Dialogues on Transition to Secular Democracy
A Real Conference
Last week, my Sunday Post was not published because I was out of town attending the "Dialogues on Transition to Secular Democracy" conference in San Francisco. Gozar.org, KAI, and Iranian Studies at Stanford organized the conference. The conference was unique in our culture in several ways and broke many old and traditional taboos in its first steps. No one came to display, advertise, or impose their beliefs on others. Around 150 Iranians worldwide were invited to attend the conference in person or online, with approximately forty participants joining online. Individuals from all political, non-political, economic, and cultural backgrounds were invited. It was the first time in my life that I witnessed people listening to each other's opinions and beliefs instead of attacking and accusing each other. The program was not designed to eliminate others, and there was no need for elimination.
In our culture, being wealthy is often viewed negatively. Based on historical experiences and collective memory, the wealthy are perceived as having acquired wealth by looting others and destroying lives. Most Political groups often see the wealthy as enemies of the people and society. However, At this conference, I had the opportunity to witness a different perspective. For the first time, I saw that wealth is not necessarily a sin, and we can believe that one can become wealthy without exploiting others. At a recent conference, I observed political, economic, and cultural groups come together in a spirit of unity and mutual respect, without anyone being criticized or insulted because of their possessions. In the past, revolutionaries or those fighting for change often disregarded the wealthy, believing that they lacked an understanding of the pain and suffering of the people. However, at this conference, I saw organizers who had come to America with only the clothes on their backs, faced life's difficulties, and achieved wealth through hard work and education. They wanted to contribute a portion of their wealth to support this movement. For the first time, I saw a university student, a wealthy individual, and a worker sitting together without envy or resentment. This conference was not just a display of freedom but freedom itself.
At the conference, speakers were not chosen based on their gender, but rather on the merit of their beliefs and opinions, which were deemed valuable contributions to the democratic process. The organizers did not invite speakers solely to showcase freedom and independence but to bring diverse perspectives from within intellectual circles of society. One of the most remarkable aspects of the conference was the opportunity for individuals from vastly different backgrounds to come together and share their experiences. For example, a former representative in the regime's parliament could sit and discuss with someone whose family had been affected by the Islamic Republic since its earliest days. This diversity of perspectives and experiences was crucial to the conference's goal of fostering dialogue and promoting understanding.
Observing young girls who are succeeding in fields beyond literature reinforces my belief that the current system that limits opportunities for girls must be dismantled. It is essential that our girls have access to higher education and the opportunity to spend their time in laboratories, research centers, and libraries rather than being confined to oppressive and limiting circumstances. At the conference, I had the pleasure of seeing Maryam Saeedi, an intelligent and capable young woman who played a crucial role in the conference's success. We must provide more opportunities for young women like Maryam to thrive and create a society that values and nurtures the talents and aspirations of all its citizens, regardless of gender.
would like to share more about my interview with Dr.Fatemeh (Shahrzad) Shams a remarkable woman who left her married life and created a new path for herself over the course of twelve years, driven by her belief and passion for freedom. In speaking with her, I was struck by her thorough preparation - she had read all my books, reviewed my website, and even took the time to read stories I had written for children years prior. Her attention to detail and sense of responsibility left a profound impression on me, and I look forward to writing more about her.
On the conference's final day, I had the pleasure of meeting a group of young, intelligent, and determined book lovers who took me to a coffee shop for a chat. Seeing their unwavering commitment to living better lives and creating a better society was inspiring. Their passion and enthusiasm for effecting positive change were contagious, and I left the coffee shop feeling energized and hopeful for the future.
Two of the invitees who were announced as speakers did not attend the conference. One of them wrote a letter explaining his absence, while the other, Prince Reza Pahlavi, withdrew without any explanation. As a writer who closely follows the movements of Iranian revolutionary groups, I had hoped that Prince Reza Pahlavi would have announced his reasons for withdrawing out of respect for the organizers and attendees of the conference.
As this is only the beginning, I hope that the movement sparked by this conference will continue to grow. I plan to offer suggestions to improve future events in a letter to the conference organizers. We must remember that breaking old habits is difficult, and overcoming deeply ingrained societal practices takes time and effort. Those who work to dismantle the chains of a closed society may struggle with the habits of an authoritarian system. A difficult and challenging path lies ahead, and the best way to pave the way for a better tomorrow is through open and respectful dialogue, writing, and the willingness to tolerate different opinions.
I thank all organizers, especially Dr. Abass Millany, for this beautiful event.