Raised to be a King, Shah's Son Preaches Democracy

The Iranian Student Movement Up to the Minute Reports ^ | 11-28-03

[nuconvert]

Raised to be a King, Shah's Son Preaches Democracy

The Star-Ledger/ Borzou Daragahai

November 28, 2003 /Pahlavi appeals to young Iranians who hate clerical rule and don't remember his father's regime

McLEAN, Va. -- With his plastic watch and blue suit, Reza Pahlavi blends easily into the strip malls and bedroom communities that sprawl beyond the Capital Beltway.

But the son of Iran's deposed king has far greater aspirations than the white-collar professionals and stay-at-home moms who populate suburban Washington: He wishes to lead the Iran of his youth -- the nation that sent him into a quarter-century of exile -- from dictatorship to democracy.

"Look at Solidarity in Poland and what it accomplished," he said during a late October interview in the house of an aide here.

"Look at the ANC and Mandela in South Africa. Look at so many different campaigns of civil disobedience that happened in a variety of countries. It doesn't matter. The point is that it's in the hands of the people themselves."

[nuconvert]

Brief yourself on the events in Iran, the people, the issues that will likely effect all of our lives."

"If you want on or off this Iran ping list, Freepmail DoctorZin”

[Myrddin]

I went for a hair cut in Chula Vista one afternoon. My old favorite barbershop was closed, so I picked an open place in a strip mall on E street. The guy who cut my hair was the former hair dresser for the family of the shah of Iran. He had to give up all his wealth to buy a flight out of the country when the Islamic fundamentalists took over. He was subject to execution for having touched females other than his wife. Members of his family helped him move from Switzerland to the U.S. He's doing what he does best and plans to move his business to Beverly Hills.

[freedom44]

I'll be interested in finding out what place if any RP has in the future democratic Iran.

[rovenstinez]

Maybe Jimmy Carter owes an apology to the family. I remember the Shah was given no room in the INN in the USA.

[Savage Beast]

It's like this, Reza:

If you are prepared to repudiate Islam and bring Iran to the glories and greatness of the Persian Empire and, at the same time, the 21st century--you have the full support of the people of the West, and you will succeed.

On the other hand, if you intend to perpetuate the cult of the moongod of Arabia and remain stuck in the 7th century--forget it.

[freedom44]

Shah's regime relied on Iran's pre-Islamic past. He converted the calender from the Islamic calender to 2,500 years of the Persian Monarchy, along with many other things.

Course, Iranians were still Muslims, just not the form that the Arabs practiced.

now it's difficult to tell the difference.

His son has the same ideology and i think that's very appealing to a younger generation sick and tired of a regime that's destroyed 2,500 years of their history and forced a foreign ideology on them.

Iranian politics is very complex, but exciting.

[nuconvert]

Ha! Good for him.

[katz]

Iran will see the power of America thru our rescuers as they help the victims of the earth quake. Our rescuers are professionals. Our men and dogs are the best.

[Savage Beast]

Iran is very exciting!

Before September 11, 2001, the people of the world respected Islam as "one of the world's great religions". Today, most of the people have no respect for Islam. They consider it a ridiculous, dead end cult, bent on violence, and perpetuated by an ignorant bunch of murderous fanatics who haven't learned anything from the past 14 centuries--in short a dangerous bucket of hogwash.

The people of the world would love to see Iran bring forth the glories, beauty, and excitement of the Persian Empire and join the 21st century. Nothing would thrill the world more.

However, if Iran is to remain stuck in the dark night and foolishnes of Islam--nobody is going to be interested.

[freedom44]

You have some good points which i strongly agree with.

Personally, i think that Iran needs to concentrate on their pre-Islamic era, afterall the Persian Empire and Persian history is glorious to say the least.

What's absolutely amazing to me is that i watch Persian satellite TV beamed into Iran from California by Iranian-American MUSLIMS mind you. These commentators on these shows are so vehemently against Islam taught by the Mullahs that it makes most people on here look like Mullah kiss-ups.

There is this guy named Hoomayoon, who although Muslim so violently attacks the Islam of the Islamic Republic that it shocks me.

I guess that's why i see two forms of Islam at war, but i also know that ethnicity plays a large part.

Like the Turks, aren't exactly similar to others, but 99% Muslim, and also majority of Iranians find refuge in pre-Islamic Persian glory even though they're 97% Muslim.

Again it's really complex..

[Savage Beast]

Thank you for telling me these things. The possibility of the re-emergence of the glories and beauty of the pre-Islamic Persian Empire is enough to thrill the world!

In the words of Harriette Beecher Stowe--19th century American anti-slavery abolitionist and author of Uncle Tom's Cabin: "Beauty can come from anywhere if it is free to come."

The imagination staggers at the thought of what might emerge from the lands of the Persian Empire if freed from the suffocating oppression--not to mention the foolishness--of Islam. What treasures are aching to emerge? The imagination begins with music, wine, dancing, painting, sculpture...and then the imagination keeps going!

How wonderful if the entire Middle East could emerge into the light!

Thanks for keeping us informed!