Holding on Together

Reza Bayegan, Ekbatan Observer Blog:

Reza Pahlavi was here in Paris to address the European-American Press Club in the early days of June. In advance of the meeting he was talking informally to a group of his compatriots and I joined in. Before seeing him I was worked up and restless. A combination of admiration, natural reserve and a deep veneration for what he represents had joined together to put me on edge. As soon as I saw him though I felt alright. His reassuring smile came to my rescue. He behaved towards all those who were present as though they were members of the same family; his family. Not the slightest aloofness could be detected in this man; not an iota of condescension. READ MORE

Various topics were discussed; Reza Pahlavi was making a point about the importance of looking at positive qualities of our compatriots. He was saying how debilitating it is to dismiss someone’s many good qualities on account of a weakness or shortcoming. "We are all together in this democratic struggle as a various members of the same big family and we have to learn to move forward together. No one should be left behind or feel that he or she does not belong. We have to hold on together in commiseration or celebration."

Yesterday I was thinking of these words when the telephone rang and a friend informed me that Reza Pahlavi had gone on a three day hunger strike in a gesture of solidarity with the political prisoners in Iran. Coming from Reza Pahlavi however I believe this is more than a political gesture. It is to empathize with other members of the Iranian family. It is an expression of a faith in the ultimate victory of justice and liberty over tyranny and brutality. This was the faith that urged Martin Luther King to continue with his struggle. This was the faith he was referring to in his famous speech " I Have a Dream":

"With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood.

With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day."

Our Iranian national family is learning to work in unison again. We are learning to stand up for human rights together, we are going on hunger strike together, we will boycott the spurious presidential election together. Our national family has been torn asunder for far too long. It is high time to join our forces for uprooting tyranny and oppression.