Iran’s New Murmur
for Freedom – A Look Back & Personal Journey
The
recent outpouring for justice and basic human rights from the streets of Iran,
my country of birth, takes me back 30 years ago to the first revolution. The bloody, wild, loud and destructive
revolution and regime change that I witnessed first hand and remember very
vividly through the eyes of an active 16-year-old teenager.
I
remember the cries of “god is great” from the rooftops at night, these are the
same cries that Iranians are shouting again, although in quieter voices. I remember going to the roof of our building
in North of Tehran with my neighbor and best buddy Ali Reza to watch Tehran
burn during the height of the protests.
I also remember being trapped in my high school, which was very close to
Tehran University, with massive military presence outside using tanks,
personnel carriers and armed soldiers.
That
day we were given a warning to vacate the high school, or they would open
fire. No one trusted the voices coming
through bullhorns as they hid under the tables and in closets in various rooms
in the building, however I and a handful of others nervously but slowly walked
out and left that area. I learned the next day that moments after we left they
attacked our high school with tear gas, arrested all and seized the building.
My
simple gesture of abandoning the holdout on that day, leaving behind the most
politically active high school in Tehran was more than an attempt at
self-preservation; it was a subconscious mental confirmation of my total
disbelieve in that so called “revolution.”
I never wanted to be a part of it, actually never asked to be such an
active witness either. Even at such
young age I knew then that the degenerate mullahs (clerics) where a dark and
hypocritical force and supporting them would be a vote for a life of
misery. Luckily I left Iran soon after.
My
most vivid memory from that time, wasn’t abandoning my high school on that day
and never returning, or seeing Tehran on fire, but it was asking a classmate
who I thought had more sense why he had joined the protests and he laughed and
said, “because it’s so much fun.” Yes,
the first revolution was brought up by bored class clowns and those who were
brainwashed and turned slaves by the religious fanatics.
Those
unaware masses who placed the extremely rich 7000-year heritage of our great
land into the hands of the barbaric and hypocritical religious nutcases,
promptly, as if through a time portal, regressed our country back a good 1000
years.
However,
all that darkness and regression befell Iran through a massive and popular
uprising.
Now
30 years later, I know better not to get my hopes up. I have a feeling that the Iranians will fail me once again.
I
remember very clearly back in 1978 and 1979 the type of energy, the magnitude
of force and the outcry for change that rocked Tehran but today in comparison I
see only a marginal display.
What
I see is not a shout for freedom but a whimper. I don’t see hundreds of thousands facing the armed guards and
overpowering them, I see small batches of enlightened heroes and freedom
fighters quickly overcome by basic crowd control tactics.
I
don’t see protestors 30,000 strong taking over TV stations, government offices
and official residences, I see a small band of warriors fighting the big fight
with too few braves to win it.
I’d
hope after exactly 30 years our younger generation would have had it with these
agents of suppression and hate. I’d
hope they would have been so angry to the point that they would be willing to
sacrifice themselves en mass for the greater good. But no such luck. Alas,
the new generation is too politically correct and self involved to bring about
an actual revolution.
Unseat the Mullahs
The
clerics only understand brute force.
And why shouldn’t they, they have an absolute hold on an extremely oil-rich
country. They control all aspects of
life in Iran and have amassed a large army of thugs to maintain total
domination over the lives of 70 million people. A true revolution in Iran can only happen when the same people
who appointed these brutal, heartless, faithless mullahs into power to drag
them off of their thrones and unseat them for good.
To
yank these mullahs from power will take a massive force. That great punch that knocked out the old
regime needs to be duplicated now. The
timing is right, the world is totally and wholly supportive of the new march
for freedom in Iran. People all over
the globe are rooting for those in Iran who are enlightened and courageous
enough to want to change their lives for the better. The time is now.
Rumi would Vote
Green
I
have lived with Rumi now for over 20 years.
In the past two decades as I have shared Rumi with the world, through my
books, music, readings and events I have come to a special understanding of
him. Rumi was Maverick’s Maverick. A
true independent. In his first epic
collection, Rumi repeatedly speaks of setting fire to the dogmatic way of life
and accepting the essence of Love as the true faith of the enlightened. Well, Rumi was 1000 years ahead of his time
in the 13th Century.
The
one who is born into Love,
doesn’t
follow any one religion,
be
sure of that.
Since
in the religion of Love,
there
is no irreverence or faith.
For
the true Lover, the Ka’ba
and
an idol temple are one.
Transform Iran –
Transform the World
Iran
is a great nation, with rich history, filled with gracious people and it
deserves to be governed by a secular and democratic government.
I
salute the very courageous Persian men and women who are facing the attack dogs
of this brutal regime. I hope to see
their numbers multiply every day. A
momentum has been created, a crack is formed, now increase the pressure and
topple the old bastards and not only transform Iran but shape the whole
world. I am rooting for you.
Here's to victory over dark, suppressive forces that may reside anywhere in the world.
[OK To Share]