PERSIAN NATIONALISM. IS THIS WHERE IRAN IS HEADING?
First off, hats off to Narges Bajoghli for putting this
story together. It’s refreshing to see professional opinions, backed by solid
investigative research. Dr. Bajoghi is an Academic and we all know my feelings
towards most academics who write about the Middle East. Not this time. Dr.
Bajoghli nailed this one and I hope someone is taking what she is saying
seriously. A professionally researched
story! That’s a concept the US media has forgotten.
Now, over the course of this blog, I think I have addressed
the issue of possible Persian Nationalism more than once. So, when I came
across Dr. B’s story, it convinced me my hunch from a few years ago was
correct. You can’t get a nation that’s average age is under 30 to follow fat
old men who insist on you not listening to music, not dancing, not drinking and
not surfing the internet. The problem for Iran has been, that is exactly what
the old men of the so called “Revolution” still think. It’s not working and
it’s not working at an every increasing rate. The fat old men may not want to believe
it, but it appears “others” do!
THE IRGC:
By the way, if you have to ask, “What is the IRGC”, then you
need to go read some other blog site. Sorry, but going backwards is not my
style. Alright. If the fat old men in Tehran can’t see the handwriting on the
wall, even after the events of 2009, then what? Answer? The IRGC. From day one
I argued with my prior workmates that Qasem Soleimani is Nationalist, not a
devout follower of a religious cult. Are the Shia a “cult”? Well, according to
my Sunni friends in the region, they are worse than a cult, so for now, that’s
the label I’ll give them. By the way, I would love to hear Soleimani’s opinion
of those old men when nobody is around!
The concept of finding a way to keep the population of Iran
loyal to the government, whomever is running it, is not an issue unique to the
Persians. Every nation does this, but it’s only the smart ones that find a way
to make it work. Music videos placed on the internet? Yep, that is thinking out
of the box and the IRGC is on to something. Do the old men agree with the
tactic? Well, here comes a very…..very interesting question and one that Dr. B
may not have had time to contemplate. Are they? Are the old men really running
the country? Hassan Rouhani is a puppet, for now, who is loyal to the bidding
of Khamenei. Khamenei is what? Well, he is old, sick and completely out of
touch. I mean, let’s face it, the old man can’t keep a lid on Ahmadinejad even
after threatening him with prison. Why? Why is the guy who believes in magic carpets
still permitted to run amuck in Iran? How
much day to day authority does Khamenei and his band of religious nutcases truly
have? Who is the Luca Brasi for Khamenei? Yep. Soleimani. What’s the history of
betrayal by the closest confidants in the Mafia? Who’s making the drive to nationalize
the youth of Iran? Who is making music videos based on Persian history and not
even mentioning the Islamic movement?
Survival:
To the leadership of the IRGC, and trust me, this is
Soleimani, what is more important? The survival of the nation of Iran or the
future of a concept of government and religion that suppresses the human
spirit? What better tool to help hold a nation together than the vision of past
glory? A glory that was not based on crushing individual freedoms, although the
Greeks may disagree.
Iran is and has been in real trouble demographically. Yes,
the average age issue will level out over time as long as they don’t enter into
yet another protracted war. The Arab population of Iran, Persian Iran, is
growing and if anyone thinks the Arabs don’t remember the Persians, then they
need to go focus on some other part of the world. Iran’s future is in doubt, at
least that is what the IRGC believes and the number one mission of the IRGC is
to secure the future of Iran and if that means moving away from the so called “revolution”
then that is exactly what they will do.
Out of the woods:
Is that it? Are we seeing the light at the end of the tunnel
on the issue of Iran? I mean, if the IRGC is successful in changing the future
of Iran’s youth, doesn’t that mean this whole, Shia / Persian / Sunni Arab mess might go away? Might Iran become
the old Iran again; the Iran of a Secular government? Remember this old adage. “Be careful what you
ask for”! When was the last time a nation went wacky Nationalistic and stayed
peaceful? Good old Soleimani. I’ve said it before and I will say it again.
Perhaps he has visions of becoming the next God Father!
