Iran's babyboomers will defeat the ayatollahs

[democratic]

Iran's baby boomers will defeat the ayatollahs

By Nicholas D. Kristof
May 12, 2004, 19:08
SHIRAZ, Iran

"Parents can't defeat children," Salehi mused. "Children always defeat their parents."

And that's what Iran's baby boomers, a wave of 18 million people 15 to 25 years old, are doing. They will transform their country, just as baby boomers in the West changed America and Europe. I don't think Iran's theocracy can survive them, for I've never been to a country where young people seem more frustrated.

The regime's problem is that Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini exhorted Iranians to have more children, and they responded - today, 60 percent of the population was born after his Iranian revolution. And these young people are determining social mores and carving out a small zone of freedom for themselves.

The morals police no longer order women to cover up stray hairs. These days, the fashion is for brightly colored, glittery see-through scarves, worn halfway back on the head.

"It's possible head scarves will be gone in another year or two, the way things are going," said Amir Suleimani, a scarf salesman in the Tehran Bazaar. "God willing."

"I don't compare myself with 10 years ago," she said. "I compare myself to what I could have and don't."

Ayatollahs, look out.

[minkyboodle]

1. Lost Opportunity

Mossadegh.... what could have been for this country. It is great that the youth are working so hard for change.
Scott

[democratic]

2. .

You're right the overthrow of Dr. Mossadeqh was the greatest political mistake the US has ever made and we are now paying the consequences.

I strongly recommond "All the Shah's Men", to everyone here.


http://www.iht.com/articles/519204.html