Abbas Goya – Occasional notes on Politics, World, Life

Welcome aboard Noam Chomsky, Robert Redford and Sean Penn!

As observed by the mainstream media in West, there are two different types of attentions to the events in Iran, a) by the Western governments b) by the people in West. As much as the Western governments would like to put a pressure on the Islamic regime of Iran because of its conflict with the political Islam in ME and it tries to highlight desirable political figures, the people in West are feeling a sense of one-ness with the people of Iran. As mentioned by a Facebook friend on my profile: “Who would have thought that the nation of Ayatollahs and hostage-taking and Sharia etc. would become Ground Zero for 21st century Democracy.”
I have had numerous comments emailed to me or posted on my Wall by enthusiastic friends who not only declare the solidarity but they passionately give their analysis and suggestions as to where the prostests should go from here. Some of which are unbelivebly insightful and accurate to the point that I say “Wow. How did you know that? I can’t agree no more”.

Back in 2003, anti-war movement mobilized millions of people in West in support of humanity. That unsucceful movement is now rebuilding itself around the freedom seeking people of Iran, only this time more powerful and more entusiastic. The 2003 movement attracted a number of celebreties. Although, we might not see all of them again and we might see some new faces, but the movement is the same. This movement is what we call ‘the third camp’, a camp of humanity that does not put up for the dark-destinty of destruction, expolitation, militarism, terrorism, and religous states written by either US and its allies or by political Islam in Middle East.

Robert Redford, Noam Chomsky, Sean Penn are the most recent world known prominent figures who expressed their solidarity with the people’s struggle in Iran and with the demand to release political prisoners.

Some of the celebreties joined the struggle of Iran at a earlier day, some join it today and some tomorrow. All of whom clearly and explicitly mentioned their support for the people of Iran while joining the supportive movement at a specific action.

What they see is “Iranians who are fighting the regime deserve as much support as we can give whether they gather in front of UN or they mobilize for a mass interntaional demonstration on July 25″. This expression of solidarity and at least at this stage, has nothing to do with who arranged what event. It is to join the solidarity support wagon. Otherwise figures like Robert Redford is way more popular than an ex member of the Islamic Republic fo Iran, like Ganji. These two shall not be confused, e.g the support for the movement in Iran with the support of who arranged what event. Also, as much as Western governments are trying hard to highlight figures like Ganji as per their policies of pressure, manipulation and intervention, the people of West are seeking the opposite: No US intervention, freedom and justice for people of Iran.

Let’s read what Sean Penn has to say:
“That’s why citizen diplomacy is so important. Iranian demonstrators welcome the support of ordinary Americans. Joan Baez recorded a Farsi language version of “We Shall Overcome” that has shot around the world on YouTube.

Iranian activists are holding a hunger strike in front of the U.N. in New York from July 22 to July 24 demanding that Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon send a special commission to Iran.

We urge you to participate in the July 25 demonstrations around the U.S. and in Europe. Stand in solidarity with Iranians and against U.S. intervention in Iran ”

Welcome aboard Noam Chomsky, Robert Redford, Sean Penn and all the other new supporters of the revolution in Iran!

Abbas Goya
July 21, 2009

PS – Added on July 23 – In support of political prisoners hunger strike (1980s prisoners)
Noam Chomsky:
I would like to express my strong support for your hunger strike and other actions protesting the criminal repression in Iran, and my hope that your principled and courageous efforts will help bring freedom and justice to Iran and an end to harsh authoritarian rule.

Howard Zinn:
I want you to know that I fully support your hunger strike as a protest against tyranny. My hope is that enough people join in this protest and that it leads to some degree of justice, and a step towardsd a democratic society.

• Bookmark on Delicious
• Digg this post
• Recommend on Facebook
• share via Reddit
• Share with Stumblers
• Tweet about it
• Subscribe to the comments on this post