I came across this video, "Eddeaa," by the Iranian group Abjeez, while reading the blog Rough In Here, Rougher Out There. I can't understand Persian, and don't know enough about Iran to really understand the video, but I find it uproariously funny. The scenario seems to evoke early twentieth century, pre-Pahlavi, Qajar Iran. I think. Check it out for yourself.
"Abjee" is Persian slang for sister, and the band is two sisters, Safoura and Melody Safavi, plus backing musicians, and are based in Sweden. More information here.
Also check out Abjeez's very clever video, "DemoKracy," complete with English subtitles. It's a clever, humorous critique of the US neo-con use of the smokescreen of "democratization" to justify military intervention in Iraq and potentially (though now, mercifully, much less likely) Iran. Abjeez describe the video as being a response to "AIPAC is pushing us to war with Iran for Israel." In this regard, I have much more faith in Obama's willingness to talk, as opposed to bomb, Iraq, than in either McCain or Clinton.
Frankly, I'm not sure what to make of this--what credibility do Iranians hiding in Sweden have as cynical critics of democracy? They beg, and deserve, the question "If you don't like democracy, why not go the fuck back to Iran?"
ReplyDeleteIt's pretty clear from their video that they are critical of the grand US mission that was proclaimed when we invaded Iraq: that we were bringing democracy to the Middle East. Abjeez look at what's going on in Iraq and say, no thanks, not THAT way. Just because they're in Sweden doesn't mean they don't have a right to comment on whether they want their homeland "liberated" by force of US arms, or not.
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