Listen to the voice of the people
Listen to the voice of the people. We need to hear the people’s voice to manage the country, accept criticisms, and make improvements. I am your listening ear in the virtual space and consider myself accountable. Talk to me.
This is Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian’s first reaction to the public’s opinions about his first TV program. It is noteworthy because instead of being defensive or trying to explain and justify some criticisms, he emphasized the necessity of listening.
Our officials over the years have become accustomed to speaking themselves and having others listen. And if there has been listening, it has mostly been superficial, with monologue prevailing over dialogue.
This tendency towards speechmaking, monologues, and seeking admiration perhaps has led to setting up platforms everywhere to gather audiences just to listen and nod in agreement. Meanwhile, people want to speak and not just be listeners, which is why there’s such a reception for virtual spaces and social networks in Iran, as the official broadcasting service is not the voice of all Iranian people.
Look at these TV hosts selected for the election programs.
How dry and formal they pose repetitive and clichéd questions, lest they offend someone or jeopardize their own positions. Instead of being the voice of the people, they seek to fulfill the desires of their superiors.
Even when people are mentioned, it refers to a few supporters who hold small gatherings here and there, holding pre-prepared writings, while real people pass by them and are not all the same.
Some might say what Pezeshkian wrote is promotional and a formality suited to election times that shouldn’t be taken seriously. If it didn’t align with his background, this statement would be correct. But wherever he has been, he has tried to listen more than speak, and when he has spoken, he has shared what he heard with others and sometimes shouted it out.
From another perspective, if it’s just a claim to attract votes, rivals could say the same.
But a rival who cannot tolerate opposing voices and hasn’t been willing to explain in recent days whether his complaints led to the imprisonment of critics, how can he introduce himself as a listening ear? Or another who has turned a newspaper meant for all citizens into an exclusive platform for supporters, how can he claim to listen to everyone when opposing words anger him and are intolerable?
Listening has its etiquette, and if many of our officials have tried so hard to control the information space, it’s because they prefer to speak themselves rather than letting others speak.
Pezeshkian’s skill is in conveying important and serious words in simple language and with a conciliatory tone.
From someone who didn’t vote for the internet restriction bill, it’s acceptable to say, ‘I am your listening ear in the virtual space.’ But if those who pursued restrictions under the guise of protection made such claims, they would be questioned on how they can listen and respond in the virtual space while closing it off under the code name of protection.
He has shown he is not one for philosophical discourse; otherwise, he could have at least dressed up his speech with the famous saying of Jean-Jacques Rousseau that ‘the voice of the people is the voice of God’ or borrowed from Sohrab’s poetry, ‘Call me, your voice is good.’
The story, however, is not about the voice; it’s about listening. The people of Iran have heard a lot over the years but want to speak themselves and have others listen.
In Bahram Beizai’s film ‘Killing Dogs’ and in the memorable scene of the Sangestanis, when Golrokh Kamali, played by Mojdeh Shamsai, shouts, she is reproached for not crying like other women, and she responds, ‘We have cried our tears, now is the time to shout.’
This is our story now; for all these years, much has been said, and we have listened a lot.
But now it is time for the people—all the people, not just those defined by the state media—to speak, and for the officials to listen.
The fact that Masoud Pezeshkian is ready to listen to the people’s voice is valuable and good, but it’s not enough because he must both hear the people’s voice and be the voice of the people.