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1/ Quick point before I stop talking about this. The reaction to my post re: Faezeh Rafsanjani [see examples] has convinced me that this (obvious) point needs to be made: your only choices aren't to condemn ppl to death or to celebrate them as heroes. Lots of room in between.
![1/ Quick point before I stop talking about this. The reaction to my post re: Faezeh Rafsanjani [see examples] has convinced me that this (obvious) point needs to be made: your only choices aren't to condemn ppl to death or to celebrate them as heroes. Lots of room in between.](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EbyyTC3WoAAbqKE.png "1/ Quick point before I stop talking about this. The reaction to my post re: Faezeh Rafsanjani [see examples] has convinced me that this (obvious) point needs to be made: your only choices aren't to condemn ppl to death or to celebrate them as heroes. Lots of room in between.")
![1/ Quick point before I stop talking about this. The reaction to my post re: Faezeh Rafsanjani [see examples] has convinced me that this (obvious) point needs to be made: your only choices aren't to condemn ppl to death or to celebrate them as heroes. Lots of room in between.](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Ebyza-WWsAUSOja.png "1/ Quick point before I stop talking about this. The reaction to my post re: Faezeh Rafsanjani [see examples] has convinced me that this (obvious) point needs to be made: your only choices aren't to condemn ppl to death or to celebrate them as heroes. Lots of room in between.")
2/ Faezeh Rafsanjani isn't a hero. She has cooperated with the IRI and been part of its elite institutions. For that she needs to be accountable. And she lives off privileges provided by a corrupt & murderous father. So, I, for one, won't be nominating her for the Nobel Prize.
3/ But a fair observer would also recognize that what she has said recently -- speaking in defense of the Baha'is; against mandatory hijab; saying the regime can't be reformed; comparing the IRI to ISIS -- goes well beyond the traditional "reformist" script.
4/ Her words aren't like those of IRI "reformists" or the #IranLobby who argue that the regime can be fixed. The logical conclusion of Faezeh's words is the destruction of the IRI. You don't have to endorse every part of her message or background to see that.
5/ Regimes often topple when the ruling elite materially fractures. Our opposition, if it's focused on success rather than sloganeering, should work to deepen those fractures. If someone in the elite looks like she's breaking away, we should welcome it not push her away.
6/ I note that "welcoming" Rafsanjani's comments doesn't mean you have to embrace her, or forget her family's past. But you can acknowledge that she's taking a risk by saying it. And you can create an environment where more insiders can break with the system.
7/ That's a real theory of change, not a fantasy one. We can, of course, disagree on whether it's a good theory, or whether it should apply to someone like Faezeh.
But the childish name-calling & swearing & denial that what she said was significant doesn't actually help.
But the childish name-calling & swearing & denial that what she said was significant doesn't actually help.
8/ If you'd rather pat yourself and your handful of allies on the back that you're righteous and pure, good luck to you. I'd rather win.
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