Hitler may as well have urged Einstein and other Jews to come back to Nazi Germany as 1939 began. Likely responses are “Good riddance to bad rubbish” and “Up yours!”
Five million Iranians have fled from a system where the more education you have, the less likely you will find employment. If you do not return, Khamenei’s dream of a diverse, high tech economy that will make everyone beat a path to Iran’s door has no more chance than “The Thousand Year Reich” as spring came to Germany in 1945.
Educated Iranians know why they could not save Iran’s economy even if a million returned: the system is too rotten, corrupt, incompetent and inefficient. Any business of value is monopolized by the IRCG or by The New Millionaire Class–mullahs like the Larinjanis and Khamenei’s son, “Murderous Mojtaba.” Their sole contribution to “productivity” consists of standing on the necks of the people and carrying out Khamenei’s proclamations without qualms.
An even bigger deterrent is that emigres exposed to western education have eaten forbidden fruit: They have learned to think critically and question all authority. It is a hard habit to break and it is vital to creativity. In the Islamic Republic, it is the biggest no-no as well. Before entering the door one must leave all freedoms on the threshhold. Once inside, you best hold your West-corrupted tongue or else. Meanwhile, intelligent females must not forget to bring a hajib along. You won’t be in Kansas anymore!
Having tasted the Apple of Freedom–artistic, political, cultural and personal–emigres know they cannot do without such things. So long as they remain in the West, they can watch any play or movie they like, listen to their music of choice, dress or part their hair as they please, read any book, newspaper or magazine, browse and blog on an unfiltered internet and rail openly against the head of government when they dislike a given policy. In Iran, all of this is verboten. Would educated Iranians abide (for themselves or their children) Orwellian universities where club-wielding brownshirts rule the hallways and competent, beloved teachers are replaced by turban-headed numbskulls whose sole qualification is a willingness to parrot the regime’s line without deviation? (“Love the Great Leader.” “Love the Great Leader”)
In Iran, the only freedom left is the freedom to grumble behind closed doors.
You may choose to return regardless of what I write here. If, perchance, you should then find yourself under arrest for “crimes against God” or “propaganda against the state” do not expect a fair trial open to the public. Nor should you look at your defense attorney for help. Unless he follows instructions, he will join you in Evin. If you still refuse to crack, similar measures can be applied to your family. If sentenced to die, Khamenei’s thugs will see that no one attends your funeral.
The Final Deterrent
The more valuable you skills are, the less likely you be allowed to change your mind after entry. If permitted to return to the West temporarily, your family will be hostage to your return. Of course, you need not believe any of this. You can simply trust Khamenei’s “word of a gentleman.” (I need to restrain myself here from repeating some the Ayatoilet-style whoppers we’ve heard repeated endlessly since 2009).
Whatever you do, PLEASE do not pack your suitcases before looking up the following “Must Read” book!
If I get the chance, I may recommend a few others in a subpost below. Visitors are coming shortly.
