United4Iran(and Leftists) Rally
On a visit to Boulder, CO, I attended the United 4Iran Rally on July 25.
I had already seen the list of "supporters" on their website, and realized it would have a Leftist slant. Nelson Mandela and S. Africa were mentioned several times, not that the situation there has much in common with Iran.
I was carrying an Iranian flag with the Sun & Lion on it. I noticed just a couple of others with the Sun & Lion flag, and they were Iranians.
I had been at the rally for about 40mins, when an Iranian woman who was holding one of the pre-made signs that were made for the rally, approached me, and said that the symbol on the flag I was holding was being used gainst Iranian students in Iran. I said "what?" She repeated that the symbol on the flag I had was being used against students in Iran and they were being arrested & tortured because of it. I told her I knew exactly what the flag was.
She said the symbol had an old history and I shouldn't be carrying that flag. I interrupted her and told her that it was given to me by an Iranian who was a student and he wanted me to carry it and I do so proudly. Realizing she wasn't going to get anywhere with me, she walked away.
She never hassled the Iranians who were carrying Sun & Lion flags. So, I can only assume that she thought I didn't know anything about the flag and she thought that she could intimidate me into putting it away.
I believe she was another Leftist/communist anti-imperialist trying to rid the rally of a symbol that SHE detested, and had no problem lying in order to try to achieve that.
My big question: Why on earth was there a Mexican/Indian emC'ing and giving some sort of native ritual 'blessing' song at a rally for Iranians? Why not an Iranian performing a Persian song or Persian poem?
I hope Iranian freedom/democracy movements can steer clear of the farLeft groups in the future. Their MO for decades has been to usurp other movements. They aren't really interested in anything except furthering their own cause.
Despite the negatives, the end of my time there was made memorable by one Iranian in particular who loved the flag I was holding. I'll keep that story to myself.
I had already seen the list of "supporters" on their website, and realized it would have a Leftist slant. Nelson Mandela and S. Africa were mentioned several times, not that the situation there has much in common with Iran.
I was carrying an Iranian flag with the Sun & Lion on it. I noticed just a couple of others with the Sun & Lion flag, and they were Iranians.
I had been at the rally for about 40mins, when an Iranian woman who was holding one of the pre-made signs that were made for the rally, approached me, and said that the symbol on the flag I was holding was being used gainst Iranian students in Iran. I said "what?" She repeated that the symbol on the flag I had was being used against students in Iran and they were being arrested & tortured because of it. I told her I knew exactly what the flag was.
She said the symbol had an old history and I shouldn't be carrying that flag. I interrupted her and told her that it was given to me by an Iranian who was a student and he wanted me to carry it and I do so proudly. Realizing she wasn't going to get anywhere with me, she walked away.
She never hassled the Iranians who were carrying Sun & Lion flags. So, I can only assume that she thought I didn't know anything about the flag and she thought that she could intimidate me into putting it away.
I believe she was another Leftist/communist anti-imperialist trying to rid the rally of a symbol that SHE detested, and had no problem lying in order to try to achieve that.
My big question: Why on earth was there a Mexican/Indian emC'ing and giving some sort of native ritual 'blessing' song at a rally for Iranians? Why not an Iranian performing a Persian song or Persian poem?
I hope Iranian freedom/democracy movements can steer clear of the farLeft groups in the future. Their MO for decades has been to usurp other movements. They aren't really interested in anything except furthering their own cause.
Despite the negatives, the end of my time there was made memorable by one Iranian in particular who loved the flag I was holding. I'll keep that story to myself.
posted by Chester at 7:12:00 PM
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