Misc

I know democracy is irrelevant but what have we learned??

Sorry for not drinking Reza KOOL AID but.....what experience does he have to do anything other than talk? I am used to this silly democracy crap in America so don't mind me for wondering about Reza's resume! (oxymoron, i KNow)The name, his friend circle and "inside information" is all we need for iran right? It's JUST Iran. Who cares? I'm sure he's totally trustworthy and perfect by default. He's not a mullah! Hooray for Pahlavis.

Monarchy's time is over in history especially in Iran, why?

Because colonialism and dictatorship of monarchs have rendered it obsolete. From now it will be Islamic regimes all over the Middle East. If you don't believe me just give the people of Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, etc a chance to participate in a free election and see the result. It's not what I'm advocating here but it's the result of suppressing democracy over the decades hand in hand with colonialsim by British, Americans, the French, etc. It's unfortunate but it is what it is.

faryarm Thank you too ;0)

I also agree that he should free himself from the old guard and have people around him who are truly in touch with the people and their problem, Not just young people but people with a vision and down to earth. I think that the IRanian Intelligenstia should also be consulted for the Pahlavis have often been neglecting true intellectuals. I personally think that Abbas Milani is one of them but that is my preference. In anycase its better to be surrounded by such intellectuals than military strategists.

Warm Regards and thank you for your enlightening comments,

D

Imagine

In response to Faryarm...

Just imagine a 1,000 years from now (give or take a few decades) the Bahaeis become so dominant in their numbers that they win an election and form a government. What sort of politics would they follow vis a vis other "minorities" including the 'religious minorities'.
Despite all the publicity and hype, Bahaeis have a very rigid hierarchy and the members of this cult don't have any individual freedom. Their lives are ruled by a tyrannical Central Command, they have no freedom of choice for work, place they live in and work at, marriage and anything else in their lives. Everything must be ratified by the Central Command, or else! I have witnessed agonies of those Bahaei members who have been banished and rejected by the Central Command for the slightest mistakes or deviation from their dogma. Is this what they promise to all freedom lover Iranians?

Bahaeis are nothing but another group of opportunistic religious fanatics and the fifth column of the zionists everywhere in the world, especially in Iran. They are like vermin, should never be allowed to proliferate, and should be eradicated by all means. The only good deed of IRI was to teach these suckers a lesson!

Darius, Thank You.

Darius,

Thank You.

Again, What happened during the Pahlav reign has nothing to do with Reza.

He has learned from experience that, he should isolate himself from the parasites and opportunists that surrounded his parents and to formulate his own ideas and navigate his own path. 

My point, simply was to draw attention to the unexpected silence from his quarters about the plight of the Bahais, especially in the last year.

regards

Faryarm 

faryarm I hear you

First my point was not to offend you but to draw attention on the fact that the Tree should not obscure the Forest of Discontent that needs to be dealt with in its globality. 

I do respect the Plight of the Baha'i community and have many Baha'i friends myself and witnessed first hand in Shiraz how some were massacred to general indifference at the time of the Revolution. I even saw their corpses lying in the street in the outskirts of the town one day at the hight of the Revolutionary turmoil in Iran.

Also whenever I could I have mentioned their plight or any news relative to their past and present predicaments:

//www.payvand.com/news/08/jul/1180.html

The point I am trying to make is that we cannot solve everything overnight or expect RP to be accountable for ALL the Shortcomings of the past regime no more than seeing him as the Providential Solution to every injustice perpetuated by the current regime towards your community or that of any other community for that matter.

I am not an unconditional supporter of RP and have been disappointed by his lack of reactivity towards certain issues I deemed important that he reacts or express' a minimum of concern.

 But I do believe that the dynamics he is trying to encourage in terms of  support for the Civil Society is the ONLY way out of this mess. Is he the Right Person ? I don't Know but he is certainly a better option than the mullah's in Tehran and their vast campaign of disinformation and manipulation of the Media in trying to associate RP to a War Mongerer and Enemy of Civil Rights. This is the propaganda that the IRI apologists are trying to forment against RP as much as they have done against all opposition both inside and outside Iran. The fact that he mentions Bakhtiar and Farrokhzad and many others who have died in the course of this struggle is significant too.

I simply say that we have nothing to lose in supporting him while submitting our expectations and we all know that they are numerous. But we need to reach a minimum of consensus on the the key issues dividing at best the Iranian Democrats in their struggle against the IRI and its bloody Henchmen.

To restore the status of the Baha'is as full class citizens is part of the global solution to the global problem we are facing and that is the Intolerant nature of the Islamic Republic.

Best,

D  

Eventhou I'm no fan of

monarchist, i still give credit to RP for his speech and his communication with minority opposition groups such as KDP-I. He is ab right that these days we don't go by Iranian specially those living outside Iran. They either go by their ethnicity or religion. it's sad fact thanks to the current regime however I still believe that once this regime gone and a new constitution is written we will enjoy our individual freedom...Many of minorities are, for federalism however that should be discussed once this Shia regime is toppled.

... and then air...

Become Water...

Man
By nature
Striving with teeth and nail
To go up and climb up more
In the social pyramid of society
Yet hardly noticing the water lesson
That constantly descend and descend more
Until it reaches the magnificent ocean
Some even go way down deeper
To make the underground water reservoir

The river in all dancing
The river in all bouncing
The river in all twisting
The river in all curving
The river in all flip flapping
Always heading down
Rolling...

--Professor A. Danesh

Future for our beloved father land !

Reza Pahlavi,
You need to know that my personal opinion is to have a Democratic Constitutional Monarchy in Persia, Since Persia started as a monarchy 2500 years ago and should continue to be a Monarchy in 21st century and beyond.

The next Monarchist and Prime Minster should also be chosen by the people not by our foreign enemies.

Pahlavi era is over, so lets get over them and look into future for better leaders.

You and me have the same goal so lets please compromise in our differences and become part of the chain of saving our people from the misery they go through today.

Europeans learned hundred of years ago not to mix politics with religion, the lesson Iranians are still learning today !

Hence maybe on the bright side Islamic Republic did do some good for Persians whom have forgotten their past and glorious history and that is to vomit Islam and establish a new Zoroastrian Constitutional Monarchy in Persia which is our god given right since our people became Muslim by force not by choice.

Lets talk now about some of the solutions to save our country :

1) I believe educating people with their past and their history ( Prior to Islam ) is one of the keys to destroy Mullahs in Iran.

2) Sign a petition and write many letters to US Congress, British and European Parliaments asking them to to stop interfering in our country`s internal affairs letting us the people choose our next government inside Iran.

3) Its is utmost important for Persia and Israel to become once again the closest allies in middle east since we are both non Arab countries in the middle east against our common enemies, i.e. Arabic nations.

4) Establish a good relationship with Jewish lobby (AIPAC).

In end i have many more solutions to destroy Islamic Republic that it will be mentioned in my book.

N.B. The British call our country the sleeping lion, let it be written today that the sleeping lion has awaken !

Cyrus the Great once said : Either we will take over the world and become king of kings or else the world will take us over and make us their slaves, hence he decided to take the world in a humble fashion unlike what the Westerners did to the world today, especially to us Persians that they envy so much !

Nice share agahye Kadivar, thank you

RP speaks very well and sounds inspirational and positive. I'm still not quite sure what he is willing to do for the current condition of Iran. But I do respect him for speaking from a relatively balanced and intelligent stance.

There needs to be much more hardwork in unison to effectively cause a positive shift in attitude toward change in our country. I believe Mr. Pahlavi sounds determined and devoted enough to be one.

I take the opportunity here to thank you for all your nostalgic and movie/art links on this site as well as some of your writing.
Best,
Monda

As Shamlu screams...

تو هم با من نبودی؛ مثل من با من و حتی مثل تن با من
تو هم با من نبودی؛ آن که می پنداشتم باید هوا باشد
و یا حتی گمان می کردم این تو باید از خیل خبر چینان جدا باشد .
تو هم با من نبودی؛ تو هم از ما نبودی؛ آن که ذات درد را باید صدا باشدو یا با من چنان هم سفره شب؛ باید از جنس منو عشقو خدا باشد
تو هم از ما نبودی؛ تو هم مومن نبودی؛ بر گلیمه ما و حتی در حریمه ماساده
دل بودم که می پنداشتم دستانه نا اهل تو باید مثل هر عاشق رها باشد

تو هم با من نبودی یار ؛ ای آوار ای سیل مصیبت وار

نظر ِ شخص ِ بنده

والا اين بابا اين كاره نيست

Mr RP

I think you and your useless and opportunist gang are the common enemy of Iran and Iranian. You have not done anything for Iran and Iranian. All you care is to get back to power and sit on that Takhte Taavoos and do whatever you and your family and gang wants to do and become another lackey of foreign power. Fat chance dude.

Wakan Tanka Kici Un

----------------------(Lall)--------------------
----------------------(Ajam)--------------------
----------------------(Parsi)------------------

1. Breakfast?
2. Lunch?
3. Dinner?
4. In between snacks?

Federalism, for the time being

Would be a huge strategic blunder in that region, with those neighbours, with those resources and with that location for the coming 20-30 years

Human rights, freedom to speak your own ethnic language, your own religion, etc is on the other hand a must.

I dont support a monarch in the future of Iran. I dont agree with many of mine Shahi brothers or sisters, but in a future democratic Iran, they are more than welcome to sit around other parties and advocate their ideas, together with religious ones as well. I could even accept the MEK to sit around the table if they would disarm.

But Iranians are not like this, we are the most stubborn people in the world. When we are right, we are right.

Darius, you dont get my point...

Darius,

With respect, 

Bahais never have, had or today need the political backing of any politician.

Baha"u'llah, a nobleman Himself chose to ignore those circles, despite the degree of persecution.

History it seems has shown that despite the odds against them, by the Power of belief, principle , actions and Providential help, they have endured, progressed from an obscure minority in Iran to a united worldwide community, surviving every Nineteenth Century empire who sought to eliminate them.  

My protestation is given as a matter of Principle , and disappointment with someone whom I have met and like,; to someone who could as a symbol of national unity, improve upon some of his family's legacy;. My startement was only to highlight the general taboo existing in Iranian society and the reluctance to mention Bahais by name...

It is not only on this occasion , but at all occasions, he for whatever his reason, has Never mentioned The word. Do you not find that strange...he has never uttered the word in public, when so many of his peers on the international scene have...why would an enlightened a person such as he fail to do so on any occasion in the last 30 years.

It is my experiebce that even amongst friends , the term" Az Khodetoon" or "Shomaha" is often the choice...

Even The Shah,according to his personal physician, reportedly had difficulty using the term, BAHA'I.

Lastly, I am surprised by your inaccurate statement:

......."Besides the Pahlavis have always been supportive of the Baha'is and even had Baha'i ministers during their Era" 

Question: Which Bonafide Bahai . or self proclaimed Bahai, ever held a Cabinet position? and please dont name the usual suspects...Hoveyda, etc.

If The Pahlavis were supportive of Bahais;

1. Why were they refused govenmnet jobs? 

2. Why were they not given publishing rights? why were they banned from responding to Mullah's attacks and Raddiyyih. Why were the bammed from having public meetings.

3. Why were they not ever officially recognized? 

4. Why did the Shah ( according to General Batmanghlich) give his blessing and order to attack the Bahai center in 1955? 

Finally, although I realise the fact that this is not such an issue for you..

I take offence to your careless, rude and ridiculous comment about any one's Grandma ! 

Darius, The standards for journalists are set much higher when it comes to substance , tone and accuracy... 

Faryarm

PS. Perhaps Reza needs a stronger wind of courage to change to actually utter the word. BAHAI.

Why Reza Pahlavi does not speak about the plight of the Bahais

The Bab was born in Shiraz. The Bab was born on 20 October 1819. In 1850 the Bab was executed. On 12 November 1817 in Tehran Baha'u'llah was born. In 1852, Baha'u'llah was arrested and put in chains in one of the most dreadful prisons in Tehran. After 4 months the government banished Baha'u'llah from his native land. In 1892, Baha'u'llah passed away in Bahji, Israel.

During the rule of the Pahlavi dynasty more Bahais were killed than the 30 years since the Iranian Revolution.

Reza Pahlavi does not bring up the plight of the Bahais because he making speeches to become the next monarch of Iran. Those days are gone. The monarchy was abolished when his father fled the country in January 1979.

Reza Pahlavi can never become king of Iran.

What Reza Pahlavi can do is stand up for the Human Rights of the Bahai people. This action won't change the deeds of his father or his grandfather. If Reza stands up for the Bahais, it will show that he he different from his father and grand father.

Now is the time. Reza Pahlavi talks about "Winds of Change" but, he seems to be letting out a lot of hot air.

fatee

Agha Reza,

Inha barayeh Fatee tomboon nemeesheh, Action talks , BS walks. Go to Iran and Run for one term, if you are good run for another term and get rid of these fanatic Mulahs and fix the country.

Pahlavis have always been supportive of the Baha'is???

Just because Pahlavis did not imprison and kill Bahais doesn't make them supportive of them. And no Bahais were ministers of Shah (remember you are not considered a Bahai if you were simply born into a Bahai family)

He is such anice boy

Only if he listen to his mother more often.

faryarm Oh Come On ... He Mentions it in WINDS OF CHANGE

Its not because he did not mention the Baha'is, Christian or the Jews in the speach that he does not have them on mind. He was talking about all minorities political, cultural and ethnic. Now start feeling pissed off because he may have not mentioned your Grandma ...

Do you expect him to mention EVERY single Aspect of Iranian Society and its problems in ONE CONFERENCE ?

He mentions the Baha'is like other religious minorities in Iran in his book Winds of Change:

//www.payvand.com/news/08/may/1063.html 

GROW UP GUY's !  At least if you have some critics on what he said, that would be coherent but to criticize him for what he has not said yet because it is a live conference and partly improvised speach is a little SOSOOL on your behalf. You Sound like Reverand Jackson saying Obama he was not Negro Enough.

Besides the Pahlavis have always been supportive of the Baha'is and even had Baha'i ministers during their Era.

No one is above criticisms, I myself do not agree with his vision of Federalism for instance in this speach which is greatly inspired by the anglo saxon model but the core of the speach and intentions to respect the ethnic and cultural diversity of Iranians was coherent.

I have already learned my history

That is how a modern leader speaks. His grand father, and his father were hard on Iran but that was the only way they could move Iran forward considering what they inherit from Ghajar. Pahlavis were only modern family that move Iran to 21 century. in 1979 there were dictatorship in Spain, Brazil, Chile and many other third world countries look where they are today because their leaders had vision how to move their country forward how ever hard they were on their people. Democracy doesn't just pop in people's head just because they read it some where. He may not want to rule Iran any more but he could bring the country togather.

Dear Reza, Why?

Dear Reza,

Why are you afraid to use the word Bahai? 

It is indeed strange that in speaking about civil rights...Prince Reza refuses to mention The Bahais by name; why when so many even the bloodthirtsy IRI criminals , and  The Grand Ayatollah Montazeri can bring themselves  to mention the word Bahai, his enlightened highness can not bring himself to break the Taboo and mention by name Iran's Bahai communiy who are Iran's largest and MOST persecuted religious minority.

Faryarm 

BEFORE MARGE Shouts Out ;0)

I think that RP in this conference at least has the Credit of Clarity in regard to the issue of Human Rights, The Democratic Parliamentary nature of a future government but also takes into account the multi ethnic diversity of our country.

I think the general approach is pertinent and to the point. What RP needs to do is in my opinion try and reach out to Iranians outside his immediate constituency that is the Monarchists and also towards the Intelligenstiaa both inside and outside Iran. I was thinking in particular of people like Akbar Ganji and Abbas Milani but also why not Parlimentarians inside Iran.

The path towards unity is still a long and bumpy road but I think that RP is driven by the good intentions and motives. He deserves to be trusted on this and at the same time he should try and surround himself by a team of respected and competent Iranian expats who could serve as intermediaries and speak on a common agenda or set of principles.

I think that the fact that RP has set the nature of the future system of government to the choice of the people is a further commitment to respecting their final choice : Republic or Constitutional Monarchy.

More importantly I believe that this could also be an opportunity to create the foundations of an Iranian Solidarnosc that would include ALL Political sensititivities who wish to bring change to the current regime through civil and non violent actions. It can eventually model itself on the Polish model of civil dissobedience that was equally supported by Lech Walesa and Polish Civil Society while supported on an international level by Pope John Paul II.

KEEP UP THE GOOD POSITIVE ATTITUDE RP !  ;0)

I am with you EVEN against Odds !

IRAN HARGUEZ NAKHAHAD MORD !

My Humble Opinion,

D

Mr. Nasiri

I agree with your assessment 100%. Let's look into the future and not the ancient past. Reza Pahlavi however could be a good candidate to bring attention to the plight of Iranians and what is going on in there but by no means should be the next leader of the Nation

Let us not repeat history, but learn from it

Dear Reader,

Please let us not repeat history but learn from it.

90% of Iran's current problem and the quagmire that exist upon us was as a results of his father and their government.

The Iranians did get rid of him and his father, of course they brought another dictator but that is part of the process of growth and learning.

Let us not repeat the history and start all over again.

We do not need another dictator or another kingdom.

We need a democratic governmnet ruled by the people and governed by the people. The governmnet is there to work for the Iranian people and not any foreign entity.

yours truly;

Amir Nasiri