She stood up for Iran

There is a public restroom on the corner of 16^th and Mission Street. A man and woman keep going in and out of it suspiciously. The woman shakes and hollers in bursts at another man in a smudged white t shirt.

16^th and Mission is littered with homeless folk. Many of them slightly cracked out- murmuring to nothingness and staring at obscurity. I watched the “happy couple” dance around the public toilets as if praying for rain. The man pressing his hands against his chest, the woman’s wretched, sour expressions and pockmarked face…I doubt either of them are entering that bathroom to urinate, instinct tells me. Nonetheless, I feel sorrow for these lost souls.

Leila waits for me in her green car next to the NO PARKING sign. Aside from exchanging long emails for weeks on heated discussions regarding the existing regime in Iran and young girls sold as gambling debt in Afghanistan, Leila and I never met in person before now.

We were introduced by Kathy Perry, a woman I will later profile who owns the progressive San Francisco women’s magazine “Telling Her Story”. I was stunned on her piece “Iranian You” and thought it necessary to include this activist in “50 Women”. After all, her life is one representing us all- a mother, political activist, yogi, and performing artist.

Leila exited the car to greet me. Through all her emails I knew she is a person of warmth and was stunned by her petite size. A fact one would not expect given her immense energy- comparable to a quantum gravitational singularity. Dressed in her usual a la mode bohemian attire, she extended her arms and embraced me.

We drive to coffee in her hybrid car. I am in awe of this activist’s oscillating inner energy. I can relate to the “discrimination” of her physical size, I told her laughing. I too am global minded and densely packed in to a petite frame. It’s the frequent comment I have heard all too often after speaking with someone on the phone and subsequently meeting them in person:  “wow…I thought you were taller…” (rolling my eyes)

“That just means we will always be underestimated and over deliver” she raised her eyebrow proudly.

Leila is by pedigree, half Iranian and half Danish. She participates in various protests fighting for democracy in Iran. Through Facebook she posts daily updates on the protests and the movement’s progression. Leila has lived in multiple countries and traveled extensively in her life. She often refers to herself as a “3^rd Culture kid”, defined as a person born into a parent culture but having roots of multiple other cultures. This time- her cause reverts to the very beginning of her genetic and cultural roots.

Since the June election in Iran and the political disequilibrium after Ahmadinejad’s supposed “victory”; global protests erupted in Paris, Athens, New York, Netherlands, Bruxelles, Berlin, Los Angeles and San Francisco. Leila was a key player in the San Francisco protests. Through various social media outlets and her “Miz Bohemia” blog she vigorously posts updates on Iran multiple times daily, also informing upcoming protests and events in other cities.

It’s too late for black coffee and Chai Tea, but we drink and partage stories anyway. The caffeine of the awful Starbucks daily brew ravaging my veins as I listen. The more we discuss, I am finding how alike we are in so many ways. Eventually I asked her “Why Iran….and why now”?

I studied her face as it changed- her eyes metamorphosing into a cat like- emerald color as the calculating heat over Iran’s long standing oppression sifts inside her gut. Her internal energy contorts as though she hurts for all of Iran’s people.

And suddenly- that strong furious fighter breaks down, becoming delicate and vulnerable in an instant. “I’m sorry…I’m getting emotional”.

Then she told me something, a thought I would later take with me to Germany.

“ You would be surprised which parts of yourself can come out of you at unexpected times, which parts of yourself can hurt so deeply. I am so proud of Iran for standing up for their freedoms now, for fighting and continuing to fight and I wanted to do my part  because this is who I am- this country and their struggles are all part of me. I understand the long oppression of the regime and it infuriates me”.

Leila brought her two young children with her to several protests. She explained how important it was for them to witness such an event. “Even if they complain about having to go at least they will understand when they are older how important it is to fight for beliefs and to stand up against what is wrong”.

With this regime in charge, she illustrated its difficult for people to advance, to find themselves because they are constantly in survival mode. This election and the disruptions and protests are what the Iranian people have waited for in 30 years.

“It awakened something in my psyche, that having been raised knowing about this regime, even though I was always raised more on the outside, that being Iranian in Iran essentially means that you don’t have freedom.”

To Leila, Iran was always a place where people are not happy and live under the austere control of the government. This election and the protests that followed were amazing for Leila in the sense that freedom finally could be happening.

The social networking websites have aided her in amassing many Iranian friends from all corners of the world.

“I want to fight; I want to feel like I’m doing something. I do not live there so I can’t help these people being beaten and killed. I can’t stop the rapes, I can’t stop mothers loosing their children…but what I have done is become part of the global fight. Maybe I’m just a little teeny part here in San Francisco but I can work to spread the truth about the regime, and disseminate helpful information to those for this cause whether they are in or out of the Iranian community”.

I was fascinated to learn of the impressive amount of support within the international Iranian community.  However, Leila was quick to explain that this is something new and a phenomenon in and of itself.  She has always admired the Jewish community’s tightly knit support system and organization.  She believes that this is one reason the Jewish culture is such a strong one, the main ingredient being their people’s united front.  This has always been lacking within the Iranian community.  Her husband once joked that Iranians all want to be leaders and have their say so much so that clashes are more common than a true unified front and therefore the sense of community and support has been lacking.  But now, for the first time ever, the Iranian community both within Iran and outside seems to be coming together in their fight for freedom. Only time can tell the rest of humanity if this sense of unity will persevere.

Everything happening now in Iran that people are hearing about, some for just the first time, have occurred continuously for the last 30 years. But finally- it appears Iran is getting its “say” within the global community.

“It’s heartbreaking to see the bloodshed but at least the world is watching now. People know now, they believe us; they can see what’s going on. It’s important that people see, that we make more noise and get this into the news to keep the focus there so the world doesn’t forget. Because if the world doesn’t forget and the regime knows they’re watching then that is the power that we can exert. ”

Its 8pm and she receives a call that the new snake her family acquired has wandered off somewhere. Its time to leave.

In the car, I ask her in between jokes about the snake situation what her ultimate hope for Iran is.

“My hope is a more open system a government by the people, for the people. I know there is unity in the fight for freedom and I hope that unity continues if the regime crumbles. All we can do is hope for the better and never stop the fight. Keeping the fight alive is our only hope against complete darkness…”

I promised her I would tie a green ribbon on my bag for her cause. One week later, I proudly did just that.

Leila’s full story regarding her activism will be available in “50 Women”.