Well no that probably wouldn't be a good idea. Not if I don't wish to be deemed an utter dolt. Not if I value a continued membership on this site. Now I might be able to diminish the hatred I would otherwise incur, if not the utter contempt, by hastening to explain that since returning to the Deep South after a glorious decade in New England, summer has reverted from its position as the most enjoyed season to least favored. I could emphasize the oppressive heat we have endured in Georgia this past week or compare the still of the day interrupted by a sudden violent thunderstorm (such as we are experiencing now as I right this) to peaceful demonstrations ravaged by the appearance of the basij. Even if I were to come up with something genuinely clever in the comparison, the analogy would remain asinine and offensive.
Most (all?) political analogies will fall apart at some point of closer scrutiny. No two situations are exactly alike. But the best, few though they may be, can illuminate the less familiar of the things compared or have possible predictive value. But to be effective in argument, an analogy should not only have some intellectual validity, but also avoid causing an emotional reaction of repugnance. Which brings me to the reason for this diary (in case anyone is still reading and wondering.)
Most of us have been riveted by the events in Iran since the results of the election were announced last week. We gave been inspired by the demonstrators, disgusted with the government, horrified by the violent repression. We have educated ourselves on the intricacies of Iranian power wielding, learned the key players in the struggle, read the posts on twitter from people desperate to keep the world informed of their struggle for democracy, had our knowledge of Iranian culture greatly enhanced. I have spent more time at Huffington Post and Andrew Sullivan's blog this past week that all the previous months of their existence combined. I could barely sleep Friday night from fear of what would transpire on Saturday. Exempting the euphoria of Obama's election, I have not been so emotionally involved in unfolding events since the aftermath of Katrina.
There have been several diaries on this site that have attempted to make some analogy between what is transpiring in Iran and some particular political situation in this country. Such attempts are doomed from the onset. I know I am not alone in not wanting hear that regarding health care the power Obama wields corresponds to Ahmadinejad's (even though I understood the point the respected diarist was trying to make), or that S. Palin's distribution of oil revenues mimics his buying of votes. Not now. Not when people are being shot and beaten in the streets and terrorized by having their homes invaded by government sponsored thugs in the night.
So I urge any would-be diarist tempted to analogize politics in this country with what is transpiring in Iran to resist that temptation. It's unlikely to illuminate and guaranteed to offend. Leave it to the Republicans to continue to make utter asses of themselves with their stomach churning comparisons.