Letter from a Tehran Jail

A response to Flynt and Hillary Mann Leverett

Balatarin
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Letter from a Tehran Jail
by patrickdisney
07-Jan-2010
 

In the New York Times yesterday (Jan 6), Flynt and Hillary Mann Leverett–both of whom I deeply respect–argued that the protesters in Iran make up a small, demographically isolated minority of Iranian society, and their activities therefore have very little chance of enacting real, substantive change in Iran’s political system. For evidence of the protest movement’s weakness, the authors pose three questions:

“First, what does this opposition want? Second, who leads it? Third, through what process will this opposition displace the government in Tehran?”

Needless to say, none of the potential answers proves satisfactory.

The Leveretts are entitled to their opinion, sacrilegious as it may be to some. But in downplaying and even denigrating the activities of Iran’s dissidents, I fear that they will have justified the accusations that are sure to be flung their way–accusations of acting as apologists for the government, of disparaging a courageous and non-violent protest movement, and even of siding with Iran’s violent regime.

I am reminded of the Letter from a Birmingham Jail–the famous essay by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in which he decries the so-called “white moderate, who is more devoted to ‘order’ than to justice,” more concerned with the negative peace of the status quo than with bringing about that which is right through urgent action. By action, of course, Dr. King was talking about civil disobedience.

Like the “white moderate” in King’s letter, the Leveretts do not dare pin their hopes on seismic changes righting Iran’s political injustices. Instead, they recommend the US acknowledge the movement’s futility, embrace Iran’s current leaders, and secure America’s strategic interests through rapprochement. But their cynicism, which dismisses a popular movement without a manifesto, charismatic leader, or strategic playbook, ignores the plain and simple fact that repressive governments are inherently unsustainable.

People who have awoken to the dawn of a freer and more open society cannot be pushed backwards and kept permanently in darkness. Like Dr. King, the Iranians who take part in the protest movement–even if they are a minority–engage in civil disobedience in order to “bring to the surface the hidden tension that is already alive” in their society. Iranians have not always lived in fear of roaming militias or cyber-surveillance teams watching their every move online; nor have they been closed off to alternatives structures that value individual liberty over ideological fealty.

“Oppressed people cannot remain oppressed forever,” King said.

The yearning for freedom eventually manifests itself, and that is what has happened to the American Negro. Something within has reminded him of his birthright of freedom, and something without has reminded him that it can be gained.

In the case of Iranians, the “something within” is the long and arduous journey toward a democratic system of governance–a journey that began with the Constitutional Revolution in 1906, caught a fleeting glimpse of success with Mohammad Mosaddeq in 1953, erupted chaotically in 1979, and has been brewing once again since June 12. The “something without” is their forebears: Gandhi, Mandela, King, and Walesa.

I agree with the Leveretts’ conclusion that Iran’s government is not about to crumble under the pressure of the protest movement. But I believe now more than ever before that democratic change in Iran is bound to occur eventually. The events of the past seven months have revealed a conflict embedded deep within Iran that will not go away. It might be suppressed for awhile, but it won’t be extinguished. The struggle for rights will continue, and, to paraphrase President Obama on the night of his election, the Iranian people will “put their hands on the arc of history and bend it once more toward the hope of a better day.”

Balatarin
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hamsade ghadimi

all the news that's fit to print and a bit of propaganda

by hamsade ghadimi on Fri Jan 08, 2010 06:30 AM PST

i think that a rebuttal piece should have been printed in the ny times.  the leverett's piece cannot be taken seriously just as a hostage's videotaped plea/confession cannot be taken seriously.  these parents, understandably, have a very important stake with the iranian regime.  we saw many videotaped confessions from the protesters braodcast on iranian tv.  they confessed that they are spies for other governments and the whole uprising is bogus.  should we believe them?  i cann't understand that ny times allowed itself to be played by the iranian regime.  this is the type of article that is printed in the iranian media today.

mr. disney, you need not minimize the number of unsatisfied people in iran.  i know that you didn't minimize their struggle; however, the people on the streets are only a fraction of the opposition. 


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Anahid Hojjati

I agree with Setareh that Responding to the Leverettes is noble

by Anahid Hojjati on Fri Jan 08, 2010 03:46 AM PST

 

dear patrickdisney, thanks for responding to Leverettes' letter and I agree with Setareh Sabety where she wrote in her comment:"Responding to the Leverettes is noble human rights work ".

 


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Setareh Sabety

tnx for responding to these immoral opportunists!

by Setareh Sabety on Fri Jan 08, 2010 02:36 AM PST

Reading that op/ed piece by the Leverettes made me sick to my stomach. I cannot imagine why anyone would 'respect' the. They sounded like Marandi of Tehran U. writing an op/ed in Keyhan. Anyone who belittles the movement this deliberately is either an apologist of the regime or plain stupid. I agree with Mehdi2009 that most of the so-called 'Iran experts' are out of touch and that there is a hatred for this regime and an anti-clericalism in Iran that is underestimated by those who have not lived there. It pains me to think Obama, whom I eagerly voted for, listens to them.

Under brutal repressive regimes people are careful of what they say. You cannot get a sense of pubic opinion unless you know the people intimately. Often I have heard the refrain the mulla theif. akhoondeh dozd and not just in north Tehran but in rural Khorasan and impoverished outskirts of Karaj.

Also, under this kind of harsh clamp down the number of people that come out to demonstrate should be taken as representative of not just those who are brave enough to come out but also those who are afraid to. So tens of thousands coming out when they are risking life and limb is not the same as one million coming out knowing they are safe. So statistics and quantifications should keep that in mind or they will simply be wrong.

What bothers me most is the timing and intent of the piece. why or who would want to hurt the movement? or is it that they want to deter sanctions? because of diplomacy having failed miserably the US & west are left with two ways to deal with this Iranian regime nuclear program: to is to sanction and support the green movement or to attempt a military option.

If you don't support the former like the Leverettes don't then are you pushing for the latter all be it in a veiled fashion? or are you these two jewish former bush's administration defectors just in the pay of the IRI?

I sincerely pray that Obama listens to people who know Iran than those who make a living peddling it one way or another.

Responding to the Leverettes is noble human rights work and I thank you for engaging in it!


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Chai Khor

Great thanks Disney

by Chai Khor on Thu Jan 07, 2010 06:10 PM PST

This is a marvelous article. Great job Patrick Disney and co.


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mehdi2009

Pseudo-Intellectual Wannabies are Way Out of Touch

by mehdi2009 on Thu Jan 07, 2010 06:09 PM PST

My dear Fellow Iranians,

These so called experts (More like goof balls) want to get themselves in front TV Cameras for all to see how Ignorant and Out of Touch their opinion is in comparison to what is REALLY Happening in Iran. Go to south Tehran, the hot bed of the Bassijis and you will find out that most people in that area HATE the Murderous Regime. This is NOT a Class War; It is the whole Country is against the Murderous regime.

Why don't they talk with any one who has recently come from Iran, and has an EYE WITNESS account of what is really happening in Iran.

This Bunch like any body who has not been in the country in the past 2 to 6 months are just speculating about the events in Iran, and basically have no clue of what they are talking about.

In another words: THEY HAVE NO CLUE. My answer to them is to GO TO IRAN during any of the upcoming Anniversaries, and see and listen for themselves the TRUE RAGE and UNCOMPROMISING ATTITUDE of the Iranian People.

If they only listen to the Murderous Regime's Apologists' Nonsensical Propaganda or wishful Thinking (Even on this Marvelous Forum), then of course they will spew the Garbage which came out of their Rotten mouths. If the Murderous Regime's Apologists rejoice on this kind of Garbage, then you know that Crap has hit the Fan really hard, and the Day of Reckoning is fast approaching. 

Salutations to the ALL TRUE Sons and Daughters of Iran.

Mehdi2009


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