This article delves into the elections of the Zoroastrian Association, examining the contradictions that arise from a flawed understanding of democracy and its potential, in contrast to decisions made through collective wisdom. It also aims to prompt readers to reflect on the deeper thoughts of our ancestors.
As someone with some understanding of the cultural heritage of this land and is familiar with terms such as magi and mahestan (Council), it is surprising to me how easily these historical experiences can be forgotten while we ask for ways to make the right decisions “from those lost at sea”. France waded into a sea of blood in an attempt to find a land where the will of one ruler would not outweigh the will of all the people. It is evident that the establishment of the First and Second Republics, and so on, suggests that this dreamland is hidden beyond seven seas, and those who claim it are still searching in longing. While their relentless efforts are admirable, it seems that there is no tool more effective than the ballot box (whether traditional or electronic) to achieve this goal. Whereas it is with bitter regret to admit that even if such a dreamland exists, it is not necessarily the one that promises prosperity, human happiness, or… anything else.
Yet, they never understood, and still fail to comprehend, the exact method they should adopt to achieve their goals. While the accumulated experiences of humanity over millennia have shown us that collective wisdom exceeds individual wisdom, the past two centuries have revealed that the results of elections (even assuming the fairness of the voting process) do not truly reflect the collective wisdom of the voters. This is because voters are not evaluated based on their wisdom. The consequences of this lack of evaluation become particularly evident when a specialized issue is put to vote, where the votes of experts and non-experts are weighted the same.
Additionally, in elections meant to choose individuals, it is evident that the wisdom of the selected person is not equivalent to the collective wisdom of the voters, which defeats the very purpose of the system. Democracy, which promises to bring people to the polls under the banner of collective wisdom, ultimately leads to a single individual making decisions on behalf of everyone. Even assuming, with great optimism, that this person is the wisest among us, their wisdom will never come close to the combined wisdom of all the voters. In reality, it is the will of one individual that governs over the collective will. This may last for a brief period, but it’s a cycle that repeats itself, with one individuals will replacing another’s. Modern history has shown that the emergence of the wisest individuals from the ballot box is so rare that it’s almost negligible. In fact, there are numerous instances where fools and the uninformed have risen to power through elections, leading the world into chaos and destruction.
The points raised do not imply that democracy is inherently ineffective, but it is essential to note that mechanisms such as civic education, transparency, and continuous oversight can help address its weaknesses. That is why the leaders of democracy around the world not only rely on voting but also work to reform structures that can improve their decisions.
In other words, there is a need to differentiate between the meaning of “democracy” and “collective wisdom.” Democracy is not the same as collective wisdom. Perhaps the method that democracy uses (voting boxes) to tap into collective wisdom is not the most effective, which is why democracy has not yet succeeded in making wisdom the dominant force in the world. However, intelligent individuals can use the power of voting systems to enhance their status in society.
Fools are not necessarily less intelligent, nor are wise individuals exceptionally gifted with intelligence. What appears as wisdom is actually the result of decisions made (and the consequences of those decisions). Each decision reflects the ability to reason, the knowledge possessed, the capacity to predict outcomes, and, of course, experience. A significant portion of an individual’s experience comes from the wrong decisions they’ve made in the past. When knowledge is cloudy, the lessons learned from mistakes form the foundation of wisdom. Likewise, collective wisdom is built on knowledge and experience. If experience is dismissed, everything will fall apart, and humanity will never reach its ultimate goal.
Let us remember that a true leader is not someone who has never made mistakes, but someone who has learned from their mistakes. The world has likely never encountered anyone who has never made a mistake. Rather, the people the world admires are those who move forward, lighting the way with a lantern fueled by the mistakes they have made in the past.
The Zoroastrian community is not exempt from this general concept, and fortunately, the structure of our organizations is designed in such a way that it provides opportunities for nurturing wise individuals. The diversity and multitude of Zoroastrian organizations allow young people to gain experience by participating in youth-focused institutions, where they can make mistakes that have lesser impact on the community and, at the same time, face fewer personal consequences. This process helps them become more confident and prepared for involvement in the Zoroastrian Association of Tehran, one of the most important bodies of the Zoroastrian community. The structure of the Association also accommodates the presence of young people and individuals interested in social activities through its various committees, giving them the chance to gain experience, understand the challenges of the organization, and become acquainted with its issues over time.
My personal experience suggests that the greatest harms to the Zoroastrian community have occurred when unknown individuals, who had never been involved in social activities, have, for reasons that are unrelated to collective wisdom, stepped into significant roles after emerging from the voting box. Social responsibilities are like a garment, and if it is too large for the individual, it not only looks unseemly but also brings the individual down, thus damaging the community as well.
Older members of the community surely remember times when young, enthusiastic individuals took control of the Zoroastrian Association, using fiery speeches and riding the wave of emotions in those days in larger Iranian society. They garnered the votes of Zoroastrians in Tehran (numerically speaking) and took on leadership roles in the Association. Was the collective wisdom of our community really so lacking? Were there no wise individuals at that time whose insight and wisdom were equal to the combined wisdom of hundreds of people like me? What could they have done when we, as a collective, were in the minority? The damages caused to the community during that period have not been rectified yet, and there is still no clear path for fixing them. These harms all stem from the voting box, which is considered a symbol of democracy. However, this harm is not limited to the small Zoroastrian community in Tehran; on a global scale, the voting box continues to be a tool for deceiving people, manipulated by power players.
The collective wisdom of humanity is not something we can yet fully control, and I wish we could harness this wisdom. However, for now, we don’t possess such power. What should the world do in the meantime? I’m not sure yet, maybe in the future, I’ll have an answer. Until a better method than the ballot box is created by the wise minds of the world, we will undoubtedly continue to rely on it within our small Zoroastrian community. As long as the ballot box remains in use, I humbly offer a few recommendations that may be helpful for the upcoming elections of the Zoroastrian Association and those in the future.
Recommendations for Running for Office
- In the upcoming elections, anyone who knows they don’t know should run for the board of the Zoroastrian Association. There is a concern that if they don’t, others who don’t even realize they don’t know may take their place.
- Running for office is an opportunity for those who want to contribute to their community, their children, their ancestors, and future generations. If the ship sinks, this chance may never come again.
Recommendations for Voters
- Always consider a candidate’s history of social involvement before their familial connections.
- Seek out wise individuals. Remember that wisdom comes from a blend of experience and knowledge.
Recommendations for Aspiring Candidates
- Begin now by preparing to participate in the Association’s committees. In the future, you will either run for office, and your experience will lend credibility to your candidacy, or as a voter, you will have a better understanding of the community’s challenges, allowing you to choose more qualified individuals. Participating in these committees is essentially a form of civic education, as mentioned earlier.
- Get to know the active members of the community. Establish direct communication with them and engage in meaningful conversations. Not everything is as some people claim it is, and not even everything is as many people might say. My own experience has taught me that many things are not as they are often portrayed, even by those who speak the loudest.
Suggestions for Future Generations
- Looking ahead, I believe that for future candidacies in the Tehran Zoroastrian Association, there should be a requirement for prior involvement in social activities, such as participation in the Association’s committees.
- We need to revive institutions like the Mahestan, where decisions are made through consultation with knowledgeable and experienced individuals. Establishing a council that includes both seasoned veterans, active youth, and specialists would pave the way for more thoughtful, wise decisions.
In conclusion, I hope we witness an energetic election and elect individuals of wisdom who will represent the enduring legacy and progress of our community.
