It so happened that I spent a part of my childhood in the Soviet Union. I know, it doesn’t exist anymore and maybe it isn’t worth remembering… But I do remember. I know what it was like, though I was still a kid when it “fell” or “vanished” or whatever. I remember the kindergarten. We were just back from abroad, where we’d lived for 4 years, and I had a lot of jeans and overalls and I liked them. Imagine my mom’s surprise, when one evening I came sobbing: “Girls don’t wear pants, girls wear skirts. I want to be like all the rest!” We all had to look the same and what’s more important – we had to think the same.
So, when I was in Iran I couldn’t but notice the resemblance. The Soviets had their ideology to wash their people’s brains and the Iranians have their religion. I like to think of myself as an open-minded and loyal person, but… I found it hard to be loyal sometimes.
And what’s curious — the “head” of the state seems to tighten screws on the people and I don’t think they’ll know when to stop. Every year I came and saw more signs of the brainwashing machine working. First year I was quite scared myself, but the girls in the streets looked OK. They were like flocks of colorful chattering birds, wearing brightly colored coats and kerchiefs.
But when I came there last year — the change was “all around me”… It’s not about the fact that girls have to wear black and it has to be of a certain length and never transparent or “open”. And it’s not about the fact that your kerchief has to cover your hair and so on… It’s even not about the social ads on every shopping mall door and bus stop and so on, saying “A woman in hejab is like a pearl in a shell”. It’s about the fact that the police have the authority to take into custody anyone, if they find this person dressed inappropriately. Hahaha! And it’s not about girls only! Boys, forget about shorts and T-shirts as well!!! I don’t mind religious people. They believe some things, they follow their rules — good for them. But you know what? If it comes from your heart you don’t feel depressed or oppressed, you feel satisfied and happy. So, if they’re all religious and so on, how come “happy” wasn’t anywhere around? Dull, sad and scared. That’s how I could describe them.
And I don’t think it can last forever. If only people were wise and knew when it’s time to stop!
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