I was so excited to be part of the July 25, 2009 United4Iran global show of solidarity with the people of Iran. I designed and wore a whole array of green beaded necklaces, I coordinated my kids’ wardrobes, and I carefully planned what I would think and say in order to convey peace, togetherness and future. I did forget my daughters’ shoes though, so she was barefoot. That was a clue that my mind and body were not working together — as I explain below..
my beautiful freedom defender
Upon arrival, I joined a group of chanting Iranians. One arm held high with a peace sign perched at the top, the other hand balancing a 2 year old on my waist, I worked hard during that mile or so of my life. I put heart and soul into connecting with each person watching the parade. I pushed myself to be part of the solution to things that bothered me. Like, why do Iranian-Americans seem to have only two things to say during rallies? “Free Iran” and “United Nations, Iran needs you attention.” Actually, make that “United Eh-nations, Iran e-needs eh-your attensheyn.” It only rhymes if you have a heavy Iranian accent, and it makes no sense to Americans. There was one man who initiated all of the chants and we all followed. I asked him to try “We shall overcome.” I explained that this phrase is very dear to Americans, and it is less exclusive. Because really, our walk is about freedom for all, for overcoming whatever is in your way to an honest and true life. These are not issues exclusive to Iranians. The group seemed to like it, actually, but it became, “Vee shall over-cuum.”
At one point, the man leading the chanting started a round of angry: “Marg bar jomhooriehey Islami,” which means down with the Islamic Republic, but taken literally, means death to the Islamic Republic. This is something I don’t want to be chanting. Ever since I became a mother, I stopped believing in whole scale death for the sake of ideology. If I chant death to the government, does it mean I want the public health bureaucrat in charge of tuberculosis control to die, or the civil engineer working on city trains to die? Of course not. This is why I don’t believe in whole-scale topsi-turvy violent revolution anymore. Peaceful change, that keeps the basic needs of the country in tact.
With dramatic flare, I pushed forward through the crowd until the chant-leader could see me. I showed him that my hands were covering my daughter’s ears. I said, with maternal righteousness: “My brother, please, this new generation doesn’t need to hear you wish death on others, please chose positive, uplifting things to say today.” He looked at me, by now annoyed at how squeaky a wheel I was. But he stopped! He stopped! No more Marg Bar during this parade!
Lion and Sun Flag
Islamic Republic of Iran Flag
Another thing I should have thought twice about is that lot of people were holding the old Iranian flag, the one with the lion and the sun, which has come to symbolize the monarchy. I thought this was all part of the diversity of the Iranian experience, and I felt compassion for whomever was there and whichever flag they held. In retrospect, though, I did not see anyone in this group holding the current Iranian flag, which I should have noticed, but I didn’t.
When our march ended, we reconnected with a larger group of Iranians who were all holding green flags. It ends up that I had marched with the pro-Monarchy group. The people who had stayed put consider themselves pro-democracy, pro-unity, and in “support the people of Iran, without an agenda of who should be in power.” They consider the monarchists out of touch with Iranians in Iran, and I have to say I agree.
Mousavi supported raise the green flag in Iran
My limited understanding of monarchists is that they encourage US military intervention in Iran, forced regime change, and think that the Pahlavi monarchy should be re-instated. These propositions are, to me, rose colored dreams of people who were forced to leave Iran when the Shah was in 1979. What is the use of glorified memories of youth and good times which do not exist now (if they ever did)? The thought of moving from Theocracy to Monarchy is not a step forward. It is is funny to imagine asking one human being to rule 74 million. And, much less, a man! So, I am not pro-Monarchy. But I marched with them! And I was one of the happiest, most vocal, enthusiastic marchers, and my daughter and I posed for many photographs hand in hand with other protesters.
Ahh, such is the irony of life. I have tried so hard to be anonymous, and then I blew my cover for something I don’t even really believe in. I suddenly tried to imagine explaining to some torturer at Evin prison that my actions are motivated by being absent-minded. Really, sir, please don’t water board me, I am an accidental monarchist, it was a mistake. Oh shit. At some point, you just have to laugh.
cat writes out marg bar dicatator, from this blog: http://www.pagef30.com/
Then, another paradigm shift, my uncle arrived from Iran just before the protest. He met us there and when the group I was marching with joined up with the original group, I saw him from across the street, what a sight: a man screaming at the top of his lungs, appreciative of freedom of speech in a way many of us will never understand. I told him my anxiety about having walked with the monarchists, and he said “Good! It is all good! All of it!” Then, I asked him what he has been doing in Iran. He has been sneaking out at night with well-trusted friends to write slogans on walls. What are you writing, I ask. ”Marg bar jomhorieh Islam” he says. [Down with/ death to the Islamic Republic]. Sigh.
I realized, there is no way to control anything in the world, much less the direction of my own, crazy, unruly, passionate people. So, back to hoping I will remember my daughter’s shoes at the next protest.
Thank you to life and the world for allowing me to be alive long enough to stand up for my rights, even if it didn’t happen exactly the way I had planned.
For more info on the flag wars: http://isaa.berkeley.edu/images/lionflag.jpg&imgrefurl=http://isaa.berkeley.edu/flags.htm&usg=__n1766roPKziErQeTB4WfN0yxpys=&h=216&w=360&sz=6&hl=en&start=9&sig2=UqkeXDlx67DCiewuN0IvFg&um=1&tbnid=3_ows40weBkbYM:&tbnh=73&tbnw=121&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dshir%2Band%2Bkhorshid%2Bflag%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dsafari%26rls%3Den%26sa%3DN%26um%3D1&ei=uJVvSuvwHpGEMaz6qL8E
seamorg
spoonsun
love this piece and love you!
“United Eh-nation! Eh-pay Eh-more Eh-tention!!!!!!!”
This post made me laugh out loud.
You are fabulous, your uncle is fabulous, and your shoeless daughter is most fabulous. 
Thank you Billie, the fact that you read my post and commented is now wind under my wings for more and more writing. Bless you. Let us all unite across the world over our absent-mindedness which is probably the feature ALL human beings share
the problem is that we iranian people talk about things that we have no idea about.
lion and sun is the worlds oldest flag, called shahdad, made on metal plate with lion and sun in center.
it was reinstalled after abbasid era.
during qujar found a crown in representing of monarchy.
during pahlavi lost the crown and became what it was, instead the royal pahlavi sign was printed on a white or blue flag used only in palaces.
and one more thing, if you are a political activist you must learn about all directions, and the direction many royalists and republicans today have chosen is a constitutional government.
all royalists alike want a constitutional monarchy.
reza pahlavi the prince from pahlavi family made it clear he is not after war, he is not after monarchy, he wants people’s right to vote a new government.