 I, Zarathushtra
For better or for worse, one of the living reminders
of our sense of pride and nationalism comes from the Zoroastrians
Aryadoost Ahanshir
November 11, 2004
iranian.com
In response to your article, "Peace",
I would like to say that the reason I think so many people were
upset with Persia
Lover's
article [Bad
Thoughts, Bad Words, Bad Deeds] was because of its inaccuracies.
Perhaps many people
feel that a criticism of Zoroastrianism in a very narrowly defined
spotlight
of its corrupt period is somehow a support of Islam and the Islamic
Conquest of Iran (and by extension, the Islamic Revolution). Whatever
an individual's conjecture may be, it is of the utmost importance
to be accurate in the information used to reach such a strong
opinion.
I take issue with the fact that Persia Lover did
not discuss the
overwhelming majority of Zoroastrianism's positive influence
of Iran, world religions, philosophy, science and a slew of other
disciplines that have created the ancient basis of the modern
world.
This point of scholarly accuracy is also something that irked
me in your article when you wrote:
"We're angry because fourteen centuries ago
we lost half of our identity to the Arab invasion. But, what
about Alexander the
not-so-great?
How it is that Iranians do not hate the Greek the way they
despise Arabs? Aha! He didn't hang around."
Actually Alexander was
Macedonian and did hang around. In fact, he died in the Persian
Empire.
"He didn't make us study Greek. He didn't
change our alphabet, our language, or our appearance."
Of course
he didn't make us study Greek. He could speak Persian fluently.
Of course he didn't change our appearance. He became
Persianized. He adopted Persian customs, laws, culture, dress,
he took Persian wives, and maintained the structure of the
Persian Empire.
"He did not force us to become Christians,
and he didn't change our culture. But do we know why?"
Because
Christianity didn't exist during that period of time.
"He simply didn't consider us his equal!"
 You
are right. He considered us his superiors. When
he came to the Persian Empire he saw things that amazed him in
terms of the level of sophistication of the Persians. This sophistication
was not only relegated to our advanced engineering and sciences
but also our culture and rich literary and artistic heritage. Out
of respect for the noble achievments of the Persians he conceded
to the superiority of Persian culture. If you don't believe me,
just try to name one city in Iran named Alexandria.
These are the
reasons why we still name our children "Eskander",
because many see him as a Persian. He was good to us. And
the reason the Greeks have every right to be proud of defeating
the Persians is the same reason the Vietnamese have a right to
be proud of defeating the United States. Iran was the superpower
of the era and a small backwater (comparatively) defended their
homeland from an invasion of a superior force. We would be a spiteful
and malicious lot if we were still angry with the Greeks for defending
their homeland from invasion. This was not the case with Arabs.
Arabs came to destroy and plunder the Persian Empire.
The Vietnamese
are in their rights to still denounce
Americans. Jews are in their rights to still denounce Nazis.
And Zoroastrians are in their rights to still denounce Muslims.
To not denounce them is the issue. It is an expression of civility
and greatness on the part of the harmed. However, if
someone makes any criticism of a largely cherished religion (by
Zoroastrians and Nationalists alike) then people will get upset,
because it seems that there is a mark of disrespect being made
on all those that suffered 'neath the heels of cruel Arab tyrants
and savage Arab laws. The same dire straits that Iranians
endure today. For better or for worse, one of the living reminders
of our sense of pride and nationalism comes from the Zoroastrians
that still
live in Iran and the faith they have so courageously preserved.
It makes us feel that there are still those among us that are
uncompromised - that there are those among us that are
unconquered.
 If we wish to preserve a living memory and a collection
of powerful symbols to draw upon nationalist sentiment that we
should not long
endure to make ourselves obstacles of that purpose. It ultimately
doesn't matter if there was a corrupt period or periods of the
Zoroastrian history of Iran. That is not what it means to us anymore.
The present meaning brings us a nostalgic taste of imperial glory.
If people want that, give it to them. At this point in the history
of Iranians worldwide, we should hold on to anything that nourishes
our stength and protects our honor.
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I, Zarathushtra
