now i think the fight is between
those that want to make a pure religious fascist dictatorship
and those that don't
and who embodies that
and how to get rid of them
peacefully
so that the whole government structure
doesn't fall apart
causing a long term crisis

the good news and the bad news

the good news is that this is a serious debate between the power holders in Iran, which is different from the past where it was the people versus the government, which means the fissures in power are being revealed and can result in change for the good.

the bad news is that to get control some parts of the government will start being brutal.

two articles on the sichuashion

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8101841.stm

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/16/world/middleeast/16cleric.html?_r=1&ref=global-home

Iran continued

What I hope:

I hope the government gives in a bit...recognizes the change in the population it governs and gives them a re-vote and this time counts the results.

And then when Ahmadinejad wins, I hope that he can't crack down on people's attire and the women's movement anymore bc he and Khamenei reason that the only way they will stay in power is by letting these people have some more rights.

elections

I was in Yerevan the day of the election and I went to the Iranian mosque and talked to some ahmadinejad supporters. I think its v possible that he won, I just don't think there is any way they could have known that saturday morning (tehran time) and by such margins that they declared. normally they display the votes in terms of the top two contenders, and have a run off. its hard to believe there was no need for a run-off this time.

thats why everyone is upset. they want fair elections at least at the counting the votes part. i have no idea why the government risked this by doing it so unfairly, but they did. looks like khamenei is going to try to make it legitimate with the probe. its a smart move. he best figure something out or the little bit of legitimacy they have left might be squeezed away from them. this is a political crisis and it will take serious savvyness to overcome on the part of the ruling elite.
i think the other problem is that this shines a light on the supreme leader and his rule. if he ignores the constitution and the rights granted to the people in the constitution so blatantly, he is in trouble.

i don't think they want a revolution, they just want fair counting of the votes. i wouldn't believe the foreign press regardless. its not a revolt.

12:52 AM

Surprising to say
The airport time had not been bad
It has everything
And is quite modern and clean
People have a lot of babies
And now as
I sit at the gate for my flight
The shine and money
Is traded for more humble
Attire reflecting more
Humble means
The men dominate the
Waiting room
And I am getting my latest dose
Of the fashions in pointy shoes for men
And black everything
For everyone
Two little boys ages 3 & 5in their navy suits
And white pointy shoes
Stare at the drunk Russian
Ordering the bar boys to prepare his drink
Just right
I guess that's what he is saying
He is so red in the face frustrated
W their incompetence
The bar boys just laugh
Here goes the stinky flight boarding
Plastic bags abound!

Sushi

Whats fabulous
About sitting in a sushi restaurant
In Moscow airport
Is all the rich Russians
That come by
The girls are
All skinny
And the styles are bold
And this is refreshing
Compared to the neutral colored
Washington dc
Here sparkles, sequins and gold
Are expected
The wilder the better
And matching wildness is the best
White jeans
White shiny shirt
White jean jacket
Oh yea