The early part of the 20th century, even for those among us with a slight interest in reviewing history, marks the beginning of a notable movement in Iran. Some, rightfully so, worship the very ideals pursued by the forefathers of our constitutional movement while sadly enough, others, perhaps due to a large dose of rampant and baseless conspiracy theories, trivialize the accomplishments of the enlightened minds of our society by attributing them to the machination of the omnipotent "Great Satans" of yester years.
Today, the shameless and persistent propaganda of the clerical regime, despite all its resources, all its efforts and ill-intentions, has failed miserably to displace or even tarnish the noble aspirations of a nation which 94 years ago [on Sunday, 13th of Amordad 1285 A.H. - August 5th, 1906) managed to construct a progressive and enlightened document outlining the fundamental and natural rights of its citizenry.
Iran, is an ancient nation. Almost anyone with a minimal knowledge of the yore could attest to her momentous contributions to the world civilization, nonetheless, it is through the pursuit of the noble doctrines and aspirations embedded in the timely idealism of that movement which her contemporary nationhood is perhaps founded.
Iran, declared herself a constititutional and united community cognizant of her past and of her citizens' god-given rights regardless of the rainbow in her religious or social structure.
For the children of Cyrus the Great, for the descendants of great thinkers and iconoclasts like Zarathustra & Fedowsi, for the off-springs of Mirza Taghi Khan Amir Kabir, grasping the concepts of liberty, justice and tolerance or routing for "modernity" and "progress" had never been a foreign phenomenon.
Considering the primitive elements of communication and mass media in the Iran of the early 1900's, along with the single digit literacy rate and the sheer strategic hardship of our nation - struggling between the claws of the great colonial powers of the time - only serves to demonstrate the resilience, the zeal and the dedication of the previous generations to overcome the seemingly insurmountable obstacles in the path of constitutionalism. No one, no regime, and no amount of revisionism could ever diminish the extent of that valor.
It does not take a philosopher or a political genius to sense the utter injustice in the Iran of today nor does it require a seasoned analyst to see the obscurantism of the ruling clerics who have shamelessly named one of the largest highways in the capital, Tehran, after Sheikh Fazl-Ollah Noori, a staunch opponent of constitutionalism and a lackey of Mohammad Ali Shah Qajar whose bombardment of the Majles (the parliament) brought him the eternal detestation of Iranian patriots.
It is only ironic that the theocratic and benighted writings of Sheikh Fazl-Ollah did not even serve to convince his own son, Sheikh Mehdi, who turned his back to his father and joined the constitutionalists. Sadly enough, Sheikh Fazol-Ollah's writings were gospel to Rouhollah Khomeini and hence, continue to be preached by a handful of his disciples in the reactionary clique of Iran today.
How can anyone doubt the insanity of a group of demagogues who are advocates and proponents of a "civil society" yet openly boast of their support for the Jurisprudence of the Supreme Theologian? Who could fail to see the grave differences between the Constitution of 1906 (regardless of its form of government) and the one upheld and sworn to by Mr. Khatami? A constitution which deems an entire nation as incompetent individuals in need of a guardian?
How can anyone expect anything from these shopkeepers of religion other than the most vicious of campaigns against the basic principles of liberty & individual rights? In the eyes of the ruling clerics, the man-made laws of a modern society are no match for the immutable celestial laws they subscribe to.
The sincere efforts of folks like Talebof Tabrizi, Mirza Fath-Ali Akhoondzadeh, Mirza Malkum Khan e Nazem Ol-Dowleh, Ghaem Maghaam e Farahani, Zeyn Ol Abedin Maragheyi, and Amad Kasravi might not be worthy of mentioning at the pulpit of these theocrats, but they are indeed mistaken if they think that an admiration for freedom of thought is not eternally kept dear in the hearts of every patriotic Iranian.
In that sense, the meaning of the Iranian month of Amordad, is truly telling -Immortal ! This year on the 13th day of that month (or the 14th as some are erroneously accustomed to) we will, for the 94th time, revive the noble memory of our forefathers who achieved yet another worthwhile victory - one of light over darkness, of progress & modernity over stagnation.
By celebrating the anniversary of the Constitutional Movement, Iranians, through the enlightened efforts of the Students - this time representing the eruptive & restless populace - once again and resoundingly so, will attest to the fact that they no longer feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed the human kind with sense, reason, and intellect has intended them to forgo their use.
Incompetent, is a befitting adjective for those who deem the populace as such. Velayat-e-Faghih, is contrary to reason and contrary to anything remotely democratic.
May its remnants soon rest in the wastebasket of human aberrations.
Azadiye Andisheh ! Hamisheh...Hamisheh !
August 3, 2000 (13th Amordad 1379)
The "Student Movement Coordination Committee for Democracy in Iran" (SMCCDI)
