Revolutionary Hopes In Iran
Tehran was really messed up. Dont let my pictures of juicy racks of lamb suggest things were hunky dory. They weren’t. The general mood of the people was depressed, bitter, cynical and agitated. Some were even hopeless and broken in spirit. But I would say most were restless for change. They are deeply, deeply ashamed of being represented by these unscrupulous, incompetent, murderous thugs who are running the country. Hence, they hopelessly dwell in their glorious past. Iranian people constantly, and I mean constantly are waxing nostalgic about the past. About how life was like during the Shah, about how their ancestors were the pioneers of ancient civilizations. How their history is storied, meaningful and essential to the human race. They must constantly remind themselves, and other people, of this history in order to emotionally and historically distinguish themselves from their current plight. Inside the confines of an Iranian house, you find every member of the family expressing these sentiments.
The conversation at lunch, or dinner is always having something to do with another disappointment, frustration or headache from the daily grind of life in Tehran. The corruption, inefficiency and general chaos of life there has worn everybody down. Grandmothers and grandfathers sport looks of deep worry and sorrow for the world they are leaving their kids and grandchildren with. Adults are solemn, carrying about their daily life with a sense of duty and resignation. Young folks are restless and oppressed the most visibly. They can’t legally have sex, drink beer, go to a concert, make music or speak freely. They graduate from college but have no job opportunities. If you are a college graduate in Iran and landed a job at a bank, you have made it big. In the U.S, if you went to college and landed a job at a bank, you did something wrong. While the young and educated in Iran are the future of the nation, many actively seek avenues out of the country. To Canada, Europe and the United States they flee for a better life. Others feel burdened under the moral weight of their situation. If they leave, Iran may suffer endlessly under the grip of the current mullahs. So there is tension. There is societal tension and tension inside of every Iranian. What I sensed in my brief month in the country was a deep resentment, on all levels of society, for the current President Ahmadinejad and the Supreme Leader. I don’t how or if the current showdowns in Libya, Egypt, Tunisia, Bahrain, Yemon, Iraq and Saudi Arabia will impact the revolutionary spirit of Iranians. But whatever the impact could be seems to have scared the shit out of the regime. They have incarcerated Mousavi, Kharroubi and their wives, which is a definite sign of panic. I hope Iran has its day soon.
Explore posts in the same categories: UncategorizedTags: green movement, iran, libya, revolution
You can comment below, or link to this permanent URL from your own site.
