Viva la (r)Evolucion!

Although I haven’t yet posted on the situation in Iran, I have been faithfully observing. Its absolutely thrilling and I am so proud of both the Iranian people for their dedication and to President Obama for keeping relatively quiet on the situation while still condemning the Iranian government. I don’t think its necessary for me to explain why its important that the US government observes quietly from a distance because history makes that very clear. I also don’t think I can say anything that hasn’t already been said about the implications for future relations or speculate on the inevitable (r)evolution. Rather, I’m much more interested in focusing on the nature of the protests and the rebellion in terms of civil society empowerment.

For the greater Middle East and elsewhere in the world, bloody revolutions and military coups that replace one tyrant with another only to have him ousted in yet another violent uprising are all too common. In the Cold War era, these cycles were encouraged through the various political alignments and the priority of oil. While oil is still a priority, global affairs have experienced a major shift in consciousness. After 9/11, the Huntington Clash of Civilizations theory was the closest and easiest explanation for the West and non-West alike to make sense of what had been happening since the end of the Cold War. However, the cracks in the theory appeared early on and with the many failures of the Bush administration it quickly lost credibility. There may not yet be a clear majority of theoretical approaches in the international community, but what should be clear is that we cannot divide the world along such imaginary and meaningless lines anymore. Especially when we, the US, have so many different interests in various region that don’t involve oil.

In the days of the Islamic Revolution, the US looked at Iran as a threat because they would not side with us over the Soviet Union. Iran became an unstable variable in our great Middle Eastern plan. Now, when we look at the civil unrest, we don’t see as much of the concern over strategic alignments anymore. We see a moderate and thoroughly modern population struggling against oppression and they are gaining support worldwide. Although Iran’s relationship with its Arab neighbors may be a troubled one, the prospect of this uprising should strike fear into the hearts of many Middle Eastern theocrats and autocrats. Its not US intervention they should fear when they crack down on dissidents in the name of “security”, its their own people.

The civilians of Iran have empowered themselves despite their government’s attempts to disempower them. Protests were banned, and before anyone could attempt to organize, spontaneous demonstrations of civil disobedience already began to take place. Although this lack of organization is detrimental to the long-term stamina of the protesters, the attempts of the authorities to crack down have not gone unnoticed. The bans, the arrests, the killings are occurrences we should be prepared to face, and will most likely continue to face, in this crisis. But in this instance, the fact that so many of these occurrences are flooding the airwaves and the internet and provoking global moral outrage is PROOF that nonviolent methods of resistance WORK.

If we want to see real change occur, not just in Iran, but anywhere, there are two responsibilities we must all accept: (1)those directly involved in the conflict must continue to resist nonviolently, and (2) those of us who are outside must recognize, validate, and legitimize this form of resistance. As I happen to fall into the latter category, I say to all my Iranian friends, colleagues, and readers that I am excited for you and watching such displays of passion and commitment make my idealistic youthfulness that much more pleasurable. To my non-Iranian American, Palestinian, Israeli, Muslim, Jewish, Christian, White, Black, South Asian, and Latino friends, colleagues, and readers: let us continue to watch, sympathize, empathize and SPEAK OUT for these people.