I just read this article on the bbc website: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8267189.stm , and it really struck me. I truly hope that Israel does not take any military action against Iran. As we all were made aware of this summer, the vast majority of the Iranian population is under the age of 30, and many of them are not happy with their government.
True change in Iran must come from within the country. The Iranian/Persian people have a long and proud history of open and non-repressive regimes, and I hope and believe that the past 30-odd years of this totalitarian Islamic regime is a fad. This summer the world watched as everyday Iranian men and women sacrificed their bodies and their lives in their desire to make their lives better. True, the oppressive regime did not collapse, but I belief that its pillars were shaken. True democracies are not formed instantaneously, but rather through years of strife and pain. That is why it would be a terrible idea for any military intervention from an outside force, and that is why I believe that President Obama did the right thing when he took a hesitant position towards the revolution in Iran.
The worst thing for the revolutionaries would be for America, "the great Satan," to support their movement. Any citizens of Iran who had not yet made up their mind on whom to support would be scared away from supporting the reformers.
I believe that Iran will someday very soon become a much more democratic, non-oppressive society, but that change must come from within. As I read news articles and watched reports on tv about the reform movements in Iran, I was enthralled. The base of the movement were college students. Kids my own age whom were being beaten and killed by the oppressive police force for daring to question the legitimacy of their election.
I have come to realize just how much globalization has allowed me to truly identify with these college kids on the other side of the planet. They go to college just like me, use facebook just like me, use youtube just like me, and use tweeter just as millions of Americans do. These students, who some day will become the face of the nation, are, thanks to the ever shrinking world, using the same tools and discovering the same things about life as myself. As their government tries to oppress them and restrict their usage of technology, they just find internet proxys to get around.
I firmly believe that Iran should be left alone from outside military intervention, because the current regime cannot hold itself together much longer. The populous, younger generation is able to access the rest of the world through the internet, and are able to plan opposition movements and let the world know of the injustices being done. This younger generation is more tech-savvy than their elders and can get their internet firewalls, and many of them want to be more free like America and the West. If Israel, or any other nation, decides to use military force against Iran, I believe that reform in Iran would be pushed back by years. There is change afoot in Iran, and this change should be allowed to occur naturally.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
In some ways, I think Iran-watchers have thought there's sort of a race against time here. To put it simply, can the long-awaited reformist youth movement topple the regime before Iran gets the bomb?
ReplyDeleteJust to offer the argument against "waiting", it probably gots that social movements are slow and unpredictable (they have no timetable), whereas building a bomb is a technical issue that we can project will be done in the next few years.
Stopping nuclear proliferation is very tough, for several reasons. One is that, as you mentioned, outside intervention to stop it can (in some circumstances) strengthen hardline regimes.
I think you have picked up on something important: a large number of Iranians hate their regime, but most of those would consider themselves patriots that would hate the prospect of American and/or Israeli intervention even more.
To agree here, there can be a problem when outsiders try to influence a social movement. It was seen in Iraq when the factions who had been at war with one another for decades came together to battle the US invaders. Or could a new charismatic leader come to change the minds of the young Iranians. The youth are often fickle and easily persuaded. Iran is a potential hot zone and one that definitely needs to be carefully watched but I most definitely agree with John when he says that military intervention in Iran could create a whole new host of problems for the entire region.
ReplyDeletehave a look at Justine Griffin-Churchill's blog...
ReplyDelete