Change means not to adapt Iran's economic activity and
individual rights to the so-called cultural boundaries
Change: Revolution, Reform, or ...?
http://ghandchi.com/104-New.htm
Persian version
http://www.ghandchi.com/505-taghiir.htm
There has been many theories trying to sketch the 1979 Iranian Revolution, as a
plot of foreign powers in Iran. There are theories trying to depict Iranian
Reform Movement, as plots of the dark forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Others have tried to see variations of real people's movement in both the
Revolution and the Reform.
What apparently is forgotten is that both Revolution and Reform meant that
Iranians want *change* in Iran, and that the ones who led these events really
did not think much different from the norm in Iran, although they were leading
the movement for *change*.
Let me explain what I see here. I see a strong interest among Iranians for doing
things different, as they see the old ways are not getting us anywhere. This is
why many who left Iran for the West, found the drastic difference to be what
they needed and they were able to become very successful.
I think Iranians have a strong interest not do things the way we have been doing
for centuries, but the ones leading such aspirations, in Revolution or Reform,
were not much different from the ones who wanted to keep the status quo, as they
were both afraid to make a drastic break with the current Iranian reality.
The above is the real problem of the movements for change in Iran, whether for
Revolution or for Reform, and this is why they are not resulting in anything
much different from the status quo and in a way are even a step backward, than
forward.
I think real change in Iran should start by thinking totally different. It
really does not matter if one gives all the sacrifices for a Revolution or a
Reform, when one is not ready to make a real break. I am not talking of personal
change. That is not even happening in the West. I am referring to having a
drastic change of the Iran in mind.
For example Singapore of the last 40 years has made such a drastic change
whereas Bangladesh has not.
I think one reason the same Iranians succeed tremendously in Western countries,
in contrast to Iran, is not just because of opportunities or facilities. It is
because they are working in an environment which is drastically different.
I think Iranians need the courage of breaking away from the old traditional
nonsense and should dare to say hell with it all. I think this is what countries
like Singapore have done in contrast to countries like Bangladesh.
If we do not make a drastic break, the revolutionaries are as worthless as their
opponents, the reformists are as useless as the conservatives, when they are
both afraid to be called Westerner, if they come out with a development plan
like Singapore.
We need to break away from the shackles of the past before we can make any real
progress in Iran. I think this is what in practice happens to Iranians who have
left Iran for the West, and have become successful in the West. They have
entered a world which is a world apart from what Iran is, and this is the kindof
environment that has proven to be conducive to success for Iranians.
True, the Iranians in the West, still have their Norouz and Persian Cuisine, but
they do not look for ways to adapt their economic activity or their individual
rights to their so-called cultural boundaries. They accept the Western model in
its fullest, whether it is for their business or with regards to their
individual rights. No compromises.
I think adapting modern economy and individual rights to the backward cultural
conditions of Iran is the worst path for Iranians to take. Breaking away the
shackles of so-called "needed" adaptation is the way to achieve the *change*
that Iranians have been so enthusiastically aspiring to for a very very long
time. I prefer to see Iran to be another Singapore than another Bangladesh.
Hoping for a Secular, Democratic, and Future_Oriented Republic of Iran.
Sam Ghandchi, Publisher
IRANSCOPE
January 16, 2001
http://ghandchi.com/index2.html
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* The above article was first posted on SCI (soc.culture.iranian) Usenet
newsgroup on Jan 16, 2001
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