In less anxious times, the streets are clogged with honking cars and cranky commuters. But on Saturday, drives that normally last 45 minutes took just a third of the time, and shops were mainly empty. Even Tehran’s beauty salons, normally hives of activity, had few customers; at one, bored workers fussed over one another’s hair.
People who did venture out said they were dispirited by the upheaval that has shaken this country over the two weeks since the contested presidential election, and worried they would get caught up in the brutal government crackdown of dissent that has followed.
Even in areas of the city not known for liberal politics, the sense of frustration, and despair, was palpable. Those who accuse the government of stealing the election said they had lost the hope for change they had during the protests that drew tens of thousands of people into Tehran’s streets. But others also confessed to feeling depressed.
ME: JUST A HUNCH, BUT I FEEL IT'S THE QUIET BEFORE THE STORM...
- ONE REASON I FEEL THIS WAY: THE NYTIMES IS ALWAYS WRONG.
- YES: THE REGIME'S CRACKDOWN IS HAVING AN EFFECT.
- BUT THE YOUTH HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE.
- THEY NEED ENCOURAGEMENT.
- IF ONLY OBAMA WOULD DO SOMETHING POSITIVE!
WHICH MEANS I AM GONNA BE RIGHT!
HERE'S ANOTHER REASON: BIG MONEY FROM IRAN IS LEAVING - AND THAT MEANS PEOPLE IN THE KNOW FEAR MORE TROUBLE.
STAY TUNED...
3 comments:
Check this out. It supports your hunch:
http://ibloga.blogspot.com/2009/06/wailing-of-wolves-in-iran-as-cries-of.html
I doubt that this is the quiet before the storm. More likely, the demonstrations will peter out. The reason is that they've been spontaneous expressions of outrage, and spontaneity can't last, because they can't answer the key question: Where do we go from here?
An answer (other than "Nowhere") means, to begin with, the substitution of organization for spontaneity. Either progression from rebellion to revolution or quiescence. For the rebellion to turn into revolution (not just replacement of one theocrat by another) it must have three things that has been lacking:
1) an organization with a structure to devise strategy and tactics;
2) a manifesto setting forth the movement's principles and aims; and
3) an inspiring leader. Mousavi doesn't qualify; events left him behind two weeks ago, and the one who will qualify will be someone who will call upon the Iranians to form a secular government that separates mosque from state. Anything less than this will be simply a rumble between theocratic factions, and that's not what the demonstrators have been risking their lives for, although they need a leader to articulate what they themselves can't.
aileen -
you are wrong in your analysis...
and wrong on the facts.
in fact: another mass protest just occurred today.
also:
1 - there is a movement: korubi and mousavi are organized. and the youth are too: with twitter etc.
2 - they have published a manifesto. they're numbered.
3 mousavi is inspiring: HE WON THE FREAKIN ELECTION.
do research and think a little bit more before you opine.
luvya! come back !
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