30 YEARS AFTER is a newly formed, 501(c)(3) non-profit
organization, whose mission is to promote the participation
and leadership of Iranian American Jews in American political,
civic and Jewish life.
30 Years After is focused on the engagement of Iranian-American
Jews in American civic and Jewish life. To that end, we
believe it is important that the Iranian American Jewish
community be well informed about the recent events unfolding
in the streets of Iran, as they are likely to impact the
United States. Below is a recent opinion piece published
in the Jewish Journal from two 30 Years After Boardmembers.
30 Years After commends the peaceful efforts of the
Iranian people in their quest to achieve the values
of democracy, human rights and the freedom of expression.
The repressive and violent actions taken by the Islamic
regime in the aftermath of the presidential election
further underscore the danger that the regime poses
to the Iranian people, to Israel and even to Iran's
Arab neighbors. It is therefore crucial that we, as
members of the Iranian-American Jewish community, speak
up and let our elected officials know that we expect
them to use the power we have entrusted in them to stand
firm against this very serious danger.
The scenes coming out of the streets of Tehran in the
aftermath of Friday's Iranian elections remind many Iranian
Jews now living in Los Angeles of their last memories
before they fled their native land: students taking to
the streets, protesting the current regime and seeking
to bring about a change. But that is where the similarities
end. Today's students are seeking that the democratic
will of the people be respected, no longer seeking to
force their will upon the people. Chants of "Death
to America" and "Death to Israel" have
been replaced for a moment by "reformist" candidate
Mir Hossein Mousavi's supporters' chants of "We Want
Freedom" and "We Want Our Votes Back."
Having now lived in history's greatest experiment with
democracy for 30 years, Iranian Jews living in Los Angeles
support the Iranian people's struggle towards a true
and transparent democracy. Recent developments in Iran,
however, have called into question the truth and transparency
of this most recent election. With a government clampdown
on the Internet, media and cell phone communications,
and their ongoing refusal to permit international observers,
the recent election results will be difficult, if not
impossible, to verify. Although a Mousavi victory is
unlikely to bring about any immediate and significant
policy changes in Iran with respect to their pursuit
of nuclear weapons or their stance towards Israel and
the United States, such a victory may encourage a new
attitude amongst Iranian youth and to challenge their
government to become a responsible member of the international
community.
At the very least these recent elections have served
to further expose the true face of the Iranian regime.
Even for those who have served as regime sympathizers
and apologists, such as Roger Cohen of the New York
Times, duplicitous election results and scenes of students
being beaten simply for wanting their votes to be counted
should leave no room for sympathy and apologies on behalf
of the Iranian regime. In his most recent op-ed published
on June 14th, Roger Cohen states, "I erred in underestimating
the brutality and cynicism of a regime that understands
the uses of ruthlessness." Although such an observation
is crystal clear to those Iranian Jews living in Los
Angeles, it is now becoming clear to those like Roger
Cohen who had been duped by the Iranian regime like
many of Iran's own citizens.
Although Iranian Jews living in Los Angeles are under
no illusions that the chants of "Death to America"
and "Death to Israel" will come to an end
with a Mousavi victory, there is a belief that a free
and fair election will bring the voices of more moderate
elements of Iranian society to the forefront. With that
will come hope that these deafening chants may slowly
fade into the past.
Click
here to read the full article...
Listed below is the contact information for the White
House, the two Senators representing California, as well
as local members of Congress. We urge you to call or write
to these offices now and convey these very important messages:
1) The violent nature of the Iranian regime further
underscores the need to prevent it from obtaining nuclear
weapons.
2) Congress and President Obama must speak up forcefully
and lead the free world in supporting the Iranian peoples'
quest for democracy and human rights.
3) Offering any incentives to the Iranian regime under
current conditions is an affront to the people of Iran,
America's stalwart ally Israel, and America's moderate
Arab allies.
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
(202) 456-1111
http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact
Senator Barbara Boxer
112 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-3553
http://boxer.senate.gov/contact/email/policy.cfm
Senator Dianne Feinstein
331 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-3841
http://feinstein.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=ContactUs.EmailMe
Congressman Henry Waxman
2204 Rayburn House Office Building
0A
Washington, D.C. 20515
(202) 225-3976
http://waxman.house.gov/Contact/ContactForm.htm
Congressman Howard Berman
2221 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
(202) 225-4695
http://www.house.gov/berman/contact
Congressman Brad Sherman
2242 Rayburn Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-0524
(202) 225-5911
http://www.house.gov/sherman/contact
Please support our efforts today by becoming
a member of 30 Years After or volunteering your
time, energy, and activism.
We thank The
Jewish Community Foundation of L.A. for its generous
support.
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