4 comments

1. Doostan-e Iranican,
   I occassionally listen to your podcast during my workout. Your program was lot better when the phone line was open to your listeners for their input and thoughts. You basically shoot in to your own feet by cutting your listeners off the line.
   In regard to the 22 Bahaman, I really had a hard time to understand Iman’s and Mahavash’s comments. The best I heard was from Shahed who commented about 4th of July in US and being close ally to UK which US used to be one of their colonies at one point of history.
   Mahavash-s Aziz, how could you establish a new government based on the current one in Iran. The government which does not believe in freedom of speech, political views and religious views. Just imagine how many young men and women in Iran after been raped got executed. How Baha’i brother and sisters are killed and imprisoned for their religious view. The freedom of speech that you and your colleague enjoy to express your view on the air, doesn’t exist in Iran.
   Iman, and if you possibly think Pahlavi regime was a tyranny regime, put everything in perspective. First off I was not a big supporter of Palavi’s but in comparison just few points probably clarifies some confusions:
   When I came to US (1977), people in US did not perceive the Iranian as a terrorist but as a nobel nation of great Persia.
   One US dollar was less than 7 toman
   Women in our society were respected and no veil were imposed on them
   and many more. We slipped 200 years behind under ISLAMIC regime in Iran.
   Islamic society and government is only good for all the middle eastern country except Iran. A religion which counts woman as 1/2 man and declare Jihad on those who don’t think the same is something of the past my friend and doom to non-existence.
   Bring some fair and knowledgeable expert guest to your program like the historian gentleman and not that religious expert (as Iman introduced hime as an expert) that all he talked was about Islam and denied all the the cultural events like Charshanbeh Souri. That guy didn’t even mention the other religions in Iran.
   Remember we all are first Iranian and then what ever religious/political views.
   Please include some of my comments on your next show.
   I’ll stand by.
   Farzad

2. Dear Farzad,

   Thank you for listening and posting your thoughts on our blog. You brought up some good points, and I’ll try to address them here. First I totally agree with you on the need to have our listeners communicate with us directly. Unfortunately we had to stop taking calls on our show because we did not meet some of our goals and expectations we had with our audience, but hopefully in the near future we will try a new strategy and resume the interactive communication.

   As for the comments that were directed to me, I am glad that you brought these points up so maybe through our discussion here I can portray a more clear explanation on the references I make. I should first let you know that the comment I made about the Pahlavi regime was more of a joke following the previous line about how 22 Bahman is our independence day from the imperialist regime of the USA, also a joke 😀 So as someone who was not even born prior to the recent revolution in Iran, I have no judgment to pass other than what I read and heard which sadly is all biased one way or another, due to the super emotional stress and polarization that the revolution has brought upon us! We can discuss all positive and negative points that each regime had or has till the dogs sing, but in the end the judgment will become relative and more of a personal matter, rather than indisputable fact.

   Also the reference to our show on Religious Identity and our guest being introduced as an “expert” must have been a mis-communication; to clear doubts I listened to that part (Min 2:45) again and I guess I should watch myself sometimes, between my serious and my funny side I can see how the listeners would take my comment a different way. So I apologize if my introduction gave the impression that our guest is an authority or an expert, he was invited because of his unique viewpoints.

   So back to the main point, there is a reason I spoke the way I did on the show, and I am glad that my words brought concerns and questions to your mind, and hopefully others. I believe that we as Iranians, do not have the culture to become a democracy, not yet. Democracy is not a form of government, contrary to popular belief, it is a culture, and we cannot transform into it, we can only learn it, and teach it to ourselves before anyone else. Maybe the day we actually start to act like a single democratic unit, meaning each person becomes a walking democracy, is the day we will have a democratic Iran. Until that day I assure you that no matter how many regimes and dictators we topple, another one will replace immediately!

   We need to realize that the Iranian government is also composed of the Iranian people, we are the reason we have the current system of government, our culture gave birth to it and will keep on giving birth to the same kind of regimes until we begin to change. And the reason is simple, consider how it is normal for a father (or mother) in an Iranian family to prevent his 12 year old, or 16 year old, or even 20 year old from making certain decisions!

   “No, you can’t buy this even with your own money…”
   “You can’t be a musician, that’s not a real field of study, you should become a…”
   “You should not marry him/her, he/she is not a good match, we are different from them, …”

   Don’t get me wrong, parents have a responsibility to raise their children and need to teach them do’s and don’ts, but I am sure every one of us can come up with hundreds of examples where this power is practiced by the parent for the wrong reasons or no reason at all. At times there is no real impact one way or another, but the veto power is exercised anyway.

   Or do we even realize that some of the cultural values we cherish could be skewed?! We are proud that in our culture we have a great amount of respect for those older than us, but what does that mean? It basically means that if Grandpa “Agha-Joon” wants something, he gets it. If the kids want to get Pasta but grandma wants Chelo-Kabob, then Chelo-Kabob it is, why? Because “ZESHTEH!” don’t even talk about it, we have to respect them. And this becomes the “norm” of our social life which translates directly to dictatorship in our government, since this same family will grow to become our politician. Until the day where the 10 year old daughter has ONE vote in the family equal to ONE vote from the 80 year old grand father, we will create dictatorship with our own hands, along with our superb ability of flattery (تملق); it is amazing how we nurture someone to become our absolute master with full control. Hence, all the titles, prefixes, and suffixes that accompany authorities’ name in our culture.

   So let’s ponder on these thoughts and make sure we are blaming the right people. I will never defend inhumane acts committed by any person or government. We have lost lives for freedom, and have paid huge prices, but we need to keep ourselves responsible and start working on the future generations. Once we shape our children the way we want our country to be, we will reach our goals and at that moment no one can take true democracy away from us.

   به امید آنروز،
   ایمان

3. Iman-e Aziz,
   What a lengthy but clear response to my comments. My friend, as I was reading through your response it was nothing but enlightenment to me.
   when my American friend ask me which culture I like better my response is always the same, both. There are certain things about both cultures that I like and try to implement in my personal life. Similarly, there are certain things about both culture that I don’t like and try to avoid them.
   I really wish I could talk to to you in person since I’m neither a good writer or typer. I wish you, Mahavash, Shahed and Zeman aziz all the best and keep up the good job Azizan and I keep listening to your podcasts (as I write this your Feb. 24 podcast is being downloaded). Please reconsider to open up your phone line with your colleagues to your listeners.
   Best regards,
   Farzad.

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