Kamangir (Archer)

Did you know that Kamangir turns four tomorrow? See the classic "Hello World" dated October 17, 2008!

Ahmadinejad: Let the Population Grow

Kamangir | October 23, 2006 | Category Iran

They say two children are enough [a famous slogan for controlling Iran's population growth in the last decade]. I oppose this. Our country has a huge capacity. It has the capacity to have many children grow in it. It has the capacity for 120 million people [currently the population is 70 million]. Westerners have this problem, because their population growth is negative and they are afraid that if our population increases we will defeat them. Thus, they have exported their problem to us.

These are exact words of President Ahmadinejad in a meeting with members of Parliament (see). It reminds me of what the Islamic Republic advocated for during the war with Iraq. Then, they encouraged people, through financial aids and propaganda, to enlarge their families. At that time, they needed soldiers. The result was huge demand for all services. For example, every year, to get into a university program, a million people take part in an exam which forces them to spend at least one year to prepare for. One million years of Iranians creativity is wasted this way, and we have not talked about the fraction of these attendees who get depressed because of not being able to pursue a decent life.

Sometimes I think who cares if US really attacks Iran; we are under “friendly” fire right now.

p.s. Lady Sun writes (see),

And the irony is that this is the body of women that should always be negotiated in Iranian policy. Once they boycotted veil in Iran, then they made it mandatory. Once Khomeini asked for a baby boom to create a 20-million-member army. Then they realized the baby boom is screwing up our economy, so they started birth control policies (which was one of the fewest successful policies of the government after the revolution.) Now this moron is asking for a baby boom again. Please, let the women decide about their own bodies.

Reader's Comments

lady sun | October 23rd, 2006 at 11:19 pm
I’m still angry. I’m getting paralyzed with this anger. I can’t even concentrate on my work. I seriously have the intention of coming back to Iran when I’m done with school, but I doubt it there will be any Iran left to return.
Global Voices Online » Blog Archive » Ahmadinejad: Let the Population Grow | October 24th, 2006 at 6:16 am
[...] Kamangir reports about Iranian President’s speech about the population growth. President Ahmadinejad said they say two children are enough [a famous slogan for controlling Iranâ€™s population growth in the last decade]. I oppose this…if our population increases we will defeat them [Westerners]. The blogger adds it reminds me of what the Islamic Republic advocated for during the war with Iraq. Then, they encouraged people, through financial aids and propaganda, to enlarge their families. At that time, they needed soldiers. [...]
kamangir | October 24th, 2006 at 9:09 am
Lady Sun,
I think exactly like you. I am affraid the Iran which we may plan to return to would be nothing very much different from current Iraq.
az zendegi | October 24th, 2006 at 1:50 pm
And we just hope for what we can only dream about :)
kamangir | October 24th, 2006 at 1:56 pm
az zendegi,
Good idea. By the way, a friend of mine had the idea that he may have been only talking to his wife, through a public channel. :)
Esther | October 25th, 2006 at 1:55 am
Do you think that the women and men of Iran are just as open to government intervention in their family affairs as they were at the beginning of the revolution? (I am asking seriously, not rhetorically).

My sisters-in-law tell me that many landlords won’t even consider renting to families with more than 2 or 3 children and they live in a pretty traditional town. I am not certain, but it seems to me that Iranians are much more aware of the economic implications of large families and know they cannot afford them. I really do not know though.
kamangir | October 25th, 2006 at 12:28 pm
Esther,
Yes, I do know that. And I agree with you that we are not going to see a baby boom right after this speech. At the same time, this incident shows how Ahmadinejad’s mind works. It is very dangerous to have someone like him at the focal point of politics, in a not very democratic country like Iran.