Iran in the 1970s before the Islamic Revolution
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Mention the word Iran to most people and this image is probably close to what first comes to mind:
Older people will remember a vastly different impression of Iran though, the Iran from before the Islamic Revolution. There are a large number of pictures and videos out there that show a radically different country from the one today (some might be from the 1960s BTW) so I've gathered a few of them together.
(Edit: Actually the pictures are almost all people so perhaps Iranians in the 1970s would be a more appropriate title)
First some photos from two videos here and here:
A few screen shots from this video:
As well as some other images from here and there:
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Community High School in Tehran in the 1970s (closed down in 1979). Nothing particularly notable about the building itself but former Georgia Congressman and Libertarian presidential candidate Bob Barr graduated from high school here in 1966.Finally, here are some links to other photos from Flickr that can't be posted here but are still worth looking at.
- People standing around a car in the mountains
- Two women posing for a picture
- Afkhami at her first press conference as secretary general of the Women's Organization of Iran (1970)
- Peace Corps party photo in Tehran
- Some guy with a sweater, 1971
- Current president Ahmadinejad in 1976 with his soccer team
- Family hanging out in the park in 1975
You can also see a travelogue from 1971 here and here (two parts). There is another fairly long documentary from 2007 here that focuses on daily life in Tehran today.
See also this video I uploaded last month that shows what spoken Persian sounds like:
And if you've been interested in learning Persian but have been intimidated by the script, don't worry: Persian is a much easier language to learn than you might think (I'm learning it myself and can attest to that). It does take a while to get used to reading the script but after that it's really easy to pick up. Easy verb conjugation, no grammatical gender, plural is easy to form, etc. To watch BBC Persian's newscast online see here and here.
Edit: in response to the first comment - I haven't assembled the images in an attempt to make pre-revolutionary Iran look like a golden age, but rather to show that Iranians/Persians are much less conservative at heart than one might be led to believe (yes, it does vary by region and ethnic group but still). I chose to focus on Iranians alone and not the government at the time for that reason.
125 comments:
i think you have an overly rosy picture of pre-revolutionary Iran from these images. You only had to drive 10 minutes out of Tehran and villages had no electricity or running water. Literacy rates were under 50%.
and the monarchy suppressed political freedom and opposition which eventually made the population prefer anything but the monarchy. not to mention that these images only portray the elites. period.
Regardless of relatively low percentage of the population that enjoyed the western culture it does go to show that Iran could have easily become a more progressive eastern nation like turkey. Very interesting.
..Very nicely said ! However, the revolution was not the answer to these problems. I believe that it dropped the leteracy rates even more, and drove those great scholars out!.. Progress is when freedom of religion is in effect and proper education is enforced where true science can prosper and grow!.. In this case, art, culture, and true pride will truly arise.
There were reasons for the revolution. But that was a country, a part of civilization anyway. Not a muslim insane place of horror.
The language isn't called "Persian". If you want to learn how to speak the right language in Iran, you learn Farsi.
There are similar pictures from Afghanistan, as well.
there were leppers in the outskirts of tehran during those times.
There's a adult cartoon-film called Persepolis that describes exactly what you've said.
Mandatory view!
it looks like the decadent USA. And yes I'm an american.
Hi, thanks for reply on my juderiamo blog. Honestly, I haven't had any experience with Turkish and Kyrgyz language until few weeks ago. But we can talk about this sometime, and yes it does sound interesting to me. I always used to wonder why Mongolians called Koreans 'solongos' or 'the rainbows'. Any suggestions?
This is the life of Kurdish, Persian, Arabic and Turkish people. Always between modern and orient...
The revolution was started by the hypocritical US government, so please do not say Islamic revolution or any other bs. Iran was a beautiful Islamic country back in the days that gave people the freedom to choose and at same time respect the religion, once the US initiated the revolution..well the rest is history, watch your tv and you'll see.
I think calling the Islamic revolution a revolution is a bit of a misnomer. What's that other word you use when something goes backwards?
Devolution might make more sense. It's so sad to see women set back even further than their western counterparts.
You should look at what Iran was like *BEFORE* England and America sponsored the revolution that over threw its democraticaly elected government and installed the Shah.
The reasons Iran hates us are for the most part true. We've only ever been imperialists and tyrants in their part of the world.
The photos above do come from when the American appointed Shah was in power, but they indicate a culture that was already entering the western world and could have been an amazing ally of the west instead of one of the "axis of evil".
Read your history :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Iran
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohammad_Reza_Pahlavi
So, is there any country or people that doesn't hate USA nowadays?
Q: "So, is there any country or people that doesn't hate USA nowadays?"
A: If we exclude the US west coast & the US northeast the answer is yes.
"If we exclude the US west coast & the US northeast the answer is yes."
Wow, I think if look at the states in the US that voted someone (George W Bush) into office (let me see the south.. midwest.. ) you would see the reason why the rest of the world hates us. Now with Obama at the helm maybe we can be liked again.
You can put lipstick on any pig.
The sentiment here is that Persia was pretty modern, liberal place to live prior tot he Islamic revolution. And, as many here have pointed out, that revolution was largely created by the US anyway.
But the same is true of almost all the middle-eastern countries; Beruit used to be known as the Paris of the east and a more modern city with elegance and wealth you could not find. Kabul as well.
It's easy to blame the US for all of this, their insane plotting since the 50s has contributed to religious revolutions in most of these countries and now the same regimes they installed are united in their hatred of the US. Nobody but the ultra-wealthy elites int he US and Europe has benefitted.
But it would be a mistake to believe this totally. These islamic regimes would not stay in power without support from parts of their population, and if the general populace really wanted to return to the 'glory days' of the 60s and 70s they could rise up and revolt again.
Yes, it's a tragedy how this has all played out in recent decades but the causes are numerous and intertwined, and you just can't point a finger at the west and say it's all their fault.
Everybody hates us....until they need us.
this is what religion does to society. its happening to the united states as we speak, except with christianity
NO RELIGION ! NOW !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
there is so much stupid loaded into the comments its ridiculous..
Obama is an ass. Quit thinking that Obama is going to solve your problems. I am from Chicago. Obama is a South Side of Chicago Democratic Machine politician...just like Mayor Richard Daley. Before Obama got elected to the State Senate where he accomplished absolutely NOTHING for a decade he collected signatures for useless ghetto work. Because he was black and in a very liberal area of Chicago he then got elected to the senate through a series of dirty tricks. During his campaign he basically had every other candidate thrown off the ticket so that he stood alone on the ballot. The only election that Obama has had to win so far in his political career was that for the office of the White House.
With regard to Iran. The people of Iran are in charge of their destiny. If they decide to be beat down and run like a well oiled Muslim Western hate machine, they make that choice. They can chose to continue to hate or they can chose to forgive. To hate and ruin their lives as they have is a very sad thing. It reflects very poorly on the people that they hate so much that they would chose to live in the slavery that is an Islamic state.
Judging by the comments, I'm guessing the leftist lunatics of Digg have found this.
Who is to say what is right or what is not?
What is mordern? And what is not?
Who is to say what is the right way or what is wrong way?
When anyone follows anything from somewhere else, they are still following, and not FREE.
A woman with fat legs who wears a very low skirt is a HO in Everyland, so what's so mordern about that?
Without the oil guzzling western nations Iran and most other countries in the Mid East would be living peacefully ... in mud huts.
Also, if its so wonderful now, post revolution, why are so many people hell bent on escaping to places like the USA?
My father was born in Tehran and was forced to flee the country in during the revolution. We still have contact with many relatives that still live there. With many people, the spirit of those pictures havent died in them. They are still those people in those pictures. Its unfortunate that the majority of people have been given a bad name while its a select few with power that have given them that name. As with all countrys there are good and bad. There was one comment about how you could drive ten minutes outside tehran and there is no running water or electricity, not to sound cliche but no where is perfect. We have homeless people living outside of the gates of the White House, who are we to judge others when we cant take care of our own people in our nations capitol? I will never say that i agree 100% with the shahs rule, but in retrospect they were no where near as controlling as they are now a days not to mention a serious (maybe?) nuclear threat.
I believe prospects for improved relations with Iran are good. There are many young and progressive Iranians. This sort of nostalgia is good for Iranians and for Americans. I'm not sure why people are so critical of it. If it leads to a free and open society isn't that a good thing? Thank you for posting these photos.
Actually, literacy rates (particularly for women) have skyrocketted since the revolution. Iranians today live longer than ever, have more access to healthcare and clean water than ever, and their children have the lowest infant mortality rates than ever. Iran was not "liberal" under the Shah. It was a poverty-stricken country ruled by a petty, tin-pot tyrant with delusions of grandeur. The revolution was massively popular for a reason, even though some embittered exiles prefer to think that it was all a US plot.
I have a lot to say but whatever. Turkey right now is going through the
same stages that Iran Afghanistan and other nations went,
we(Turkey/Turks) were the last because all of Europe wanted to rip apart
The Ottoman Empire and "share" the land amonst themselves.
There are a lot of people who are wrong on every single thing they say
here but im not going to waste time and curse or name them.
here are a few things; When youre a superpower and you have the power to
literally wipe out over half a million people from the face of the
Earth(e.g. Hiroshima) in almost under a minute is something that gives
an edge when making Decisions. Also this decision making includes making
decisions FOR other countries(e.g. induced devolutionary revolutions
Middle Eastern Countries). So of course they have the power to change
their destinies, they chose to KEEP ON HAVING ONE. It was either that or
have no destiny at all.
Also I agree with another guy who skeptically critisized Obama. He
really hasn't done anything, hes just black. Sorry to tell everyone this
but he just got elected because blacks in the U.S. are multiplying
faster than whites(e.g. increase in the # of highschool pregnancies).
G.W.B. has clearly proven that you dont have to have brains or a
strategy to get into the white house.
ALSO to the person on top of me; IF you are happy, TRULY HAPPY if you
live in a mud hut, does it REALLY MATTER if you have an iPod? YOU have
ignorance on your side you obviously can't understand.(e.g. number of
people that can name a country starting with 'U'is relatively low on
United States) Most of the drugs made around the world are made for
America. Thats not because youre "superior" its because you are
inferior. Just because you managed to get your hands on a Nuclear
bomb...
Let me try to make this as popular culturally as i can;
Do the guys in Lost need any of the luxuries that Western nations
allegadly strive to prove? Mind you math was born in Geographical Iran.
Can you provide ANYTHING CLOSE TO NECESSITY than math? no.
The True Americans are Native Americans(Indians) yet i fail to see any
Indian running for president? No, you raped their culture and stole
their lands and resources from them, taking middle east is only genetic
to you from now on.
Neil,
Yeah, partly our bad for overthrow of democracy in Iran, but total bull to extend that to blame us for "religious revolutions in most of these countries."
the natives should have fought harder...pussies
Persian is not a language. It's called farsi.
People destroy their own way of life. Why so?
Iran in 1953 was a democratic republic that only later became an islamic theocratic state due to subversive influence by the CIA and the installation of the Shah ... we need to have longer memories and understand the history of those that we might call enemies ...
All because America and Britain intervened and stuck their noses in trying to create a puppet regime in Iran.
Then they got kicked out and people thought there would be salvation from the tyrants, but between the democractic supporters and religious right-wings - the right-wings won because people were afraid of foreign intervention and because the religious right wing was able to get the votes from the uneducated classes and they won that way.
People thought it would be ok at first, but as they become more and more conservative - it got worse and people started to flee.
In the end this is another case of a country ruined because of foreign intervention. Just like how Afghanistan was quite modern and we all know how that turns out.
Yes sir this is a great thing, i mean they were getting off track and going on a tangent to westernise themselves, which would eventually lead up to where we are today in the USA, where women walk around naked, with NO dignity, no men have respect for women, i mean everyone is sleeping with everyone, which only create more issues like STD and stuff.. and look over at Iran the numbers are polor oppisites..all because of a life style change. Though some things may seem finatical, others such as this was a move for the better.
okey ...everyone must follow and obey what US says then only it will be no more critism.
I was in undergrad school,here in the states, at this time where there were a lot of Irani exchange students.all males, who were primarily enrolled in areas pertaining to the petroleum industry. With news of the Shah's oustering their funds dried up and they were then forced to return to Iran. Apparently they all knew what this meant because a pall settled over that portion of he student community. I remember seeing many in tears not wanting to return to the new situation in Iran. Many feared for their families back in Iran and what might be waiting for them when they returned.
FUCK ALL RELIGION ALL OVER THE WORLD
Hey! Some of those Iranian babes back in the 70s were just that! Babes! It's too bad Islam can't/won't value their women as full citizens. And I don't think that will ever happen either.
ISLAM DELENDA EST.
after reading the comments i decided that a lot of people (think they) solved the problem.
it would take a book to explain what some of you are trying to sum up in 3 sentences.
I digg your pics ;)
Persia - the greatest empire ever known... look at what we were and what we become.
History repeats itself...
Don't blame a 1400 or 2000 years old book/religion for what people do... that religion was probably good for the people of that time, it was like the law, good law that would help the people. But in modern days we got laws and are more civilized so religion becomes the way you turn when your alone, afraid, sic, need help, need hope, etc... but religion is also a part of peoples lifes, it have been there since they where born, merged up with the culture. I'm not religious, I belive in God and trying to be a good human, that's hard enough.
In Good we trust ;)
Anyway the older people of Iran will die someday and the young people will take over so there is hope.
Ghorbone hamaton beram!
Peace
Way to go USA.
shut the fuck up.
all of you.
Amazing! how can be so different this pictures and today...!
It's a pity how things are today
Go they have any idea how stupid they all look?
Uncle Sam
So...the way revolutions generally work is that people come out of them with more freedom than before (because the majority of people want to be free). Iran, you're doing it wrong.
Also China, and several other really poor countries with an uneducated populati-- hey wait a minute, I think I see a correlation.
And they all left Iran... and I've met many of them growing up in Toronto and they hate what their county has become.
I agree with everyone who blames the U.S. I wish we would stay out of all foreign affairs. I wish all foreign countries woulad have to take care of themselves. In the meantime the U.S. could just build up our military for what would surely come which would be a World War of Eastern Countries versus the U.S. You leftist people are such ostriches. The reason the U.S. strikes first is to prevent other countries from striking at all.
If the U.S. is hated by a country it is because we thwarted them from doing something bad. Think about it. I mean God forbid we stop Iraq, Iran, Korea and whatever other countries hate us from developing Nuclear weapons. Why do we care? Oh wait - that's right - CAUSE THEY HATE US!!!!!!!!!
They hate our capitalist ways. They hate our Chirstian beliefs - oh yeah that's right - 68% of the U.S. are Christians. If you are not then you my friend are a minority.
So once again. I am all for the U.S. staying out of everybodies business. But that means staying out of everything. Instead of feeding Darfur lets feed Americans. Instead adopting African children BranJoliena lets adopt American kids. Lets house the poor. Lets create jobs here in the U.S.
"We the people"... have the power to do this. Not the government. Not the Democrats. Not the Republicans. THE PEOPLE. We vote in the lesser of two evils every election. Not someone we fully trust. Just the person we think can do the best job who is lieing the least. We lose every time. We the people have the power. We the people need to use it. Screw the eastern hemisphere - worry about us for a while for once.
All these posts that point blame at ourselves, being Americans, is very, very sad. It makes me sick to hear of our own citizens pointing the fingers at our ourselves when they bask in the rewards and riches that the opportunity and freedom America has provided. You have these rewards because of this great country...and its time you recognize that. You would NOT have the same possessions, freedoms, opportunity, and equalities if you lived in Iran. Instead of complaining, become active in the country that allowed you to succeed, and try to make the difference you are so passionate about. Proudly serve your country, as it has served you, and work to make it a better place for you, and your children. If not, then you can leave...you have that freedom too.
As and American citizen I AM participating by criticizing our government's policies. In this democracy, we citizens are SUPPOSED to be critical of our government and its policies, including its foreign policies, rather than simply act stupidly patriotic. And if anyone should leave, it is you.
First, you can drive out of any main city in the U.S. or any other country for that matter, and find people who live in greater poverty. Second, this is not just pics of elites. My parents' photo albums were filled with pictures exactly like this and they were barely considered middle class. Third, keep in mind that this was the 1960s and although Iran had not fully developed into a democracy it was well on it's way....by separating government from religious ties. The revolution took away all of the country's advancements in the 2oth century and reduced them to a theocracy
I am sad to tell you that nothing will change in your government and that the president is just another puppet. If the puppeteer(person pulling strings in the background) sees that the people don't like one of his puppets, then all he has to do is replace it with one that they like. I am not a person that is into conspiracy that much but this video will give you a bit of an idea of the Puppeteer that the Americans need to take down so that things get better : http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=Obama+Deception&emb=0&aq=f#
Enjoy
Religion is not the problem. The problem is lack of respect for a religion that is not your own. "Fuck all religion all over the world?" Grow up, you sound pathetic. Religion has always been a part of the world. It can exist in great societies but tolerance of others is always key. P.S. Before you go assuming that I'm some old religious fanatic ,I'm not, I'm a 20 year old college student.
My dream is to get rid of humanity all together, problem solved
I, the author of the first post today, am not blaming U.S. literally. I blame the idiots who keep electing from just two parties. Get it straight folks. When our founding fathers created our government they did so with the hopes that our education and intellect would allow us to see through the BS and not just follow blindly the lies that we are told during every election. They creasted a constitution that is black and white. If you haven't read it then you should. It is pretty easy to follow if you have at least an 8th grade education. I say that particular grade as that is when I learned the most about our government.
Our forefathers created a government to help spread diplomacy and democracy. Unfortuantely there were some casualties along the way, but I am sure the predecessors to the Romans in the lands they conquered don't still whine about the raping and pillaging of the land. It happened, our bad, move on.
Every war, although bad, that the U.S. has been in has helped remove a dictator killing his own citizens and create a democracy for that country. You can whine and complain all you want to about our reason for going in, but the outcome is for the betterment of the citizens. If the citizens do not embrace the democracy and take over the country from the rebels, then hey what can we do but leave and say, " you are on your own."
After Iraq I say - no more foreign policing. You all hate us. So be it. Piss off and save yourselves. We will be sitting here in the west enjoying our riches and taking care of our own like you all have done all these years. Need some food. Sorry we are feeding our own starving masses. Need some housing - sorry we are building houses for our homeless.
Oh wait - what is that? You can't survive without the U.S.'s help. Sorry but you hated us. Here's a rupie, call someone who cares.
As for the iditoic 20 year old college student who says, " "Fuck all religion all over the world?" You show your level of intillectual ability in such a beautiful way. Religion is what founded the U.S. Your wish to as you so elloquently put it "Fuck it..." is why other countries will find it so easy to gradually take over the U.S.
Remember this folks - Would you rather live your entire life believing there is a God and die to find there isn't or live your entire life believing there isn't a God to find out there is. The latter is too late. Good luck with your decision there.
I am a proud american and a previously proud Iranian. The madness that started with the so called Islamic revolution uprooted me and thank god I am living in the heaven that we call USA.
Whatever happened in Iran of the Pahlavi regime was far superior to the tyreny and injustice that is happening now and since the so called revolution.
Looking at these beautiful pictures of Iran, reminds me of a dream of the past. The Comminity School in Tehran and the annual Garden parties that was very similar to the School Fairs that you see in the U.S. There is nothing wrong with being westernized and believe in western ideals. Somehow the religous fenatics that hijacked Islam and rule the country turned that dream into a nightmare.
There are 20 year old kids in Iran now who never saw the beautiful dream that I am talking about. All that they have been witnessing is the dark cloud of this tyreny and the Islamic revolution that has shrouded the country.
I wish for all Americans and Westerners to be more tolerant of the words that come out of Iran these days and understand that these are the unlucky souls that have been brainwashed by these Hijackers of Islam. May God have mercy on their souls.
Long live Democracy and the US of A.
but do you guys know why the islamic revolution happened at least? it's a little funny to blame iran for not keeping things the same way as those pictures, but a historical detail should be added on here...
i mean long live the democracy and the US of A okay, but the USA previously overthrew the government of iran in the 50's because f the context of the cold war while this government back then was very happily balanced between religion and secularism, and people were free to practice or not practice religion. then the USA put an all secular shah in there who declared religion totally forbidden, which led to those pictures, which are very nice and we can appreciate as members of a democratic society, but which also led to the islamic revolution. all the religious people, who just wanted to be plainly and innocently religious, felt frustrated, and out of frustration came extremism, as a cliche phenomenon. so i think long live the US of A in such an article is not appropriate. long live freedom! try to culture yourself before you comment. and let's not publish incomplete information, okay??
Simple: you can blame most, if not all, problems with that part of the world on Islam. Hell, religion is evil no matter what form it takes.
good dtory i like
Wow - "religion is evil no matter what form it takes." That is the most ignorant sentence I have ever heard in my life. Name one religion that promotes evil. Please - I am waiting. What a moron. There are evil people who claim to be religious, but no evil religions. That is just assanine. Christianity promotes morals and morays that the western world has decided to disregard out of selfishness. Islam promotes peace and understanding of others(that is Islam not radical Islam). Buddhism promotes peace. Hindu promotes peace. No religion promotes war or murder or "evil"
You cannot blame "most, if not all..." problems over there on Islam. You can, however, blame all of the problems on Dictators and Tyrants who are unwilling to accept other's views and religions. That does not make that ruler's particular religion evil even though they may claim to make their decisions based on their religion. That "simply" makes that ruler "evil". Please whoever you are. Get yourself some modicum of education, at least to the 8th grade like I said before, if you are going to try to speak with the adults.
Very true that Iran has been a highly cultured society for thousands of years. The people of that region created and sustained much that has become incorporated into the West. In the past Iran was a sanctuary for those seeking esoteric ancient knowledge and free religious expression.
What happened in Iran is the same old story over and over. The powered and wealthy rule the world over the ordinary people of the planet. It was the U.S. imperialism installing the Shah. It was the religious powerful overthrowing the Western capitalism (where corporations force policy and create environments where money flows up to the powerful). It was the Fundamentalists stamping power and control over the daily lives of everyone.
For the West, the golden goose is the hydrocarbon resources and access to shipping and transportation. Without that, Iran (along with Iraq, Afganistan, etc.) would be far off the radar of Western countries.
Give people the freedom to live and express themselves as they like, and pretty much we all agree on the basics for comfortable and happy lives. And that does not include domination and control over others. Iran is the way it is, and acts that way it does, in reaction to the world forces pressing down on them. Power rarely relinquishes power on its own.
All the people of the world are connected and related, and for us to move beyond the 'he said/she said/they said' fighting mentality we must all reject the self-serving powers seeking domination and control. We are now a global society. Our problems and their solutions are global. Only by the people of the World coming to realize our inherent sameness and dedicating our selves to World Citizenship, can we dissolve the arbitrary boundaries that appear to separate us. Only then can the people of Iran, Afghanistan, Tibet, Latin America and everywhere else throw off the religio-imperial yoke and live in peace and freedom.
www.changing-history.com
If you are interested in this matter, you should read "The Sha" (Ryszard Kapuscinski)
we should find a country that has the highest percentage of the population happy and copy their system of government and lifestyle.
Reminds me of a recent (+/- 1 year) experience in an LA grocery store. I couldn't help but notice two beautiful Persian women, both with strollers, in expensive LA digs, heading toward each other in the isle. I watched as they noticed each other, and sure enough, realized they knew each other. First words out of both of their mouths: Shalom. Not only Persian, but Jewish, too. After that, I notice Persian Jews everywhere, even in Austin where I reside.
-Ian G., NaughtyGeneration.com
My name is Poya from tarbiz. we don't like your pictures from shah. why don't you put ali daie? he's the number one son of iran-zamin, be khoda gasam. zane khoob bayad chaii biyareh akhe, bayad aab narizeh roo shooharesh. bebakhshid man beram, sedaaye dar miyad, ba'd khedmatetoon arz mikonam. yo mohsen, ghaablamaro bezaar zamin.
As an Iranian who lives in Iran, I must tell Americans that ordinary people don't hate USA and its people. We hate UK. UK has a dark history in Iran and the neighboring regions. Most of the problems of today stem from UK policies and NOT USA.
Don't believe "marg bar Âmrikâ" (down with USA) and such that you see in television. I'm sad to read in the comments that Americans think we hate them. It is not true. What a shame that false propagandas are working. I hope for a day that these misunderstandings are all gone. However, I doubt the poisonous media of both sides (and mainly Western one) would ever allow it. May Internet help us!
As for the blog post, I must say that the view is just biased. Neither the pre-revolution Iran was as good as depicted nor post-revolution Iran is as bad as depicted. All in all, I'm happy that a revolution happened and we got rid of Shâh and its dreadful SÂVÂK. Nudity wasn't part of our culture and it was imposed (look at the magazine covers that were publicizing such things). Shâh's regime were imposing many things that weren't part of our culture. There is no perfect regime in the world. Iranian regime has certainly shortcomings but it's good and most people like it. We don't want another revolution. In the dirty world of politics, never the bad goes to let the good come in. Post-revolution regime has gradually changed since the first years of evolution and now it has almost become balanced. We have had good progress. The problem is that your media does not reflect the view of the majority and don't show you the true Iran. I really surprise that Westerners fear to visit Iran. Iran is not perfect (like all other countries) but it is not as bad and frightening as they show you.
To conclude, seeing is believing not watching from TV nor even hearing from me. Come and visit Iran. Don't fear! Iran has many nice people and places to visit.
- I wrote these for dear Americans that think we hate them (I was impresssed and decided to write about it) and not for Iranians living there. I don't care what they think on this issue. I don't know English fluently but I hope I have been able to express my thought and sentiment clearly.
P.S. Name of our language in English is "Persian" and not "Farsi". You don't say "Deutsch, español, ..." in English but "German, Spanish, ...". The same applies to our language. Many Iranians don't know their language has a native English name in English and thus, they say "Farsi". In correct English, one should say "Persian" and for the Persian variant of Iran: Iranian Persian. Just like saying "American/Australian/... English".
It is a damn shame that we overthrew their democratically elected government and installed a monarchy instead, which in turn caused the Islamic revolution. Not to mention invading Iraq and giving the hardliners a chance to use fear to increase their influence and set the more mderate movements back a decade.
Organized religion is often ill suited for the promotion of the greater good. While it is excellent in drawing like people together, in doing so it creates groups of those people, and that automatically means that there are those not in the group.
Human instinct is to treat those not in the group shabbily - witness the Inquisition, the Salem witch trials, and those who claim that only through their religious organization can true fulfillment be obtained.
There are some non-organized religions that would find it difficult to be evil, but the organized ones (Jimmy Jones; the purple sneaker guys; KKK) too often turn to evil to cement the difference between those in the group and those outside.
Of course the Shah regime was suppressive. However, today Iran is stuck with much worse. When you see pictures of this beautiful country, its cultural richness and speak to intellectuals from Iran, you think it really is such a shame what the mullahs are doing to this people. Islam as practised today, is a way back to middle age - and Iran could have become a lighthouse for all muslim countries, that a mostly islamic country can be a modern society.
I wish for all persians, that they will get rid of its crazy leaders, and return to the place among the civilized countries, where they belong.
I lived in Tehran in the '70's and loved almost everything about it. True, the Shah was not good for the country but the Islamic regime is even worse. I'm tired of the Middle East blaming the US for all its problems. Look to your own corrupt leaders and people as the problem. To the poster who said American women are whores. Not all are, and Iran has a terrible problem with prostitution(the religious clerics prefer the child ones and Iran also has the worst drug abuse problem. They also have plenty of gays and they always will so they might as well stop hanging them. I hope Iranians(I like the name Persians better) get rid of their mad mullahs and their Madhi-obsessed president nut job. BTW, do those villages have electricity now? It's been 30 years, time for another revolution!
My history teacher, some 6 years ago, when I was still at school, told us that it was Iran, where she saw a computer for the first time in her life. And more surprisingly - girls doing some office kind of work on these computers. I don't remember the exact year, but these were the times of Soviet Union (I'm writing from Russia now).
These pictures give even a more colorful impression what the life there was like.
And I seriously hope the life will change for good there soon.
1. Any religion is the Evil.
2. There is no sense to retain national culture, religion, tradition.
3. I hope, that secular power in Iran completely will supersede religious power, and the religion will weaken.
Yeah, post-revolution Iran is not so bad! It's only second on the list of countries executing most people every year from the top, after China at #1 - except that China has 10x much people...
Iran executes 300 people every year. Some of them by stoning (mostly women, for "adultery"). What an enlightened country indeed!
this is great thanks for sharing
Thank you Jimmy Carter!
The people of the West want Iran to prosper without the shadow of nuclear weapons falling over you. The West hasn't done well by being armed to the teeth & we fear for those that think that being so armed will bring them security. Have nuclear power for electricity, not for security. Peace be with you all...
The only thing worse than an american 'patriot' is a christian fundamentalist patriot
There was and is so much beauty in Iran, and in its people - the craziness of wars and violence has made it hard to remember that sometimes. I also have been seeking to write about the pre-revolutionary culture in Iran and started a blog just this week: www.persianchyld.blogspot.com Mostly I'm posting stories from my trip to Iran in 1970. I hope you'll check it out.
-Roia
P.S. Name of our language in English is "Persian" and not "Farsi". In correct English, one should say "Persian" and for the Persian variant of Iran: Iranian Persian. Just like saying "American/Australian/... English".
Chi? Excuse me my friend but I do think you are entering into semantics - My wife, I can testify speaks Farsi.. I hear it often enough. And instead of the "why does everyone hate us" bleats can I point out this is page is NOT about the US of A. And as for the dreaded UK being the real "mastermind" (don't make me laugh!).. my answer to that is simply just "Uncle Napoleon".. The problems are internal. The Shah was an elitist of course but the effect was not anywhere near of the same magnitude as since the "revolution" (has there been one EVER that truely was to the benefit of the populace?) it is certainly now far more worse for the individual rights & freedoms of both sexes, to the detriment of cultural developement and National identity. In fact could I venture that the "Persian" is being replaced by the "Arab" as I highlight the fact the faith of Islam is an import at the cost of Zororastianism, the truely native faith. But I would end by saying instead of seemingly always looking back and being depressed over what is seemingly lost for ever more - look forward to the future as the Persian Empire/s existed for thousands of years, starting in 728 BC bringing forth such wonderous sciences (Medicine, Physics etc,)and expanding the minds of people. How long do you think this self serving corrupt regime can exist before it finally turns in upon itself. Have faith, Khoda hafez - Darius
I don't get the left in the United States with their inane need to blame America for the problems of the world. If you read world history you see poverty and barbarism going back unmitigated before the United States or even Western colonialism existed!
But victimization is a racket and many liberals make their livings off of it. So instead of promoting self-sufficiency and true freedom to make or break one's own life they support a wallowing mediocrity, which lends itself to dependency on the liberal "saviors."
So I love all the socialist assumptions by people that should know better. "We'll feed and clothe our own people..." That is not what made America free and prosperous, it was people feeding and clothing themselves - something the elitist liberals apparently believe most people are incapable of doing.
This why liberals always apologize for Islam and the Iranian revolution. Islam fosters the same kind of totalitarian paternalistic society that they seek to impose, only in secular utopian terms.
The Persian Empire, one of the greatest this world has ever known, has downgraded itself into an apocalyptical islamist regime.
People everywhere fight for freedom and democracy, whereas in Iran people fought for theocracy and oppression. I was told that most Iranians didn't even need a visa to travel abroad, while now they are put in the same sack as Afghanistan, Bangladesh or Sudan. It's a shame!
If Iranians know what they're doing, then I must have some conflicting grey cells in my head, for I'll never be able to follow their reasons.
Who needs your democracy? Personally i don`t need it. In june of 1989 China show to the world what to do an how to deal with democrats.
It's funny to see the agents of the terrorist regime of Iran post comments everywhere!!!
The terrorist regime of Iran = 30 years of stoning adulterers, amputation of limbs, criminalizing all music types except classical, selling our Caspian Sea to the leftovers of the Soviet Union, 100 lashes for drinking alcohol,...
yea i jst read this... yea irans pretty cool b4 the revolution. but i reckon the revolution jst stffed it up. Muslims r cool, bt these people made it seem like their freakn mad. still, im from Iran nd i live in australia. I hear lots of stff comin from media grrrr.... nd yeshh its Farsi, not persian ..persian reminds me of a cat so i kinda prefer Farsi o.O
Those pics are pretty much from people like me, and my friends back then, and we were not considered elites by any means. If there are pics like that from Afghanistan, I like to see them!
thnx for the pics
as for the politics its simple: humans in general build there lives on "what mother tells them to do". nobody, american, muslim, modernist is going to change there lyfestile in there own enviroment nomater what is sead or done, its unnatural. if any change towords freedom to choose our own paradigm is going to hapen someone needs to take on a magor leadership roll and do something about it! sadly I, and every other human I know is to afraid to shout that loud and be that smart.
the realgod exsists in pure randomness: he is all religions
Please let there never EVER be an islamic revolution another country again.
I noticed your page since I was the photographer for that picture with the Canada Dry sign. I was only in Iran for a few days in 1975 and unfortunately took only a few photos. (I had caught a bus from Mashed to Northern Greece for just $10!)
My memory of Tehran was of chaotic traffic with a calm city centre. I particularly remember the sandwich shops and cold beer. In the photo shown here, a woman on the street is wearing bell-bottom jeans. She is getting her shoes shined on the sidewalk. In the small towns women were covered up much more.
I would love to visit again but suspect that this is not a good time for foreign tourism.
The point is not that life under the shah was a paradise but that some things were actually pretty nice.
this is awsome!
it looks like people were actually having fun.
I wish there was more.
-denise
Pakistan was also like this in the 50s and 60s. but then Zia brought strick Islamic laws to the country..
there was no elite. In fact the elite were all the villagers or provincial people who got educated most of them from poor families...I know tons of them. Even Shah's father came from a very poor family. In fact it was a country that had no school early 1900s...after they came to power they made schools so many of them all over and as much as they could, universities that r still comparable to world's best universities in all cities and provinces, even zahedan...which is an excellent huge modern campus...He tried as much as he could...when a nation gets sick because of religion and tradition they can't blame one person! In every mistakes all sides are responsible! Shah still did his best...may he rest in peace!
there was no elite. In fact the elite were all the villagers or provincial people who got educated most of them from poor families...I know tons of them. Even Shah's father came from a very poor family. In fact it was a country that had no school early 1900s...after they came to power they made schools so many of them all over and as much as they could, universities that r still comparable to world's best universities in all cities and provinces, even zahedan...which is an excellent huge modern campus...He tried as much as he could...when a nation gets sick because of religion and tradition they can't blame one person! In every mistakes all sides are responsible! Shah still did his best...may he rest in peace!
If the literacy sky rocketed it is all because of all the schools and universities built during the shah and all because we had a generation that was educated during the Shah...if the revolution had not happened...we had better education, better water...CLEAN water...that does not exist anymore in an overpopulated city like tehran but it used to exist during the time of Shah...his leadership could have made iran much much much much better than what it is today if that damn crazy brutal criminal khomeiny had not come...but az maast ke bar maast...
If the literacy sky rocketed it is all because of all the schools and universities built during the shah and all because we had a generation that was educated during the Shah...if the revolution had not happened...we had better education, better water...CLEAN water...that does not exist anymore in an overpopulated city like tehran but it used to exist during the time of Shah...his leadership could have made iran much much much much better than what it is today if that damn crazy brutal criminal khomeiny had not come...but az maast ke bar maast...
Some people say that no religion is inherently "evil", that religions are really all sweet and innocent and promote "peace and kindness" (LOL), it's "just" the bad people.
Well, it's kind of pointless to think of religions in some abstract, idealistic terms. Religions are what people make of them. If right wing bible thumping screaming nutjobs that want to imprison sexting teens (sic!) represent religion X, then, unfortunately, that's what religion X is. Yes, there are millions of such people in the U.S., unfortunately. You don't have to go to Iran to have those.
Any sort of ideals supposedly "promoted by" or "at the core" any religion are completely moot if the followers act, at large, otherwise, and are just a smoke screen. Those "ideals" only exist on paper, and are worth no more than the paper they are printed on. This applies to all religions, I don't hold closet-minded Christians in any higher esteem than I do extremist followers of Islam.
Thus it is, in fact, important to separate Islam from Extremist Islam, for they are two very different things. The latter is filled with unabated hate -- just like wackos who have huge billboards that say "HELL IS REAL" on a highway nearby.
Some people think these countries are so horrible and dangerous. But I lived in Iran and Irak, almost 10 years on each country, and it was a very nice experience; totally changed my perspective.
Interesting when Iran will become an independent democratic country...
When the 1979 Revolution occurred, that is how the people got sold into going with it; that they woudl have a democracy as opposed to a demagogue. What they didn’t realize was the top wouldn’t let the democratic majority have any real control.
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@ "christopher G": You said "the language is not called persian, it's farsi"
Nonsense. The language, IS called persian. If you start learing german, what will you tell your friends? That you are learning "deutsch"? No, you will say "german".
Same with persian.
PLUS, there's an extra thing there: "parsi" is the original pronuciation of the word. "Farsi" is how the Arabs called it during the Arab occupation in the middle ages. The change of "p" to "f" stuck, and now you can even hear Persians saying the word "farsi".
Très bien dit! Cependant, la révolution n'était pas la réponse à ces problèmes. Je crois qu'il a diminué les taux leteracy encore plus, et a conduit ces grands savants out! .. Progrès, c'est quand la liberté de religion est en effet l'éducation et appropriée est exécutée au lieu où la vraie science ne peut prospérer et de croître! .. Dans ce cas, l'art, la culture, et la fierté vraie se posent véritablement.
Bien sûr, le régime du Shah était suppressive. Cependant, aujourd'hui l'Iran se retrouve avec bien pire. Lorsque vous voyez des images de ce beau pays, sa richesse culturelle et de parler à des intellectuels de l'Iran, vous pensez que c'est vraiment une honte ce que les mollahs font à ce peuple. L'Islam tel qu'il est pratiqué aujourd'hui, est un chemin de retour à l'âge mûr - et l'Iran aurait pu devenir un phare pour tous les pays musulmans, que la plupart du temps un pays islamique peut être une société moderne.
Je souhaite à tous les Perses, qu'ils vont se débarrasser de ses dirigeants fou, et revenir à la place parmi les pays civilisés, où ils appartiennent
Regarding what to call the language:
"Persian" is the exonym. "Farsi" is the endonym.
More simply put, if you are speaking in English, you refer to the language as Persian. If you are speaking IN the language, you say you are speaking Farsi. For example, in English we call the language spoken in France, "French", but if I'm actually speaking in "French" then I say I'm speaking "francais". Other examples include: Spanish/Espanol, German/Deutsch, etc.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exonym_and_endonym
Pakistan was same before Ziaulhaq in70ies,
Who hates you my friends?
As I know all islamic countries & every country with islamic population is beautiful bcause of dis beautiful, lovely, hard working people & their art to do work!
You know we all have same colour of blood!
The only thing worse than an american 'patriot' is a christian fundamentalist patriot
Now after the Islamic Revolution it has been very well :)
WOW I never knew Iran was so free looking, the people look happy :)
WOW I never knew Iran was so free looking, the people look happy :)
The only thing worse than an american 'patriot' is a christian fundamentalist patriot
Who hates you my friends?
As I know all islamic countries & every country with islamic population is beautiful bcause of dis beautiful, lovely, hard working people & their art to do work!
You know we all have same colour of blood!
@ "christopher G": You said "the language is not called persian, it's farsi"
Nonsense. The language, IS called persian. If you start learing german, what will you tell your friends? That you are learning "deutsch"? No, you will say "german".
Same with persian.
PLUS, there's an extra thing there: "parsi" is the original pronuciation of the word. "Farsi" is how the Arabs called it during the Arab occupation in the middle ages. The change of "p" to "f" stuck, and now you can even hear Persians saying the word "farsi".
Pakistan was same before Ziaulhaq in70ies,
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