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Reza Joon, man up or get out!
21-Mar-2011
On March 6th at 12am, a BBC reporter slipped into the city of Zawiya under heavy fighting between the Libyan government forces and the rebels. As he wondered the streets, the BBC reporter came across a rebel fighter who was walking about, smoking a cigarette. The reporter stopped the rebel and asked him who and where his leader was. The rebel pointed at the sky and said, “God. He is up there somewhere.”
Just like the Libyan uprising, the Iranian democracy movement is pretty much in the hands of fate. With no cohesive strategy, mixed signals, characters with questionable pasts, infightings and conflicting reports of whereabouts of green movement leaders, the people’s demands for that illusive democracy is again grinding to a halt.
As the green movement’s leadership goes MIA and its organizational structure falters under the weight of IRI pressure and self-inflicted wounds, Reza Pahlavi finds an opening to fill the vacuum. Pahlavi in recent weeks has stepped up his efforts to repaint a new image of himself among Iranians. Pahlavi, who understands the value of good PR, has been making the rounds in Iranian satellite TV circus, answering questions that have been haunting him for the past thirty years. This sudden shift of strategy is helping his image and keeping him in the loop as a possible contender.
RP is taking a page from the US political playbook. His strategy is simple. Wait for the right opportunity to throw jabs. He comes in to political forefront every time the green movement suffers a setback. And during the green movement’s occasional moments of glory, he fades into shadows and waits for the next opportunity. This strategy keeps him around as a relevant player without exposing him to too much risk. RP is betting on the possibility that the green movement will eventually evolve into a secular movement with nationalistic connotation, and if that happens, he will be the VIP guest at the party and most likely at the top of the leadership food chain.
But Reza is committing a serious miscalculation. He does not quite understand the mentality of the very same people his father and especially grandfather ruled for many years. Reza Pahlavi is betting his money on a few westernized, educated Iranians who embrace and understand the structural hierarchy of a sound political system. That strategy is a big failure. Iran is a heavily traditional society. A society that heroism and valor is embedded in its DNA.
The very fiber of Iranian society is made from what Fereydoun Hoveyda called “Rostam Syndrome.” Iran is a country that its core population embraces leaders who display selfless acts of bravery... leaders who are willing to sacrifice everything they have to fight against what they believe are direct attacks on the good of the society. Now, that has not always paid off for our people. We often end up with leaders who hurt us more than they help us. Nevertheless, we are who we are.
Reza Pahlavi’s grandfather is a good example of Iranians’ infatuation with bravery in leadership. Reza Khan was a commander that led from the front. He repeatedly displayed courage under fire as he stored his dominion. He began an all-out assault against tribal bandits who terrorized the Fars province. He personally battled the tribal leaders, killed the bandits and stored order in a region that had never heard of the word: law. He then went to war against mullahs and did something unheard of before him. He intimidated, harassed and hung mullahs from ropes. That was challenging the status quo with courage not words... something that Iranians had not experienced much during the reign of the Qajar Dynasty.
Unlike Reza Khan, his son was not exactly what you call the icon of bravery. He repeatedly fled the country during the times of crisis and hardly ever showed any acts of selfless courage. Khomeini on the other hand, driven by paranoia that crusaders were still at war with Islam, and Israel and the US were on the path of destroying the very fabric of the Islamic values, showed courage by standing against shah and the imaginary forces behind him. Khomeini did not carry much credibility with Iranians at the beginning of the revolution but his status was elevated to Rostam when he intimidated shah to pack and leave.
Reza Pahlavi so far has shown no such courage. He has repeatedly missed opportunities to capture his people’s imagination. He seems to be relying too much on good old lip service (I volunteered to go back to Iran as a pilot to fight against Iraq’s invasion) instead of showing true courage through actions.
Pahlavi strikes me as a person who genuinely believes and respects personal freedoms. He displays a high degree of intelligence and great love for his country. He also seems to be an opportunistic politician who gets his moments in the spotlight as they come. He is not a risk-taker and does not seem to have the killer instinct that his grandfather had. And ultimately, he does not strike me as someone who can satisfy Iranians’ “Rostam Syndrome.” Maybe someday he will prove me wrong... but it’s highly unlikely.
Now, some say that Reza has chosen the path of nonviolence. So did Gandhi and Martin Luther King. But what separates them from Reza and people like him is the simple fact that Gandhi and MLK never hesitated to put their lives, families, fortunes and comfort in jeopardy for their people. Courageous leadership like that inspires people.
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VPK please.
by comments on Tue Mar 22, 2011 06:55 PM PDTYou are making valid points, but I believe the way you express the subject is not constructive. For example, you asked how many Muslims have their book on Haftseen! For God's sake, Iranians (who live in Iran) are all Muslims, and about 95% of them have Koran on their Haftseen. Economic, social life, culture, and everything have made them double vulnerable and they have to rely on a superpower.
Another example: What sexual orientation has to do with burning Koran? Koran is a book, while sexual orientation is a subject of human nature. Why don’t you concentrate on one key message in your comment? I do my best to convey my message as clear as possible, but if it is not conveyed properly it’s because of the language. Your case is totally different and I don’t think it has to do anything with English itself.
Anahid jan .
by Soosan Khanoom on Tue Mar 22, 2011 06:59 PM PDTReza is entitled to his opinion I agree ..... he has only one vote when it comes to democracy ........ he is an ordinary Iranian like the rest ........ there is nothing more or less going on in his blood ........
we do not need a figure up there to tell us what to do .....
Monarchy and Velayat-e-Fagheeh is basically the same ........
When are we going to learn that we can think and decide with out a dumb -ass leading us forever ?
at best he can be a candidate for the 4 years presidency and have his name in the ballet ......... now I am not sure he will have the votes but then that is another story ..
hey comments ..... thanks for the link
by Soosan Khanoom on Tue Mar 22, 2011 06:36 PM PDTI suggest instead to use " show some guts " or "have the guts " this probably can be applied to both sexes.......
this cute chubby prince should show some guts ... ok now that is better : )
"how many Iranians put Koran on the Haftseen"
by Veiled Prophet of Khorasan on Tue Mar 22, 2011 06:22 PM PDTMost people I know put book of Hafez. Some put Quoran. I rarely see Shahnameh but I do see Avesta being more popular.
Siamack joon, man up or get out!
by pas-e-pardeh on Tue Mar 22, 2011 05:58 PM PDTMan up!
by comments on Tue Mar 22, 2011 05:24 PM PDT//www.economist.com/blogs/johnson/2010/09/political_correctness
Soosan Khanoom, may be
by Anahid Hojjati on Tue Mar 22, 2011 05:21 PM PDTSiamack is undergoing some training to man up more to be able to reply to the comments on this thread. Some commentators here are wondering what does manning up even mean and I believe they are correct. In any case, RP should be free to state his opinions and if some don't like him, that is fine.
Siamack
by Iranian123 on Tue Mar 22, 2011 05:11 PM PDTThank you for your article, you make valid points.
SK Jan
by comments on Tue Mar 22, 2011 05:06 PM PDTThanks. I didn't know that, but I will find out the reason soon.
Deev: thanks for the
by alimostofi on Tue Mar 22, 2011 05:04 PM PDTDeev: thanks for the discussion. One last comment. All languages come from Proto-Elamite.
Good night to all.
Ali Mostofi
//www.alimostofi.com
Courage, different from political polarity
by deev on Tue Mar 22, 2011 05:02 PM PDTRea, yes, unfortunately it's true, that sick bastard had more courage than king of kings, same way Mousavi and Karoubi are far more courageous than Reza!
Wow !
by Rea on Tue Mar 22, 2011 04:56 PM PDTSo the one who left he country to avoid mayhem is being called a coward?
But the sick bastard who'd authorized killing of thousands of people is considered to have shown courage.
I must've got it wrong somehow.
Dast roo delam nazaar keh khooneh
by deev on Tue Mar 22, 2011 04:53 PM PDT"how many Iranians put Koran on the Haftseen"
Yes a sad truth indeed, needs Shahnameh as replacement!
On an equally sad note I know a certain Iranian prince who has chosen Arabic names for all his 3 children (Noor, Iman, Farah) which speaks a great deal about his national pride!
comment jan
by Soosan Khanoom on Tue Mar 22, 2011 04:40 PM PDTit is a gender issue and not politically correct to use it these days
vildemose :)
by comments on Tue Mar 22, 2011 04:30 PM PDTI think it all depends on one's weight and/or weight tolerance. I can't see any gender or sexual orientation subject in here.
Anahid
by Soosan Khanoom on Tue Mar 22, 2011 04:01 PM PDTI think " Siamack " couldn't man up so he got out !! :)
Asha
by alimostofi on Tue Mar 22, 2011 02:39 PM PDTDeev: how many Iranians put Koran on the Haftseen? We have a major problem in Iran. The new generation know what it means to have an alternative, but the older generation has no training in the Zend Avesta. They think it is another religious document and do not see how secular it is. As Iranians we need to follow Asha.
Ali Mostofi
//www.alimostofi.com
Joe L: the King is fighting
by alimostofi on Tue Mar 22, 2011 02:28 PM PDTJoe L: the King is fighting his war with correspondents and as a human rights activist. He does not want to be a soldier king. He wants to be a moral king. What he could do is to appoint a group of mercenaries. But he does not delegate.
Ali Mostofi
//www.alimostofi.com
Agreed
by deev on Tue Mar 22, 2011 02:25 PM PDT"What the Ayatollahs want to do is to take Iran back to the time of the Koran Only Period"
Yes, with much thanks to the former Shah on his political gamble by paying the Ayatollahs, building mosques and even going to Haj (the only Iranian monarch to ever go to Haj) all in an effort to contain communism, he simply thought the islamists are not sophisticated enough to challenge him, big miscalculations, he had no problem executing leftists but spared Khomeini and crew, great policy!
How does one "woman up" or
by vildemose on Tue Mar 22, 2011 02:09 PM PDTHow does one "woman up" or "man up"?? are there any practical training programs???
Deev: you miss the point.
by alimostofi on Tue Mar 22, 2011 02:06 PM PDTDeev: you miss the point. The fact that Koran was not the only book that was allowed, and other people wrote, meant that Iranian culture could thrive. The art of Iran flourished. What the Ayatollahs want to do is to take Iran back to the time of the "Koran Only Period".
Ali Mostofi
//www.alimostofi.com
This is a genuine question?
by vildemose on Tue Mar 22, 2011 02:06 PM PDTThis is a genuine question? Why can't all of us man/or woman Up?? what's manning up or womanning up entail? Is there class we can take??
I am not a fan of monarchy, BUT
by Onlyiran on Tue Mar 22, 2011 02:04 PM PDTPeople always like to say that Reza pahlavi is irrelevant, etc. But, judging by the number of comments that he gets on every thread that is posted about him, I would say that he is quite relevant to the Iranian political scence. Perhaps this is due to the lack of a clear opposition leader, or perhaps it's just nostalgia. But he seems to stir up quite a controversy everytime he shows up, which directly contradicts the notion of him being irrelevant.
How does 'one' man up?? Is
by vildemose on Tue Mar 22, 2011 02:04 PM PDTHow does 'one' man up?? Is there an instruction manual? A self-help book? A "man up for dummy" handy guide??
sounds fair Siavash300
by Joe L. on Tue Mar 22, 2011 02:00 PM PDTsuppose that you are one of the powerful owners of xyz organization. question is if you would you allow someone who holds the proper education and has resources but never done anything with it to run yours? wouldn't ask why he hasnt shown interest in my business, why should i hire him?
you pass him every day and he is sitting in a glass office building that produces nothing and does nothing. the company he runs is called "pick me". you go in and ask him to become your consultant. he says oh yeah, i can help you...
how much would you trust this person with your money? you might give him a task or two to check him out but you wont buy his nice sales without any records or resume of previous works. right? you dont want to bankrupt your business. here is no different.
he has money to invest, he has nothing to show. he probably just gets the interest from his inheritance that he didnt produce. no powerful people around him, no great advisers, no businesses, no political organizations...nada. get my point?
Wong like the Chinese last name
by deev on Tue Mar 22, 2011 01:55 PM PDT"Islam was totally wiped out by the Monguls" is incorrect, although the Monguls put an end to the Abbasid rule they never replaced the religion, nevertheless that's not the topic of the argument, the point I made was about Shah's mistake on empowering the islamists against all other oppositions and being devoured by the monster he created, well played!
Crown Reza trained to be a leader
by Siavash300 on Tue Mar 22, 2011 01:42 PM PDT"waits for the opportunity for "people" to put him in a mansion and feed his family because he is son of shah? " Joe L.
Reza shah sent his son during 30's to get educated to come back to Iran and leaded the nation. Sending his son to far away was very painful for Reza shah but he did it despite his fatherhood and close family tie with his son for the sake of future of Iran. That has been documented from those time. Shah divorced his beloved wife Soraya despite his true love to that beautiful lady to save the future of Iran. Soraya couldn't have a child and the nation was in need of shah's son who carry monarchy after he pass away. These are important events in our history and I am surprise it would have taken very lightly here. Shah's son is well educated, well mannered and welll open minded. He had been trained, yes trained by the money of our people (your father and my father) to lead the nation. If you love Iran you should realize crown Reza Pahlavi is the best candidate for Iran prosperity and modernization. If you don't believe me, just look at that monkey who call himself Iran president and how these islamic bastards who has no education destroyed our country for last 31 years.
Deev: I not going to give
by alimostofi on Tue Mar 22, 2011 01:39 PM PDTDeev: I not going to give you a history lesson, but I want to know who taught you. Agha jan Islam was totally wiped out by the Monguls, and thanks to the Nestorian Christians' tolerance we had the Shahnameh reprinted. It is thanks to the Shirley Brothers and the unification of Iran under the Safavids that Shiaism grew. Now tell me who brought the Seyyeds to Iran after they were wiped out? I love a good debate. Bring it on.
Ali Mostofi
//www.alimostofi.com
Our culture is resiliant
by deev on Tue Mar 22, 2011 01:23 PM PDTConsidering we still speak Persian and celebrate Norouz despite 1200 years of Islamic repression so even under a communist regime our culture would had survived, if you have an Iranian satellite dishes watch some AZTV from former soviet Azarbaijan, they celebrate Norouz far more joyfully than the current Islamic regime in Iran...
Shah spoke of the red and black alliance but ultimately allied himself with the black and got stung by it, it's unfortunate that monarchists can't recognize Shah's mistakes and see how he reaped the islamist seeds he planted...
Go girl :)
by comments on Tue Mar 22, 2011 01:17 PM PDTSiamack jan: when you get attacked unreasonably in IC it means that you are making a difference in the Iranian society. When you make someone uncomfortable he/she has to work on the comfort zone, make it wider and it takes time. I see no reason to get upset by an article. What does one possibly do in real life? I have read about 10 book/articles from siamack, and I have no doubt that Siamack is brilliant. I hope "Rostam Syndrome" approach will be over soon; otherwise, we will be the same losers.