Iran’s non-violent movement, Final

Share/Save/Bookmark

Iran’s non-violent movement, Final
by Anonymouse
15-Jul-2009
 

Photo caption:  on the last day of campaigning prior to election day.

Theme song for my trip to Iran.  I should’ve said this earlier in these blogs; I’ve been playing the 9th song (Sound of your heart) of Benyamin’s latest CD in my head.  All the songs in this album are pretty good and I recommend the CD.

Tehran is a megapolis 15 million and counting, not to mention Karaj which for all intent and purposes is now part of the greater Tehran.  Vali Asr was the hub but Tehran was green, green everywhere.  During my stay I also visited few other cities and it was the same story; more Mousavi signs and exuberance than Ahmadi’s. 

On the Election Day we went out and voted and there were lines everywhere.  I actually took 5 family members with me to the polling station who’d not have voted if I wasn’t there.  All and all I’d say count me in for about 8 - 10 votes, not bad.  It was a nice sunny day and everything felt good.  It was a promising day.  I went to bed too tired to stay up and watch the election results.  The next day I got up the usual 8ish and the first thing I did was to turn on the TV.  I saw Ahmadi with 63% of the vote. WTF??  It didn’t sound right.  I felt crummy and told others the news but they already knew it.

I went out for the morning bread and at the bakery the mood was somber.  One man was explaining that Ahmadi won because some people had broken the sanctity of the color green (color of Muhammad and his family root) by turning it into dog leashes, ties and belts.  Someone else responded that it was basijis who did it; none of Mousavi’s supporters would do such a thing.  Later that morning I went to get the morning paper and at the newsstand someone was saying this is the biggest cheating ever recorded.  It was no different in the cabs.

I had actually planned an outing in a restaurant with family and friends Saturday night.  I had figured it’d be a good time to get together and celebrate Mousavi’s victory.  I thought it’d feel a little like Obama’s victory and cause for celebration.  They don’t have Inaugural Balls there so I figured we can have one of our own!  Later I had to cancel when guests started calling and saying things are happening and not a good time to go out and eat!

It must have been around 3 or 4 in the afternoon when I heard the first news of actual burning of motorcycles and trash cans in the streets.  We came out and walked only 2 blocks and saw the streets once again blocked in traffic like in the days before the election with peaceful rallies.  We could see smoke in the distance and people running around and neighbors looking out their windows.  Shops were closing around 4 PM and by 5 it felt like a general strike by default! 

We went back home and brought our cars inside.  Internet and satellite news media as well as cell phone were all blocked.  That day I felt like it was 9/11 in another way.  People were worried and wondering.

At night we heard the first chants of allaho-akbar and death to dictator.  It became louder by around 11 and it must have gone on for another hour or so before I fell asleep.  Allah-o akbars at nights would become louder one night and less the other.

While people did not expect this result, even Ahmadi’s supporters didn’t expect the 63%, I believe they saw this as an opportunity to continue the movement and fight for their rights.  The cat was out of the bag during the debates and regime was trying to use the huge turnout to their advantage.  They had a sign of “epic 22 khordad” (epic election day) on all TV channels in the corner.  This was a spit in the face of all who voted.  Something this regime is never shy of is mistreating its own people. However, people would use this epic thing as their basis to naturally think they could go out and protest peacefully and quietly like they had done prior to election day.  

I believe Iran’s non-violent movement started with the debates (not much was happening prior to debates), huge voter turnout and people’s raised expectation and a cry for democracy.  Many outside Iran were calling for boycotting the election.  Had people followed their advice and not voted would we be seeing these protests?  In fact people in Iran “woke” these people out of their ‘rabbit sleep’.  I don’t know where exactly these protests are leading but they have established a foundation to build on. I believe their immediate demand is for rule of law and equal protection under the law. 

Within a month some outside Iran are calling for armed response and general strikes.  A month!  You need more than a month to plan a one week Caribbean vacation.  So hang on if the non-violent movement is not to your liking or too slow for you.  People in Iran are not protesting and risking their lives and livelihoods for those sitting outside and making noise.  If a tree falls in a forest and no one is there does it make a sound? I believe if a non-violent movement doesn’t exist people in Iran want to create one and if one has already begun they want to grow it.

They protested ‘silently’ 2 or 3 days after the election day with a rally from 7 Tir (previously 25 sharivar) to Vali Asr square in response to Ahmadi’s claim that those protesting are “weeds”.  It was a huge rally and Karoubi’s paper published a picture on Karimkhan bridge full of people with a caption saying the “rally of the weeds”!  By the way Karoubi’s paper (etemad melli) was more expensive than other daily papers.  While others were 50 toman (about 5 cents), his was 400 toman (40 cents).

The victory sign was all they needed.  In fact in one cab I was talking to a young cab driver and told him I wish our youth (ala My Cousin Vinny :-) all the success in the world and talked to him about the clashes, burnings and protests.  He said there is no longer a need to “chant” anything.  All we need is the victory sign and no more talking.  He was right and as you walked in the streets people would show each other the victory sign and smile and move on.

I remember prior to election I asked some of our young family members what are you going to do if Ahmadi wins.  They said the popular belief and plan is that ‘we will have another revolution’.  They said they are worried Ahmadi will change the constitution and make himself president for life like his buddy Hugo Chavez in Venezuela.

Many were concerned about the possibility of an upcoming brutal retaliation and how it’ll dampen the mood and make things even worse than before.  With Khamenei’s Friday prayer it became clear that was coming.  That Friday night the allah-o akbar and death to dictator chants were louder.  That day people were talking about how he has lost his “prestige” and how people are fed up with him now that he is threatening them.

I believe the major difference between 1979 and 2009 is the fact that in 1979 Shah turned his military against the people and the enemy was clear and in front of them which was his military.  Where were Shah’s supporters, where did they show up to protest and how many were there?  Silent majority don’t count.  In 2009 this regime has bred an army of poor/dependent people which it uses to boast its popularity in times of need such as this.  They bus them around and have rallies and Friday prayers where they chant death to this and that. 

In effect Khamenei’s solution is to turn one group of people against another and both sides have large enough numbers.  Not to mention the backing of security forces and their brutality under the guise of Islam.

This ‘culture of creating poor depending on Govt handouts’ was brought to light in Rezaei-Ahmadinejad debate.  Other candidates made the same point but Rezaei’s was more prominent and clear in form of calling out the “sahmiyeh edaalat” (Justice Fund).  By the way Rezaei also brought up the negative vote counting on TV, here’s photo proof showing his votes were “reduced” few hours later.

Many small businesses suffered because they couldn’t open their shops due to violence around and people won’t go out for shopping or eat in the afternoons.

It is the responsibility of the Govt to allow organized peaceful rallies so people can voice their concerns and objections.  But that is not about to happen and violent response is all we’re seeing for now.  People want a peaceful movement because they know having one is a huge victory against the regime.  No non-violent movement has ever been violence free; in fact many of them were born out of the violence. 

As one blogger said recently Iran’s non-violent movement is a dream but dreams can come true!  They’ve come this far and I hope their desire to keep this movement becomes a reality and we can find our own Gandi or Martin Luther King.  If Mousavi is to be the man so be it.  People can change and he is capable and has a strong following.  The jury is still out on him.  Don’t forget Mousavi, until identified otherwise, is the official leader of the green (read non-violent) movement.  I think this is more than what he bargained for but it is what it is.

The idiots in regime are worried about velvet “revolutions” and they are so stupid that they forget the so called “velvet” part is when Soviet Union “collapsed” and its satellite states went their own way and since their economies were so dependent on the Soviet economies, it was their economy that collapsed first and since there were no other alternatives, western style economy and democratic aspirations naturally prevailed.

I wish strength, luck and courage for Iranians and in particular our younger generation in every corner of Iran.  I wish for a strong non-violent movement like other parts of the world where they can raise their voice and just demands.  If there is anything we can do is to follow their lead.  There was the student movement and then women’s movement with their one million signature campaign and now this movement which is bringing in more diverse sections of society.

Now since Iranians are notoriously impatient I give you a topic; Iran’s non-violent movement is neither non-violent, nor a movement.  Discuss!

Share/Save/Bookmark

Recently by AnonymouseCommentsDate
Flag as abusive!
30
Dec 28, 2010
دعوت به یاوه گویی!
26
Dec 02, 2010
The Wild and Wonderful Whites of West Virginia
15
Nov 23, 2010
more from Anonymouse
 
alimostofi

//www.youtube.com/watch?

by alimostofi on

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kzXtQSulwM death to Russia! 

 

Ali Mostofi

//www.alimostofi.com

 


alimostofi

Thanks for taking the

by alimostofi on

Thanks for taking the trouble to answer me.  Most of what you say is the usual remarks I have had to deal with.

The fact is, and you seem to agree, that the media does not ask, or even allude to the potential difficulties, if the people were to carry out General Strikes.

The fact is not to have the strikes, but to use the threat of strikes in the questioning process.

The argument has to be won.  The rest is academic.  So once the press gets the argument going, the chain reactions will begin.  

 

 

Ali Mostofi

//www.alimostofi.com

 


Anonymouse

Well there has been a

by Anonymouse on

Well there has been a dialogue going on with the thugs.  I leave it to you to define the "us" part.  That is what I meant when I said since the early days of revolution.

Remember when Ghotbzadeh, Banisadr, Bazargan, Beheshti and others were trying to stop the Seyeds from going after vigilante justice (thugs)?  Remember the first draft of constitution did NOT have a clergy in it and Khoemeini approved it?  Remember Banisadr insisted that some changes be made and once they went back to Khomeini he wanted to add Velyat Faghih and women can't be president?  They ended up going with "rejal" for women and added velayat faghigh.

So this dialogue has been going on but in early days vigilante ruled and Khalkhali was their man and Khomeini silently approved.  30 years later the "Islamic" children of revolution have come home to roost and thus this movement.

There are many evidence of election fraud, one of which is if Ahmadi won fair and square why not boast it properly?  Why not have an open recount so there is no question about it?  So you see their end is stinking and they thought they could get away without a dialogue and just ram it down people's throat with brutality, like before.  But they didn't expect this defiance.

So now we have this defiance and we need to nurture it.  Now is not the time to talk about General Strike.  You really need to go to Iran and understand the economy these days.  You think US economy is bad?  Young and old people are resorting to any job to make ends meet.  Sometimes I really get sad when I think about the jobs they do and how boring it is and how little they make staying in their stores all day when there are 10 other similar stores competing with them in the same street.

You can talk about general strike when you've advanced the movement and achieved some ground.  So far we've not achieved enough to take it to the next level. 

There is a huge difference between what we think here and what goes on in the streets over there.  All you have to do is take a trip over there and you'll get a better understanding. 

Unless you want to say; nope, I don't want to go there because it'll change my mind and I'll be less of a freedom fighter or something.  I mean who are we "fighting" for?

I don't know about Avesta and I know press asks the right questions but they don't care.  He says there are no gays in Iran and these protests are football related and gets "re-elected" with 63% of the vote.  Your breath is coming out of a warm place!   

Everything is sacred.


alimostofi

As the Avesta says, there is

by alimostofi on

As the Avesta says, there is always Gozineshi, if you ask the right questions.

We can make our choices if we ask the right questions.

Think outside of the box. 

 

Ali Mostofi

//www.alimostofi.com

 


alimostofi

So it is all about PR. Once

by alimostofi on

So it is all about PR.

Once you get the press to talk, and ask the right questions, that the thugs cannot answer, then their bluff would be called.

Imagine I was sitting in front of Khamenei, and I asked him, "what would you do, if no Iranian bakes bread for you?"  You would have to go to Najaf eh?

These are simple but very powerful questions, that they cannot answer. 

Now the press meets Ahmadinejad, and do they ask him?

The press writes about Iran, but do they mention this?

Why? 

Ali Mostofi

//www.alimostofi.com

 


alimostofi

In short and you are right

by alimostofi on

In short and you are right if I can't explain it simply, then it is a useless idea.

The idea is very easy.  There needs to be dialogue between the thugs and us.  But thug mentality only works when he is threatened.  So the trick is to threaten him with something we are not sorry about, but he is.

So what tool do we have that he can feel sorry about, and we will feel proud about?  Just like he slams us with Islamic right to kill.  We slam him with the idea of non-violent strikes that will not give him bread.

Once the thugs realise that they are going to go hungry, they will go to Najaf.  Like turning on the light next door for the magas to go next door.  But before that, they will want to chat.  And we will win the chat.

It is that easy.  It is all about dialogue.  Now there is a slight problem.  No one in the world press wants to say all of this for us.

So ironically my foe is not Khamanei or Mesbah Yazdi or Jannati types in Qom.  It is Fleet Street. 

 

 

 

Ali Mostofi

//www.alimostofi.com

 


Anonymouse

I meant a new blog at

by Anonymouse on

I meant a new blog at i.com 

Everything is sacred.


alimostofi

This is a start for

by alimostofi on


Anonymouse

No not here.  Your

by Anonymouse on

No not here.  Your own blog(s).  You can start something and we can see where it leads.  Make it interesting though with summaries and simple terms we can relate to.

We had a good Teacher in high school who used to tell us; it doesn't matter how much you know about a subject or how many books you've read about it, what is important is how you well you explain and "teach" it to others in simple terms they can understand, and be patient about it. 

Everything is sacred.


alimostofi

I suppose you want me to use

by alimostofi on

I suppose you want me to use your space here, to rewrite 30 years of my work.  I'll think about it. 

 

Ali Mostofi

//www.alimostofi.com

 


Anonymouse

Mr. Mostofi, Well you

by Anonymouse on

Mr. Mostofi, Well you gonna have to explain it to us and in terms that we can understand.  Providing links and expecting us to go read them is not gonna work.

You can start a series and stay within a frame work and not Astrology and Yoga and so forth.  Both Astrolgy and Yoga are good but they apply to non-violent movements "only" when you want to relax during the movement not the guiding light.

Also, no passive-aggressive movements :-)  What better time than now to talk and discuss a non-violent movement for Iran?

Irandokht, the part I can't get out of my head is halfway through the demo for the 9th track where it says:  Akkkhhhh!  Akkh! Azizam! Azizam! Azizam!  Akkhh! Zarabane ghalbe tow! Akkhh! Azizam! Azizam!

Everything is sacred.


IRANdokht

Thanks I didn't even notice I didn't have real anymore!

by IRANdokht on

I downloaded it and listened to a few songs. Unfortunately they're all the short version and couldn't hear the whole songs. I would just have to buy the CD! :o)

Thanks for the link

IRANdokht


alimostofi

You do not know this Ancient

by alimostofi on

You do not know this Ancient Giant. 

 

Ali Mostofi

//www.alimostofi.com

 


Anonymouse

Hehehehe!

by Anonymouse on

LOL!  Yes maybe "this" green thing "was" neither non-violent nor a movement.  It was a campaign that went awry!  But people soon realized that they've come a long way and their salvation is to have a "movement" and while at it let's have a "non-violent" one.

I believe the "sleeping" gentle giant has taken many steps since the early days of revolution and it is now ready to run.  Run baby! Run!

Everything is sacred.


alimostofi

I can finally agree with

by alimostofi on

I can finally agree with you.  Yes this "green thing" that happened, was neither non-violent nor a movement.

The real non-violent movement has been going on for a lot longer, and like a gentle giant it takes its steps carefully.

We Iranians are civilized and we will change Iran in a civil way.  Anyone else is pretending to do otherwise.  

 

Ali Mostofi

//www.alimostofi.com

 


Anonymouse

Real Player

by Anonymouse on

You can download a free copy of Real Player:

//www.real.com/realplayer/rp11free

I didn't have it either but downloaded it and listened to it since many of the songs on Internet are in Real format, I think some on i.com are Real format too.

If you download and listen to the Real format version, the last part of the demo is the part that I can't get out of my head!  It is something in between aerobics music, techno and disco.

The whole album is good with a mix of slow and fast songs.

Everything is sacred.


IRANdokht

re: Benyamin

by IRANdokht on

I couldn't open the file *.rm but checked it out at this website. There, you don't hear the full song unless you buy it.

I listened to a few and liked some of them. You know how his songs can't be judged by a 10 sec demo, but "love with you" sounded the best to me :o)

IRANdokht


Anonymouse

You're welcome!  Did

by Anonymouse on

You're welcome!  Did you like Benyamin's song? 

Everything is sacred.


IRANdokht

Thanks again

by IRANdokht on

I appreciate the time and effort you have put in this series.  

I also agree with your conclusion about supporting the Iranians, wishing them the best and accepting that whether suited for the job or not, whether trusted by us or not, Mousavi is at this point in time the leader of this movement.

Any movement towards freedom is important. Lets support Iranians inside Iran and lets follow their lead.

Thanks again

IRANdokht