Iran - my fellow ridiculous Americans

I didn't have to go very far to find the following comment regarding the 16 year old girl shot in Iran: "why is american media reporting on Iran like if we dont have problems here we need to resolve first," (typed by "lmaohater" on youtube in the comments section to the video).

I could have told you the second it happened we would have weak-spined, lily-livered, equivocating simpletons by the thousands who would have similar remarks. My fellow ridiculous Americans use this weak argument (which appeals to similarly weak people and their emotions) to decry getting involved in other countries, in judging murderers, and in getting into the space race. It is a powerful argument when you really think there is no difference between murderers and people just trying to have a fair election.

I am the first to acknowledge that "reformists" and "moderates" in Iran are hardly better - instead of wanting to dismember every Jew and American (like the bad guys in control over there) they just want to incinerate us. But there is a right and a wrong. A very smart person I work with was stuck on the fact that no one had 'proof' who killed this poor girl. That it could have been her own people, so we just shouldn't judge. The same argument says you never really can have proof, so how can you make anyone waste away in jail at all, or sentence them to death? It's going to be the downfall of our country, this equivocation, combined with a few of making decisions.

On the decisions front, it is this fear of committing to one which has given birth to the adage everyone feels smart in repeating, "There are no black and white choices in this world, just shades of grey." Weak people can repeat it a million times (and they do, adding a delightful condescending tone when they do), but it doesn't make it true. The world is full of decisions - from board games to spouses (another concept fallen prey to those who can't commit to a decision) to jobs to pets.

My people (Americans, Westerners, and anyone else who's not murderous) need to rediscover their sense of choice. And make choices, and stick to them.

And of course, that will help them decide to finally Execute Mumia Now.