Core Values

I am providing the following core values only to make explicit the fundamental assumptions that guide my own thinking. However, I do not in any way intend to impose these values on others who engage Iranian Freedom. I welcome the broad variety of perspectives on the goal of realizing the oppressed Iranian nation’s hopes of freedom:

1. Belief in the ability of the Iranian nation to release its boundless potential through self-government. I reject philosophical and political relativism and strongly believe that freedom is an attainable and concrete human experience developed through the day-to-day practice of life in democratic societies led by limited governments. Given the chance, the Iranian nation is fully capable of building transparent democratic institutions that promote freedom and human rights for all.

2. Certainty that permanent stability in Iran, as well as the broader Middle East, can only be attained with the replacement of the Islamic Republic with a secular, democratic government. Everyday, the world wakes up to headlines that attest to the fact that the vision of life promoted by radical Islam–as it manifests itself in Iran and elsewhere–is fundamentally and structurally incompatible with the democratic order. The central challenge posed to democracy in the 21st century will emanate from this vision. I believe that given the chance, the Iranian people can play an immensely positive role in the global war on terror by serving as a powerful regional and global counterpoint to the growth of Islamic radicalization.

3. Respect for the power of free markets to not only build enduring prosperity but to also foster human creativity. Despite their limitations, free-markets are uniquely able to lead societies towards both economic wellbeing and political freedom.

4. Rejection of Persian cultural chauvinism, not to mention the twin evils of anti-semetism and anti-Americanism. While I admire the historical and cultural heritage of ancient Persia, I reject the notion of Persian exceptionalism, i.e. the ideology that Persians are inherently superior to their neighboring peoples and the ethnic minorities that live within Iran’s borders. Along the same lines, I also categorically reject the anti-semetic and anti-American conspiracy theories advanced by the I.R.I. and its supporters: both are constructed to turn attention away from the regime’s many failures. Furthermore, I resolutely support Israel’s quest to live in peace and security and her right to defend herself against the terroristic forces that daily threaten her very existence.

5. Openness to the diversity of approaches. Ultimately, I value anyone who is working for the cause of freedom in Iran. Nobody knows what kind of Iran will exist after the Islamic Republic; we can only be certain that the Iranian nation will thrive long after the current regime has been relegated to the dustbin of history.