In response to "Iran, a reflection":
Everyone knows, or I should say by now most people may have noticed, that on Saturday July 25, 2009 “in support of the Iranian people and in condemnation of the human rights abuses being committed by the Iranian government” there are rallies being organized around the world. So a question was asked, not particularly about this event but as a general concern; “Will people come by cars, planes, trains, taxis, subways and any way they can to protest when it counts the most?”
I answered the question with the following comment: “Before people come, there ought to be a sense of belonging to others. One of my brothers told me this in one of my trips to Iran, “تو متُعلق به ما هستی”. It was hard to believe that after living away in another country for almost thirty years, at that time, he still conveyed to me that I belonged to them, and to the land, to the sea, and to the people. Not just with those simple words but also with the stories he told about their lives there. About the dead in our family, and the weddings, the new born, the sorrows, the addicts, the thieves, and the laughers, and all the things that made us belong to each other.
So I believe before people come we have to tell our stories, our feelings, and what we care about, and what we don’t, and if we feel this sense of belonging, yes we will come.”
So, now I want to let you know that I’ll go to one of these rallies, I’ll go to nearest one where I live, which is in San Francisco. I’ll drive my car, then I’ll take the train, BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit), then I’ll take the bus or walk to the rally. This is the least I can do for the land, the sea, and the people that I belong to. I know we Iranians are put off by being told what to do, caused by none other than “امر به معروف و نهی از منکر ” mentality, which we have so much of it, so I don’t want to tell, but I want to appeal to the people that I belong to, please do your best to participate in one of these rallies.
Over the last month I’ve been overwhelmed with floods of emotions, from hope to disappointment, from fear, sorrow, and grief, to hope again. And all along I’m keeping that dash of hope alive, hoping things would get better soon. So, I’ll participate in the nearest rally where I live because the people who were killed recently told me with their spilled blood on the payment that I belong to them, and they belong to me. I’ll do it for my friend Mojie who was executed thirty years ago for being so young, so intelligent, and so idealistic. I’ll do it for my friend Mehrdad who died so old from being a life time addict. I'll do it for the countless others who have given their lives for my liberty so I feel belonged. I'll do it for the countless others who are alive and fearless. I’ll do it because I belong to them and they belong to me.
Recently by Multiple Personality Disorder | Comments | Date |
---|---|---|
ناگهان، شاهین نجفی Suddenly, a song by Shahin Najafi | 3 | Nov 13, 2012 |
Universal Love | 1 | Oct 01, 2012 |
Shahin Najafi, When... | 11 | Sep 02, 2012 |
Person | About | Day |
---|---|---|
نسرین ستوده: زندانی روز | Dec 04 | |
Saeed Malekpour: Prisoner of the day | Lawyer says death sentence suspended | Dec 03 |
Majid Tavakoli: Prisoner of the day | Iterview with mother | Dec 02 |
احسان نراقی: جامعه شناس و نویسنده ۱۳۰۵-۱۳۹۱ | Dec 02 | |
Nasrin Sotoudeh: Prisoner of the day | 46 days on hunger strike | Dec 01 |
Nasrin Sotoudeh: Graffiti | In Barcelona | Nov 30 |
گوهر عشقی: مادر ستار بهشتی | Nov 30 | |
Abdollah Momeni: Prisoner of the day | Activist denied leave and family visits for 1.5 years | Nov 30 |
محمد کلالی: یکی از حمله کنندگان به سفارت ایران در برلین | Nov 29 | |
Habibollah Golparipour: Prisoner of the day | Kurdish Activist on Death Row | Nov 28 |
"... there ought to be a sense of belonging to others ..."
by Shazde Asdola Mirza on Sat Jul 18, 2009 03:38 PM PDTEvery voice counts! Every action counts!
MPD
by Nazy Kaviani on Fri Jul 17, 2009 04:52 PM PDTThanks for the reminder. I'll be there.
I'll be there for sure!
by Monda on Fri Jul 17, 2009 11:35 AM PDTHopefully bringing many local friends, Iranian or non-Iranians with me.
MPD I do look forward to meeting you in SF!
A green ribbon
by Anonymouse on Fri Jul 17, 2009 09:55 AM PDTA green ribbon symbolizes "solidarity in Iran" like Pink symbolizes breast cancer, or yellow symbolizing loved ones away and red symbolizing fight against aids and so forth. The leader of the green movement for better or worse for the time being is Mousavi.
There is no foreign meddling in Iran. This is purely a homemade uprising against inequality and injustice. If Ahmadi won fair and square they should show an accouting for it like a "human baby"! What's all this killings and beatings about?
You can't sort out who is who in the middle of all this green but it is good to be green.
Everything is sacred.
I'm going
by sima on Fri Jul 17, 2009 09:42 AM PDTI wish I could go to NY but I can't. I will certainly go to the SF rally.
I did not vote for Mousavi (didn't vote at all) and I don't like all this green this green that. It is not at all clear to me what green symbolizes (Mousavi? Rafsanjani?) and I don't trust that there is no foreign meddling trying to shape this movement a certain way. BUT I will still go. We must keep the pressure on. Perhaps the boroun marzi Iranians will prove not to be irrelevant after all. I think this movement will prove to be bigger than the manipulations that it will certainly be subjected to.
I can already smell
by Anonymouse on Fri Jul 17, 2009 09:20 AM PDTI can already smell the tear gas! For those who want to know what tear gas smells like (no it doesn't smell like diesel ;-) let's go to NYC and find out! LET'S GO!
Everything is sacred.
به نيويورک
Kourosh AryamaneshFri Jul 17, 2009 09:07 AM PDT
اميدواريم که به اين بز اخوش ويزا ندن . بازمياد اينجا يه مشت مزخرف تحويل اين خارجيا ميده .ولی اگر تشريف گهشونو آوردن ما تصميم داريم با يه دوجين تخم مرغ گنديده که از حالا بيرون يخچاله به پيشواز اين عرب پرست عصر حجر بريم
Ahmadi's appearance at UN
by Anonymouse on Fri Jul 17, 2009 07:02 AM PDTI believe it is most important to go to New York City and protest to Ahmadi's face when he comes to NYC. That is when it counts the most and I hope everyone comes with whatever means they have. Take a bus. Make it a mini-vacation. A weekend getaway or just drive and go back the same day. When was the last time you went to The City?
When the date is known mark it in your calendar and LET'S GO!
Everything is sacred.
del
by Anahid Hojjati on Wed Oct 07, 2009 05:05 PM PDTdel