Cynthia,
I don't wish to be arrogant and I have great respect for you and whomever amongst your family, friends, or other loved ones you may have lost in the 1979 revolution.
JS, thank you for your sensitivity in this matter. There were friends and members of my ex husband's family who were killed -outright. We had so many friends who naively and patriotically went "back home" after securing an education here in New Mexico in Electrical Engineering, who were ripe for a fight against Iraq....they are now dead.
It wasn't easy for us to hear of such news. Sure, I was married to this man. I was a young woman in college at the time, and for those who are curious, I did not marry this man to secure any sort of citizenship for his future. After graduating with an Electrical Engineering degree he pursued a degree in Bio-medical engineering. But young love is just that...young not always equipped to survive the long term. sadly.....We just went our seperate ways. Those were beautiful years for me, and yet hellish for him, I could tell. Amir was in turmoil for so many reasons. He was in fear of his nation's downfall...and ready to face a new life here in the states. He was also only 23. I was 19.
He had no connection with his own mother, who had given birth to him at age 13!! She was divorced from Amir's father in the mid 50's(when Amir was 2) and yet she found a way to exit the country and live and work in Paris, France. And.... she did it the hard way. She traveled up and over the Turkish mountains by car...a hard trek, indeed, back and forth from Tehran to Paris for years, all the while she learned a special trade in Paris. She learned how to sew and make exquisite clothing and " facial make-up" from the French--- then she would return to Tehran...sell her products to the Emperial family in Iran and on and on....She reminded me of Jackie Kennedy Onassis in a way. SHe was powerful, young and damn strong...not to mention wealthy in her own right. She had a home in Beirut until the city was halfway destroyed...Beirut . Eventually she married a Frenchman and settled in France, then had two more children. Amir was not allowed to see her throughout his youth. When he came to America, he swiftly made contact. AFter we were married, we visited her in Europe. It was quite something to see Amir's love for his lost long mother after 20 years.
Ok, so that's a bit of the family history.....married while so young...19-24.
I think what a lot of Americans don't understand is that it wasn't a certainty to the outside world that Khomeini would take the position he did as leader of the country.
But, Iranians knew exactly what was coming down the pike. They knew that nothing else mattered...nothing else "counted back then. Americans didn't know squat, JS.
They still don't. TO be honest.
It was thought for a while that he'd take residence at Qum and act as a Shi'a religious leader and leave the politics to others. Of course that is not what happened.
It was never thought that he would do anything but take over...the majority of Iran was like XO stated...poor and culturally starved. He was supposed to "rescue" them from a toxic regime. Ignorance was bliss and there was no othe reference point to bank on in terms of what was reality. That's not to judge the Iranian people, but they were in the dark with regard to what was about to really happen. What was not evident was the underground successes --those movers and shakers that were on the edge of living in a new and competent world. Women, men and children were happier, however underground in a state of disarray...Oh my, happiness wasn't allowed, at least not in the way of the western copy cats. The way I see it, reminds me of the teenager who is willing to take risks, explore,. want for more, expose self for the sake freedom. Ahh....such a ripe and fresh attitude. The down side?- Those parents are watching and about to pounce, reprimand and restrict the teen from having any of that=========fun. Naive young person. . . overtaken by the power that is freedom of expression. Damn...coulda woulda shoulda.....kept the joy underground. Iranians were on the edge, and walking a "Fine line".
The Iranian Revolution was odd as it came as a strong Conservative revolution in the midst of what were mostly leftist-Marxist revolutions around the world. In general, conservative revolutions are somewhat rare.
Well, the revolution was in favor of fairness across the board, and religion was a the heart of it all. Poor vs Wealthy....Which is the bottom line of many a revolution. This one was no exception.
Education vs Powerlessness is what was at the forefront. The sacrifice of those "westernized" people in Iran meant everyone would now live under one dictator/a religious dictator...but one who was supposed to "cure" the ills of the people under the Shah. Afterall, Iranians (Persians) lived that way for years before...no problemo.
Change is scary. Change is challenged.
But, the antithesis is not always the best route to take.
The people of Iran were just beginning to shine on, become "polished/recognized" as thriving "individuals". Ah, but when the Ayatollah landed on his old Persian homeground, with a promise of a "new beginning"--singing that song; "give me that old time religion, oops I mean killing" nothing else ruled the day....Unfortunately, those Persians who hoped for a life with any sort of advancement as individuals, were suddenly thrust into a no safe zone compromised and spirtually ruined for life. There was no chance for expression, no chance of much...especially for women. There was safety in numbers.....risk free numbers, follow the almighty power based male dominated master. oh but of course they were suddenly safe from the tyrant that was The Shah. . . My Allah, at what cost?
We still see the struggles of the culture, the nation and it's inability to "play well with others"
