Iran Under the Shah

The International Herald Tribune ^ | January 06, 2006 | Her Majesty Farah Pahlavi

[F14 Pilot]

Thomas Friedman's article, "A shah with a turban" (Views, Dec. 24), poignantly illustrated the rift between Iran's clerical dictatorship and the country's population, especially the youth. However, an inappropriate headline and cartoon by Kal undermined what was informative and valuable in his article.

The implication that the shah's reign bears any resemblance to the present regime is inaccurate. Under the late Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, Iranians enjoyed incomparably better lives than what they have to endure today; moreover, the prospect for a stable Middle East appeared promising.

Jews and other religious minorities thrived and prospered under the shah, who promoted religious freedom and tolerance. During World War II, Iran assisted many Jews fleeing the Nazis by issuing them Iranian travel documents, a policy that was continued for Middle Eastern Jews expelled from their respective countries.

Farah Pahlavi, New York

[F14 Pilot]

Her Majesty Farah Pahlavi responds to NY Times article

[Tarpon]

Having been to Iran on many occasions for business during the time the Shah was in control, what she says is mostly correct. The big thing that was going on is he was educating the Iranians with a secular education. That was also his downfall -- Thank you Jimmuh "never saw a dictator he didn't love" Carter.

So if you need blame, look to Carter. The Middle East would have been a very different place if it weren't for Jimmuh.

[Spruce]

May Jimmy Carter rot in hell for the damage he has done to the entire world.

[F14 Pilot]

This isnt the purpose of her article

[Windsong]

The Iranians also have themselves to blame..not just Jimmuh Cartuh. They chose Islam and had their own "revolution" in 79. They in essence chose their own fate. Even if there were to be another revolution, with democracy ousting tyranny, they'd STILL worship Mohammed instead of Christ, which sooner or later would end right back up to tyranny's doorstep yet again.

Simply cant fathom why some think that Iran would be a democratic paradise with Islam STILL in place.

"If I let loose pestilence against My people, when My people, who bear My name, humble themselves, pray, and seek My favor and turn from their evil ways, then I will hear in My heavenly abode and forgive their sins and heal their land." II Chronicles 7:13-14

Problem is..you have to go through Christ in order to even GET to the Father (i.e. God), which Iranians are almost certainly NOT willing to do.

[dbostan]

Teheran was an exceptional city.
The Shah's services cleaned the streets with perfumed water every night.
Iran was as advanced as Lebanon before the IslamoFascists destroyed them both....

[F14 Pilot]

LOL

Whats this?

[F14 Pilot]

Do you guys want to have your say regarding how Iran was durin the late Shah era?

[nuconvert]

Good for her!
Friedman has really been getting a lot of feedback about his article.

[Tokra]

She didn't explain why so many people rallied behind Ayatollah Khomeini

Ah - it might have something to do with SAVAK - the Shah's Secret Police. Saddam's torturers could have (and probably did) take lessons from this bunch. They tortured anyone who disagreed with the Shah in horrible and barbaric ways. Had it not been for the Secret Police - the revolution probably would never have taken place.

[nuconvert]

Is that so?

[Fred Nerks]

That leaves 66% of humanity where?

[speedy]

She didn't explain why so many people rallied behind Ayatollah Khomeini.

Maybe she didn't, so I will. It was for the same reason that so many people continue to rally behind Democrats in the US; pandering to the most ignorant, least-productive members of society will always generate a certain level of devotion. It's true in any society at any time in history. The trick is to not let that element hold sway. Eventually it self-destructs, but it can cause a lot of damage along the way.

[Fred Nerks]

I have never met a socialist, a marxist or a member of the communist party (yes, we have all of these in Austalia also) who didn't say at some time or other, exactly what you just said...

[Reily]

They didn't CHOOSE Islam. It was imposed on them when Persia was conquered by the Arabs in roughly the 6th century. Persian(Iran) was a mixture of mostly Zoroastrians & Nestorian Christians. Persia is an ancient civilization & culture. It was quite a psychological blow to have you culture, language & beliefs destroyed by a bunch of primitive savages, i.e. Arabs. A blow that still explains much of Iranian Shiite behavior.

[Tarpon]

I was there ... The Iranians didn't do the choosing, like with Iraq, the Islamo-Fascist terrorists moved in, Jimmuh 'dum dee dum' Carter looked the other way and down came the darkness. You need look no further than Iran's current dictator to see what happened.

The Shah was minimizing Islam's formal roll in society and building a secular society. But . . . That is what brought the Mullahs in with their terrorist enablers. At the time, France thought it was good, Ayatollah Khomeini was given political asylum in France if you recall. The Shah was no democrat, Pervez Musharraf in today's Pakistan is a good parallel, but all Muslims aren't terrorist and should be allowed to worship as they choose, as long as they don't harm others. Throughout time, various religions have been twisted for the goals of the powerful.

I stay out of religious wars.

[Freedom Dignity n Honor]

Wasn't it beautiful? :)

I loved Ahwaz and Tehran.

[Steveone]

Jimmy the anti American rubbish used Ramsey Clark super hero of scumbags as his leg man in that hatchet job on the Shah.