There goes Ahmadinejad again, now alienating Iran’s youth
December 20, 2005, 11:27 am |
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It seems that Iranian President Ahmadinejad is hell-bent on alienating his own people, not just the rest of the world. From CNN.com:
Hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has banned Western music from Iran’s radio and TV stations, reviving one of the harshest cultural decrees from the early days of the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Songs such as George Michael’s “Careless Whisper,” Eric Clapton’s “Rush” and the Eagles’ “Hotel California” have regularly accompanied Iranian broadcasts, as do tunes by saxophonist Kenny G. …
“This is terrible,” said Iranian guitarist Babak Riahipour, whose music was played occasionally on state radio and TV. “The decision shows a lack of knowledge and experience.” …
Western music, films and clothing are widely available in Iran, and hip-hop can be heard on Tehran’s streets, blaring from car speakers or from music shops. Bootleg videos and DVDs of films banned by the state are widely available on the black market.
Of course, this “decree” will go over like a fart in church with Iran’s youth, who make up the majority of the population — and their political sentiments are not exactly as “conservative” as Ahmadinejad’s.
In 2002, Iran’s state news agency Irna and the National Institute for Research Studies and Opinion Polls (NIRSOP) conducted a poll of 1,500 Iranian citizens. According to the BBC, the poll, commissioned by Iran’s parliament, or Majlis, showed that:
- 74% of respondents over the age of 15 support dialogue with the US
- 45.8% believe Washington’s policy on Iran is “to some extent correct”.
Add to this ban on Western music Ahmadinejad’s saber-rattling against Israel:
He also has issued stinging criticisms of Israel, called for the Jewish state to be “wiped off the map” and described the Nazi Holocaust as a “myth.” (Full story)
So Louie Armstrong’s “What a Wonderful World” would be banned I presume? What a wonderful world Ahmadinejad offers his country’s youth: no music and the potential for nuclear annihilation.
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Categories, Tags: Iran
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