Posted on 06/24/2015 1:59:46 AM PDT by Cronos
The Shir o Khorshid, a popular Iranian symbol since at least the 12th century, has since the revolution become associated with the deposed monarch Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi and his dynasty.
..I bought a Shah-era five-rial coin, engraved with the lion and sun, and I wear it on a silver chain around my neck. It constantly draws comments from people e.
“God bless his soul,” he said, pointing to my necklace, “I was 11, I remember. The first 11 years of my life were great, the rest have been terrible. I ate good food for the first 11 years and then crap.”..
Another time, in Shiraz, a bus driver when he saw it delayed everyone 15 minutes so he could expresses in verbose, glowing terms, his love of the Pahlavi family, “They were strong, they came from good blood, from a good tribe, They were powerful, they were able to get things done.”
.., the lion and sun motif is perhaps the only symbol that has ever encapsulated the many facets of the Iranian identity. In its design you can find Zoroastrian, Islamic, Jewish, Turkic, and Zodiacal influence. It was used by every dynasty for 800 years, including the Safavids, Qajars and Pahlavis.
Nostalgia for the shah among those who actually remember him is at least intelligible. What took me entirely by surprise is that even among those born after the revolution, the Shah has taken on almost mythic status. “He was a great man,” he said, “it was a much better time for everyone.”
..a skate boarder “These f### mullahs man, they don’t give a f## about us,”
The Shah’s main appeal is that he’s the exact opposite of everything the Islamic republic represents, he’s all for rock and roll and miniskirts and stiff drinks.
(Excerpt) Read more at theguardian.com ...
/ disbelief
My apologies for the tag...
THere’s a lot to respond to in this posted article in fact, it’s overwhelming in trying to address even the smaller details on culture & society in Iran today.
One thing I can say for sure-after the revolution in the late 70’s and new currency took over thru the Islamic Republic of Iran there were many who tucked away “Shah” notes
It became a reminder, a MENTAL note so to speak, of those who held them; albeit useless.
The Shah wasn’t threatening to wipe Israel off the map with nukes either. Ain’t that right Jimmah?
Interesting.. as long as they are ruled by the twelvers, I read such articles with that in mind. An interpretative view I suppose. Then again, the world sees America through TV and the “leaders”.. they don’t see the common people.
In those days, Iran was a force for good. They broke the back of the first Arab oil embargo when I was still in high school by flooding the market with their own oil.
Not as bad as a population moored in Islamic “moral foundation” and in possession of the bomb (Pakistan)
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