Iran: Velvet Revolution…

Peaceful Revolution; Colourful Revolution; Gentle Revolution; Word, Utterance or Sound Revolution; Do Not Go To Work Revolution.  Ok, you got me! The last two I have made them up, but the other phrases are what some of the mainstream media are calling on what is taking place in Iran.  But how do they know that this is what it is? On what evidence are they stitching on this claim? What is more, what does Velvet Revolution and other synonymous phrases mean?

In essence, these terms literally mean revolution without violent.  The original expression for such revolt was called The Revolution of 1989.  In 1989, many Eastern European nations broke away from the Soviet Unions in a bloodless way.  This revolution renaissance initiated in Poland and continued its way across Eastern Europe before dismantling the Soviet Unions and ending the Cold War.  But more importantly, the spirit of these small nations showed the world that coup can be done without violent. 

But how can anyone tell when a Gentle Revolution is talking place?  Are there methods or processes to follow in place?

Well, to some degree there is a method that tells us when such uprising is happening:

Firstly, during an election campaign, the opposition supporters come out to the streets in mass with a complete hopelessness stance that they will lose the election.  Next, they choose a certain colour to distinguish themselves from other supporters.  Then, Western media (in the case of Iran, particularly the US) initiate non-stop repeat exaggeration coverage of the election: some post-election cheating taking place.  After that, a letter is written to the government before the election claiming that fraud is talking place by the opposition – in the case of Iran, such letter had been sent to the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.  Finally, the opposition will claim victory hours before the counting is finished and state that some vote-fixing has been taken place; if they lose and their defeat is declared they come out to the streets in millions holding their chosen color and begin endless protesting against vote-rigging.  The winner attacks back these claims by saying that the foreign media who are supporting the opposition is behind the protest.

Is this really what is happening in Iran? Are Khamenei, the confused Supreme Leader, and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, a president who talks like a child, telling the truth that the BBC and British government were behind the protest that now threatens to end the Islamic Revolution? Although, Khamenei’s accusation that Britain is the wolf behind this mess is in fact making Gordon Brown’s government look powerful and that they are not just punch of MPs thieving from their constituencies, it is just an absurd claim.  But one thing I do agree is that the BBC has somewhat involved in supplying the fuel with their unbalanced election coverage.

But whatever is happening, let’s just hope things cool down and hope Iranian people get what they really want and that is to watch foreign televisions and be able to express their opinions without fear of being beaten to death by basij thugs.