Thursday, July 9, 2009
International The Iranian Uprising: Still Going
Posted by Brendan Kiley on Thu, Jul 9, 2009 at 10:04 AM
Western media must have set a new record for its turnabouts on declaring the Iranian uprising dead and/or alive. Seems like every 12 hours for the last two weeks, they've changed their minds.
Nineteen hours ago, the NYT headline was: Protests Fade Under Withering Gaze. Now it's Iran Security Forces Move to Crush Renewed Street Protests.
Dewey defeats Truman defeats Dewey defeats Truman!
Nico Pitney is keeping up with the latest here. Andrew Sullivan's doing the same here.
And the Twitter feeds are going insane: soldiers shooting from helicopters, riots in front of prisons, general mayhem. The citizens of Iran are not giving up—despite dire predictions of their total defeat from Slog commenters and national pundits alike.
In many important ways—scaring the shit out of illegitimate dictators across the world—they've already won.
More videos over on Citizentube.
(And meanwhile, Iranian government is still pressing for its nuclear research. They're trying to face down the G8 and their own citizens at the same time. Nuts.)
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1
I think the 'Iran Security Forces Move to Crush Renewed Street Protests' link is broken. Feel free to delete this comment once it is fixed!!
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2
Try following the daily financial news some time...it's manic-depressive...market up 100 points, no down 50. Google will return 2000 articles half saying the opposite of the other.
5
yes, it is tasteless...
these protesters are using the EXACT same methods that the leaders of the revolution used in the late 70's...protest agressively, then lean back for awhile to regroup before going back on the offensive.
these protesters are using the EXACT same methods that the leaders of the revolution used in the late 70's...protest agressively, then lean back for awhile to regroup before going back on the offensive.
6
The media wants to be the first to break something, so they make the news as much as they report it. Change takes time. We live in an instant gratification world and expect things to happen over night, well, revolutions are messy and take some time to have an impact.
But we can already see small changes. Ahmadinajad came out saying the government shouldn't kill people (I'm paraphrasing cause I don't have time to look up exact quotes). That's an effect I didn't hear many reporters covering.
But we can already see small changes. Ahmadinajad came out saying the government shouldn't kill people (I'm paraphrasing cause I don't have time to look up exact quotes). That's an effect I didn't hear many reporters covering.
8
Please please please come down to Westlake tonight between 6pm and 9pm to show your support for the Iranians who are risking everything for their freedom.
Take pictures. Share pictures.
Those pictures will eventually make their way back to Iran and the people there will know that they are not alone and that the world is watching.
Take pictures. Share pictures.
Those pictures will eventually make their way back to Iran and the people there will know that they are not alone and that the world is watching.
11
It's pretty much a well-known fact that Persians are HOT!
I'm glad the media is still covering the Iranian protests. Although they're doing a poor job (all of them, not just US media), it's better than nothing. Our economy will eventually recover, celebrities will be celebrities, etc, but I want regular American to realise that what's happening in Iran right now (and NK) affects us more as a country than any sort of local or national news being reported on CNN or Fox News.
I'm glad the media is still covering the Iranian protests. Although they're doing a poor job (all of them, not just US media), it's better than nothing. Our economy will eventually recover, celebrities will be celebrities, etc, but I want regular American to realise that what's happening in Iran right now (and NK) affects us more as a country than any sort of local or national news being reported on CNN or Fox News.
12
@8 I'm all for protesting but don't you think Iran realizes we are behind them? I mean at this point, i am sure they know, absolutely. Honestly, protesting in seattle on this topic is preaching to the choir, do you think anyone the US doesn't want this revolution to happen? Iran has a hard enough time distributing information within its boarders, how will this protest even reach their twitter accounts? Do a majority of Iranians even know where Seattle is?
14
@12 You raise some valid points, so I'll try to respond to each of your questions.
First, this is less a "protest" and more a "rally in solidarity." Unlike the people gathering today in front of Sen. Cantwell's office, the people supporting Iran don't generally think that they will be effecting anything directly simply by making their voices heard.
However, I have talked to Iranian-Americans who are in contact with people in Iran. And while most of the information is moving Iran --> USA, I do believe that there is some comfort knowing that people outside of Iran are aware of and care about what is happening in the streets. Numerous bloggers have spoken with people in Iran who have asked for shows of support.
As far as the suggestion about photographs, you're right. It's not likely that any picture taken in Seattle is going to end up in an Iranian's twitter and that's going to be what tips the balance between freedom and repression. But there are images getting into Iran from other parts of the world, and an image -- even one from some city in the US that nobody's ever heard of -- can be more powerful than a description of "dozens of people in Seattle held signs in support."
As far as what people in the US want and don't want, I think there are still many in and around Seattle who don't know any more about Iran than that it is a place that we ought to bomb. And if standing on a street corner can do put a human face on a people and culture to counteract the dehumanizing message that has dominated US foreign policy for the past several years, then it is worth it to me.
Sorry for rambling. I've been spending a lot of time the last few weeks thinking about what, if anything, I can do for the Iranian people, and I have asked myself all the questions you asked -- and I'm still not sure I have any good answers.
More...
First, this is less a "protest" and more a "rally in solidarity." Unlike the people gathering today in front of Sen. Cantwell's office, the people supporting Iran don't generally think that they will be effecting anything directly simply by making their voices heard.
However, I have talked to Iranian-Americans who are in contact with people in Iran. And while most of the information is moving Iran --> USA, I do believe that there is some comfort knowing that people outside of Iran are aware of and care about what is happening in the streets. Numerous bloggers have spoken with people in Iran who have asked for shows of support.
As far as the suggestion about photographs, you're right. It's not likely that any picture taken in Seattle is going to end up in an Iranian's twitter and that's going to be what tips the balance between freedom and repression. But there are images getting into Iran from other parts of the world, and an image -- even one from some city in the US that nobody's ever heard of -- can be more powerful than a description of "dozens of people in Seattle held signs in support."
As far as what people in the US want and don't want, I think there are still many in and around Seattle who don't know any more about Iran than that it is a place that we ought to bomb. And if standing on a street corner can do put a human face on a people and culture to counteract the dehumanizing message that has dominated US foreign policy for the past several years, then it is worth it to me.
Sorry for rambling. I've been spending a lot of time the last few weeks thinking about what, if anything, I can do for the Iranian people, and I have asked myself all the questions you asked -- and I'm still not sure I have any good answers.
15
There are some things that can't be made up or influenced from the outside. One is the quality of your life, how much happiness you derive from the way things are being run. Two is how your country relates to the rest of the world. On both counts it's clear that Iran is failing. But their leadership either denies these problems or blames them on others. It won't work. The people in urban areas are much more sophisticated than that.
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