Sadly, a bloody revolution is what it will take for Iran...

[crimsonblue]

It has become strikingly clear to me that the Guardian Council of the Islamic Republic of Iran will never voluntarily relinquish control of the country. Their efforts at a democratic form of government, the people of Iran, especially the youth, have staged massive protests against the Government. These protests have been been met with a violent response. Peace, unfortunately, will not win out the day.

Throughout history, most revolutions have been carried on the bloodied backs of those striving for the most basic, and enduring rights of all humanity: the right to self determination and self-governance. Only by sacrificing one's most cherished possession, life, can tyrannical rule be overthrown. Rule by tyranny cannot withstand the unenduring demand of freedom. Those fighting for a better world must be willing to die for their cause. People can die, but the ideas they carry on their bloodied backs will live on.

I offer my deepest sympathies and support for the Iranians that are fighting what they may see as a desperate, hopeless cause. In the words of Dr. King: "A man who won't die for something is not fit to live." Fight the good fight, brothers and sisters. Don't lose hope. Your day of freedom shall come.

[malaise]

1. It won't be your blood though

Just like Iraq.

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. But just like Iraq soon people will forget, except for the few of us

who still follow these stories.

Sadly the Murican attention span is measured in seconds.

And even more sadly, some folks round these parts should get out of the stupor and realize that it will take us taking a page of many a revolution, yes including the 1960s, if we really want some stuff.

Don't count on it. And yes I am willing to put mine on the line.

[sharesunited]

2. What about subverting quietly?

Clerics can't run everything. They need regular Iranian citizens to keep their society running.

Quietly, quietly subvert.

[drm604]

4. I think that this is what they're trying to prevent.

From some of the accounts, they seem to be attacking people at random in the street, even people who are going about legitimate business. I think the point is to have a population that is too fearful to practice subversion.

Subversion, even quiet subversion, takes at least some coordination and organizing. They want people so cowed that they're afraid to even talk about subversion. They want people who are afraid to trust anyone. They want people who are afraid that they may be attacked or spirited away at any time for any reason or no reason at all. They want people who are afraid to stand out or draw any attention to themselves in any way.

Whether this will work remains to be seen. I hope that it won't. I suspect that it won't. But I can't be certain.

[sharesunited]

5. I'm suddenly less competent than I was, and I am home sick more often.

A very difficult problem for regime enforcement. Wink.

[nadinbrzezinski]

6. Read 1984 or how real germans spoke of the Stazi

the window for Iranians to get what they want might be closing

and that saddens me, I hoped for the revolution, not the Tianamen square scenario

[drm604]

7. This depends on everyone deciding on their own to do this

and maintaining it for a long period of time. I'm not sure how many people have the patience to live like this for a long period.

Of course, the constant fear and tension by itself is likely to lower productivity and competence.

In any case, I'm not sure that lower economic productivity is in itself enough to bring down a regime. Exhibit A: North Korea.

[sharesunited]

8. I just wonder if there is a Farsi word for

passive-aggressive.

What would Gandhi do?

[drm604]

10. Gandhi would do what the Iranians are trying to do.

In his case it was against the British, who at least cared about their international image and had limits to what they were willing to do.

The current regime in Iran doesn't seem to be limited by such considerations.

[NightWatcher]

9. I have a hard time encouraging others to fight and die while I type on my keyboard

Sometimes we just have to let others do their own thing. It is not up to us to encourage or even voice support for them. That's their world and their life.

[Vidar]

11. Probably also true of the US. The difference is that the Iranians might actually do it.