I wish I was in New York too, protesting against Ahmadinejad and everything he represents. I could have been taking pictures and reporting on a very special occasion. How often do we have revolutions? I missed the one in 1979 because I was in high school in the U.S. This time I’m stuck with organizing a music concert at a venue that was booked three months ago. You should see how I organize concerts… I’ll tell you after the concert!
In any case, watching from a very far distance (thanks to YouTube) at what’s gone on in Iran in recent months and Ahmadinejad’s embarrassing trip to New York (what does it feel like to be so disliked, to put it mildly?), I’m convinced we have turned the corner towards democracy. The Islamic Republic is an empty shell guarded by shameless liars and mad dogs. It’s only a matter of time before it disappears through a combination of self-destructive policies and a kick in the ass from angry, disillusioned people. LOTS of people.
What I like about the movement today compared to 1979, is that there is a greater degree of tolerance, if that’s the right word. It is just the beginning when opposition groups and personalities temporarily set aside (some of their) differences and unite (or separately focus) against a common enemy: a 30-year-old rotten theocracy. That may be so but in general it seems this movement is indeed “makhmalee” — it’s soft and velvety. It’s almost as flowery as the 1960s peace and love movement against a militaristic America. There’s a clear, almost deliberate effort by most protesters to remain non-violent, even in the face of a very brutal regime.
So far so good. Gandhi would be pleased.
But what about the future? The longer the regime holds on to power with ruthless violence, there’s a greater chance violence could become a means of retaliation against the regime. We may be heading that way. And there’s nothing green about blood and destruction.
