Not as big as you think
Couple of thousand protesters in a city of 10 million
June 24, 2003
The Iranian
Reading Ms. Azizi's article, "Spontaneous
Courage", and other enthiusuastic
reviews and commentaries on the recent protests in Iran prompts
me to make
my peace on the subject. I'm afraid Ms. Azizi, as well
as a whole lot of other onlookers outside Iran -- are blowing the
recent protests out of proportion and with
undue optimism.
Before I go on, please note that as evident by my previous features
on this
site, I am no fan of the IRI or am I in any form or shape condoning
the clerical
dictatorship. I wholeheartedly support any movement for
civil
liberties and a better life for the youth of Iran. And I wish
the recent
events were as big as they have been made out to be. But the
facts on the
ground suggest a different reality than the one expressed and
promoted by
the external enthusiasts!
I have been in constant touch with family, friends and other
individuals via
telephone and email. An overwhelming majority of my contacts,
especially the
ones on the lower echelons of education and intellectual scales
profess a
lack of interest for these events. Many discount it and just
say it's over!
The fact is that a great majority of people in Iran
are either unaware of
and emotionally disconnected from the recent uprisings or just
plain don't
have the time and energy to deal with a commitment as big as
another REVOLUTION!
The last time Iranians gave blood and sacrificed
for a fundamental change,
they trusted the clergy, intellectuals and university types
who led
them down a green path and then pushed them down the black hole
of the
Islamic Republic. So, they are cautious and untrusting of any
proposal
for radical change. The question people can't get an answer for is "What'll
replace the IRI?" And their past experience leads
them to believe that it could be a
change for worse!
Reports indicate that unrests were conducted by
several thousand students
and other followers in an isolated part of the capital and
contrary to Ms.
Azizi's and other accounts, they have not spread to other parts
of Tehran.
After all, we are talking about 2 or 3 thousand protesters
in a city of 10
to 12 million! Another fact is the imminent threat that an average Iranian feels
from the
presence of American forces next door. I know a lot of people and
writers in
the opposition are excited and speculative about the prospects
of change in
Iran as a result of what happened in Iraq. But the average Iranian
watches
the death, destruction and chaos that has followed the takeover
of Iraq and
wonders what Iran will look like after an American invasion.
There
is a deep
mistrust of the American intensions for the future of Iran. This
is
especially true under the constant propaganda
aired on IRI's TV and radio. In addition there is the negative
and destructive impact of laughable commentaries and
shows from
LA-based TV channels such as Reza Fazelli's and Zia Atabai's.
These
broadcasts are so obnoxious and low quality that the regime has
begun to simply
relay some of these programs on its airwaves to let people
decide for
themselves! Go figure!
Having presented this assessment, I'm not really sure what the
right answer
is! And what could be wrong with pumping these events out of
proportion and making them into something bigger and more significant
than
they really
were? Then again, maybe portraying something that is not there
could have a
negative impact in decision making by foreign parties and lead
to bad
decisions. Maybe not!
But one thing is for sure. There will be more unrest in July
as the
anniversary of the last major round of protests near. I'm sure
there is a
positive way that all freedom-loving people can support and boost
the youth
of Iran but I am certain that comedic satellite shows with their
usually
untrue predictions and exaggerations will only serve to discredit
and
trivialize the student movement! * Send
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