Fighting On Two Fronts

From Editor’s Desk – Persian Heritage – #58, Summer 2010, Shahrokh Ahkami

A year has passed since June 22, 2009, when Iran’s citizens demonstrated in the city streets in an effort to have their votes counted. The result of their bravery was devastating. Their government didn’t listen. Instead it watched their citizens fall victim to their bullets and executions after speedy trials. The government watched their people cry with pain from the death of a loved one and they showed no remorse. They watched their citizens live in fear of being arrested, thrown in prison and tortured. Nothing has changed positively for the innocent people of Iran, yet they continue their silent struggle for freedom and democracy.
The anniversary of the June 22, 2009 just passed and it too was silent. The 24 hour coverage by the news media, during the event, was reduced to a minute, it was as if nothing happened except for the lack of a better word, “cat fights” erupting between the western powers and the present Iranian administration and greater suppression and oppression for Iran’s citizens. New sanctions were imposed by the United States with Iranian “friends” such as Kuwait, UAE, France, Germany and England following. They decreased the number of Iranian airlines from landing in their respective airports and also refused to refuel all in the name of “security.” God only knows what will happen in Iran in the weeks to come. How will the west retaliate? What is the future of Iran and Iranians throughout the world?

Thirty years ago there was a revolution in Iran to change the regime. They believed their actions would result in a democracy, that bring to themselves and their country greater human rights and freedoms. The leader at that time was to step in and then continue to Qum where he would deliver spiritual and religious guidance to Iranians. Politics were to be left in the hands of the politicians. As we know this is not how history unfolded for Iran. Instead religion did not enhance the country but ruled. Conditions for most Iranians worsened and rights and freedoms diminished. Those hurt most were the brave women who made so many sacrifices for their country during the years of turmoil. Executions and government terrorism against its own citizens increased. More people were arrested, tortured, beaten and executed. Even those who had already served sentences for “so called” crimes, different political views, were gathered and placed back in prison and eventually executed. It sickens me to see such an abuse of power by a nation towards its own. How does the fear of change or loss of control make individuals turn into monsters against their own?
The eight-year war with Iraq left millions of its citizens dead or physically and mentally maimed. Instead of the government using the unity of its citizens at that time to build the country and bring it back into the modern world they continued to destroy the image of Iran and its citizens. Instead of trying to erase its negative world image after the hostage taking, they increased their rhetoric and threats. Their action has resulted in the west finding an excuse, the possibility of Iran developing a nuclear weapon, to increase sanctions and pressure on Iran.
This past July additional sanctions were announced increasing the hardships of the people in Iran. More destructive than the sanctions, I fear, are the unknown events that are in the future, such as a military strike. A military intervention in Iran could possibly leave the Iranian people and Iran in the same state as their neighbor Iraq. The people of Iraq were told and believed that with the removal of Saddam Hussein and the arrival of the “Angels of Freedom” that they would live in peace with the west and in a democratic state. As we have seen the best plans of mice and men often do not come to fruition in the time expected. Yes, the immediate removal of Saddam did not come with a great loss of human life but the years that have followed have not been as kind. Destruction continues with little change expected in the near future.
Will Iran be the next to experience such events? Will Iran, as the Shah once said, be broken up and called Iranestan. Up until now Iranian patriots have stopped this from happening, but with the present Iranian government giving the west the fuel they need to spark a military strike, Iran may be on the brink of division. Iran could be become the next Yugoslavia.
If my fears become a reality, where does one place the blame, on the innocent people of Iran or on the governing body, who every day takes away more rights of its citizens, especially the women? How much of the world knows that women are punished with financial fines for the way they wear their hejab and for wearing makeup and painting their nails. These fines are placed in the name of religion. Imposing these religious dress codes and cultures on its citizens is not the way to unify a nation. Nor will having your citizens live in fear of arrest and execution for voicing their opinion or asking for their rights to be acknowledged bring the nation together.
The present government of Iran is fighting on two fronts, the first battle is against its own people and the second is their rhetorical war with the mighty powers in the west. Do they understand that the west is patiently waiting for the excuse to strike, an excuse that becomes more and more a reality with each of Iran’s governmental actions. How much longer can this war of nerves between this government and its people and the west continue? How long will anyone believe that within the country there is tranquility and silence?
On the anniversary of the June 22, 2009 the Iranian government showed their insecurity. In anticipation of a mass demonstration against the government by its citizens the government filled the squares and streets with tanks, police and soldiers. They were ready to again confront the demonstrators, their citizens, with bullets and clubs. Much to their surprise no one came. The demonstrators were silent and what had left for the world to see was the governments “rhetorical” might. The silence and restraint of the Iranian citizens showed on that day resulted in a greater impact than thousands risking their lives and perhaps falling to the bullets of their government.
A few days ago I was driving with my wife and three of our grandchildren. The boys were in the back of the car acting out a Star Wars episode. Each was a separate character and each was trying to destroy the other. My wife turned to them and said that this violence and shouting at each other was not nice. The oldest replied that they were Star War characters and they had to be destructive and violent. Tristen, the youngest, chimed saying that he wanted to be violent too and started shouting. Seconds later he asked my wife what the word violent meant. Here was a four year old child using and acting out a word and did not understand its meaning. Is that what the government of Iran is doing, acting out and not realizing the results of its actions? Do they not remember what happened to Iraq because of Saddam Hussein’s acting out about his “weapons of mass destruction?” He thought that the west would run in fear but that was never an option. If this is the position the Iranian government is taking with the west and the powers surrounding them, they are mistaken. They say history repeats itself and this has been proven over and over again. Unless the present government in Iran changes its attitude in all directions I fear that they are, as the Persian expression goes, “playing with the tail of the lion.” When the lion or lions decide that they have had enough they will turn and bite, NOT ROAR. I believe the bite will be strong and large. I believe that this bite may very well be the bite that ends Iran as we know it today. To this I say what a sad day for Iran and the world. On the other hand maybe this is what the present leaders want. Maybe they believe that this would give them a legitimate reason to further suppress and place greater burdens on their citizens. Maybe they believe this is a way to prolong their power and reign.
What Iran’s leaders need to understand is today the world woks in collaboration. Certainly there were times and will be times ahead when the US, China, Western Europe, Russia etc. will disagree. As “civilized” nations problems will be worked out at tables rather than on a battlefield.
Germany was destroyed by the rhetoric of one man. Japan’s inability to negotiate resulted in severe destruction. Yet both were able to come out of their dictatorships and rebuild their nations to levels of prosperity. Do the Iranian leaders have these qualities? Have they been able to recover after wars of destruction. A true leader must have the wisdom to lead a country and know when to extend a hand out in friendship without losing its own identity. A true leader will also know how to graciously accept the hand reached out to them. Iran has had ample opportunities to do this but, for unknown reasons they have not used them. So I will continue to pray every night, as I have done since the day I left Iran, that Iran will be spared from division and that the Iranian people, who I love, will live in peace and free from suppression.