What are the cultural norms of the Iranian society? Who decided these norms? How do the norms of their society differ from the norms of our own?
- Lies and deception are a way of life.
Recent news reports included what appeared to be simultaneous launchings of four missiles said to be of new design and able to reach Israel. Turned out it was photoshopped -- a launch of one missile layered over itself three more times so they appeared to be launched in tandem. Even better, it was an old missile design that could only go a few hundred miles. However, it got the western press excited.
Or the supposed new jet fighter. Close examination revealed it o be a Mattel model with Iranian markings painted on.
Say whatever you want if it will help you win the minds of your countrymen or put doubt in those who you are at war with. Because you know you are vulnerable, make up for it with lies.
- Iran is a serious potential military enemy.
They have arranged with Iraqi forces several times to try to arrange to capture and keep American soldiers. One incident was related in U.S. News & World Report a few years ago. There was a combined force of U.S. military and Iraqi Special Forces traveling along the border. They saw an Iranian officer standing on Iraqi soil and gave chase, only to see him jump back across the border before they could get there. Not long afterwards, they saw either the same officer or another doing the same thing. The Americans gave chase, only to be surrounded by Iranians and the Iraqis had disappeared. Told to lay down their weapons the American Lieutenant opened fire instead and what few Iranians survived fled quickly over the border.
They now exist with a common border with Pakistan, where nuclear materials if not the weapons themselves are available. They have had 20 years since the fall of the Soviet Union to acquire these things and have the educated population to put them together.
- Have been in a declared state of war against the United States for over 30 years.
They declared war against ”The Great Satan” in 1979. Ever since then, there has been a lot of governmental discussion and attempts to talk to them to settle things. Clinton even released the hold on their US bank accounts and he and Medline Albright went around apologizing for this and that, incidents that have occurred over the years. In the end, the top religious leader merely reminds everyone that they are at war with us and all the effort put into trying to settle things is tossed aside.
- Prior to 9/11, responsible for the murder of more Americans than any other country or organization in the world.
The Iranian Revolutionary Guard, trained in terrorism by Yasser Arafat’s El Fatah, was created in the Beka Valley of Lebanon in the 1970’s and they kidnapped and killed many Americans, including staff from the American University in Beirut and the Beirut CIA Region Chief, plus several reporters and religious men.
Arafat trained the Revolutionary Guard to overthrow the Shah and take power in Iran and have ruled ever since.
- As a Shiite nation, traditionally believe that the rightful successor to Mohammed is yet to come and therefore no religious leader is entitled to a position of secular power.
People will tell you that Sunni Muslims and Shiite Muslims will never get along because of this basic divide in their religious views (Sunni’s believe that Mohammed is known to us and therefore anyone who is not the successor to Mohammad can hold a secular position of power.) From what you read in #4, 5, and will read in #6, realize that anyone who ever says that to you does not know what they are talking about.
- Revolutionary guard trained by Sunnis.
Arafat, in fact, was considered a “Super-Sunni” associated with the Muslim Brotherhood, which was itself responsible for many killings. So, the Sunni trained the Shiites how to wage a terror war.
- Regime treats its people with total contempt.
It is a regime party with direct ties to Fascism. In fact, the best description is Islamofascist. A single party, the dictator makes all the decisions, an elected head draws all the press while he will be overruled on anything he says and does and will not argue about it. Rallies in Tehran with people yelling “Death to America” look like color versions of the crowd scenes from 1930’s Germany. The recent statements about the Jewish Death Camps being a lie only extend into this obvious use of Germany and Italy as their examples in their quest for world domination.
- Women are worth half a man (Sharia law).
It is in Iran’s constitution. If a woman who is pregnant with a male fetus is killed in an automobile accident, the driver of the other car must pay a full fine for the fetus and half the fine for the woman. They cannot own or dispose of property, if her husband dies her husband’s family sells the property.
And a non-Muslim is worth even less.
Are these the cultural norms of Iranian society? Not entirely, but they tell you a lot about that society that allow you to see what they are like, culturally. Who put these norms and rules into place? That would have been the Ayatollah Khomeini about 1979 when he came back to Iran to seize power. While flying in from France he was asked what his rule would mean for Iran and his response was something along the lines of his being there to lead all of Islam and he didn’t care about Iran and he would be happy to sacrifice everyone in Iran if he could achieve the global triumph of Islam.
They differ from our society just as the Third Reich differed from us before World War II. They are determined on world domination for their religion, nothing more, and nothing less.
SOURCE:
Leeden, Michael. (2008) “Understanding Iran” Adapted from a speech given to Hillsdale College alumni. Reprinted by permission from Imprimis, a publication of Hillsdale College.