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Conservative
Moral Cowardice: The
Standard’s Story on Ebadi
By
Amber Pawlik
Ever
since my work on Shirin Ebadi, I was hoping I could lay back and watch
someone, somewhere do something regarding this situation.
My work has been meager, but many human rights organizations
and Iranian Americans themselves have been saying the same things I
have about Shirin Ebadi. My
hope was, with time to examine the issue, some conservatives would
start to doubt socialist Europe tactics with the Peace Prize, question
Ebadi’s endorsement of Islam, and start to push for a revolution,
not reform in Iran.
Well,
the conservative Weekly Standard did finally get around to giving the
story attention. They
were, of course, completely wrong.
From
their online interview,
it appears they simply ran an interview with Shirin Ebadi herself,
giving her the complete platform with little doubt cast upon her.
For my audience at mensnewsdaily.com, I believe the following
quote will be most telling regarding Shirin Ebadi.
Some
feminist circles have hailed you as one of their own. What is your
reaction?
The
problem that women face in Muslim societies is not because of
religion. It is a result of the patriarchal culture.
There
you have it. Women aren't decapitated for warding off a rapist because
of the text of the Koran. It's because of men!
I
really just can’t understand how feminism managed to get exported to
this country so effectively. Ebadi
has feminist language down pat and everything.
Well,
let me tell you something. There
is nothing the Iranian men would like better than to see their women
freed from these inhumane laws directed at women (and are directed at
men too). And they all
know: the problem isn’t
some male desire to oppress women, as feminists would have you believe
(and somehow, Ebadi believes). It
is because of Islam.
The
rest of the interview is nothing but a cowardly move on the
Standard’s part – allowing Shirin Ebadi to have a platform, and
spread her propaganda. No
investigation was done on the issue.
The reader was given very little background on the issue.
No other Iranians were interviewed, and it ended with such
hardball questions as “Do you cook for your family, and, if yes, do
they like your cooking?”
The
Weekly Standard prefaced their article with this,
“With
the exception of the hardline Khomeinists who have branded her ‘an
enemy of Islam,’ Ebadi has won praise from virtually all
Iranians--from left to right.”
Well,
of course Iranians are in support of her.
First of all, most there have their life threatened just for
criticizing Islam. One Iranian
describes:
“You
do not have to be Einstein to see that in Iran under the mullahs. You
have no freedom of personal views and if you publicly say something,
then your body will rot in some unknown ditch.”
Thus,
being able to see anyone criticize Islam is a breath of fresh air to
them, hence many Iranians do in fact support her.
But, also, anyone who said what is really on their mind
regarding Ebadi would likely be imprisoned or killed.
And,
in fact, many Iranians do doubt Ebadi.
And not because she is an enemy of Islam, but because she endorses
Islam. A brief tour of
Iranian.com paints a different picture of the Iranian people’s
reaction. From Ayatollah
Ebadi:
“Let me make it clear that as an
Iranian I am very proud to see an Iranian woman become not only the
first Iranian Nobel Laureate but also the first Muslim woman to
receive this honor. But I have to admit that I am extremely
disappointed by her views.
In a round table with BBC, she made
several disturbing remarks. First was her emphasis on the possibility
of reconciling human rights with Islamic fegh (jurisprudence).”
Another
Iranian is explicit in his letter
to the editor:
“This is the beginning of what I have
been thinking and feared to come true since Ms. Shirin Ebadi received
the Nobel Peace Prize - the new trump card for the reformist mullahs
to keep their power and hold on the people of Iran.”
As I’ve said before, I’ve received
many emails in support of my work on Ebadi from Iranians themselves.
In short, I believe she is in fact a tool for the Ayatollah
government, meant to pacify the Iranians against complete rebellion.
This message has also made a major appearance on Iranian
American media.
It sincerely blows my mind the weak
position conservatives have taken on Shirin Ebadi.
First of all, one would think that conservatives would know to
doubt the Nobel Peace Prize, especially since just last year it was
given to Jimmy Carter. But,
like dopes, they are willing to give the Prize moral authority.
Second, one would think conservatives
would cast doubt on Europeans insistence on using “soft tactics”
in advocating reform in Iran. Europeans
– all insanely scared of war – have every desire to pacify the
rebels in Iran. They
believe only so-called democratic, non-violent methods will bring
peace.
Finally, one would think the
Judeo-Christian right would take a stronger position against Islam.
Ebadi is insistent on preserving the image of Islam.
If the Weekly Standard were more professional and inquisitive
in their story on Ebadi, they would know the overwhelming majority of
Iranians are not even Muslim. Most
will say they are, but less than 15% even practice daily prayers.
And most are quite upset that she believes Islam and human
rights are compatible.The Iranian people don’t even want Islam.
But the Judeo-Christian right, who should not support Islam,
are supporting Ebadi, and thus affirming the evil religion of Islam.
I believe conservatives are simply moral
cowards. Lacking in
intellectual morals and principles, they have to default to what
others are doing. As
such, they string along like puppets to Europe’s lead.
They think Ebadi is someone the left would like.
She is advocating feminist ideals.
She is affirming Islam. She
is advocating reform, not rebellion.
Therefore, conservatives believe leftists will like her, and
they just endorse her. You
know, to be popular.
Meanwhile, true liberals don’t even like
her. They don’t like
her support of Islam in particular.
They know it has oppressed the Iranian people for centuries.
They want to see the Iranian people free, therefore question
Ebadi.
The Iranian people are truly different
than any other culture in 3rd world countries.
That’s because they are a culture that wants to skyrocket
themselves to a prosperous nation. Dariush
Homayoun explains:
“Anybody can see the thirst of the
people for things Western. We are in the process of a spiritual
exodus. I am sure of seeing the full fruition of this idea. As a
nation, Iranians want progress. That desire for the best and most
comfortable distinguishes Iranians from most Third World societies.
There is a longing to get away from a failed world, which is drowning
before our eyes.”
This is exactly why the United States
should have an interest in Iran.
If there is any hope for a prosperous, democratic nation, it is
in Iran. The people
fundamentally support Western ideals. If Bush thinks a democratic
nation can be accomplished in Iraq – where the people have been fed
anti-West propaganda ever since they were born – he is insane.
If you are looking for leadership, moral
integrity, and ideals, don’t look to the conservatives.
They sold you out a long time ago.
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