Iran Forgotten
I guess a good sex scandal and the death of a pop music star is much more important the people dying on the streets of Iran.
Yesterday, every major news network started with the headliner of Gov. Sanford’s infidelity. Today was dominated by Michael Jackson. I am not saying that either isn’t a important story….just that the monopolizing of news time for those two stories seems almost grotesquet with people dying for freedom in Iran.
There were major protests in Tehran yesterday, and scores were killed and injured. The numbers are still coming in, but it appears the security forces are clamping down hard on the protesters. But apparently, the story has lost its legs according to the mainstream media.
The video above shows that major protests continue, despite waning attention from western media sources. And this was my fear all along. Without a major push from leaders of the free world, this story will slowly get repetative and boring, and will fade…and support for the protesters will wane. That doesn’t mean people aren’t dying and bleeding on Iranian streets. It just means that we aren’t paying attention.
There are reports that Mousavi has been placed under house arrests, though again those aren’t confirmed. Rumors like this have been off and on for two weeks. Numerous academics were arrested as well, though most have been released today. The doctor who took care of Neda, the now famous girl killed on video, spoke out publically…and assumes that means he will never be able to return to his country.
The second most powerful man in Iran, Ayatollah Hashemi Rafsanjani, the head of the Assembly of Experts, continues to try to come to some compromise between Mousavi and the hardliners. At the very least, it seems he may have gained enough support from the clerical establishment to force a compromise from Khamenei, one that would entail a run-off election between Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his main reformist rival Mir Hossein Mousavi.
Ahmadinejad continues his ranting. He has blamed, in order of importance, Barack Obama, the U.S. Congress, Zionists, and even Saudi Arabia for continuing unrest in Tehran. And he did the unthinkable today: he had the audacity to compare Obama to Bush! Oh, the horror! The government dismissed members of the nation’s soccer team for wearing Green ribbons. And the media war continues, as Iran continues with numerous ridiculous claims of terrorism from protesters.
Again, this is where the leaders of the free world can speak up, and continue worldwide attention on the protests. As Mr. Obama stated in his press conference, the news services often focus in the 24 hour news cycle. It is the job of our leaders to focus attention on Iran, and not let them get away with murder.
I have to agree with you somewhat. Sex scandles are almost daily anymore so who gives a hoot? However, Mr. Jackson was one of our own and his death was so unexpected and shocking for all. Granted, all news was tied up with this story, I had to turn off the tv and shut down my internet. I guess it is up to the press what they deem important to people. Iran is important to us but we can do little to help them and I don’t wish to get involved with this country. We need to stop 2 other wars before Korea gets to us.
I myself had a big post of Michael Jackson. I just want the media to understand that just because the Iranian thing has been going on for a while doesn’t mean people still aren’t dying.
I’m beginning to believe that CNN and other major news agencies were waiting for something to take the focus off Iran. If the Iranians could see US television right now they would feel betrayed. It’s amazing how quickly all the networks changed focus from truly important coverage of a story affecting millions in Iran that could very well be a turing point for Iranian democracy to a story that will only devolve into a story of “who’s guilty of Michael Jackson’s death”. I’m not sure if betrayal is a strong enough word. I am sure the Iranian government is grateful for the diversion.
Our continued coverage of this story puts pressure on the Islamic regime as the expulsion of Western journalists seems to bear out. Sometimes there is little we can physically, do but knowing someone else in the world cares is important as well.
MJ is of course important to American pop culture but his story is of little consequence in the long run.