Iranian Protests

Of all the world's people, the ones that I find hardest to understand are the Iranians. I knew many in the 1980's. They had a fervor about something but I couldn't tell what. I would have asked, but many seemed angry. I also knew some who disagreed with the fervent ones. They acted as if they were in danger. I had to be careful what I said to them with other Iranians present. I am not discreet and intrigues confuse me, so I held my tongue.

Intrigues and secrecy seemed to surround the Iranian students whom I met at the University of Washington. Many were also gifted at an oriental sort of diplomatic circumlocution. Only a few who were mostly science and engineer students seemed untroubled by the changes in their country. Probably those few were from wealthy families or had established ties in this country and did not have to return if things got bad at home.

Anyway, there is again fighting in the streets. I hope that we are aiding the dissidents, in very discreet ways of course. Our government should make statements of support for their cause. They are fighting for freedom, which we can understand and which all people deserve. Perhaps the Iranian students that I knew in the past were troubled by the fact that they were being torn between an anti-American faction and a pro-American faction. The anti-American faction was radically socialist and Islamic, an unattractive alternative. The pro-American faction represented the pre-revolutionary status under the Shah, was also unatractive. They had just successfully ousted The Shah because they wanted change. Trouble was, they didn't seem to like the change they were getting.

Update of goings on in Iran:
http://apnews.myway.com/article/20091226/D9CR03OG0.html