Interesting Trend in Iran...

IminWonderland · 09-22-2006, 08:45 PM

I was listening to this interview on NPR of these two Iranian Doctors. They brought a program to the clerics about HIV and AIDS in Iran, and wanted to do something to stop the spread in their country. So these two doctors set up a Needle Exchange Program, they hand out free condoms, and they wrote a booklet for the High Schools, and what shocked me, was that the Mullah's endorsed it.

This isnt' a link to what I listened to, but here is something about it...
Iran's AIDS-prevention Program Among World's Most Progressive

But, this made me wonder, why it is that this puritanical society can get together and combat something, because "between the choices of bad and worse, bad is better", and we are supposed to be so progressive, but it is taking us longer to be realistic about prevention of disease?

6SpeedTA95 · 09-23-2006, 12:21 AM

Originally Posted by IminWonderland

I was listening to this interview on NPR of these two Iranian Doctors. They brought a program to the clerics about HIV and AIDS in Iran, and wanted to do something to stop the spread in their country. So these two doctors set up a Needle Exchange Program, they hand out free condoms, and they wrote a booklet for the High Schools, and what shocked me, was that the Mullah's endorsed it.

This isnt' a link to what I listened to, but here is something about it...
Iran's AIDS-prevention Program Among World's Most Progressive

But, this made me wonder, why it is that this puritanical society can get together and combat something, because "between the choices of bad and worse, bad is better", and we are supposed to be so progressive, but it is taking us longer to be realistic about prevention of disease?

They do handout condoms in highschools in this country...what am I missing here? We also have a host of free clinics paid for by me

Scrum · 09-23-2006, 12:54 AM

Originally Posted by 6SpeedTA95

They do handout condoms in highschools in this country...what am I missing here? We also have a host of free clinics paid for by me

The thing that's most interseting to me is that I tend to think of Iran and all muslim countries as being so conservative when it comes to things like this.

It seems out of place with what I have heard about their society.

IminWonderland · 09-23-2006, 01:21 AM

Originally Posted by Scrumtralecent

The thing that's most interseting to me is that I tend to think of Iran and all muslim countries as being so conservative when it comes to things like this.

It seems out of place with what I have heard about their society.

Yeah, that's why I posted it.

Because they are painted as a backwards 3rd world country, but what they are doing to prevent AIDS is really quite modern, and apparently had less confrontation and hype than it did here in America, which is something I find odd.

I mean, they go to their head religious leaders, who are painted here as fundamental crazies, and they essentially "OK" a program, which here, if you asked our major Christian leaders, it would never happen.

It's weird.

motivez · 09-23-2006, 12:38 PM

Originally Posted by 6SpeedTA95

They do handout condoms in highschools in this country...what am I missing here? We also have a host of free clinics paid for by me

Maybe the fact that our Government is actively campaigning to end things like that?

That they don't want to give teenagers or children the information they need to make safe decisions if they decide to have sex, rather preferring to teach them how bad sex is, how it should wait until marriage because that's the way God intended it, etc, etc...

to Iran for doing something good for their citizens.

SpicyMcVoodoo · 09-23-2006, 03:24 PM

Originally Posted by IminWonderland

But, this made me wonder, why it is that this puritanical society can get together and combat something, because "between the choices of bad and worse, bad is better", and we are supposed to be so progressive, but it is taking us longer to be realistic about prevention of disease?

Could it be because, at least in this respect, our christian fundamentalists are worse than their muslim fundamentalists?

Stylerod · 09-23-2006, 07:32 PM

How is it a "trend"? And how do we know it's even true?

I know showing Iran to be a great country is the new "White" but how about these things?

Freedom of the Press

A Reporters Without Borders report indicates permanent restriction of the press and denounces an application of censorship found to be systematic. Iran is one of the ten most repressive countries of the world concerning freedom of the press. Journalists detained in prison are often harrassed and humiliated, as was Zahra Kazemi, an irano-canadian journalist who died in prison. The Canadian government broke off relations with Iran following his death, suspected to have been backed by the authorities and executed by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps.

100 newspapers and other publications have been closed by the regime since April 2000. There are currently 10 journalists in prison. Reporters without borders considers Iran to be "the biggest prison in the Middle-East for journalists".

Control of the Internet

According to a Reporters Without Borders report, "with the closing of most Iranian newspapers since April 2000, this means of communication has become the primary medium by which journalists and press correspondants can express themselves and call for more liberty and reforms. Irritated by this new method, conservatives, like Iranian reformers, strengthened control of this medium. Since January 2003, several webmasters and surfers have been arrested".

Gender Issues

As the Iranian legislation is strongly impregnated with Islamic principles, it reenforces male supremacy, which can be noted in the articles of the Iranian Civil Law.

Sex Laws

Homosexuality and adultery are criminal acts and punishable by life imprisonment or death, and the same sentences apply to convictions of treason and apostasy. Those accused by the state of homosexual acts are routinely flogged and threatened with execution. [2]. Iran is one of seven countries in the world that carry the death penalty for homosexual acts; all of them justify this punishment with Islamic law. The Judiciary does not recognize the concept of sexual orientation, and thus from a legal standpoint there are no homosexuals or bisexuals, only heterosexuals "committing" homosexual acts.

Freedom of Religion

The Constitution of Iran declares that the "official religion of Iran is Islam and the doctrine followed is that of "Ja’fari (Twelver) Shi’ism." The Iranian government restricts freedom of religion.

In Iran three official religions are, Islam , Christianity and Judaism.

Iran's religious minorities – including Bahá'ís, Jews, Christians, and Sufi Muslims – reported imprisonment, harassment, and intimidation based on their religious beliefs. At least four Bahá'ís were among those still imprisoned for reasons related to their faith, while eight Jews remained in prison.

IminWonderland · 09-23-2006, 09:30 PM

Originally Posted by Stylerod

How is it a "trend"? And how do we know it's even true?

I know showing Iran to be a great country is the new "White" but how about these things?

I am not trying to paint them as the new "white" at all.

If this article would have been for Syria, or Saudi Arabia, or any other religiously run country, I would wonder the same thing.

Believe me, the things you posted are not things I would want to live under, but you have to be able to see one aspect of good in a country to maybe remind Americans that we don't have all the answers, we don't do EVERYTHING right, and some countries are starting to get their shit together better than us...

If you aren't willing to admit that about ANY other country, then how do you expect the Left to say that about the Iraq dibocal??

Stylerod · 09-23-2006, 09:34 PM

Originally Posted by IminWonderland

I am not trying to paint them as the new "white" at all.

If this article would have been for Syria, or Saudi Arabia, or any other religiously run country, I would wonder the same thing.

Believe me, the things you posted are not things I would want to live under, but you have to be able to see one aspect of good in a country to maybe remind Americans that we don't have all the answers, we don't do EVERYTHING right, and some countries are starting to get their shit together better than us...

If you aren't willing to admit that about ANY other country, then how do you expect the Left to say that about the Iraq dibocal??

You're right. Thank Allah for letting Iran give out free condoms and needles! I hear their spinich doesn't kill people either. Why we aren't all flocking there, I have no idea.

Scrum · 09-24-2006, 02:07 AM

Originally Posted by Stylerod

You're right. Thank Allah for letting Iran give out free condoms and needles! I hear their spinich doesn't kill people either. Why we aren't all flocking there, I have no idea.

Can't you discuss this subject without resorting to trolling?

That's not at all what she said.

Stylerod · 09-24-2006, 06:35 PM

Originally Posted by Scrumtralecent

Can't you discuss this subject without resorting to trolling?

That's not at all what she said.

I can't help it. It's such a stupid thread. Should vegitarians talk about what a good eater Hitler was? Should people create threads about how good John Wayne Gacy was with kids? Or what a compassionate friend Ted Bundy was with people in his inner circle?

Could we all learn something from these people? I guess, but what's the point of bringing it up???? These people (or country, concerning this thread) were mostly evil and trying to find something "good" in them and using them as examples of what we should strive for is "odd" at the least.

Thorgrim · 09-24-2006, 06:38 PM

Originally Posted by Stylerod

I can't help it. It's such a stupid thread. Should vegitarians talk about what a good eater Hitler was? Should people create threads about how good John Wayne Gacy was with kids? Or what a compassionate friend Ted Bundy was with people in his inner circle?

Could we all learn something from these people? I guess, but what's the point of bringing it up???? These people (or country, concerning this thread) were mostly evil and trying to find something "good" in them and using them as examples of what we should strive for is "odd" at the least.

You sound like Hugo Chavez...

The US occupation in Iraq is far worse than how the Iranian government treats its civilians

Stylerod · 09-24-2006, 06:43 PM

Originally Posted by Thorgrim

You sound like Hugo Chavez...

The US occupation in Iraq is far worse than how the Iranian government treats its civilians

Cool. Has nothing to do with this thread but that's good to know. Thanks!

Thorgrim · 09-24-2006, 06:45 PM

Originally Posted by Stylerod

Cool. Has nothing to do with this thread but that's good to know. Thanks!

It has as much to do as this does:

These people [Iranians] (or country, concerning this thread) were mostly evil and trying to find something "good" in them and using them as examples of what we should strive for is "odd" at the least.

Stylerod · 09-24-2006, 06:57 PM

Originally Posted by Thorgrim

It has as much to do as this does:

It does? I'm speaking about this thread in paticular. You start talking about Chavez and Iraq?????

motivez · 09-24-2006, 07:00 PM

So anything that another country does that's good is something we should ignore so it makes it easier to justify attacking them, is that what you're saying and why?

Because, I'm confused why you're so eager to dismiss anything positive about Iran, even if it's put into perspective with other bad shit they do. It really doesn't make any sense.

No one is trying to suggest that Iran is some progressive bastion of equality, far from it.. but it's an interesting thing to see that they, being as conservative and repressive as they are of women, minorities, and homosexuals.. that they'd go out of their way to have such a progressive and open minded response to something like AIDS and ensuring that safe sex, and clean needles are promoted.

And it begs the question, if a nation like Iran can get on board with programs on the national level about these subjects, why can't our government?

Thorgrim · 09-24-2006, 07:00 PM

Originally Posted by Stylerod

It does? I'm speaking about this thread in paticular. You start talking about Chavez and Iraq?????

You are talking about Hitler and Ted Bundy

and then you think I am going off topic by talking about Iran and Iraq

IminWonderland · 09-24-2006, 07:08 PM

Originally Posted by motivez

So anything that another country does that's good is something we should ignore so it makes it easier to justify attacking them, is that what you're saying and why?

Because, I'm confused why you're so eager to dismiss anything positive about Iran, even if it's put into perspective with other bad shit they do. It really doesn't make any sense.

No one is trying to suggest that Iran is some progressive bastion of equality, far from it.. but it's an interesting thing to see that they, being as conservative and repressive as they are of women, minorities, and homosexuals.. that they'd go out of their way to have such a progressive and open minded response to something like AIDS and ensuring that safe sex, and clean needles are promoted.

And it begs the question, if a nation like Iran can get on board with programs on the national level about these subjects, why can't our government?

And this is precisely why I posted this. Because I wonder, since our government paints Iran as some medivial insane asylum for muslims, that something that seems so reasonable for policy would come from them.

I think Stylerod just proves how succeptable people have come to the "SELLING" of war. Because, and let's face it, we are going to end up in a conflict with Iran...and they have been selling that to us for quite sometime now. So now, we can't think of anything positive, or good to come from Iran, just like we aren't allowed to recognize positive attributes out of the Saddam Regime. We can't look at both sides of our said enemiest, just the side that the Administration want to sell us so we'll support their conflicts. "This is a battle against Good and Evil." But, it can't be if we can decide for ourselves who is good, and who is evil. Nope, we get to be TOLD who is good and evil.

phreak · 09-24-2006, 07:50 PM

Originally Posted by motivez

Maybe the fact that our Government is actively campaigning to end things like that?

That they don't want to give teenagers or children the information they need to make safe decisions if they decide to have sex, rather preferring to teach them how bad sex is, how it should wait until marriage because that's the way God intended it, etc, etc...

to Iran for doing something good for their citizens.

this is the biggest bunch of bullshit i've read in awhile. real nice move trying to pass the buck of responsibility from people onto the gov't. there is all sorts of information the is readily available to anyone regarding condoms, aids, etc.