Posted on 01/26/2005 2:17:53 AM PST by F14 Pilot
(CBS) The Iranian students storming the U.S. Embassy in Tehran in 1979 became icons of worldwide Islamic revolution.
Twenty-five years later, Iran's youth is rebelling again. But as CBS News Correspondent Elizabeth Palmer reports, this time against the Islamic government itself.
Fully 60 percent of Iranians are under the age of 30, and they have had enough of strict Islamic rule. Everywhere there are signs that the religious authorities are losing control.
Especially for the young, personal behavior in public can be very political. You can easily see some of these small acts of rebellion in a place that would look familiar to any American teenager, like a shopping mall.
Women let their scarves slip back to show their hair. They show off their makeup, tight coats and high heels. Even five years ago, a couple holding hands in public could have been arrested and flogged. The mullahs hope that turning a blind eye to this minor defiance will relieve pressure for major change.
That pressure did explode in 1999. Students rioted and were brutally put down.
It was a grim lesson for Azadeh Shirzad who helps run her family's print shop. She remembers what happened to friends who got involved.
"Some of them were arrested and some of them were killed and you know? I am myself ... I am afraid of that," she says.
Islamic morality police tend to stay away from trendy places like fancy cappuccino bars. But even here, people would talk to CBS News only if they could hide their faces.
One couple says that if the police do raid the café, or even private parties, young people just bribe them to go away.
A party, they say, would cost $100.
It adds up to a cash bonus for the police but a long-term cost for the government and growing contempt for the Islamic state.
That worries mullah Mohammed al Abtahi. Until September, he was one of Iran's vice presidents. He quit, disgusted by the corrupt and reactionary regime. He's traded in politics for computer blogging.
On his popular Web site, al Abtahi posts irreverent photos of establishment figures - like one of Iran's nuclear minister picking his nose - that he takes with his cell phone.
"Our young people are as well informed as young people in China or Britain or America. Anyone who tries to limit them is bound to fail," he says.
The hardliners can always launch another temporary crackdown. But in the end, the 1970s Islamic revolution seems certain to be undone by its own children.
more from his blog:
"May God bless the Late Arafat. He had a clever resistance to attain the Palestinians rights. I hope that Abu Mazen does not give the people’s capital to Israelians."
http://www.webneveshteha.com/en/weblog/?id=1001066207
Do most Iranians support the nuclear program?
Do they realize they dont nuclear power because they have enough oil energy?
Is the student movement a legitimate force or just a pigeon stool organization for the Iranian government to stomp opposition?
If the Israelis or Americans take out the Iranian nuclear program will the Iranian people be righteous and support US?
I would appreciate some feed back and to gain an insight on what is going on in Persia?
Persian women are gorgeous!!!
Iranians believe that Israel has the right to exist in peace and they believe it is not their issue to talk about. Israel is a sovereign nation and Israeli-Palestinian conflict is not an issue of the Iranian people. They do want the regime in Tehran to leave the Israel-Palestine conflict and stop interventions. In other words, Iranians prefer Israelis to Arabs.
Most Iranians do not support WMD programs cause it is just wasting our money and this regime is not trusted.
Regarding oil, I believe we can use Nuke in its peaceful way when this regime is gone. I believe we cant burn our oil to produce electricity. We should invest oil money to promote the social life in Iran, but as I mentioned earlier, no body wants the Islamic regime to be in charge of nuke plans. They are not trusted.
Some may support the US or Israeli attacks on the nuke plants and some may not. Why? Because history has shown that any foreign military invasion on Iran just unites the people behind the government (no matter who rules, it is a sign of nationalism). So elite part of the Iranian society believes that the nuke issue will be solved right after this regime is gone.
You can also check my profile if you wish and I hope it helps you get more info on my motherland.
You have a deep sense of Persian culture and heritage. You're the last person i'd expect to advocate ignorance towards the culture.
Do you think the mullahs government is my real representative?
They are not. The Shah govt was my real government but not this Mullahs regime.
Forget about them... next Iranian government will be the Israelis ally
This guy is a moderate Mullah!
WOW! talk about gorgeous! The mullahs will suffer for forcing them to cover up. The less they wear the better!
Lighten up.
An aerial attack on Iranian nuclear facilities similar to the Israeli attack on Iraq in 1981 would be popular.
Now is their a legitimate student movement or any type of resistence movement that could be armed and overthrow the government?
If they need air support that would be no problem.
What type of government would most Iranians want?
Perhaps a constitutional monarchy with the return of the Shah's family?
I was JK
I hope so
Now is their a legitimate student movement or any type of resistence movement that could be armed and overthrow the government?
Yes, there are thousands of students and regular people willing to fight the regime by any possible means
What type of government would most Iranians want?
I don't think it is very important to talk about this now as the mullahs regime is still there. Most of us need a democrtaic form of government and it really doesn't matter how Iran is gonna be goverened as long as we have a euorpean or american style democracy in Iran. Or I might say we can have an Iranian style of democracy where you wont be able to see any where in the middle east. To me and many of my friends, freedom of Iran from tyranny and culture of hate is more vital
Perhaps a constitutional monarchy with the return of the Shah's family?
Personally, this can be my favorite form of government but I am not making decision and the people of Iran should say the last word. And I hope we can say our words and have our own ideal government in a free election soon.
u men should be ashamed of urselves
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