Secularism v. Theocracy

Submitted by Sanam Ghoddoussi (United States), Mar 9, 2004 at 15:53

What does everyone think of the elections that took place recently in Iran? I'm interested in obtaining more facts about the statistics because honestly, I'm getting different results from different places. However, it is evident that democracy does not exist in Iran given the disquaification of reformists in disproportionately large numbers. Iran is an advanced civilization of people. I don't agree with establishing any state religion in any country, especially a place like Iran in which different religious groups have managed to survive and coexist for centuries. Therefore, despite all the respect in the world that I have for Zoroasterianism, the United States, a self-declared secular country, cannot be in the business of sponsoring any religion domestically or overseas. I hope that the wonderful Iranian civilization will oneday overlook all the social upheavals it has endured and embrace each of its individual constituents as diversified as they may be.

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