Bahareh

I have made some observations about the Iranian people in my own little Chicago community based on the past 5 weeks and I would like to share my observations with you in the hopes that you will realize it will take ALL of us to make this change happen.

There are those who watch every day or at least few times a week yet they choose to play a more passive role and do not share what they find after they have seen it. They have more of a “Hala bebeenim chi misheh” attitude (Let's just wait and see what happens). After all it's all politics and not in our control, right? This group may have their reasoning behind their actions or I should say lack thereof. These people may not want to be recognized by the government in Iran since they plan on visiting the country again at some point under this regime. They may be intrigued by the events taking place but not hopeful enough to jump in and participate. Some of these people are thanking me for posting the news everyday. To these individuals I say you have nothing to thank ME for. I am merely a tool in this passage of communication and the real thanks goes to those who are risking their lives getting this information out of Iran to us. To this group I say, please don't lose hope. Please don't be scared and take the initiative to share the information. The nation of Iran needs you and the love for freedom alone should encourage you to participate.

There are also those who are just as active as I am if not more and believe in this cause and spend a great deal of their time each day to get the message out. These are the people who are full of hope and are no longer afraid of ANYTHING! It's a great feeling and I am happy to be on this ride with you.

Yet there are many others who have ignored all news and postings in the past 40 days all together. They continue to go on with their partying and vacationing as if it's not their problem and since they don't live in Iran anymore, they choose to turn the other way. After all it's easier that way. They continue to promote stupid Irani parties as if there is something to celebrate at the moment and post their stupid drunk sleazy pictures on Facebook and MySpace as they always have. You know who you are and this message is for YOU so pay close attention.
The people in Iran are risking their lives and getting beaten and killed trying to get us information about what they are living through. If we don't look and share and pay attention and turn our backs on them we are not worthy of being called human. Always remember Saadi's words:

“Human beings are members of a whole,
In creation of one essence and soul.
If one member is afflicted with pain,
Other members uneasy will remain.
If you have no sympathy for human pain,
The name of human you cannot retain.”

It's very easy these days to forget what's going on in Iran. It's easy to go about life as usual and forget what's going on there since it's not part of the pop culture that seems to be the unfortunate way of life for many here. It's also really easy to say that the chaos is over and there are no more protesters out in the streets since the videos are not coming in the same quantity and quality as they did in the first couple weeks after the election. This is all the more reason why WE have to work extra hard to keep their efforts alive and keep showing what we are finding.

For 40 days now all I have done is go to work and go home and sit behind the computer and look up information and share it. That's pretty much been my life but guess what? I am happy to have chosen this path. I am happy that at least I have the tools to show my support. We are so lucky to live in a time where information is so easily accessible and with little effort we can share any valuable information that we find. It actually takes more of an effort to ignore what's going on than to pay attention.

There are, I am ashamed to admit, MANY Iranian individuals right here in Chicago who view themselves as sooooooooooo Irani and they go to every party to dance the night away and only associate with other Irani people and don't have a single non-Irani friend and do everything to make people think they are as Irani as it gets and these same people and their families look at a person like myself who absolutely HATES going to their stupid Irani gatherings as "kasi keh khodesho gom kardeh o digeh Irani nist" (a person who has lost herself and her culture and is no longer Iranian).

THESE ARE THE PEOPLE I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH TODAY. Where are these "oh so proud Iranians" now?

I will tell you where they are. I am watching and I am sick to my stomach with what I see.
Not a single one of these people is working to keep the Iran momentum going? Not one!!! No Facebook postings. No sharing of information. No attending rallies and candlelight vigils. NOTHING! They who consider themselves sooooo Irani are not doing ANYTHING for their country.... the land they were born in or at least their parents were born in.... the place where they associate with at every "party" they attend. It's a shame.

I was disgusted by Iranians living abroad before because of certain unattractive actions that I had witnessed and that's why I have chosen to stay out of the Chicago Iranian community, but now not only do I not have respect but I am completely appalled by them...especially the youth. I can't believe they are not doing anything????!!!! We have a small window of opportunity to change that country for the better and help people regain their basic human rights and comfort in life. We have a chance to show the world what Iranians are really made of and who we really are and who we always have been. So there is absolutely NO EXCUSE to not use this window of opportunity to do all that we can to help this great beautiful country and the people who have suffered in it for 30 long years.

We forget why we are here. We chose to leave Iran because our rights were taken away from us and life in our own country was uncomfortable to say the least. We suffered through the 1st generation issues that came along with this migration and tried to make a home out of this foreign land for ourselves (If you personally didn't your parents sure as hell did and you very well know it). How dare we forget that? How dare we forget those who were brave enough to stay back n Iran and suffer through this nasty regime because they never gave up on Iran and it's greatness? How dare we turn our backs on them and their needs? How cowardly can we be?

I am an Iranian who has lived in the U.S. from the age of 10. I am beyond proud of my heritage and homeland Iran. I show it every day with my actions to the world not only since June 12th but as anyone who has known me throughout the years can testify that I LIVE to share the greatness about Iran every single day. I've spent the last 23 years here sharing our amazing history and traditions with those around me in different forms and manors that I thought would appeal to different groups of people. I don't have to show up to some stupid ridiculous Iranian gathering and get drunk, flaunt my body while dancing to Persian music, pretend like I LOVE everyone there, show off my jewelry and latest accessories, sit and clap at some nasty middle aged woman who thinks she is still 16 make a fool out of herself on the dance floor, only hang out with other Iranians, and marry an Iranian man to prove how Iranian I really am.

If I have offended those who fit this description of an Iranian, and you know who you are, I am not the least bit sorry. You should really be ashamed.

I know who I am and I am proud of my heritage and my people who are fighting for their rights with their own blood. They have nothing to protect themselves. Their chests are their shields and they go out there with no fear and face the evil knowing very well that it may be the last day for them on this planet, only in the hopes that others in Iran will one day live free. The very least we can do is circulate their messages and amplify their voices and support them even if the news media has turned their back. Even if other countries are not getting involved. Even if no one else cares WE SHOULD CARE and personally I am willing to risk my life to support these people. Whatever it takes. I am willing to be there. I hope I can say the same for you. They need ALL of us to support them.

To all, Iranian or not, who are watching I personally want to thank you for continuing to watch and support. Please keep the hope and the momentum alive and encourage others to do the same. If you haven't done so in the past it's not too late to start now. This is only the beginning and your efforts and support are needed so please join in. All are welcome.

If you feel the same way as I do please share this message with your friends.

Thank you,

Bahareh