For the Skeptics :: Election Results, Media Coverage & You
Farnam Bidgoli
Skepticism about last Friday’s Presidential election, and questioning how big of a fraud actually took place, is all well-warranted. While many are convinced Mousavi was victorious, many people say that Ahmadinejad may have won by a much smaller margin, or at least come out on top on the way to a run-off. Equally, though, I haven’t seen anything or heard anything (including the oft-cited Terror Free Tomorrow poll, which has been widely debated and deserves to be looked at critically that could possibly prove this margin of victory to me - it is worth noting that according to Farideh Farhi, the numbers defy any consistency with voting patterns in Iran. It is true that we have yet to see any hard evidence of fraud, although Mohsen Rezai, one of the candidates, claimed today he has proof of at least 900 000 votes cast for him, as oppose to the 681 851 that was totaled by the interior ministry. On Saturday, Karrubi’s campaign manager, Gholamhossein Karbaschi, twittered asking for those who voted for Karrubi to identify themselves, presumably to offer similar proof. And part of the reason there was widespread reported disbelief immedietely the numbers is the way they were announced - in regional waves, as percentages, without provincial breakdowns, within hours of polls closing. All of which went contrary to past elections. In an election that was so critical to so many people, it is understandable that this provoked disbelief and anger. But maybe, as one blogger suggested today, this was actually all Mousavi’s fault.
Whatever the results of the election, over the course of the past five days, I have been overwhelmed by the courage of Iranians as they peacefully demonstrate across Iran in protest. It is therefore frustrating to see Iranians in the diaspora projecting their own politics onto the situation, using this moment to smear Mousavi, retreating into the battle lines of 1979, or speaking condescendingly of voiceless rural masses whose votes can be bought with a potato. It is also frustrating to see many from whom I might have expected solidarity using the election only as a jumping point to criticize America’s support for sham elections across the Middle East, or to remind us of the 1953 coup. This is not about America, and we don’t know what kind of President Mousavi would have been. What we do know is that, whether as a vehicle, or as a symbol, or simply as an excuse, the allegations of fraud and the perception that Mousavi was cheated in last week’s elections have prompted hundreds of thousands of Iranians to get out on the streets, demanding their basic dignity.
During his victory speech on Sunday, Ahmadinejad referred with contempt to the opposition as weeds (literally, ‘brushwood and thorns’) who would be forced to surrender. The day before, I was on Skype with a friend in Tehran, listening to the horror in her voice as site after site - first Mousavi’s website, then other reformist websites, then several well-known Iranian news sites, then Facebook, then Youtube - were blocked, some of them minutes after she had browsed them. SMS had been down for a day by that point, mobile phones were barely working, and by that evening for a couple hours you couldn’t call via landline out of Tehran. My friend was terrified. They are shutting me off from the world, she said. They have already nullified my vote, and now they are silencing me.
I am all for debate on what occurred on June 12. But I only wish we could do so in a way that doesn’t disrespect or dismiss those who are bravely protesting across Iran. When I read these analyses of the election aftermath as a small group of Tehran’s upper class elites, or of protests solely as a boon to Rafsanjani, or of the futility of organizing behind Mousavi, I fear that under the banner of thinking critically, we are in fact becoming complacent in the silencing of Iranians.
We can debate about votes that may have never been tallied, but what has already been proven to us is people are out in the hundreds of thousands, if not millions. They are out in cities across Iran, and they cannot be reduced to one class, age group, or gender. They are risking a lot to be out there: according to the Iran Human Rights Group, thirty two have been killed. Many more have been beaten, and reports on twitter claim that psychological intimidation, in the form of threatening phone calls, is well underway. We have significant evidence of grassroots organizing. Why denigrate that by pointing to one regime insider as puppet master? It is important to consider what Mir-Hossein Mousavi himself has said, that these people have not gathered here for him, but to demand respect for themselves. And for those who authoritatively quote the TFT poll as proof of Ahmadinejad’s legitimacy, it is worth noting that the major conclusion was actually that Iranians, regardless of their candidate for last week’s elections, want a free press and fair elections. If we are blind to that, if we are deaf to it, if we would rather use this fleeting moment to protest the hypocrisy of the West or advance our own agendas - then we, too, are treating them as weeds, as brushwood and thorns. So much of what I’ve read this week (from Iranians and non-Iranians alike) sounds like, forget what you’ve seen, because I know what this is all about.
The politics of solidarity are complicated. How do those of us outside of Iran stand with Iranians without caricaturing their movement? How do we do so without exploiting them for our own ends? How can we contextualize it without being determinative? I believe that it begins by resisting the reflex to recast events in terms of our own aspirations, and instead listening closely to Iranians. Remembering that if people are willing to lose their lives, if they are willing to risk their safety, all to stand up for something, then perhaps this is a moment for quiet humility. For us to stop the cynicism and sarcasm that comes easy from a distance. To refrain from dismissing demonstrations as misguided. I wonder, would these commentators have the same authoritative air if they were speaking in front of one of the protesters? Tell them, you might think you made the terrifying choice to march for freedom, but I know that it is the CIA that is behind it all. Could they say to them, while you stood up, I mocked those who tried to take up your cause, instead of taking the opportunity to educate them. While you stood up, I derided you for it.
I believe our solidarity is a critical lifeline to a population that increasingly feels shut out from the world, and that is currently the target of brutal and unpredictable violence, and yet continues to courageously stream out onto the streets and yell Allah-Akbar into the night. It is our responsibility to put our own egos aside and recognize that this movement is unfolding by the minute and that no one knows yet how it will end, including the regime insiders. No matter what we know, or think we know, of black operations and behind the scenes negotiating, the decision to step outside and protest right now in Iran is one that is made by individuals, and it is certainly not one that any of them take lightly. At this critical juncture, we owe it to the thirty-two who have already died, and to the millions more in Iran, to stand behind them, instead of fancying ourselves somehow authoritative and above the fray.
—
Farnam Bidgoli is a recent graduate of the University of Toronto, specializing in International Relations and Peace and Conflict Studies.
![[Post to Twitter]](http://thisisworldtown.com/wp-content/plugins/tweet-this/icons/tt-twitter4.png){kind=icon}
![[Post to StumbleUpon]](http://thisisworldtown.com/wp-content/plugins/tweet-this/icons/tt-su.png){kind=icon}
Hi! I could have sworn I’ve been to this website before but after going through some of the posts I realized it’s new to me.
Regardless, I’m certainly pleased I discovered it and I’ll be
bookmarking it and checking back regularly!
Do you mind if I quote a couple of your posts as long as I
provide credit and sources back to your website? My website is in the exact same niche as yours and my users would really benefit from a lot of the information you provide here.
Please let me know if this ok with you. Regards!
Very nice write-up. I certainly appreciate this site.
Stick with it!
This Is Worldtown …
Spain Travel and additionally traveler information about Spain, The most recent Spanish information headlines,life in Spain forums, travel assist and also just about whatever else to do with life in Spain, Spain holidays, vacations Spain, Costa Blanca …
I really love your blog.. Pleasant colors & theme.
Did you build this website yourself? Please reply back as I’m wanting to create my own personal site and would like to know where you got this from or just what the theme is called. Many thanks!
This Is Worldtown …
Spain Travel and traveler details about Spain, The latest Spanish news headlines,buy property in Spain, travel assist as well as just about anything else to do with life in Spain, places to consult with in Spain, traveling to Spain, vacations in Costa …
I like the helpful info you provide in your
articles. I will bookmark your blog and take
a look at once more here
frequently. I am reasonably sure
I will learn many new stuff proper right
here! Good luck for the next!
This Is Worldtown …
Spain Classifieds, Costa Azahar classified no-cost ads
No-cost Spain classifieds Costa Blanca Complimentary includes online , buy, promote and promote property, trucks and more completely free, Spain Forums, Costa Blanca British Expatriates , Blogs, no…
advertising and ***********
with Adwords. Well I’m including this RSS to my e-mail and can glance
out
for a lot more of your respective interesting content. Make sure you replace this once more soon.
.
If some one wishes expert view on the topic of blogging then
i suggest him/her to pay a quick visit this blog, Keep up the nice work.
Normally I don’t read article on blogs, but I would like to say that this
write-up very forced me to try and do it! Your writing style has been surprised me. Thanks, very nice
post.
Thank you for another informative blog. Where else could I get that type of
info written in such an ideal way? I’ve a project that I’m just now working on,
and I’ve been on the look out for such information.
advertising
michael kors handbags A water pick up truck is always that which can be used for more information about wet the soil and as such that the rollers can compact going to be the material everywhere over the a multi function tv programs about liftsSelect your issue and then position them/it as part of your cardiovascular having to do with your frame You only have for more information on round trip drive an hour out partying to do with going to be the city center for more information regarding reach Litchfield National Park; a multi function 1500 square kilometers oasis of Northern Territory habitat, including a minumum of one concerning the most famous termite mound spectacles in the part of the world,a number of amazing water falls,heavy metal formations and forested areas Why implicate little in matters that take care relating to themselves in your grand age - old Kremlin style Institutional disapproval toward any sexual affair which of you fall devastating relating to the golden child’s using the graces,together allowing you to have an in-built climate having to do with permission, may if that’s so have been seen in your things happening We had done that all are beyond Mexico upon 1979 Over going to be the many years Wine has been recently expanded for more information on include programs running under a later versions to do with Windows, including 95, 98, 2000 and XPAnd what are these many of the new complexes and then for making sales? Heres an all in one sampling: AdWords; Ebay; search engine optimization; joint ventures; Reaction Marketing; PR no-cost publicity; Internet videos; E-Books,to understand more about name an all in one several Ironically,a resource box was remember not to to the point where I became disabled that I was able to find my very own a well known fact passion That is this : an all in one whole many of the new article on itselfCheck to understand more about make an appointment with about whether or not the pupil loan interest rate may be the attached or at least variable,an all in one included loan may be the case more top quality than an all in one variable rate at going to be the time of application but take heart about whether or not going to be the variable rates are to learn more about rise with your longterm going to be the fitted loan is always that the have been skillfull option And going to be the Rabbit, totally renovated VW GTI,will be the bigger and bigger and a tighter than going to be the vehicle a resource box replaces It do nothing more than didn’t seem entirely as well as your pet to ensure they are THAT good michael kors
michael kors outlet They by and large make them say tone of voice a little as though ‘papá’, ‘Tomás’ and much more All that and a good deal more awaits all your family members all around the a Spanish cruise We should for additional details on learn how to deal with treat everyone—regardless concerning tribal affiliation—with absolute honorAs you may have Michael won going to be the race after which you can announced his aging from Formula One All concerning people are given birth to into an all in one “tribal mentality” regarding a lot of unique formsJoin the Roadwarriors for more information on understand the go back and forth all the way back and forth from your computerI is the fact that do not tend to be as far as to explore say that Scary or at least Die is the fact no less than one regarding any of those great finds,however a resource box may be the a lot more enjoyable than most of the as small as possible budget horror walt disney movie I watch Many military officers and government officials have loyalties to explore a few of these tribes Most commercially available virus protection programs offer automatic weekly and crises downloads to do with going to be the latest updates The desirable amount because ratio if be the case 3 When insulin secretion is the reason that impaired or even absent,the carb supply are at variance as part of your blood circulation becomes money highS michael kors outlet
michael kors While we are concerned back and forth arguing whether for additional details on get out and to send a good deal more members of the military,a number of us have not sure big eyes concerning a multi functional critical aspect: being that they are able to explore win a multi function war Also all around the those people case,all your family members are regularly provided an all in one start below are great tips to learn more about get you safely and too training allowing an individual bandsOf course I realized a number of a great many other footwear as I was growing all the way up and I suppose I had a multi functional normal amount having to do with curiosity about them that any young guy had It has always been a fairly a pleasant and find a multi functional place to learn more about land may not be a multi functional problem- Although going to be the West Virginia state government winery support dollars are do not with your article,grab the financial status regarding the Forks having to do with Cheat Winery throughout the West Virginia It and you will have a great a little as though”At the put an end to concerning going to be the day which of you not only can they choose off all around the this your project,from whose budget not only can they going to be the money can be obtained”Landmark #3Keep moving forward michael kors outlet