Word on the Street
Oct 4th, 2009 by pedestrian
This post is not meant to be a political analysis. Nor do I necessarily agree or disagree with these views. I’ve caught up with my phone calls and emails and conversations and it’s just to let you know what – some – Iranians (inside and outside Iran) have been talking about around the dinner table these past few days. Especially post-New York.
- Ahmadinejad’s rumored jewish lineage [and its response]
- Talks of possible US/Israeli strikes
- Another topic that comes up over and over again is the possible opening with the U.S. In a very Shock Doctrinesque analysis, some say the post-election violence was to make sure that Ahmadi & Co. got the American prize (that is, they get to open relations) and will pave the way for an economic transformation to (as it goes often) “turn Iran into China”. The story goes that by opening the economy, the green movement may take a blow because young activists will be distracted by McDonalds and H & M.
- Given the previous possibility, all this talk of attack seems rather “convenient” like a very convenient storm for the IRI before it strikes the deal amidst “all the danger” that they are exposed to.
- The “police state” is far worse and much stronger than you can imagine. Ordinary people who have mildly supported Mousavi or who have kids who have done so, are under constant watch, threats, scrutiny and interrogation. I will not bring real stories here, because it will jeopardize the safety of a whole lot of people I know. But I’m just telling you: whatever you hear, that’s just the happy meal version. That’s why the cheesey leftist pro-Ahmadi analysis seems all the more delusional to me.
Ahmadinejad’s rumored jewish lineage in the West amongst the diaspora reminds me of the so-called “birther” movement here in the US, where redneck Americans accuse Obama of being born in Africa. It’s the same kind of slander. It’s okay to be against Ahmadinejad on political grounds, but when one stoops to this level, it really defeats the credibility of the cause.
After the Geneva talks, it doesn’t appear that there will be military strikes against the IRI. Things look a lot better than last week! Most if not all of that was political grandstanding. Gotta say, though, the IRI hanged tough on it, with their Great Prophet IV exercises and all. They didn’t show weakness, which could very well prove fatal given the current temperature of international relations in the region.
I don’t think the IRI will open up in the same manner as China. The IRI doesn’t appear willing to immerse its economy with Western corporate interests, with all the cultural implications that would create. This prevents the Iranian economy from fully modernizing, but it also protects the people from Western corporate exploitation. Of course, if you’re a poor south Tehrani, these kinds of considerations probably mean a lot less to you- unless you’re a “true believer”.
Sorry to hear about the “police state” conditions. I got a taste of that here in the US for about a year-and-a-half. I wrote military analyses about the 2006 Lebanon War and Iran to a major newspaper that were considered too objective-let us say- and they notified law enforcement. What followed were conditions probably similar to what your acquaintances are undergoing. Not a pleasant experience. It’s a given that I remain on the US government T-watch list. Hope things loosen up with time for your friends. For me, they seem to have.
Pirouz, I don’t know what to think of these rumors about him being Jewish. I’m just not going to comment on them.
Of course, anything that moves Iran away from the radar of war is good news to me. But things like this make me feel sick as well, thinking of all the shit they gave Khatami those years for being “submissive” to the West and all the slanders and accusations against Mousavi. The hypocrisy of it all angers me to death.
Americans accuse Obama of being born in Africa. It’s the same kind of slander
in fact, today I came across a site that this parallel was being made by the rednecks!
Pedestrian (and all )
I hope you encompass US (ed alt.) outrageous hype and hysterics
of late in the ‘hypocrisy of it all’ (cf. BBC piece)
True fear-mongers, poppycock-selling & self righteous weather cocks medias ! From strikes threats to satisfecits and congratulating themselves… Where are the real peoples of the world behind
all these elected persons playing their politricks ? yeah, well, the
eternal question… Here too, bile and anger at how the events
involving IRI (and thus you all, real people of Iran -it seems the
interconnected bit part of this skipped the minds of the Big Guys
at the UNn AEIA etc., and this is -seen from the West- the unbearable hypocrisy part ‘of all this’ -the western rethorics,
whatever the country or situation)
Ok, so i plugg-off the anger and add this: Happily enough and
thanx to all, persian and alter commuters of this nimble
sharp blog (and many others, a little everywhere), we are the medias as well, we beat other drums, dream other dreams
and get trained in reading /rewriting the news of this crazy
(and pedestrian) world we live in, thanx heaven yes this we can
-and it’s just GOOD ( i think) ;- )
( 1.)” Talk of possible US/Israeli strikes” on Iran.
( 2.) More likely …, President Obama bombs Texas, and apologizes to Mexico for
Revolution of 1836, and racist Taco Bell ads.
Well, BTL, I guess the Mexicans have got to watch out then! … Though I’m sure they should have learned to by now.
The rumors about Ahmadinejad being Jewish have been pretty thoroughly debunked:
http://www.iranaffairs.com/iran_affairs/2009/10/ahmadinejad-secretly-jewishoi-vey-lol.html
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/oct/05/mahmoud-ahmadinejad-jewish-family
Eskandar, thanks for the links! It sounded pretty unreal from the beginning, I’ll add your links to the bottom.