Michel: Something to bring cheer

Submitted by Plato (India), Feb 15, 2007 at 07:16

Yes that Michel-Plato alter-ego crack did amuse me too. And no, I did not get offended at all. Now about the Iran question. I don't think Iran is a big problem. It has a working democracy, no where near the American variety, but a working one nonetheless. It is heir to a fabulous culture. That culture is of course looking a bit tattered because of the Islamic veneer. Historically, democracies even shadow democracies like Iran, are not known to go to war or attack without provocation. One of the nice historical facts is that democracies do not fight each other and when there is a war between a democracy and a dictatorship the undemocratic country invariably loses. The Iranians also learned that lesson two millenia ago at Thermopylae.

A surprising bit of news I read says that only about 75 per cent of Iranians are serious about religion (I am unable to remember where and when I read that). But you will be happy to read the one below:

82% of the Latin American respondents said they were religious, compared to 79% in the Middle East. Seven out of ten, or 73%, residents of North America consider themselves religious, 25% - nonreligious (25%), and only 1% - atheists. (http://www.wwrn.org/article.php?idd=19525&sec=74&cont=7)

Not that even with the Arabs factored in the ME has only 79% serious believers. And i am willing to bet that Iranian report was essentially correct. I have met several Iranians who seem to be very lackadiasical about Islam, this is just anecdotal evidence not anything scientific.

Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".