Human progress requires dignity, not fear. To stare at a burning torch and call for everyone to look away, lest it blind them is utter folly. Perhaps the torch has alighted other things and you must put the fire out (with your knowledge). But also that torch may light up the darkness and show you the message for which you have been seeking all along.
- By: Long Distance on January 20, 2004

It would be interesting to see if they actually start a blog.
- By: longdistance on January 20, 2004

The idea of running a weblog is very interesting. however, I don't really think any of the main people inside the sit-in circle has time to do that. This is the job for some kind of secretary, and I haven't a clue if such a person exists there. As tensions are very high in the parliament, they really need one or two young computer-savvy journalists to do this job. As you mentioned in your Persian blog Vice President Abtahi has the power to create enough hot air for this issue. Should this happen, it will be the most transparet political protest in Iran's history.
- By: Ali on January 15, 2004

So a weblog is a democracy, Mr. Matt Jack? If Highlander wants to complain about Hoder's policy, he can start his own weblog. It's free and no one is stopping him. He can even ban Hoder from his comments area. Every person is free -- in his or her PRIVATE space -- to ban anyone or anything. It is PUBLIC censorship that is not allowable -- the action of telling *someone else* that they must ban a person or a comment. If the Iranian government wants to ban whatever they wish from, say, public information posters, they can do so. What they should *not* be able to do is stop any citizen or newspaper from talking about issues. Tell me, Mr. Matt Jack, what have you done to advocate democracy? Have you done more than Mr. Hoder here?
- By: Catfish N. Cod on January 15, 2004

Mr. Derakhshan, I had an email from a gentleman (Highlander) who claims that you banned him from leaving comments here. If it is true then shame on you and shame on the kind of democracy that people like you are advocating. So, aren't you who complain about censorship and how bad is that? So why don't you practice what you preach? Matt Jack
- By: Matt Jack on January 14, 2004