It seems that many “comrades” have issues with my latest article.
http://iranian.com/main/2010/dec-0
That is either because they haven’t fully understood it (their problem) or haven’t fully appreciated it (my problem). Either case can benefit from a spot of explanation in plain English.
1. Definitions:
In this play, Rofagha are in essence petit-bourgeois, but of the kind that aims to gain leadership of the proletariat, in order to establish their idealized form of government (the so call dictatorship of proletariat, which is really the dictatorship of communist party under its supreme ayatollah). They have a rebellious child-parent relationship with the bourgeois (give me cash so that I can scorn you) … as well as a guilt complex towards proletariat (my remorse over a self-indulgent life style can only be balanced with the penance of loving the working class God).
Proletariat is that group of people who physically resides in the society, but is actually outside the administrative, ownership and cultural sphere of that society. They are mostly simple folks who work not because Labor is the new god on earth, but simply to pay rent, eat and yes, to have fun … as much fun as they can get their hands on! They are after a natural life and the fulfillment of their natural desires, like anyone else … no worse and no better than any other person … but certainly less wealthy in cash and culture. Help them rebel and come to power and they will … oh well, you have seen what happens!
Bourgeois is part owner of the establishment and part administrative head of the organization. He carries the burden of leadership and therefore can’t afford to be funny, liberal and relaxed. His great art is the leadership of men, which is more difficult than herding cats and taming shrews. His love is concentrated on his material gain and his family sphere and children, which he has foolishly shielded from the cold realities of life, by sending off to the best schools and preventing them from getting exposed to the bottom layers of society … often resulting in a meek generation of weaklings, who can be defeated by the smartest and brightest of the proletariat, who then become bourgeois and then send their pampered children to the best universities … etc, etc.
2. Proposition
That everyone in the play is trying to enjoy life, the way they “believe” to suit them the best. Proletariat is after the immediate gratification of needs and desires. Bourgeois knows that life is full of dangers and uncertainties (most likely having started as a smart proletariat) and is therefore trying to build up his business and invest in his children’s future.
Comrades (Rofagha) may not seem to be enjoying themselves, but they too are actually striving to travel through a “marvelous and magical” path, which promises to fulfill a religious-like duty and deliver them to the peak of humanity. A path which they feel is going to give them the greatest fulfillment in life possible, despite some little problems that have occurred in the “execution” of the great communist roadmap in Russia, China, Korea, Albania, Cambodia, etc! Yes, they are basically nut jobs, who can’t see the folly in themselves … even though they can easily see the folly in other petit-bourgeois nut jobs … such as the Islamists, the Fascists, the Aryanists, etc.
The proletariat and the bourgeois see things more or less the way they are … that one group is underneath and the other one is overhead … that one is trying to get higher and the other is trying to maintain his dominance … that both want the same things in life and are competing for the same opportunities … that once in power the proletariat can be 100 times more brutal and abusive than any comrade can imagine.
It is only the Rofagha who don’t see things the way they are, because the comrades are blinded by a religious type mind-shield, by a giant blind-spot, by a huge guilt-hate complex.
3. Similitude
In the play, the workers know what is going on in the kitchen (what is going on in the real life). The bourgeois too knows the truth and is trying to remedy the situation, in order to protect and improve his business. But the Rofagha are completely unaware of the kitchen scene’s reality and don’t understand the meaning of sounds and actions that are coming from the workplace. Most importantly, not understanding the current situation, they fall victim to the consequences of other people’s negative motives and wrongful actions … as well as their own ignorance (i.e. eating crap as nourishment … swallowing Imam as savior … dying and killing for someone else’s mean desires)!
Finally, a word about the culture of martyrdom is necessary, because every time one tries to expose an Islamist, the mullah cries and screams about Karbala and Hoveizeh – and the same thing happens with the Shahollahis and their justification of everything based on what happened to their ilk after the revolution, etc. Comrades have always used the martyr guilt to the fullest effect too, from the WWII and Stalingrad to Korea and Cambodia. But let’s remember this:
“Truth hurts but won’t kill you – Lies can kill you and then use your dead body to justify more lies!”
