Dear editor, I read your interview with Dr. Milani with great interest, joy and pride. The simple yet elegant prose, relevant questions, and questions and answers premised on research and analysis was a welcoming change in Iranian journalism. The interview was immensely informative about one of the most controversial and least researched events (events of 28Mordad) in the modern history of Iran. Actually, we see even today, instances where academicians of Iranian origin, affiliated with some of the most distinguished Western universities and centers of learning in their research, deliberations, and discourse, either ignore 28 mordad, or what they offer is judgmental, even prejudicial and void of credible logic or scholarly research. The events of 22nd of Bahman, painful as they have been, may have served to inform the Iranian society to approach and analyze political issues with logic and prudence. Thanks to scholars like Abbas Milani and authors within Iran, we tend to draw our conclusions on the rule of the Pahlavis, Mossadgh's nationalization of the oil industry, or the premiership of Hoveyda based more on factual events versus historical innuendos. I earnestly believe the salvation of our people and our country lies in an informed and rational citizenry. If we don't learn from lessons of history, we're prone to repeat the same mistakes over and over again. Point-in-fact, it is ironic, actually tragic, that while Mashroo-e failed in the constitutional movement of 1906 to harness a progressive movement, it succeeded almost a 100 years (actually, 91 years to the day) in the Islamic Revolution of 1997. Simple rudimentary analysis of this fact leads to the sad conclusion that illiterate, isolated, rural, and backward Iranians of 1906 were more informed than the comfortable, opulent, urban middle class and Bazzari population of 1979 when it came to dangers fundamentalist clergy. To help inform our people at least learn lessons of history, I ask you make every effort to provide insights into the dark corners of our modern history. To this end, I implore you to pursue this effort, and suggest, as humbly as I can, that you consider dedicating some space to your readers to raise questions and provide answers to topics that can raise our knowledge to understand the strengths and ills our society. |