Divided we fall

I sit here late at night with a very heavy heart. I have watched, heard and read about the events unfolding in Iran these past few weeks. Events that appear to be converging on this massive protest that is to happen today in Iran to commemorate the 1999 student uprising. And I wish I could say with certainty that I was hopeful for the future, that I could see peace and freedom reign in this land. Do I wish it? Absolutely. Do I see it happening soon? I don't think so. What I have seen and heard from those inside Iran and those outside, is not just a growing resentment towards a government that has been oppressive and unjust. What I see a lot is hate. Hate for the special forces, the security guards, the members of the ruling party... What is wrong with that you might say. These people have been wronged, they have been shot at, imprisoned, terrorized, hate is the least we should be feeling for these animals.

The problem with hate is it blinds you. It stops you from seeing that you are drawing a line and you are creating a divide that with every day that you let that hate fester in your soul, gets wider and wider. Hate never solved anything. And divisions never make a people or nation stronger.

There is always two sides to a story and not everyone should be painted by the same brush as the rogue elements. The evil Basijis, were the same people that didn't hesitate to lay their lives on the line to fight for Iran and their republic when Saddam attacked Iran. I had cousins at the time of draft age that went into hiding for a few years to avoid being sent into battle. While they were hiding, those young basiji kids were running across fields of land mines and getting blown to bits. They did it for their country. They did it for their faith. And their efforts saved Iran.

I am not defending the actions of those that caused the deaths of so many young people in the days since June 12th. That is a tragedy beyond measure. But hate is never going to honour their lives. Hate is not going to reach across to the other side and make them put their weapons down. It is not going to make them see that they are staring into the eyes of their brothers and sisters. All they will see is an enemy.


Today,
Iranians are Muslims, Christians, Jews, Zoroastrians and non believers
Iranians are Kurds, Turks, Turkamens, Lurs, Ghashghais, Baluchi, Gilani, Mazandarani, ...
Iranians are white, brown, black, yellow, ...
Iranians are poets, writers, rebels, painters, philosophers, teachers, engineers, doctors, lawyers...
Iranian are straight, gay, lesbian, transgender, ...
And Iranians are liberal, conservative, communist, basiji, reformist, monarchist...

Today,
Iran is a land as diverse as the threads that go into the making of an ornate and colourful persian carpet. And as long as we stay divided we will be nothing but bundles of coloured tread.

Tomorrow,
united we'll paint a picture like one you have never seen. My hope is of one day being able to see that canvas, proud and free...