From the Editor’s Desk – Shahrokh Ahkami – Persian Heritage, 68, Winter 2012
As a child I thought the end of the year would never come. Now it seems as if the year ends with the blink of an eye. You look back at the 365 days that have past. You are amazed at the events that have happened and that your wishes and dreams still are not a reality. I cannot believe another year has passed and I am again wishing you a Happy Holiday Season, a Healthy and Happy New Year and soon our preparations for NoRouz will begin. With each year we wish for a world that is peaceful, one that cooperates and respects all world citizens. But our wishes unfortunately have once again not come to fruition. In fact this year we have seen a world more inflamed, one that is fueled with misunderstandings, propaganda and hatred. We have witnessed voices of world citizens crying for democracy and freedom and those voices are suffocated by deception. We, however, cannot be dismayed and we cannot stop wishing and praying for wiser world leadership and compassion towards world citizens.
While our wishes have not yet been reached there are little glimmers of hope that we are going in the right direction. My glimmer of hope came during the Presidential campaigns. For the first time I saw Iranian Americans truly involved in the election. Their energy and persistence was sincere and well thought out. They were forming their own thoughts and not thoughts formed by political propaganda of others.
One of the most startling events I saw was their interest and participation in the US election. In their efforts I saw more energy and persistence with the women and for that I am proud. One of the most important issues for them was the democratic candidate losing. They feared that it would mean the destruction of Iran. In all the conversations regarding the election with Iranian Americans, when you gave your opinion they became angry, they pointed out that a Republican win would increase the risk of an attack on Iran. This was something I never heard from them before. Normally the focal point at our gatherings was the reading of our great poetry and literature and remembering the past glory of Iran. There were many immigrants leaving Iran to come to the United States, leaving their belongings and homeland. At that time they wished the United States would invade Iran and destroy the present regime. This year at the gatherings their thought process had changed. I realized they now understood that a United States intervention in Iran could result in the division of Iran (the Shah once said Iran would become Iranestan). The change in their feelings was very admirable and surprising.
Prior to the elections, discussions became very heated, in their attempt to convince their audience, this election was about keeping Iran independent, protecting its integrity and protecting those who were incarcerated in Iran’s jails. This was their argument in support of the Democratic candidate. In listening to them I remembered an Iranian proverb, “Iran will never die.” This statement comes from the heart and is very accurate. The author, I am sure, was ready to give up his life to protect and defend Iran. An example of this is the eight-year war with Iraq. Over one million Iranians, women, men and children lost their lives or were maimed defending their country. This is a tragic loss of lives and brilliant minds. They walked over mine fields in defense of their country.
In our interview with John Limbert, former Iranian hostage and US Ambassador, he said when it comes to the question of independence and protection of Iran, all Iranians unified with one voice will be able protect their homeland.
As Iranians, we usually take the position that we are separate, not united. We rarely form a unified organization with substance. This is very important, because in the last 35 years we have lived in exile. Our position was important to us; we needed the title of CEO or President. It solidified our existence. As a result we would organize one-person organizations in order to keep the title and position. This may work in social events such as parades and parties, but when it comes to the protection of Iran against division and the protection of its integrity and sovereignty a “solo “individual will not be effective. Maybe this election was the best example to show the world, that no one should ever underestimate Iranians, especially when it comes to important issues.
This is an unknown characteristic of Iranians, that non Iranians never knew existed. Having said all of this, however, one of the biggest faults Iranians have is the lack of good leadership; a true leader at the head can organize in a meaningful way and in turn have an impact in bringing freedom and democracy to Iran.
You cannot expect grand movements from the people in Iran because a noose, a bullet, torture or incarceration, has suffocated their voices. They have been stripped of human rights, freedom of speech and dignity all in the name of religion. Yet, they will continue to sacrifice themselves, while we watch from the outside.
Another interesting point I observed at these gatherings was in the way discussions were handled. Normally Iranian- Americans take the position that our opinions and points are always correct; the listeners must be broken down until they accept our opinion. This has changed. We are becoming listeners and thought processors. This is a pleasant surprise and amazing and a needed change. Iranians are a super educated group of people who have behaved in aggressive ways towards one another yet so passive and humble towards other groups of people. This is slowly changing. The time has come to take a step towards unification and come together. Perhaps we have learned that while we can be polite we cannot be complacent. We have become better listeners and critical thinkers. This election perhaps gave us the opportunity and an eye opening to acknowledge that we have created a new home and that we must assimilate into this new way of life. This takes becoming involved in its local, Federal, social and political issues. This would lead us to one day have an elected political figure, an Iranian American, as a senator or a congressman in Washington. If we desire to keep Iran and Iranians safe, we must then participate in the political spectrum of ideas at a higher level in Washington. Then at time of crisis we can prevent any type of intervention and or invasion to keep Iran a sovereign nation.