Nation of Iran Celebrates 33 years of Independence and Self-Determination

[LooseWilly]

53. It isn't a "free or open society"... but there's a huge underground society that's relativley "open"

They just have to hide their openness...

My family, and many they interact with, in Iran are not only distinctly non-traditionalist Muslims... but barely practicing Muslims. My uncle is a regular customer of the black market in booze. And pork.

I imagine it's like having a pot dealer who swings by the house from time to time to deliver. And he brings by a couple of quaaludes as often as not...

And having to pretend one is Muslim, even if not-so-much, kind of like having to pretend one is Capitalist, even if not-so-much, here in the US.

"Do as the Romans do..."

I can personally attest to the desire of many Iranians for beer, gin, vodka, and pre-marital (or extra-marital) sex... they're humans, after all...

Ironically... skepticism of western nations was diminishing, though I suspect that Obama's "sabre-rattling" will cause it to increase... as echoes of the support of Saddam Hussein by the US begin to resonate.

(So much for strategy...)