After the presidential election in June 2013, millions of Iranians took to the streets not to demand a re-run like in 2009, but to celebrate the victory of the new president. It was just a few hours after Hassan Rouhani was named Iran\u2019s new president. A lot of people wearing purple, Rouhani\u2019s election colour, came to the main streets honking their horns to celebrate the victory of the middle-of-the-road presidential candidate, Rouhani, in the presidential elections.<\/p>\n
There were many among the crowds who were not there to celebrate the election. They had not even participated in the election. They didn\u2019t believe Rouhani could bring about any changes. Some of them were even against the government. Why did they rush to the streets? There is only one reason, They Were Happy! They were celebrating with other people but not celebrating the victory in the election; they were celebrating a mass happiness on the streets!<\/p>\n
It was only two days after this street party that a second feast broke out. \u201cBrazil here we come!\u201d Iranian fans sang on the streets, their faces coloured green, white and red (the colours of Iran\u2019s flag). Iran\u2019s national football team entered the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Tournaments! Only a few hours after the team brought \u201chappiness\u201d to the people, hundreds of joyous Iranians flooded the streets.<\/p>\n
Again, among those Iranians celebrating Iran\u2019s qualification for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil were some who weren\u2019t football fans. But they were dancing and chanting and waving flags. After a long time, the nation was experiencing a very sweet week. Wild celebrations broke out on Iran\u2019s streets.<\/p>\n
There was a big difference between these street parties and those held before. This time there were no water cannons and tear gases. There was no harsh clash between the police and the people. The police was right there with the people. \u201cPolice Officer, Thank you, Thank you!\u201d shouted the happy crowd. And the police proved to be happy that people were happy. The absence of the conflict between the people and the police was the reason many families dared to step on the streets. Man, woman, young, old; they were all there, on the streets.<\/p>\n
\u201cHappiness\u201d is one of the basic needs of humankind. This need is felt even more in the modern societies. Sociologists believe that expressing happiness is good for overall social health especially for the younger generations. They believe that the government should create more opportunities to let people express their happiness. If the government follows this policy and controls the flow of happiness, it might even help decrease the social problems and increase some sort of social consensus and it could cost them no dime at all.<\/p>\n
Almost five years ago, England encountered a problem and the people rushed to the streets like they needed to release their bottled up emotions! It could have ended in violence but instead ended up being a happy event due to the Olympics ceremonies and the marriage of Price William, the Queen\u2019s grandson. These ceremonies helped people to express their feelings without causing any damage or turning violent.<\/p>\n
Precisely four years ago, Iran faced the same problem as England did. The people took to the streets to demand a re-run of the presidential election. But what they received was a violent reaction from the authorities. Their emotional outburst was suppressed for four years. And now after those four years, they rushed to the streets two times in less than three days without any prior planning. The police did not interfere so the people could release their emotional charge and go back to their homes after spending a happy night on the streets with other people.<\/p>\n
Parviz Ejlali, the Iranian sociologist and professor at Tehran University, believes that it\u2019s the government\u2019s duty to bring happiness to people\u2019s lives. \u201cA wise government must create chances of happiness e.g. big concerts, carnivals and competitions\u201d he says, \u201cif people create these chances themselves, the government must be vigilant to avoid violence so that people can express their happiness without any fear or stress\u201d. He notes that the event must be devoid of any pressure or limitation. The limitations could lead people towards anger and violence. As a result, the chance to be happy will turn into an expression of violence!<\/p>\n
If the government make plans for such events and determines a specific time and place for these ceremonies without putting any pressure or limitation on people, the result will be a peaceful celebration that can help those people to express themselves. This natural expression of feelings may affect the society positively. The side effects may decrease to a minimum if it is planned and controlled by the government. But when celebrations break out spontaneously, the government and the police need to control the situation without unnecessary interference. This way the ceremony will end without any clashes.<\/p>\n
According to Sayyed-Hossein Serajzade, an Iranian sociologist, these spontaneous street parties can breed strong feelings of friendship among people and may also help them become aware of their conscious identity. \u201cit is better that the police do not interfere except when the crowd is causing trouble for other people; for example, the police can warn them not to damage the stores or can monitor the traffic jam\u201d he says, \u201cbut the people should be left free to dance and chant peacefully without the forceful interference\u201d.<\/p>\n
The psychologists believe that when people celebrate events together, intimacy increases among them because every individual and every group is trying to add to the happiness. \u201cEven if an individual tries to cause trouble or act improperly, the group will prohibit it\u201d says Mousavi Chalak, an Iranian psychologist, \u201cwe should create situations to bring happiness to people\u2019s lives as our ancestors did, let\u2019s say, in Nowrouz\u201d.<\/p>\n
The streets could be a good place for people to share their happiness and spend time with each other. A government with a wise policy and plan can create this Happiness on the streets.<\/p>\n
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