Why don't we start from ourself ( the western educated ones) and get on agreement and then worry about the rest of Iran. The problem with Iran is that our educated think it is LIBERAL of them to become apologist for Islamic fascism.
that's the issue. some seeing the world as a gray one. as being apologetic to this and that.
the reality is our history is full of partial failures and partial triumphs of our political leaders.
The issue is that nobody can turn the clock back. and you don't like to see that.
nothing was gone stop the 1917 revolution in Russia in the last minute.
nothing was going to stop the 1979 revolution in Iran in the last minute.
nothing is going to stop a future upheaval in Iran.
Having seen what the fruits of the revolution is easy to go back and second guess every single move political leaders of the time made.
a Huge percentage of Iranians do not favor the current Iranian government.
but hell if this government falls apart and god forbid. in 30 years Iran splits in to 5 different countries.
My children might look back and after thirty years and say those idiots did not see the big picture that the u.s was trying
split Iran up.
but that does not change the reality that those are active in today's society did not see any other option that the ones they were led down to.
it is equally illogical for those us sitting here after thirty four years to say how the hell didn't those people know how things are gone turn out.
You can not in any shape or form compare ISLAM with Christianity of the 21st century.
Christianity went through renaissance and it is a shadow of what it was once. Islam on the other hand is where christianity was in the dark ages.
not comparing islam with Christianity. just point out that even in a "secular" western country to this day religion and religious politicians and religious voting block is a huge factor.
by the way go to southern state baptist church and see 21st christianity in action. it is not as "motaraghi" as you would think of it.
go have a look at the unofficially segregated churches.
the reality is Iran's path to secularism (if successful) is a going to be a long one. it might take a hundred years or so.
Now, I know some friends here like to think renaissance or what Ataturk did in Turkey were peaceful and t was true talks, hugs and hand holding that church decided to give up its power and muslim clergymen in Turkey decided to stay out of politics!!!
But the historical facts suggest the complete opposite in both renaissance and Christianity and Islam and Ataturk in Turkey.
And we saw what happened to him and the country.
I am not sure what you are trying to get at?
It was his mistakes and soft spot for Islam as a muslim that gave strength to the likes of Khomeyni and ... and the end result was IR.
what happened to him had nothing with the fact that he was too much of a muslim or too little of muslim.
the issue was the society at large was tiered of looking at the same guy being in charge of the whole country for as long they remembered.
They did not feel they are participating in the game.
There is similar feeling in the air in Iran. people feel the guy in charge has been around for way too long. and they do no feel part of the system.