I consider myself one the most blessed and fortunate people on this planet when it comes to having an extended family. They are the most amazing human beings on earth. This at least explains the reason why I have never really adjusted to having to live away from them and call anywhere else besides Tehran, my home.
Their hearts are pure gold, and growing up around them didn’t teach me much about the other side, the dark side, the evil side of human beings. Maybe this is the reason why I have hurt so much throughout the years from countless others who have traveled trough my life.
Among these amazing aunts and uncles, grandparents and cousins, was one particular uncle by the name of Saeed.
Dayee Saeed (Dayee is a term used in the Farsi language to refer to one’s maternal uncle), was a gracious man.
A man of much wisdom.
A man of dignity and power yet understood the delicate nature of a flower better than any other.
His God given talents were endless in count.
A poet who’s verses were no less moving than those from Rumi or Sa’di,or I dare to even say Hafez.
An artist who’s paintings captured the essence of his soul; strong yet delicate, powerful yet soft.
A lover of music, arts, nature, and people. Anything that he would touch would turn to gold and left you in awe.
A real human being that would hurt when he would see others in pain.
He spent his entire life caring for the well being of others in need. Completely selfless, he would travel any distance to provide the unobtainable for those in need.
Dayee Saeed was the number one critic of the Islamic Republic. He had no fear. He would walk in the streets, holding his head up high, as he proudly dangled his now illegal Shir-o-Khorshid keychain (the symbol of the lion and the sun that was a representation of the pre-Islamic Republic era in Iran), always well groomed and well dressed in his suit and tie (wearing a tie in Iran is un-Islamic and an act of rebellion and is not acceptable), and would start chanting very loudly “Look at where we were during the life of Shahan Shah Pahlavi and look at where we are today under the filth of this regime. Hey you barbarian murderers, what do you want from our beautiful people?” ….“Ay jenayatkarha, az sareh mardomeh nazanineh maa cheh mikhaheed?”
The people of Iran have today started crowding the streets and chanting slogans against the regime as we are witnessing, but Dayee Saeed started this protest against the Islamic Regime from day one. In the streets, people would just ignore or think that he has gone mad for his expression, and would not join him in the fight. They would stand on the sides in silence and just watch to see what will happen to him.
But nothing would happen to him. No Basiji dared to confront him. His aura and energy was not only untouchable but unstoppable.
I learned a lot from this great man, and I am sad to say that he is no longer with us in flesh, but I know that his spirit has never left us.
Tonight as I sit behind the monitor watching the images coming out of Iran, I light a candle for those who have lost their lives fighting for freedom. I also light another candle for my beloved Dayee Saeed who believed in Iran and the power of freedom.
As I sat here, I felt that I had a lot to say to this great man. I picked up a pen and paper and with a shaky left hand (oh and by the way, yes I am left-handed), I started to write a letter to him.
It’s written in Farsi and it is all in my own hand writing and full of spelling mistakes with no one around to proof read and correct those mistakes. But that’s alright because it is all from the heart.
Translation of the letter in English:
“My dearest sweetest Dayee Saeed,
Where are you to watch and see the innocent yet strong people of Iran, stand in front of these barbaric murderers and actually start to believe in themselves and their own success in demolishing them once and for all?
Your words of wisdom and knowledge over the years, that you tried so hard to enlighten the people with, are finally showing results.
I thank you my dearest uncle, for dedicating your entire life and energy, towards teaching the power of truth. There is no way that we are going to allow your everlasting words and slogans about the truth, be buried with you.
In the end, we will hand over an Iran to the rest of the world which others will envy and build a symbol of power of freedom.
Although you are no longer with us in flesh, your spirit and your words of wisdom are always alive, and carry us towards the love for freedom for Iran; an Iran that is currently very ill but will soon recover. We will make sure of it. We will never let the flames and the heat of the love that we have for Iran, one in which YOU created in our hearts, die.
In the next lifetime when it’s my turn to join you, I have a lot of things in my heart to share with you; be prepared for a lot of listening.
Here’s to the day that we meet again, this time in Heaven, where you reside.
The beautiful Heaven where we can sit next to each other in peace; where we can sing, play instruments and dance, without having to worry about these barbarians trying to intimidate us and distract us.
Here’s hoping to see you in that Heaven and here’s hoping for a free Iran.
If I haven’t written you as much as I should have until now, just know that the reason is I am ashamed.
You are a professor in teachings of literature and poetry, and I am your sister’s illiterate daughter. I do not dare or allow myself to write to you in Farsi. I am ashamed.
My dear Dayee Saeed, Just know that I will love you forever and there is not a day that passes that I don’t think about you specially in these times of turmoil in Iran.
Bahareh”
