DECLARATION

تقدیم به جناب انگلوفیل

تا کعبه ی تو ، لندن بارانی شد
بس ظلم و بلا ، عاید ایرانی شد
هر عقد و قرار ، کار پنهانی شد
هر جای نشاط نشان ویرانی شد

آزاده ایران پناه

Source/ Comment Section: //iranian.com/main/blog/m-saadat-noury-133

ما نیز از شما

حرف حساب مشروطه طلبان

از دوستان گرامی برای هر گونه اظهار نظر اعم از انتقادات و تحسین ها سپاسگزارم. حتی آنان که نخوانده زحمت اظهار نظر را کشیدند، خسته نباشید.

هنوز هم نمیدانم حرف حساب مشروطه طلبان چه بود و چرا ترجمه اعلامیه استقلال ایالات متحده آمریکا چنان باعث آزار و اذیت آنان گشت...

Funny, I didn't even notice the name of Mr M

Mossadegh-Ollahies

A new term that we must get used to.

Where in Iranian 1906 constitution do we see the right for a prime-minister to dissolve a parlimant?

No kidding ? Well I Wonder whether we shouldn't Reinstate it

again ... 

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=6iAp7ZNsFuk&feature=related

LOL

Related Blogs:

AN EAGLE HAS LANDED: Obama Hails UK-US's "Special Relationship" during State Visit

AUTHENTIC FRONTIER GIBBERISH: Egypt's Rebuffs Washington's Speed Up Calls ;0)

KNIGHTHOOD: Obama Honors Mel Brooks at Kennedy Center ( X Mas 2009) 

Monarchists’ Allergies

Anglophile wrote: “Abolition of slavery was not included in that document and slavery was eventually abolished not by an American citizen but by an Englishman named, William Wilberforce… So please my Iranian-American cousins stop bragging about a constitution that you don't know anything about its roots.”

The thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution officially abolished slavery in America in 1865. William Wilberforce was an English man who spear-headed the fight against salve trade in Great Britain. After twenty six years of parliamentary campaign by William Wilberforce and other abolitionists in England, the Slave Trade Act of 1807 passed.

Despite the passage of this act in England, slavery continued in the United States until 1865 simply because we are talking about two sovereign nations governed by their own laws.

Monarchists’ allergies flare up at the mere mention of Dr. Mosaddegh’s name… It simply opens up an old wound that causes monarchists to defend Great Britain at all costs even with mixing up the histories of two different countries…

anglophile Jan EXACTLY ;0)

Indeed !

Mr. Ghiassi

So true, looks like you are cut with lawyers and corrupted legal system also. Thanks to some Iranian-American freinds who are making dirty money out of lawsuit abuse and robbing other fellow Iranians. 

Thanks Darius jan that was a great clip

As you said it absolutely correctly the origin of American decleration of Independence lies in the Glorious Revolution of 1688-89 which resulted in the Bill of Rights of 1689 and in the earlier Petition of Rights of 1628 and Magna Carta of 1215.

The idea of all men were born equal applied to the white male protestant and rich citizens ONLY. Abolition of slavery was not included in that document and slavery was eventually abolished not by an American citizen but by an Englishman named, William Wilberforce.

All the so called American relvoution did was to replace one George (King George III of England) by another George (George Wshington) with the latter being a very rich plantation owner who used slaves and cheap labour in his farming business,

It is laughable that Ameicans (and more laughable are Iranian Americans who) think Ameica is the greatest demcoracy in the world. This shows the narrowness of their knowledge of the world in which they live. People of tiny monarchies like, Holland, Belgium, and the Sandinavian countries enjoy such democratic features that Americans can only dream of. And all these democracies copied their models from Britiain.

So please my Iranian-American cousins stop bragging about a constitution that you don't know anything about its roots.

Amir Ghiassi

Great points ...... so true 

شيادی و بی قانونی در همین آمریکا

در همین آمریکا هزاران شرکت شیادی وجود دارد که به بهانه مثلا ګرفتن وام ارزان و یا کمک دولتی و یا تنظیم نرخ بهره و یا وام به روز از مردم کلاشی میکنند.  شیادان از مردم بهر طریقی شده پول میګیرند چک میدهند ولی ګرفتن چک کار حضرت فیل است بایست برای یک چک مثلا ده هزار دلاری  پنج هزار جلو به وکیل بدهی تا دنبال کارت را بګیرد  و شخصا نمیتوانی به دادګاه و رییس دادګاه ها مراجعه بکنی و عریضه بدهی  همچنین مثل ایران نیست که بشود بهر کسی نامه نوشت و دادخواهی کرد  بلکه تنها راه ګرفتن وکیل و سلفیدن پول پیش است؟  شاید آمریکا از این جهت مهد آزادی دزدان کلاهبرداران و غارتګران باشد  بهشت آزادی برای کسانی که میتوانند پول وکیل از پیش بدهند و جهنم آزادی برای کسانی که نمی توانند برای اموال غارت شده شان به وکیل های خبره پول پیش بدهند؟  تبریک بقول آقای فرد  بهر حال طبقه متوسط هرکجا رور آزار بیند و غارت ګردد؟

So What Laleh Jaan ? So did King Juan Carlos' Grandpa

Alfonso XIII of Spain

When the Second Spanish Republic was proclaimed on 14 April 1931, he fled and left Spain, but did not abdicate the throne. He settled eventually in Rome where he lived in the Grand Hotel. On 15 January 1941, Alfonso XIII abdicated his rights to the Spanish throne in favour of his third (of four), but second-surviving, son Juan, father of the current King, Juan Carlos. He died in Rome a month-and-a-half later.

It did not stop the Spanish from Restoring their monarchy with Juan Carlos ( HIS GRANDSON that is they even Jumped One Generation) who unlike our Crown Prince Reza was born in exile ( Rome Italy to be exact) in an age where the very concept of Monarchy seemed the most obsolete thing to do ( 1975) after more than half a century and the establishment of a Second Republic and a bloody civil war :

HISTORY FORUM: Franco's Ghost- Spain's Painful Road Towards National Reconciliation

Now THAT is what I call not only ORIGINAL but GENUINE !

;0)

If the Spanish with a much shorter Royal history can take pride in their patriotic slogan:

VIVA ESPANA, VIVA EL REY !

I don't see why we can't ?

GENUINE IRANDOKHT SAY’s IT OUT LOUD !

Instead of Repeating Some ALIEN Frontier GIBBERISH on fake grounds that it is Authentic:

Authentic Frontier Gibberish

LOL

Related pictory:

THE SUN ALSO RISES: Shah of Iran and Queen Soraya visit Franco's Spain (1957)

ROYAL CURTSY: Iran's Royal Family At Spain's Crown Prince's Wedding (2004)

ROYALTY: King Juan Carlos of Spain Greeted by Shahbanou at Sa'ad Abad Palace State Dinner (1978)

ROYALTY: Spain Greets Iran's Prince Gholam Reza and spouse Manjineh (1978)

شاه رفت

"احتیاط در عمل، حقیقتاً، امر بر این دارد که حکومتهای کهن، بدون پروا و به دلایل سطحی نبایستی تغییر داده شوند. بر این اساس، تجربیات تاریخی نشان داده اند که تحولاتی از این قبیل، امکان رنج و عذاب توده های مردم را بیش از دفع ستم از آنان فراهم خواهد کرد و بهره ای از نابودی شکل و ترکیب حکومتی که به آن انس گرفته اند نصیب مردم نخواهد گشت."

پس از سی دو سال سلطۀ حکومت اسلامی، هیچ ملتی در تاریخ بشریت معنای این جملات را بهتر از ملت ایران نمیداند...

anglophile Jaan LOL good to have your around buddy ;0)

Thanks for the precision ...

I concur ... 

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOOTKA0aGI0

;0)) 

What Is Uniquely American

American imperialism has supported and continues to support dictatorships and tyrants around the world and by the virtue of its nature, is incapable of recognizing the right of other nations to live without American interference.

However, what is profoundly unique in the American society is its ability to change. The necessity for this change was born out of the ashes when the twin towers fell and might not have a fighting chance to survive given the prevalent greed amongst Americans.

Thus far, it is only a whisper, a recognition for change…

وای از این ایرونیای امریکایی شده

انگاری که جدّ اندر جدشون امریکایی بوده یا اینکه بابا بزرگشون اعلامیه استقلال رو امضا کرده. بابا شما جعفر خان‌های از فرنگ اومده که دیروز اسمتون جعفر بود و امروز شده جفری چرا مثل خود این امریکایی‌ها این قدر معلومات و سواد عمومیتون کمه؟ بابا جون برین یه دو کلمه تاریخ بخونین.
تمام اعلامیه به اصطلاح استقلال آمریک کپی شده از مگنا کارتا ۱۲۱۵ و دادخواست حقوق ۱۶۲۸ و لایحه حقوق ۱۶۸۹. یعنی‌ همشو کپی کرد از انگلیسا. کی‌ گفته آمریکا بزرگترین دموکراسی دنیاس. یه کشور کوچیک هلند یا همین نروژ کلی‌ از دموکراسی آمریکا جلو ترند. در ضمن هردوشونم پادشاهی هستن. حالا هی‌ برین به خیال خودتون ادای امریکایی در بیارین. باب شما‌ها خیلی‌ پرت قضیه هستین.

منشور همبستگی

۱-تمامیت ارضی، استقلال و حاکمیت ملی ایران 
۲-احترام به استقلال و تمامیت سایر کشورها و تشویق صلح نزد تمام ملت­ها و کشورها 
۳-دولت منتخب مردم، از مردم و برای مردم. 
۴-سه قوای مستقل مجریه، مقننه و قضاییه­ با دوره­های محدود و پاسخگویی و شفافیت کامل. 
۵-عدم وجود ایدئولوژی رسمی‌ ، مثل دین/مذهب یا عقاید ماورای طبیعی. 
۶-جدایی کامل و بدون استثنای دولت از دین در تمامی ساختارهای دولت. 
۷-جدایی روحانیون، گروه ها، احزاب و سازمان‌های دینی/مذهبی از ساختار دولت. 
۸- آزادی بیان، اطلاعات، مذاهب، باورها ، رسانه ها و تجمع 
۹-  برابری امکانات، حقوق اجتماعی و قانونی 
۱۰- برابری کامل جنسیتی بدون استثنا  
۱۱-بیگناه شمرده شدن تا اثبات جرم. غیر قانونی بودن زندانی کردن به جرمهای عقیدتی و سیاسی
۱۲- تضمین حقوق قانونی‌ و مدنی تمام شهروندان از نظر انسانی‌، سیاسی، اقتصادی، دینی/مذهبی‌،قومی، اجتماعی و فرهنگی‌، در چهار چوب  قانون اساسی‌
۱۳-حفظ و بهبود محیط زیست و تلاش ملی در نگهداری آن

Iranian Solidarity Declaration

We the people of Iran wish and demand these principles as the pillars of the Secular government of Iran. That these principles form the framework of our beliefs, vision, mission & purpose that shall guide our government of the people, laws and our elected and appointed representatives. That no person or entity shall govern, legislate or implement laws and agreements inconsistent with the following principles:

1. Territorial Integrity, Independence and Sovereignty of Iran.

2. Respect for independence and integrity of other countries and promoting peace with all nations and countries.

3. Government of the People, By the People and For the People.

4. Three Independent Branches of Executive, Legislative and Judiciary of the government with limited terms and full accountability and transparency.

5. No Official Religions and ideologies.

6. Full separation of Religion and State at all government levels without any exceptions.

7. Exclusion of clergy, religious groups, parties and organizations from government.

8. Freedom of Expression, Information, Religions, Beliefs, Media and Assembly.

9. Equal social and legal rights and opportunity for all Iranians.

10. Gender Equality without any exceptions.

11. Presumption of innocence until proven guilty. No political prisoners and prisoners of conscious.

12. Full guarantee and legal protection of all human, political, ethnic, economic, social, religious and cultural rights within the scopes of the constitution.

13. Conservation and improvement of environment.

Dear Laleh

امروز، تلاش برای رسیدن به آزادی و حقوق بشریت در خاور میانه در حالی صورت میگیرد که ابر قدرتهای دنیا خصوصاً آمریکا حمایت خود را از جنبش آزادیخواهان منطقه اعلام کرده و دست همکاری بسوی آنان دراز کرده اند. پس از گذشت بیش از دو قرن از استقلال آمریکا، دگرگونی های اجتماعی و قانونی این کشور در راستای احقاق حقوق تمامی اعضای جامعه، نهایتاً به رشد بنیادی این "دمکراسی نوین" انجامیده است، رشدی که شاید وقت آن رسیده است تا با تلاش آزادیخواهان دنیا و همکاری روشنفکران آمریکا به تکامل برسد.??? 

You gotta be kidding me!!!

WE all know that US is in the middle east for years and is not supporting people of these countries, the only issue is oil and other valuable resources! Show me one example of supporting Iranian people not even in the 32 years of Islamic facism, just in two recent years. 

I don't know if you live in this land of ideal democracy, you probably do. If you are middle class or had been at some point, you are nothing these days. I don't want to go there, you just need to be fair and look at your surroundings and news:

Please watch: 

//www.cbs.com/primetime/60_minutes/video/index.php?pid=XBupQDqodZ_4GXmqL8Fc0pE4c7sYAArN

 //www.youtube.com/watch?v=acLW1vFO-2Q&feature=share

and watch:

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=VI6_TSRzreE&feature=player_embedded 

Dear MM

  give us a signed pledge/declaration that he is committed to achieve those goals, with the help of the mellat/majlis, of course

 That is a very reasonable request and beneficial to all sides. Hope he is reading this thread.

"Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly and applying the wrong remedies." - Groucho Marx

You missed and failed to

You missed and failed to notice the major issue that America today is facing when it comes to its foreign policy.... America has not really been listening to its own "Founding Fathers" ........In his Farewell Address,  Washington  addressed America and asked the future generations to "AVOID FOREIGN INFLUENCE  " 

Washington believed that the only way for the United States to grow strong and keep her hard-won independence was to remain free from foreign interest, problems, and influence. ...............In his Farewell Address, he said:

"History and experience prove that foreign influence is one of the most baneful foes of republican government.".......... Washington also predicted that foreign propaganda would operate inside and outside the U.S Government. He warned that 'foreign influence' in government would even trick Americans about whom we can trust.......

He then brilliantly stated: .........  "Real patriots who may resist the intrigues of the favorite are liable to become suspected and odious, while its tools and dupes usurp the applause and confidence of the people to surrender their interests."

I have no doubts that America is going down in history as a country that did not listen and exactly did the opposite.  I suggest that you read  " The Israel Lobby and US Foreign Policy " By watt .... that will give better perspective to anyone's American dream.....

We all know that America's unconditional support for a government guilty of systematic discrimination, oppression, bigotry, and human rights abuses  is not in the interest of America's own citizens. U.S support for Israel has been at the expense of American people and when a country does not have its own people's interests in mind how can anyone on his or her right mind even expect from this country to consider the Interest of Iranian people ?......  

I take your point DK

But, at least give us a signed pledge/declaration that he is committed to achieve those goals, with the help of the mellat/majlis, of course.  He has sure been giving speeches about them.

MM that is not up to RP2 To take upon himself to change anything

That is the job of a Constituent Assembly ( composed of elected parliamentaries, competent jurists etc) not that of a King or Queen to define his or her royal prerogatives. Same thing if it were a President.

Not even in fully accountable Parliamentary Democracies like Great Britain for instance are the Royal Prerogatives modified nor submitted to change by the Monarch himself or herself but rather by the Parliamentarians:

British Monarchy To Remove Sexist Rules Regarding Royal Succession

The Monarch can at best submit a demand on a number of limited or essential Royal Prerogatives that concern him directly like who is to succeed him on the Throne. That can be accepted or rejected by Parliament but it is usually not the case because everyone knows that it would lead to an institutional crisis which everyone wishes to avoid. For instance the King of Sweden submitted a demand to have his elder daughter and first child Princess Victoria to be considered as heir to the throne ( very much like what the British hope to achieve in the above link) and the Swedish Constitution was amended as late as 1978 to make Princess Victoria 'Crown Princess" upon her 20th Birthday. Something I believe RP 2 wishes to do for his own daughter Princess Noor since the 1906 Constitution only accepts a male heir due to the male chauvinistic mindset at the time it was drafted.

Again as I said Monarchies are Not, I repeat are Not Democratic by nature but only benevolently democratic. In practice they are actually fully democratic and even surpass democratic indexes of many of their neighboring Secular Republics:

Economist Intelligence Unit's Democracy Index 2010 (PHOTOS)

Nor are Monarchies egalitarian ... If that is what people want then they should go for a Communist system of government but given the totalitarian regimes that type of mindset led to in all Eastern Europe and China, I very much doubt that democracy rhymes with communism.

But a King's Fortune and that of the State are two separate entities. Things such as the Crown Jewels and the throne belong to the State and cannot be used or taken away for personal leisure. Even during the shah's time both the Shah and Shahbanou had to sign at least 10 documents before retrieving a Tiara or jewels or certain ornaments which they used to wear on State dinners or travels. But they do have a personal fortune and live in a Palace whilst paying taxes like any other citizen. Their official commitments are however retributed by a salary collected by taxes as in england which represents something like 66 pence per citizen ( "subject" ) and varies slightly based on whether the economy is doing well or not. But that is nothing compared to what they bring to the country in terms of not just tourism but international prestige and cultural recognition.

But equality before the law is valid for all regardless of social rank and condition.

Princess' and Prince's can be brought to justice and even pay fines. Princess Ann or Prince Andrew for instance were caught up by the judiciary in the past and the Press has never been tender with them:

Prince Andrew slammed over child sex offender friend

Only the Head of State to date in all Monarchies and in many Republics have immunity. In other words contrary to a President in a Republic a Monarch cannot be impeached like was Nixon for instance. But given that the Monarch has no power but only prerogatives it is of no direct consequence on the institutions or the state apparatus.

Let me remind you for instance that in all Monarchies ranging from Norway to Spain, the Monarch for instance remains the head of the Armed Forces. Something Mossadegh wanted for himself.

let me just give you a very recent example for instance:

in the current Coalition led Military operations in Libya it was the Crown Prince of Norway who gave the authorization ( with his father's endorsement of course) to the Norwegian Armed Forces to participate in the Military operations since his father was vacationing abroad at the time of the conflict. Therefore he was actually acting as King Regent or Head of State in the same way that in a Republic the Prime Minister can act as head of State in absentia of the President ( whether due to illness or state visits abroad).

Crown Prince Regent sends Norwegian planes to Libya

Now it is obvious that the Crown PRince was asked to do this by the Prime Minister but on paper and in public it is the King or In this case King Or Queen Regent that does it.

In a Monarchy the Prime Minister and his or her government carry policies in the Name of the Monarch and not the People. But in practice it is the contrary. Is it a hypocrisy ? Yes and No. But if hypocrisy can help avoid bloodshed and civil war ( I am not talking about Libya but civil war in general be it in Norway or any country with such a system of government we call a Monarchy) then why not ? What matters is that it is defined within a set of rules and generally speaking it works perfectly well while responding and guaranteeing Individual freedoms and the continuity of the State.

I'm surprised that you even ask this obvious question all the more that given that your NIAC President For Life is Swedish and should normally be familiar with how Constitutional Monarchies operate.

Monarch's and or Prime Ministers can't just do what they like because they are keen about an idea ?

Nevil Chamberlain was Keen about Peace:

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gMcZic1d4U

;0)

There is no such thing as a 'Pahlavi' Constitution but a Constitution Period. And that is nothing else but a moral contract between the governing body ( King, President and Government) and the people at large which establish the set of rules that define their relationship.

It does not depend on a given dynasty or a system of government as such but on how society wishes to perceive it's relationship with the governing body.

But even put on paper and signed and endorsed by the different parties and participants that is not a guarantee of having a fully operational democracy in itself.

Britain unlike all other European Monarchies and Republics in Europe doesn't even have a written constitution. Which does not stop them to be a democracy.

Proving that it is not because you have something drafted on paper which makes a nation a democracy.

Ultimately its about TRUST and COLLECTIVE TRUST with a minimum of guarantees and clearly defined intentions.

That is what RP2 has conceded when he speaks of a system of Checks and Balances:

Crown Prince Reza on importance of "Checks and Balances" of future regime

Now if people still don't understand Team work that is not our fault ...

For in the end of the day it is about our social behavior as a nation and how we learn to co exist as individuals within the political system we choose to establish in our country.

If Iranians choose to have a Republic, the Current Crown Prince's role will be that of any other ordinary citizen including the right to run for President, in which case any other Royal prince or princess of any former dynasty including his own ( but also why not a Qajar prince) can campaign for the Restoration of the Monarchy based on the 1906 constitution since he will be considered as someone who has decided to relinquish the throne. Something which I believe he does not intend to do at least not at this stage. Nor would I wish him to do but then you never know what the future holds ...

If on the other hand people choose to have a Monarchy, the Historical legitimacy of the 1906 Constitution however imperfect prevails:

Cyrus Amir-Mokri on Pros and Cons of 1906 Constitution

But it can only be amended by a democratically elected Parliament since that constitution allows free elections.

Amending a Constitution is something that is done regularly and very legally by respecting the democratic procedures without necessarily changing the Constitution.

This is I believe what President De Gaulle Did with the 5th Republic in 1953 once elected when he modified the constitution by redefining the PResident's role and that of the Prime Minister and eliminating the title of "President du Conseil" which basically existed prior to his election.

But you cannot just draft a constitution particularly in exile and tell the people hey folks this is how I will be behaving as King or Queen.

It doesn't work that way.

Even when De Gaulle Liberated FRance in 1944 he used the State Apparatus, the competence of the existing civil servants in the various state departments to run the state. Former Resistants had to work hand in hand with former VICHY Collaborators of the Pétain government as long as the latter's had no blood on their hands.

in a Post IRI Iran you will need to adapt the country to the new order and that cannot be achieved overnight.

To achieve democracy You need a Clear Blue Print for Change

That is what Bakhtiar offered two years prior to his assassination:

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8k6arXHado&feature=related

RP 2 is simply taking the mantle where Bakhtiar left it:

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFjjjGwEDkQ

I do not see how more clear and unambiguous one can be in regard to a democratic goals and a personal pledge which is recorded for all to hear and remind him of his promise ? His entire legitimacy and credibility depends on that promise so i do not see the risks of seeing him become a dictator after all he conceded over the years, including in the media let alone the risks of seeing his western educated daughter become a tyrant.

Hope this answers your question. But I am not going to sell you the monarchy for what it isn't :That is a Republic !

ROYAL FORUM: Explaining the Concept of a Constitutional Monarchy to a Staunch Republican

If people don't want it fine but then don't run after Reza Pahlavi Go and look for another PREZZZZIDENT MAHBOOB of your Choice !

One of them ( RP aside) for instance:

PRIMARY COLORS: Reza Pahlavi and Trita Parsi Take a Stroll Down The Political Lane ;0)

Banisadr On Risks and Conditions Of Seeing Reza Pahlavi Restored

ROYAL CURTSY: Shirin Ebadi Greeted by Monaco's Prince Albert II at Geneva UN Panel (2008)

DEVIL's ADVOCATE: Mir-Hossein Mousavi 'involved in massacre', says report

SHEKAYAT KOJA ? Akbar Ganji say's Iran has less than 1000 Political Prisoners

But I'm afraid you will be bound for a huge disappointment ...

The Above people would be far more GENUINE if they would curb their personal ambitions and EGO's and Join Their Sovereign's Call:

REZA's CALL: An Iranian Solidarnosc...

with the chances of serving their country and King as Prime Minister than keep boasting their chests with the same bankrupt Jomhurykhah ambitions without ever delivering anything but empty and unfulfilled promises ...

Best,

DK

The independence

The independence declaration is what made America the greatest nation in history and the country of tomorrow.

If we can only have a more balanced foreign policy approach, America is as perfect as a nation can get.

God bless America

Thanks Laleh jan for your article

It was interesting to read your "peeshnevis" and also the names of those who signed the document.

Darius

I know that RPII has talked about it, but as a novel set of actions, how about Reza Pahlavi II take the constitutional Monarchy of 1906 (written in another era) and incorporate the following amendments to make the constitution "The Pahlavi Constitution", and basically his own:

* eliminate the articles of the 1906 constitution that gives the Monarchy and the clergy power and no responsibility.  And, while at it, separate religion from politics and set the Monarchy as a tashrifaati entity.

* insure that all articles of the universal UN charter of the human rights are incorporated into the new Monarchy constitution.

While in the above process, have a meeting and form a committee of all seculars aligned with the idea of democracy in Iran, and do it soon.

As for 'Happiness' ...

You Know what the fellow said ? ...

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDplfsZxrbg

;0)

For Contrary to what Abbas Milani and other Jomhurykhahs like to claim 'Modernity' doesn't always rhyme with 'Progress' ...

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=CReDRHDYhk8

But alas It Does seem to often rhyme with 'Ignorance' ...

Miss Teen USA 2007 - South Carolina answers a question

American Girl Thinks Europe is a Country

Why Can't You Jomhurykhah Folks Come Up with something GENUINE

No offense intended here but I can't help think Why Can't You Jomhurykhah Folks Come Up with something GENUINE for a change ?

Instead of Copy and Pasting 'Concepts' out of the blue whilst overlooking your very own history and natural course of evolution despite it's ups and lows and imperfections ...

Cyrus Amir-Mokri on Pros and Cons of 1906 Constitution

Why look up to Thomas Pain or Benjamin Franklin, when you have the likes of Bakhtiar in a not so far fetched past ?

RESTORATION: Shapour Bakhtiar advocates Restoring the Monarchy

pictory: Bakhtiar Denounces Bazargan's Provisionary Government in exile (1979)

'Democracy' and 'Human Rights' have become one of those fashionable "words" our Bankrupt ANN TELECTUALS keep throwing in whenever they are actually running out of ideas.

That doesn't mean I don't share the ideals presented here including democracy or Human Rights expressed in the American, French or even British Constitutions but what I don't relate to is this kind of Patrician Remoteness in the name of intellectual fashion that characterizes our so called Intelligentsia in the diaspora.

Historian and Constitutionalist Simon Schama Rebuttal philosopher Slavoj Zizek fascination for Robespierre:‬

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=eerWFfKlOSc

Simply because we have been driven away from our homeland and ended up living in Democracies be it in the US, France, UK, Germany and god knows where else on this lonely planet we think we have understood the mechanisms of how democratic societies are run but we often fail to understand the mechanisms of Political life which are supposed to sustain it:

Machiavelli's "The Prince" and the "Art" of Governing

Democracy was not invented by the Americans ... If anything if they invented anything it's Freedom or a certain concept of 'Freedom'.

American democracy is unique and actually quite incompatible with the implementation of democracy in what one would traditionally consider being a Revolutionary movement aimed at overthrowing a certain status quo and replacing it with another.

For the American Republic is the product of a WAR OF INDEPENDENCE and not REVOLUTION pers se as was the case for instance in what we observed in FRance in 1789 or what we are witnessing in the Middle East today like in Egypt or Tunisia ( or even in a monarchy like Morocco ) where it seems to have mildly succeeded for the time being or at least bears some hope of success on a more or less long term unlike other neighboring countries be it in North Africa or the Middle East.

Actually that is one of the reasons why Edmund Burke preferred the American so called Revolution to the French one on grounds that the American one was precisely spearheaded by an educated elite unlike what happened in France and it's reign or Terror.

But even if we were to accept Burke's assessment, the American Federal system of government has never been a practical model to implement particularly in countries with an ancient history. Hence why Burke actually supported the British Parliamentary System as opposed to the French One he abhorred because in his view rightly or wrongly it overlooked the past and the traditions of a given country.

Unlike France however The United States was a new country in the making created upon the idea of Frontier Conquest ( unjustly colonizing the lands of the indians and massacring them in the process) where there was room for everyone who migrated to this new world so to speak and for more than 2 centuries was seen as a Beacon of Freedom and subsequently one of Democracy particularly thanks to Cold War Propaganda after WWII.

But democratic transition is probably something that cannot be achieved by merely copying and pasting Clichés on what these "concepts" mean or should mean in order to be correctly implemented in a given society.

That has precisely been the problem with our Intelligentsia throughout our contemporary history. From the Left Wing which saw in the Soviet and Bolchevik Revolutions a role model to the Jebheyeh Melli which confused it's priorities to the current IRI lobbyists who despite all the crimes and backwardness that the 1979 revolution and the republic that was born out of it did to Iran and Iranians still wish to safeguard their republic at all costs even if it means seeing the regime in Tehran get hold of the Atom Bomb and turn into some kind of Islamic China ( but with a disastrous economy) ...

For Ultimately I am confident that with this kind of copy and pasting wikipedia knowledge what we will all end up with is this :

SATIRE: The Burqa Republic of Our IRANICAN Dreams ;0)

If Not worse :

ZADIG & VOLTAIRE: French Minister's Blunder on Voltaire's Persian Tale

;0)

And Not a Genuine system of government which will reflect not only our collective identity whilst including our natural democratic aspirations and urge for human rights:

Crown Prince Reza on importance of "Checks and Balances" of future regime

I have no particular animosity for Republicanism as an ideal all the more that Constitutionalism ( itself copied and pasted from a Western Concept at the time) is about implementing Republican ideals of justice, human rights and democracy but within a Royal framework:

ROYAL FORUM: Explaining the Concept of a Constitutional Monarchy to a Staunch Republican

But if the British have the Magna Carta to be proud of as one of the first Royal decrees (imposed on their king) to end Torture, we can take pride in the so called Human Rights Charter of Cyrus the Great:

UNIVERSAL LEGACY: UK Foreign Office Spokesman's speech on Cyrus The Great's Cylinder

Acknowledging both does not mean one has to necessarily advocate a Monarchy or be a monarchist for that matter.

But I think our problem as Iranians has less to do with a lack of understanding of the benefits of democratic thought and democratic practice but our incapacity to get our PRIORITIES Straight !

THE PAST IS A FOREIGN COUNTRY: How Would You Evaluate Iran's Democracy Index in 1953 ?

It is not enough to quote from the Past or other systems of governments if we refuse accountability for ourselves :

pictory:(FOR REFERENDUM BASHERS) Women Punched in Face by Revolutionaries

HISTORY OF VIOLENCE: Man Chased by Anti Shah Protestors During Shah's US Visit (1977)

But demand it from others :

ROYAL ACCOUNTABILITY: Crown Prince Reza Praises Mossadegh's Patriotism (ANDISHEH TV)

ROYAL ACCOUNTABILITY: Crown Prince Reza on Torture During His Father's Rule

Again no offense intended towards the author of this article and the Persian translator of the American Constitution.

But I just can't help seeing that in the Iranian or should I say the IRANICAN Mindset "Jomhurykhahy" aka "Republicanism" has become a Stubborn DOGMA more than a convincing and constructive alternative to a much necessary need for change and nation building in a Post IRI democratic Iran which I am sure we all aspire to.

My Humble Opinion,

DK

Recommended Reading :

Economist Intelligence Unit's Democracy Index 2010 (PHOTOS)

HISTORY OF IDEAS: Ian Davidson on Voltaire's "English Exile"

Thanks for your great blog

I hope it is used in Future Free IRAN Soon.

Where do you think they Got the idea in the first place ? ;0)

RESTORATION: Britain's 'Glorious Revolution' of 1688 and the 'Bill of Rights'

Recommended Watching:

Mini lecture on the political philosophy of Edmund Burke (1729-1797)

Related Blog:

REVOLUTION DEMYSTIFIED: Truth and Lies Surrounding the French Revolution