Á terre in Iran…

By: Koorosh Afshar

After 25 years of living under an ochlocracy, we, the Iranian people, have quite well learned the nature and the ways usual to the mullahs. Nowadays almost everybody in Iran believes that the ruling clerics are terribly busy doing something evil and nasty in the neighboring Iraq. In fact the mullahs have clearly perceived that, with a free and prosperous Iraq, they would not have any chances of prolonging their corrupted reign of terror and tyranny in Iran. Although the two countries of Iran and Iraq were engaged in an eight-year war against one another, which left hundreds of thousands killed, many more maimed and amputated and some totally disappeared, these two nations have a long history together rooted deep in the distant years of history. One can still find people in both countries who have their relatives in the other one.

The difference between these two nations, generally, is the fact that – unlike our Iraqi neighbors – the Iranians have had the experience of a short-term semi-democracy in their country, and the process of modernization started in Iran proportionately very early at the time of Reza Shah. The people of Iran started their modern political life much earlier – nearly a century ago – in the constitutional movement (I wouldn’t use the term “revolution” here as it only reminds me of destruction and loss which is far from the objectives of the constitutional movement) when they raised against the traditional and tyrannical government of the age, and achieved what they were seeking in the end. Although these achievements were not that long lasting, they had a tremendous effect on the mindset of the Iranians. What our noble fathers sought and struggled for, if not fully achieved at the time, has left us with an honorable and glorious legacy. Unfortunately, not many Iranians are familiar
with their own history.

Our people have a long history of nonviolent and democratic movements. They have proven that they can make a change whenever they decide to do something.
But the same teacher – history – has taught us that, with blood thirst leaders like Ayatollah Khomeini and his like minded henchmen, the next thing that could happen after the desired change is only a big U-turn that can potentially take us back even years before the starting points. I, as an Iranian university student in Iran, fervently believe in these words of that British dramatist: “The humble and meek are thirsting for blood.” Our people are not. Not anymore. A quarter of a century of blood shed, war and persecution is enough.

Ever since I had the chance to let the people of the world hear my voice, I have had the opportunity to befriend many brave people from all the corners of the globe. The message of freedom cried by the Iranian youth was so strong, it was able to bind the hearts of the people of various countries and ethnic groups together – Americans in particular. Only I would like to tell everyone, one more time, that we are NOT worried whether or not the politicians of this country or any other country say something in favor of our struggle, as, unlike you, they might not know that your freedom and ours cannot be separated. What we are concerned about is YOUR message of support. It is YOUR resolve that warms our hearts and gives us more hope and stamina to move forward towards that final free and secular Iran that all of us look forward to as the future of our beloved homeland.

“How can we help?” a lot of you might ask. The answer is very simple: let the others hear our message. Tell the others who might not know that the mullahs and the ruling minority are a very small fraction of the more than 70,000,000 freedom-and-peace-loving-Iranians. Guide them to informative sources, which can give them a vivid and true image of Iran’s youths.

Throughout the whole period of these 25 years my nation has never been this much hopeful for her future, although we are standing with our clenched but bare hands, à terre. But please, remember that every little thing helps. I remember that once I read somewhere from Hartley Coleridge: “But what is Freedom? Rightly understood, a universal license to be good.”

We OUGHT TO be “good” together. That is the only path to a bright future for all of us.

- Koorosh Afshar is a pseudonym for a student in Tehran. His name has been
changed for his protection.