This is issue #2636 of “Kayhan Bacheha” (Children’s Kayhan) published after the elections, and titled “Hello Mr. President”. I didn’t get a chance to grumble about it, but today seems to be a good occasion. An order was issued to close Kayhan (the daily) on Thursday. The euphoric reception of the news was muffled, audible only through the mobile phone channels and not on the streets, and we know that more time and another battle remains before the order goes into effect. Still, it is a step. In the meantime, I would like to make a motion for the closure of this magazine as well please. If this is a political news outlet, then let me make it clear that our toddlers demand fair and balanced news. If it is a washing machine, then toss it out and let the parents do the cleaning.
Here’s a rough translation of the editorial:
“Together In Every Step
Hi! Finally the tenth Presidential Elections were held, and as predicted the good people of our country came to the ballot boxes.
As our dear Leader said, the participation of more than 85% of people in the elections was a grand celebration! Because Iranians showed that they are fond of their country and regime, meaning ‘The Islamic Republic’, and that they are keen on having a say in the administration of their society through ‘voting’.
As I had said before, internal and foreign enemies were trying to prevent the Iranian people from participating in the elections.
They thought that by keeping people from participation in the elections, they could separate The Islamic Republic from Iranians, and that they could easily activate their evil thoughts and plans; plans such as further threats to cause Iranian scientists to stop making progress in fields such as nuclear technology; to stop championing the cause of the oppressed; and to relinquish our independence and freedom.
Ahmadinejad’s Re-election
More than 39 million 165 thousand 191 people participated in the elections. From among these, 24 million 527 thousand 516 people voted for Mr. Ahmadinejad. Thus, for the second time, and for another four years, he was elected once again as president of our country. Dr. Ahmdinejad came on TV this Saturday and promised to work towards progress and the well-being of our country.
We should now say that Mr. Ahmadinejad is the president of all the people of Iran, whether they voted for him or not. We now have to help him succeed in his endeavor, which is managing the country.
It should also be said that in countries like ours where people have the right to select the officials of their society through elections, all people strive to respect the votes of the majority. This means that if many vote for one person to be president, the others will accept that person as president too. In this way, society does not fall into disorder, and alarming events and fights are thus prevented.
Of course, everywhere in the world, there are people who do not respect the votes of the majority and create agitation. Such persons have no place in the hearts of people and quickly find themselves all alone.
Everyone Perform Their Duty
We said that every person should help the president in running the country. You may ask, “how can we help the president, we are only students?”
I must say that if we all fulfill our responsibility, whether a student, a teacher, an engineer, a doctor, or holding any other job, we have helped the president, which is really helping ourselves and our country’s development and advancement.”
Tags: elections, newspaper, politics, propaganda