Telling their story:

I wrote the following email in response to http://counterpunch.com/roberts06192009.html

There are many such articles they should not stay unanswered.

Mr. Roberts,

Young men and women have been killed brutally and all they wanted was a voice not even a vote. Some blow a bomb to have voice and some like these youth the children of my generation shed their blood to have a voice. So when I see articles circulated and ideas are grabbed on as easy explantation for these events by authors whom I had read for many years and whose opinions were close to my heart I feel infuriated.

This situation reminds me of September 11 2001. Right after that terrible event, people asked the most natural question : Why? Why did they do that? Why do they hate us? That question could have led to so many liberating answers but the moment the phrase :They hate our freedom got currency then everyone felt happy because it seemingly fit and there was not to be any more questions.

So is with this Coup d' etat. I choose this word carefully. I do not use the word coup d'etat lightly. The votes were not counted as simple as that and the stage was set for a grab for total power by one faction of IR, and perhaps with the hope to do away with elections all together. That is how I see it and and that is why I call it Coup d'etat. I am not writing this letter to prove anything but to show another perspective and another possible explanation.

Now with events of the last 8 days story, at least among many commentators, has become that Mousavi's supporters were sore losers, they were rich, spoiled, North Tehranis (or Urban) and paid by CIA. Rural people voted for Ahmadinejad who was the great socialist and redistrubted the wealth among the poor. Basically completely believing AhmadiNejad's story and being tone deaf to the story in the other side. And it fits, we have all seen the colour and velvet revolution and CIA did and is doing their best to destabilise Iran and I am sure the idea of velvet revolution in Iran must have been somebody's pet project in Washington. It fits and the judge does not see any need to examine the evidence closer or have a jury to examine the evidence. The verdict is given. The rural part of Iran must have voted for AhmadiNejad, Mousavi supporter's are sore losers and/or paid (manipulated by CIA).

Now I am no fan of velvet revolutions and certainly no fan of bombing countries to freedom. And 10 days ago I would argue that Iran almost had democracy and while I hated AhmadiNejad's ideas I would argue that he had just about enough legitimacy. I was never a fan of regime change in Iran. As matter of fact, I am still not a fan of regime change. But my wishes are completely irrelevant now, Iranians in Iran have to decide that for themselves. I talk about my wishes so that you know my political colours and not confuse me with a supporter of an Iranian Chalabi.

I will tell you my interpretation of facts of which I know a few more than you do. And believe me if I could blame America in any perceivable way I would; I am Iranian and would never pass up a juicy conspiracy theory.

No one will know how rural Iran voted and I am not going to set out to prove anything. Just that some of your implicit or explicit assumptions about rural Iran may not be true.

Urban/Rural Iran is not a blue red divide a la USA and Mousavi and AhmadiNejad are not analogous of Kerry, Bush.

First Iran was Urbanised only in the last few generations. For example in the last 30 years the Urban/rural divide has gone from 40-60 to 70-30 %. This means that family ties between rural and urban Iran are still strong and these sections are not isolated from each other. Second it is wrong to assume that rural Iran automatically will supports stablishment candidate for several reasons(I do not use Conservative/Liberal or Right/Left contrasts because I am not sure they would apply in Iran). One being that rural Iran is not monolithic and it compromises many ethnicities with their own cultures and set of greivences against the central government. In effect, a talk about rural Iran does not makes sense, better to talk about different regions. Second some of these rural areas historically have been more progressive than some Urban centers like Qom and Esfahan (the stereotypes I have maybe absolutely outdated by now). Last Iran has had a relatively egaliterian educations system This means that many families in "rural Iran" will have children in Universities who would supposedly "enlighten" their parents. And Mousavi has his own "rural" credentials because it was while he was prime minister during eight years of war that Iran had the least disparity of income and furthermore he changed the landscape of the rural Iran by taking water, electricity and telephone and roads to the remotest parts. Duties completely neglected by Shah. I am not sure who shall take the credit but he was the prime minister at the time. People still talk about the "golden" years of war economically speaking. And while the protest where everywhere in the country it is inevitable they should start in big cities because big cities are not only the center of power but also give a measure of anonymity to the protesters.

Mr. Roberts this story is not about America. Americans are neither heros nor villains of this story. This is a purely Iranian tale. Some humility will go a long way.

One question, for 30 years Iranians have suffered under this government. Many of us changed allegiences very soon after revolution when the first wave of repressions started. We kept quiet because Iran was in a war, because we were afraid and because we never knew how many of us there really was. We showed our discontent in small ways, pouring into the streets was unthinkable.

Why do you think all of sudden people risked everything and poured into the streets? Rumour mill is very alive in Iran and even before any killings and brutality happening Iranians must have imagined the worst. There were rumours about Hamas and Hizbollah killers among riot police. In spite of all the real and imagined threats they risked everything and poured into the streets, and alas reality proved much worse but that is another story. So why now? Here is my take on it: for the first time they were sure of their numbers, this time it was not about establishment and non establishment, reform or no reform but about sense and none sense. Maybe because it was obvious who lied about the price of cheese on national TV, under whose presidency Iran had unheard of oil revenue and cannot tell the nation what he did with the wealth, the list of ineptitudes goes on. It must have been obvious so obvious that they got angry. They had asked for so little and given so much. They had asked for so little, a Mousavi presidency would change so little and that was denied them and then they were insulted with the figures. Maybe if they had published some closer results or AhmadiNejad had won in the second round nothing would have happend but insult was added to injury and that was the last straw.

I feel ashamed to entangle myself with an almost academic discussion when the proof is so self evident when you see the sheer numbers. Not to accept them as the manisfestation of the will of the nation is almost willful ignorance if not the arrogance of let us not believe the natives. Many Iranians will not explain anything because they will not think there is anything to explain, it being so obvious. If over one million risk their lives when threatened by the interior minister something is afoot.

And what if the results were completely accurate, as one protester put. That means 34% voted for Mousavi. This 34% have no share in power, have no say in their destincy nothing, even if they were 90% and Mousavi would been elected. Where is their voice?

What about the other charge that they are all bunch of rich or middle class urban and westernised kids so what? And what a middle class! What courage, what dignity and what grace. If only everywhere the middle class would stand up for what they beleive as they do. And Mr. Roberts they are not just middle class, among them are poets, writers, philosophers, doctors, professors, lawyers, human right activisits and yes some clergies. What is a nation without its artists. What is a nation who has silenced its poets and philosophers? What is a nation without its soul?

Mr Roberst they are not fighting about democracy, democracy is a too distant dream. I would not presume to know what exaclty they are fighting for but I can make a guess at what might have motivated them having lived in that atmosphere myself. It could have been joy of life, sound of laughter,or just having the luxuary of eating cheese with their piece of bread or maybe they wanted to take their God back from the monopoly of supreme leader. Each one of them has their own set of motivating factors but this fight is more fundamental than just a fight for democracy. This is a fight for life and all that make life meaningful and we all feel it in our guts. Even to all of us Iranians outside who are glued to our computers it is painfully obvious and I pray that we are wrong. We know each day that they have to go back to the streets. Yes they are some who may have made a profession of wishing for revolution and cheering people to their deaths. We do not cheer we watch in silence knowing in our guts what has to be done, not knowing what we would have done in the same position and wishing the painful wish that they have the courage to do it to go back to the streets. And alas I wish it was an abstract idea that I would gladly tell them to go back to their home because no idea is worth a young and vibrant life. We are not cheering but we are not telling them to please stay home because home is not safe anymore.

Why are they in the streets these supposedly middle class? Because, Mr. Roberts, the figures themselves were a clear threat. Why announce the unbelievable figures where they could have acheived the same aim with subltler methods? Because with the announcement was the thinly disguised threat to the people that you are finished. We had given you a lowly voice and we are taking it back, and we shall do away with all that. This is the explicit threat with it was the implicit threat that we will do as we wish from now on. The figures themselves were the announcements of a "regime Change" if you will. Iranians understood this maybe not in so many words but they understood it well and they went to the streets.

Mr. Roberts this story is not about America, this is Iran's fight for survival.

Verde que te quiero verde

For the last few days I have become glued to my computer. This does not bode very well to my parental responsibilities. I let my children watch as much tv as they please and eat lots of choclate.

But the events in Iran are extraordinary I am hoping that something may change and I am afraid that there will be bloodshed, I am ashamed to be at safety of my home in England and I am jealous of people who are putting their lives in the line; nothing can compare with these acts of courage if you want personal growth. I watch the young girl who almost out of naughtiness kicks the riot police in the butt and cannot contain my amazement, or chador clad women who seemingly come to the aid of the man on the ground being savagely beaten by police. I am proud of Iranians, proud of women who attack the police with their shopping bags, enough is enough. I am proud of the police who stand in the sidelines and try hard not to smile at the protesters. I am so glad we are not a nation of professionals. Imagine what would happen if the police were real professional. I see the protesters protecting the fallen riot police and taking them away from the wrath of the crowd.

I read a friend of a friend on facebook to comment that Mousavi is a vampire like the rest of the government. He is right; but the fact is we were all vampires at one point. We all have blood on our hands, at least those of us who can remember the revolution. We became vampires when we looked with pleasure on the pictures of the executed Hoveida, Zahedi and the rest of the Shah's men. We killed them without trial and without dignity, we denied their humanity out of revenge and blood thristiness and we were so proud of that. Sympathy for them was considered almost criminals. That is when we became vampires. Do not get me wrong, they were not my favourite men in the world and deserved some sort of punishment specially those involved in killing the innocent.

We may blame the Islamic Republic for hijacking the 1979 revolution but the fact is everyone was blood thristy and almost any group who would gain power would have killed many. The mild manner Bazargan did not have public support for the exact reason that he was not "revolutionary enough".

I read English media and they are all so pessimistic about Iran, specially Robert Fisk who has reported for 30 years in middle east and perhaps is right not to have high hopes. But the fact is that no matter what comes out of this page in Iranian history, Iran will not be the same. Iranians have fought for 150 years against tyranny. Every generation fights its own fight, and every generation is seemingly "defeated". From the constitutional revolution to Massadegh to 1979 and to 1998 and now and all the mini revolutions and protests in between. We get defeated, we become cynical but somehow the bannar is passed to the next generation.

1979 revolution was different we finally won, the revolution may have been hijacked as some say or it may have been Islamic from beginning I leave these for the historians to argue about. Whatever happened after 1979 was from within and not some meddling from outside. With Islamic Republic the first seeds of debate and plurality were planted. To narrow down the debate many children of the revolution were slaughtered. People like me felt completely unrepresented by their government, but there were lively debates non the less. Right from the beginning these factions fought their fights in public arenas, in newspapers and in the parliment. And at some point they had improsined and executed so much, I can only guess, that they had only themselves to kill. At the beginning I could not care less what they fought over, but in the late 80's when there was some openning, it meant I had better access to books and that made a very big difference to me so I became interested in their debates.

There was not a free society as far as freedom of expression went but neither was it a police state. And that was enough for Iranians. In that small space Iranians grew and matured politically and with them some of the old revolutionaries. Most people know what happened in Khatami era.

The revolution in 1979 has made us who we are today. We took our destiny in our own hands and we made a mess of it but we have learned a lot. That is the beauty when it is a homegrown movement and not a foreign intervention. We have also stopped blaming west for our ills because these ills now are of our own making.

Unfortunately along with the seeds of debate and pluralism some monstreous ideas agerminated as well. Some long dead practices like stoning (my historian friends would enlighten me but I do not remember any moment that stoning was enforced in the long Islamic history except at the beginning) were resurrected and new ideas more akin to fascism were given islamic clothing.

These may have been handy at the time as tools of repression for a new government insecure in itself but ideas can be very dangerous. They have a life of their own even when they have outlived their usefulness. These ideas have matured and are a force to reckon with.

From my visits, I have found Iran to be very different from the Iran I left. It is full of talent and creativity and dynamism, but I also found small but sizeable minority to have grown very radical, more radical than anything I remember from 80's. Mousavi has had a hand in both sides and let us see if he can redeem himself.

And today I remember all who lost their lives in Iraq-Iran war and those who were executed by Islamic Republic. Today is testament that the blood you shed was not in vain. Some of you died to defend us from the enemy without and some of you died to defend us from the enemy within. Some of you died because you believed in a forbidden faith and you showed us the ugliness of our souls. To me you were all heros. Today your younger brothers and sisters and your children are fighting. Iranians may lose this fight again no one knows but Iranians shall not be defeated. I only pray to God (even if he does not exist) to protect us from becoming vampires again.

¿Pero quiénes son ellos, dime, los ambulantes,
los que son un poco más fugaces aún
que nosotros mismos, los urgentemente retorcidos,
desde pequeños, por qué-
¿por amor de quién?
Rainer María Rilke (Quinta Elegía de Duino)

Bluefields
(poema en tránsito)


No es culpa de nadie que esta ciudad no me quiera.
Me quejé hace tiempo, pero nadie me escuchó.
Solamente redujeron el espacio y
poco a poco se me fue haciendo más pequeña.
Así que la recogí y la adopté.

Cada día, como de costumbre, no pienso en ti,
arrugo la cama sencillamente
calzo zapatos por obligación
y orino fuera de mis calzones.
Es probable que pasen días sin tomar la guagua
Sin embargo acontece algo extraño cada vez
que decido pagar unas monedas y moverme al otro lado de la ciudad.
Tal vez la compañía o el sonido del motor defectuoso
Me produce extraños pensamientos
Y hasta imagino la posibilidad de navegar hasta Bluefields.
Lo olvido cada que vez retorno a la paz y tranquilidad de mi cuarto.
Es probable que esta vez pasen muchos días antes de querer gastar mis monedas.

Wanda Cortés

Al aire libre

"Inzeppare di oggetti quello ch’è il solo Oggetto per definizione"

Eugenio Montale

Aire que no me perteneces,

que te dejas encontrar

y te quedas conmigo.

Yo sé que mis pulmones

son cobardes y se adelantan

a quererte más...

Yo no sé tu nombre

y me quejo de la mala suerte.

Y tu me haces falta.

Aire melancólico de mis alveolos,

aire sosegado que ya no me aguantas,

no me dejes en la noche

cuando el miedo me quebranta,

cuando le atino al viento

que ya no me reconoce,

cuando las memorias se hacen amargas.

Quiéreme aire,

alcoba ancha, para respirar,

para hacer y lograr destinos.

Ábrazame aire, hijo de la tierra,

hazme contar tu días y escribir poemas.

Wanda Cortés

*************************************

IL VUOTO

Eugenio Montale

È sparito anche il vuoto
Dove un tempo si poteva rifugiarsi.
Ora sappiamo che anche l’aria
È una materia che grava su di noi.
Una materia immateriale, il peggio
Che poteva toccarci.
Non è pieno abbastanza perché dobbiamo
Popolarlo di fatti, di movimenti
Per poter dire che gli apparteniamo
E mai gli sfuggiremo anche se morti.
Inzeppare di oggetti quello ch’è
Il solo Oggetto per definizione
Senza che a lui ne importi niente o turpe Commedia.

E con che zelo la recitiamo!

Golden Compass

Just finished reading the Phillip Pullman's Trilogy. I read the first book when we came to England.

Was not the least impressed by it, but I am a book addict and I can squeeze every drop of pleasure a book has to offer.  After the first book, which was a borrowed book I was not motivated enough to buy the second one till we travelled to Oxford last month, and stayed in a  little charming B&B with minimal entertainment. We took long walks everyday. On the first day I wanted to cuddle up with a book, nothing too serious maybe a thriller so we went to the main bookshop and what an experience that was! After years of being deprived of good bookshops I was like a dear caught in the head lights. Mark gave me 1/2 without kids which was as much as he could realistically manage without me (Aida was screaming her head off at the moment). I did not know what to do, anybook that I wanted and all the books that I did not know that I wanted were there. Long story short when it came to the closing time I still did not have a book. So I quickly ran down to the first floor where all the Borders type books were and chose the second book of trilogy. 

This one is by far the best among the three and it was just the right book for the time, and it was a happy coincidence that I was in oxford because the story starts in Oxford.  

He has many many original, well not many butquite a  few original and tantalizing ideas. 

He is not a master storyteller though.

El amor en los tiempos del H1N1

"Era inevitable: el olor de las almendras amargas le recordaba siempre el destino de los amores contrariados..." Gabriel García Márquez

Las últimas noticias revelan que el número de personas contagiadas con la influenza alcanza los 8,480. Con representantes en 39 países el virus se propaga y nos amenaza. En Mexico, René "Residente Calle 13" Pérez realiza un concierto. El primero después que el gobierno federal levantara las medidas de emergencia. En Uruguay, Mario Benedetti muere a los 88 años. Ya que me da vergüenza tan sólo recordar mi lectura de algunos de sus cuentos y poemas, leí todo el artículo de prensa.

En mis años de bachillerato imaginaba a Benedetti, esa impresión no la olvido, como a un hombre que sabía decir las cosas. También lo relacionaba con las revoluciones y la lucha por los derechos en nuestros países latinos. Benedetti era la América que desconocía. Sabía que teníamos a alguien que no solamente hablaba del amor en nuestro idioma sino que nos invitaba a vivirlo aquí y ahora. Recuerdo también aquellos poemas que aparecían en las postales de aniversarios de parejas y de jóvenes enamorados. Los poemas de Benedetti hablaban de un amor que todos podíamos reconocer y desear. No importaba si estabas en Puerto Rico o en Uruguay, éramos iguales. No importaba que no hubieses estado allí, te hacía parte de la revolución saber que el amor es eso que le pasa a la gente como tu y como yo.

¿Qué les queda a los jóvenes?

de Mario Benedetti

***************************************************************************************

¿Qué les queda por probar a los jóvenes

en este mundo de paciencia y asco?

¿sólo grafitti? ¿rock? ¿escepticismo?

también les queda no decir amén

no dejar que les maten el amor

recuperar el habla y la utopía

ser jóvenes sin prisa y con memoria

situarse en una historia que es la suya

no convertirse en viejos prematuros

¿qué les queda por probar a los jóvenes

en este mundo de rutina y ruina?

¿cocaína? ¿cerveza? ¿barras bravas?

les queda respirar / abrir los ojos

descubrir las raíces del horror

inventar paz así sea a ponchazos

entenderse con la naturaleza

y con la lluvia y los relámpagos

y con el sentimiento y con la muerte

esa loca de atar y desatar

¿qué les queda por probar a los jóvenes

en este mundo de consumo y humo?

¿vértigo? ¿asaltos? ¿discotecas?

también les queda discutir con dios

tanto si existe como si no existe

tender manos que ayudan / abrir puertas

entre el corazón propio y el ajeno /

sobre todo les queda hacer futuro

a pesar de los ruines de pasado

y los sabios granujas del presente.