Thread: Iran at the UN (Photo-Essay)

Revolution/Evolution (Free Speech At The UN) | American-Rattlesnake

Most New Yorkers-especially natives-are inured to the daily spectacle which makes their city something of a super-sized freak show. However, most of the time that sideshow is of the sort one normally expects to see in Coney Island, i.e. entertaining enough as a diversionary pursuit, but not so garish or mind-altering as to force you to reconsider your general opinion of humanity.
However, every year the United Nations General Assembly-the Mos Eisley Cantina of international diplomacy-convenes in Turtle Bay so that ostensible heads of state from around the world can make pompous, almost universally forgettable speeches before an assembled crowd of profligate diplomats, spies, Islamic terrorists, despots and indicted war criminals, among other political luminaries you would expect to find addressing an institution that was once headed by a man complicit in Nazi Germany’s numerous war atrocities in the Balkans...

Part II:

Iranian and Syrian Freedom | American-Rattlesnake

One of the fascinating aspects of living in this city is that, for good or ill, you’re exposed to a whole raft of ideologies and political philosophies of which, but for location, you might have remained blissfully ignorant in perpetuity. Granted, some of us choose to remain mired in a state of ignorance notwithstanding the fact that we dwell in the cultural capital of the planet. Even so, those of us with a smidgen of intellectual curiosity find ourselves compelled to investigate these esoteric political beliefs, if for no other reason than merely to satisfy the more quizzical side of our nature.
That’s what brought me down to Dag Hammarskjold Plaza, the site of multiple demonstrations against the current president of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, this past week. The largest faction of protesters came at the urging of the Mujahadeen-e-Khalq, otherwise known as the People’s Mujahadeen of Iran, otherwise known as the MKO, not to be confused with the National Council of Resistance in Iran, which serves as the MEK’s parliament-in-exile. Confused yet? Bear with me...

Wow! What an eye opener.

Part III:

Iranian and Syrian Freedom | American-Rattlesnake

The third, and final, part:

The Paradox of the PMOI | American-Rattlesnake

One simple word which encapsulates the sum of the aspirations harbored by Iranians throughout the world, both those*in exile*and those living, and suffering,*in the land*of their birth. It was one of the demands invoked repeatedly throughout the pro-democracy demonstrations which took place last week at Dag*Hammarskjold Plaza. These protests were held against the backdrop of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s last speech before the United Nations General Assembly, evoking memories of the election which*he stole*in order to remain in power.

On a slightly related note:

Iranians protest as currency loses 40% of its value - The Irish Times - Thu, Oct 04, 2012