Sic Semper Tyrannis

hamsade

Excellent analysis.  As far the dinosaur left is concerned, and as someone else mentioned before, the revolution to these people is like a rotten child.  They love it, regardless of what it does, or what it has done.  Also, for some of them, this was the greatest accomplishment of their lives.  They are now older and still savor the victory.  So, they can't let go.  And as Shazde pointed out on my other blog, the IRI has killed a hundred times more leftists than the Shah, but they still like it more because of this whole "imperialist" fighting delusion that they have been living since the 1960's and 1970's.   

tempest in a teapot?

i agree that the uprising/revolution in iran is more than a civil rights movement.  i see at least three major groups in the uprising against the iri regime: 1) the reformers (civil rights), 2) others who support the green movement with higher aspirations (an altogether a different form of government), and 3) those who don't want to associate themselves with the green movement who also want an iran free of theocracy.  i believe that the first group has dwindled significantly since the june elections and were never the majority to begin with.  therefore, it is a mischaracterization to label the uprising as a civil rights movement.

thanks dk for the short video that showed dabashi stating what he believes: the uprising is a civil rights movement.  he seems to me as an old inflexible dinosaur who enjoys the spotlight and will try every angle as to not contradict his earlier beliefs.

he seems to me a bill moyers wannabe as you can see through his affects and the way he introduces himself in the beginning and end of the program with mullah kadivar.  can't wait for him to use bill moyer's favorite catchphrase "tempest in a teapot" to describe the uprising in iran.

I wonder...

Thank you Benross.  I wonder where we would be had it not been for the revolution, better than today no doubt.  But things seemed pretty hopeless as I recall.  I don't recall rule of law, freedom of speech or press.  I remember corruption and poverty vividly.  I am not making a comparison with these monkeys that are raping our motherland now, I just don't think anybody was thinking about granting any of these ideals that you have mentioned.  

Veiled Prophet... Thank you for your reply.  I was not equating IRI with the 1979 revolution as they stole it from our people.        

AO

I agree with you about the 60s leftovers. They still won't admit thier approach has failed. They are like a parent with a rotten kid. They just won't admit their kid is rotten. So they make up excuses and try to put a nice face on it.

PS,

I love SamSam's idea. The post IRI Persian flag should be Darafshe Kaviani. We should pick up where Yazdgurd III left off.

Shir o Khorsheed belongs to a different era. It served honorably. Now we should go to our true flag.

Monarchy?

Sure it is possible to be anti IRI and not monarchist. I am not a monarchist although I would be willing to live with it. We could have a regular Presidential or Parlimentary system. There are many variations. One valid option is a monarchy. There are other reasonable paths available as well. 

bachenavvab

This is my speciality. Let me jump in! 

Can one be anti 1979 revolution and not be a monarchist?

Frankly this question should have been resolved 20 years ago.

Why should anyone be a monarchist if he is not? Are all people in England monarchist because they have a monarchy? You don't even need to be 'against' what people were seeking in their mind in the revolution. All you need to recognize is that the outcome of the revolution in form of the IRI constitution is illegitimate and the only legitimate constitution of Iran is the constitutional monarchy.

Now from there, once the only legitimate constitution of Iran is restored and IRI is gone, we will -as we should- proceed in an open debate about the future regime of Iran, in total freedom of expression, and we will then vote for representatives for a constituent assembly to finalize what Iranians decide for the system of their country. You will not loose any of your democratic aspirations. All you need to say is that the IRI constitution is illegitimate.

Just a quick question!

Can one be anti 1979 revolution and not be a monarchist?  (Please, none of that hind sight …..I hate the IRI, so Shah would have been better.  I mean ideologically). 

From the producers of the 1979 fiasco

comes the new attempt at B.S'ing the Iranian people into another half century of neo-theocracy.  That's how I view these 60's and 70's leftovers.  

Thanks everyone for commenting, especially my brother Samsam.  Oktaby, well put.  Great analysis.  The 1979 revolution, and the IRI is these characters' child.  They simply cannot let go if it.

Sargord:  the movement has evolved beyond Mousavi.  At this point, Mousavi is just an excuse and a titular head of the movement. At some point, he will have to either evolve with the movement, or he will be left behind.

And my avatar is a depiction of Sassanid armored cavalry, and I really don't remember where I got it from.  I think that it was from the USC's Iran studies' website, but I'm not sure. 

Nicely put AO

They will never admit they were wrong because:

- for many it is too late in life and this is proof that they betrayed their own country and people, by mistake or by malice.

-It is the end of a world view that was/is confrontational, confused and self centered at a minimum. And incestuous patriarchal at best.

These are fossils in formation.

OKtaby

This ain't JUST a civil rights movement. It's that & a lot more!

Every voice counts! Every action counts!

AO.....

thanks for your wonderful post!

as always, right on the money!

I feel in my heart that our vatan will be free from these animals very soon :) 

the source of "civil rights"

I believe the ultimate source of this characterization came not from American leftists, but recently received Iranian dissidents.

Also, to characterize the radicalization of the Green movement entirely upon the apparent radicalization of mobilized student protesters in Tehran is unrealistic. For example, take into consideration the student demo that took place at Ghazvin University on 16 Azar. Here, away from Tehran, the students remain supporters of Mousavi:

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9XrUYU1kBQ&feature...

It has yet to be seen if the radicalization of certain elements of the Green movement will serve to alienate other elements which remain more moderate. And also, whether it will serve to mobilize the pro-establishment element of the IRI, which should not be discounted.

Anonymous Observer: Your avatar, are those Parthian cavalrymen from an Osprey book illustration?

Well said

Kiaani bro, sharp eye indeed pal.

Cheers!!! 

Path of Kiaan Resurrection of True Iran Hoisting Drafshe Kaviaan //iranianidentity.blogspot.com //www.youtube.com/user/samsamsia

Does the name "Hamid Dabashi" Ring a Bell ? ;0)

Flynt Leverett & Hamid Dabashi: Iranians do not want to overthrow the Islamic Republic:

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJw7bGr6qvA

If Not more here:

SATIRE: Hamid Dabashi & George Galloway "Get me Out of Here, I'm a Celebrity"

This is a real revolution and can't be painted

Students rising knowingly, willingly and people are joining in layer by layer. This is as organic as these things get and little the various lefty's and righty's can spin that actually would matter as this movement has long since passed them. Top article Khyaboon Newspaper current  issue #56 from streets of Iran reads (an exceprt included

آن روز كه خيابان و دانشگاه به هم مي رسند

امسال كه قرار است خيابان و دانشگاه يكي

شود چگونه؟ امسال شايد حتي نيازي هم نباشد نرده ها را

بشكنيم تا خيابان را به دانشگاه آوريم. خود عازم دانشگاهِ

خيابان مي شويم. خواسته بزرگ امروز ما اين است. واي

اگر اين دو صف به هم برسد ساعت پايان نزديكتر مي

شود؟

Easily the best

Easily the best encapsulation of the reactionary left. Thank you.

I've noticed it too

I attribute it to desperation.

Thanks Anahid Jaan

for pointing out your blog.  Unfortunately I had not read it.  You're right!!!

Dear Anonymous Observer, I addressed this in my July 24 blog

Dear observer, take a look at my blog titled:

انشاالله که گربه است

//iranian.com/main/blog/anahid-hojjati-5

 In this blog dated 7/24/09, I addressed this very issue. Part of the problem is that some intellectuals 

هم از توبره می خورند , هم از آخور.

Anahid

perhaps, but the overwhelming majority of them, especially the ones who have duped the western media by passing themselves on as "Iran experts" fall into the category that I describe above.  And unfortunately, given their media exposure (like the events that they will be attending in the piece that I linked in my blog), they will have a disproportional weight in spinning the debate.  

BTW, did you notice how many times the phrase "civil rights movement" was mentioned in that piece?  First rule of propaganda: repetition, repetition, repetition.   :-)))

To Anonymous Observer:Even some in left say this is a revolution

Dear observer, who said that left says this is a civil rights movement.  Some from "the dinosaur left" are calling it a revolution and have been calling it a revolution for months.  Believe me.