“The Great Satan is great also in his power to exert fascination. “Death to America” has become background noise, as interesting as piped elevator music.
The revolution freed Iranians from the brutality of the shah’s secret police, Savak, and delivered a home-grown society modeled on the tenets of Islam in place of one pliant to America’s whim. But like all revolutions, it has also disappointed. Freedom has ebbed and flowed since 1979. Of late, it has ebbed.”
Read his column at:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/12/opinion/12Cohen.html?_r=1
To be “lagom” is the quintessence of being a white Swede. It means to be the barely discernible citizen who is faithful to the welfare state and who passes throughout room and time without leaving long-lasting tracks.
To be “antilagom” is a way of resisting a racist system’s assimilation process. It’s a state of mind very much needed in order to avoid becoming a silent slave.
The Iranian Revolution
12 02 2009Nobody can say it better than Roger Cohen:
“The Great Satan is great also in his power to exert fascination. “Death to America” has become background noise, as interesting as piped elevator music.
The revolution freed Iranians from the brutality of the shah’s secret police, Savak, and delivered a home-grown society modeled on the tenets of Islam in place of one pliant to America’s whim. But like all revolutions, it has also disappointed. Freedom has ebbed and flowed since 1979. Of late, it has ebbed.”
Read his column at:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/12/opinion/12Cohen.html?_r=1