Saturday, June 02, 2007

SYRIA, Land of the Free!


Another clear and resounding ring of freedom's bell has resounded for all the world to hear.

This news will bring tears of joy to all freedom loving peoples everywhere. Last week, in a national referendum, Syrian President Bashar Al Assad secured an overwhelming vote of approval for continuing his presidency for another seven years.

Amazingly, voter turnout was an astounding 92% of the Syrian population with Bashar capturing an overwhelming 97% of the vote.
Of course, he ran unopposed and the polling figures could not be independently confirmed.

20 comments:

beakerkin said...

I wonder if the Reform Party of Syria is genuine. I can predict the response of Marxist From Lebanon or Ren but they do have an amusing site.

roman said...

beakerkin,

The government of Syria imposed a "state of emergency" back in 1963 which is still in effect today. 44 years of suspension of human rights, political opposition and personal freedoms, that's got to be a record.
Also, Freedom House has a rating scale from 1 to 7, with 1 being the most free. Syria has been and continues to be a #7.

beakerkin said...

Here is the other part of the secret Cuba, China, Vietnam and Zimbabwe are 7's. I did a post a while back on the Freedom House ratings and the majority of countries with 7's are either Muslim or Communist.

The country is run by an Alawite clique that makes up 11% of the county. The Alawites are NOT Muslims and are part of what is called the Cult of Angels. In Turkey the same faith is called Alevis.

It is a blended faith that incorporates Islamic themes nominally enough to avoid persecution. My interest in this faith was in doing research into the conversos or hidden Jews of Spain. Many of them fled to America and practiced a secret form of Judaism. The indigenous people who were oppressed by Islamocolonialism adapted a different technique. Jews, Christians and Zorostrians could pay protection money. This option was unavailable to pagans who created a blended religion.

It is amazing reading on many levels.

Anonymous said...

92% voter turnout. That's pretty amazing. Was the other side of the ballot a welfare check that you had to drop in a box to cash? Just wondrin'...

roman said...

hugo,

Pretty much, yes. But don't worry, the one or two percent who actually did show up to vote got the welfare checks as a reward for writer's cramp after filling out all those ballots.

Pete said...

This Assad, is he not flathead brother of Borat?

roman said...

Bashir al Assad and the ruling Alawites are in a very volatile position. Their mostly secular style "republic" is between a rock and a hard place. They would like to hang onto power but the pressure from radical Islam, and on the other hand, proponents of Democracy, present a constant threat. They have resorted to ruthless thugery and assasinations to please the powerful (Iran) and vicious crackdowns on internal political opponents. How long they can keep this balancing act up is anyone guess.

roman said...

Pete,

He does have that certain Borat flair for style. The picture is not very flattering but the flock and foil wallpaper in the background definitely rounds out the comic relief.

roman said...

Bashir al Assad and the ruling Alawites are in a very volatile position. Their mostly secular style "republic" is between a rock and a hard place. They would like to hang onto power but the pressure from radical Islam, and on the other hand, proponents of Democracy, present a constant threat. They have resorted to ruthless thugery and assasinations to please the powerful (Iran) and vicious crackdowns on internal political opponents. How long they can keep this balancing act up is anyone guess.

roman said...

OK, what's going on with Google Blogger? Now it's duplicating comments and no way to correct it. HAAALP!!

Agnes said...

"state of emergency" back in 1963' - war is peace, isn't it?

However, pretty difficult to understand the ME from here. The 97% always delights me: Saddam had a constant 98 if I recall it properly, the Popular Front (nonexistent otherwise) a constant 99,8. Democracy uber alles.

roman said...

Redwine,

Yes, his approval rating vote in the previous election was also an astounding 98%. His admirers are very consistant. We will have to send former president Jimmy Carter to Syria so he can endorse the accuracy of the election. His stamp of approval will undoubtedly silence all us cynics once and for all :-))

Frank Partisan said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Frank Partisan said...

Roman: Your blog has always been a place where issues were discussed, without personal attack or name calling. Is this tone you want at your blog?

beak and his buddies are again threatening to spam me.

jams o donnell said...

Well at least it wasn't a 99.998% vote for Assad. But that is to damn teh election with faint praise!

Agnes said...

"Your blog has always been a place where issues were discussed" - Ren, as I know Roman he can take care of his blog very well, and the site will stay so.

Beak, MFL or others often point at that: such movements (and people) are very very genuine. About the plitical impact, we could see the 97 percent.

Jams, I wonder who were the 2 percent so necessary to stand for an opposition. Humor aside, tragic situation.

jams o donnell said...

I know it's a tragic situation Red. What's worse is that the alternative to the Baathists in Syria seems to be fundamentalists. Not good at all

beakerkin said...

Ren

No such threat has been made by me or anyone connected to me. I have zero idea what you are talking about.

If you are pointing to the antics of someone else objecting to John Brown you should discuss that with him. Do note that most people do not find spam and threats against children acceptable. You may think this is funny when Brown does this to anti-communists but civilized people do not.

Ducky's here said...

Boy, I bet Chucklenuts Bush wishes he could run unapposed. He'd probably manage 28% if he did

roman said...

ducky,

Thanks for stopping by.

You're probably giving him more credit than he deserves. His recent stance on the immigration bill has alienated (no pun) just about all the rest of his Republican base.
As a write-in candidate, YOU might beat him if the election was held today.