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. 

https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2017/12/iran-new-nationalism-religion-politics-trump-saudi-isis.html

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!