(this is Scott Harrop writing)
Keyed to Ameica's 4th of July celebration, I have the pleasure of publishing an essay with R.K. Ramazani that is appearing in multiple outlets via Agence Global. One version can be found here. Between us, we've condensed about eighty years of studies of the American and Iranian revolutionary experiences into a few short paragraphs.
Our core observations in this essay boil down to:
1. Americans and Iranians have much more in common with each other than either side realizes.2. Both nations have "revolutionary" traditions that first and foremost were about achieving independence. I wrote in greater detail about the American side two years ago here at justworldnews.
3. Even as both countries over time believed that their revolutions stood for distinct values that they've offered to the world, both America and Iran have painful track records of not fully living up to their own norms. Professor Ramazani recently wrote about Iran's freedom deficit here.
4. International legitimacy... matters. Both societies care deeply about their reputation in the world, even as leaders in both countries have conducted themselves in manners than have hurt their nation's prestige before the world. The world indeed is watching.
5. Howard Baskerville was right; Americans and Iranians do share many ideals, of independence, constitutionalism, justice, faith, and yes, liberty. (See my backgrounder on the 100th anniversary of his "martydom" in Tabriz)
6. Iran's present crisis is home grown; lasting solutions to the present crisis must come from within. Yet it's one Americans can recognize and empathize with from the outside.
Consider reading the actual whole text and give us your feedback. This is just the first hints of larger works being hatched.
