End of the Islamic Regime...
16 years ago
General
...in Iran?
Not likely, but considering that Ayatollah Khomeini set up the "New Islamic Government" based almost solely on the idea that the ruling leaders were guided by "divine providence", when I read that the Guardian Council (edit: Guardian Council, not Elder Council) is considering recounting some votes, it seems that some of the faith in that providence might be lost.
I personally doubt the protests and violence in Iran will result in a full-scale revolution - but what it might do, indeed, what I think it's already done, is galvanized a large percentage of the Iranian populace against the establishment - created yet another idealist faction which isn't afraid to openly speak out against the elders, or even the Ayatollah himself.
1979 wasn't all that long ago, and many of the people who marched in support of Khomeini and the Islamic Revolution, may very well now be among the protesters, risking their well-being to challenge the very authority they helped to create 30 years ago.
But 30 years is also long enough for a new generation to grow up and start reaching for the torch the older generation is holding just a little bit too high. Most of the protesters I've seen are younger men and women who have grown up in the world that Khomeini and his Council created, and I think their protests are more then just dissatisfaction with an election - they're dissatisfied with a government that doesn't appeal to them.
While it's not likely these protests will result in revolution, or the toppling of the Islamic regime; what they have done is taken away all the idealism and a lot of the "divine providence" from that - and that might be a mortal wound that is slow in the result, but inevitable nonetheless.
D.O.P.R
Not likely, but considering that Ayatollah Khomeini set up the "New Islamic Government" based almost solely on the idea that the ruling leaders were guided by "divine providence", when I read that the Guardian Council (edit: Guardian Council, not Elder Council) is considering recounting some votes, it seems that some of the faith in that providence might be lost.
I personally doubt the protests and violence in Iran will result in a full-scale revolution - but what it might do, indeed, what I think it's already done, is galvanized a large percentage of the Iranian populace against the establishment - created yet another idealist faction which isn't afraid to openly speak out against the elders, or even the Ayatollah himself.
1979 wasn't all that long ago, and many of the people who marched in support of Khomeini and the Islamic Revolution, may very well now be among the protesters, risking their well-being to challenge the very authority they helped to create 30 years ago.
But 30 years is also long enough for a new generation to grow up and start reaching for the torch the older generation is holding just a little bit too high. Most of the protesters I've seen are younger men and women who have grown up in the world that Khomeini and his Council created, and I think their protests are more then just dissatisfaction with an election - they're dissatisfied with a government that doesn't appeal to them.
While it's not likely these protests will result in revolution, or the toppling of the Islamic regime; what they have done is taken away all the idealism and a lot of the "divine providence" from that - and that might be a mortal wound that is slow in the result, but inevitable nonetheless.
D.O.P.R
FA+

She's probably not the only person being injured, or perhaps dying, during this unrest, but she may become the most emblematic for the uprisers.
*WARNING - VERY GRAPHIC*
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZERJTB3Go8s
*WARNING - VERY GRAPHIC*
D.O.P.R
D.O.P.R
D.O.P.R
But you know, even if the populist movement wins, it doesn't mean much for us. The Iranian population dislikes the U.S. regardless of who's in charge, so it won't mean much for us in the short run.
It doesn't really matter if Bob the Slave likes me after he's been liberated - I'm just glad he's not a slave.
D.O.P.R