They’re rioting in Africa, there’s strife in Iran.
When I was a lad, the Kingston Trio graced us with a song called “The Merry Minuet.” It made me laugh back in 1962Â and now makes me scratch my head at how little has changed (in some respects) since then.
There is indeed strife in Iran. You may not have noticed – understandable since it has mostly been pushed off the air by more important things, like Tiger Woods’ sexual peccadilloes. But if you haven’t been following what’s going on there, it’s time you did.
The demonstrations which started last June following the smelly results of the election continued at a low level until early December. Then the death of the spiritual leader of the protest movement brought both young students and older devout Muslims into the street, first to mourn, then to demonstrate, and finally to riot after the security forces responded with heavy-handed violence.
Last June the demonstrations were about fixing an election; they were not about the fundamental system of governance. People did not demand the end of the Islamic Republic, only that the republic deliver on its promises. Now people are beginning to call for a fundamental change in government. Pay attention. This is big stuff.
http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/meast/01/03/iran.protests/index.html
http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/meast/01/01/iran.moussavi/index.html
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/12/27/world/main6026837.shtml
Related Articles |
