Discrediting Ahmadinejad II
Here's the translation of Ahmadinejad on homosexuals:
"Iran, we don't have homosexuals like in your country....In Iran we do not have this phenomenon, I don't know who has told you that we have it."
The general consensus (I think) is that he means that the actual number of gay people in Iran is zero and that as such he's delusional and a liar. I think it's more likely that he means Iranian homosexuals are not similar to American homosexuals. Specifically Iranian homosexuals don't have communities or political action groups or parades or congregation places the way they do here because, well, that's all illegal, dangerous behavior there. And so Ahmadinejad sees less of what he would consider immoral behavior in his country than he sees in ours. Interpreting his words this way, there's no need to conclude that the man is delusional--just your run-of-the-mill draconian religious fundamentalist.
Comments
Brian, you are so willing to see what the person intended to say rather than what they did say, that you must be a liberal. Hehehe.
When I read his words, my first thought is that they've hung or shot all the gays they find, so the 'problem' disappears. That is just as likely a reading, it seems to me.
But since they are quite likely to have closets in Iran (as they do in Saudi Arabia, where homosexuality is also forbidden, but 'quietly practiced' in private dwellings), I suspect that you are correct that his words are not literal.
Note: I've always loved the phrase 'practicing homosexual'. But practice does make perfect (or improves one's game).
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