"'Sickened by the silence': Western progressives accused of staying mute about Iran protests"

[Debater Slayer]

An excellent article about the hypocrisy of some leftists and the two-faced approach they are taking toward human rights in Iran.

I found these two parts especially of note:

For six days, cities across Iran have been roiled by a sudden explosion of anti-government protests that, in some cases, have sparked a deadly response from Iranian authorities.

Nevertheless, foreign governments, including the European Union, have issued little more than calls for the Iranian government to guarantee their citizens’ right to protest. U.K. Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, for instance, issued a statement calling on “all concerned” to refrain from violence.

“I don’t expect anything from Russia or China, but I do expect more from European governments,” said Arsham Parsi, director of Iranian Railroad for Queer Refugees, a Canadian charity devoted to LGBT rights in Iran.

Parsi added that he isn’t advocating for Western intervention, merely a strong statement in support of Iranian democracy.

Furthermore:

Canada’s sole official statement on the issue came Tuesday and was three sentences long. It called on Iranian authorities to “uphold and respect democratic and human rights.”

Even that provoked a response from Iranian authorities, who accused Canada of adopting an “interventionist position.”

Trudeau’s Liberal government is working to restore diplomatic relations with Iran, which the Harper Conservatives severed in 2012 over the country’s support for terror and its human rights record. A senior official from Iran’s foreign ministry told the Iranian Mehr News Agency that the two sides have held five rounds of talks and another is planned for early in the new year.

It appears that Mr. Trudeau is pro-LGBT rights—but doesn't mind associating with one of the most homophobic and oppressive regimes in the world in addition to staying silent about its current human rights abuses.

The regressive left are showing their true colors in circumstances like these.

 

[dfnj]

The regressive left are showing their true colors in circumstances like these.

I think there are two sides to every story. For example, do you think there is any truth to this reporting or is just malicious propaganda:

 

[Revoltingest]

Well, I did hear about it on NPR...with an interview with an Iranian ex-pat who was tortured
& imprisoned until he escaped. This coverage sure struck me as criticizing oppression there.

 

[Debater Slayer]

I think there are two sides to every story. For example, do you think there is any truth to this reporting or is just malicious propaganda:

What does this have to do with the specific article in the OP?

 

[dfnj]

Well, I did hear about it on NPR...with an interview with an Iranian ex-pat who was tortured
& imprisoned until he escaped. This coverage sure struck me as criticizing oppression there.

Now is the time to attack so the Iranian hardliners stay in power. (sarcasm)

 

[dfnj]

What does this have to do with the specific article in the OP?

RE: "The regressive left are showing their true colors in circumstances like these."

There are two sides to every story.

 

[Revoltingest]

Now is the time to attack so the Iranian hardliners stay in power. (sarcasm)

Yipes!
Don't give Donald any ideas.

 

[Debater Slayer]

RE: "The regressive left are showing their true colors in circumstances like these."

There are two sides to every story.

That still doesn't address the OP, though. What do you think justifies the inconsistent approach taken by some governments toward the protests and human rights abuses in Iran?

 

[Debater Slayer]

Well, I did hear about it on NPR...with an interview with an Iranian ex-pat who was tortured
& imprisoned until he escaped. This coverage sure struck me as criticizing oppression there.

That's good to hear. I hope more governments follow suit and explicitly come out against the Iranian regime's abuses of human rights.

 

[Enoch07]

An excellent article about the hypocrisy of some leftists and the two-faced approach they are taking toward human rights in Iran.

I found these two parts especially of note:



Furthermore:



It appears that Mr. Trudeau is pro-LGBT rights—but doesn't mind associating with one of the most homophobic and oppressive regimes in the world in addition to staying silent about its current human rights abuses.

The regressive left are showing their true colors in circumstances like these.

Trudeau is not quite all he says he is. Canada recently rejected a LGBT refugee friend of mine. Who fled his home country because being gay carries a death sentence there. Luckily he found a home here in the U.S. and is on the path to citizenship so no more worries. Compound that we the fact Trudeau praised Castro as a great man who fought for his citizens (LuLz)!

Trudeau's tribute to Fidel Castro raises eyebrows - CNN

I would be very concerned if I was a Canadian citizen right now.

 

[Debater Slayer]

Trudeau is not quite all he says he is. Canada recently rejected a LGBT refugee friend of mine. Who fled his home country because being gay carries a death sentence there. Luckily he found a home here in the U.S. and is on the path to citizenship so no more worries. Compound that we the fact Trudeau praised Castro as a great man who fought for his citizens (LuLz)!

Trudeau's tribute to Fidel Castro raises eyebrows - CNN

I would be very concerned if I was a Canadian citizen right now.

I'm very sorry to hear that your friend got rejected but also glad that he managed to find home elsewhere. May I ask what reason(s) they gave for rejecting him? I totally understand if you choose not to answer that.

 

[dfnj]

Yipes!
Don't give Donald any ideas.

I don't understand what the big deal is with the OP. We should stay completely away from Iran and let the protesters overthrow the existing hard-line government.

 

[YmirGF]

An excellent article about the hypocrisy of some leftists and the two-faced approach they are taking toward human rights in Iran.

I found these two parts especially of note:



Furthermore:



It appears that Mr. Trudeau is pro-LGBT rights—but doesn't mind associating with one of the most homophobic and oppressive regimes in the world in addition to staying silent about its current human rights abuses.

The regressive left are showing their true colors in circumstances like these.

Our illustrious Prime Minister has certainly proven to be a mixed bag. The very least he could offer is an expression of cautious optimism.

 

[George-ananda]

I have always found the left to be unenthusiastic about attacking enemies of the U.S.. Their emotional enthusiasm for attack is saved for Republicans and conservatives. It is like it sticks in their craw to actually join the attack of something Trump is also attacking.

 

[Debater Slayer]

I have always found the left to be unenthusiastic about attacking enemies of the U.S.. Their emotional enthusiasm for attack is saved for Republicans and conservatives. It is like it sticks in their craw to actually join the attack of something Trump is also attacking.

Do you support criticizing the Iranian government because they are "enemies of the U.S." or because they're oppressive regardless of their stance about the U.S.?

 

[YmirGF]

Do you support criticizing the Iranian government because they are "enemies of the U.S." or because they're oppressive regardless of their stance about the U.S.?

I would hope any thinking person would ask unequivocally for door #2.

 

[Debater Slayer]

Our illustrious Prime Minister has certainly proven to be a mixed bag. The very least he could offer is an expression of cautious optimism.

It makes one more than a little skeptical of politicians when someone like Trudeau, who was in tears while talking about LGBT rights not long ago, is now being so restrained toward a regime as blatantly homophobic as Iran's. Either he's being a hypocrite or he doesn't really care about LGBT rights as much as he claims to be, and in both cases he doesn't come out as exactly a beacon of reason and compassion.

 

[YmirGF]

It makes one more than a little skeptical of politicians when someone like Trudeau, who was in tears while talking about LGBT rights not long ago, is now being so restrained toward a regime as blatantly homophobic as Iran's. Either he's being a hypocrite or he doesn't really care about LGBT rights as much as he claims to be, and in both cases he doesn't come out as exactly a beacon of reason and compassion.

At least I didn't vote for him.

Reminds me of a boss many years ago saying, "Once you can fake sincerity; you've got it made."

 

[sayak83]

An excellent article about the hypocrisy of some leftists and the two-faced approach they are taking toward human rights in Iran.

I found these two parts especially of note:



Furthermore:



It appears that Mr. Trudeau is pro-LGBT rights—but doesn't mind associating with one of the most homophobic and oppressive regimes in the world in addition to staying silent about its current human rights abuses.

The regressive left are showing their true colors in circumstances like these.

Why would EU and Canada be leftists?
Protests inside Iran (or Hong Kong or Spain) are their internal matter. Why should foreign nations stick their big noses in there? Unless there are serious international consequences of events inside a country, why should countries meddle in each other's domestic affairs? That's the right neo-con policy of US.

 

[columbus]

What does this have to do with the specific article in the OP?

Possibly the same thing I feel. I am just not sure I understand what is going on in Iran well enough to have a clear opinion.

All I have to go on is Western media, which is notoriously bad about accurate reportage from Iran. Since I have zero influence anyway,. I am inclined to let the dust settle before drawing conclusions.
Similarly, I wouldn't expect many Iranians to understand the 2009 Teaparty demonstrations and grasp the distinction between them and the Occupy Wall Street demonstrations. You just need to know too much about the political landscape of the USA when they happened. I didn't understand the landscape over there, and largely misunderstood the Arab Spring demonstrations. I try to be careful not to overestimate my grasp of foreign cultures.
Tom