Hope in Iran

[Skogan]

As I'm sure you all know, there is a serious unrest in Iran. The calls for liberty and a secular government is strong. You may have seen the news reports where even their religious ruling class has stated that change must be made. (This, of course, is an attempt to appease the masses with the current regim, to muzzle their call for a new, secular government.)

This is a link to the Iranian student website. Lots of pictures and news concerning their effort. I highly encourage all to take a look at it, because it really shows a glimer of hope.

In the next post I am going to paste a copy of the "Letter to America" written may 12 of this year. It really shows the possablities that may exist there.

General website is here:

http://www.iran-daneshjoo.org/

[Skogan]

A public letter to the American Nation

SMCCDI Political Committee
May 12, 2002

Dear America,

Sorrow of the tragic events of the Sept. 11, 2001, still heavily weighs over your hearts. Grief of such horrible event will never be forgotten in your history .

You remember how terrorism that knows no borders or boundaries when it casts its ominous shadow, sent thousands of innocent souls to death and doom.

For the first time you felt the true meaning of terror in your own dwellings as you came face to face with the Islamic fundamentalists acting as terrorists. Because of those terrorists, countless people of Islamic nations haven’t had a restful night of sleep for many years. Because of the same terrorists, countries such as Algeria, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Turkey, and Iran have been for long engulfed in the fire of violence.

Today in the Western world, you and the rest, who used to watch the violence perpetrated by these cannibals only in newscasts, are suddenly witnessing their barbaric violence at your own doorsteps and are asking yourselves, “ Who are these fundamentalists?”
To answer this question we must go to an ancient land that for twenty-three years has been suffering their evil rule. That country is the land of Cyrus the Great and Queen Esther, Iran. Iran, a country with deep wounds inflicted by violence and terror. Iran a country that is tired of war and destruction and constant torture of its youth …

For a very long time the clerical rulers of Iran have slaughtered freedom and justice in the name of religion. Yes, indeed, their understanding and philosophy of religion is Fascism: The very same understanding of Islam that allowed Bin Laden and Mullah Mohammed Omar of Afghanistan act as if they were gods. The identical philosophical belief is allowing their equal in Iran rule like Pharaoh on the throne of “Supreme Jurisprudence.” Khamenei, Bin Laden, and Mullah Mohammed Omar are thirsty for violence and cruelty. All three are truly woven of the same cloth. They have chosen ignorance and superstition over reason and logic; hate over love; pretension and deception over honesty and piety; oppression and injustice over justice and kindness; bondage and captivity over freedom and liberty; and finally death over life.

Their reactionary way of thinking in our modern times is indicative of their low life resembling a reptilian type which has been left over from the dark barbaric ages. As a nation, the high majority of Iranians are not terrorist—they are the victims of barbarism and terrorism of the fundamentalists. Thus, in our sympathy towards you in those dark hours of September 11, we Iranians deeply understood the pain you felt. We understood very well what happened to the defenseless victims. Just a day after that ominous day, wearing black in honest sympathy with you, we poured into the streets to raise our voice of mourning so that you may hear us and know that we do understand the depth of your lamentation. We mourned the loss of those victims as sincerely as if they were our own brethren and flesh and blood. We lit candles and raised hands of prayers to the Lord almighty and asked him to bless the souls of the departed ones, and bestow patience to the loved bereaved ones. And then we showed our hatred of those barbaric animals to the world when we shouted in unison “ DOWN WITH TALIBAN, IN KABUL AND TEHRAN!!”
How well our wise poet, Sa’di, wrote:

Humanity are all parts of one body,

As they all share the same origin in creation.

If one part begins to suffer and ache,

All the rest lose tranquility and comfort.

Dogmatic reactionaries of Tehran and Kabul are members of the same tribe. They all regard people as invalids needing guardianship. They regard women low and satanic. Human rights isn’t worth a penny for them. They don’t even value their own lives—let alone others! They train terrorists and hate humanity…

They are coolies of religious totalitarianism, unfaithfulness, ignorance, power mongering, and Lumpenism. Religion serves them only as a tool for acquisition of power and wealth. Their culture is to impose, to imitate (their leaders), to deceive, to beat and flog, to frown and be grim, and to brawl. These fundamentalists are too insignificant to be able to make any positive impression or cause a ripple in the ocean of humanity or capture any body’s heart. Their rage and animalistic anger is a testament to their ineptitude.

Now, how can we overcome this ignorance and darkness?

Obviously, Talibanism and Islamic fundamentalism are terrible schools of thought that threaten and seek to destroy the free world. The only way to combat this unfortunate cancer is to expand liberty and advance democracy. Fundamentalists thrive and grow in the shadow of their country’s rule of despotism and self-centrism. A breeze of reason and wisdom will surely blow away their unholy presence.

Afghanistan was not the cradle of the Taliban. Rather, it was the Western world’s lack of concern and neglect of Afghanistan which allowed the Mullah Omars and the Bin Ladens to emerge. If the war torn Afghanistan wasn’t left to fend for itself; if the defenders of human rights had not neglected the Taliban’s rebellion and insurrection; and if the US policy wasn’t backing down and smiles and flowers in answering the destruction of the ancient Buddha statues by the Talibans, America would have never witnessed the collapse of her World Trade Center towers.

But unfortunately we still observe today that in this world there are many who don’t care and the valuable lessons so clearly spelled out on September 11 haven’t been completely learned yet. And that, is the compromise and face turning by the world and not challenging the crimes being committed by the Iranian Talibans. There isn’t a day that we don’t witness breaking of the pens and incarceration of our writers and intellectuals in our country. Songs of freedom are choked in the throats and gallows are raised all the time. Our old beacons of knowledge and wisdom are being tortured in captivity and no one is voicing any objection! The so-called human rights entities today are praising Iran’s corrupt regime for its “observance” of human rights while they should be reprimanding and admonishing them. How strange!

But today we address you, the great nation of America. You know the taste of war against colonialism and you have paid dearly for your liberty.

America,

Today our people have chosen the way of liberty and democracy and need the help of you dear people.

Today Iranian freedom lovers have risen to wipe out the dictatorship of theocracy and the “Supreme Religious Leader.” Today the Iranians are reaching for your lending hands in freedom and equality and prosperity. Do you see their struggle in reaching justice and establishing reason?

We expect you to echo our cries for freedom to the world as loud as you can and pressure your government to help eliminate oppression and free our political prisoners by implementing appropriate diplomatic and political measures against the ruling regime.

We sincerely implore the American mass media to put an effort in utilizing their worldly tribunes to mobilize and focus public attention to our quest for liberty and keep alive the memory of our crusaders of freedom always and every where.

And in the end, as Iran is campaigning and striving to realize her rights and freedom, we ask the United States government not to ever sacrifice the truth for political expediency, and set observance of human rights as a pre-requisite for resumption of relations between our countries.

SMCCDI, bound by duty of guarding and helping to propel the civil movement of Iran, hereby sincerely shakes the helping hand of your great nation and awaits the sentimental assistance of your magnificent country.

Tehran, May 12, 2002

The "Student Movement Coordination Committee for Democracy in Iran" (SMCCDI

[L@mplighterM]

The letter is most likely bogus, as a matter of fact anyone could write a letter like that. If it?s pro Iran propaganda it didn?t work on me.

Better luck next time!

[Skogan]

It's very anti-Iranian government, pro-reform. It says the U.S. should continue to condem the government, alert the media to their abuses. They don't want to fix the government, they want to overthrow it. It is consistant with Independant news sources about whats going on in the region.

Your suspicion is understandable, but I think unjustified in this case. There is a significant movement in Iran to become a secular state. We should all support that.


Skogan

[NewsGuy]

Originally posted by Skogan
There is a significant movement in Iran to become a secular state. We should all support that.

Yes, that's true. A very large portion of the Iranian population opposes the oppressive and brutal Islamic regime.

I agree that the U.S. and Europe haven't done enough to support the grass-roots opposition in Iran.

[takeo]

actually it is more extreme than the position of the Iranian youth, which supports president Khatami against Ayatollah Khamenei, they want better relations with the world, not worse.
By the way it is not just to compare the Afghan fundamentalism to iranian fundamentalism, Iran is a very liberal country compared to Taliban-Afghanistan, and both were die-hard ennemies, Iran supported the us-les coalition against the Taliban.

[Skogan]

Originally posted by takeo
actually it is more extreme than the position of the Iranian youth, which supports president Khatami against Ayatollah Khamenei, they want better relations with the world, not worse.

I think your position is consistant with the letter above. There is a split between those who think reform through Khatami should be given a chance, versus those who think that nothing but a replacing the current government with a secular one will be adequate. (Khatami threatens to quit often for this very reason. Khamenei and co. are blocking reform. You may have notice that now, Khamenei even said the level of discontent with the government is so great, that the country is on the fringe of being torn apart.) Both camps want better relations with the world, but want outside pressure to help create reform.

Either way, the secularist movement is alive in Iran.

I take your point about the comparison, but they were comparing them on the grounds that they were both fundelmentalist, and opposed secular values, which is true. Iran may be more liberal then the Taliban, (but then, who wasn't?) but that wasn't because of the fundementalist, it was because of Khatami and the reformist.


Skogan

[christian]

Please, let's make no more enemies. If I had a choice between suffering under the ragheads and being bombed by the U.S. with the hope of getting rid of the mullahs, I would take the latter. People are dying in Iran by the hands of the Islamic regime everyday. It's an everyday killing spree against anyone threatening the regime.
I don't really think the U.S. will bomb Iran even though I kind of hoped they did. My point is that if we are to organize any Anti- this and that, it better be an anti-islamic regime effort. Anything else would be a waste of precious time. Besides, if we were to object to any potential action by the U.S. against Iranian regime out of cowardliness and fear, it would only benefit the cause of the mullahs. In many of the clashes against the regime's vigilantes and the Basijis, people cry out things like "I hope the U.S. drops bombs on your heads".

So to all you outside of Iran. Please don't be chickens just because you want your granny who who you haven't seen all your life and don't really care about to live to be 100 in Iran. Chances are she is malnurished and suffers from severe depression anyway.

Iran is falling apart people. DO SOMETHING!

We need DIRECT action against the mullahs. Both inside and outside the country. Forget about what the U.S. is thinking. Voice you opinions and let them know what they should be thinking if you don't like their policies. Other than that, Iran can only be set right (or wrong) by we, the poeple of Iran.

Kayvan from , Iran


I am surprise. Some iranian like US bomb. They hate their regime so much.

I went to Iran last year. AT the war in Afghastan, the taxi driver is asking me," when we will be next?". He wants US bomb, to get rid of the regime.

On the other hand, some people just hate US.

[takeo]

Even khamenei was very much opposed to the Taliban, and even under Khomeini Iran was never as extremist as the taliban.
yes there are different opinions among iranians, yet in the last elections more than 80% of the people, among wich many women(yes, on the contrary to SA they can leave their house and VOTE) voted for supporters of khatami, it seems the president is still very popular. Also Iran doesn't really seem a poor and fundamentalist country, it is quite devellopped and there are house-parties, boys and girls meet in parcs, women are business-leaders, etc. It seems much more modern and Western than many Arab countries.
Most Iranians are still Islamic, i never met one single Iranian who would like to see his country bombed by the US... even those who hate the fundamentalists very much (most) still hate the US too for supporting the Shah (after all these years still hated).

[elke]

Takeo, what is the statistical basis for your analysis that "most Iranians" still hate the US? How many, and which people have you spoken to?

I don't think anyone is bombing Iran anytime soon. It seems that Iranians are capable of their own revolutions. IMHO, however, it is certainly worthwhile to help the opposition as much as possible.

[takeo]

I have been to Iran (Teheran, Isfahan, mashked, Kish and the caspian coast) two years ago and know Iranians here. Many Iranians speak english (second language) and like to talk about politics, most of them have an outspoken opinion.

[elke]

Originally posted by takeo
I have been to Iran (Teheran, Isfahan, mashked, Kish and the caspian coast) two years ago and know Iranians here. Many Iranians speak english (second language) and like to talk about politics, most of them have an outspoken opinion.

I repeat the question: how many people have you questioned? What were the percentages for various responses? For that matter, what were the questions asked? What is the standard deviation? Who were these people: their profession, age, sex, religious affiliation, etc. If this data is not available, a sweeping statement such as the one you made regarding what "Iranians think" is meaningless.

It sounds like a great trip! From what I have seen of Iran, it looks beautiful! I have known some Iranians here. They were very, very nice, well-educated, smart, charming, and not at all unfriendly to the US. But, of course, the ones I have known live here - so I can't generalize from this experience.

[takeo]

"I repeat the question: how many people have you questioned? What were the percentages for various responses? For that matter, what were the questions asked? What is the standard deviation? Who were these people: their profession, age, sex, religious affiliation, etc. If this data is not available, a sweeping statement such as the one you made regarding what "Iranians think" is meaningless. "

Well, of course i didn't make any statistics or polls, but i've talked to quite a few Iranians of all ages and sexes (maybe around 100, however i prefere the female ) and most (don't know exact percentage) supported Khatami but also criticised the US (hating is maybe too strong(because of the Gulfwar and support for the shah), this would be more appropriate in iraq). I talked mostly to educated people, but on some occations as well to shop-keepers and peasants. i would say the big majority of all professions share that feeling and hate the fundamentalists. young and educated people and women are ALL in favor of khatami (the ones i spoke to) and hate the fundamentalists.
about the questions, i didn't ask any, they always started about this spontanously.

"It sounds like a great trip! From what I have seen of Iran, it looks beautiful! I have known some Iranians here. They were very, very nice, well-educated, smart, charming, and not at all unfriendly to the US. But, of course, the ones I have known live here - so I can't generalize from this experience."

Yes, you are right, Iran is one of the most beautiful countries i ever visited, very diverse (looks like georgia near the caspian sea while other parts are pure desert, some cities as isfahan are like in a fairy-tale) people are extremely friendly, honest and hospitable. In some regions people look like Russians (iranian azerbaidjan) while in other regions like Arabs, Turkmen, or gypsies. The food is delicious and the music very poetic. actually Iran is according to me a lot more pleasant than arab countries and living-standards and education are better.
There is also some religious tolerance in iran, Armenians live in all parts of Iran without much problems, they are the only ones who are allowed to drink alcohol. Some iranians still worship the old religion of zoroastrism.
they don't hate americans I think, but are sceptical over the american foreign policy. The image we have of iran in the west as similar to afghanistan and full of crazy people is really not correct.
if you ever have the chance you should visit it (however as an american national i don't know if it is possible).

[Vic]

http://www.nytimes.com/books/first/s...o-persian.html

[L@mplighterM]

When he was in Iran (earlier post) he rubbed elbows with higher ups in government. When he was in Cuba he just peeked in on the forum but he never posted I guess Castro wouldn?t let him. When he was in Viet Nam ????.when he was in South America??????..this is a never ending story.

When he was in the WB he polished Arafat?s boots.