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Ahmadinejad: "In Iran, we don’t have homosexuals"

towleroad.com — In his speech at Columbia University, Iran's President denied there were any gays in Iran.

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  • holzp, on 10/10/2007, -16/+396Perhaps he needs to look in the closets?
    • pennyfan87, on 10/10/2007, -6/+73How the hell is Tom Cruise supposed to help?
      • DropTheOxygen, on 10/10/2007, -4/+41And I pull out my GUN!!!!!!
        • kalkin, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2you know what's scary? this sounds like something a kid would say and he's running a country. it also sounds like something bush would say and he's running a country. these really are scary times...
    • FunkyWitDaSysTm, on 10/10/2007, -4/+99"in Iran, we don't have closets."
      • JoshuaH, on 10/10/2007, -1/+17That sounds like the beginning of a joke.
        • lazyrussian, on 10/10/2007, -0/+13the in Soviet Russia line of jokes? :p
      • mig174, on 10/10/2007, -0/+17In Iran, we don't have jokes.
        • canovac, on 10/10/2007, -1/+1What about:

          why don't Iranians wear jeans? Because goats can hear a zipper a mile away!
    • NickMilne, on 10/10/2007, -1/+17Or the prisons!

      :-/
    • virvirtutis, on 10/10/2007, -5/+3Well played. *golfclap*
    • AJRiddle, on 10/10/2007, -41/+11If you actually listen to the speech and watch it you can tell he is joking.

      STOP TAKING HIS WORDS OUT OF CONTEXT AND USING THEM AS PROPAGANDA.
      • imperium2000, on 10/10/2007, -4/+24Joking is your best excuse? Try harder please.
        • diggdallas, on 10/10/2007, -11/+2In Soviet Russia, existence isn't gay.
          • imperium2000, on 10/10/2007, -3/+6Ummm...no, try a knock knock joke...
      • tubeblender, on 10/10/2007, -3/+12Oh, I get it, that was just a JOKE.

        Uhm, It wasn't funny.
        • glinsvad, on 10/10/2007, -2/+8In Islamic Iran, we don't have jokes
      • DiggsOnlyJew, on 10/10/2007, -6/+37As for all the Iranians who were killed because they were suspected of being gay, I suppose that's a joke too?
        • TheJokerV, on 10/10/2007, -14/+16I'm Iranian and I just visited Iran this summer. I saw gays being openly gay in public and Jews practicing their faith in public. They were not apprehended by police, looked down upon or mistreated in any way.The fact of the matter is that Iran's public regulates its laws and the public is sometimes more tolerant than the American public. Basically just STFU and get educated before you speak.
      • shaelen, on 10/10/2007, -1/+8I think it's possible that something was lost in translation, the part that keeps getting left out is "like in your country" which can easily mean that homosexuals in Iran don't have the same freedom to express themselves as American homosexuals do, and he's just reiterating that. Remember, he wasn't speaking English, an interpreter was.
      • deadmann, on 10/10/2007, -9/+3He's not joking at all. He said they do not have that phenomenon. Americans have convinced themselves that sexual preference is almost a genetic trait like red hair and freckles, when there is really no evidence of such a trait. It's a part of one's identity that is ingrained by society. You can't argue with the fact that there are many documented cases of twins, who are genetically identical, where one twin exhibits homosexuality, and the the other heterosexuality.
        • JigoroKano, on 10/10/2007, -1/+11Actually homosexuality is correlated between twins. If one is gay, then the other is more likely to be gay than otherwise.

          But Western scientists know homosexuality isn't strictly genetic like red hair. It's developmental. Still not a choice though.

          If you believe a straight man could choose to be gay, then you aren't straight.
          • deadmann, on 10/10/2007, -2/+3A correlation is not out of the question due to the similar environmental influences on most twins who are raised together. But if it was an on/off characteristic as some would have you believe there would be total correlation. I don't believe it's any kind of choice, as I say it is part of a person's identity. And I wouldn't go so far as to suggest there is no biological factor that makes a person more likely to exhibit hetero- or homosexual behaviour in response to the environmental.
          • Beveridge89, on 10/10/2007, -4/+0Well no it wouldn't. My knowledge is pretty basic, but twins have different DNA. But yeah, theres probably more than just biological factors that can determine it.
          • mlostracco, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Identical twins have the same DNA, but different phenotypes (fingerprints, appearance). DNA tests can't differentiate between identical twins. Phenotypes evolve at certain stages in utero, which also lends itself to the "homosexuality is not a choice" argument, as many scientists hypothesize that homosexuality is "locked in" at a certain stage of prenatal development, possibly via a flood of maternal hormones.
          • Koldkompress, on 10/10/2007, -1/+2So it couldn't possibly be because the twins were raised in a similar environment? Or even that the developmental issues of being a twin makes you more predisposed to be homosexual? Causation != correlation
          • JigoroKano, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1It couldn't simply be the (out of the womb) environment because they also did separated at birth twin studies. The correlation still exists.

            I believe the current scientific theory is that it's the development that occurs in the womb that biologically determines most of a persons predisposition towards homosexuality.
        • mnstot, on 10/10/2007, -2/+0Or a felon.
      • UnstableMind, on 10/10/2007, -1/+1I think it was taken out of context. Before that he prefaced it with saying something along the lines of, "if you have a blight or cancer causing harm to your children, wouldn't you cut it off". Not sure on the exact text, but after that he seemed like he was joking about there not being any gays in his country b/c they get rid of them. I say, at least he was being honest.
    • diggdallas, on 10/10/2007, -4/+25Hey, at least Ahmadinejad knew what country he was in.
    • Frnnkdlxx, on 10/10/2007, -6/+1It's because his country doesn't use that many plastics as the rest of the "advanced" world...
    • TantrooM, on 10/10/2007, -0/+20In Iran, the hangers are OUTSIDE the closets...
      • Asianwaste, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2Hmm I was going to say something in the lines of homosexuals hanging around somewhere in Iran, but I like yours a lot better.
    • 0o0Moylan0o0, on 10/10/2007, -2/+16He looks pretty gay to me.
    • chyya, on 10/10/2007, -7/+2in soviet russia YOU are the homosexual
  • bamapachyderm, on 10/13/2007, -26/+358Of course there aren't any; they've executed them.
    • ruddy, on 10/10/2007, -31/+20can you think of a better cure?!?!
      • redfox2600, on 10/10/2007, -2/+28Stop them from reproducing ... oh wait
        • markdr123, on 10/10/2007, -1/+2Which, when you think about it, proves homosexuality isn't hereditary.
      • chyya, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2no waiting.... move it along people
      • EvilGeniusTodd, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2What's to cure?
        Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy much?
    • EmperorAwesome, on 10/10/2007, -3/+7Ka-kow!
    • BlackCow, on 10/10/2007, -1/+19That and they know they are ***** if they come out of the closet.
    • epicstruggle, on 10/10/2007, -3/+19I hope diggers go back and read some of the comments they have left in the last few Iran/Ahmadinejad threads. See what type of person your supporting.
      • Beeryan, on 10/10/2007, -3/+1I hope you understand what a retard you are when you read the correct translation of what he said
    • Frnnkdlxx, on 10/10/2007, -4/+1You've got quite an imagination there...
    • blitzer, on 10/10/2007, -5/+24This is crazy.. a country's leader speaking out against homosexuality... oh wait..
      • psg188, on 10/10/2007, -0/+3There's a difference between speaking out against, and executing. Bush might be a bad leader, but he isn't one to execute mass numbers of his population.
      • behlib99, on 10/10/2007, -0/+0Unless your in the military. Oh wait, too soon?
    • Elranzer, on 10/10/2007, -2/+3All of the Iranian homosexuals have fled to Canada or the USA anyway.
    • BESTenemy, on 10/10/2007, -1/+4Keep in mind that in Saudi Arabia homosexuality is punishable by death, yet that doesn't seem to bother us. The fact that most 9-11 hijackers were Saudis doesn't matter, cause they're our petrodollar ally. Iran on the other hand can be blamed for all the sins, cause it refuses to embrace our vision for the Middle East and chooses to maintain sovereignty.
  • TJATL, on 10/10/2007, -66/+48Where are all the liberal diggers outraged over this?
    • geekee, on 10/10/2007, -37/+29The cognitive dissonace would destroy them, so they ignore it.
    • CaptainNoPants, on 10/10/2007, -24/+58Sorry, but what would liberals be outraged about? An ignorant statement from the dictator of a 3rd world country? They could just as easily be outraged about the statements the christian far-right in the U.S. makes about homosexuals.
      • brycelb, on 10/10/2007, -2/+11Priceless?
      • mtrip, on 10/10/2007, -8/+30Except this guy kills homosexuals, so there's a difference. I saw a video of two children being hung in the street for being 'suspected homosexuals.' I can't believe the left in America dismisses that sort of thing.
        • Dregga, on 10/10/2007, -14/+9Or you know, they figure it is not their country to be dictating morals to. Unlike blowhards like you who huff and puff about Iran like you're going to be the one fighting the war to overthrow their government.
          • imperium2000, on 10/10/2007, -4/+25Don't be ridiculous. What gives Iran special protection from criticism on human rights abuses?
            Are you implying that people can't criticize Iran without being pro-war?
        • Wartyboskfapped, on 10/10/2007, -8/+15The 'Left' in America are concerned about the rights of homosexuals in America, where they are still experiencing prejudice and unfair laws due to bigotry and ignorance from members of the Right. The 'Left' in America are dealing with the stuff they can achieve something about, not wasting time over stuff in some far off country that may or may not be true.
          • Dregga, on 10/10/2007, -7/+1wrong comment, bury me
          • imperium2000, on 10/10/2007, -2/+16You don't have to "loudly and hysterically criticize another country" but many of your posts seem apologetic to Iran's failings. You seem to attack people criticizing Iran even on good grounds.

            Iran is an theocratic authoritarian state. Its human rights records suck, Its economy is in shambles and it is actively pursuing nuclear technology despite having huge oil reserves. I can dislike their administration without hating its people.
        • StrangeFamous, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2For one thing, Digg does NOT represent every left-leaning person in this country. There are all sorts of people (representing both "sides" of the political "coin") who protested Ahmadinejad's arrival and speech.

          You'll never get a real view of the thoughts of the US by simply reading the comments of one social news site. I doubt there's even a way to do it accurately, without SOME kind of speculation.
      • Zarchon, on 10/10/2007, -8/+3@Captainnopants

        Except we keep reading here on Digg how Iran is such a great place and it is the US misleading it's people as to how things are. And we should be more like them. Then you go and say it isn't much different than the christian far right. Just goes to show the hate the left has for America.
        • Castronaut, on 10/10/2007, -2/+14Anybody that thinks Iran is a wonderful place full of peace and happiness and freedom, they are a ***** idiot.

          Anybody that thinks we should go to war with them, or could go to war with them, is also a ***** idiot.

          Fair enough?
          • Pixelante, on 10/10/2007, -5/+0Then let's happily and freely go to ***** idiot war with them. Fair enough for fairies?
          • Glynth, on 10/10/2007, -1/+1What year is this? 1937? Castronaut (let me guess - you think the evil dictator Castro is a great guy?) would fit right in.. Say "hi" to Chamberlain for me.
        • CaptainNoPants, on 10/10/2007, -1/+1I never said Iran is a great place. I also never said that Iran isn't much different than the christian far right, go back and look. I said that ahmadinejads comments regarding homosexuals aren't much different than those on the christian far right. What part of that is inaccurate? Also, regarding your "hate the left has for America" statement, lol, very classy. Picking up your talking points from LGF?
          • Glynth, on 10/10/2007, -1/+1"ahmadinejads comments regarding homosexuals aren't much different than those on the christian far right"

            Yeah, suuure they are. They're totally the same thing! ... News flash: NoPants, you are a bigot.
      • markgl, on 10/10/2007, -3/+1yeah so Christians are against it, but amedijiheaddd has the power as a leader and he hangs them and kills them and everything else. dang, does anyone use that computer between their ears??? or can you not multitask a situation in you brain???
        • CaptainNoPants, on 10/10/2007, -1/+1aside from your condescending bits at the end, did you have a point? The guy is crazy, his country is crazy, and you're probably a little crazy yourself.
    • phenry50BMG, on 10/10/2007, -19/+18Who gives a *****? Do we have to cower in fear over this? The fact that this is even being discussed is indicative of the rift we have allowed. If you're a guy and you like sucking dick and taking it in the ass......great. Good for you. If you expect special treatment for your choice, go to hell.

      I will support your Inalienable rights to Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness........until they encroach upon mine. I don't give a good goddamn what you do and don't give a flying *****. If you try to make me, that's where we hit a snag. If sucking dicks makes you happy, I'm behind you 100%. If you want to force your ideology on me and my family? Not good.

      Stick to the Constitution. As soon as you try to enforce your ideology on someone else "for the greater good or for the children" it's only a matter of time before it's used against you. The US is NOT a democracy! It is not mob rule. It is a Constitutional Republic with a representative democracy.

      Don't feed the bears. They look nice, they look furry and they look like something you can pet. There is a reason those signs are in place. Keep feeding the bears and you'll end up seeing what happens when you continue to do so.
      • Napoleone, on 10/10/2007, -3/+20"If sucking dicks makes you happy, I'm behind you 100%."

        Uh...
        • phenry50BMG, on 10/10/2007, -13/+5I'm not sucking them. Where is the disconnect?
        • ThndrShk2k, on 10/10/2007, -1/+12Behind them. and it's actually more of a full on connection.
      • CaptainNoPants, on 10/10/2007, -2/+1"If sucking dicks makes you happy, I'm behind you 100%."
        doesn't that contradict your statement of "Sounds like a good reason to keep them on the map." in regards to the title and or description?
        • phenry50BMG, on 10/10/2007, -9/+10Sorry, CaptainNoPants, I don't condone it. If Iran has decided against it then more power to them. I'm as un-PC as it gets.

          I think the whole tolerance/diversity thing is a load of horse *****. If it were up to me? There wouldn't be any of that sort of thing. However, my copy of the Constitution indicates that it isn't up to me and it also indicates that sexual preference is left up to the individual. I may not agree with their choice but will certainly not use the force of the State or anything similar against them. I expect the same in return. I will never force my belief system on you. Once you start forcing yours on me? Oh yeah, big problems there.
          • TrevorBelmont, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Phenry! Don't you see that you're not lashing out at the gays in the world, you're trying to destroy the gay in yourself? There is NO OTHER REASON to feel this strongly. I'm sure you'll reject this notion outright because you've so ingrained this idea of "bad gays" into your own head to protect yourself that you can't consider the notion even for a moment. That's part of your defenses. Look a little deeper. If I'm wrong, explain why you feel so strongly about something that can't possibly hurt you.
        • CaptainNoPants, on 10/10/2007, -2/+3I gotchya, it was just kind of confusing.
          "Once you start forcing yours on me? Oh yeah, big problems there." - I'm right there with you on that
      • BlackOp, on 10/10/2007, -1/+6"If you expect special treatment for your choice, go to hell."
        If you think it's a choice, you are probably bisexual.
        "If sucking dicks makes you happy, I'm behind you 100%. If you want to force your ideology on me and my family? Not good"
        Has that ever actually happened?
      • TrevorBelmont, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Whoah dude! Went on kind of a tangential tirade, dincha? How did we get from "Ahmadinejad denies gays" to "Gay on me and I'll kick your ass!"? I don't see anyone trying to make your family gay here. I just see a confused, emotionally immature man trying to shield himself from an idea that makes him irrationally uncomfortable. Just what "ideology" is being forced on you and yours? What's this bear feeding metaphor all about? Are you the bears? Is "gay" what you don't want to be "fed"?
    • fuzzmeister, on 10/10/2007, -19/+34As a liberal, I'm not outraged, just amused that a world leader could be so deluded. We would never have someone that crazy in charge....

      Oh, wait...
      • fuzzmeister, on 10/10/2007, -9/+18Well, actually, to be fair, I would hope that even Bush wouldn't say something this stupid. The comparison stands, however.
    • fuzzmeister, on 10/10/2007, -26/+1(duplicate, bury)
    • bovox, on 10/10/2007, -18/+14Most Diggers are not Liberal. They are mostly anti-establishment, anti-authority, Libertarians. If anything, they are closer to being Conservatives than Liberal.
      • synaesthete, on 10/10/2007, -1/+8hence someone being dug up for saying he wouldn't stand for homosexuality if he were in charge, and that it's a choice.

        lol, crazy bigots
      • Zarchon, on 10/10/2007, -3/+7Most Diggers ARE Liberals. Give me a break.
      • NonLeftistDiggr, on 10/10/2007, -2/+5HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA...... oh *****, I can't breathe ROTFLOL
      • vault, on 10/10/2007, -1/+4Anti-establishment? Yeah, they're moody teens pissed at their parents who try to wrap that up into a political ideology.
    • soot, on 10/10/2007, -5/+4We're here, you just pissed your panties and jumped the gun before I could find you.
    • tubeblender, on 10/10/2007, -2/+15Why would one have to be a 'liberal' to be outraged at the murder of another human being for their sexual orientation? Wouldn't it suffice to say one had to have the least bit ***** compassion for others?

      PS: I hate this commenting system. It took me forever to find just where to reply to your post... then I forgot what you said, as I read the replies while scrolling down the page, and had to scroll back up again... damnit.
    • jasoninoakland, on 10/10/2007, -6/+2Liberal. Outraged. Why should that be so surprising? Dumbass.
    • Tomboys, on 10/10/2007, -4/+2I don't get outraged by stupidity. Some people can't help the fact that they were born with a peas sized brain!
    • catalysis, on 10/10/2007, -0/+3It seems like most of them are trying to rationalize the cognitive dissonance by saying "Bush hates gays too."
  • phenry50BMG, on 10/10/2007, -58/+12Sounds like a good reason to keep them on the map.
    • CaptainNoPants, on 10/10/2007, -6/+10Not everyone hates homosexuals, in case you hadn't noticed.
      /obligatory bible reference in 3...2...1...
      • awakenDeepBlue, on 10/10/2007, -2/+2Just because some Christians hate homosexuals doesn't mean they all do. You can stop making fun of the Christians.
        • mlostracco, on 10/10/2007, -1/+3Certainly enough of them do and have institutionalized it enough in their congregations to be called to task about it.
    • tubeblender, on 10/10/2007, -1/+6(Repeating to myself) "Sounds like a good reason to keep them on the map."

      Sure, whatever you say chiefy.
    • StrangeFamous, on 10/10/2007, -2/+3WOW, phenry50BMG, you're right!

      What the world needs now is MORE intolerance, bigotry and cruelty! Hooray for injustice! Hooray for hate! THANK GOD Iran exists. We can use their help during our upcoming extermination of the godless sodomites!
    • TrevorBelmont, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2This is your second gay bashing comment on this article. You have to ask yourself, Phenry, what is it about gay people that makes you so upset? Are you really mad at them or are you mad at part of yourself that you don't understand?
  • cave, on 10/10/2007, -31/+97I can't even begin to imagine what it must be like for a homosexual to grow up in a country like this, it breaks my heart to hear these ignorant words coming out of the mouth of such a powerful man. Developed nations should provide political asylum for the middle eastern gay community.

    In case anyone wants to read up more on the horrible things going on in Iran: http://www.towleroad.com/towleroad/2005/07/report_ ...
    • AlexanderZero, on 10/10/2007, -3/+10It would be hard to get out of Iran on the grounds that you're fleeing to another country since you're gay.
      • cave, on 10/10/2007, -0/+9I would only assume that their bigoted government would be glad to see their gays go away, but you never know.
    • Mardala, on 10/10/2007, -3/+21It's horrible. Iran is not the only country that is very anti-gay. Also a large portion of the world has strong cultural values that are anti-gay. There are plenty of places around the US where you would not want to tell the world you were gay. Not that I am trying to defend Iran's standing on this and I have read about gays being executed. Its disgusting.
      • mlostracco, on 10/10/2007, -2/+2American kids are tortured in schools every day for "suspected homosexuality." It's hardly the domain of a Third World Islamic dictatorship. Just because it's illegal in the U.S. to assault, eliminate or kill gays doesn't mean that a lot of Americans still wouldn't want to, sadly.
    • chase001, on 10/10/2007, -10/+11It ain't a bed of roses in the US either. If the right wing thought they could get away with it here they'd have Halliburton build the concentration camps and round up the gays and Mexicans.
      • LaueOfficer, on 10/10/2007, -0/+5While, unfortunately, there is a relation between the right wing and the religious zealots, please do not clump all of us together. I love diversity. Even if it involves something that I personally do not like, I love that it is a part of this country. That diversity is what makes us free, and makes us American. I would happily leave school and die for these minorities if/when my unit gets called up. They are the true essence of liberty.
        • dragon76, on 10/10/2007, -2/+1I'm sure you're a "Compassionate Conservative" like Bush. Isn't that what you Neo Nazis call yourselves?
      • Koldkompress, on 10/10/2007, -3/+1they just kill the gay mexicans
    • mistafreeze, on 10/10/2007, -1/+8lol @ chase.

      I don't see the big deal with people who are homosexual. Who cares what other people are doing anytime, as long as it is consensual, not breaking any laws, WTF does it really matter? Thats like hating those of other races, because they do not immediately relate to you. It's stupid, and has no place in modern culture.

      People hate because they have nothing else to do.

      I just wonder, does any religious text actually say anything about being homosexual or liking those of the same sex? Is this usually spoke of with negative connotations? Do those negative connotations exist because of the philosophical meanings, or due to the writers misunderstanding / interpretations of these folks.

      Does one think that if gay people were around in "these religious" times, and no one was going around killing them then, that it is a good idea to start now? If those religious texts did say to kill the gays, are you unable to think for your selves and "not" follow the rules written on paper years ago?

      Do people still offer up virgins to volcanoes any more? Anyone still create bootable floppies after installing windows anymore? (sorry, it's late. I cannot think of anything witty to say)
      • Mizu, on 10/10/2007, -3/+2I think the Old Testament of the bible says that something like, if a man sleeps with another man he is to be put to death. But in the New Testament it doesn't saying anything about homosexuality.
        • Syphon8, on 10/10/2007, -1/+5That actually comes from the belief that men had finite sperm. It's a sin to waste sperm, but since you can't waste it...
        • Wildog27, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1deleted, answered below.
      • Mizu, on 10/10/2007, -2/+3My weird grammar, let me rephrase that
        I think the Old Testament of the bible says something like, if a man sleeps with another man he is to be put to death. But in the New Testament it doesn't say anything about homosexuality.
        • heppareppana, on 10/10/2007, -2/+3Romans 1
          "..Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
          26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
          27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet..."
          • mlostracco, on 10/10/2007, -1/+2The Old Testament also says that you ain't going to heaven if you've eaten food prepared by a menstruating woman, so I hope y'all are staying out of restaurants and kept track of your mom's cycle growing up.

            Speaking of food, eating lobster and shrimp is a total, revolting, sinful abomination. Perhaps you could sacrifice your child to God to appease him.
      • behlib99, on 10/10/2007, -1/+0I don't mind gays. As long as they stay in the closet.
    • harris2004, on 10/10/2007, -5/+2Yeah, I think developed nations, like USA and Canada should provide special visas for homosexuals to try to save the race.
      • EvilGeniusTodd, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2Homosexuality isn't a race. Though come to think of it. Race is such a useless word I'm not really sure it can be used to accurately describe anything but vehicles or creatures attempting to complete an alloted course quicker than one another.
    • LloydBentsen, on 10/10/2007, -5/+2I'm not defending the hanging of the gays in Iran, but it seems they were hanged for committing sexual assault on a 13 year old boy. Perhaps they have much harsher punishments for crimes like these. Either way, it is saddening to me, for I am against any form of death penalty.
    • mmhnef, on 10/10/2007, -10/+3gayness is a defect and instead of harboring it, we need to kill them off. Faggotry goes against our desire to reproduce and is in general bad for the human race. We need to enact some spartan law and start executing gay people, their diseased genes are bad for humanity.
      • EvilGeniusTodd, on 10/10/2007, -1/+1Stupidity is also a defect. Instead of harboring it, we need to kill it off.
        Let's start with you.
        "Faggotry goes against our desire to reproduce"
        Goes against your desire to reproduce. Not all of us want to be baby machines.
        "and is in general bad for the human race."
        Not a big fan of the Arts or Fashion eh.

        "We need to enact some spartan law and start executing gay people, their diseased genes are bad for humanity."
        I'm betting if such a practice was instituted you likely have a few defects that would prevent you from making the cut as well.

        Perhaps it would be worth the sacrifice of the entirety of homosexuality to extinguish the wanton stupidity that is bigotry.
        It would be short lived. Once the individual of your limited intellectual capacity were removed from the population. Surely the remaining intelligentsia would see the error of removing members from the population simply because the don't have offspring.

        All joking aside. Your pedestrian level of ignornace is just plain shocking in this day and age. How is it your life has been so sheltered that you can actually say something like that without feeling like a totally indurated knuckle dragger?
      • mlostracco, on 10/10/2007, -1/+1President Mahmoud, is that you on Digg again?
      • krayzee911, on 10/10/2007, -2/+1"Faggotry"???

        I think I took that elective in college. Yep, Faggotry 101. The final was a huge pain in the ass...
    • BigKoala, on 10/10/2007, -5/+1Homosexuals should not exist. It's a disease.
      • rootofunity, on 10/10/2007, -1/+1By any chance are you a Republican?
    • behlib99, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Your gay. Big open cave hole.
    • kaskoosek, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1***** you, these deserve to be hanged. They assaulted a thirteen year old kid. (If what is written is true)
      Yay for propaganda on digg.

  • clear9, on 10/10/2007, -55/+222 In America - we just ignore their rights
    • djSyndrome, on 10/10/2007, -13/+8Or grant them, only to have a court take them away down the road.
    • forgiste, on 10/10/2007, -10/+5To bad ignorance isn't the same thing as acceptance.
      • picsectionpleez, on 10/10/2007, -1/+1No. I DO NOT have to learn about homosexuality to ACCEPT your BUTT *****. k? thnx
    • FunkyWitDaSysTm, on 10/10/2007, -13/+7in fascist america, the right ignores you.
    • Newportbeachguy, on 10/10/2007, -7/+49In Iran they just kill them :/
      • mtrip, on 10/10/2007, -21/+13And of course diggers bury you because that little fact throws a wrench into their inability to criticize more than one thing at a time (bush).
        • Dregga, on 10/10/2007, -8/+13Except they didn't, which totally throws a wrench in your mindset of perpetual victimhood.
        • mtrip, on 10/10/2007, -7/+7Except they had at the time I wrote that comment (he was negative) and my comment worked like a Jedi mind trick on them by exposing their hypocrisy and compelling them to digg him up, so aha!
        • empraptor, on 10/10/2007, -4/+4I don't see the Jedi mind trick. I see yet another complaint about how Digg is full of liberal bias. As Dregga pointed out, no one was punching Bush. I'm digging clear9 and Newportbeachguy up and digging mtrip down.

          oops... bad mouse. dugg newportbeachguy down. is there unbury?
        • EvilGeniusTodd, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Criticizing Bush is way more than a full time job.
      • pintomp3, on 10/10/2007, -1/+1charles howard didn't have it so easy here.
    • right75, on 10/10/2007, -24/+6How about give them special rights.
    • hartley, on 10/10/2007, -9/+19To play devil's advocate here, what rights do homosexuals not have in modern America? Marriage aside, because the last time I read the constitution and the bill of rights I didn't see anything about any rights to be married.
      Which they should be allowed to do, we have common law marriages yet a couple of the same sex living together for an extended period of time can't have marital status?
      But I digress, as I said before, just what rights are homosexuals lacking?
      • bromac, on 10/10/2007, -3/+10They may not be lacking rights, but I can say for sure that in a country where the slang "Gay = Bad" and gay marriage a bigger issue than war, that there is a certain amount of hatred still harboured for them.
        • Zarchon, on 10/10/2007, -9/+0The term gay = bad is a carry over. I once said in front of my Jewish friend that some guy tried to JEW me down. He got terribly offended. I don;t hate Jews. As a matter of fact, I never even considered the origin of the word. i think Gay is becoming the same way. It has nothing to do with lifestyle or at least it is becoming that way. As for gay marriage being a bigger issue than war, doesn't seem like it to me. The battle is over the use of the word marriage. Regardless of which side you are on, it still isn't about rights, it's about a name.
          • bromac, on 10/10/2007, -2/+4Gay used to mean happy. That'd be the carry over.

            It's the bigots of modern times who've redefined the word to mean bad.
        • robbh66, on 10/10/2007, -0/+3Gay marriage is a bigger issue than the war?

          Is that why I don't see it on the news every night?
      • pintomp3, on 10/10/2007, -3/+8being able to serve in the military openly.
        • p0s3r, on 10/10/2007, -4/+10That's a right?
        • Zarchon, on 10/10/2007, -13/+4You mean the military you hate? Or at least the Left hates? That military?
        • Habemus, on 10/10/2007, -12/+5Handicapped people aren't allowed that "right" too. So it's not really a right is it? Fat people aren't allowed in either. So how is it a "right"?
          • JigoroKano, on 10/10/2007, -3/+12Homosexuals aren't handicapped.

            I can't believe I had to state that.
      • Tomboys, on 10/10/2007, -3/+1You answered your own question.
      • sethisastud, on 10/10/2007, -3/+25I've been kicked out of a restaurant because I was there on a date with another guy. Have you been kicked out of a restaurant for being there with a chick? We were eating at the bar and he put his hand on my back and a table of obnoxious straight guys started yelling and calling us fags, then the manager said we were finished there and the bartender took the food away. I was in the closet then, or else I probably would have done a lot more considering that the restaurant is in the gay ghetto.
        • REBELinBLUE, on 10/10/2007, -2/+8wow that is really sad, I can't believe in this day and age our so called "modern" society is full of such ignorant morons :(
        • alex7575, on 10/10/2007, -2/+1Sick, sick, sick
        • sphigel, on 10/10/2007, -1/+3That is too bad. However, you don't have a right to eat in that restaurant. People nowadays seem to claim everything as a right without completely thinking it through. An individual right cannot require action from some other individual. That's why we don't have a right to Health Care. That's just dems trying to change the meaning of the word.
          • alex7575, on 10/10/2007, -2/+2No he doesn't have the "right" to eat at that restaurant, and he's not claiming that either, or are you just dismissing the fact that he was KICKED out of the restaurant with no good reason, and seems like also, before they finished their meal.
            On top of that you try to spin it towards health care, we don't have a right to Health Care?!?!?!?
            Have you heard of the Constitution? That piece of paper your beloved president uses to wipe his ass daily?
            Here's how the Constitution starts:
            "We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."

            Highlight "GENERAL WELFARE",
            now go do a search for the meaning of Welfare:
            wel·fare (wěl'fâr') Pronunciation Key n. Health, happiness, and good fortune; well-being. Prosperity.
        • mahdaeng, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1No one has a "right" to eat at a certain privately owned restaurant. That's like saying that you have the right to come sit in my living room any time you please. A property owner may set his own rules so long as they don't cause harm to others. What if a straight guy gets thrown out of a gay bar - have his "rights" been violated?

      • WiredLain, on 10/10/2007, -3/+9Hospital visitation rights, inheritance - had a gay uncle and when his long term love (30 year relationship) was dying he was not allowed to visit him at the hospital, his loves will was successfully contested by other members of the family (all this happened in Georgia)
      • wtfpwned98, on 10/10/2007, -1/+4My wife and I got on a plane and were married in the NW. We're still married living in the NE. Magic? No, it's Article IV, Section 1...the "Full Faith and Credit" clause.
      • jtmeyer, on 10/10/2007, -4/+12Access to Military Stores
        Assumption of Spouse’s Pension
        Bereavement Leave
        Immigration
        Insurance Breaks
        Medical Decisions on Behalf of Partner
        Sick Leave to Care for Partner
        Social Security Survivor Benefits
        Sick Leave to Care for Partner
        Tax Breaks
        Veteran’s Discounts
        Visitation of Partner in Hospital or Prison
        Assumption of Spouse’s Pension
        Automatic Inheritance
        Automatic Housing Lease Transfer
        Bereavement Leave
        Burial Determination
        Child Custody
        Crime Victim’s Recovery Benefits
        Divorce Protections
        Domestic Violence Protection
        Exemption from Property Tax on Partner’s Death
        Immunity from Testifying Against Spouse
        Insurance Breaks
        Joint Adoption and Foster Care
        Joint Bankruptcy
        Joint Parenting (Insurance Coverage, School Records)
        Medical Decisions on Behalf of Partner
        Certain Property Rights
        Reduced Rate Memberships
        Sick Leave to Care for Partner
        Visitation of Partner’s Children
        Visitation of Partner in Hospital or Prison
        Wrongful Death (Loss of Consort) Benefits

        there are more....
        • BurningRanger, on 10/10/2007, -2/+0Tax Breaks so jerks can play the gay couple thing to get tax breaks everything else im fine with but the tax breaks a man and woman should not even get tax breaks.
          • jtmeyer, on 10/13/2007, -0/+1No. that was just a bad adam sandler movie. not real life.
    • p0s3r, on 10/10/2007, -14/+8Please name one right I have that a gay person doesn't.
      • shaelen, on 10/10/2007, -5/+14To get married to someone of the same sex? To legally be able to visit their husband or wife who might be in a hospital bet but getting denied because they aren't "married" in the eyes of the law?

        I'm sure there are many more, but I'm not gay so I'm not up to date on all the things gays are denied.
        • p0s3r, on 10/10/2007, -10/+11I can marry someone of the same sex, but a gay person can't? Odd.
          • shaelen, on 10/10/2007, -4/+13No, in other words, you can't marry just any person that you are in love with, that person must be the opposite sex. If you only fall in love with those from the opposite sex, then you can get married. If you are gay and fall in love with someone from the same sex, you can't get married. You have the right to marry someone you fall in love with, but gays don't.

            Or, this:
            * Hospital Visitation Rights - Married couples have the automatic right to visit each other in the hospital and make medical decisions. Same sex couples can be denied the right to visit a sick or injured partner in the hospital.
            * Health insurance - Same-sex couples have no automatic right to visit one another in the hospital or make medical decisions for one another. Having medical power of attorney documents may help, but there’s no guarantee and hospital will recognize those documents.
            * Spousal Privilege - Same-sex couples have no right to refuse to testify against one another. So everything you say, write, email, fax, etc. to your partner is admissible in court and can be used against. you.
            * Inheritance rights - Same-sex couples have no automatic rights to inheritance in the absence of a will.
            * Family leave - Same-sex couples have no legally protected right to unpaid leave to care for an ill spouse.
            * Pensions - Most pension plans only pay survivor benefits to a legal spouse. Same-sex partners get no pension support for surviving partners.
            * Nursing homes - Same-sex couples have no legal right to live together in a nursing home and spend their final years together.
            * Home protection - The laws that protect married couples from being forced to sell their homes to cover high nursing home bills don’t apply to same-sex couples. A same-sex partner can be forced to sell, and forced out of the home to satisfy nursing home bills if he/she lives in the home but does not own it.
            * Retirement savings - Married people can roll over a deceased spouses 401(k) into an IRA without paying taxes. Same-sex partners must withdraw everything, pay income taxes on it, and lose the tax deferral benefits.
            * Taxes - Marries spouses may inherit unlimited property from a deceased spouse, tax free. Same-sex partners pay taxes on any amount over set state and federal limits.
            * Social Security benefits - Unless you’re married, you get no Social Security from a dead spouse. If you have kids, they will get it and you may be custodian of it until they’re adults.
          • Habemus, on 10/10/2007, -15/+3Oh now I see! This whole "gay rights" thing is nothing but a sham to get more money. Thanks for that enlightenment. I thought it was about some sort of constitutional "rights" and all. But it's really about money -- thanks for that list.
          • shaelen, on 10/10/2007, -3/+2Habemus typed: "Oh now I see! This whole "gay rights" thing is nothing but a sham to get more money."

            What part of idiot are you? Are you suggesting "straight" people aren't out for the money? It's not about money, it's about gays wanting the same rights "straight" people have.
        • Zarchon, on 10/10/2007, -4/+3Hospitals here in California are recognizing the partnerships of two people regardless of gender at least in visiting loved ones. Plus wee have civil unions which grant all of the legal rights of marriage to same gender couples. Oh, and I can't have a civil union because it is for same sex partners only. Well, I guess I could have a civil union if I choose to do so with a man. But then again, a gay guy can choose to marry a woman if he wants marriage so badly.
          • shaelen, on 10/10/2007, -1/+4Uh.. a gay guy can choose to marry a woman? Haha. From what I understand, homosexuals don't desire people from the opposite sex. Why would someone marry someone he/she isn't attracted to? Anyway, scroll up one to see my listing of the rights gays don't have far beyond your hospital comment.
          • mahdaeng, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1@shaelen

            Here's an idea...If the U.S. is so intolerant of gays, I challenge you to find a place that is more tolerant and then go live there. You do have the "right" to leave.
          • shaelen, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1back @mahdaeng

            Why should I have to leave when I can stay and fight to make this country a better place than it is right now?
    • seraph582, on 10/10/2007, -9/+8YEAH. *****. RIGHT.

      I work in a corporation. I am white, hetero, and single. I have no special interest group that gives a ***** about me. There's a gay/lesbian group, african american group, latino, etc.

      Along with the aforementioned hate crime legislature, it seems minorities, including gays, have grabbed special rights, not equal rights. Granted I am not as likely to be effed-in-the-a by a cop, I am more likely to be should I end up in court.

      THANK YOU, POLITICALLY CORRECT AMERICA!
      • robotbunnies, on 10/10/2007, -4/+6Oh yeah, you poor dear. My heart bleeds for the rich white men; there is no justice for them. Why don't you go arrange a straight white man pride parade? Oh yeah- you don't have to because you have everything already.
      • StrangeFamous, on 10/10/2007, -3/+1You've got a job... you've got a place to live... you don't have to worry about anyone targeting you because of your lifestyle. THAT is your privilege.

        Minorities who grow up in the inner city don't have access to good schools, and end up without any real career options. People are born INTO poverty, with little or no ways of getting out of it.

        Gays/Lesbians/Bisexuals/Transgendered people have to HIDE their own feelings and beliefs from the majority of the people around them, because there are thousands and thousands of people out there who wouldn't hesitate to do them harm, simply because of who they are. (this is also the case with minorities, because racism is still rampant in some areas of the country)

        Now, take a look at your life, and think about how much HARDER it would be if you were in the same situations ON TOP of your normal every-day struggles.

        THAT'S why you don't have your own "straight white male" holiday. Because you've already got a holiday EVERY DAY of your life. You just don't celebrate it.

        If you're looking for recognition, then go out and EARN it. Fight injustice, educate yourself and others. Give the country a REASON to give you your own holiday. There's a REASON why we have hate crime laws, and it's not just because "minorities and non-straight people are better".

        Use your head, man.
    • judsond, on 10/10/2007, -1/+12I'm gay, and sure I guess I'd like the ability to get married. But that's NOT EVEN COMPARABLE to what goes on in Iran. Seriously.
    • skyshock1, on 10/10/2007, -2/+3Clearly you're talking about gay marriage. Excuse me but last I checked there was nothing in the constitution guaranteeing you the right to marry someone. I'm all for letting them marry each other, but please don't be an ignoramous and spout off about marriage being a constitutional right.
  • M0b1u5, on 10/10/2007, -43/+13Oh, I thought that was Bush speaking.
    Look, the way you treat gays is disgusting, and I'm calling for regime change in Amerika.
    • Backdrifts, on 10/10/2007, -1/+6Guys, this is serious, M0b1u5 is calling for a regime change. I'll get President Bush and tell him the good news. The Amerikan people have had enough!
    • UltraMegaFilms, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha... oh snap.
  • sundancekid503, on 10/10/2007, -9/+106I think the entire quote was "In Iran we don't have homosexuals..... except for my stylist Bruce-ahamedin"
    • FunkyWitDaSysTm, on 10/10/2007, -7/+3have you seen her hair? bitch doesn't have a stylist.
      • tubeblender, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2No, she does, the stylist just isn't gay enough... bu-dump-bump-tish
    • Tomboys, on 10/10/2007, -0/+4ROTFL
    • zeromancer, on 10/10/2007, -2/+1I don't care if he's Muhammad I'm hard Bruce Lee. You can't change fighters.
    • jambarama, on 10/10/2007, -2/+1No they really don't in Iran. As soon as they find a homosexual, they stone him. See? No gays - yay for the utopia that is Ahmadinejad's Iran!
      /sarcasm
  • Ziggyzaggy, on 10/10/2007, -12/+5Damn, I'll have to look somewhere else
    • Castronaut, on 10/10/2007, -3/+3Why is this being buried? It was funny you homophobic idiots.
      • KillTheRhythm, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Just because someone thinks it's not funny doesn't mean they are a homophobe. Idiot.
  • spyd3rweb, on 10/10/2007, -26/+11Catholics would just have all homosexuals sent to re-education camps here...
  • n00bst3r, on 10/10/2007, -24/+5Hmm, perhaps my family should consider relocating..
    • mithrasinvictus, on 10/10/2007, -1/+14please do
    • StrangeFamous, on 10/10/2007, -1/+2Perhaps you should have a kid and have him/her grow up to be gay... then you can actually EXPERIENCE what it's like to encounter discrimination instead of being the person who does all the discriminating.
  • Qtip42, on 10/10/2007, -5/+19I sorta cringed when he said that. Nobody really knows how to react. Though this kinda parallels the thing he said to the biased cbs reporter earlier.......How can he know that nobody is gay in Iran? Does he speak for the entire population? No.

    While he might be right on the surface, I'm sure there are many closeted gays who will remain that way their entire lives.
    • mtrip, on 10/10/2007, -4/+24The ones who don't stay closeted are murdered by his thugs.
    • brycelb, on 10/10/2007, -5/+22Why is it that this is the only thing that is making people cringe. His entire speech was filled with the same level of ignorance and lies from start to finish.
      • Zigorat, on 04/21/2008, -0/+0100% true!
        He's such a moron and always talk like this to attract people from lower level of the society, the poor, the unfamiliar with political tricks. Just ignore him!
    • shaelen, on 10/10/2007, -7/+3I think it's possible that something was lost in translation, the part that keeps getting left out is "like in your country" which can easily mean that homosexuals in Iran don't have the same freedom to express themselves as American homosexuals do, and he's just reiterating that. Remember, he wasn't speaking English, an interpreter was.
      • Nimsim, on 10/10/2007, -1/+7Well, i speak persian fluently and come from Iran. You are wrong, he said it in a bad way and in no way "lost in translation". He said, Unlike your country, we don't have homosexuals in ours.
      • mahdaeng, on 10/10/2007, -1/+1You're batting a thousand today, shaelen. Yeah, let's give the aggressive, lunatic, fanatic, murdering, intolerant guy the benefit of the doubt, but let's bash on America's supposed intolerance of gays. Nice.
  • DropTheOxygen, on 10/10/2007, -25/+4He's completely right, and theres actually a god too!
  • canovac, on 10/10/2007, -13/+46Too bad he's in the closet, he's so cute!
    • FunkyWitDaSysTm, on 10/10/2007, -9/+5eeeeew! no. no he's not. ew.
      • canovac, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Talk about bad boy image... and the unshaven look is really in this year. I think he should be on dancing with the stars
    • behlib99, on 10/10/2007, -4/+1Shut your mouth *****..
    • canovac, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Hey behlib99, it's called sarcasm! Buried you for being rude
  • nogChoco, on 10/10/2007, -6/+26Maybe it's like that poker thing: "If you can't spot the sucker in your first half hour at the table, then you're it!"
    • djAnakin, on 10/10/2007, -1/+2Hmmm.. i've never heard that.





      *****.
    • canovac, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1HAAAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH OMG u R so funnay!

      Wait.... what does that have to do with anything said here?
  • solid12345, on 10/10/2007, -13/+57How long until the armchair Farsi experts question the authenticity of the translation?
    • expatcatalyst, on 10/10/2007, -2/+5Exactly 11 min, look below....lol
    • skyshock1, on 10/10/2007, -1/+3I speak fluent Farsi. What he really said was "I have a small *****"
  • shroominbal, on 10/10/2007, -42/+7the American are not only rude and ugly they are hypocrites as well. booed the president of the USA would not pass peacefully if any one would allow him to be questioned by students of any other country about the fact that he is a Nazi and deranged and us Cocaine too. But to other presidents you allow it right? what is it to you how Iran handle their gay issue beside trying to be rude a provoke a guest nearly because he carry different culture then in the US of Nazis. and this is no hospitality as well - later on when you are not welcome any where for your rudeness remember how ugly you behaved to a president just because you feel so superior. You are all so ugly.
    • sundancekid503, on 10/10/2007, -4/+25Shows your lack of understanding. Send Bush to a real open-forum at any non-conservative University in the US and you better believe he'd get an earful as well. Stop acting like we're all the same, you're being a perfect example of exactly what you're complaining about.
    • plainOldFool, on 10/10/2007, -1/+11What??? I really have no idea what you are try to say there.
    • Mesmorize, on 10/10/2007, -5/+12Can you do us all a favor and jump off a cliff?
    • drizzlelicious, on 10/10/2007, -1/+16Seriously, what's the point of bashing americans here?
    • Hananda, on 10/10/2007, -2/+11if you must troll, perhaps you should do it on a forum in which the conversation is carried on in your native language. Make things easier for everyone involved. But in response to what I believe was the main thrust of your post, you're wrong in thinking that Americans will be ostracized from the world due to "rudeness". A tourist dollar is a tourist dollar is a tourist dollar, no matter the place of origin of the tourist.
      • imperium2000, on 10/10/2007, -6/+3Psst..our dollar is in a hole at the moment...
    • imperium2000, on 10/10/2007, -2/+4Look up Godwin's Law.
      • DiggsOnlyJew, on 10/10/2007, -1/+6DiggsOnlyJew's Law:
        As an argument continues on the internet, the chance of some douchebag reference Godwin's Law reaches one.
        • imperium2000, on 10/10/2007, -3/+4That's because it is valid. Would you prefer I use "Poisoning the Well" or "Appeal to Evil" logical fallacy?

          It is sooo much easier to just take a poorly done argument apart with just Godwin's Law then to spend a entire paragraph explaining this fallacy.
    • alex7575, on 10/10/2007, -2/+4I've been trying to type up something to counter your trolling, but I don't know what to say... Wow, you're one IGNORANT goatse face.
      And next time, try to get it right: it's USA, United States of ***** America, BITCH!!!
    • Qtip42, on 10/10/2007, -1/+10Sounds like english isn't his first language...

      American's boo Bush just as much as they boo Ahmadinejad. Nobody is above being boo'ed. We are all ignorant of other cultures because we don't spend the time to learn them.

      How about we just avoid executions or jail sentences for these petty things?
    • DustyinBFE, on 10/10/2007, -0/+3Sounds like you need to take a long hard look at yourself .....
  • destroyerwi, on 10/10/2007, -25/+79This guy also likes to say the Holocaust never happened. What do you expect?
    • mrurc, on 10/10/2007, -26/+18This guy doesn't say that the holocaust never happened so stop believing people who tell you that. If you read the articles that include coverage of that, he actually said that yes the holocaust happened but he wonders what that has to do with the Palestinian people. So stop making this claim already; it was debunked a long time ago!
      • brycelb, on 10/10/2007, -4/+16I don't have to read *****. I can just listen to what he said today to understand that this is exactly what he thinks. Maybe he missed the memo, but the "EVIDENCE" about the Holocaust came in a long time ago. What academic research is necessary on this one? The only thing that has been debunked are the claims of his intelligence.
      • Monk22, on 10/10/2007, -3/+5He went to a Holocaust didn't happen weekend conference!!!
      • sanman, on 10/10/2007, -4/+2mrurc = holocaust denial denial
    • GoatMonkey2112, on 10/10/2007, -2/+1 z
  • xenuxenuts, on 10/10/2007, -2/+25People often say that it's a good idea to ask someone a question that you already know the answer to so you can judge their credibility. I'd say he blew his on his own right there.
  • Poovey, on 10/10/2007, -18/+81In a country where you can have a "temporary marriage" to an 8 year old girl, he considers homosexuals a corruption of the young. Ahmadinejad really needs to get stoned, the Iranian version of stoned of course.
    • ZenMojo, on 10/10/2007, -10/+9Considering he didn't make that law....
      • Poovey, on 10/10/2007, -6/+7Oh, then of course all is forgiven. By the way, what does his ass smell like?
      • Monk22, on 10/10/2007, -3/+2but no doubt fully supports.
    • Nico_, on 10/10/2007, -2/+1Actually I think he needs to get stoned. I am serious when I say that world leaders should get high on a regular basis. It would take some of the greed and motivation for dominance out of them.

      The world would be a better place..
      • Waterrat, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Castration could also help with the domination problem,but it won't fix the greed one.
  • mrurc, on 10/10/2007, -6/+77The really creepy thing about it was that when the audience reacted he said "no really, we don't." It's like he honestly believes that that is true. Creeeeeeepy.
    • shaelen, on 10/10/2007, -7/+5I think it's possible that something was lost in translation, the part that keeps getting left out is "like in your country" which can easily mean that homosexuals in Iran don't have the same freedom to express themselves as American homosexuals do, and he's just reiterating that. Remember, he wasn't speaking English, an interpreter was.
    • watoowatooir, on 10/10/2007, -4/+8In Iran we don't have homosexuals like in your country. That's kinda true, because in Iran and they culture society is not open in this issue like in USA so people don't call themselves gay even if they are. You don't see it or hear about it. Even in the USA gay rights are in progress I should say I didn't expect him to talk about this matter in such a short time which could bring lot of trouble for him back in Iran. I agree statement sounds nonsense until u consider the difference in societies and cultures and...
    • TJATL, on 10/10/2007, -5/+4and these are perfect examples of what apologists tend to say.
  • jtinnesco, on 10/10/2007, -7/+16wait.....doesn't he count as one? or is he just goin' for that metro-sexual look with that salt and pepper hair and linen suit.
  • diggdallas, on 10/10/2007, -17/+13I think Ahmadinejad went to the Bush school of spinning. He's just a darker version of Bush, just not quite as hated worldwide.
  • tomis, on 10/10/2007, -14/+27Well at least there's one thing he and Bush can agree on, their self-denial of homosexuality.
  • chi1thook, on 10/10/2007, -11/+7Out of all the presidents in the world Columbia chose Ahmadinejad like the Prime Minister from Finland, Peru or Singapore wasn't good enough. What good could come from this all it does is reinforce stereotypes of incompetence of our universities, Columbia wouldn't have Israel's equivalent the National Union and they shouldn't and they shouldn't invite Ahmadinejad. It's Columbia University's right to invite whomever they want but they just look stupid and maybe that's the problem with our educational system, many of it's leaders are stupid.
    • ccdigg1, on 10/10/2007, -2/+6Maybe the problem with our education system is that it produces Digg commenters that can't produce a coherent paragraph..
    • Litespeed, on 10/10/2007, -1/+4The sole purpose of a university is to help people learn. What better way to learn what he thinks than to go an actually listen to him speak. You don't have to agree at all, but at least you get a chance to hear his side without some sort of media spin and sound bites.
      • chi1thook, on 10/10/2007, -1/+1If learning was the priority Columbia University would of chosen a world leader from Brazil, South Korea and Turkey. For Columbia University to choose Ahmadinejad rather than more qualified leaders, shows a fallacy in the university.
        • ccdigg1, on 10/10/2007, -0/+4Have you considered that learning what is wrong and unjust is just as important as learning what is right? Or that learning to comprehend a differing opinion is just as important as proclaiming your own?
        • trance, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Exactly, ccdigg, can't agree more; to chi1thook, what is the definition of learning? I cannot describe how curious I was to see this person speak and decide for myself what his views, etc. are rather than hear it filtered through various media. Especially considering the fact that he's one of the central characters in a major political dispute that could possibly lead to war. How much more important can you get?! Sheesh. Bravo to the university for having the guts to host a forum so we can get a closer look and maybe even find a little truth!
    • x0nIMIn0x, on 10/10/2007, -1/+2I disagree. Columbia does not look stupid. They seem very, very smart.
      I cannot say the same about you.
      • chi1thook, on 10/10/2007, -1/+1Columbia choosing to be the University that invited Ahmadinejad wasn't smart.
    • hogger84, on 10/10/2007, -0/+0Perhaps they are not looking for good leaders. If we go to war he will be one of the most influential (negativly maybe) of our time. Are you saying that, if possible, a history class would go back in time and interview the president of Switzerland during WW2 or would they get a much better insight into the insanity going back to interview the German leader.
  • guglido, on 10/10/2007, -19/+37hey,
    atleast give him a congrats for coming to america and talking. you sure dont see bush going to iran and talking do you?
    • krahzee, on 10/10/2007, -14/+12You really are ignorant. You think Bush or any US president would be safe there? You really think the Iranian media would play his speach, or any other US president's speech without warping it some way? Please.

      The only reason he is here is because of the UN. He needs to speak there to try to convice the world that they are not "bad guys" so that they don't get hit with even harsher sanctions over the nuke program. Columbia was just a pawn used by him to try to get his "hey were're not that bad" message out to the world media. It was his attempt at trying to come across as more human.
      • haiduz, on 10/10/2007, -4/+6"You really think the Iranian media would play his speach, or any other US president's speech without warping it some way?"

        In all fairness, the way his speeches are covered in the US by our pundits arent exactly without warping. I think evil is pretty much the buzz word associated with this guy by the media.
        • Trollmaster, on 10/10/2007, -1/+1just can't help getting a chuckle out of your message..... so you think the american media is 100% fair and balanced don't you?
    • diggdallas, on 10/10/2007, -1/+10No, Bush just goes to places like Australia, where he was extremely well received. There were no protests, riots, or anger at his presence there.
      • WakeRider, on 10/10/2007, -4/+3diggdallas you are wrong on that account. There were in fact large protests at Apec at Bush's presence there. Didn't the American media show you how tight the security was there? Didn't it show you the massive wall that had to be built around the blocks in Sydney that encompassed the Opera house and the hotel where Bush was staying? There were large protests outside massive concrete walls, the Australian people were in fact very angry about Bush's visit. All of this was shown to us by TVNZ, New Zealand's state broadcaster. Mind you, with the state of your media in the US, it really wouldn't surprise me if they didn't show you any of this.
        • joot2112, on 10/10/2007, -1/+1"Didn't the American media show you how tight the security was there?" Actually, no but it showed us how one prankster dressed as Osama bin Laden contrived a Canadian motorcade and waltzed right in. It also showed us how Bush mistook Australia for Austria and APEC for OPEC. That's about all the coverage we got over here.
      • gummih, on 10/10/2007, -2/+1Damn it diggdallas, tag your sarcasm.
        But thinking of his Australia visit - Australians are one of the most laid back people in the world, they share the western cultural views, they are way out there on the opposite side of the globe and they STILL hate Bush!
    • daridave, on 10/10/2007, -0/+5Thank the US for being civilized and welcoming him. If Bush went there, in a school, he'd be dodging bullets...
    • applestems, on 10/10/2007, -0/+0OMG you're an idiot...and I thought Bush was one too...wait..I guess both of you are.
  • techmaster, on 10/10/2007, -15/+3In Iran, we don't have homosexuals.... we ARE homosexuals.
  • EnderMB, on 10/10/2007, -6/+25Well, you know what we must do...

    DEPORT CHRIS CROCKER!
    • diggdallas, on 10/10/2007, -4/+12***** you for trying to extend his 15 mins of fame. ***** YOU
      • Nudar, on 10/10/2007, -0/+4It's already being extended. He's getting his own reality show.
        • MASTERPL, on 10/10/2007, -4/+2Just what American children need to see. More ***** fags in the media.
          • chyya, on 10/10/2007, -2/+2since we have you on digg, i dont see why fags in the media is any different
  • theclashrocker, on 10/10/2007, -19/+91Wasn't translated right. "We don't have homosexuals in Iran the way you have them in the U.S."
    meaning they dont have parades and such, mainly, because they can't be as open. He might also mean because of the culture...who knows.

    My dad speaks Farsi so that's how I know. The translator had to keep up with him and missed a vital word combination in the middle of that thought.
    • diggdallas, on 10/10/2007, -16/+25You're exactly right, unfortunately, that important point will be lost in this sea of sheepified brainwashed hatred.
      • Zarchon, on 10/10/2007, -6/+6Wait, do we hate gays or do we hate Iranians? I get confused and unless you tell me I won't know.
        • anachronaut, on 10/10/2007, -4/+1Judging from the various simpleminded comments you've made here, I'm going to go out on a limb and say that you most likely hate/fear both. Needlessly, I might add.
    • luchid, on 10/10/2007, -5/+16Of course they don't have parades... they execute gay people there.... Going to a pride parade there would be a death wish...
      • shaelen, on 10/10/2007, -3/+2And that was his point, that gays aren't as open in Iran as they are in America because they can't be.
        • doktorzee, on 10/10/2007, -2/+1And you are an expert?
          • shaelen, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1I'm an expert enough to listen to 8 hours a day of radio talk shows.. both sides. I'm an expert enough to know that interpretations can be broken. I'm expert enough to know that the majority of people on all sides are idiots. =)
        • deadmann, on 10/10/2007, -4/+3No, not really. He means Iran does not have the phenomenon of homosexuality. I know to someone that has convinced them self that homosexuality is normal and even genetic there's a bit of cognitive dissonance (this week's buzzword), but he means what he says.
        • Habemus, on 10/10/2007, -0/+4@shaelen: "And that was his point, that gays aren't as open in Iran as they are in America because they can't be."

          They "can't be" because the government of which he is the head, executes anyone who is. Are you defending that? Perhaps if the US government executed US gays then you would defend Bush?
          • shaelen, on 10/10/2007, -2/+1He might be the "head" but he isn't the one who makes the rules. Google it.
    • theuniversal, on 10/10/2007, -2/+7Sheepified brainwashed hatred? That's an interesting way of looking at it. I thought all these comments reflected the uniquely enlightened opinion of a bunch of poorly educated 15 years-olds who have never seen beyond the wall that encloses their gated suburb.
    • bzishi, on 10/10/2007, -0/+7Unlikely. He was asked a question about the execution of homosexuals. His response was an indirect way of denying that these executions have occurred by denying that homosexuals live in Iran. He was *not* asked to compare how homosexuals live in either country or how their cultures differ. Of course if he did he might have felt compelled to answer that homosexuals in his country live in fear that they will be discovered and then strangled slowly by ropes dangling from cranes.
    • atayarani, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2I would really like to believe that, but I must wonder... how does anyone hear the underlying Farsi over the translator's voice? I could figure out most of what he says myself, if I could just hear his own words.
    • frostieDude, on 10/10/2007, -2/+1Its pretty normal for the press in the united states to take a politician's words, twist them, and then create the impression that someone said something they did not say because it makes headlines.

      For example, Bush recently "said" that Sadaam executed Nelson Mandela.
      Al Gore "said" that he invented the internet and discovered the environmental problems at Love Canal.

      Why should this guy be treated any different?
  • newanalog, on 10/10/2007, -38/+11Please don't post stories from gay websites. I wish we didn't have the gay problem here in America. People are idiots.
    • luchid, on 10/10/2007, -2/+12Go play in traffic...
    • cave, on 10/10/2007, -4/+15O HAI, I wrote a little haiku for you:

      You are a moron.
      American redneck *****:
      Please die, away from me.
    • Backdrifts, on 10/10/2007, -1/+3I wish we didn't have the newanalog problem here in the world. You are unintelligent.
    • DustyinBFE, on 10/10/2007, -1/+4Let me rephrase that to you as a response: "Please don't comment on digg anymore. I wish we didn't have the ignorance problem here in America. Your an idiot."
    • StrangeFamous, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1"The Gay Problem."

      Hmmmm... where have I heard that phrase before???

      http://www.calvin.edu/academic/cas/gpa/imbild1.htm
  • TroubleInMind, on 10/10/2007, -12/+7Ahmaninejad is such a little cutie.
  • AlexiHelligar, on 10/10/2007, -13/+11Wow! so many readers of Digg are ignorant and lowly humans. Come on Earthlings -- get a clue!
  • gtluke, on 10/10/2007, -11/+19did you follow the link in the article?
    i can't believe how many digg members can defend this guy.
    http://www.towleroad.com/towleroad/2005/07/report_ ...
    • jamend, on 10/10/2007, -2/+3So you just followed the links and looked at the pictures?

      "the two were convicted of sexual assault on a 13-year-old boy"
  • syroncoda, on 10/10/2007, -5/+10as i've had my fair share of bitching about USA representatives its now time to bitch about foreign presidents. believing that there is no homosexuality in Iran is like saying nobody there ever ***** a camel or dog. something that nobody in their right mind would admit to but DEFINITELY happens.
    • sodoh, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2I think this may be more of a culture issue then a mistranslation or something sinister.

      My cousin is as camp as they come. When he was chatting to a South Korean woman (70's I think) in London she gave the same response. He kept trying to expand on the question but the same answer came back. In Koreas case it is most likely that it would bring shame on the family that it would in a sense not exist, even if the person felt otherwise.

      Bit like wife beating or child molesting never existed in the 50's.
  • T8erT0T, on 10/10/2007, -11/+6This translator is horrible at English. "E-leecit druggs." "Sym-pa-tee." UGHHH. "Can this phsycian alllllooowwwww." UGH!
    • diggdallas, on 10/10/2007, -1/+7And most digg users are masters of the language. PWNED!
    • ctrlv, on 10/10/2007, -0/+7um, I guess you didn't see it live but it's not a post-speech translation from a script. she was doing a real-time translation. which means as he was speaking sentences upon sentences, she had to translate the ones he just said with one half of the brain, and listen to the things he is saying with the other half, to be translated directly after she finishes translating the first part, while listening to what he's saying next, and so on. it's a difficult job and the end result doesn't always sound natural.
    • skyshock1, on 10/10/2007, -0/+3How many languages do YOU speak?
  • jwmcevoy, on 10/10/2007, -8/+5Diggers:
    I am thinking of starting an asylum for the gays in the Middle East, but I stumped for a name. Can anybody help me?
    • GrouchoMarx42, on 10/10/2007, -3/+6You shouldn't need to. There are no homosexuals in Iran, after all.
    • mithrasinvictus, on 10/10/2007, -7/+14Since they're bound to be in the closet, how about "the republican party"?
      • TJATL, on 10/10/2007, -1/+4quit being a homophobic! There are Log Cabin Republicans, go do some research before making such ignorant comments.
        • mithrasinvictus, on 10/10/2007, -2/+1Seriously? What a masochistic organization.

          If my research had turned this up i'd have thought it was a joke.
    • bigbee79, on 10/10/2007, -1/+1Gay Mecca.
  • soulmantim, on 10/10/2007, -5/+42The best way to debate an idiot is to let him talk first :)
  • mtrip, on 10/10/2007, -7/+19He murders his own citizens for being gay and then attempts to lie to us as if we're utter morons.
    • Dregga, on 10/10/2007, -9/+8You guys kind of are.
      • tubeblender, on 10/10/2007, -5/+3I thought your comment was funny, but I'm not sure why...

        heh
      • IEatHamburgers, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1You call us morons yet you can't even write a five-word sentence with correct grammar...
    • shaelen, on 10/10/2007, -6/+2Read theclashrocker's comment above. There was much lost in the translation.
      • Habemus, on 10/10/2007, -2/+5"There was much lost in the translation."

        That you think so just proves how much of a moron you really are. Ahmadinejad is at least is shrewd enough to have you figured out that way.
        • shaelen, on 10/10/2007, -1/+1That you *don't* realize how much you are projecting only proves my point.

          Yeah.. "projecting" .. Look it up.
  • ZenMojo, on 10/10/2007, -15/+29The sad part is that this ***** will all circle indefinitely because people have no perspective. We should at least take some responsibility for what Iran has become WITHOUT using nukes to clean up our own mess.
    Once upon a time Iran had a progressive, democratically elected socialist prime minister. We sent the CIA to overthrow him on behalf of Great Britain and installed a dictator. The dictator was overthrown by religious zealots in 1979...but Iran never forgot that we ***** up their *****. So now instead of a democracy Iran has a theocracy that hates us. Yeah, that's OUR fault. We did this to Iran. And to show our respect, we gave Saddam Hussein chemical weapons to use against Iran when he invaded them because we hated their theocracy, which we in fact created, so much. So before you start acting like Iran is somehow an extension of the political will of a bunch of privileged people in a literally ivory tower, stop and think about how much "good" we've brought to the world as an Imperialist power and wonder if, maybe, just maybe, we should stop ***** UP OTHER PEOPLE'S *****.
    • dagamer34, on 10/10/2007, -4/+13You're argument is too logical. It will be shot down and eradicated. Sorry.
    • geekee, on 10/10/2007, -2/+2deleted
    • geekee, on 10/10/2007, -5/+7I don't see how mistakes the US made excuses this jerk.
      • BlacklabelSAR, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2You don't see it because it does not excuse him. ZenMojo is listing the series of events that lead to Iran being in it's current condition and with it's current government which US policy has a problem with. The short version is that the meddling in another Sovereign nation's affairs by the US, the CIA specifically, was the act of a bully nation. We claim to be virtuous but our foreign policy makes us hypocrites. It's not something you or I did so don't take it personally, but it is factual history we need to be aware of.
    • declawedpaw, on 10/10/2007, -3/+6Try to steal American and British stuff, you can expect a harsh response. Don't like it? Then don't sell real estate to investors and then try to steal it back because you've decided to "go communist". Stealing is stealing, no matter what your latest ideology is.
    • curtisag, on 10/10/2007, -2/+5You're assuming the religious zealots wouldn't have overthrown the progressive, socialist government as well. Judging by their ideology, they don't much care for liberals or their political correctness and tolerance of different people. Furthermore, any past deeds in the middle east is essentially spilled milk. If Iran is a threat today, the past is irrelevant. We can learn from the past in order to not make similar mistakes in the future, but trying to blame Iran's current state on our country is a reach given the context of the Cold War we were involved in at the time. I think the danger of global thermo-nuclear war and devastation was a bit higher on our list of priorities back then. The soviets had already started to encroach on the middle east and threatened to takeover major oil producing countries (see Afghanistan). There's some more "perspective" for you as well.
    • ardalan89, on 10/10/2007, -0/+5ZenMojo's has a point ,Iran has lost democracy since 1953 , read more on Mossadegh , and u will know , during the 1979 revolution , there was no one to rule Iran , they had to find someone to make the revolution , out of nowhere , Khomeini came as the excuse to overthrow the shah's government . many Iranians regret the revolution , Iran jumped from one corrupt government to a train-wreck ( Islamic radicals ) ..... this is coming from an Iranian btw.
    • moracity, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2Actually, Jimmy Carter is directly responsible for putting Khomeni, an enemy of the United States, in power. He repeated this feat by validating the 'election" of hugo Chavez.

      sickening.
  • ik999, on 10/10/2007, -26/+32He isn't lying.

    Although there are homosexuals in Iran, there are far fewer there than there are in the USA.

    He said: "In Iran, we don’t have homosexuals like in your country. We don’t have that in our country. In Iran, we do not have this phenomenon. I do not know who has told you that we have it."

    His claim does not imply that there are absolutely no homosexuals in Iran, but rather that the phenomenon of widespread homosexuality is not 'like in your country'. Iran does not have the large growth rate of homosexuals that the USA has, and that is what he is trying to say. The way in which the quote is given in the post removes the context. Also, keep in mind that this man's first language is not English.

    Perhaps people should learn to read things for themselves before making judgments.
    • cave, on 10/10/2007, -2/+231 - Gay population is spead out pretty much the same everywhere. But obviously, in the countries in which we are less discriminated against, more of us actually come out and as a result, we gain more visibility in the public eye.
      2 - He was speaking in his native tongue, while being simultaneously translated. Watch the damn video before you comment.
    • empirefalling, on 10/10/2007, -9/+1Precisely.
    • luchid, on 10/10/2007, -0/+11Uhmmm no... http://www.towleroad.com/towleroad/2005/07/report_ ... They kill them... Maybe they don't know about the gay people in their own country cause gay men wouldnt dare come out in such a homophobic society?
    • mcduckov, on 10/10/2007, -4/+9If you talk to men in that part of the world they really are still at the stage where either they pretend not to know what homosexuality is or they really don't know. If you aggressively confront them with it they will get hostile. America was not all that different 50 years ago and societies go through waves of sentiment toward acceptance or rejection of homosexuality.

      In any case, anyone get the feeling the "elites" are feeding us an emotional case for war? ZOMG they hate Jews and gays and America! They want to have nukes! Call in the Marines!!! Strange how complicit Digg is...after all we're so literate, and smart, and we see through the BS, right? Right??
      • curtisag, on 10/10/2007, -1/+3There's serious deliberation on using a massive air strike on Iran's nuclear sites, but nobody is considering all out invasion like Iraq. There's no need to invade once the nuclear processing is taken out of the picture with bunker busting bombs. Furthermore, if we don't do it, the Israelis have already stated they will. Having Israelis do this would be an even worse event for the region for obvious reasons. I would like to see the situation resolved peacefully, but Iran's leadership would "lose face" by giving in at this point. No amount of sanctions will change that.
        • WiredLain, on 10/10/2007, -0/+4So let Israel do the deed and then stay out of the backlash and keep our damn mouths shut.
    • NonLeftistDiggr, on 10/10/2007, -6/+4good point, over hear they are a single digit portion of the population but get double digit coverage in news/TV/movies.
    • Zarchon, on 10/10/2007, -2/+6Being gay isn't a choice, that being said, the number of gays in any country should roughly be the same percentage wise.
      • qpdb, on 10/10/2007, -0/+4I have never really debated or researched about the homosexual debate but is that what is comes down too? The belief if it is or it isn't a choice? I believe it is a choice. Feel to shout me if you want to discuss.
        • Nudar, on 10/10/2007, -1/+3Actually gays can change. New research was just released by psychologists Mark A. Yarhouse and Stanton L. Joneshttp://www.americandaily.com/article/20330. Don't expect that to be reported on digg. They only like the science that does not contradict their liberal leanings.
    • TomPlansMedia, on 10/10/2007, -2/+1homosexuality is a naturally occurring phenomenon that occurs in human beings as well as many other species
    • employeeno5, on 10/10/2007, -0/+3He wasn't speaking in English. He had a world class interpreter. A female one. It's kind of hard to mistake a women's voice for him speaking English. I get that you think people should take his words in context but to say English isn't his first language as an argument is completely off point as he was speaking his native tongue. It's also clear that you didn't hear his speech despite your lectures about people needing to read the whole thing before coming to judgment. The problem here is that, as it was spoken not written, you really need to listen to or even see the whole thing to really take it in context. Then you wouldn't make foot-in-your-mouth mistakes like saying he was speaking English.
      This point in the speech was a highlight as everyone burst out laughing when he said this. I've never seen anything like it. Pure gold.
      • ik999, on 10/10/2007, -0/+0I never implied that he was speaking english; i watched the video before posting.

        but when you say something in another language, you have to be mindful of the way it might be translated.

        my point was that the translator might have not done the best job. I don't know, as I don't speak Farsi, but I find it hard to believe that the head of state would really say something like that.
  • fuseideas, on 10/10/2007, -9/+14"We don't have homosexuals in our country. We only have an Iranian president who looks like a homosexual from a bad 70s porno about a pizza delivery guy and his "customers" the cop and the construction worker. Next question?"
  • rushiku, on 10/10/2007, -8/+26That was his opening joke, right?
    I'll bet the punchline was: "that we haven't brutally murdered", always good for laughs. I'm tearing up right now.

    In case you're as slow as Ahmadinejad, sarcasm
  • empirefalling, on 10/10/2007, -25/+5A translation problem. He stated that Iran does not have Homosexuals like in the United States. Homosexuals in Iran are satisfied with their place and the vast majority have no problems with their society, unlike the Gays in United States who face constant racism and humiliation. The United States is a back water in regards to Basic Human Rights as compared to the rest of the World Body.
    • geekee, on 10/10/2007, -2/+22You should stop drinking the kool-aid. They execute gay people in Iran. I doubt homosexuals are satisfied with their place. they are scared ***** of getting caught.
      • empirefalling, on 10/10/2007, -11/+2American right wing propaganda also states that homosexuals in America should be imprisoned. They are the leaders of your country. They wish now to protect homosexuals because of an inadequate translation?
        Laughable….