In a
middle school in Tehran, students defied their principals and refused to chant
against America. “They were saying ‘Marg bar Amrica’ (Death to America) from the
loudspeakers, but the students were chanting ‘Marg bar Dicatator’ (Death to the
dictator),” said a jubilant 13-year old student. The principal had asked
students to bring balloons with “Death to America” written on them. “The
students instead came with green balloons that said ‘Death to the Dictator’,”
she said.
In
a high school in Karaj, students refused to take part in the flag-burning
ritual. Preparing for the anniversary celebration, the principal had prepared
balloons in red, green, and white, the colours of the Iranian flag. Students
burst the red and white balloons. “Everyone was holding a green balloon and the
principal was very angry,” a student reported.
The
spread of the Green Movement to middle and high schools reveals the
pervasiveness of the opposition to the government. It shows the beginning of
what could become the largest and most inclusive political and cultural movement
in Iran’s recent history. Cracking down on middle and high school students will
be exceptionally difficult. Sending troops and militias to middle schools will
be explosive, a red line that even the Islamic Republic cannot cross. >>>
