The Iranians: Persia, Islam, and the Soul of a Nation
Sandra Mckey's speech at World Affairs Council
Doreh minutes July 25, 1996
Listened to the taped interview of Sandra Mackey from KQED's World
Affairs Council. Ms. Mackey who lives in Atlanta is the author of
multiple books on the Middle East Nations, and has been CNN's
commentator and has appeared on many TV programs such as night line.
She has made 3 trips to Iran. She obtained her visa as a conference
attendee and traveled North to Caspian Sea area, South to Shiraz, East
to Baluchistan, and West to the Iraqi boarder, during which she
interviewed many common people as well as Khomeini's daughter, the
speaker of the parliament and mayor of Tehran through two independent
translators. According to Ms. Mackey she made her trips with no
government escort, was totally free to travel at will as long as she
respected the islamic attire, and she encountered more curiosity than
hostility everywhere she went. She mentioned that the only trouble
she got into was from taking a picture of the embassy in Iran where
the ad hoc court locked her in a bathroom for 1.5 hours as a result.
As she put it, the only real life threatening danger she faced during
her trips was from the risky Iranian drivers. She stressed the fact
that she found Iranian hospitality extremely pleasing and how everyone
was so gracious to her.
Here are excerpts from her interview:
"Since the revolution, America has looked at Iran as a Black power
closely connected to the terrorists........ a post cold war enemy
......
I found a widespread disillusionment over the revolution....
The country is more weak than strong in many aspects....
Multiple groups (ideologies) exist........ many discussions over the
Islamic Republic..... over the Islamic Iran verses Persia..... all
pointing at the question of IDENTITY.... the Persian identity
originating from the old history of the country dating back to the
Cyrus the great...... the Just Ruler......"
Then Ms. Mackey went into the history of how Sheite Islam was
introduced in Iran, the country was ruled by the kings and how clergy
guided religious beliefs in the country for years......
Then she continued on with the questions that led to the revolution
such as the legitimacy of the ruler.......
And with respect to the current state of Iran She added:
"The lower classes who led the revolution have failed...... ordinary
people who consider themselves good Moslems are questioning the
legitimacy of the current government.......
Some religious communities are asking for the dismantlement of the
Islamic Republic....... however there is no real organization or
leadership......
Within the regime itself there is debate over Free Market v.s.
Islamic Socialism...... what is the revolutions priority, to export
Islam to the rest of the world or the well being of Iran....
Everything is extremely complex...... one faction moves in one
direction the others in another....... all originating with economic
policy, islamic ideology, and vested interest........
When Khomeini was alive he had enough stature to move towards The
weak, but since then no one has the charisma......
Pragmatic Rafsangani wants the nation to be open to the world for
economic reasons and national pride........
Hard-liners in the government want a controlled economy and to
establish an Islamic power everywhere.........
The Pragmatists have won the elections but the pattern of struggle
moves back and forth among the two factions.... neither has enough
power to win.
There is basic disagreement about everything...... from economy to
how one should dress in public.
Iran may do what Iranians have done before...... non-cooperation....
that is how the Pahlavi regime came into power...
Anarchy is not in the best interest of the United States..... it
leads to instability...... higher oil prices
The US has failed to understand Iran...... Clinton has isolated Iran,
which feeds Iranian nationalism.......
Most Iranians do believe in the conspiracy theory.... everything has
a hand of a foreign country involved..... US policy is to keep Iran
weak
The conspiracy theory is not all fantasy........ US policy of
confinement... militarization of Arab countries across the golf......
history repeating itself."
Hello everyone,
The next Doreh is on Thursday July 25th at my place. I have received the tape on the World Affairs Council which Sandra Mackey the author of "The Iranians: Persia, Islam, and the Soul of a Nation" talks about her experience of the trip she took to Iran and the book she wrote on the subject.
The agenda will be to get together at my place between 7:00 and 7:30. I will play the tape EXACTLY at 7:30, so if you come late, it defeats the purpose! Please be on time.
The tape lasts for 1 hour. The first half hour is the speakers talk and the second portion is questions and answers.
We can have our own discussion after the tape is completed.
Hope to see you there.
Yasaman
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