In the external forms of society we see the same...

In the external forms of society we see the same con­tradiction and historic distance between two generations, two types of visions. Just as we see flocks of sheep grazing on the asphalt streets of Tehran, with the shepherd milking the sheep in front of the consumer resident of the capital, at the same time, pasteurized milk is available in the stores. Or, you see a camel standing next to an automatic shift Jaguar sports car.

The distance is the same as that which separated Cain and Abel from the electronic age and auto­mobiles. We see a mother and daughter, with this distance be­tween them, walking shoulder to shoulder down the street, one eating a traditional Iranian ice cream and the other chewing gum. When you add these two together, you do not get a natural, permanent sum. It is obvious that the mother is beginning the last years of her life. She is pulled and pre­served by habit.

The daughter, on the other hand, is just beginning the first days of her life's journey. It is clear that the days of the traditional ice cream will set in to­morrow's mother, but she will never return to the type who eats traditional ice cream. The mother and daughter will eventually become identical. The distance in terms of social time will become one. It will be exactly the same relationship that her mother had to her grandmother.

Her daughter will be a 'worthy' child, a copy similar to the original. The change from the traditional type of 'mother' to the new type of 'daughter' is inevitable. Face to face with this reality (whether it be the truth or an erroneous reality, it is certain), beginners who think and begin to write about this phenomenon of change, just hit the tip of the issue.

They have not sensed the abusive language, accusations, aspersions, anger, fighting, pressure, punish­ments, inflictions and deprivations. They have not sensed the chains and irons around their necks; they have never screamed or cried out in pain; they have never fainted from loss of strength. While these observers of change in society are just beginning to touch upon these issues, and predict them, they occur. The work has been done. They are wasting their efforts.

As the change is swift, their results are worth less than zero. The opposition's front is strengthened. Those who act as guides, who give explanations, and suppositions in the name of faith; belief, religion and char­ity are also mistaken in trying to save each type of form which has been inherited from the past.