Anonymouse
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Polarizing Positions
14-Jan-2010
Among many attributes of the Green Movement one recent outcome is the polarizing effect that it has had between various players. In the end there are 2 camps; the regime versus the Green Movement. Sure throw in USA, Israel, Europe and just about all other countries being in Green movement’s camp.
Can you imagine a country that would shed a tear if the Islamic Republic is toppled? Iran’s closest allies are Syria and Venezuela. Both countries can easily welcome a new regime. So the argument that USA and Israel hold the same position as the Green Movement does not really hold any water. Russia and China wouldn’t care either.
Last night I watched some recent interviews that Darius Kadivar had posted and I was surprised that Soraya Sepahbod-Ulrich was making so many outlandish claims and pretty much ignoring the Green Movement. She was comparing the summer election to Bush-Gore 2000 and how American people went about their own business.
Times have changed but some people won’t change until it hits them smack in the head and they have no other alternative but to accept the change. Some of you may remember that Sepahbod-Ulrich wrote many controversial articles here on i.com which were among the most discussed and hotly debated. Looks like she stopped writing here in Sep 2008.
At the time there wasn’t any Green Movement and Bush and his cronies were pushing for war on Iran and I found her arguments in line with what I thought were the important issues of the day. So in those discussions I could understand what she was saying and agreed with her. Now I can’t disagree with her enough! But that’s not the issue.
The issue is that people are closing ranks. Some like her or Leverettes may have no other vested interest than to remain annoying anntellectuals! Whatever their motive or thoughts, the regime in power is being seriously challenged and the lawlessness is on regime’s shoulders because there is enough evidence to arrest and punish those who are abusing their powers in prisons and streets.
NIAC and others on the other hand are siding with the Green Movement. So in my opinion while we can’t predict the future and how things may unfold we can acknowledge what is already unfolding right before our eyes. I don’t know if this is a revolution or a civil rights movement, yet. As I read in NIAC’s article today this is not a 100 meter dash, it is a marathon. The best positions we can take is to side with people and condemn regime’s atrocities.
We are hearing new arguments and all arguments end up either trying to strengthen the regime or weakening it. People always hated this regime but they couldn’t do anything about it. Now they are united and fearless like never before. They’re risking their lives and livelihood so what more is there for them to risk? Not to mention in such large numbers that is getting larger with each commemorative day.
Regime wants to compare this movement to the mass arrests, imprisonment and final mass execution of the 80s. Back in those days the numbers weren’t as much and the people were mostly 18 – 20 year old sympathizers for various political groups who were scattered.
Today people are much more mature and this struggle is not for political groups. Thanks to Islamic Republic there are no political parties left The people on the streets are born and raised under this regime so they know exactly what they are dealing with. They know how ruthless their leaders can be. The struggle today is for justice and being fed up with life under the Islamic Republic.
Another argument I hear is from some who come from Iran and say people are tired of these “riots”. First of all people were tired of “riots” during Shah too and Shah called them “riots” as well. That wasn’t a peaceful and quiet revolution either. Second of all, if you don’t join the protests it doesn’t mean that these protests are small. I hear from people coming from Iran that regime is putting security guards in front of hospitals to arrests the injured protestors and those who help them.
As I wrote in my previous blogs after I came back following the summer election, Ahmadi and now Sepahbod-Ulrich want to act like an ostrich. If it is talking about rule of law and protests let’s compare it to Bush-Gore 2000 but when it is about the aftermath and treatment of people don’t go any further and stop right there. If it is about freedom say Iran has the “best” freedom but then allow people to be crowded in small prison cells with no food and water and allow some of them die and then let those responsible to go free. The economic situation is not any better outside the prisons. Arrest mothers of the prisoners en masse. Arresting these mothers are the last straws that Sepahbod-Ulrich and others don’t want to acknowledge. Lets close ranks.
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Umbrella for various factions, not umbrella the accessory!
by Anonymouse on Fri Jan 15, 2010 07:25 AM PSTEverything is sacred.
green umberella! (to Anonymouse)
by marhoum Kharmagas on Fri Jan 15, 2010 07:25 AM PSTSure, next time I talk to my cousin, I'll tell her don't go for the green umbrella, let Anonymouse go for it!
They are dying with green accessories. Green is the umbrella.
by Anonymouse on Fri Jan 15, 2010 07:07 AM PSTEverything is sacred.
greens were worth voting for, not worth dying for!
by marhoum Kharmagas on Fri Jan 15, 2010 07:35 AM PSTAs I told my cousin in Iran, greens were worth voting for, but they are not worth dying for!
DK and Faramarz jaans we are in agreement!
by Anonymouse on Fri Jan 15, 2010 05:34 AM PSTI remember vividly few years ago I was in Iran after Iraq's invasion by US and the news was that Bush had given a speech that he'd like to see democracy spread from Kabul to Damuscus.
Now based on Bush's view of a democractic middle east, Kabul and Baghdad were already freed and democractic. Amman was already democractic, so the only 2 remaining capitols were Tehran and Damuscus. No doubt if Iraq invasion had gone a little better according to his plans, Iran would have been attacked. No ifs and buts about it.
Everything is sacred.
I didn't say Greens or regime elements are monolithic.
by Anonymouse on Fri Jan 15, 2010 05:25 AM PSTI said whatever your position (from Mousavi to Rajavi to prince chubby) you fall either in the regime camp or in the green movement camp, whether you like it or not.
In fact, if you look at Iraj's cartoons this is what the regime elements are hanging their hats on.
My blog has few points which is conveniently ignored and fantasy and cheerleading squad language used instead.
You want to talk about rule of law, let's start with those who are supposed to uphold it. One of complaints of the Iranians have always been that basiji and rouge elements of the regime kill and injure people at will and get away with it. Of course regime denied it.
This year we saw photographic proof that showed the way these thugs behave. We saw people breaking house windows and cars with their batons either in police uniform or with the support of police. Shooting people. Not only nothing happened to them, more ruthlessness was unleashed. Dead people were taken from hospitals and morgues and 3rd, 7th day and 40th day of their mournings were banned. Is that lawful? Prisoners' mothers arrested. Is that one lawful?
So from that point on the rule of law goes down the drain. Then you have Mousavi saying that neither he nor Khatami nor Karoubi sent any messages during Ashoura, yet the protests were the largest ever. I see the same parallels as 1979. Not necessarily the kind of revolution we saw in 1979 but the same tactics and responses by the people and elements in Shah's regime.
There is nothing wrong with voting for Ahmadi because I know people did and some in fact were my own friends and family. There is everything wrong in closing your eyes like Sepahbod-Ulrich and say like Sepahbod-Azhari before her that the allah-o akbars are cassette tapes.
I go to Iran as time permits and can say with 100% certainty that people do not like life under Islamic Republic. When I say people I mean the majority of the population who are born and raised under this regime and want wholesome change. Many who voted for Ahmadi or claim to like life under Islamic Republic work for IRGC which for all practical purposes own most of the economy and tries hard to influence their employees. That too is a fact that everyone knows about.
So Sargord you stay in your camp and I stay in my camp.
Everything is sacred.
huh?
by Sargord Pirouz on Fri Jan 15, 2010 04:35 AM PSTYou're saying the Greens are a monolith? You must be kidding.
You're saying the IRI is a monolith? Last I heard, Mousavi, Karroubi and Khatami regarded themselves as reformist loyalists, not anti-IRI regime changers.
Anon, you're living in fantasy land. I suggest you increase the scope of your reading materials beyond anti-IRI cheerleading. You'll get a far more accurate picture of what's taking place inside Iran, as opposed to outside Iran.
Anonymouse Jaan Great Blog
by Darius Kadivar on Fri Jan 15, 2010 03:26 AM PSTCouldn't have said it any better.
Warm Regards,
DK
I Love Your Orange Uniform Anonymouse
by Faramarz on Thu Jan 14, 2010 03:15 PM PSTCan I get some extra tzatziki sauce with my gyros?
I agree with your analysis Anonymouse. We Iranians are an interesting bunch.
Over the past 8 years, the choice in front of many Iranians was this. Are you with Bush/Cheney/Neocons/Likud types who wanted to attack and destroy the country or are you with whoever that is in charge in Iran? And I can totally understand when people sided with the whomever in Iran. But today’s choice is a lot simpler. Are you with Neda and other young and brave Iranians like her, or are you with those who use electric batons on middle age women?
The choice should not be so hard.
Thank you all for reading and your comments.
by Anonymouse on Thu Jan 14, 2010 12:51 PM PSTThe least we can do these days it to make our positions clear. Although, this does not mean we should kill the other side with the opposing views and positions but it does mean we shall stand up to the fallacy of these positions, such as Ahmadi claiming 10% inflation and rule of law. Law is for all sides not just one side.
When the law is not followed by the one who is trusted to uphold it (Government's side) and those who are clearly shown shooting at people and destroying public property in police uniforms (as evidenced in actual videos) are never questioned or prosecuted or even acknowledged, then you can't expect the other side to follow the law either.
Some members of this regime such as Rafsanjani, Karoubi, Mousavi, Sanaei and others have already sounded the alarms. There are 2 camps and I certainly don't agree or like many in my camp and will continue to criticize them as I see it. I do not feel bad to be in one camp with all these people from Mousavi to Rajavi to prince chubby and everyone in between. Everyone is viewed based on their own merits as the well known people are well, well known!
Everything is sacred.
......
by yolanda on Thu Jan 14, 2010 12:34 PM PSTThank you for the very analytical blog. Here is my favorite line:
*********************************
The best positions we can take is to side with people and condemn regime’s atrocities.
*********************************
That is my position. It is also common-sense! Some people just want to be different, like Leverettes, so they want to appear "smarter" than everyone else.
thanks,
People at the IRI's golden
by vildemose on Thu Jan 14, 2010 10:08 AM PSTPeople at the IRI's golden trough will resist to see realties until the very last minute. Ulrich is one them.
Dear mouse,great blog. Some only concerned w. financial gains
by Anahid Hojjati on Thu Jan 14, 2010 09:27 AM PSTDear Anonymouse, thanks for your blog. Yes, indeed some people just want to be annoying so they claim that Green movement is not strong. Also some people like to side with power. Somehow by doing this, they feel powerful. These people see the guns of IRI and side with it but real power is with people. If some non Islamic fanatic intellectual still claims that IRI enjoys mass support and should stay and is best for Iran, this person most probably has a financial gain in IRI staying in power, there are some IRI supporters of this kind both inside and outside Iran.
...
by Red Wine on Thu Jan 14, 2010 09:07 AM PSTThank you Anonymouse jan for blog. :=)