Violent Upheaval - Or Peaceful Change?
Odd what can upset the righteous sense of umbrage a totalitarian regime can muster against the reasonable forces of enlightened discussion. Here is the State of Iran, defending itself against the onslaught of expatriate Iranians come to visit their relatives in their country of birth, from their adopted countries which have offered them freedom of academic expression, religion, politics, speech.This is the country that arrested, incarcerated, tortured and murdered an Iranian Canadian photographer who had returned to her country of birth as a visitor. A visitor whose purpose in life was to document through her photographs, the manner in which people managed to live their lives despite oppression. She had placed herself outside the feared Evan prison, had photographed protesting students agitating for democratic change, thus making of herself a prime target.
This is the country that takes unto itself the exalted station of first among many - that Allah has chosen it once again to represent the highest position of sacred fealty to the principles and values of Islam. Its Ayatollahs have pronounced their verdict upon consulting the sacred script. It is allowed that the country may develop nuclear technology for the purpose of developing nuclear explosive devices. It is permitted that the country take steps to attack other states that threaten its existence; states, above all, that are foreign to the geography.
In this country dissent is not permitted. In this country half the population is to be neither seen nor heard. In this country minorities tread lightly. Gay Iranians? Heaven forfend; there is no haven for those abnormal, corrupted creatures there. In this country there is but one true way. This is the country that awaits, with bated breath, the return of the invisible one, to welcome the Apocalypse. The president of this country sees holy visions, hears the Almighty praise his bombastic, violent threats against perceived enemies.
In this country visitors are arrested if their names are Haleh Esfandiari or Kian Tajbakhsh, or Ali Shakeri, or Parnaz Azima. These Iranians who have settled for life elsewhere than in their country of birth, but who have been incautious enough to briefly return, represent a wish for a peaceful turnover of authority to a secular, democratic state. Their crime is the sin of seeking peaceful change.
Oh yes, another missing person, a former U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation agent, somehow whisked away in March while in Iran. His name is Robert Levinson. An American, an American Jew at that, a former FBI agent. Mysterious how some people flirt with danger. Iran seems always willing to offer dangerous experiences to those who seek to flout her theist-based rules, regulations and strictures.
Labels: Middle East, Political Realities, Religion
posted by Pieface @ Thursday, July 19, 2007
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