May 31, 2017
Today I took Uber to go to the hospital, 40 minutes drive. The driver was an Iranian in his late 30s or early 40s, who had moved over a year ago to Canada. Of course, we talked about Iran, and of course, it turned into politics and the recent presidential election. I asked him what is his ideal for Iran, deep inside. He said a free Iran, prosperous, peaceful, and in good relations with the rest of the world. I told him that's exactly what you should vote for: ''a free, peaceful, prosperous Iran''. He favored Rouhani and didn't want Raisi to get elected. He dislikes/hates Khamenei. I told him that I differ and that in my opinion, Khamenei is a scapegoat for Iranians' shortcomings, as was the Shah too. I added that Rouhani is just a formidable demagogue, and was about to give him some examples of Rouhani's demagogy. He cut me short, and instead brought up the 1388 (2009) presidential elections and said they cheated against Moussavi, and the Supreme leader Khamenei cheated to have Ahmadinejad re-elected. He told me ''people like you who far away do not understand what is really going on in Iran.'' I argued that I checked the website of the Ministry of Interior under Ahmadinejad, right after the announcement of the election results, a website which was fully transparent, clear, well organized, contrary to the present Ministry of Interior website under M. Rouhani that is opaque, dark, unintelligible, incomplete, as for the results of the elections. In 1388 (2009), everything seemed normal to me, and as expected, for example in northern opulent Tehran clear majorities had voted for Moussavi and in Southern much poorer Tehran for Ahmadinejad, as I was expecting to see. Moussavi was also the clear winner in all ballot boxes abroad, as expected too; but in some poorest Iranian regions, it was Ahmadinejad who was the clear winner, also as expected. I told him I know as a fact, because I witnessed on innumerable occasions, for having lived in Iran before and after the ''revolution'' that Iranians take (and repeat) rumors as if they are 'reality' and 'facts'. Then he brought up a very strong argument to prove his point that the election was rigged against Moussavi; he told me: ''Sir, you don't understand, I was myself involved in that election...''
- In what respect? I asked.
- I was myself the supervisor of one of the voting place, I was offered money to cheat and to change the votes in favor of Ahmadinejad.
- But did you accept and do it, I asked?
- Yes, he responded!
Whether he lied just to prove his point, or whether he really did cheat for money but is blaming Khamenei for it, this is for sure one of the many symptoms of the Iranian-Islamic schizophrenia, and of its collective delirium. Poor Iran. We need a Free Iran, but that seems not to be easy! It could be easy if only Iranians really wanted it, and then if they gently would express their wishes, and of course if they would act upon it.
