سالروز حماسه سیاهکل

sobh
by sobh
08-Feb-2010
 

 امروز مصادف بود با ۱۹ بهمن، سالروز حماسه سیاهکل :


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The Phantom Of The Opera

Straightening the left

by The Phantom Of The Opera on

I wish, I really do, you could have come back to me with a long list of tangible, worldly facts, suitable for a materialistic philosophy.

After more than three decades, the Iranian left has not been able to find a united/uniting platform among all its factions of this-ism and that-ism, in order to define the vectors of their(according to some observations)  marginal, if not defunct,  movement.

Anyway, as I said before, I don't want to either undermine the legacy of the heroes of class struggle by saying what I feel , or drag these postings to an endless/useless game of "opinion shoving".

I'd like, also, to thank you for taking time responding to my previous comments.

Good luck, and Good-bye. 

The Pahlavis, all mullahs, and all public figures associated with the Green Movement  must disclose the source and the amount of their wealth/income.


LalehGillani

The Poetic Lullaby

by LalehGillani on

The Phantom of the Opera asked, “whenever you have the time, and are in the mood, maybe in another blog if you want, try to convince Phantom, and his likes of the real achievements of the left in Iran. One cute condition though, no slogan, no sensationalism, and no poetic lullaby.”

Before I answer your question, I must respectfully warn you that without sensationalism, there will be no reply to your question. Please hear me out on this topic:

The motto of armed struggle against an oppressive regime has always been and will be shrouded in sensationalism regardless of what ideology is driving it. Whether it is Islamists’ Jihad or Communists’ proletariat uprising, the love affair of every freedom fighter with his gun is a poetic lullaby.

As for the real achievements of the left in Iran, the answer is simple: They dared!

Yes, they merely dared in the same way that our nation dares to challenge the dark ages of mullahs today. During the Pahlavi era, they could have become “yes men.” Today, they can choose to be basiji… Instead, young and old dare to dream, dare to question, dare to say no.

This is the greatest accomplishment of any generation that has chosen to rise up against a tyranny. It was true thirty years ago, and it is still true today.


Veiled Prophet of Khorasan

Good night

by Veiled Prophet of Khorasan on

 

Souri Jan,

Thanks I am glad we can disagree and remain civil and friends. I promise that when Iran is free I will buy you tea in Iran. We can have that debate I promised you back home. I will even take off my veil to you and everyone can see who I am :-) Once no one has to wear a hijab anymore.


Souri

Agree, this time :)

by Souri on

Thanks for having this sens of humor. At least we are in tune on this matter, not taking things too much at heart. Have a good nite.


Veiled Prophet of Khorasan

Not going to sleep

by Veiled Prophet of Khorasan on

 

The Shah's big mistake was to put Korush to sleep. The bigger mistake was of Koursoh to listen to him and go to sleep! While Kourosh was awake things were good. I learned from history not to go to sleep :-)

Anyway we are not French we are Iranians.

Allaho Akbar!

VPK


Souri

Allaho akbar :)

by Souri on

You said : Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it."

Then, try to learn from the history of the French people baba :-)

Why you say: anyway, it is all history now (?)

This was in the opposite of the first statement.

But don't worry, sleep well.........because "ma bidaarim" 

LOL, sounds so familiar :-)


Veiled Prophet of Khorasan

Souri Jan

by Veiled Prophet of Khorasan on

"Anyway it is all history now. I am going to go and check on 22 Bahman"

and this:

"Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it."

What is contradictory in my statement? Should I not check on the events! Allaho Akbar! You are getting me dizzy :-)


Souri

LOL VPK :)

by Souri on

You said these two opposite things in your two recent comments below:

"Anyway it is all history now. I am going to go and check on 22 Bahman"

and this:

"Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it."

But it's okay. Let stop here. I like you anyway :)

 


Veiled Prophet of Khorasan

Dear Souri

by Veiled Prophet of Khorasan on

 

You are right the discussion is getting pointless. Just one thing:

What you meant here? Then you are implying that the French revolution should not happened? You are implying that the French were wrong to be wanting a change of the regime?

Most nations in Europe are democratic. Yet many did not have a French style revolution. How about England? Yes I do dispute the need for the French revolution.

Anyway it is all history now. I am going to go and check on 22 Bahman.

To a free Iran.

VPK


Souri

Full disagreement

by Souri on

Dear VPK,

Reading your comment, I have to say : yes, we are indeed in full disagreement. So there's no point for me to continue on this debate as I said it in my first comment.

Just ask you please to clarify two points that I didn't get well:

1) you said :

" As for the French revolution I think the victims of Robespierre would differ with you."

What you meant here? Then you are implying that the French revolution should not  happened? You are implying that the French were wrong to be wanting a change of the regime? You said Robespierre's victims would differ with me, what does this mean? I didn't get your point! What you think about this, will say a lot about how you see Human Rights in general!!!

2) you said:

" Why was it that all the an-tellectuals went to the West? Why not Russia; because they knew where knowledge was. Yet they betrayed Iran."

Are you serious or just playing with words? Are you really ignoring the fact that many of our intellectuals went indeed to Russia when it was named the Soviet Union ? Let me tell you that many, in fact many more intellectuals left for the Soviet Union than you can even imagine!
But at the morning of the revolution the left wing's intellectuals did not feel the need to leave the country!! This is a very logical reason which you are not likely to ignore so simply, but very voluntarily. Isn't it?


The Phantom Of The Opera

comrade still in the woods

by The Phantom Of The Opera on

I hate to do this to you Laleh; but let's get serious here. As I said, trivializing their legacy is the last thing that I would do. OK, friend? whenever you have the time, and are in the mood, maybe in another blog if you want, try to convince Phantom, and his likes of the real achievements of the left in Iran. One cute condition though, no slogan, no sensationalism, and no poetic lullaby. Remember; I am not calling you for a "wikilectual" challenge; just be kind enough to show me "the" evidence.

The Pahlavis, all mullahs, and all public figures associated with the Green Movement  must disclose the source and the amount of their wealth/income.


Veiled Prophet of Khorasan

Laleh

by Veiled Prophet of Khorasan on

Historically, both organizations have proven to be resilient and
capable of bidding their time to resurface again. New recruitments and
training of their members are two signs of their renewed fervor.

Without their Soviet sponsors and now Saddam they are nothing. Their time is come and gone and Islam replaced them. Who is going to fund the MKO? The only foreign show in town is the West. They just as soon fund a color revolution.

The MKO and Fadayian are like dogs without a master. No one to tell them what to do. 


Veiled Prophet of Khorasan

Dear Souri

by Veiled Prophet of Khorasan on

I never believed in "armed fighting" as an option and don't agree
with this ideology. Nevertheless, everybody here (but Laleh) seem to judge those martyrs as if they belong to the present day!

The issue is not armed struggle it is wrong headed ideology. People are responsible for their actions. Their actions led to IRR and they are responsible for it. As for being "Martyrs" I don't believe in "martyrdom".

This is a matter of the past! This happened 40 years ago.

Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.

One thing that we as Iranian intellectual do always wrong, is to take an event out of its context and elaborate and talk (sometimes too
much) about its quality as being "right" or "wrong".

Fine lets go over the "context". Iran was advancing rapidly. These people could have helped. Instead they decided to side with the Soviet Union. When that failed their brethren sided with 7th century Islamists. Their actions speak for themselves.

Many things happened in the history of the world, which were only the result of their historical context and we can not judge them with the today's values. Of course, if we knew what we would get today, we would never let it happen. But I can't promise, that most of the people who contributed to the revolution against the Shah, would stop if they knew the result!

I elaborate: They would continue fighting the old system, as it was a totalitarian one, a real dictatorship (I know you are very positive
to the Pahlavi era, but unfortunately this is a fact and we can't deny it)

Dictatorship: Yes. But it was reformable. Instead of freedom they wanted uncle Joe! The man who killed more of his own people than Hitler.

On the other hand, if those people knew that by reverting the Shah's Monarchy, they will get another totalitarian government, they wouldn't
let the power goes to the hands of the Islamists.

If they could not see through Khomeini they were dumber than Sarah Palin.

They would fight them! As they tried to do at the beginning of the revolution but they failed because they were not truly united against the government.

Honestly their ideology as demonstrated by today's MKO was worse than the Mullahs. Glad they failed.

Now, read your comment again. You said:

"People are sick and tired of fighting for a "cause". Whether
that be greater Islam or anti-imperialism. People want decent lives with a lots of hope and opportunities. That is not what ideologues
offer. They will pick yet another fight with other countries and try to export yet another idiotic revolution resulting in isolation of Iran and our people."

You are taking the subject as if it is a matter of today or tomorrow's, while it belongs to the past! The country needed to get free from the atrocities of the past regime, and as The Phantom said, each group took it's own fight.

It is a matter of today because today's Iranians are paying. They are paying for these "heroes".

People judging the "Siah kal" heroes with the today's values, is like saying that: The French revolution was a mistake because it gave birth to Robespierre!!!

Human lives and freedom are not today's values. They were just as important 30; 60 or 200 years ago. As for the French revolution I think the victims of Robespierre would differ with you.

We must look at the political ideologies and political activities and political events, in a long, very long range. All those fights were
necessary for our nation's ideological growth.

Like **** they were. A few more like them and there wont' be a nation left. If they wanted ideological growth I suggest a degree. Or at least reading something other than Soviet propaganda.

Siah-Kal happened when Communism was happened in a neighborhood and
looked like a light in the dark which will liberate the people from
poverty and miseries.

By the 60s anyone with a brain could see communism was a failure. Why was it that all the an-tellectuals went to the West? Why not Russia; because they knew where knowledge was. Yet they betrayed Iran.

I don't know your age and I don't know from what part of Iran you are, but if you were in touch with the poor paysans of the region (which Ms Rusta seems so proud to know them well!) you would hear so many stories of the atrocity and crimes exerting on them by the Shah's government, then you would understand their motifs.

I am between 45-55 from Tehran. I knew poor people and used to feel a great deal of sympathy for them. After watching them in action in the Komite all that evaporated right out.

Believe me: A nation which had so many bright names in the name of freedom, only in a short time of one Monarchism, can not be wrong!!!

If you think we are on the right track then we are in disagreement. How can you say we are not wrong. Iran has been on the absolute wrong path for 30+ years. They were wrong; and are wrong today.

Our intellectual of today seems to be ironic about all of the heroes of the pasts. Whenever they hear a name like: Mirza Kouchik khan, or
Golsorkhi of Daneshian or Rouzbeh, or Jazani .............and many others, they just shake their shoulders and say: what a waste! he was a
Utopian or he was mislead or this and that! without taking time to read and reflect about what they have been trough and why they did what they
did!

If you call these bright then we are in disagreement. They were Utopians and today's intellectuals are more seasoned. They have seen the result of these people . They are not falling for this BS.

We seem to like to forget all of the works which have been done in the pasts, just because what we got since 30 years ago (which is a very
short foot in the marches of the history) disappointed us.

Maybe 30 years is short to you. To me it is a big part of a lifetime. I do not expect to live a thousand years. I value life and every minute of it. To me 30 years is way too long to waste.

We seem to deliberately forget that a nation growth is a tree which is watered from the past's heroes blood no matter what was their roots, their ideologies!

The fruit of a poison tree are worthless. This is one tree we must chop down. Thankfully people are now finally aware of it.

I have never supported "mobarezeh mosalahaneh" but still have a great, very great respect for the freedom fighter like the ones of Siah-kal or Golsorkhi or others who scarified their lives for their people, whether their ideology was "wrong" or "right" in the eye of us,
the Internet intellectuals of today!

I watched Golesorkhi speeches on YouTube again just to remind myself. He saw salvation in Islam and Marxism. The man was quite mad. He was brave but totally insane.

 


LalehGillani

The Beat of the Same Drum

by LalehGillani on


The Phantom of the Opera asked, “…but again I really don't know what is there to celebrate or remember in its anniversary?”

Remember the fallen and celebrate their boldness. Remember their devotion and celebrate their patriotism. Remember their sacrifices and celebrate their spirits.

They are our past, an undeniable past that paved the path for our political growth. Today, we march to the beat of the same drum:

The same boldness, devotion, patriotism, and spirit…


LalehGillani

Iran Ruled by MKO or Fedaian

by LalehGillani on

Veiled Prophet of Khorasan wrote: “If these lunatics had taken over it would have made the Mullahs look like a picnic… But compared to the MKO and the hostage takers the Mullahs were by far the lesser of two evils. These damned middle class "freedom fighters" are no heroes…”

Because both Mojahedin Khalq and Fedaian Khalq are driven by totalitarian ideologies, a regime under their rule will be a tyranny. Today, this fact can’t be disputed!

Whatever roles these groups are currently playing in our struggle to bring down the regime of mullahs have been marginalized for years. Many factors have contributed to bring about this phenomenon. Heavy blows to their organizations and the loss of their ideological appeal are the most important factors.

Historically, both organizations have proven to be resilient and capable of bidding their time to resurface again. New recruitments and training of their members are two signs of their renewed fervor.

Activists who monitor Iran’s ever changing political landscape must be aware of this development. As I warned before, given a similar opportunity to fill a leadership vacuum, they won’t blink again!


The Phantom Of The Opera

The comrade in the woods

by The Phantom Of The Opera on

Leaving the discussion over the fact or fiction of communism being dead, irrelevant, or something simply yukky, for some better time in future; I'd like to mention that Siahkal move was simply a miscalculated political/militia tactic, doomed to failure from the get-go.

I have no intention to trivialize an otherwise gutsy action against a tyrant, but again I really don't know what is there to celebrate or remember in its anniversary? Misreading the social fabric of their own people? Giving a cruel dictator better excuse for harsher  implementation of a police state? What?

The Pahlavis, all mullahs, and all public figures associated with the Green Movement  must disclose the source and the amount of their wealth/income.


Veiled Prophet of Khorasan

Farah

by Veiled Prophet of Khorasan on

You make some very good points. I will take exception with the point below because it is frankly wrong.

Things have hardly changed except that freedom fighers of today are only too happy to broadcast their alien  allegeances and openly ask for
alien help. The Fidel and Che of the sixties are Obama and Sarkozi of zeros and tens. Let us hope that this group of "ff"s do not deny their
rich historical heritage, particularly the last 1400 years of it, as the former "ff"s did it. 

The opposition in Iran is home grown not like the Tudeh. It is not ideological. People simply want to be free and left alone.

Who amongst the democracy movement in Iran is asking for US intervention? There are a few Iranian exiles asking for it but none of the actual Greens. Most of the exiles are opposed to intervention as well in general.  Read the very pages of IC. The one exception for some people is: If IRR starts a campaign of mass extermination of opposition. Eve then there is no consensus. Most people are plain opposed to any external intervention.

Plus equating Obama with  Fidel and Che is inaccurate. A better but still wrong analogy would be to equate Obama with Stalin. But you know how ridiculous it would sound so you refrain from it. Neither Obama nor Sarkozy has sent millions to their deaths. The Iraq example is the closest. That was initiated by Bush not Obama. Furthermore the majority of deaths are by Iraqi or other Islamic extremists not Obama or even the arch devil Bush: "Akeh Ensaf dashteh bashin".  


Veiled Prophet of Khorasan

Glad they blinked

by Veiled Prophet of Khorasan on


Capturing the United States embassy is a prime example of Khomeini’s weakness during this time. He neither orchestrated the attack nor was informed of the plan in advance. The overtaking of the embassy was planned and executed by the same urban middle-class “freedom fighters” that were present in the streets of Iran during the revolution. After
the fact, the incident was brought up to Khomeini’s attention. Then it became his problem…

You just proved the point of MRX1. If these lunatics had taken over it would have made the Mullahs look like a picnic. These idiots cost Iran: its reputation; 8 billion dollars and paved the way for the Iraqi invasion. I for one am glad they lost. God know how much I hate the Mullahs. But compared to the MKO and the hostage takers the Mullahs were by far the lesser of two evils. These damned middle class "freedom fighters" are no heroes. They deserve worse than the Mullahs.

Thank god for small favors.

VPK.


Farah Rusta

Relativism is a double edged-sword

by Farah Rusta on

If it was right for the "left" to do what they did, given the global politics of four decades ago, then it can be equally argued that it was right for "right" to respond the way they responded. This is a self-defeating arguement and has never been a winner. One may argue that Nazis were right in doing what they did and uncle Joe (a term of endearment by the Tudeh party members and their sympathizers in reference to Stalin) had to send millions to their deaths in the name of the people's sovietic republic - as if they were not equally people! (well, as Orwell said, some are more equal than others).

What is, however, undeniably evident is that the Iranian Marxists misreading of Iranian culture and history was proven to be their fatal mistake. Sadly there are those who still believe that it was "proper" to be indoctrinated, funded, trained, and armed by alien powers as long as you call yourself "freedom fighters" but not if you belonged to the opposite side. Things have hardly changed except that freedom fighers of today are only too happy to broadcast their alien  allegeances and openly ask for alien help.The Fidel and Che of the sixties are Obama and Sarkozy of zeros and tens. Let us hope that this group of "ff"s do not deny their rich historical heritage, particularly the last 1400 years of it, as the former "ff"s did. 

 

Farah


LalehGillani

The Power Vacuum

by LalehGillani on

Ali P. Wrote: “When did they blink? What approximate date? Khomeini was the undisputed Leader of the Islamic Revolution since Day One. When did anyone- realistically- expect these groups to jump in, shove the Imam to the side, and take over?"

Beginning from the day that the Shah left Iran until a few months after the arrival of Khomeini, there was a window of opportunity that could have been used by any group to position themselves for political maneuvering and to grab the key positions of power, Iranian style, of course: by the barrel of a gun…

Both Mojahedin Khalq and Fedaian Khalq had the organization and the muscle to pull this off. At that time, both groups were revered by their growing base and had the clout amongst the political activists to reach for power. More importantly, however, was the weakness and vacillation of Khomeini during this time.

The majority of political analysts attribute Khomeini’s wish to return to Qom and to stay out of the daily affairs of the government as a cold and calculated lie. I disagree! Khomeini was forced by the circumstances and was advised to move to Tehran because there was a power vacuum to be filled in.

Capturing the United States embassy is a prime example of Khomeini’s weakness during this time. He neither orchestrated the attack nor was informed of the plan in advance. The overtaking of the embassy was planned and executed by the same urban middle-class “freedom fighters” that were present in the streets of Iran during the revolution. After the fact, the incident was brought up to Khomeini’s attention. Then it became his problem…


Souri

Again right, Laleh jan

by Souri on

This debate on "right" and "left" wings was brought many times in the past. Unfortunately in America, people got those notions very wrongly.

They think every anti-American ideology is "leftist" and every pro-American force is "rightist".........

so they call all the leftist, the "enemy" while in fact many of their "enemy" of America are of the right wings.

I had named a book to learn more about this categorization of the political groups, in response to Farhad Kashani who was calling everybody "a leftist communist" even if they were supporting the regime!

That book is in Persian "Osool e elm e Siasat" from Maurice Du Verger, translated by Mohammad Ghazi.


LalehGillani

Mojahedin – Impetus Fueling their Minds

by LalehGillani on

Ali P. Wrote: “What puts "Mojahedin Khalgh" on the "Right"? I just have never heard them being categorized as such, by their friends, or foes.”

Their ideology (Islam) puts them on the right. To view Mojahedin Khalq as a leftist group is the biggest misnomer in Iran’s political arena. Underneath all that “leftist” fervor, a little mullah is lurking. Dig deep enough and long enough, you will see “religious right” written all over him.

Mojahedin Khalq have no tolerance for anything but what is purely Islamic. Granted that they have their own interpretation of Islam and its laws. Still, in the past and the present time, they have walked alongside the same path as Fedaian Islam.

Mojahedin Khalq belong to a radical Islamic organization taking up arms to fight the enemies of Islam. Their struggle is a Jihad to bring about Islamic justice to the world. Through their actions, they believe to facilitate and hasten the arrival of Mehdi, the 12th Imam of Shi'a.

To categorize them realistically, peel off the rhetoric and study what drives them: the impetus that fuels their minds…


Veiled Prophet of Khorasan

Dear Souri

by Veiled Prophet of Khorasan on

 

Just a quick reply:

I can and will go into a detailed response. In fact I could sit down and debate you for hours over a cup of tea :-) 

You are welcome to your opinion. I am in the 45-55 age range. I remember Golesorki; Shariati; Al Ahmad; the whole of them.  I watched trial of Golesorki and was even impressed by his resolve; not his ideas. 

I will write a longer response later; now I have to do my day job!


LalehGillani

بلوغ سیاسی

LalehGillani


سو ری خانم، از لطف و محبت شما سپاسگزارم.

از عقاید و تحلیل تمامی دوستان به هم چنین ممنونم. از ببینش و نمای متضاد دوستان استفاده کرده و درسهای با ارزشی یاد گرفته ام. در راه رشد میهن، بلوغ سیاسی تک تک ایرانیان ضروری میباشد. در این عرصه، تقاضا میکنم قصورهای گه گاه مرا ببخشید.

به امید آزادی ایران...


Souri

Dear VPK

by Souri on

I looked at all the comments, and find that only Laleh's comment took the matter as "a reality of the past".

I never believed in "armed fighting" as an option and don't agree with this ideology. Nevertheless, everybody here (but Laleh) seem to judge those martyrs as if they belong to the present day!

This is a matter of the past! This happened 40 years ago.

One thing that we as Iranian intellectual do always wrong, is to take an event out of its context and elaborate and talk (sometimes too much) about its quality as being "right" or "wrong".

Many things happened in the history of the world, which were only the result of their historical context and we can not judge them with the today's values. Of course, if we knew what we would get today, we would never let it happen. But I can't promise, that most of the people who contributed to the revolution against the Shah, would stop if they knew the result!

I elaborate: They would continue fighting the old system, as it was a totalitarian one, a real dictatorship (I know you are very positive to the Pahlavi era, but unfortunately this is a fact and we can't deny it)

On the other hand, if those people knew that by reverting the Shah's Monarchy, they will get another totalitarian government, they wouldn't let the power goes to the hands of the Islamists.

They would fight them! As they tried to do at the beginning of the revolution but they failed because they were not truly united against the government.

Now, read your comment again. You said:

"People are sick and tired of fighting for a "cause". Whether that be greater Islam or anti-imperialism. People want decent lives with a lots of hope and opportunities. That is not what ideologues offer. They will pick yet another fight with other countries and try to export yet another idiotic revolution resulting in isolation of Iran and our people."

You are taking the subject as if it is a matter of today or tomorrow's, while it belongs to the past! The country needed to get free from the atrocities of the past regime, and as The Phantom said, each group took it's own fight.

People judging the "Siah kal" heroes with the today's values, is like saying that: The French revolution was a mistake because it gave birth to Robespierre!!!

We must look at the political ideologies and political activities and political events, in a long, very long range. All those fights were necessary for our nation's ideological growth.

Siah-Kal happened when Communism was happened in a neighborhood and looked like a light in the dark which will liberate the people from poverty and miseries.

I don't know your age and I don't know from what part of Iran you are, but if you were in touch with the poor paysans of the region (which Ms Rusta seems so proud to know them well!) you would hear so many stories of the atrocity and crimes exerting on them by the Shah's government, then you would understand their motifs.

Believe me: A  nation which had so many bright names in the name of freedom, only in a short time of one Monarchism, can not be wrong!!!

Our intellectual of today seems to be ironic about all of the heroes of the pasts. Whenever they hear a name like: Mirza Kouchik khan, or Golsorkhi of Daneshian or Rouzbeh, or Jazani .............and many others, they just shake their shoulders and say: what a waste! he was a Utopian or he was mislead or this and that! without taking time to read and reflect about what they have been trough and why they did what they did!

We seem to like to forget all of the works which have been done in the pasts, just because what we got since 30 years ago (which is a very short  foot in the marches of the history) disappointed us.

We seem to deliberately forget that a nation growth is a tree which is watered from the past's heroes blood no matter what was their roots, their ideologies!

I have never supported "mobarezeh mosalahaneh" but still have a great, very great respect for the freedom fighter like the ones of Siah-kal or Golsorkhi or others who scarified their lives for their people, whether their ideology was "wrong" or "right" in the eye of us, the Internet intellectuals of today!

//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persian_Socialist_Sov...

 

 


Ali P.

To: Ms. Gillani

by Ali P. on

I always enjoy your comments. Regarding your last one here,I would appreciate it, if you could elaborate.

You state:

The so-called freedom fighters belonging to the left (Fedaian Khalq)
and to the right (Mojahedin Khalq) had a decisive role in bringing down
the Shah. At the end, although they had the military might and the
organization to claim the power, they simply blinked and lost their
chance!

1)What puts "Mojahedin Khalgh" on the "Right"? I just have never heard them being cathegorized as such, by their friends, or foes.

2) When did they blink? What approximate date? Khomeini was the undisputed Leader of the Islamic Revolution since Day One. When did anyone- realistically- expect these groups to jump in, shove the Imam to the side, and take over?

 

Respectfully,

Ali P.


Veiled Prophet of Khorasan

Dear Souri

by Veiled Prophet of Khorasan on

I was following this blog since its beginning and didn't find one single rational comment which deserve a sincere response!

What do you find irrational about my comment? I said "no more ideological rule". Do you disagree with this comment? Is it irrational to want a pragmatic non "cause" seeking rule? I want what is good for Iran not some made up cause pushed on idealistic youth by foreign powers; no more Iranian blood shed for no reason. 

Many of us had leftists in our own families. I lost a dear family member to the "cause". Another one was put in jail but got lucky and let out alive. I loved and still do love my family members both the one who was lost and the one who is alive. I do not however consider them heroes. They fell for the Soviet brainwashing BS and suffered dearly. Lets not confuse our love for family and our sympathy for their suffering for "heroism". There was nothing heroic in being stooges of the Soviet propaganda.

As for the Pahlavis talk about being "Namak Nashnas". The Shah paid for many to go get an education. He could have done a Khamenei: pocketed the money or given it to Hamas & Hizbolah. What did he get in return: ingratitude; hated and whining. The left was instrumental in the revolution they are responsible for all the misery. It was the left who "taught us" that the real power should go to the lowest of the low. People even the educated took this to heart. They packed up and left Iran to the scum.

You have witnessed the results. How can you call them heroes? There is no way we are going to fall for that again. Never.


Souri

Dear Laleh

by Souri on

You are one true Iranian lady! You gave the best analysis on this matter, a true and unbiased one.

It takes lots of knowledge and maturity and also experience of the political history of Iran for one, to recognize and analyze this matter so wonderfully as you did.

I was following this blog since its beginning and didn't find one single rational comment which deserve a sincere response!

The only rational and objective one, was yours. Also a big thanks to The Phantom of the Opera and a few others  who knew how to respect our heroes of the pasts.


Veiled Prophet of Khorasan

No more ideological rule

by Veiled Prophet of Khorasan on

 

We have enough of ideological rule: "bara haf jaddemoon basseh".  Why should we trade Islamic ideologues for Marxist ideologues. How about pragmatism and sanity for a change. I just shudder every time I see a "Mjodahed" or "Fadayi". People are sick and tired of fighting for a "cause". Whether that be greater Islam or anti-imperialism. People want decent lives with a lots of hope and opportunities. That is not what ideologues offer. They will pick yet another fight with other countries and try to export yet another idiotic revolution resulting in isolation of Iran and our people.

The communist idea is not an Iranian ideology.  They cannot even pick a Persian name to represent them. We don't want them and we don't need them. They should move to Cuba while Castro is alive and will let them in or lose that one as well.


benross

The guerrilla movement

by benross on

The guerrilla movement organizational capacity is highly exaggerated. They had a minor, negligible role in arm fighting during the Shah and on Bahman 79 there was no real fighting because the army already retreated and its bases were invaded with almost no resistance. Those sypatizers of Fedaa'ian and Mojahedin, like everybody else, were out in the streets and improvising. The organizational capacity of these groups, as armed 'militia' groups, were at the level of a suburban Bridge club for senior citizens!

Armed struggle was a symbolic gesture throughout their existence. There was never an army anywhere to be found. This overestimation of their capacities is another proof of their importance as a social phenomenon, representing the aspiration of a whole generation for freedom. The generation that was the fruit of Pahlavi modernity drive.

At their face value, there is ample reasons to consider them potentially the future pol pots. What I'm arguing is that if they stayed true to what they socially represented, a true secular resistance could be formed. Because Iran was not Cambodia. It had a modern urban industrial middle class movement and not a rural agricultural one. The similarities in forms were consequential of the historic context during cold war. It could only survive if the organization retracted its social base and closed itself within... as Mojaahedin did.

For 'freedom fighter', not symbolically speaking but literally, a man with a Kalashnikov, I don't think we get to that point, blinking or not.

Armed struggle, if necessary, will be carried out by those who are currently oiling their weapons everyday in their barracks.