On the 50th Anniversary of 28 Mordad

A. Mahmoodian

Dear editor,

It was with great pleasure that I read the timely and constructive article submitted by the contributor who chose to remain anonymous ( last issue).

It is about time that we view the critical events of this period from an objective and rational point of view. As Iranians, we have failed to learn from our emotional judgments and irrational conclusions that we made in the post World War II Iran. This is painfully true and ubiquitous among the educated and “intellectual” community. For example, they failed miserably to acknowledge, much less comprehend, Ghavam’s contributions during the Allied occupation, or understand the real reasons behind Dr. Mossadeq’s fall. I will be more than glad if they even admitted that history proved them wrong.

Not having learned, it is only obvious that we repeat the same errors over and over again and pay a greater price each time. Indeed, we probably paid the highest price by helping to establish the current theocracy. In a culture that could produce literary giants such as Ferdowsi and Hafez, scientific contributors such as Kharazmi and Khayyam, and political leaders the likes of Sattar Khan, Yeprem Khan, Amir Kabir, Ghavam, and…. the 1^st president of the Islamic Republic was no lesser a personality than Mr. Bani-sadr. His scientific thesis claimed women’s hair emanated harmful currents; his economic doctrines were even more absurd. When Rajaie became the prime minister, Newsweek cited the fact that “he was the 1^st prime minister (since the position was established) in Iran that did not speak a foreign language.” The tragic war years, compliment of Velayat-e-Fagheeh and the current situation speak for themselves. Are we going to learn from our past mistakes, or continue paying escalating price for ever?

But fortunately, all of a sudden, there is a glimmer of hope, a faint light at the end of the tunnel and a light breeze in the air when the work of our own historians, social scientists, and informed citizens eclipses the utterances of the omni-present “Iran Experts” such as the author of “All the Shah’s Men[1].” When I compare this book with researched contributions of our own intellectuals such Dr. A. Milani, Amir Taheri, and informed citizens like your anonymous contributor there is no comparison. The depth and dimension of events and their inter-relations is apparent.

To redeem our country in these difficult and dangerous times, let’s learn not to judge. Let’s learn to avoid making the same mistakes over again, particularly in these turbulent times. The greatest threat to current theocracy is an informed citizenry. Let’s study South Africa and what lead to their victory.  Let’s learn how Chileans ousted a dictator and installed democracy. To their credit, they did it without resorting to violence.

Internally, let’s learn the role the clergy played in the Russo-Iranian wars that lead to the loss of Northern provinces which essentially degraded Iran from a regional super power that challenged the Russian empire only a decade ago under Agha Mahammad Khan Qajar (despite his tyrannical rule) to a crumbling nation losing a good part of Iran under the primacy of the clergy? What role did the cleric played in the constitutional movement and thereafter? What was the role of A. Kashani in establishing Dr. Mossadeq premiership and its demise? let’s learn the good that Dr. Mossadeq did and understand the reasons for his failure in depth. Why did he dissolve the very Majlis that made him the prime minister, let’s evaluate the entire event without our personal like and dislike. Let’s blame the Shah for his mistakes but let’s appreciate his contributions too. Why did he choose to establish the Rastakheeze when he had already taken the first steps towards democracy.

There is plenty of material from newspapers of the day to declassified documents, and well-researched papers, why not read them before making such hasty judgments that we are witnessing these days.  One of the most essential responsibility of every Iranian who indeed cares about his country is to first understand and to do a thorough research, then make his/her judgments.  We can go on forever to invent heroes and villains based on our personal tastes and our love and hatred but it won’t change a thing and we will be doomed to repeat the same mistakes till the end of time.    In closing, I urge all of us to do that, I really think this is the only way out.