Public Funerals

One way to assess a society's stand on individual freedom and cultural disposition is to examine how they conduct their public funerals and mornings. Watching the pictures from Iran's dissident Ayatollah Montazari funeral in Qom makes me wonder how even the so called "green" party and reformers view individual freedom. The pushing and shoving to either view the dead body or get close to it is symbolic of rank and file not really experiencing or ready to fully engage the hard work of freedom and democracy. The purely emotional showing indicates to me the lack of understanding what it takes to become an Islamic civil society in Iran.

The free Muslim citizenry will morn loss of the religion or national hero with come and reflection as opposed to pushing others to get to the body. The free individual will not violate the person next to them to express their sorrow or feelings. They will care more for the person next to them than Ayatollah or president so and so. They will file gently and pay their respect with dignity that the dead citizen deserves.

I do however noticed signs of that sort of approach to public morning also which makes me more hopeful for blossoming of an organic and native democratic principles based on Islam and cultures in Iran.