the Mullahs? Why would the people pick some body like Akmadinijad? Someone who is seen by most of the world as a complete nutcase, somebody unstable, an extremist?
VOICE: Um- after Rafsanjani, The whole regime felt they were loosing power over people, the whole world. Rafsanjani didn’t do anything different but they wanted somebody to show power, to bring back the power. Akmadinijad was a good choice because he does not care about people and he can and will do anything he wants.
Fujah: Someone who is seen by most of the world as a complete nutcase, somebody unstable, an extremist?
VOICE: Um- after Rafsanjani, The whole regime felt they were loosing power over people, the whole world. Rafsanjani didn’t do anything different but they wanted somebody to show power, to bring back the power. Akmadinijad was a good choice because he does not care about people and he can and will do anything he wants.
Fujah: In your last election many people were disenfranchised and believed Akmadinijad lost the election. We saw people go into the streets in peaceful protest against the government. What is your opinion of this and do you think this is the beginning of something powerful for the people of Iran?
VOICE: In the beginning I was saying this is just history repeating, I did not want to vote but my friends said they wanted to be part of it this time. I wasn’t there at the time of the elections and I was never in college in Iran so I really don’t get where they’re idea is right now. In the beginning it was all about religion and not the people, after the election it was not about religion but all about the people and you know, the people that got killed and arrested, right now it’s all about the people.
Fujah: About the perception of the rest of the world then, they really don’t care do they?
VOICE: No they don’t. When Akmadinijad came up, this whole atomic bomb and atomic energy came up. It seems like they feel like when they have that their supported and they don’t have to care about anything, they wanted to show that they have the power and no one could shake them.
Fujah: Ok - let’s talk about that whole energy issue. Especially with wind, solar, natural gas and oil there is no need for Iran to have nuclear power. Many feel that it’s basically to create the inevitable. When you here about the response of the world community and you lived there, how does it make you feel as an Iranian?
VOICE: Of course it makes me feel bad, but most of the people know that they as Iranians are different from the government.
Fujah: How do we know that?
VOICE: The more we go on and travel the people realize that the people of Iran are different. The people on the outside and inside are trying so hard to show we are different to show the world we don’t want this. Many people want us to be Persia not Iranian, but the world doesn’t know what Persia is? We want to be proud. There’s a lot of channels that are broadcasting from the states like from LA and London. The Iranian channels are mostly entertainment but some are just about politics.
Fujah: They’re are many people that feel there will be a military strike against the new power plant. What is the word on the street in Iran about
the reality of this happening?
VOICE: If someone wanted to they could do it and many of the people would help them.
Fujah: Wow- what your saying is that the people would help to destroy the power plant? Why don’t they do it themselves?
VOICE: They don’t have the power or the support to. If someone were to give them the support they would or they would help them to.
Fujah:So the people are actively trying to show the rest of the world that they are different and want to change the current government? What do you think it’s going to take? I studied a little bit of Iranian history and about Persia. Persia was a name given by the Greeks. Iran really identifies you as a people as a culture, the people in their struggle? What do you think it’s going to take for the people to take your country back? We know there was a revolution to depose the Shah 1979, do you want to return to that, to the time of the Kings or do you want a real democracy like in the west?
VOICE: We have always had a royal family except for the last years after the Shah, I think we are over having a Royal family, we want a real democracy- not something like this a dictatorship. The Son of the Shah, the Prince - he is really trying to help. He says he doesn’t want to be the King or part of the government after this regime. He wants a real Democracy, the prince realizes it’s not working for him to be the Prince or leader of the country anymore. We want something democratic - modern.
Fujah: Do you want it to look like a democratic republic in the US or like the British- what do you want it to look like? What is the word on the street? A Republic that is governed by the people?
VOICE: Yes!
Part -2 September 7th.
Fujah: That’s pretty cool. I‘d like to go in a different direction. There’s this whole political ordeal that we have to talk about concerning the word on the streets about Israel...
Video Link - Will Iran get Nuclear Weapons?
http://www.foxnews.com/video2/video08.html?maven_referralObject=8672196&maven_referralPlaylistId=&sRevUrl=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,543040,00.html
Tea Party Protest in DC - Can You Hear Them Now?
Can You Hear Them Now?
1.5 to 2 Million Tea Party Protesters March to the steps of Congress.
Go to DC for a Tea Party! Tea Parties? Isn’t that what older ladies in Red Hats do and what dads enjoy with their daughters that brings smiles from their wives? Or in this case the kind of Tea Party that pre-empted the Revolutionary War and America’s fight for Freedom against the King of England? I had the opportunity to hang out with a bunch of abolitionists as they marched to Freedom Square on Saturday, September 12, 2009.
The drive into DC from North Virginia was uneventful until I reach Constitution Avenue and the Washington Monument. Protesters wearing red, white and blue shirts, hats or costumes were holding signs reminiscent of political rallies during the elections. Protester’s were every where and walking fast to get to Freedom Square. After a bit of searching I found a place to park. The cross street where the protesters seemed to be gathering was more than a mile. Under normal conditions no problem, but I had 60 pounds in gear to carry. I whispered to myself “buck it up and get it moving” as I closed the trunk to my rental and shifted my pack to make it more comfortable.
Arriving at the corner of 14th and Constitution Avenue my legs were burning and my calves were cramping from the weight of the pack, but what I saw when I turned the corner toward Pennsylvania Avenue was amazing. My first perspective from a block away, that I could see, hundreds of protesters congregating. Turning the corner at Pennsylvania Avenue uncovered thousands. Finding a perch above the crowd revealed tens of thousands to what became a huge event of hundreds of thousands of people marching toward Congress. My adrenaline kicked in and energy surged through me as the throng kept me occupied for four straight hours and miles of pounding the pavement before realizing I was exhausted, thirsty and hungry.
Early reports by the DC Fire Chief estimated the crowd at 60,000 - 75,000 but videos reveal the estimate stated by the Chief and what was reported by Bill O’Reilly - as wrong. Time lapse cameras from around the White House and along Pennsylvania Avenue shoot activity on the street. The cameras revealed the three hour, street wide stream of protesters over the eight block walk. Spacial photographic assessments of “1.5 to 2 million” protesters was confirmed by Glen Beck. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_sjvc6baor8
http://moderateinthemiddle.wordpress.com/2009/09/12/aerial-views-added-d-c-police-close-roads-to-buses-people-on-footestimate-1-2-millionl-abc-cant-count912-party-on-patriots/
From all over the Continental US protesters proudly stated where they were from and what they were protesting about. It seemed all were in good spirits. The angry mob perspective that was promoted by Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi was present at the rally. However, the anger was from liberal groups of opposition and exhibited by shouted slurs at the marchers concerning health care reform. The Tea Party laughed and chanted “stop the spending” in direct response. Many of the positive protesters want reform concerning health care. What most are in protest to is the government taking over health care. They see this as a form of social modification through control of the market place i.e. socialism. Many protesters want the ability to use across state lines purchasing for the best possible and cost efficient policies available. Many feel being able to have this purchasing power will result in competition and lower costs in a free market.
Most states have monopolies created by few options. Texas is one state that allows across state line purchasing of policies which reduced rates up to 25 to 30% from national averages. This could help families reduce the cost of health insurance. Still some will not be able to afford any healthcare insurance. The question is how to help families reduce the cost and at the same time help those who cannot afford health care? The debate goes on. Many believe that if a consortium for individual policies is made available across the country with free market providers the volume created by the policy holders would reduce the cost of premiums and offer a program much like what the Federal program has created. The key word is a free market and not a government run public option. When the government competes in the free market and makes the rules this is seen by many as counter intuitive and rightly so. One has to ask the question, is the government led option even constitutional?
Although the marchers were largely white in numbers-- Democrats, Independents and Republicans from all walks of life, skin color and age groups marched side by side in peaceful protest. Chants of “Can You Hear Us Now?” resonated off the buildings walls from the White House to the steps of Congress as citizens practiced their first amendment rights. Signs depicting President Obama and Pelosi were everywhere. The various messages depicted health care reform, energy, Cap and Trade, the stimulus and bailouts. Coupled with all the messages, I found placards voicing their opinions and mistrust of the current administration. 2010 election signs were everywhere. No surprised to see Anti-ACORN rhetoric. As with any demonstration some had views that were a bit extreme while most of the protesters held signs of intelligent design and well thought out protest. http://www.foxnews.com/ontherecord/index.html
The press was everywhere interviewing and photographing the crowd. Choppers flew overhead recording the enormity of the crowd. If any news outlet reports there were less than hundreds of thousands of people they are falsely reporting the news and trying to down play the event. One thing that caught me by surprise is the out right protest toward the press and the protesters distrust of liberal news outlets. Tired of the “Bias in the Media” the protesters were vigilant to show their disapproval of the media. Refreshingly, the protesters were shooting pictures of the press . A person revealed to me as a protester video taped me shooting the crowd. “We want proof the press were here to see this and to make sure they tell the truth about the event. One man shouted “CNN is reporting there are only about 600 people here - does this look like 600 people to you”? The fact is there were hundreds of thousands of peaceful intelligent protesters exercising their rights. Pew Research released a new report the press's reputation is at a two decade low: Should they be surprised?
http://pewresearch.org/pubs/1341/press-accuracy-rating-hits-two-decade-low
The police were everywhere as you can imagine. As I approached Freedom Square the Capital Police had the road blocked to divert people away from entering the parking area and garden situated before the steps to Congress. If you got too close to the yellow tape, as I found out, they tell you move back very aggressively. One cop made this declaration as he put his hand on my shoulder to push me. I pulled my shoulder back and said “easy - easy” as I showed him my press pass. Then I asked this officer a simple open ended question: Help me understand why you have the road blocked? “Just keep moving” he responded. “Let’s try this again- help me understand why you have the road blocked? He replied "I told you to keep moving”.
I couldn’t understand why this Capitol Hill Cop’s attitude was one step away from tazing me. My question was simple and direct and I was only asking for a simple explanation. So heres a picture of the cop who couldn’t answer a simple question with the proper attitude. I took his picture from my hip to record the scowl on his face. I was hitting a nerve but couldn’t understand why? The protesters are not the enemy.
The people were a bit confused as to what they should do as they moved left and right from the blocked entry. I went left and ended up having to walk through a flower bed to get into the parking area and the square. Tens of thousands were already in the square. A two hour steady stream from a packed Pennsylvania Avenue were arriving; could the area hold all the people? The pool area was already surrounded and the lawns in front of Congress were packed. It took 30 minutes to navigate the crowd to get shots of the guards blocking access to the steps of Congress. The crowd cheered the speakers as they rallied and stated rhetorical questions to the President and Congress. To see more visit YouTube and search the 9-12 DC Tea Party.
The response from the White House is largely negative as pundits. The liberal press and David Axelrod spoke on the record stating although the rally was larger than anyone thought it would be “the protesters are wrong and do not represent the views of the broader public
the protesters are out of step with the main stream”. However current polls reveal the heart beat of the nation. And the facts show a different perspective.
The fact is the White House and the Democrat led Congress are out of step with the nation. As one one Black Democrat stated at the protest: “when I voted for Obama this is not the change I was looking for!” http://www.foxnews.com/video2/video08.html?maven_referralObject=9577646&maven_referralPlaylistId=&sRevUrl=http://www.foxnews.com/ontherecord/index.html
Rasmussen Daily tracking poll shows the President’s approval ratings are at a -4 % low. Only 50% of the nation are “somewhat favorable” of Obama's performance. While polls reveal congressional Democrats at 32% favorable, the GOP is now at 43% and rising. 2010 is expected to create a 30% or more shift toward conservatives which many Independent’s 70% believe will bring balance back to Capital Hill . How's the "change going for you?"
On Sep 18, 2009, at 9:30 AM, George Lamelza wrote:
1.5 to 2 Million Tea Party Protesters March to the steps of Congress.
Go to DC for a Tea Party! Tea Parties? Isn’t that what older ladies in Red Hats do and what dads enjoy with their daughters that brings smiles from their wives? Or in this case the kind of Tea Party that pre-empted the Revolutionary War and America’s fight for Freedom against the King of England? I had the opportunity to hang out with a bunch of abolitionists as they marched to Freedom Square on Saturday, September 12, 2009.
The drive into DC from North Virginia was uneventful until I reach Constitution Avenue and the Washington Monument. Protesters wearing red, white and blue shirts, hats or costumes were holding signs reminiscent of political rallies during the elections. Protester’s were every where and walking fast to get to Freedom Square. After a bit of searching I found a place to park. The cross street where the protesters seemed to be gathering was more than a mile. Under normal conditions no problem, but I had 60 pounds in gear to carry. I whispered to myself “buck it up and get it moving” as I closed the trunk to my rental and shifted my pack to make it more comfortable.
Arriving at the corner of 14th and Constitution Avenue my legs were burning and my calves were cramping from the weight of the pack, but what I saw when I turned the corner toward Pennsylvania Avenue was amazing. My first perspective from a block away, that I could see, hundreds of protesters congregating. Turning the corner at Pennsylvania Avenue uncovered thousands. Finding a perch above the crowd revealed tens of thousands to what became a huge event of hundreds of thousands of people marching toward Congress. My adrenaline kicked in and energy surged through me as the throng kept me occupied for four straight hours and miles of pounding the pavement before realizing I was exhausted, thirsty and hungry.
Early reports by the DC Fire Chief estimated the crowd at 60,000 - 75,000 but videos reveal the estimate stated by the Chief and what was reported by Bill O’Reilly - as wrong. Time lapse cameras from around the White House and along Pennsylvania Avenue shoot activity on the street. The cameras revealed the three hour, street wide stream of protesters over the eight block walk. Spacial photographic assessments of “1.5 to 2 million” protesters was confirmed by Glen Beck. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_sjvc6baor8
http://moderateinthemiddle.wordpress.com/2009/09/12/aerial-views-added-d-c-police-close-roads-to-buses-people-on-footestimate-1-2-millionl-abc-cant-count912-party-on-patriots/
From all over the Continental US protesters proudly stated where they were from and what they were protesting about. It seemed all were in good spirits. The angry mob perspective that was promoted by Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi was present at the rally. However, the anger was from liberal groups of opposition and exhibited by shouted slurs at the marchers concerning health care reform. The Tea Party laughed and chanted “stop the spending” in direct response. Many of the positive protesters want reform concerning health care. What most are in protest to is the government taking over health care. They see this as a form of social modification through control of the market place i.e. socialism. Many protesters want the ability to use across state lines purchasing for the best possible and cost efficient policies available. Many feel being able to have this purchasing power will result in competition and lower costs in a free market.
Most states have monopolies created by few options. Texas is one state that allows across state line purchasing of policies which reduced rates up to 25 to 30% from national averages. This could help families reduce the cost of health insurance. Still some will not be able to afford any healthcare insurance. The question is how to help families reduce the cost and at the same time help those who cannot afford health care? The debate goes on. Many believe that if a consortium for individual policies is made available across the country with free market providers the volume created by the policy holders would reduce the cost of premiums and offer a program much like what the Federal program has created. The key word is a free market and not a government run public option. When the government competes in the free market and makes the rules this is seen by many as counter intuitive and rightly so. One has to ask the question, is the government led option even constitutional?
Although the marchers were largely white in numbers-- Democrats, Independents and Republicans from all walks of life, skin color and age groups marched side by side in peaceful protest. Chants of “Can You Hear Us Now?” resonated off the buildings walls from the White House to the steps of Congress as citizens practiced their first amendment rights. Signs depicting President Obama and Pelosi were everywhere. The various messages depicted health care reform, energy, Cap and Trade, the stimulus and bailouts. Coupled with all the messages, I found placards voicing their opinions and mistrust of the current administration. 2010 election signs were everywhere. No surprised to see Anti-ACORN rhetoric. As with any demonstration some had views that were a bit extreme while most of the protesters held signs of intelligent design and well thought out protest. http://www.foxnews.com/ontherecord/index.html
The press was everywhere interviewing and photographing the crowd. Choppers flew overhead recording the enormity of the crowd. If any news outlet reports there were less than hundreds of thousands of people they are falsely reporting the news and trying to down play the event. One thing that caught me by surprise is the out right protest toward the press and the protesters distrust of liberal news outlets. Tired of the “Bias in the Media” the protesters were vigilant to show their disapproval of the media. Refreshingly, the protesters were shooting pictures of the press . A person revealed to me as a protester video taped me shooting the crowd. “We want proof the press were here to see this and to make sure they tell the truth about the event. One man shouted “CNN is reporting there are only about 600 people here - does this look like 600 people to you”? The fact is there were hundreds of thousands of peaceful intelligent protesters exercising their rights. Pew Research released a new report the press's reputation is at a two decade low: Should they be surprised?
http://pewresearch.org/pubs/1341/press-accuracy-rating-hits-two-decade-low
The police were everywhere as you can imagine. As I approached Freedom Square the Capital Police had the road blocked to divert people away from entering the parking area and garden situated before the steps to Congress. If you got too close to the yellow tape, as I found out, they tell you move back very aggressively. One cop made this declaration as he put his hand on my shoulder to push me. I pulled my shoulder back and said “easy - easy” as I showed him my press pass. Then I asked this officer a simple open ended question: Help me understand why you have the road blocked? “Just keep moving” he responded. “Let’s try this again- help me understand why you have the road blocked? He replied "I told you to keep moving”.
I couldn’t understand why this Capitol Hill Cop’s attitude was one step away from tazing me. My question was simple and direct and I was only asking for a simple explanation. So heres a picture of the cop who couldn’t answer a simple question with the proper attitude. I took his picture from my hip to record the scowl on his face. I was hitting a nerve but couldn’t understand why? The protesters are not the enemy.
The people were a bit confused as to what they should do as they moved left and right from the blocked entry. I went left and ended up having to walk through a flower bed to get into the parking area and the square. Tens of thousands were already in the square. A two hour steady stream from a packed Pennsylvania Avenue were arriving; could the area hold all the people? The pool area was already surrounded and the lawns in front of Congress were packed. It took 30 minutes to navigate the crowd to get shots of the guards blocking access to the steps of Congress. The crowd cheered the speakers as they rallied and stated rhetorical questions to the President and Congress. To see more visit YouTube and search the 9-12 DC Tea Party.
The response from the White House is largely negative as pundits. The liberal press and David Axelrod spoke on the record stating although the rally was larger than anyone thought it would be “the protesters are wrong and do not represent the views of the broader public
the protesters are out of step with the main stream”. However current polls reveal the heart beat of the nation. And the facts show a different perspective.
The fact is the White House and the Democrat led Congress are out of step with the nation. As one one Black Democrat stated at the protest: “when I voted for Obama this is not the change I was looking for!” http://www.foxnews.com/video2/video08.html?maven_referralObject=9577646&maven_referralPlaylistId=&sRevUrl=http://www.foxnews.com/ontherecord/index.html
Rasmussen Daily tracking poll shows the President’s approval ratings are at a -4 % low. Only 50% of the nation are “somewhat favorable” of Obama's performance. While polls reveal congressional Democrats at 32% favorable, the GOP is now at 43% and rising. 2010 is expected to create a 30% or more shift toward conservatives which many Independent’s 70% believe will bring balance back to Capital Hill . How's the "change going for you?"
On Sep 18, 2009, at 9:30 AM, George Lamelza wrote:
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
FujahFeb.jpg)
FujahSept09p28p29.jpg)
FujahTHMSp1p2.jpg)
Fujahmagshout_Sept09.jpg)
FujahTPRDC09p1p2shout.jpg)
