Tuesday
January 23, 2001
Googoosh product of Shah era
What is certain is that we all love Googoosh for her charisma and what
she represented and still represents today. I have fond memories of her
as a child and teenager when I used to watch her on TV. My parents even
had the oppurtunity to see her in Shiraz in the mid-seventies.
The only thing that really bothers me are rumors that circulate around
a so-called harrassment on Googoosh by family members or the entourage
of the Shah ( this has been quoted in the press notably the American and
British media). If this is true it is certainly sad and despisable, but
if this is just a way to conciliate Iranians beyond their political opinions
around Googoosh's undeniable talent, I really think she, or her managers
don't need to use such cheap arguments.
For me Googoosh is a "product" of the Shah's era (and I don't
think I am being unrespectful when I claim this) as many artists of that
time she was totally eclipsed for more than 20 years, and I just hope
that as much as her undeniable talent has surfaced, after 20 years of exile
that the truth will also surface, concerning her life before and after
the revolution.
It is unfortunate that our compatriots have such a short memory of the
events that took place in Iran, back in 1979, especially those of us who
were forced into exile. I am neither a monarchist activist , nor a republican
activist, and never was. I was much too young when the event took place
to have been able to analyse or have an opinion. Like everyone I wish
that Iran will find it's dignity and freedom after 20 years of cultural,
political and human oppression!
However I resent this national tendancy of those Iranians who are ready
to change their shirts once a storm hits them. In the late 1980's Reza
Pahlavi, the heir to the Peacock Thrown, had given a speech in front of
ten or fifteen thousand of Californian Iranians speaking of reconciliation
and the urge to unite the people against the Islamic Republic. Everyone
cheered him and recognized his devotion and sincerity, all the more as
he has not necessarily urged for a return of the monarchy to Iran, but
of democracy.
I wish that all those Tehran-geles or Iran-geles people who have endured
the harships of exile as many other compatriots won't forget who they
are and where they come from. In anycase I wish our national singing icon
all the best for her second career, and a happier personal life than the
one she had to endure like many of us. Googoosh, keep illuminating us
with your talent.
Darius Kadivar
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