#Freedom

Politics: a Dirty Game… Just as Always!

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I believe in them more than they believe in themselves.
Franz Kafka

I stayed silent throughout these days, despite the pain in my heart. With my wet, excited eyes, I observed the events in Iran. I saw large crowds of young people, both girls and boys, demonstrating courageously and risking their lives—more than during the last forty years of uprisings—fighting against the Mullahs’ regime tyranny for freedom. But what a dream! As I heartbreakingly knew, the influential figures behind the scenes never allowed a free Iranian state to emerge, and they employ the same tactics as they did with the 1953 coup against the Mossadegh government.

From the beginning of the Mullah regime’s rule, I realised it was simply another Western invention. It appeared different: instead of backing America, it called for its death, but ultimately, the result was the same- control was maintained! And unfortunately, I see the West, with their puppet loudmouth as the front, trying to install another puppet in power in Iran to keep control and reap benefits.

That’s unfortunate: so much bloodshed without any reward! Willy Brandt, the former German Chancellor, once asked: ‘Must one practise democracy, or should one dare to embrace it?’ The real question is: practising for how long and at what cost? Certainly, friends and activists outside Iran may disagree or be hesitant to agree with my perspective. I understand that my view is blunt and unsettling, but the truth is undeniably tough to face.

I didn’t want to dwell on these disappointing events, but when my dear friend Resa asked how I felt, I decided to write a few words, and I leave it to you to judge the role of the great politicians in power. Also, I don’t want to share many photos or videos as they can deeply affect anyone who watches them. 🙏

Aquí Me Quedo (I’ll stay here)

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Honestly, I wasn’t sure if I could write a second post this week, as I arrived Thursday late back home from the trip to Southern Germany, and I was almost flat after a long drive with many car crashes and some pile-ups (thank goodness we were just spectators in the traffic jam). Yet, I know a specific resistance within me calls for expressing my feelings for freedom and justice. Therefore, I decided to share some artwork from Victor Jara, one of my favourites in the matter of resistance, in company with another warrior, Pablo Nerud.

I discovered Victor Jara and his music in the early 1970s when Chile began its transition towards democracy. Following the fall of the Shah’s regime, I learned more about his work. Victor Jara was undoubtedly a legend, and I loved his music.
He composed music for Pablo Neruda’s poems. He performed at a ceremony honouring him when Neruda was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1972, so we have two masters of art here to speak about human rights!

By Rec79 – Own work

I am sharing this with you because there is a lot of talk about separatism in Iran at the moment, which is causing fear that Iran will be split up. However, this justification is baseless because all the people and ethnicities of Iran are united in seeking human rights and fair politics. Here, Pablo Neruda, through Victor Jara’s music and voice, says what it’s all about!

Aquí Me Quedo (I’ll stay here)

I do not want the country divided
Not even bled by seven knives
I want the light of Chile raised
About the new house built

I do not want the country divided
We all fit in my land
And those who believe they are prisoners
They go away with their melody

The rich have always been foreigners
Let them go to Miami with their aunts
I do not want the country divided
They go away with their melody

I do not want the country divided
We all fit in my land
I stay to sing with the workers
In this new history and geography

And in this song, one of his masterpieces, he humbly highlights the importance of rights and justice!

I do not sing for singing
Yo no canto por cantar

not even for having a good voice,
ni por tener buena voz,

I sing because the guitar
canto porque la guitarra

It makes sense and reason.
tiene sentido y razón.

It has a heart of earth
Tiene corazón de tierra

and dove wings,
y alas de palomita,

It’s like holy water
es como el agua bendita

holy glories and sorrows.
santigua glorias y penas.

This is where my song fits
Aquí se encajó mi canto

as Violeta said
como dijera Violeta

working guitar
guitarra trabajadora

with the smell of spring.
con olor a primavera.

It’s not a rich man’s guitar
Que no es guitarra de ricos

not anything that looks like
ni cosa que se parezca

my song is from the scaffolding
mi canto es de los andamios

to reach the stars,
para alcanzar las estrellas,

that the song has meaning
que el canto tiene sentido

when it beats in the veins
cuando palpita en las venas

of the one who will die singing
del que morirá cantando

the true truths,
las verdades verdaderas,

not fleeting flattery
no las lisonjas fugaces

nor foreign fame
ni las famas extranjeras

but the song of a market
sino el canto de una lonja

to the bottom of the earth.
hasta el fondo de la tierra.

That’s where everything comes
Ahí donde llega todo

and where it all begins
y donde todo comienza

I sing that it has been brave
canto que ha sido valiente

It will always be a new song.
siempre será canción nueva.

I wish you a happy Easter filled with leisure and joy. Stay safe and stay tuned. 💖🙏🌹💕💥🍷