Lesson Learned:
People cannot live without the presence of music in their lives. Music plays a huge part in an individual’s everyday life, and restricting it with laws only effects the individual in a negative way. The Iranian government believes this is going to benefit the population in the end, not realizing that putting restrictions on the public is only hindering their process.
Description:
This website article written by Max Fisher, gets to the root of why Iranian Leader, Ali Khamenei feels so strongly against music in Iran. Off the bat, Khamenei declares he believes that music is not compatible with his western cultural influence and makes it known that his decisions aren’t primarily based on his dislike for music in the first place, but that music distracts citizens for political and economic concerns (Fisher 1). This ruling is acceptable by Islam but forbids the promoting and teachings of music, making many confused on how to interpret Khamenei’s orders on what is allowed in Iran and what isn’t, basically changing every week. These new orders aren’t something unfamiliar to citizens in Iran, instead they are used to theses tactics by government since the same steps were taken regarding the clothing requirement for women not to long ago. Iranians know that when authorities feel threatened by popular or political pressure, they respond by changing rules of dress or tightening down on enforcement, ultimately ending in confusion among civilians questioning the governments motives. So what is next for these Iranians? Everyday life involving music will become consumed by regulations involving long term solutions hated by many. Khamenei sees his tactic as a “valve”, loosening it if the public becomes too angry, reducing tension or in some cases stop the restrictions as a whole. In the end, Khamenei feels he is liberalizing and softening the police state, without losing his grip on all aspects of Iran’s government and economy (Fisher 1). Nothing is yet set in stone, but only time will tell. (Fisher 1)
Evaluation:
This article supplies a descent amount of information pertaining to what is generally happening in Iran, not diving too in depth of specific details. This article would be great for a reader only looking for a quick summary of what was happening in Iran pertaining to the rules and regulations set on them in regards to music. On the bright side, the author gives some information pertaining to the ruler and the reasons why he has put a harness on music and how he feels it is effecting the younger generation of Iran. Adding the ruler in the article gives the reader another perspective to look at, rather than from a protestor, artist or bystander’s point of view, only seeing the rules being applied to them as horrible. Besides another perspective to see the events that are exhuming in Iran, this article is mediocre in regards to other articles on the web.
Citation:
Fisher, Max. “Why Khamenei Wants to Restrict Music in Iran”. The Atlantic Monthly Group. 3 Aug 2011. 12 Nov 2011.
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