PERSEPOLIS!

PERSEPOLIS
The film begins in an airport where Marjane Satrapi is unable to board a plane to Iran. Sitting and smoking a cigarette, she remembers her life as a girl in 1979 with Marji at the age of 10, a young girl with dreams of being a prophet and an emulator of Bruce Lee. (The film is black and white during her memories).
The movie is about Iran and how some Iranians fought an oppressive regime to gain their freedom from fundamentalist dictators who have been ruling Iran and imposing a particular way of life. Obviously fed up with status quo, the movie shows how those who are liberal made effort to free the country.
Just like in any country, the opposition are arrested and detained and some killed. But Marji who fancies the free life and democracy was not willing to give up just yet. Her parents sensed that she was going to be vocal against the government when she grows up, so they decided to send her to Vienna to study. She went through different stages in her life in Vienna and enjoyed the liberty in Europe but still thought of her home (Iran).
Iran has always been a traditional society built on the Islamic principles and laws. The world has evolved over the years but Iran is still the same. In the world today, Islam as a religion is facing difficulty due to recent events such as the 9/11 attacks in the USA. Islam unlike any other religion cannot be separated from the state (in cases of Islamic nations), thus the case in Iran. Although the people yearn for change and democracy, freedom, things still remain the way it was.
The western countries that practice advance democracy succeeded in doing so by separating the church from the state. That formula has worked in many western countries and today they are enjoying the fruits of democracy. Women are not forced to dress in any particular way and they are not required to behave in any particular way as well. Freedom allows people to express themselves in any form they wish.
The United States Government has been the strongest advocates of democracy all over the world. They are still trying to get Iran to embrace this way of life but their effort always runs into a brick wall. The hardcore Islamist’s who are opposed to reformation and modernization always thwarts these efforts. I believe they will lose control of the countries resources once they allow genuine democracy to flourish. A close look at Iran’s ruling class will reveal that there is no ideology in what they do. There is no logic in it except may be self interest. Iran is blessed with natural resources and the only way to control the resources is to control the people with strict laws. That way, no one can oppose these dictators.
From the movie Persepolis, it is easy to determine the true feelings of Iranians, though recent events in that country also show that the mood of the population is for change and modernization, of genuine democracy and of freedom from the bondage of dictatorship. But will they succeed against those who have ruled over their affairs for a very long time? Again the answer can only come from future generations like Marji who think that the will of the people should prevail.
Arguably, democracy is the best form of government now. A lot of countries have embraced it and that formula has worked well in many parts of the world. Iran can also take steps to allowing the people decide their own fate. No government or group of people should hold an entire country to ransom for selfish reasons.
Using religion as a basis for perpetrating evil is not advisable as Edward Said pointed out in his essay, Islam as news. He believes that the state should be separated from the mosque or church. But that would be a difficult thing to achieve in Iran because the state believes that Islam is the religion of the people and therefore must be part of the general society.
I strongly believe that for Iran to get out of its current situation, it should head to that advice and join the rest of the world in embracing the true principles of democracy. The people must feel that the country belongs to them and not the rulers. And if that happens, then there will be peace, harmony and progress that will lead to greater Iran.