Fariba Amini
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Thy father's sins
10-Jul-2010
Recently we heard the wise words of the son of the late Mohammad Reza Shah promoting a non-violent movement towards democracy. Such rhetoric makes sense to those who have been the victims of the Islamic regime's fanaticism and violence, and who have lost every bit of faith in the Khatami government which promised more than it delivered.
However, let us not go backwards. The revolution in which thousands made sacrifices to end the monarchy was hijacked by the clergy. But Iranians, even those with a bit of nostalgia for the past, do not wish to turn the wheels back. Rather they wish to move forward in establishing a government by the people for the people.
Reza Pahlavi in various interviews, and recently in a book published in Persian, talks of the desires of the Iranian people. However, he does not state the reasons why we are all facing the present disaster. He considers mistakes and corruption within the Shah's government as minimal.
If today the Islamic regime has created a society of fear, those in power prior to 1979 planted the seeds long before. If today we are facing a theocracy of the worst kind, yesterday we had a dictatorship run by a monarch.
We were given a monarchist calendar year by force. We were given the Rastakhiz Party by force. The Shah's own ministers were forced to kiss his highness's hands and feet. Freedom of speech and assembly were non-existent. Books had to go through government censorship before being published.
The Savak secret police and Evin prison were created and the torture of prisoners was common and opponents were executed. Close ties with Western governments were to the benefit of foreign corporations and not the Iranian people.
Celebrations marking 2,500 years of monarchy were staged at Persepolis with millions of dollars of the people's money. A few deposed monarchs came and ate tons of caviar at those ludicrously lavish parties while many Iranians were hungry and most villages lacked water, electricity, and sanitation.
And the Pahlavi government's literacy campaign created 75% illiteracy!
The Shah did not make just a few mistakes here and there, as Reza Pahlavi claims. The royal family and their close associates plundered the wealth of the country. Changes in Iranian society during the reign of the Pahlavi dynasty was cosmetic and unsubstantial.
Now if Reza Pahlavi is sincere in his hopes for Iran and the majority of Iranians, he must first come to terms with the past before we can believe him. He must practice what he preaches.
Unfortunately, most monarchists do not acknowledge past mistakes. And they are quick to blame nationalists and leftists for the emergence of the Islamic regime.
As a gesture of good will, Reza Pahlavi should spend the bulk of the money his family took from the people of Iran for the benefit of the impoverished masses of expatriate refugees and those who are selling their bodies and souls in order to escape from the evil of the Islamic regime.
If Reza Pahlavi is sincere, he should abandon the idea of being the "lawful heir to the throne". He should abandon the idea of monarchy -- even a constitutional monarchy that was never practiced by his father or grandfather.
The throne was overthrown! Reza Pahlavi must accept the reality of 1979 revolution, even though a dictatorship was replaced with a more repressive form of government.
Reza Pahlavi should be an ordinary citizen just like all of us and work side by side his fellow country men and women to establish a lawful and democratic government that respects the votes and representatives of the people, not one that bends under a monarch or a molla.
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Veil & Elham57
by P_J on Sun Jul 11, 2010 03:05 PM PDTVeil: It looks as you have been wearing your veil TOO TIGHT...it can cause OXYGEN DEPREVATION of the BRAIN. What you say is usually EMOTIONAL, never ANALYTICAL. Think how we got here and why and please don’t give me the moronic monarchist clichés!!! Why would intelligent people go through REVOLUTION suffering thousands of lost lives if they were happy or content! What they did, was to get rid of a CRIMINAL ENTERPRISE called Pahlavi REGIME!
And to Elham57: You ought to be ASHAMED of yourself for saying that SAVAK did not kill enough, because your grand father said so!! That is like saying that German GESTAPO, or Soviet KGB responsible for murdering millions did not kill enough. I knew young men and women, some in their late teen that just disappeared! Some were simply executed by the monstrous Pahlavi regime and I don’t care what your grand father says these were facts on the ground. Unfortunately and due to the disorganization of the Nationalist front and others we replaced one MONSTEROUS regime with another!
Those who do not learn from HISORT LIVE TO REPEAT IT!
In conclusion and for the future LEADERSHIP of Iran one should look for those who are HONORABLE, SMART, HIGHLY EDUCATED and TENACIOUS, also STRONG believers of DEMOCROCY and the DEMOCRATIC institutions!
Elham57 Jaan
by Veiled Prophet of Khorasan on Sun Jul 11, 2010 02:02 PM PDTI really agree with your words. These people like Ms Amini screwed up Iran for us. I did not want the revolution; I was happy with the Shah. Now I have to be away from my beloved Iran. Why: thanks to people like Amini. Now she is telling RP what he "must" do. Who the heck is Amini anyway. We hat is good.
I want it good again. Yes I am doing fine right now. Maybe have more money in the USA than would have in Iran. I have more superficial things. But I don't have my Iran. I want it back. Now that it apperas IRI may be on its way out the old revolutionaries are back. To make a new mess and break it for us all. My requests to RP: Please come and restore Iran.My request to Amini: do not speak on my behalf.
VPK
Rules of the game
by comrade on Sun Jul 11, 2010 11:26 AM PDTThe amusing pastime "Pahlavi bashing" seems like an unavoidable national task. The only person who might be able to prevent it is none other than RP.
visit....//www.tudehpartyiran.org/mardom.asp
My grandpa
by Elham57 on Sun Jul 11, 2010 11:27 AM PDTMs. Amini,
you seem to be a nice lady, from what I have read from you around here, but the problem with you, and your likes (yes, your likes), is that you have zero crediblity with us, and my likes, any more.
I was born in 1979. My grandpa in 1919.
I read my grandfather , who is visiting us fom Iran,what you wrote. He is old enough to remember what condition Iran was in, when the Pahlavis took over, and how it was, when they left.
We were given a monarchist calendar? No, it was a calendar, revolving around our land of Iran. Our ancestors, in their wisdom, picked the exact day, and the exact minute, that spring starts, as our new year. This delightful event, Norooz, had been celebrated for more than 5000 years, But then, our Islamic calendar starts when? When Mohammad moved from mecca to Madina. WHO CARES??
The Arabs don't even mark that event. Islam, is part of our identity, but it is not our only identity. This hejri calendar is stupid and the idea of changing it came from people who loved Iran. In retrospect, how practical it was I am not sure.
SAVAK was rough. In reprospect, it should have been rougher. My grandfather and his generation know the names of all tholse who were executed: Golesorkhi,...Daneshian,...Roozbeh.
Was there ever a woman exected? No! Was there a teenager executed? No! Was there ever an old man executed? No!
Compare it to what your revolution (yes, your revolution, not mine or my father's, or grandfather's) did to Iran and Iranians.
The Islamist and leftist propaganda machine was at work at it's full capacity. Every problem was exagurated and multiplied 100 fold, and every progress was brushed off.
Your information and sources seem to be limited to those pamphlets printed and passed on in high volumes, by this or that militant organizations, fooling the masses: Illiteracy rate at 25%?? Give me a break!
You got what you wanted! The big, bad wolf left, and your beloved Leader came.
Fine.
My grandfather wants me to tell you:
" What the hell are you doing here in the US? I am paying the price of your idiotic actions by suffering every day, in the Islamic republic. YOU made this happen, I didn't. I was a factory worker and I had a good life under the first and second Pahlavi. I didn't have political freedom, but I had everything else. Rastakheez? I never joined, and nobody bothered me. The Shah was bad, you say? You wanted him to go? He finally listened. He left, and gave the country to you and your likes.
WHY ARE YOU HERE??
Now you are at it again, telling us what's good for us? Are you going to be on the first flight out of Iran, if it didn't work out again?"
You seem to be a nice lady Ms. Amini, but you have zero credibility with us.
Pahlavi Bashing
by Veiled Prophet of Khorasan on Sun Jul 11, 2010 11:04 AM PDTMs. Amini: don't you get tired of Pahlavi bashing? I do. The Shah was very imperfect. But that was 31 years ago. Why are you dragging his name in mud? Is this one more way to divert attention from what is happening NOW? I care about today. Yes history is important but today is more important.
If you want to go into history how about praise for Reza Shah the great. The man who made the modern Iran. Of course you left him out. How insincere you are. Plus you mam are in no position to be making demands of Reza Pahlavi or anyone. You do not speak for Iranians; just for yourself.
SP: Shir o Khorshid is worth a million times the ankabout that is on the flag now. Personally I rather have Darafshe Kaviani but I will proudly settle for Shir o Khorshid. Reza Pahlavi is a highly respected decent man; you are the non entity; non Iranian.
Wow !
by Rea on Sun Jul 11, 2010 10:34 AM PDT"And the Pahlavi government's literacy campaign created 75% illiteracy!"
Any sources to confirm it ?
The revolution in which
by benross on Sun Jul 11, 2010 10:29 AM PDTThe revolution in which thousands made sacrifices to end the monarchy was hijacked by the clergy
And who was the leader of the revolution at the beginning before being hijacked?
I didn't finish your article. I stopped right here. And I'm out of this blog.
Great blog Miss Amini
by Bavafa on Sun Jul 11, 2010 10:19 AM PDTThe summarization of both regimes are very much spot on and the role that Reza Pahlavi has played so far, while living in US and collecting unemployment checks, has been very clear. That is some one go and free Iran from IRI whether by bombing them to stone ages or other methods [i.e. green revolution] and then I will come and rule.
Mehrdad
Thy Grandpa's Deeds ...
by Darius Kadivar on Sun Jul 11, 2010 03:53 AM PDTMashadollah Adjoudani on Reza Shah's Accomplishments and the Legacy of the Constitutional Revolution and criticizes Iran's Intelligenstia for hypocritically not acknowledging it.:
//www.youtube.com/watch?v=0m3Yvj33bCc&feature=related
Related Blog:
HISTORY FORUM: Mashallah Ajoudani on Intellectuals and the Revolution (BBC)
fariba
by Niloufar Parsi on Sun Jul 11, 2010 03:23 AM PDTgreat piece. very clear and to the point.
Peace
It's fair enough to list
by Bunyip on Sun Jul 11, 2010 03:08 AM PDTIt's fair enough to list all the evils the Shah had committed. It is also fair to list all the evils the Akhunds have committed and continue to do so.
But to be honest one must also list all the good they both have done for Iran and Iranians. Then we can put them in perspective.
Regardless of these, if we are all stiving for a "democratic" society, where free speach and opinion will be cherished, then who are we to brand someone's belief by declaring somethings are outdated, and others are not.
Let us not forget the Arab lovers committed this same act and fooled millions by hijacking our revolution, and imposed a fascist "islamist" theocracy by a similar strategy, ie "do you want an islamic republic or not?", instead of first educating the masses in various forms of government, then leaving the decision to them.
No one is responsible for their parent's actions, however
by Marjaneh on Sun Jul 11, 2010 06:10 PM PDTmost (unless disabled) are obliged to take responsibility for their own action/s (as best they can) and take responsibility if making definite/specific "claim" on the result of another's actions, or in Clown Prance's case non-(ineffective) action and deliberate ignorance,of various kinds (including obligations of service and duty)....Cherry-picking isn't even great for cherries
"I still have my own teeth. 'Just can't remember where I've put them."
Issues at hand ...
by No Fear on Sun Jul 11, 2010 01:06 AM PDTThe current political issues and debates in Iran at the moment are the future of velayate fagih and the seperation of religion from the government. These debates are layered and one must be able to read between the lines when following them. Recently, the debates are more openly ( directly ) discussed.
I agree fully with Sargord that many of the old timers ( Like the monarchists ) , are still advocating ideologies which are not suited for our era.
Nice video DK, could not help smiling
by fooladi on Sun Jul 11, 2010 12:35 AM PDTand liking the old lady. She is obviously against the islamist regime and that is all that matters at this point in time.
Well Fariba Jaan Seems you are in Good Company ;0))
by Darius Kadivar on Sun Jul 11, 2010 12:20 AM PDTLOL
I prefer Mine ...
//www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPHW-ldSeqY
Hee Hee
Very good blog Fariba, thank you.
by fooladi on Sun Jul 11, 2010 12:16 AM PDTAnd of course to understand the significance of the shiro khorshid flag as a layman, one need to be Iranian first!
...................
by Majid on Sat Jul 10, 2010 10:28 PM PDT"Like the Shiro Khorshid flag. Outdated and not taken seriously"
دهنت رو آب بکش سر گماشته!
عِرض نداشتهء خود میبری و زحمت ما میداری.
No one will be a non-entity. Not a single soul
by comrade on Sat Jul 10, 2010 10:26 PM PDTWhat is the significance of RP, if he is an ordinary citizen? Don't we have to come to terms with some thorny issues, first? I think so.
God may help us with some extra long comments!
visit....//www.tudehpartyiran.org/mardom.asp
Sargord!
by P_J on Sat Jul 10, 2010 10:26 PM PDTI could not agree with you more! But there are those, on this site, either because of age or experience, that seem to think otherwise...and in my view should be informed that Iran's revolution was real! Problem is that we replaced ONE MONSTER WITH ANOTHER. And NOW the old monster(s), Pahlavi(s), have become HUMAN RIGHT ACTIVIST!!!.... A BIG JOKE! Apparently they want to go back and EMBEZZEL the LAFTOVERS!!!
Reza Pahlavi? Why are you
by Sargord Pirouz on Sat Jul 10, 2010 10:10 PM PDTReza Pahlavi? Why are you even mentioning that non-entity?
That's so 1970's. Iran is way past that sort of thing.
Like the Shiro Khorshid flag. Outdated and not taken seriously.