Geek Soap Box

Browsing through the usual chatter on Twitter this AM, I was struck by random speculation and questions everyone has related to what is currently happening in Iran, and how/if the United States should respond.

Let’s start with the Middle Eastern nation itself: while I have not yet seen Jimmy Carter personally step forward and endorse the reelection of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as fair and accurate (thereby confirming that shenanigans took place), I am going to go out on a limb and speculate that the impressive landslide results were a tad manipulated and fraudulant. So what does that mean?  So far, with nearly all forms of social media currently blocked within the state, we are reduced to rampant guesswork and assumptions.  Perhaps the people are finally fed up and rioting for a real version of hope and change, or maybe they aren’t.

What I’d love to see, though, is for the citizens of an oppressed, impoverished nation to actually take it upon themselves and do something about it.  Yes, the United States should always embrace and even help to sow the seeds of freedom and democracy throughout the world, but it should be a secondary role that builds upon the tangible actions of locals.  Imagine how much better the world would be if the oppressed everywhere — from Iran to Zimbabwe to Palestine to Venezuela — just said “enough” and overcame their horrifying leadership.

Of course it’s not that easy.  And maybe even some people don’t want to enact change.  But it’s still something to think about.

Meanwhile, I’ve seen some on the right up in arms because President Obama decided to go out and play a round of golf today.  The contention, I assume, is that he should be hunkered down in a War Room somewhere with top advisers monitoring Iran, the economy, and whatnot with every waking breath.

I’m sorry, but do you really want this?  I personally feel that it would be best if Obama and his team spent as little time as possible governing.  Obama’s attention to issues leads to government take overs of the means of production, rampant deficits, and ticked-off allies the world over.  So, please stay on the links, Mr. President!  It’s probably for the best!

Meanwhile, this also begs the question: how should the United States deal with oppressive regimes and undemocratic troublemakers?  How about, unless they are rapidly militarizing nuclear stockpiles (North Korea comes to mind), nothing?  In fact, open up the channels of diplomacy and commerce!  Why should the citizens of Iran, Cuba, etc. suffer because some douchebag is in command?  Perhaps — and again, I’m just spitballing here — by embracing a little bit of glasnost we can accomplish a few tasks:

• Less potential for excuses that the United States, through sanctions and pressure, can be blamed as the “Fall Guy” or “Great Satan” causing the plight of foreign citizenry
• By perhaps opening up relations a little, foreign citizens can see for themselves what they are missing and want to embrace a little homemade hope and change.

Again, who really knows what the real solutions to world tensions will be.  Perhaps an increasingly global economy will result in a giant, one-world philosophy by default.  But, for now, I have to wonder if the way the US plays its hand might not be the most productive.