Persian Gulf
Freedom not to react
... especially when there is lack of knowledge
December 18, 1998
The Iranian
In [Where
are the strategic thinkers?], a very irate Roshanravan lambasted an
unspecified number of Iranian intellectuals, artists, professors, politicians,
and journalists for not reacting to the "tragic murder of Dr. Daryoush
Foruhar and Mrs. Parvaneh Foruhar," two apparently very famous, popular
dissident nationalists. Now exactly why this murder is tragic and others
are not is beyond me.
The writer slammed into "all those highly-educated 'strategic thinkers'
who regularly post their opinions on various issues" for remaining
silent in the face of "this criminal murder!" This now raises
the intriguing possibility that there might be some homicides out there
which are not criminal.
Most interesting, however, was the writer's reason for why these intellectuals
remained silent. These hypocrites, according to the writer, live in exile
and because of this, they play a double role of promoting dialogue with
murderers, while they "float in the heavens" thinking about much
bigger issues than the demise of the Foruhars. The writer describes the
large issues pondered by these "democratic intellectual strategists"
as "khar rang kon," meaning having as much relevance as painting
a donkey!
Perhaps, if these unconscientious intellectuals are too busy painting
donkeys, then the job of reacting to the death of the Foruhars should be
left to those who know better and appreciate the real and relevant issues.
The writer looked around and concluded that those people too have "bigger
fish to fry" than to bother with the Foruhars! This goes to show you,
if it is not a donkey, then it is a fish; there is always something, preventing
one from doing what someone else wants done!
Finally, the writer administered a vicious blow with a line from Hafez
-- that is, these lazy good-for-nothing intellectuals rather chase fiction
than deal in reality.
One of the beauties of being in exile is to have the freedom not to
write, not to give an opinion, not to eulogize, especially about matters
or persons one does not know. Alas, if the writer had devoted some time
writing in the praise of the Foruhars or condemnation of the murder and
the murderer(s), then an appreciative readership would have become more
informed about an issue mattered to the writer.
In the words of Hakim Bisavaad Larijani, "Cho natvaani kard taqlif-e
digari; Befarmaa, ar daani, to azoo behtari!" That is, do it yourself.
The author
Guive Mirfendereski is an international lawyer and adjunct professor
of law at Brandeis University.
