A thought that stuck with me from the outset was that the regime's rhetoric also channels resistance - which you'd expect, since they came to power after a revolution - so you have two opposing factions that portray themselves as beleaguered by forces set to destroy them. Of course one of these factions (the opposition) just has better claim to victim status and better values generally, but I can't help but draw yet another connection to U.S. party politics. In both cases there's a conservative side that has massive institutional and cultural bias in its favor (the Electoral College, the senate, FPtP, the 2nd amendment, etc) whose grasp on power is supposedly in constant danger of slippage, while the other side has to constantly manage perceptions of weakness while its true allegiances are questioned from all directions. Thanks again, I enjoy reading perspectives out of Iran.
If anything, Iran could take a few lessons from Syria: Namely that they need to crack down harder on the kind of malcontents like Parastoo.
A year or two in jail would do wonders for the young, rich, Teheran youth who want their “freedom”. And who, despite being a small minority, is mainly responsible for fermenting trouble.
Great piece, contrasting Parastoo's defiance and Khamenei's delusion and denial.
A thought that stuck with me from the outset was that the regime's rhetoric also channels resistance - which you'd expect, since they came to power after a revolution - so you have two opposing factions that portray themselves as beleaguered by forces set to destroy them. Of course one of these factions (the opposition) just has better claim to victim status and better values generally, but I can't help but draw yet another connection to U.S. party politics. In both cases there's a conservative side that has massive institutional and cultural bias in its favor (the Electoral College, the senate, FPtP, the 2nd amendment, etc) whose grasp on power is supposedly in constant danger of slippage, while the other side has to constantly manage perceptions of weakness while its true allegiances are questioned from all directions. Thanks again, I enjoy reading perspectives out of Iran.
If anything, Iran could take a few lessons from Syria: Namely that they need to crack down harder on the kind of malcontents like Parastoo.
A year or two in jail would do wonders for the young, rich, Teheran youth who want their “freedom”. And who, despite being a small minority, is mainly responsible for fermenting trouble.
Shorter @V900: "Hijabs for thee but not for me." Go away bot.