What exactly does Sovereign mean?

Over the next several hours, expect a number of blogs from this particular author. I wish I could say its because of my undying support for the issue, but honestly, its the final hour of a semester long project. Nevertheless, I'll try to add to the discussion concerning Iran from the perspective my colleagues have tried to present. Most of what has been presented here has to deal with current events, and many of this has related to the United States' policy toward Iran. I recently came upon a quote from a State Department official stating Can we come up with something clever enough to support two aims: one, get Iran to make a strategic decision to give up its nuclear weapons program and two, help bring leadership change and democracy to Iran.” I italicized the part that I wanted to highlight.

One of the things that always manages to get me is the importance we put on the US policy towards Iran, and not how we'll deal with the nation as a part of our own self interest, but how we'll mold the nation of Iran into our own western image. I know democracy has worked for the US, and its worked in many other circumstances, but when will we learn that it may not be best for every nation. It took a congress of some of history's most brilliant individuals to decide that a democratic government would work for the new United States. Interestingly enough, the Founding Fathers didn't decide on a democratic government, rather a republic. Regardless of that point, we, as a nation, had the right to choose our government on our own. A right we seem to be denying to other nations. I'm not advocating any particular government for the new Iranian regime, I've never been there, nor have I encountered enough data and personalities to suggest with any authority. Nevertheless, why isn't the option of allowing Iran to choose its own government style ever brought into question? Sure there's always the fear that a corrupt power structure will develop just like the ones that are in the process of being dismantled. This, however, shouldn't be a reason to prevent the Iranians from deciding their own future. The notion that they don't know what's best for themselves is ridiculous and arrogant to say the least. I'm sure the British thought the same of the colonies that eventually would do the impossible and defeat the greatest military power known to man up to 18th century. Maybe they need to develop their own constitutional congress and see what happens. To say that our endeavor in spreading democracy is anything but preserving self interest is extremely hypocritical. Our ties with the new government will be what they will be, but to place the country under our thumbs is never going to place them in a position to trust the western world and problems will continue to arise.

I hope anyone who is generous enough to read our little blog can bear with me during the following marathon, and I hope I can add to the public debate is some manner.