Pieces of the puzzle

Iran’s upheaval is multi-dimensional

Balatarin
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Pieces of the puzzle
by R. Javidan
07-Aug-2009
 

The history of civil unrest in Iran since the inception of the Islamic Republic in 1979 points at an ever-increasing discontent among the general population in Iran. Whether this is an existential threat to Iran’s regime has a lot to do with what the ruling class may decide to do with the current unrest. There is a substantive difference between this one and all the others. One may argue that this upheaval is a natural culmination of the preceding ones which were left unresolved and followed by more forceful repression.

To more objectively digest the situation in Iran it might be advised to have an open mind about the classification of the protesters. I believe that representing this conflict as class warfare between the haves and have-nots is a fatal mistake on the part of some sectors of the progressive left, since this approach dismisses the accumulated, rightful grievances of a large segment of the Iranian citizenry.

Harsh treatment and labeling of those who risked so much of themselves by pouring into the streets of Tehran after the election results will not serve any political purpose other than to alienate this population, the result of which may generate such an intensely divisive environment that it could easily lend itself to being conquered by worrisome political forces, both inside and outside Iran, lurking opportunistically to join forces with the protesters and misdirect the thrust of their discontent.

I do not believe that, at this juncture, the protesters are aiming at the dismantlement of the regime, nor do they have the necessary public support or much needed political organization. Prolonging this situation by inaction or dismissive reaction, together with repressive measures on the part of the ruling class, could likely lead to the gap in these needs being filled with hegemonic support.

I base my argument on my own direct observations in Iran during this ordeal, having stayed abreast of reports from outside Iran as well. I wish I could claim the thoroughness of these observations based on a godly omnipresence. Since I cannot, I do not intend to generalize, but I do intend to offer perspective.

I landed at the Imam Khomeini Airport in Tehran at around 2:00 am on Friday June 12, 2009, the morning of the Iranian Presidential Election. I spent most of my evenings in the streets of Tehran to have a first hand account of the protests and goings-on. I was on Valiasr Street the Saturday after the elections and witnessed some of the disruptions. I was also present at Mr. Ahmadinejad’s celebrating speech on Valiasr Square.

The crowds at the square and its surrounding streets, including Karim Khan, Valiasr (both North and South), Keshavarz Boulevard, and even the alleyways demonstrated overwhelming support for Mr. Ahmadinejad. There were people from all walks of life with no apparent overrepresentation of one or other socio-economic class.

This is not to suggest, however, that the “silent march” of the opposition after the supreme leader’s Friday Prayer speech was in any way less significant in comparison. I know of people who voted for Mr. Ahmadinejad but who also participated in the march to show their discontent and disagreement to Mr. Khamenei’s threats and dismissive stance. I know of families in which parents voted for Mr. Ahmadinejad but their children voted for the opposition. However, those same parents participated in that decisive march to support their children. This march stretched from Imam Hossein Square in far Eastern Tehran to Azadi Square on the opposite pole.

When the protesters were forced out of the streets in somewhat bloody repression, the show of discontent moved to the rooftops of the houses. At exactly 10:00 pm every night people started chanting “Allah-o Akbar” in the darkness and anonymity of their houses, mirroring the kind of solidarity that ousted the puppet monarchist regime in 1979.

Again, these are personal observations, but in my opinion, important pieces of the puzzle forming a picture of today’s Iran. The political, socio-economic and inter-generational realities are complex (as usual), and not done justice by taking a very strict, uncompromising and one-dimensional approach. An upheaval of this magnitude deserves a much more, although cautious, open-mindedness and inclusiveness.

The progressive left has every right to be vigilant, even suspicious, when Western powers unequivocally support a movement, but this does not have to take paranoid dimensions. This will only serve to alienate an otherwise sympathetic middle class to the plight of the deprived, the marginal, and the voiceless.
 
One should give support and momentum to the movements of struggling people while staying in tune with the geo-political context and implications. It is on the difficult and worthwhile task of reconciling these two that we should focus our energy because, after all, both tasks are essentially concerned with one thing: what is best for the people in Iran as one of many struggling peoples in the world.

Balatarin
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Ahura

A Puzzling Article!

by Ahura on Sat Aug 08, 2009 10:21 PM PDT

Although I read the article few times to learn about the pieces of the current Iranian movement puzzle, unfortunately I missed the punch lines and ended up with more pieces for the puzzle, namely this article!Please correct me if I am wrong with the following guesses on its main conclusive points:1. The protesters do not want regime change, do not have public support, and do not have political organization.2. Labeling and mistreating the protesters (implied by leftists and others except IRI) alienates the group and is divisive which can lead to infiltration by shady forces and opportunistic characters from within or outside Iran that can misdirect the movement.3. Prolonging this situation by not helping or rejecting them coupled with IRI repressive measures will not get them public support or organization but domination by unknown! (I struggled with "hegemonic support" here, so this is a real stretch.)4. The progressive left can be suspicious of movements, such as this, which is supported by western powers, but must not overdo it since it can result in the loss of support of the poor by the sympathetic middle class.5. We must support movements of the deprived but within the realm of global political realities. We need to reconcile these two which have the same aim, namely, the welfare of Iranians as one of the deprived people.Thanks for the article which has nice unbiased eyewitness account of some post election events in Tehran, although I could not put the pieces of conclusions together.  

 


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vildemose

servitude to Russia: A time line

by vildemose on Sat Aug 08, 2009 07:29 PM PDT

Diplomatic History of the Caspian Sea: Treaties,Diaries,and Other Stories

//search.barnesandnoble.com/Diplomatic-History-of-the-Caspian-Sea/Guive-Mirfendereski/e/9780312240059


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vildemose

If the Islamic Republic has

by vildemose on Sat Aug 08, 2009 12:25 PM PDT

If the Islamic Republic has to become a prostitute for Russia and China, Lebanese Hizballah, Hamas, various transnational terrorist drug dealers...etc. in order to protect Iranian's independence then I don't think they should be in charge. There are other ways of staying "independent" beside prostitution.

 

 


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vildemose

"Independent" to Plunder the Beit-al-Mal:

by vildemose on Sat Aug 08, 2009 12:19 PM PDT

Having withdrawn tons of gold bullion and currency in fear from Swiss Banks in the last 18-months or so, Interesting that a Turkish lawyer is trying to get it back for his "apparent" one person client, though "it never arrived, never happened"! How did this man acquire this fortune? Or is it Mullah Khamenei and his gang's stolen money?
Reminder, the $18.5 billion amount is more than the national budget of many countries and would make a huge difference in Turkey's national budget

The containers held $7.5 billion in GENUINE $100 banknotes and 20 metric tons of gold. Both truck drivers fled the scene and have not been captured to date.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikEH3RVGOOw&feature=player_embedded

//ppjg.wordpress.com/2009/08/01/dr-manouchehr-ganji-to-pm-erdogan-come-clean-on-the-18-5-billion-u-s-transferred-to-turkey-from-iran/


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vildemose

The Islamic Republic by no

by vildemose on Sat Aug 08, 2009 12:10 PM PDT

The Islamic Republic by no way shape or form is **Independent**. The only way Iran has become "indepedent" is in the way of plundering and prostituting to the highest bidder without really getting much in return.

IR is a client state of Russia and China: our external enemies.

I don't call servitude to Russia and giving up the Caspian Sea and becoming a Cash cow for chinese junks and outdated Russian weaponary as being "independent".

Diplomatic History of the Caspian Sea: Treaties,Diaries,and Other Stories

//search.barnesandnoble.com/Diplomatic-History-of-the-Caspian-Sea/Guive-Mirfendereski/e/9780312240059

//tehranbureau.com/russia-china-irans-violent-crackdown/

Domestic enemies are the IRGC members who are selling Iran's oil privately as if it's their own property.

Iran will never be independent as long as domestic and foreign enemies treat it like a free ATM.


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vildemose

The notion that in order to

by vildemose on Sat Aug 08, 2009 12:04 PM PDT

The notion that in order to stay **independent**, we have to lose our dignity, humanity  and become slaves of criminal, unjust brutal tryants is nothing but fearmongering a la Karl Rove's playbook.

"Of course the people don't want war. But after all, it's the leaders of the country who determine the policy, and it's always a simple matter to drag the people along whether it's a democracy, a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism, and exposing the country to greater danger."
-- Herman Goering at the Nuremberg trials


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vildemose

Iran Revolution is over, the

by vildemose on Sat Aug 08, 2009 11:53 AM PDT

Iran Revolution is over, the political structure abandoned. The Supreme Leader rules with the help of a non official militia. A fascist state with no future.


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vildemose

  Roger Cohen reports

by vildemose on Sat Aug 08, 2009 11:51 AM PDT

 

Roger Cohen reports from Iran (June 16)

//www.charlierose.com/view/interview/10394

//www.nybooks.com/articles/22952

Additionally, if I had that many supporters and thought I was the winner, I would've not been afraid of re-election at the expense of losing all legitimacy in the eyes of world and Iranians.

Shameful propaganda piece, indeed. 

 


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vildemose

I also highly doubt your

by vildemose on Sat Aug 08, 2009 11:46 AM PDT

I also highly doubt your account of June 12.

There were many journalists, including Roger Cohen, on the scene that contradict your version of the truth.

If that was the case, the IRI would not have jailed, expelled, and arrested jouranlists and prevented them from reporting.

Khar khodti, brother.


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vildemose

Javidan: What you

by vildemose on Sat Aug 08, 2009 11:39 AM PDT

Javidan: What you understand is the fact that those who support Ahmadinejad are the ones who have their head in the trough. Dry up the trough and then see how many people will be pro-ahmadinejad. Pro-Ahmadinejad people represent the basest of the base of any society. Welfare queens and kings. Should we let the most uneducated segment of the population to determine the future of Iran?

Can you imagine if the West allowed the likes of KKK, gang members, hard-core xian Dr. Killers (anti-abortion murderers),  or other rednecks to be in charge of the future of their respective countries? Is that what Iranians aspire to?


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Abarmard

well put

by Abarmard on Fri Aug 07, 2009 12:16 PM PDT

I wished that you elaborated a bit more. Thanks for a nice article.


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Mehdi

Complex for sure

by Mehdi on Fri Aug 07, 2009 08:53 AM PDT

A lot of people used to consider the Iranian system/regime as a monolithic entity until recently. But they were wrong. A lot of people today consider this regime as an unchanging entity that does not accept any reform or imptovement. They are wrong too. There are those who talk about removing the regime but they don't realize that the regime they are talking about has in fact been going through change. The regime has already been removed! But those who want something very different, dismiss any change as insignificant and refuse to accept that there are changes taking place. The regime today is not nearly the same as the regime 30 years ago - neither are people. Everything has changed. People who are obsessed must open their eyes and see the real reality and realize that change is in fact very much possible. It is not true that there is no hope. There is lots of hope. But people need to open their eyes and stop asking for aa disasterous upheaval. What is the point of a violent regime change when we know very well that people have no clue as to what they want to replace that regime with? It is an insane action!


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