Envision a New Beginning BY Behshad Hastibakhsh

In the history of every nation, there are moments of pride and humility with recurring episodes of glory and defeat. While sweet and bitter experiences are unavoidable, adoptability to external challenges remains the deciding factor in the rise and fall of civilizations.

Arnold Joseph Toynbee, the author of Study of History, argues that the well-being of a civilization depends on its ability to respond successfully to challenges, human and environmental. Tracing the history of human race, Toynbee develops his ‘challenge and response’ thesis based on the premise that every civilization encounters challenges at one point and its survival depends on the leadership’s response. In short, the onus falls on leaders to protect their nations from ultimate demise in face of political, economic, military and other ordeals. At times, nations rise from the ashes of defeat and regain their glory mindful of their vulnerability and determined to take lessons of past mistakes.

Today, Iranians stand at the crossroad of history with memories of short-lived glory, polarizing affects of revolution and war, and an unknown future. Their tremulous experiences may be the single distinctive reason for reluctance to change.

In the 20th century, Iran has been the center stage for policies and reforms that have produced incredible results with ensuing metamorphosis of a feudal society and its emergence as a pseudo-modern nation-state. History records the fast paced modernization process under the Pahlavis whose proactive response and leadership have inspired the nation’s resurrection from ashes of defeat and humility. Within a short time span, Iranians have made the remarkable transition from dark ages without going through periods of renaissance, enlightenment, industrial revolution, etc. With reforms having been imposed from above, the modernization process has created a cultural rift between traditional and Western oriented segments of society.

It can be argued that the 1979 Iranian revolution has been partially due to leadership’s failures to build solid institutions capable of withstanding challenges of time. And we all know what has happened afterwards…

Thus, let us distance ourselves from the past and move closer towards a brighter future.

Let us declare this moment in our nation’s history as the ‘zero hour’ and take on new challenges with a positive attitude beginning with forgiving our worst enemies and forgetting past hostilities as the initial milestone to national reconciliation.

Envision a new beginning whereby Iranians embrace change from within starting with a cultural shift towards tolerance, compassion and compromise.

To meet new challenges of time, Iranians need to embrace these values, work towards nation building, and regain international recognition as peace loving people.

As a nation, Iranians need to recognize and respect diversity in beliefs and opinions, demonstrate understanding for the suffering of others, and accommodate concession for the common good.

Tolerance, compassion and compromise are noble ideas that constitute the foundation of a harmonious and peaceful society. These ideas may be perfected over time but nothing should prevent us from breaking apart the mold of past cultural practices.

Tested by time and challenged by internal and external forces, Iranians have now the opportunity to self-acknowledge their potentials and bring forth change under the leadership of a new generation capable to overcome social polarization and distrust. It is possible to build a strong foundation for national consensus and the resurrection of a proud civilization.