Paul Rusesabagina: I am glad that you have shot this footage and that the world will see it. It is the only way we have a chance that people might intervene.
Jack: Yeah and if no one intervenes, is it still a good thing to show?
Paul Rusesabagina: How can they not intervene when they witness such atrocities?
Jack: I think if people see this footage they'll say, "oh my God that's horrible," and then go on eating their dinners.
Yesterday, there was a bloody rampage in Iran. Police used clubs, machetes, and axes, pistols, batons & cables to beat and even kill protesters. Protesters that attempted to get treated at hospitals were stopped by police. Those that showed signs of bruises from clubs were taken into custody and jailed. Confrontations occurred between cops and protesters all over from Lalezar Square, Baharestan, and the Parliament. Everywhere was about the same story. The police used extreme brutality to put down the protesters. The Iranian regime did everything it could to cut off all outside communication. The regime tracked all communications it could control and attempted to arrest everyone it tracked down that attempted to document what was happening.
While all of this was going on, the media barely even mentioned any of the massacre. Yesterday, most U.S. media focused on the health care debate. We followed the latest financial news. Talking heads debated the upcoming townhall from the White House later in the evening. The streets of Tehran were filled with death and blood. The world it seems quickly said, "oh my God that's horrible" and then they went back to "eating their dinner".
Today, the atrocities in Tehran can't seem to get any oxygen. After all, between the deaths of icons Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson, no one seems to have any time to contextualize the massacre still occurring in Tehran.
On Sunday, the world was riveted by the confrontation between thousands of protesters demanding freedom and a brutal regime. There was wall to wall coverage. The sort of analysis going on right now about the life and career of Michael Jackson was going on regarding the situation in Iran. Then, three days later, the situation came to a head. It turned bloody, gruesome, and deadly on a scale not seen. The world took quick notice, yawned, and moved onto other matters. This revolution was merely a passing fancy. Once the fascination wore off we all moved on. Too bad because the world seems to have missed the bloody massacre now occurring there.
Nonviolence is only a means to build a movement. It draws people to your side. It changes public opinion.
ReplyDeleteBut public opinion and a cup of coffee is worth 99 cents to a government.
Other than possibly Rafsanjani arranging to get himself appointed Supreme Leader in Khamenaei's place, this movement isn't going to accomplish regime change without someone sending those Mullahs packing back to Qom where they belong, preferably through force of arms.