As I tried to pay close attention to both the gossiping women and the head-strong men arguing about Iranian history and politics, I took a good look around and carefully analyzed the people who filled the host's home with drinks, jokes and roars of laughter. These people had always been my image of the Persian culture and heritage. Thinking further, I had an interesting thought-a question,rather: what makes the Iranian people greatly different and exception in regards to their neighbors? My earliest and most immediate thought was Reza Shah the Great.
The common and numerously repeated modernizing actions of Reza Shah are all well-known and, perhaps, drilled into the heads of Iranians supporting and against the deposed monarchy. Roads, education, railways, security forces, secularism and westernization (if it can even be called that) are all common attributes given to Reza Shah. Although all of these advancements were, in fact, directly related to the reign and new system of Reza Shah, the most important attribute of Reza Shah is never written or mentioned; Reza Shah forcefully opened the minds of the Iranian public to make them see the world from which they had been repressed from for centuries.
As a general statement, the majority of Iranians against the reforms of Reza Shah argue that the fashion in which he implemented reform was brutal and far too strong-handed in nature. Such reforms, in particular, included women's emancipation, the weakening of the clergy, the dispersion of Iranian tribes, education reform and also the anti-communist feeling his government possessed. In Iran's particular circumstance, the majority of these strong-handed reforms are able to be justified when observing objectively.
The women of Iran had been confined to the home for centuries. As sheep and cattle, they were expected to obey their master and be dutiful. The extreme influence of Islam on the Iranian way of life had made Iran appear more as an Arab nation than the great empire of Cyrus the Great. When the veil was banned and women were forced to leave the home without covering themselves, they were forced into a necessary realization and awakening. Advocates of religious freedom see this act of Reza Shah's to have been highly inappropriate and offensive to reverent women of the Muslim faith. Stepping away from the boundaries of political correctness, it can be argued that such an assessment is far from the reality and true purpose that Reza Shah intended. As a father to the nation, Reza Shah had a responsibility to do what was necessary for the nation's progress. Integrating women into society was one such action towards progression. Old habits die hard and Reza Shah was the one who broke them. Iranian women who criticize this action of Reza Shah always seem to forget that it was that very action that has even allowed them to voice their opinions freely as individuals amongst the Iranian community today. As children are forced to go to school at an early age when they have no desire to do so, Reza Shah forced the women of Iran to integrate into society in order to create a better future.
Secularism and the weakening of the clergy as well as education reform all go under the same category. Before the kingship of Reza Shah, the clergy was a powerful entity supported financially by the government and believers. Common customs of the time show us that people's every-day lives were, in some odd way, connected to the clergy. People consulted the clergy regarding financial issues, social issues, blessings and other every-day happenings. Since the public was vastly connected to the clergy by a strong sense of faith, the government controlled the clergy by paying them large sums of money to support and back up the government. In essence, the clergy and the government were directly related. Reza Shah sought to gain the power of the clergy and replace Iranian religiosity with a sense of national pride. For this reason, maktabs,or religious schools, were shut down and modern education became mandatory for all children. Reza Shah wanted to educate the masses and loosen the grip on religious ideology. By forcefully taking the dependence on the clergy of the people away, Reza Shah created a new generation of less religious and innovative citizenry. Universities became accessible to the public and were no longer a luxury of royalty and nobility. Reza Shah's new nation was going to be a red rose amongst the thorny bushes of the Middle East.
Instead of criticizing Reza Shah, we must strive to understand the time in which he ruled, the motives he carried and the vision he saw for Iran. When we think of the banishment of the veil, we must think of the women of today and how greatly it has impacted them. When we think about the radical dismissal of the clergy, we must remember the the independence Iranians gained mentally and financially from an entity that only sought to generate money. When we think of the brutal dispersion of the Iranian tribesmen, we must remember that our boarders are still intact because of Reza Shah's forced assimilation of the tribesmen. As we ponder the injustices of the left wing citizenry of Iran who pledged their allegiance to the USSR, we must remember half of our preserved Azerbaijan and the sliver of the Caspian Sea we can still claim as Iranian waters. History will be kind and just to our King, Reza Shah the Great, who took Iran and created a proud culture, people and nation.
Person | About | Day |
---|---|---|
نسرین ستوده: زندانی روز | Dec 04 | |
Saeed Malekpour: Prisoner of the day | Lawyer says death sentence suspended | Dec 03 |
Majid Tavakoli: Prisoner of the day | Iterview with mother | Dec 02 |
احسان نراقی: جامعه شناس و نویسنده ۱۳۰۵-۱۳۹۱ | Dec 02 | |
Nasrin Sotoudeh: Prisoner of the day | 46 days on hunger strike | Dec 01 |
Nasrin Sotoudeh: Graffiti | In Barcelona | Nov 30 |
گوهر عشقی: مادر ستار بهشتی | Nov 30 | |
Abdollah Momeni: Prisoner of the day | Activist denied leave and family visits for 1.5 years | Nov 30 |
محمد کلالی: یکی از حمله کنندگان به سفارت ایران در برلین | Nov 29 | |
Habibollah Golparipour: Prisoner of the day | Kurdish Activist on Death Row | Nov 28 |
Nadan-e doost!
by Arj on Thu Nov 03, 2011 12:00 PM PDTDear VPK, first of all, I believe RG's original question was about Hitler's sexuality rather than Reza Shah's as you have misunderstood! Secondly, there are no patriotic dictators. For a patriot is one who respects his/her compatriots rather than treating them with contempt! What we see in Iran is direct consequences of Reza Shah's lack of satecraft and education in general!
Have you ever asked yourself why is Iran the only country in the world with a madatory Hejab law in enforcement? Certainly Iran is not the most conservative of the Islamic countries, if not the most liberal! Then why?! I tell you why; because due to his thuggish military attitude and lack of education, Reza Khan's idea of emancipation of women (wich was inspired by Turkey's Ataturk's reforms) was implimentng his de-veiling policy through brutal force! Yes, he did start with his own family, but he literally sent government agents and police on the streets to literally pull the hejab off women's heads... to the point that women who had hejab on, would have to run away from police and agents to the first secure place they could find to escape de-veiling! Do you realize what an atmosphere of insecurity in a society would be generated by such thuggish behaviours of a central government?!
No wonder the trauma caused by such foolish acts (whose social outcomes were totally ignored due to the lack of critical views by a poltical opposition or even social scientists!) still reverberates in our society in the form of a backlash by the religious conservatives as compulsory hejab! As a bully and an uneducated dictator, Reza Shah thought what he saw good for his subjects was to be carried out the way he new best. Since dictators in general are not known for brainstorming and consulting with experts, the only way he knew was exerting sheer force (due to the only formal training he had received in his life, i.e. miltary) even on such a delicate, socially sensitive issue as hejab in an Islamic society!
Reza Shah's forceful manners and lack of education, did not leave any room for him in his ego to understand the process of socio-political development, hence his apathy and total contempt for the constitutional movement, constitutionalists and constitution in general! Indeed, he took over a country with a great potential for development of a civil society and flourishing social and political institutions, publications, thinkers, writers, poets... and turned it into a petty dictatorship -- with its prisons full of political dissidents and pro-democray activists -- that ended in abject failure by his son in the form of a single-party, comical rule of the Rastakhiz party!
Indeed Reza Shah's tyranical way of thinking and lack of modern education set Iran back for perhaps a century, as we still witness the entire nation paying the price under the stranglehold of disgrauntled religious zealots!
Ghasem jaan you are a good sport mate!
by anglophile on Thu Nov 03, 2011 10:35 AM PDTYes I have read that book by Kezemieh and I can see why you are reminded of that book :))
As for the battle of Mamasani, if I am not mistaken, you must have confused it with the battele of Kazeroon, where you hit the "englissi haye cheshm chap" right in the eye :)
Good talking to you mash Ghasem.
...
by Mash Ghasem on Thu Nov 03, 2011 10:09 AM PDTAnglo jaan, thanks for the laugh, beginning to like your sense of humor, and your prompt services with Daei jaan. Alas it looks as if its all over between me and him. I've actually turned into a post-colonial, pomo Mashti, so it had to happen at some time. Mashallah Ajodani would definitely be Daie jaan's cup of tea, with his love of reza shah kabir and Ajodani's recent revisionism. Though he, Ajodani, used to publish a great persian book review in London, That was a real resource, and a platform fo him to raise his revisionist history.
Thank again for the laugh and the precise insults by Daei jaan. Had you ever heard of "Ghese'hay Kocheh Delbekhah" by Eslam Kazmeih?
P.S. I still should ask your take and positionon the The Battle of Mamsani.
Mash Ghasem Jan I had a chat with Daiejan and he said:
by anglophile on Thu Nov 03, 2011 10:10 AM PDT"Tell this Ghasem, he was never a true anglophobe and like all his little lies (e.g. fighting in the battle of mamasani!!) his pretensions to be anti-British ring hollow. He, like others, betrayed me at last." Daiejan added:" tell that khaaen (sorry his words not mine) that he doesn't need to worry about injustices done to the English culture. If that beevatan (again apologies for Daiejan's loss of temper) had any shame he would have known the leading intellectual and hsitorian of his time, meaning Mashallah Ajoudani better, instead of caring about the English novelists and singers."
Well, Mash Ghasem Jan I tried to calm him down and said Ghasem has never had a proper education so please Daiejan don't expect too much from him but he was infuriated and wouldn't listen. So you see Ghasem Jan, he is well aware of your treachery and nothing will calm him down better than a grovelling apology - if at all.
Sorry but Daiejan is still alive - if not in flesh, definitely in spirit.
RG
by Veiled Prophet of Khorasan on Thu Nov 03, 2011 01:26 AM PDTIs it true that he was gay? (and no, i dont mean 'happy")!
What a total cheap shot! Is this the best you offer? Are you so envious of his prowess that you are dreaming of him now.
Cheat shot detector!
PS: The real Reza Shah was summarized by my grandfather:
In diktatore vali mihan paraste!
As I said in another post...
by hirre on Thu Nov 03, 2011 12:53 AM PDTWithout Reza shah Iran would be "Iranestan"...
People forget the we were really close to being divided as a country ~100 years ago. The foreigners totally wanted to use our feodal "khan-system" against us to create division. Reza S. removed this, united the country and started industrialization in Iran...
Reza Shah, One of the greatest...
by Azarin Sadegh on Thu Nov 03, 2011 12:07 AM PDTI admire Reza Shah for his courage and the way he saved Iran from the nightmare of Ghajar dynasty... I especially respect him for everything he did to liberate women and to reform Iran.
I am sure that history will remember him as one of the greatest kings of Iran.
عقل جمعی
rashidWed Nov 02, 2011 11:39 PM PDT
گفتگوی دو جانبه و چند جانبه ممکن است
احساس ما را بهتر یا بدتر کند ولی کمک
چندانی به مخاطب این سایت ، که بسیار بیشتر
از نظر دهندگان هستند ، نمیکند . بیننده عاقل
است و درست و نادرست را از هم تشخیص میدهد .
بشنویم سخن فردوسی خردمند بزرگ ایران را
به گُل ننگرد آنکه او گِل خور است
اگر چه گُل از گِل ستوده تر است
کرا سرکه دارو بود در جگر
شود زانگبین درد او بیشتر
خطاب به بیننده بسیار موثرتر است
تا انتقاد و یا راهنمائی یکدیگر .
Thanks Dear Mash Ghassesm for the Blues Brothers.
by Roozbeh_Gilani on Wed Nov 02, 2011 10:56 PM PDTFun movie to watch indeed. BTW, Have a good laugh about Adolph's boy friends, and the crazy, yet well portrayed Nazis in blues brothers, but please "dont make your blood dirty" discussing over a had been tin pot dictator.
Did you hear about Oakland demo today? How are things developing on petrochemichal workers strike back home? Take care and use your energy and intellect where it is needed. The enemy of people is weak, cornered, unpredictable, confused, yet dangerous.....
"Personal business must yield to collective interest."
...
by Mash Ghasem on Wed Nov 02, 2011 09:27 PM PDTThis is not a frigging normative debate about definition, its about our actual history, and how it was destroyed. Don't need no freaking definition in Englisi to tell me I had the most advanced civil society in ME. You still haven't translated . I'm beginning to doubt you're even an Iranian or able to write in persian. Prove me incorrect, please.
Nazis Take a Dive
by Mash Ghasem on Wed Nov 02, 2011 09:47 PM PDTRozbeh jaan, the clip below is from The Blues Brothers, the greatest Ameican musical ever made, and this scene could be described as anti-fascist. Before the ending of the movie the Nazis die.
As far as the actual fascist movement in Germany: in its early days, as a street level gang of a movement, it actually had knwon homosexuals in its ranks, some of the Black shirts, but after becoming a state power they sent homosexuals to camps to fit in with the 'respectable' conservative German folks!
//www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTT1qUswYL0&feature...
P.S. Some scence after this, right before the Nazi men are about to die, they come out of the closet.
I prefer this working example if you want one
by amirparvizforsecularmonarchy on Wed Nov 02, 2011 09:18 PM PDTCivil society refers to the arena of uncoerced collective action around shared interests, purposes and values. Including registered charities, development of non-governmental organizations,
community groups, women's organizations, faith-based organizations,
professional associations, trade unions, self-help groups, social movements, business associations, coalitions and advocacy groups. The arena, outside of the family, the state, and the market where people associate to advance common interests
YOU'RE the one not reading, adults could have discussion without
by Mash Ghasem on Wed Nov 02, 2011 09:10 PM PDTreference to websites. I offered you a very simple, working reality, concept:
CIVIL SOCIETY, AS AN AMALGAMATION OF NEWSPAPERS, POLITICAL PARTIES, CIVIC ASSOCIATIONS, AND ALL OTHER EXISTING SOCIAL ORGANISMS INDEPENDENT OF THE STATE.
Khengi Ham Hadi Dareh.
On that note I challenge thou to translate:
1)Shagrd Kheg Dar Morajeh Ast, into English,
2)And tranlate Civil Society into Persian. Hopefully even you, of all people, could do that, me hopes.
Hopefulluy your translation/linguistic capabilities are better than your conceptual ones.
I repeat please go to the link I posted
by amirparvizforsecularmonarchy on Wed Nov 02, 2011 08:14 PM PDTHere again //en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_society
Jump to Definition: There is no generally accepted definition of civil society.
Think a little about what I was saying about it being an evolving concept as you read:
From a historical perspective, the actual meaning of the concept of
civil society has changed twice from its original, classical form. The
first change occurred after the French Revolution, the second during the
fall of communism in Europe.
If you have a problem with any of the standard text book discussions on the subject, feel free to just talk out of your A*& and make up stuff as you do so often and then make it a total exageration to make your point and finally link it to some other fantasy. I need the laughter, it's the best medicine I know of.
Arj, please be patient and wait your turn, I'll get to you next I promise.
Now, Regarding Adolph...
by Roozbeh_Gilani on Wed Nov 02, 2011 08:14 PM PDTIs it true that he was gay? (and no, i dont mean 'happy")!
It's the certain pose, certain way he he used to hold his hand, if you get my drift...
"Personal business must yield to collective interest."
خنگ شاگرد در مراجعه است
Mash GhasemWed Nov 02, 2011 07:54 PM PDT
When I say you're overmedicated, there might be a case. You get yourself too confused over a very simple reality and concept: civil society. If understood as an amalgamation of newspapers, political parties, civic association and all other living social organisms independent of the state, such a social fact, not only existed in Iran of early 20th century, but was very influential and present, some even say dominant, and that 's exactly where Adolph Reza Khan came in, he simply crushed it, that SOB. Yet bygones are bygones, and still tis song of Namjo rings so true when he says :
Zehn Shagrd Kheng Fajeh Ast
Kheng Shagrd Dar Morajeh Ast
Hamishe Dar Moraje'e Ast//www.youtube.com/watch?v=7P-hd5wLkrQ&feature...
Mash read this link and go search the internet for others
by amirparvizforsecularmonarchy on Wed Nov 02, 2011 07:23 PM PDT//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_society
Jump to Definition: There is no generally accepted definition of civil society. From a historical perspective, the actual meaning of the concept of
civil society has changed twice from its original, classical form. The
first change occurred after the French Revolution, the second during the
fall of communism in Europe.
ahem, does that clarify anything for you? It's okay really, when my type and your type meet, the tango is interesting to say the least.
تقدیم به پیغمبر چادری خراسان
Mash GhasemWed Nov 02, 2011 07:12 PM PDT
Dishonent this my friend
by Mash Ghasem on Wed Nov 02, 2011 07:07 PM PDTRG, gave you the best contribution on savak and hojaiteh and savama, and that's how you talk about him. That's why everyone thinks that's where you emanate from. I don't need to prove anything to you or your type for anything. You don't have the vaguest clue WTF your talking about when you're saying : "...You can't create a universal definition for such a complex subject,
socially, culturally of course it is activities outside the state or
even market. It's a changing idea, always evolving." You'll probably mistake Piere Bourdieu for a French wine, but he's a sociologist, and he'll show you the exact opposite of what you might believe. Have a feeling 21st century sociolgy might be way over head but along with your meditation you could try to get your head around it.
It's over-medicated people that give this site and Prozac a bad name.
Perfectionist
by Veiled Prophet of Khorasan on Wed Nov 02, 2011 06:52 PM PDTPerfectionist the foe of progress. They dig their heels like spoiled children demanding "we want it all right now!" and bring us all to hell. Their road is paved wither their egos
As King Crimson Said:
در رثای آدولف رضا خان!
Mash GhasemWed Nov 02, 2011 07:04 PM PDT
با کمال معذرت از دوستان سلطنت طلب! شعار ذیل ، تک بیتی است از سوی
اهالی کوچه دلبخواه، به روایت شادروان اسلام کاظمیه، در کتاب "قصه های
کوچه دلبخواه".
شاه دیوث گروخته، ایرونو به روس فروخته.
Dear VPK
by Arj on Wed Nov 02, 2011 07:30 PM PDTMy last comment was meant to address APFM, but by mistake bore your name as addressee. I tried to fix it, but for some reason the Edit button didn't work! Mea culpa, perdoneme!
P.S. Assembling consumer products such as the outdated Hillman-Hunter cars (Peykan), National-Panasonic TVs or filling up Nivea containers are not considered industrialization! For an example of industrialization in that era, check out India who w/o the oil revenues that we enjoyed, had already built 25 steel mill plants by the mid 70s. That is called industrialization!
Mashti Just admit it you're a perfectonist not an honest critic
by amirparvizforsecularmonarchy on Wed Nov 02, 2011 06:23 PM PDTWhen you look at your self, your life, your interests, your friends, your work you're no idealist, but when it comes to people who you view in a competitive way you become an idealist. The Pahlavi accomplishments were the envy of the world. Reflecting on the time (colonialism/world war/coldwar) they did better than almost all.
"Please explain to me how do you define civil society?" You can't create a universal definition for such a complex subject, socially, culturally of course it is activities outside the state or even market. It's a changing idea, always evolving. People who are promoting fair discussions, not based on deceit or manipulation are pursuing this idea.
When you speak of the tyranny of the shahs era, having known and spoken with many people that worked for savak it gives me reason to doubt the fairness of your and other people who's evidence and views are totally biased, in the end you and people like RG don't rely on proof when they make such accusations.
It's unfair and dishonest criticism that lead to us losing Iran so easily and russians/chinese/eastern europeans and others to think Iranians are just dishonest/uncivilized crazy people that betrayed the best hope they had and replaced it with the same ignorance that gave rise to the pahlavi haters.
...
by Mash Ghasem on Wed Nov 02, 2011 06:13 PM PDTOY, This is getting a bit weird. Not only we both like Ave Maria, we both think it's a good idea to " ...conduct scientific research on the social, economic, and political
history of the last 100 years in Iran so that we can once and for all
learn and get a good understanding of the realities of that period based
on facts and researched data..." The funny part, or the unfunny part, you chose, is that on a national level, in a consistent sense we have squat in that field. That's not to say that we don't have serios research done, but despite all the great research jobs done, basically in all fields, it's still very disorganized, of course its not inconcievable that in a free society, such knoweledge as created by Iranian social scientists could be used to study social history and pathologies and the adequate response and approach.But that was a bit long paragraph, and we have ways and ways to go yet.
I'm a born again erooni, never knew i had so much eron in me!
Almost forgot, enjoy
//www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwp1CH5R-w4
That was illusions of growth, mal-development is also another
by Mash Ghasem on Wed Nov 02, 2011 05:57 PM PDTtitle for this in Developmental Studies. All that GDP you're so proud of was basically inflated energy prices to begin with. (Nothing to do necessarily with the growth of Iranian workers' labor input on a national level, though that was a substantial increase in the mining sector, that is if you base your macro analysis on an Input/ Output Table as its referred to). And naturally with inflated prices you get too much money, and too much theft: if you know what I mean. Anyone who had a government job in shah's time knows what I'm talking about, the rampant theft and coruption in almost every government ministry and department. God knows about the millions stolen at Vzarat Naft. At some point all they had to do was to add a zero in front of the numbers, and they added as much as they liked.
As fas as a comparison of development between China and Iran, one shoul keep in mind what chineese have refered to, for the past four thousand years as: development with chinese characterstics. Obviously this also includes chinese revolution and the current ruling party, which I'm frankly not sure how familiar you are with, suffice it to say you're comparing apples and cucumbers, Such comparisons are simply incommensurable.
Please explain to me how do you define civil society? Do you have the vaguest idea of the culture and poetry of the time. Just read " From Saba to Nima" it'll give an idea of how progressives ideas and notions witnessed a growth in that Era and such progressiv eideas were very influential, on a mass, national, country-wide bases. What you simply can not comprehend is that even the growth all local-independent papers (as opposed to Tehran based, state-sponsered) in Iran from constitutional revolution to now, has nothing to do with state, but they grow despite of the state, in latent or blatant opposition to it. Just think about the history of all those newspapers published in all these decades, overvehlming majority of them are initiated by independent, middle class, urban educated sector. And this was nothing but the result of the constitutional revolution and nationalization fo the oil industry, and the '79 revolution.
Have a good night, and don't take too much Prozack, it makes you carzy, seriosly. Try some moderate physical excerise approperiate for your level, and meditation, lots and lots of meditation, as much as you can. You catch my drift.
Arj
by Veiled Prophet of Khorasan on Wed Nov 02, 2011 05:33 PM PDTArj I did not call you any names. But there was a lot of industry in Iran. I give you examples:
I just looked up my parents company. It does come up. I am not going to give the name away but it was not oil based. Nor were others for example those making cars; chemicals; electronics and many others. You dismiss them but we hired people. You know what my father had planned for his favorite employee? To send his son to USA for university. You know what IRR did to him: took him away never to be seen again. You pick who was better. Yes my family were "Arbab" but we did not murder; nor did we torture. We took care of people how does your democracy do?
Mash Ghasem question regarding Hitler
by Siavash300 on Wed Nov 02, 2011 05:43 PM PDT"Obvuiosly tolerance and admiration for Fascism and Nazis was not only limited to Adolph Reza Khan, but it includes many of his apologists as well. May god (if it exists) save all of you." Mash Ghasem
No, Mash Ghasem, it was NOT Reza khan who followed Hitler. It was Hitler's deep feeling about the mother land of Aryan race means Iran. He had big project to develop those area of our country which was desert and useless. It is still useless. Reza khan didn't follow him. It was the other way around. I read Hitler book "my memoir" in Farsi as a teenager. He says all these in his book. I admired him in those days because he loved Iran. Not because of extermination of jews. You got it wrong my friend. I grown out of loving Hitler in my college time. That was the time I read more of Marx, Lenin and Mao than Hitler. Later on, I became obssessed with "existantialism". I started to read Sartre, Heidegger and Kierkegaard. It was a big mental journey for me as I grown up.
At the end, let me remind everyone that Reza shah the Great frequent expression was: "I make Iran better than france that French people comes and regret."
Siavash
Mr. Economic Expert!
by Arj on Wed Nov 02, 2011 05:20 PM PDTI did not claim to be an economic expert Mr. VPK, and to tell you the truth, do not appreciate your name callings and adolescent rhetorics! I may be an idealist, but at least I'm not a dreamer like you! If you were a realist as you claim, you would open your eyes and accept that Shah is dead and a part of history, as the Pahlavi era is over and is never coming back! I'm not saying that because I'm a Pahlavi hater (although I do hate tyrants), but because I am aware of the realities of Iran of today! People (a majority) are unhappy with IRI and in some cases (in older generations) might even be nostalgic of the pre-1979 era due to abject failure of IRI to deliver on what they expected, but the new generation does not even know who Reza Shah or Shah were, and cares even less! They want to replace IRI with a democratic alternative not with a Shah or Pahlavis for that matter!
However, since you seem to be so good at ecomomics, let me reiterate the following questions:
-- When you say Iran and Afghanistan are both rich, what secret source of wealth or resources (other than Iron, copper and opium crop) do you know that Afghanistan has that I don't, and yet, makes up for it in terms of lacking the oil revenue that Iran has?
-- When you mention Iran's industrialization under the Shah, what industry do you mean? Bear in mind building dams and excavating mines are not considered industrialization, and the steel mill was the hand out from soviets in the face of the West snobbing him when he asked them to give him one! What exactly is your 50%/50% figure based on? What did the "manufacturing 50%" consist of?
-- If oil revenue is not a factor, then how do you explain the difference between the economy of the oil-rich Saudi Arabia and that of Yemen w/o any oil revenue? If the 10 fold difference between the GDP of the two nations (both with more or less 20 million population) is solely based on competent leadership, then the Suadi (or any Arab) leadership must be made up of geniuses!
Dear Mash G. I love Ave Maria specially by Franz Schubert...!
by Oon Yaroo on Wed Nov 02, 2011 05:12 PM PDTWhat we need is a few Ph.D. students to conduct scientific research on the social, economic, and political history of the last 100 years in Iran so that we can once and for all learn and get a good understanding of the realities of that period based on facts and researched data as opposed to biased stories we have been told or heard here and there.
I know, you are going to say that your sources are not story tellers but rather books written by prominent writers but the problem is that most writers inject their personal views & biases into their historical perspectives hence diluting the truth of the matter!?
Anyhow, Oon Yaroo's many peace and love to you!
PS - I am a born again Shahi!
Keep basihing yourselves
by Veiled Prophet of Khorasan on Wed Nov 02, 2011 05:11 PM PDTReza Khan: gholdor GOOD! We needed a gooldchomagh to beat sense into the ***holes. If his son was half of the man he was Iran would not be in this bind. I tell you one thing: Iran is far worse of now than before.
Now where do we go now? Debate if Adolf loved Iran or not. It is all a dream. Ww are in a nightmare. Before any more insults are we going to get our act together or not. Yes Reza Kahn Saradeh Kolleh Iran.