Iran’s non-violent movement, Part 4

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Iran’s non-violent movement, Part 4
by Anonymouse
13-Jul-2009
 

Photo caption:  This picture was taken couple of days before election day and the man is swiping the woman’s slogan and broke it loose out of one of her hands.  I was in a cab and took the picture as he swiped her slogan, notice her smirk.

This picture was taken at the day Mousavi’s supporters gathered to form a human chain from Tajrish (North Tehran) to Rah Ahan (South Tehran) along Vali Asr (previously Pahlavi) street.  I think it is about 40 miles?  It wasn’t like a human chain north-south, it was more like people at every intersection forming human chains and there were many of them and traffic was halted throughout Tehran.

Also notice the green scarves which no one would ever get caught dead wearing them!  Don’t forget the green is the green-blooded Seyed’s green and not some other kind of green ;-)

The fifth debate was between Karoubi and Mousavi. 

This debate was between 2 reformists and both candidates were very cordial to each other.  Since they didn’t want to debate one another Mousavi stressed the word “lie” several times that has been told to people, “sheer lies” he said.  He then showed his charts showing 24% inflation and other charts discrediting Ahmadi’s claims and charts.

After a while, that moron of a moderator with his dumb ass look informed Mousavi (fearfully) that he is talking about a candidate who is not present and due to debate rules if you keep talking about him that candidate has the right to respond on his own.  Mousavi ignored and when the moderator warned him a second time he jumped at him screaming why are you defending him and the moderator cowered back like a scared turtle that hey I’m only warning you, the rest is up to you.

The defining moment of this debate was the single question Karoubi had for Mousavi, one question the entire debate and he waited until the end to ask it.  He said we all like Mousavi but I want to ask him if “they” come and close the university and beat the students, are you going to stay around and voice your objection?  Mousavi smiled and tried to brush the question and Karoubi said, no sir I ask again I want to know “hasti? Mimooni?” will you stay and fight?  Finally Mousavi said yes he’ll stay and fight and that question and answer became the fate of this movement about whether or not Mousavi is staying.  Time will tell.

The slogan of “doroogh mamnooeh” (no lying) were printed and used widely the following days.  I gave this debate a tie but since Ahmadi scored a 19 minute last word after the debates, I gave this one to Ahmadi too.  Morons!

The sixth debate was between Rezaei and Ahmadi.  This one started when these two conservative candidates were cajoling to each other at first.  Rezaei saying he doesn’t want to attack like other candidates and Ahmadi saying he’ll respond to attacks from the “other candidates” in the time allotted to him by the debate rules.

Towards the end Ahmadi was so full of his performance in the debates that he even gave some of his time away and asked Rezaei to explain how he has any experience in running the country.

Rezaei started by once again referencing his subject of section 144 of the constitution.  Surprisingly he was more clear this time and added the subject of separating the powers of Federal and State Govts and gave an example of this Govt goes to a remote town to tell its people how to dig a simple water irrigation (joob) which I thought was very appropriate.

Rezaei also went on to have charts of his own objecting to how Ahmadi had manipulated the numbers to which Ahmadi had to agree with and explain his charts in the earlier debates had some ‘fine prints’ in them to some extent. 

One problem with Rezaei’s charts was that he was holding the charts half-hazardly and shyingly, like a shy 5th grader reciting a poem in front of the whole class, so much so that our dumb ass moderator had to step in and say Mr. Rezaei hold it up!  but to no avail, Rezaei’s charts were never held up properly for the cameras and people.

Rezaei had couple of good points (like Karoubi’s question to Mousavi of will you stay and fight) with deeper meaning and became more important after the election.  Rezaei said he is against the culture of creating poor and giving handouts.  This is beneath our people. 

His second point was as much as he wishes Ahmadi’s Govt success because he represents the Islamic Republic, he can not help but have this worry and criticism of him about thinking he is the one who has done everything alone and must be rewarded for it. 

He used the example that many of the things Ahmadi is boasting were started in previous regimes and furthermore he is not even using the nokhbeha (educated youth) as much as he should.  To which Ahmadi responded his ministers are the best!  To which Rezaei responded, I’m not talking about your ministers, I’m talking about the legions of college graduates which your Govt has not found them employment, one reason being the culture of hand-outs that you’re so fond of.

Oh and one more important item Rezaei brought up was to respond to one of Ahmadi’s charts and claims about production growth under his Govt.  He said these are diluted results because the production Ahmadi is referring to is the only choice people have in selecting products.  For example Govt forces people living in rural areas to buy Iranian made hot water heaters and count them towards an increase in production while some of these hot water heaters are lemons and junk which forces people to buy more and thus yet another increase in “production”.  Ahmadi did not respond to this criticism and moved on to another issue.

Despite his initial stated intention of staying above the fray, Rezaei could not help but to end up ridiculing Ahmadi because he wouldn’t quit being a jackass and throwing accusations around.

I gave this debate a tie with slight edge to Rezaei because he stood his ground and did not give in and made some good points.

The last part of the debates was Ahmadi’s 19 minute rebuttal which he used to squarely wash Mousavi off his plate.  Another mistake by Mousavi and Karoubi was not to use the 70 and 90 seconds that were allotted to them as welll.  Even though this was only few seconds it was enough for a politician to make use of.

Which politician do you know who can not use 90 seconds? Mousavi and Karoubi like other Iranians have a lot of naaz (they are spoiled).  Come on guys, there is a lot you could’ve said in those precious closing seconds, come off your high horses, but nooooo it is beneath them!

Anyway, debates came to conclusion and overall I thought Ahmadi won them technically but embarrassed himself and lost on the issues.  There were so many jokes, so many, about the things he had said in the debates.  Text messages carrying jokes were buzzing those days. 

After each debate I’d talk to my family and friends and highlight what I saw based on my American observation of having watched several presidential TV debates.  I felt towards the end they understood me.  At the end of Ahmadi’s debates they’d say; nakheir (nope) doesn’t look  his roo (arrogance) has been any lowered.  I tried to explain to them these debates are no place to be “nice”. 

I am not suggesting people had the same interpretations as me.  In fact, later I found quite the opposite that people were looking for different things and many thought Ahmadi had come on too strong, this even among his own supporters who’d give this point to their opponents.  Since this was the first open debates and people’s first experience, it is probably safe to say that it only strengthened each candidate’s position among their own supporters. 

I don’t think these debates swayed people around, not much anyway, but it certainly galvanized the campaigns and brought people to streets asking for more.  As a result of these debates people’s expectations were increased.  The flood gates were open and a big part of regime’s culture of no; don’t do this, don’t do that, no to this and no to that, was broken.

To be continued …

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alimostofi

As if by magic something

by alimostofi on

As if by magic something rather strange happened just now. A little earlier in the thread, someone had mentioned something about the comment I had made about Avesta and Rig Veda. I left it unanswered.Life is strange, and spiritualists like me find coincidence always interferes and helps me along. Well it just so happened that I came across this video:

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ptaDb1j4Dg&fulldescription=1&client=mv-google&gl=GB&hl=en-GB 

Enjoy.

Ali Mostofi

//www.alimostofi.com

 


alimostofi

I am afraid that am I

by alimostofi on

I am afraid that am I neither pro or anti-Islamic. I do have a higher moral order in mind. We cannot have the system that is dictating Iranians to be slaves. I will not fight them with guns but with higher principles based on peace. These people are not in charge of Iranians. They just have guns. They might as well be aliens.

Ali Mostofi

//www.alimostofi.com

 


IRANdokht

Dear Mr Mostofi

by IRANdokht on

khaneh az pay bast viran ast... you're worried about capital punishment?

There are countries in the west with years of functioning democracy that are still debating the capital punishment issue. 

Maybe this is why your 30 years of writings have not gotten anyone anywhere. Please focus on the task at hand before branching out into the legal changes you want to see including capital punishment. As much as I am against capital punishment myself, I don't think now it's the right time to change focus.

People in Iran are trying to take it one step at a time, fighting with the same language and same tactics that  are familiar to the other group, making sure that they are not being labeled anti-islam or mortad or kafar, not giving them any excuses.

They don't need some out of touch Iranians throw in their anti-islamic slogans and risk this people's lives more than they are now.

IRANdokht


alimostofi

They all accept the IR as

by alimostofi on

They all accept the IR as legit for Iran.  We Iranians cannot have capital punishment for any reason; be that reason religious or otherwise. 

 

Ali Mostofi

//www.alimostofi.com

 


Anonymouse

Mr. Mostofi how do

by Anonymouse on

Mr. Mostofi how do you know "they" put Islam before Iran?  There was no violence in Iran pre-Islam? If so why the need for non-"violence"? And don't tell me it was in response to Islam. Besides why be stingy and ask "them" for IDs?  

By the way, you did not say what your avatar say? 

Everything is sacred.


alimostofi

They all put Islam above

by alimostofi on

They all put Islam above Iran.  Islam condones capital punishment, and non-violence does not.  Moreover non-violence links to pre-Islamic Iranian philosophies, and is deeply buried in our culture.  Simple.

 

Ali Mostofi

//www.alimostofi.com

 


Anonymouse

The current

by Anonymouse on

The current leadership of this green movement are namely Mousavi, Khatami and Karoubi.  You can add to them people like Shirin Ebadi and other student and women movements leader who are not as much recognizable.  I think recently the late Beheshti's son has joined the frey too.

The strategy of all of the above has always been to demand rule of law and equal protection under the law.  This is not new and I am not making it up.  It has been like this from the beginning of the revolution.  Now this demand is gaining momentum and in the forefront more than ever.  What else do think they are saying or asking for? 

Everything is sacred.


alimostofi

It is wrong to leave our

by alimostofi on

It is wrong to leave our destiny in the hands of others. When we show our peaceful unity by acting in union then we have confirmation that we are together. This is why I insist on next Wednesday. We have to show the world that we can stay at home in the name of peace and non-violence. That will get the attention of all who want to bring violence on true Iranians that put Iran above everything.

Ali Mostofi

//www.alimostofi.com

 


Mehrban

You are not serious?!

by Mehrban on

If we don't like the fact that the leadership has no strategy,  it does not mean that we should redefine terms such as strategy and goal and cast them as the same.  Enough said on my part.

 


Anonymouse

Goal and strategy are

by Anonymouse on

Goal and strategy are the same :-) You use various tactics to get there. We're not going to see rule of law and equal protection any time soon but imagine when that happens.  It is ultimately achieveable and I believe that is what they are fighting for.

Everything is sacred.


Mehrban

Anonymouse

by Mehrban on

Rule of law is a goal.  Theoretically, you need a strategy to get there.  Thanks for your prompt responses.


Anonymouse

Mehraban after the

by Anonymouse on

Mehraban after the election day Khatami and Mousavi didn't "ask" people to come to the steets.  People came to the streets impromptu and they supported them and said they have the right to be there.  They especially didn't ask people to come to streets after things got more violent.

People come to streets by their own consent.  There is no plan.  News to gather somewhere travels mouth to mouth.  Some burned motorcycles and buses and many didn't approve.

The strategy is implementing the rule of law and equal protection under the law.  

Everything is sacred.


Mehrban

Yes, Khatami, Sazegara, I am not sure if directly but Mousavi.

by Mehrban on

Without a strategy they still call people to the streets.  What is their strategy? 


Anonymouse

Mehraban who is

by Anonymouse on

Mehraban who is asking people to come to the streets?  Have you heard anyone by name make any announcement?   

Everything is sacred.


Mehrban

May I?

by Mehrban on

I think, If I may (while being with the program) that asking people to come to the street while the Basigi's have orders of shoot to kill is at best irresponsible.  Forgive me for stretching this further than it may (?) need to go.  

If anyone has an idea, regardless of inside or outside of Iran they should speak up. 


IRANdokht

afarin!

by IRANdokht on

"now they're trying their approach.
So let's get with the program. Their program. They don't need to listen to our solutions. We need to listen to their's ;-) "

 

very well said!!!

IRANdokht


Anonymouse

Ey baba

by Anonymouse on

Mr. Mostofi I swear to god (that neither of us believe in) and on my grandparents' grave (that I believe in) that bringing "down" this regime is not "easy".

I think you may have had one too many drinks tonight.  What time is it in UK? I'll mention general strike tomorrow in my final blog and we can take it there if you like.  Nothing will happen on July 22nd, nothing of value, this line and this pointer ;-)

I will try to make it easy for you, as a friend. Take all that you've written in the past 30 years and flush it down the toilet.  They once said American economy is so and so and then they flushed it down the toilet.  Now your solutions can't be any better than American economy, can it? So nothing personal.

As I said in my Hola Amigos blog, this is their time and their movement.  They've listened to everything you and I and others had to say and flushed it down the toilet and now they're trying their approach.

So let's get with the program.  Their program. They don't need to listen to our solutions.  We need to listen to their's ;-)

Everything is sacred


alimostofi

What the people of Iran

by alimostofi on

What the people of Iran should do is this.  I am not the ruler of Iran, but I can say that there are no Astrologers in or out of Iran, that I know of who would disagree with what I am about to say.  We all agree that this is the best strategy.

If you are a leader of Iran, and you can trust in Astrology, then you will feel a shiver up your spine when I tell you that next Wednesday the 22nd of July is a very important Eclipse, that will be a perfect setting for a major new action.

What I want the people of Iran do to, is to talk as much as they can about the 22nd and get the regime to think about what it can do if no one went to work.

Oh I know it easy for me to say this.  I am a taghooti in UK and not suffering.  Oh I know that people's livelyhood depends on whether they get sacked for not going to work.  Well that boss of yours should shut up shop.  If he does not, then he is with the mullahs.  The people should not shop either.  The whole country should stay at home.  That way the silence in the streets will shatter the mullahs belief that people listen to them.

People do not listen to you mullah.  22nd of July will the darkest, the most silent Wednesday ever in the history of Iran.

Shut down everything in the name of Peace.  Once we can do this, then do it every Wednesday, and watch it gather support.  This is the first step.

If I see with my eyes that the people of Iran are listening to me, and the mullahs representatives come here and debate, then I will destroy each one of them in a decent civilized discussion.  Our power against their bullets and clubs is absention.  They cannot drag us out to make bread or supply electricity or oil to them.  They are finished.

We Iranians rule Iran, not the mullah.  We put Iran first above everything else. 

As Mansour would say Jashne Setareh has started.  We will get rid of these monsters with joy and laughter.

Ali Mostofi

//www.alimostofi.com

 


alimostofi

I have written at great

by alimostofi on

I have written at great lengths for the past thirty years, what the strategy should be. In those days we did not have the internet, and when forums started we had ones that crashed all the time. Iranian.com did not exist.

We have come a long way to get around the likes of BBC and the like who control the world media. To me that is where the most important component of awareness lies. If the media decided right now to raise the Iranian awareness they can do it in a week or less, and get rid of the regime in Iran.

The Seyyed/Theocratic regime in Iran has no public support. It may run and protect the machinery of state it has effectively hijacked from the people of Iran, but it is isolated in what it wants to do. The people of Iran who put Iranian culture of Nowruz first and foremost, have effectively ignored them.

The regime in Iran can be toppled if the right questions are asked. The questions to ask the regime are simple. "What would you do in the face of a peaceful non-violent general strike by the people of Iran?". Such a question would bring some reality to the violence beget violence mindset currently prevailing in the world media.

Think of the possible answers the Seyyed/Theocrats can give. You will realise that any answer would make them look weak. So there is a way to show their weakness. The media could easily lead a campaign to show the weakness that the regime has against a non-violent national strike.

Now we ask ourselves, why are we where we are? The answer to that question is simple. The US needs to have an enemy in the area in the wake of collapse of the USSR. No one in the world right now has the agenda of the Seyyed/Theocrats and their dogma. It has been around for 1400 years and they are just warming up. They make the perfect enemy.

The other reason for having these people in Iran, is that Iran can be an economic giant with its vast human and natural resources. The Shahanshah was encouraged to purchase far too much military equipment as a proxy for US defense then, and when he refused to engage Saddam and buy more arms, Khomeini was brought in and he accomplished just what the US wanted and we are where we are now.

If Iran, and the whole of Western Asia was allowed to grow without too much going into useless capital intensive projects like nuclear equipment, then Iran's goods and services would be far too much competition for the existing industries around the world. This area of the world is well known for being the cradle of civilization and its ancient history and glory will reaasert far too much pride for the existing situation.

It is then best to keep the people of Iran well and truly under a dire warmongering regime that stifles any growth in any area outside the military industries and so keep Iran at bay. The last thing they want is another Japan or Korea in West Asia.

Ali Mostofi

//www.alimostofi.com

 


Anonymouse

Strategy

by Anonymouse on

It is awe inspiring and we're all more or less speechless.  The strategy is to have rule of law, plain and simple.  I believe this has been the dream of Iranian people after the revolution.  They are tired of ruthless vigilantes.

It is like in US when some would lynch or otherwise kill blacks and get away with it.  MLK and the civil rights movement fought for equal protection of law. 

Everything is sacred.


Mehrban

On this topic I am so hesitant to have an opinion

by Mehrban on

What the people in Iran have done is so awe inspiring that I am too humbled to express an opinion freely as I usually can.  You have used the word that whirls in my mind as well "Tactic" .   I can see the Tactics but not the strategy, there, I have said it.   I already feel guilty! 

For whatever its worth, of course the people of Iran have my support in whatever they choose to do to make their situation better. 


Anonymouse

Other means of non-violence

by Anonymouse on

Mehraban I really understand the worry that we all have for those protesting.  When we call home on phone what is it that we all say?  "Be careful".  Mind you we say this to our old parents who in return tell us they don't have the leg to go out much less protest :-)

Imagine the worry of those who are there or have children in their 20s or 30s.  That worry is another subject for another blog all by itself.  Many forbid their kids to even go out and play much less participate in street protests.

Now we are not giving any particular advice or encourage them to protest more or in any specific way.  We are just supporting them.  Whatever tactic they choose has our support, for the most part.  I can tell you they want a non-violent movement to air their concerns.  They know other methods will only lead to more bloodshed and no one will even know about their concerns.

There are not that many kinds of non-violence movements.  The word is clear enough.  Astrology or meditating or yoga while non-violent, don't do much in terms of moving a peace movement.  They are good for relaxing but not for political purposes.

Many of the things we hear such as setting up a defense fund, making a list of those who are arrested, resisting the attempt to hide this under the rug, etc. are all tactics that are effective and keeps the regime in check.  Trying to set up legal street rallies or setting up more political parties or newspapers are all non-violent tactics.

It really takes some courage to go and confront the riot police and basijis in full gear.  Not everyone can do it but many watch from aside and unfortunately as we've seen that is dangerous too but so is living under a dictatorship.  You never know when your number is up.

Everything is sacred.


Mehrban

Dear Anonymouse

by Mehrban on

Thanks for your response.  I am for the most part on board with what you say. But I am thinking that this non violent approach is new for us Iranians and if someone comes along and says he/she may have a different non violent way I would like to listen.  I was hopeing that Mr. Mostofi would come back and describe how his approach would be applicable to the present situation in Iran.  

I am concerned about the safety of the demonstrators (among many other things) in the present situation, as I am sure we all are.   

 


Anonymouse

Mehraban we have not

by Anonymouse on

Mehraban we have not totally figured this out yet.  These protests are sporadic but they are wide spread and all have the same common value and unity in protesting the injustice.  It is a first since 1979.  It is like chickens coming home to roost.  The so called Islamic generation that this regime wanted people in those days to procreate as much as possible are now coming of age and want their rights.  Khalkhali is dead and can no longer execute people en masse.

Of course there is something bizzare about Govt using brutal and deadly force against people who come to the streets to protest peacefully. In fact some of the signs protesters are handling talk about freedom of assembly in the constitution which regime does not care to implement.

Regime wants nothing more than to face armed militia so they can start a killing spree.  Did you hear about some in Pasdaran saying they're ready to die to crush this uprising?  In this very movement they're using these fires and burnings as destruction of property by hooligans and so forth.  In one occasion I referred to the early burnings as "riots" and my family jumped at me like crazy.  I soon apologized and said I meant just the burnings and not the protests.

Mousavi and his supporters want to be able to assemble like prior to election. They want a true accounting.  They want to know who is killing people and why and bring them to justice.  These are their non-violent requests and the majority are protesting without burning anything.  They just defy Govt's orders to stop their legal and justified demands.

The link that Mr. Mostofi provided all talk about non-violent means in response to violence which is real like our Iran today. 

Now I don't know which other non-violent means Mr. Mostofi is specifically refering to.  I say let's use them all.  My criticism of Mr. Mostofi is his allergy to Seyeds!  This is nothing personal but it is like my uncle's "allergy" to eating eggplants.  As kids everytime we had eggplant stew we'd mention it to our uncle and laughed it up when he cringed.  As mature men we still do it and he still plays along ;-) 

Everything is sacred.


Mehrban

Let's think about this......

by Mehrban on

I am in solidarity with the Iranian people in their green choice but when you think about it there is something bizzare about asking people to repeatedly come out unarmed to the streets when the Basigis are ready to gun them down.  I think Mr. Mostofi is not totally wrong.  I would like to know more about other non violent means, maybe they will be more effective. 

It is not like we have figured this out yet, at least not to my knowledge. 


Anonymouse

Thanks for the link

by Anonymouse on

Mr. Mostofi thanks for the link, they are interesting quotes.  They more or less acknowledge the violence of their regimes and choose the non-violent path as their method.

Although not exactly a regime I like this one from Mohandas (like Mousavi :-) Gandi

I first learned the concepts of non-violence in my marriage.

LOL!

Everything is sacred.


alimostofi

And finally please click on

by alimostofi on

And finally please click on this link and learn what you can:

//www.wisdomquotes.com/cat_nonviolence.html

With respect to you all. Peace.

Ali Mostofi

//www.alimostofi.com

 


alimostofi

I really do not want to

by alimostofi on

I really do not want to repeat myself like you all have. My position is clear, and you do not have to agree to it. You have free will. Live and Let Live.

Ali Mostofi

//www.alimostofi.com

 


Majid

THANQ

by Majid on

Well said Q


Q

Mostofi, here's some hard truth someone needs to tell you

by Q on

Even in a utopian perfect democracy, any Iranian who espouses your views couldn't get elected dog catcher of Ghazvin.

Those Iranians who believe in Islam would not appreciate your insulting slanders. At the same time secular and modern Iranians would not appreciate your politically incorrect stereotyping and divisive description of Iran's religious citizens.

So, that's why your views are best suited for small minorities who will never get anywhere in Iranian politics.