Behnam Behjat Marandi (8 June 2009) -- In the past several weeks and since the advertisement campaign of candidates for the 10th Presidential Election started, the city and its citizens have gone through a major transformation, part of which is common for any election and another is peculiar to this election and this city.
Posters and banners of presidential candidates can be seen everywhere. Citizens, young and old, gather in squares and engage in heated debates over their preferred choice. These are endemic to every election. But there are other phenomena that are not so common. Open political discussions and group discussions in public space, peaceful promotional campaigns by supporters who are potentially hostile to each other, and spontaneous political organization are unprecedented in modern Iranian history.
Culturally, we are very much adept at impromptu organization -- for religious events and on the occasion of misfortunes -- but politically this has not been our forte. Also, despite sporadic scuffles between supporters of the two main candidates, the general spirit of this campaign is serene and based on tolerances. I have personally not seen anything more than verbal fights along my route.
More importantly, the outward manifestation of political expression and its occurrence in public space is possibly an irrevocable new development of our time. The Tehrani citizen is now in a position to externalize part of her/his inner concerns and wishes. S/he is ready to accept the consequences of a possible backlash.
Today, Tehrani citizens are getting to know each other across the divides that separate them economically, politically and culturally. This can activate other potentials of the Social and can be used in making future demands on the state.
Source: Tehran Avenue (Iran), June 8, 2009
