Iran Remembers Its Revolution
It was a public holiday in Iran today, a holiday called "the day of struggle against world arrogance," reports CBS News Correspondent Richard Roth.
The rally, organized by hard-liners opposed to improving ties to the West, was in stark contrast to one the day before by moderates who avoided anti-U.S. gestures and chanted slogans promising to deal with the United States "with rationality."
Instead, crowds chanted "Death to America,", marking the anniversary of the hostage taking. The 52 Americans held became the emblem of Iran's revolution. They were released after four hundred and forty four days. Two decades later, the legacy of bitterness remains.
Former hostage Bruce Laingen, a former U.S. diplomat, says Iran itself is still a captive--of Islamic fundamentalism. "We were used as pawns in the political process to put more radical elements of the revolution in place, and that element continues in power today."
Officially, America is still the great Satan, and the mullahs who came to power in the revolution still control the military, judiciary and legislature. But there's also pressure for change from a generation that's grown up on mobile phones and a hope for moderation.
They're now the majority in Iran, helping push the reform agenda of President Mohammed Khatami, elected two years ago.
 CBS |
| Supporters of Iran's President Mohammad Khatami demonstrate outside Tehran University Mosque Wednesday. |
The disagreement over how to mark the anniversary reflects the power struggle between hard-liners, who champion the fiery spirit of the 1979 Islamic revolution, and moderates who back President Mohammad Khatami's policy of a "dialogue between civilizations."
"Iranians are ready for change," says George Joffee of the Royal Institute of International Affairs. "They want to be accepted back, they want participation, they want integration--not at any price---they have their own revolution, they have their own traditions but they certainly want a dialogue between equals."
The reality may be different as compared with twenty years ago, but the rhetoric sounds familiar. Today's celebration in Iran makes the past hard to forget--and dialogue hard to imagine.