#82168 by I know that I know nothing:

lilmamzer - thank you so much for kindly quoting one of the most reactionary songs ever written!  I took the liberty to forward three copies of your bold lyrics to Paul Revere in the year 1773 so he can deliver copies to Jefferson, Payne, and Washington.

Of course the song is reactionary. And I know you meant that in the literal sense and not as a trite buzzword denoting a politically incorrect viewpoint. Lennon and McCartney were reacting to the sloganeering fad of ‘revolution’, the stuff of empty rhetoric and style masquerading as substance. They were reacting against the political correctness (read: groupthing, the party line, what “everybody knows"), and were telling people to think critically and for themselves. Not what is spoon-fed them by doctrinaire trend-setters.

It’s clear to me that most contributors to these message boards as well as the writers of the articles are the ultimate targets of Lennon and McCartney’s biting satire.

I love that song.

#81976 by Fadel Abdallah:

It is either that the Iranians are unruly, uncivilized, and ungrateful or that they have bigger balls and more courage than us Americans.

It is neither one, Fadel.

Iran has the crude but not the refining capacity. Therefore the Islamic Regime cannot meet it’s own requirements for refined oil products. It’s not a question of limited energy supply but of mis-managed economic development that has left the country without significant refining capacity.

That is why the likeliest scenario for the overdue regime change in Iran will be brought about by a simple naval blockade of the Hormuz Straits to all incoming refined petroleum products. The Mullah’s theocratic and repressive regime will crumble amid widespread unrest that will dwarf anything we’re seeing now as the already fragile Iranian economy ginds to a complete halt.

#81996 by cyrena:

..they’ve never much liked the hedgmonic arrogance of the West.

Lately it’s the West that has good reason to be alarmed by the Iranian Mullah’s hegemonic policies in the Gulf and beyond. What goes around comes around.
---------------

They keep their revolution skills up to date. That’s what we’re supposed to do here as well.

We’re supposed to keep our revolution skills up to date? Says who - Party Central?

OK Cyrena, you say you want a revolution? Which government are you targetting for overthrow? And what sort of government would you replace it with? Your precious ‘revolution’ will eat you alive ans spit you back out in chunks, I’m sorry to tell you.

The best thing to say to you at this point was written by Lennon and McCartney:

You say you want a revolution
Well you know
We all want to change the world
You tell me that it’s evolution
Well you know
We all want to change the world
But when you talk about destruction
Don’t you know you can count me out
Don’t you know it’s gonna be alright
Alright Alright

You say you’ll change the constitution
Well you know
We all want to change your head
You tell me it’s the institution
Well you know
You better free your mind instead
But if you go carrying pictures of Chairman Mao
You ain’t going to make it with anyone anyhow
Don’t you know know it’s gonna be alright
Alright Alright

Cyrena, pay attention to the lyrics in bold, they were meant especially for you - Lennon and McCartney skewered the childish ‘revolution’ nonsense decades ago............

Ditto Fadel. I agee.

You’ve gotta admit though, the Iranians have always had more “character” (for lack of a better word) than we have. They don’t wait centuries and centuries under oppression, and they’ve never much liked the hedgmonic arrogance of the West. They keep their revolution skills up to date. That’s what we’re supposed to do here as well. Not any longer.

Price of oil in Iran soaring to 38 cents a gallon and causing riots!!

Prices in the U.S. been soaring from $ 1.70 a year and half ago to over $ 3.50 now, and no serious sign of popular expression of unhappiness!

It is either that the Iranians are unruly, uncivilized, and ungrateful or that they have bigger balls and more courage than us Americans. Or it could be that Iran is a less police state than the U.S. is now; or that they have more democracy and freedom to protest. Whatever the case may be, it does not bode well for us Americans.

Furthermore, this is a clear proof that Iran needs to develop it nuclear technology to meet it growing need for energy.