The street protests in many Iranian cities seem to have subsided and people have gone home. But the anger lingers on. As we reflect on what just happened, what it means, how it compares with the Green Movement of 2009, and what we should do now, we see that the protests were both wide (in 100 cities) and deep (various social and income groups) as compared to 2009 and its message was about the economy, corruption, freedom and liberty. The Green Movement in contrast was narrow (mainly in Tehran and a few large cities) and shallow (young, educated, middle and upper-middle class.) And the main message was “Where’s my vote?” The vote that was cast for reformers Mousavi and Karroubi, but never counted.
After a few weeks in 2009, Mousavi, Karroubi and Khatami fearing an all-out revolution sent the people home, and with the exception of a few outbursts of protests here and there about their house arrests in the past 8 years, things have been relatively quiet and twice in 2 elections, a big chunk of those protesters not only voted for Rouhani, but some killers and torturers too.
But as is customary in the Iranian culture, the blame always rests with someone else, usually a foreign power or person. In our minds, we are just innocent Mazlooms that are standing in the wind and get blown to here and there. And in 2009, it was Obama’s fault! If he had only supported the people who wanted Mousavi, Khomeini’s Prime Minister during the massacres in prisons, terrorism at home and abroad, to be the president, the Regime would’ve collapsed overnight. The same Mousavi whose campaign slogan was “A Return to Imam’s Golden Age” was now our Gorbachev. So Obama got the blame for this one as Carter got the blame for the 1979 fiasco.
Now, fast forward to 3 weeks ago, The Christmas Uprising. Trump’s inner circle was ready and as soon as the slogans came out of the protesters’ mouths, Trump, Pence, Nikki Haley were all over it. Trump was not going to be the fall guy. He sent a few tweets, blamed Obama as usual and Nikki Haley took a half-baked resolution to the UN Security Council. Well, none of that changed anything on the ground in Iran, and this time around, Trump’s name never came up! The Wisdom of the Iranian People.
So now, we are in desperate need of someone to blame, anybody. Let’s see. Obama is still vacationing, or writing a book, and being a decent guy, is totally ignoring Trump. Hillary is joyfully looking at the “Basket of Deplorables” who put Trump in the White House and now are wondering what the hell they did this for. Pelosi and Schumer are unknown to most Iranians. So who’s left?
I got it. What if we blame some of us on Iroon who could’ve borrowed material and clips from other places and with the added adjectives about the Regime, blah, blah, blah had shown our love for our people? I can see the protestors in Ezeh or Mashhad saying, “Hey guys, I just saw a blog by Faramarz on Iroon supporting us and he’s got 3 green thumbs and 5 comments. Let’s stay on the street for another week. At this pace, if he posts a few more blogs and clips and gets a few people to read them we should be able to overthrow Khamenei by MLK Day!”
Faramarz,
What comes across in your blog is the frustration we all feel. Left, right and center. Although, hardly anyone remians in center. This frustration is not limited to Iran and is going on in at least 50 plus other countries in some form. It also explains the screaming on left and right; louder and louder as more people are left to fight for crumbs.
Democracy has been a walking dead for a while and Trump’s election is just more dead walking. As was Obama’s on the left even if to a lesser extent. I personally see no difference between Obama, Bush Jr. and Trump when it comes to Iran and Iranian people, and I challenge anyone to prove otherwise with material evidence of steps and actions, rather than lip service.
This may not be directly on topic but puts a broader context on the fact that America is in global retreat and no longer the most powerful, impactful or relevant: https://www.cnbc.com/2018/01/14/the-west-has-ushered-in-a-world-order-it-does-not-like--commentary.html
Thanks for reading and commenting Shashoo. I’m not sure where many Iranians got the idea that Obama or any other US President is there to help them. He is the President of the US and his no. 1 job is to take care of the American people, then our allies and finally if there’s anything left at the bottom of the drawer, let’s be charitable to the needy and hungry around the world.
What amuses me the most though, is the juvenile suggestion that if Obama had said this or done that, the Regime would’ve collapsed. Well, Trump said this and tweeted that and all he got from the Iranians was a big burp and a loud fart!
Par for the course for a Shithole President!
Daii Jan Napoleon probably had something to do with contemporary Iranians' belief it has to be directed from London or D.C., but Iranian history and psyche works that way.
However, it is a fallacy to think slimic repubic can be done away with people power alone when it is backed and weaponized by Russia and China. It is also a true that American need not care about Iran outside of U.S. interest. But it is a fallacy also to think that's how it's done. It has repeatedly done exactly what is counter to interest of American people. In 79 for example.
Obama was making exchanges with IR for example in the midst of 2009 as he was giving lip service to protestors. Trump is too corrupt to do but damage anyway, and Bush Jr. was doing the bidding of light version of neocons advising donald duck now.
For Iran and Iranians, it is best described as Atchmaz (آچماز).
Lack of a genuine leadership in Iran coupled by refusing to take ownership/responsibility and earn it leads us to quagemire that we have been in. If Iran and Iranians want to improve their lives and country, change must come from within. Outside influence will be only looking for their own interest and not the Iranians.
Muller is making America great again.
Reject occupation, If the bar code starts with 7 29 put it back on the shelf
Buy American, say NO to Chinese madeTrump
“The time is always right to do what is right” – Martin Luther King
Faramarz jan: I blame Islam!
Islam has distorted and perverted the ideas and ideals of the Middle Eastern people for 1400 years, by the simple demand of irrational and unconditional "Surrender" (true meaning of "Islam").
When a nation surrenders its collectiver mind, its collective thought and its collective soul to any single religious idea, it has entered an inescapeable blackhole.
Sadly the Middle Eastern blackholes seem to only explode into bloody big-bangs!