Ma Yeky Hasteem — We Are One

Mandana Mohsenzadegan is a budding journalist and an Iranian-American. William Treseder is an American and a Marine who has faithfully served his country. Together, Mandana and William, share their views on Democracy in Iran and the unity needed between Americans and Iranians to fully support the Iranian community.

Ma Yeky Hasteem — We Are One

By Mandana Mohsenzadegan and William Treseder

Mandana:

On November 4th, 1979, as the Islamic Republic held 53 Americans captive in Tehran, American patriotism was at a peak, as was the growth of hostility toward Iranians. Bumper stickers read “I Play Cowboys and Iranians” and “Bomb Bomb Iran” filled the airwaves. It was a time when Iranian-Americans were terrified by the simple question, “Where are you from?”

Tragically, the American public failed to understand the separation of the people from their government. They failed to understand just how deeply the Iranian people have desired a democratic and peaceful nation and just how much they have suffered for that desire.

Now as we watch Iranians struggling, the American public is beginning to understand.

During the first few days of the post-election riots in Iran, CNN aired continual coverage of the Basij forces’ sadistic violence upon the Iranian protestors flooding the streets of Tehran. American viewers watched in horror and disbelief as protesters were being beaten and killed.

The pain of oppressed Iranians was being brought to light in the most transparent manner, as videos flooded Twitter and Facebook showing the Islamic Republic’s militiamen beating, arresting, and shooting the brave Iranian youth protesting for the basic human right of democracy. And for the first time since the Islamic Revolution, Americans have been getting a true inside-look into the hearts of Iranians, their hopes and their fears.

“Dardeh toh, dardeh maan,” the legendary rock artist Jon Bon Jovi belts out into his microphone in a touching rendition of “Stand By Me” on June 24th. The words are short, yet powerful. Their translation: Your pain is my pain.

These are not merely the lyrics of one charismatic American singer, but the sentiment of a great majority of Americans at this time – a sentiment that has deeply touched the hearts of both Iranians and Iranian Americans, and brought tears of gratitude to our eyes.

As I joined with others in the rallies and candlelight vigils two weeks ago, my heavy heart was touched as I saw the Americans attending, their “Democracy for Iran” signs held high as they approached me with their tears of condolence and offering their prayers. Likewise, my own American friends have continually shared in my pain, showing their loving support for the Iranian community and expressing their anger at the lack of urgency with which the democratic leaders of the world are dealing with this crisis.

William:

As Americans we tend to forget the powerful element of struggle inherent in a democratic experiment we have lived for more than two centuries. We see the costs and the excesses, the worst vulgarities of our politicians, and the sensationalized stories that dominate the media; these are the costs of a vibrant and free democracy. Many feel frustration in the current political arena, a sense we have not lived up to the unique promises of America. But we learn, we soldier on, and we daily live the struggles of a free nation.

Watching, listening to, and reading about the protests in Iran awoke in me a powerful desire to see these people given their right to free elections and fair governance, to realize the hope that has been denied them in such a manipulated and corrupt manner for the last thirty years. Many other Americans, I know, have felt this same blazing empathy for those demonstrators, and have choked on the international community’s tepid response.

The appropriate reaction isn’t obvious by any means: in a time when our nation must balance its existing military operations against manpower needs and a crippled economy, some options cannot be considered. The United States must, however, lead the effort to freeze out the authoritarian regime and allow the Iranian people to lead their own political reform.

We have slowly learned—through the blood of many Iraqis, my brother and sister Marines, and other American servicemen and women—that we cannot blindly impress our form of democracy on another nation, nor should we. Iran can become democratic, but only in its own way, with our well-placed and intelligent support.

America can seek sustainable and democratic methods for encouraging the organization and representation of the Iranian people. This is their struggle; but we can ensure it’s a fair one.