Shahrokh Ahkami
Persian Heritage, #99, Winter 2020
On behalf of myself and all the staff at Persian Heritage we wish all the Christians around the world and the people of Iran, all who have endured the worst hardships in this past year, a Merry Christmas and hopefully a better New Year. The year of 2020 was one in which many suffered; students were not able to go to school, workers lost their livelihood and now struggle to put food on the table for their families. The closing of businesses added to the number of unemployed. In cities which were once alive with people we find the streets empty and businesses closed and boarded. So many people have been displaced by this virus and have been forced to move for employment reasons or a hopeful escape from encountering the virus. While there is hope in the launching of the vaccines it is likely that they will not come fast enough to separate families from the holiday season. So many families lost loved ones. So many families were only able to visit one another through a glass window. So many were not able to attend the funerals of those who passed, leaving them empty and void of closure.
Even our privacy has been encroached by the authorities; hidden cameras have been placed all over in the name of controlling the virus and yet the numbers of new cases skyrocket each day, with no end in sight. The virus has taken a toll on individuals mentally fearing financial disasters. This has negatively impacted, family life and in some cases, has led to an increase in domestic violence.
In the middle of all of this we had political elections that, as of the time of this writing, December 3, 2020, continues to be a controversy. The political climate for this election has been escalated and has caused a historical division between Americans. We in the United States are used to an election ending on election day. We are used to one side conceding and the country coming together to move on. But this division, that began near the end of President Obama’s second term and continued over President Trumps term is not likely to end.
Normally, even though family members differed in political views during the course of the political campaigns, after the election the results were accepted. Unfortunately, this election has caused permanent damage to family and friend relationships down to parent and children; each are so cemented in their own beliefs and their veracity that they cannot and will not listen or consider another’s view point.
This behavior is also seen among Iranian-Americans. During the last elections, a good percentage of the Iranian American community supported the Republican party.
They believed that President Trump was going to fight for the rights of the Iranian people and that a regime change was in the works. They supported the crippling sanctions proposed by the Trump administration that destroyed the middle class in Iran, turning them into poor and homeless. They believed the sanctions would cripple the regime and Mullahs. In actuality, as can be seen, it devastated and crippled the Iranian people and has brought them to their knees. Iranians have always been blind to the US policy on Cuba since the 1960’s. The crippling sanctions that were placed on the small country empowered, NOT DESTROYED, the Castro regime. Even after his death the regime was taken over by his brother Raul and then his successor. All the sanctions did in Cuba was to devastate the people of the country. Cubans mass migrated to the US and have been politically and financially successful, reaching the highest political positions in the US, and second-generation Cubans have sought out a presidential nomination.
Unfortunately the Iranian Diaspora seems to think that if you do not support the sanctions and that political policy that you support the Mullahs ( a truly ignorant thought process that has caused much destruction, animosity and division in Iranian-American groups, families and friends). This type of behavior and thinking, in this political climate, has led to individuals who stand on opposite sides of the political spectrum to bicker and verbally fight on all the social media venues. This behavior and divisiveness have led to the demise of many friendships and relationships, by their labeling the other with all sorts of political propaganda of dishonesty. Have we all gone mad? Do we not all have the same goal for our family and friends here and in Iran? Is not our goal to have them be free, successful, and respected?
It breaks my heart to see highly educated and intellectual Iranians judge and harshly treat other Iranian Americans just because they support opposing political candidates or party; and labeling some as “slaves to the Mullahs.” It astonished me that they could think this way! How does one dare label a group of college professors and doctors “slaves to Mullahs!” What does this even mean and/or entail? Why can’t we use our common sense and just be respectful of each other’s political views? Even more astonishing how can we think that these Mullahs are so capable of influencing and hiring individuals in these capacities as spies. They cannot even take care of their own scientists and their people let alone have this kind of influence over a large portion of the Diaspora. These Mullah’s greatest success is throwing innocent people into prison and at times executing those who speak against their powers! We are giving too much credit to them through the accusations we make towards each other.
Why can’t we after over forty years of living in a new home country, let go of our ego’s and learn to be more open minded and respect each other’s opinions? Isn’t it time for all of us to unify after having lived here, raised our families, our children and grandchildren to learn to put away our superficial pride and come together and hopefully influence a better change for Iran? It is DEFINITELY time to respect each other’s opinions and agree to disagree on political issues! We can no longer allow this behavior to continue the division among the Diasporas. It is specifically this division that Mullahs thrive on. We are feeding their motives, and this will continue if we keep pointing the finger at each other with useless and non sensical accusations. We must stop continuing the empowerment of a regime that has been in power for over 40 years.
One of my student interns at my office insisted that I start a “WhatsApp” group. As soon as the chat went up a few of the group asked me to remove them from the group because they were afraid. They were visiting Iran and did not want to have any issues with the government. Of course, my response to them was “as you wish” anyone who wants or chooses to leave please do so and do not feel pressured by any means to stay on. Of course, some who labeled and accused the others who do not think like them, as supporters of the regime were among the deserters of the chat group, hoping that this will keep their identity from the regime.
In closing I know that my words are heart wrenching but necessary. We all need to wake up, identify the true enemies and fight them with every available weapon. Whether this enemy be the virus or regime, neither knows who is poor or rich; it knows only the power of its ability to control and destroy. Do not allow this virus, a political view, a political leader, or a political party destroy or divide family and friendship. Respect one another’s views enjoy the differences and allow them to develop into compatible seeds of true change.
While my words might have been harsh on a lighter ending note, as I said in the beginning of my editorial, I wish all a healthy and happy new year and may all of you wherever you are enjoying the holidays. You are all beautiful people!