Letters

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Friday
November 9, 2001

Whoever came to power...

I have recently arrived in the UK to participate in a certain professional training course. I came across the Iranian.com quite by chance. The good thing about the letters section is that it provides people of various social and political factions a forum to reflect their ideas. In the past week I noticed there is a broad spectrum of ideas ranging from pro-monarchist to pro-republican.

I'm not a politician nor a scholar in any relevant field but there are some things that I wish to point out. Since I have lived in Iran through pre revolutionary years, the revolution, war and the turbulent post-war years, I think that I've seen enough to be able to answer to some of the comments that have been made in the letters section:

1) There is no doubt that WE -- the people of iran -- have been suffering under the yoke of autocratic rulers for many hundreds of years. Every now and then dynasties would fall, only to be succeeded by yet a simillar type of Tyranny, or even worse.

The Pahlavis WERE indeed corrupt (both of them) and the present regime in Iran is also riddled with corruption; but have you, wether you are for or against either monarchy or the present regime, ever given it any thought that why nearly every liberation movement in our history has gone astray.

There are many theories that can give an answer to this question. In my opinion (and I hereby open this to a discussion between the correspondents to this forum), we Iranians create our own dictators. We Iranians have developed a certain (unfortunate) national trait (which is deeply embeded in our psyche) to make an autocrat of whoever comes to power.

We Iranians havn't yet reached that point to be able to exercise true democracy. It's some sort of self induced patriarchy.

UNFORTUNATELY WHOEVER HAS COME TO POWER IN THIS COUNTRY HAS CAPITULATED ON THAT WEAKNESS . BOTH THE PRESENT REGIME AND THE LIKES OF REZA PAHLAVI KNOW IT VERY WELL.

Whatever he claims, what can prevent Reza Pahlavi to repeat what his father had done before once he assumes power? (IF OF COURSE HE DOES SUCCEED!)

2) As someone who has been through it all, I can tell you that the people in Iran are-at the moment- in great peril. This is reflected by the general consensus on subjects such as "change" and "reform".

The people in Iran want change BUT THEY DON'T WANT TO GO BACK TO ANY FORM OF MONARCHY. You can't judge the political opinion of the nation with a few e-mails to someone's website or the political opinion of the upper classes in tehran's posh neighbourhoods.

I have worked in nearly all counties of Iran and I can assure you that HONESTLY, the majority of the Iranians don't think like that.

They wish a-first of all-peaceful transition of power to a broad based democratic republic modeled on the likes of France or the US. One which represents all groups, factions and ethnic variations.

They may not wish to live under a theocracy but they certainly don't wan't to live in a full blown secular country like Turkey when one can't pray during lunchbreak without risking being sacked on the spot; or a country where you're likely to be thrown out of college if you appear there wearing a scarf.

I myself may not follow the practice of my religion seriously but I certainly have some respect for other peoples ideas and beliefs.

They certainly don't like the idea of a country were people bow and scrape in front of mere mortals and call them "Your royal Highness" or funnier then that "Your Imperial highness"(moorche chie ke kalle pachash chee bashe?!).

3) Monarchy and theocracy are both alike in the fact that they are cruel and unjust. If OUR revolution (whose initial promise was freedom, equality and justice) went astray, must we just chuck it into the trashbin and FISH OUT what we saw unfit for our country(that is to say, monarchy)?

4) Don't be fooled by golden words such as"constitutional" monarchy which Reza Pahlavi is promising the Iranians. HAVN'T YOU FORGOTTEN THAT BEFORE THE REVOLUTION WE WERE TECHNICALLY LIVING UNDER A "CONSTITUTIONAL MONARCHY"?

He is no better than his father (like father like son). The moment he gets his grip on power he will do the same by exploiting that"national trait".

5) Let's not forget that we iranians once in the course of history lost a great chance to have a democracy(1953). In response to that somehow "polite" friend who claims that the people of Iran don't deserve monarchy they just deserve the mullahs, I say Yes dear friend, we showed that we don't deserve democracy when we allowed the shah to return in 1953 and we-as a result- suffered under the yoke of your so called "constitutional" monarchy and the Theocracy.

6) At last, I wish to point out that one important aspect of democratic nations is that people exercise the right to tolerate each other's views and ideas.

there are a handful of rude (and obviously very young)contributors to this page who use foul and abusive language in defense of their ideas.

I pray to god almighty that the owners of such habits never prevail in Iran since I'm fearful for MY people(that I have loved and served all my life). If you can't tolerate other peoples ideas God knows what you will do to your political adversaries if-god forbid-you grasp power one day.

I wish peace and prosperity for all of my compatriots

With regards

Mohsen Gorji M.D.