پاسخ به مشت محکم رژیم

پاسخ به مشت محکم رژیم
by Ari Siletz
18-Feb-2011
 

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more from Ari Siletz
 
vildemose

""One of the most insidious

by vildemose on

""One of the most insidious aspects of life under despotism is that it can create an existential ennui among the subject, a barely conscious layer of hopelessness and helplessness, which then becomes a tacit participation in allowing the despotism to continue. To Franz Fanon, a rebirth of consciousness was necessary, a violent reawakening to the basic rights and responsibilities that are every human being's birthright. That decades of seemingly thuggish stability could be blasted apart so quickly in Egypt speaks to the fragility of that consciousness of suppression. Fanon spoke to a different era, for in these events we see that no existential cataclysm was required. It took but a whisper, a breath, a candle flame, and a people thought to have been completely denuded of will exploded into such full possession of their own unique ability to create their own history that it's clear they had never lost it. It wasn't even dormant, it was lying latent, just barely beneath the surface, where the merest hint of possibility resonates and concatenates. This is a warning. This is the future. This is a reminder of the strength of the human spirit.""

Pacifism ultimately is not free of moral responsibility for the results of violence, IMO. In a perfect world, perhaps - but not in the world we live in.

Fundamentalism of all stripes is a toxic mode of thinking, but Shia fundamentalism a la Iran is particularly vicious.

"The tank shall not win over the human spirit."


Azadeh Azad

Re: Slipping ino violence

by Azadeh Azad on

Yes, and knowing the hardliners' mentality and the percentage of the people they have brainwashed in 32 years, I foresee nothing but civil war. Within one day, the arms dealers, already in the region, are going to arm people. This is far from what I wish, but I do intuit civil war and that's extremely disturbing to me.

Your cartoon is capturing the momentum, Ari. Thanks.

Azadeh


G. Rahmanian

A Good One, Ari!

by G. Rahmanian on

People want democracy and that's what they've been asking for all along. Khomeini lied to Iranians. The regime of coup d'état has no intention of giving up its grip on power. Iranians opposing the regime don't want to kill that's why they come to the streets unarmed. It's the regime which has declared war on people and not vice versa. As others have pointed out, at some stage in their struggle for democracy, people may find it necessary to choose options other than peaceful protests. The regime scared to death of people sees their simple protests as a declaration of war, thus it uses everything in its power to suppress them. The regime claims to be democratic. In a democracy people have the right to organize and protest.


Veiled Prophet of Khorasan

Divaneh Jan

by Veiled Prophet of Khorasan on

 

Thank you for your post it makes sense. While Bakhtiar is a long time ago the lesson is valid. In fact it is critical that we learn from it. 

It is a tough call to decide to trust someone. The nation clealy made the wrong choice in 1979. If IRR goes how do people make the "right" choice this time? I agree that the opportunists are suddenly going to turn as "Green" as it gets. Yes some will be a part of the IRR gang; there will also be other opportunists. I really think the kind of government we get is very dependent on who the next leader is.

Nations that made a democratic transition had good leaders. Gandhi and Mandela were good people. Iran was unfortunate to pick and evil liar. If Khomeini had kept his promises IR would not be nearly as brutal. He was supposed to move to Qum and keep out of politics. He was supposed to be for democracy! He lied. Next time better make sure we trust someone who is genuine and good. That is where I think history has to be our guide.

VPK


divaneh

Dear VPK

by divaneh on

I agree with you and that last revolution was won when Bakhtiar was made the PM, but I think there was too much mistrust in the Shah's regime too. Should he have made that appointment a few years earlier it would have been different. That is all water under the bridge now; we just have to take our lesson and don't let it happen again.

Like you I fear the never learning theologians and more than them the opportunists. The very same people who are killing our youth will try to place themselves in the front line of the revolutionaries once the game is over and will be greener than anyone else. We should not let that happen under any circumstances.

Kooshan

I am very sorry to say this, but you don't come across as genuine and honest.


Bavafa

"surrender is not the same

by Bavafa on

"surrender is not the same thing as peace; surrender is simply leaving the war for our children to fight"

Excellent comment/point and I whole heartedly believe that this is one of the best chances the people of ME, specailly Iranians have had in a very long time.

Mehrdad


Ari Siletz

Kooshan, the time for action is now!

by Ari Siletz on

The momentum of protests across the region in several countries makes this the right weather for ending dictatorial regimes. This is planting season for freedom across the region and it makes no sense to put up with another seasonal cycle of repression for our next attempt.  The least common denominater (LCD) Green demands were tiny to begin with; nominally the LCD platform didn't even include regime change. There was no justification for the regime to cheat the nation out of the tiny bit of democratic breathing room we had in the elections. There was no justification to maim and kill peaceful demonstrators just for asking where their votes went.  There was no justificatin for the regime bringing out the hangman's rope when you asked the law to mediate. The regime is calling you a traitor. The regime wants to get rid of you. The regime has declared open war on you simply because you dared exercise your right to assemble.

 

Once war is declared, the are only two options: surrender or fight. Didn't think it will come to this? That was a hope all we all had. We are all sorry that it didn't go that way. But it's time to make your choice: raise your hackles, bare your teeth and growl or roll over, whimper and lick. Just keep in mind, surrender is not the same thing as peace; surrender is simply leaving the war for our children to fight.   

 


Mardom Mazloom

Kooshan!

by Mardom Mazloom on

Are you kidding?

You didn't except that 85% of Iranians would come peacfully and get killed since one year in the streets, and will stay peacful!

What do you mean? You are saying that in the last year protests. When people came peacfully; you were with them? And now, you aren't anymore, because people got angry!?

 


Veiled Prophet of Khorasan

Kooshan

by Veiled Prophet of Khorasan on

 

You do not sound like you ever wanted or want change. You are not silent; rather very vocal. And a minority of one!


Kooshan

Violence lost my hope in Green!

by Kooshan on

I totally agree with JJ, Ari;

There is a major err in your ratinale: "THE BIGGER THE CROWD THE LOWER THE CASUALTIES"

Perhaps you mean relatively? For me one kill is too much whether it is 1 in 1000 or 100 in a million! 

I guarrantee Promoting violence will and is isolating Green. Green is being hijacked by the militia entity which was not part of the original plight. 

I'm the voice of Silent Majority.


Veiled Prophet of Khorasan

Dear Divaneh

by Veiled Prophet of Khorasan on

 

I know that Shah was a dictator; but it was reformable. Bakhtiar was going to do it. The Shah was dying and RP would have likely been a ceremonial king. But the anger and hate of JM left over from the days of Mossadegh blinded them. Now there is no choice. There is one path and that is forced removal of IR. You may be right about the rule of law. There must be a rule of law and justice.

A big opponent of it are the "Islamic" academics.I guarantee you; when IR is gone they will crawl out of the woodworks. They will preach yet another Islamic republic. The response should be "No" !


divaneh

Dear VPK

by divaneh on

Those who deposed the Shah were seeking a free and democratic Iran. Let's not assume that Iran in the time of the Shah was a liberated country which experienced freedom of expression. Of course it was not as bad as this evil, but there were thieves then and there are thieves now. They will change clothes once this regime is sent to the dustbin of history. Unfortunately it seems that every Iranian generation is condemned to loosing lives in a revolution until the day that we have the rule of just law in Iran. A law that leaves no room for thievery.


Veiled Prophet of Khorasan

Divaneh

by Veiled Prophet of Khorasan on

Unfortunately Iranian liberation movement has some hard times to come.

All of which would have been avoided if the idioti 1979 "revolution" had not happened. Every single death by IR is a direct responsibility of those who deposed the Shah.


divaneh

So true

by divaneh on

Thanks Ari for another great cartoon. I agree that there is no way with this regime but violence. If the movement does not intensify its campaign and does not fight the regime on the street, they will kill even a greater number of the arrested and prisoners. Unfortunately Iranian liberation movement has some hard times to come.


Darius Kadivar

Surprised ? ;0)

by Darius Kadivar on


excalibur trailer

Ask Not What the Crown Can Do for YOU But what YOU Can do for the Crown !


RESTORATION: Shapour Bakhtiar advocates Restoring the Monarchy

 

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Veiled Prophet of Khorasan

I argee

by Veiled Prophet of Khorasan on

 

with Mehrdad and Ari. There is only one language the IR understands. It is better if the words are spoken by Iranians.


Bavafa

There is time and place to be peaceful

by Bavafa on

and there is a time and place to defend yourself. 

It is time for Iranians to defend themselves now against this brutal regime.

Great cartoon

Mehrdad


Ari Siletz

Afraid so, JJ.

by Ari Siletz on

If Egypt and '79 repeat, the greater  the show of force by the protesters the fewer casualties there may be. Natarsid, natarsid, maa hameh baa ham hastim maybe more than a slogan, it is a strategy that could save lives.

Jahanshah Javid

Slipping into violence

by Jahanshah Javid on

Ari, your cartoon, intended or not, shows a troubling fact. There are growing signs that the movement is slipping into a violent phase. It's not what the people wanted. It's not what the people want. But the regime is not budging and neither are the protesters. That could only mean more violence and more blood.