The Beautiful Revolution?

Jahanshah Javid
by Jahanshah Javid
24-Sep-2009
 

I wish I was in New York too, protesting against Ahmadinejad and everything he represents. I could have been taking pictures and reporting on a very special occasion. How often do we have revolutions? I missed the one in 1979 because I was in high school in the U.S. This time I'm stuck with organizing a music concert at a venue that was booked three months ago. You should see how I organize concerts... I'll tell you after the concert!

In any case, watching from a very far distance (thanks to YouTube) at what's gone on in Iran in recent months and Ahmadinejad's embarrassing trip to New York (what does it feel like to be so disliked, to put it mildly?), I'm convinced we have turned the corner towards democracy. The Islamic Republic is an empty shell guarded by shameless liars and mad dogs. It's only a matter of time before it disappears through a combination of self-destructive policies and a kick in the ass from angry, disillusioned people. LOTS of people.

What I like about the movement today compared to 1979, is that there is a greater degree of tolerance, if that's the right word. It is just the beginning when opposition groups and personalities temporarily set aside (some of their) differences and unite (or separately focus) against a common enemy: a 30-year-old rotten theocracy. That may be so but in general it seems this movement is indeed "makhmalee" -- it's soft and velvety. It's almost as flowery as the 1960s peace and love movement against a militaristic America. There's a clear, almost deliberate effort by most protesters to remain non-violent, even in the face of a very brutal regime.

So far so good. Gandhi would be pleased.

But what about the future? The longer the regime holds on to power with ruthless violence, there's a greater chance violence could become a means of retaliation against the regime. We may be heading that way. And there's nothing green about blood and destruction.

Balatarin
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more from Jahanshah Javid
 
Farah Rusta

Islam cannot be defeatd but can be contained

by Farah Rusta on Sat Sep 26, 2009 05:09 PM PDT

You cannot defeat a faith but you can manage it to your advantage. Sadly there has been bloodshed beyond the levels of tolerance by velvet and satin revolutions. blood begets blood.

 

FR


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Fouzul Bashi

JJ - means MAKE the end!

by Fouzul Bashi on Sat Sep 26, 2009 11:11 AM PDT

"if the opponents of the regime also kill, hang, destroy, purge (life, fabricate?) and ... just like the regime you are trying to overthrow, then what's the point of exercising tyranny to end tyranny?" 

ghorboon-e dahanet baraadar ... 

 


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Fatollah

yes indeed

by Fatollah on Sat Sep 26, 2009 04:55 AM PDT

why media in the West doesn't cover the extent of protests ?

p/s funny how 50-70 iranians or none iranians demonstrating and protesting against the Shah while visiting a European capital was big news back then! 

-F 


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Asghar_Massombagi

Fatal attraction

by Asghar_Massombagi on Fri Sep 25, 2009 08:31 AM PDT

JJ, with all due respect, you have a case of fatal attraction to populism.  It drugged your perception 30 years ago and you seem to be getting high on it again.  Sobriety my friend.  Every movement needs high ideals but with eyes wide open.


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default

do ends justify the

by ahosseini on Fri Sep 25, 2009 06:22 AM PDT

do ends justify the means?Certainly not. Mojahedin tried and failed but Gandi won.Tactics like turning religous ceremonies like day of ghods, ashoura, ... against the regime, and other tactics of civil disobediance works very well.

Please see the following poem

با صلاح صلح می آئیم به جنگ


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default

Dear JJ

by ahosseini on Fri Sep 25, 2009 06:04 AM PDT

Dear JJ

In line with what you are suggesting I wrote the following poem

 گر رسم شود که مست گیرند 
It was well received by the site visitors.I genuinely believe we should put our differences aside and unite against the most barbaric regime in the world. However, for the vast majority of the participants in London, it is frustrating to see that vote rigging, the political unrest, the torture and imprisonment, the rape, .. have become secondary to domination and sectarian rule by a coalition of religious reformists and supporters of Todah party and Aksariat. They do not allow anyone to  the organising  committee unless they blindly follow their rules. For example Hadi Khorsandi came to read hi poems, they humiliated him away from the demonstration and there were other well known figures who are being rejected too. The slogans are very annoying(ya Hossein mir hossein, ....). We are not in favour of breaking the unity but at the same time do not accept the domination of any political group either. We just want a popular movement for democratic rights that would include all those who are seriously against the most horrible regime in the world. The secular participants who are in vast majority do not accept the sectarian rule of a tiny minority here in London. This goes against the whole principle of the democratic movement. This has become a serious problem here in London. I have expressed my frustration in the following poem.
 جنبش سبز ما چیست 

I would like to hear viewers comments on these words.

 


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Darius Kadivar

It Sure Is ;0)

by Darius Kadivar on Thu Sep 24, 2009 11:56 PM PDT

ENGHELABEH SHAHBANOU VA MARDOM ! ... LOL

Meet You at the Next IRanian.com Concert in All Iranian Cities and especially Shiraz Our Future Cultural Capital of Iran ;0))))

The Beatles - Revolution (Live)

Cheers Comrad !

D


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cyclicforward

The truth is

by cyclicforward on Thu Sep 24, 2009 09:44 PM PDT

 

If we want to get rid of this monster, we have to pay and it will be costly and extremely painful. Don't hang your hopes on anything less than a horrendous and difficult transition. Look at Germany and Japan and what priced they paid during second war. We will not be an exception. This tyranny will not disappear peacefully.


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Bahram G

Hope, hope, and more hope

by Bahram G on Thu Sep 24, 2009 08:45 PM PDT

Dear JJ,

"Hope is a fun traveling companion, but a poor guide," someone has said. I relish that you are hopeful and you hang your hope on the idea that things will change without more violence and bloodshed. I pray for that. Yet tyranny of the type presently ruling Iran with some 20 million followers is not likely to peacefully pack and go away. I would love to share your optimistic view. Yet, reality seems to point to a great deal more suffering for our beloved Iran and those who are still under the yoke of the mullahs.

Bahram G


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Khar

Wolek Jahanshah

by Khar on Thu Sep 24, 2009 08:33 PM PDT

The Beauty of the Green Movement is in its complexity, its people and the fact that it is not fitting any pre set molds or idiology.  I wish I was there too! Sabz Bashi Aziz. 


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Shazde Asdola Mirza

A Freudian slip? "... and a kiss in the ass ..." LOL

by Shazde Asdola Mirza on Thu Sep 24, 2009 07:03 PM PDT

JJ dear:

I think you meant a KICK in the ass ... LOL


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Jahanshah Javid

No, people will not forget

by Jahanshah Javid on Thu Sep 24, 2009 05:41 PM PDT

And the IRI will not disappear easily. But if the opponents of the regime also kill, hang, destroy, purge (life, fabricate?) and ... just like the regime you are trying to overthrow, then what's the point of exercising tyranny to end tyranny? Or do ends justify the means?


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cyclicforward

JJ

by cyclicforward on Thu Sep 24, 2009 05:33 PM PDT

Do you really think after all that has happened during the last thirty years, people will forget. Do you think this government will let a peaceful transition to take place? I don't think so. This is going to be a bloddy battle and it is going to get a lot more violent. The IRI will simply won't disappear that easily.


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