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Thursday * Taste of your own medicine Dear Ms Sabeti, I decided to take you on for your comments on distastefull irrverence. If personal attacks are fine with you, why not start with ourselves? For instance: 1- Since you claim that you were scared of SAVAK, is it not true that while attending high school in San Fansisco, you were given a free ticket, lodging etc. by SAVAK to fly to DC and greet the Shah? Isn't it true that you were high on Marijuana during that entire trip? Shall I ask your companion during that trip to come forward and acsertain the above to your readers at Iranian.com? 2- Speaking of your esteem for Ayatlollah Khomeini's leadership, you know he killed adulterers and homosexuals. Shall I ask any of your friends to come forward and talk about you making out in bathrooms with Jack and Joes? Also is it not true that you were a lesbian in "liberal New Engalnd"? Shall I even name your lovers? The list is long, shall I go on? How do you like a taste of your own medicine. (Setareh Sabety's reply) * Nothing to hide In reply to "Kerman01": Ever since I moved back to the U.S., iranian.com has been a kind of surrogate mother to me. By connecting me instantly to so many compatriots, this magazine gave me a voice. So I started writing about everything that somehow or other moved me. I thought long and hard about putting my name to the things I wrote because we Iranians have a chornic fear of offending others or of being hunted by some secret service. But I decided not to write anonymously because I believe this kind of cautiousness is a national malaise brought upon by years of dictatorial rule -- and I was inspired by the likes of Akbar Gangi. I wrote a few anti-molla letters here and there mostly in defense of the jailed journalists. There were a few debates and heated discussions with various other readers of this forum. But none of these discussions ever overstepped any personal boundries. I never attacked anyone personally and always made sure my name followed anything I submitted. I did not recieve any harrassment (other than a few Googoosh die-hards not liking what I said about her) until I started voicing my doubts about Reza Pahlavi and defending the editor of this magazine's right to tell a bad joke about whomever he pleases. Out came the old SAVAKIs and/or their obedient offsprings. I recieved threats of exposing my personal life from royalists -- avid followers of Reza Pahlavi. I was told that they would provide witnesses and proof that I was a pot-smoking whore, and a lesbian, who took money and favors from SAVAK >>> FULL TEXT * Kill and tell I just don't believe it. Kill a lot of people and write a book about it ["Hanging judge"]. I'm wondering if this guy, Mr. Khalkhali, is even human. How could he dare write this book how? I thought "ayatollah" means "sign of God" but is Khalkhali really a sign of God? Where is "Adl-e Khodaa" (divine justice)? I'm a Muslim but I'm asking myself if this is Islam, I don't want to be a Muslim. * Morier's Hajji Baba I also read the excerpt from Chardin's "Travels in Persia" with great interest. What it reminded me of at once is James Morier's "Hajji Baba of Ispahan" which was written some 200 years after Chardin's travel memoirs (Hajji Baba was first published in 1824). Morier makes similar observations about the Iranian character except they are made in the context of a very absorbing, colorful and historically informative story. Morier's account is also not tinged much, if at all, with any sense of European superiority and as such seems more objective (in the chapters towards the end of the book he satirizes the Europeans from an Iranian perspective). In his Hajji Baba character, Morier seems to have internalized the Iranian persona so completely, and has succeeded so well in counterfeiting the Iranian talent for ironic narration that some Iranians find it hard to believe the book was not written by an Iranian. All this lends far more credibility to Morier's take on the most common traits of the Persian, quite a few of which resemble those observed by Chardin. While hospitable, tolerant, as well as eminently poetical, Morier's Iranian also exhibits excessive flattery, exaggeration ("always mixing a considerable portion of the marvellous"), and deceitfulness, and shows an eager bent to bribery and superstition. Were we to believe that these pronouncements by outsiders ring true, the question then would be: have the last 200 years brought about any more change in these aspects of the Iranian character than the 200 years between Chardin and Morier? The original English version of the "Hajji Baba of Ispahan" makes for a very enjoyable and leisurely read. * Disproportionate control Thoroughly enjoyed reading Mr. Tehranian's article, "Diverse ownership, diverse media". It is Lucid and, more importantly, correct. The media is the choke point of politics and social power, probably, more than money is directly. And, absolutely, whoever owns it, ultimately controls it. Over the long-run whoever controls the media will have a disproportionately large control over politics and social power. * I just can not fit "in" It seems to be a habit for people to ask me my "nationality" or whether I "really hate" Americans and Jews (I am Muslim) , etc. I really can not say what my nationality is, for I am Russian/Turkish/Iranian. In other words, I'm mixed. My eyes are brown, my hair is dark brown and I look nothing like Russians, Turks or even Middle Easterners. Most of the time people guess I am Italian. Why am I dazed and confused? I am having an identity crisis at 21. According to my parents and uncles, my great-great-great grandfather was Russian (from my grandmother's side) and my great-grandfather was Turkish (from my grandfather's side). Confusing isn't it? But then we all speak Farsi/Persian expect my great-uncle who speaks Russian. None of my friends are Iranian or Muslims. It seems I just can not fit "in" in the Iranian "community" or whatever u might call it. Sometimes I wish I could have Iranian friend(s) so I could speak Farsi in a open environment. My non-Iranian friends sometimes don't understand my problems -- like family issues etc. So who am I? Where do I come from? I don't know. I am more confused than ever. I have totally lost my faith in the Islamic religion. But not in God. * Return to Iran immediately Regarding the article "Hell no: I see young Iranians gradually loosing their identity", I would like to ask the author, Babak Nikain, what he is waiting for -- he should return to Iran immediately and start taking action to improve the country rather than sitting in Sweden, passing judgement on people of Iranian descent who choose to adapt to a new culture and country. If he wants to define himself by his national origin, that's fine, but there are many Iranians who have more in common with their home country -- the one they were raised in -- than the country of their parents. What's wrong with that? Babak Nikain does not sound like much of a civil libertarian, dictating that every single person of Iranian ethnic origin must be compelled ethically to cling to a Persian identity. Why can't he let people live the way they want, and if he wants to sulk about in Sweden, whine and feel sorry for himself about not being in Iran, go ahead! Also, consider the relative success of the United States. What makes Iranians so particularly special? They are certainly not the first to immigrate to other nations. Think of all the others that left behind restrictive governments and cultures to make a better life for themselves and their children. This ethnic balkanization is stupid and dangerous, and hurtful to people who consider themselves Iranian-Swedes, Iranian-Canadians, or Iranian-Americans, etc.Would Babak Nikain suggest that Iranians of different ethnic backgrounds (such as Turks) reject their national identities as Persians and cling to historic ethnic ties? That's pretty much what he's suggesting for Iranians in Europe and elsewhere. * Challenges to idealistic love As I was reading about Sirus and Hengameh in "Just Breathe" I felt many emotions rising Then I quickly arrived at my senses. I thought the article was a fantasy written to perpetuate our cultural fascination with romantic love. Let's face it, Sirus and Hegameh will confront a host of problems that will challenge the idealistic concepts of love. * Your childhood friend Dear Shahrzad, My name is Hossein Parandeh, your childhood friend from Abadan. I always remember you, Shirin Rezai, Tannaz and all the other good friends we had there. Read your great article on iranian.com ["Oh, sweet home"]. Many thanks for reliving my dreams for me, words can't describe my longing for Abadan. And the great memories that I have of growing up there. I haven't been back to Iran since the summer of 1979 (the first summer under the new regime). I'm glad that you made it back. I'll do the same soon -- you never know, I may like it so much that I won't return! I've been living in Canada and the U.S. for the past 23+ years and have kept in touch with a number of friends from Abadan. Please keep in touch and say hi to all our common friends in sunny California. * So many memories Hi Shahrzad, Thank you very much for posting these photographs ["Oh, sweet home"]. It awakened so many memories for me. I too grew up in Abadan, went to Roya elementary and Babak junior high school. Every picture touched my heart and made me feel like those days were real (like you said) and I really did live in that paradise. I have not been to Iran since 1983, but your pictures encouraged me to plan a trip soon so I can go and re-live those wonderful memories. Thank you again for awakening memories of Abadan for us again. * Powerful Dear Shahrzad, I've been reading your writings in The Iranian off and on for the past couple of years or so, but this one, "Oh, sweet home", with all the pictures... man it was really powerful. By the way this is Saeed Mostoufi - do you remember me? How are you doing, its nice that you are in touch with Tannaz, how is she doing? Next time you go to Iran and take pictures of Abadan with Tannaz in front of Golestan make sure you use a flash so that we can all see a clear picture of your faces! I too went to Iran, and I too had to visit Abadan, except I didn't have nearly as much fun as you guys did. Abadan seemed a lot smaller to me than I used to remember. Also the manicured city I remembered... oh well! But, it brought back a lot of memories and emotions. Yes I know... I could still find my way around, it's amazing. So keep those stories and picuters coming. * Love for this unique city Sharzad Khanoom Salam, I was very touched, emotional and almost crying (at work) after reading your article and looking at your pictures from Abadan ["Oh, sweet home"]. Abadan is my hometown and I have not bee there for 22 years. I have lots memories, feelings and love for this great unique city. I have been in most of the places in your pictures. I wish you had some pictures from Razi High School, the school that I spent years of life there, and also some pictures from Bovardeh streets because I was living there for some years. There are lots of emotions and feelings in your article. It was as if I was traveling with you. You did a great job and you are an excellent writer. Again thank you for bringing so many emotions in my heart. * Remember me? Hello Shahrzad jAn, I'm not quite sure whether you remember me or not ["Oh, sweet home"]! But you should definitely remember my sister (Niloufar Dehdashtian) from Roya elementary and high school. Actually my parents family album has old pictures of you and Maryam Kosar along with Niloufar and Noushin Namazie and a whole bunch of others. Although, I'm five years younger than my sister, and we all left Abadan shortly after the revolution, but I clearly remember Abadan, Roya, and Golestan Club. And most importantly our house in 137 Beraim. Wish you all the best and thank you for the GREAT article (it truly brought tears to my eyes).
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