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Tuesday * Fascinating I could not stop reading through "Found it", an account of your revisit of Persia, Iowa. Fascinating story and build up with complimentary photos. The piece of track photograph reminded me of Stanley Kubrik's bone piece, flung into space, symmbolizing the "accident" that was to be man (!?) in his 2001 Space Odyssey. Your story also reminded me of a similar exploratory journey I had in Cannes, France, when I first came across a place on the mountains called Shiraz, overlooking the Med. * Charismatic guy I very much enjoyed your piece about a place called Persia, Iowa ["Found it"]. For some odd reason, I even found your photos more interesting than those of Iran. Just imagine if the story about Persia is correct, that it was named after a railroad worker from Persia. He must have been a very charismatic guy for his time or anytime for a place to be named after him. Well done to him and well done to you for making us relive his endeavor. Babak Emamian * "Kick-butt" daughters Very interesting article and photos; I mean the cover story ["Found it"]. But I liked Mahdiyeh most of all! God bless Iranian fathers with their "Kick-butt" daughters; everybody calls me a kick-butt at work and they are wondering if all Iranian women are the same! And I answer proudly: "Yes they are." But "joon-eh maa raa baalaa aavardy!" What's the story behind Persia? I hope all Iranians write interesting articles such as this, without sending their photos with "zolf-e afshaan" and tons of make-up. * Longing for home I just wanted to write a note and thank you for your article on Persia, Iowa ["Found it"]. I read it just now. I clicked and read your previous article too, when you first encountered the town ["Persia, Iowa"]. I could see myself doing exactly that - having the same feelings, taking the same pictures, and grabbing the same piece of wood from the railroad track. Reading your article made me feel some of what you must have felt; the strong longing for our home. I was on a business trip yesterday to a community near the town of Ashland, Kentucky. I was to meet our client in the J&J Restaurant, a smoked-filled family restaurant with real home-cooked (read greasy!) meals. While I was waiting for the client I looked around and glanced at the people there. I felt that I had absolutely nothing in common with these people. I imagined if I were instead in a remote small town somewhere in Iran with some strangers in a ghahve-khooneh, I could not think of them as strangers. On the contrary, I would feel so close to them. I am bache Esfahan and have been here since 1979 (haven't been back yet). My father is from Abadan and almost all of my father's side of the family moved after the war to Esfahan and vicinity. My mother's side are all Esfahanis. I have two little kids (4 and 2.5). One of my hopes is that one day they understand and appreciate my feelings for home. That's why I can relate to the conversation you had with your daughter. As I was reading your article, I wish I could have been there with you so you could share your excitement. Your daughter will understand one day why you picked up the piece of wood from Perisa's railroad track. She will. Anyway, your article moved me this morning and I just wanted to say "salaam" and thank you for the article. * Digging dirt In reply to Kerman01 ["Taste of your own medicine","Public life..."], First of all, not every person who calls him- or herself an Iranian is so incredibly intolerant and/or stupid as to be offended by charges of lesbianism or smoking pot (even if they were true). Second, I am sure the kind of corruption Setareh Sabety complained about when referring to Ashraf Pahlavi ["Nothing to hide"] had nothing to do with Ashraf having boyfriends. May she have as many boyfriends as she can handle. But when she runs the country from behind the scenes and as if it is her domain, or when she (along with her ilk) considers the country's treasury as her own bank account, then that corruption is our business. Third, Ms Sabety originally attacked Reza Phalavi's claims to the throne, not whether he is a good or evil guy. So, in fact, your private emails to her threatening to publicize (whether true or not) that she is a lesbian pot-smoker DO constitute "attacks" and are vastly different than criticizing a public figure (such as Reza Pahlavi) >>> FULL TEXT * Bad blood I don't understand how a bad sophomoric joke about Reza Pahlavi ["Not without my mom"] can escalate into so much bad blood and personal attack on both sides ["Nothing to hide" vs. "Taste of your own medicine"]. On the one hand, there's a threat to expose the alleged personal life of Ms Sabety, which is nobody's business except Ms. Sabety. On the other hand, everyone who dares to defend the monarchy is an agent of SAVAK! Isn't it time that we grow up a little bit and don't judge everything as black and white? I don't intend to get into the personal attacks of Kerman01 who shows his sick mind and immaturity beyond hope. However, I would like to add a few comments to the bitter and somewhat personal attacks that Ms Sabety levied on the Pahlavis such as ".... holding Pahlavi regime entirely responsible for the culture of corruption and hypocrisy that led to revolution" , "... vulgar arrogant behavior of the member of the clan", "... corrupt church of Ashraf Pahlavi" or "... Pahlavi does not even like to pay his own dinner bills" >>> FULL TEXT Reza Reza * Without fear of being outted Thank you for your response to my questions ["What does this..."].In your responses to myself and Ms. Sabety ["Public life..."] you have babbled a lot and contradicted yourself a few times, yet failed to answer any of my questions. For your information, if you have not done a background check on me yet, I'm neither a monarchist nor an Islamist (I dislike both). However, I strongly believe that one should be free to express one's opinion regardless of one's past, societal standing, lifestyle, race, religion, size of one's pockets and anything else, etc., without the fear of being outted. If Mr. Pahlavi runs for political office as a private citizen, then I agree, only his political platform should be subject of debate. However, if Mr. Pahlavi considers himself the son of a defunct monarch and a rightful heir to the throne, an advocate of monarchy, then his father, SAVAK, his association with any and all people (governments) connected to his family and their behavior, and the whole idea (concept) of monarchy will become subject of debate. He can't separate himself from his past and idealism. With that said, like you, I do not know Ms Sabety and unlike you, I did not do a background check on her. For you to generalize everyone in your response shows your ignorance. If you made an assumption that we were all the same, then, I'm sorry to say that you made a wrong assumption. Haven't you heard? People who assume, make asses of themselves. One question though: Why on earth would someone do a background check on a person just to respond to an editorial comment? I don't know if you have completed a background check on me before you responded. I'm sure my "rap sheet" is a mile long, my dirty laundry abound, and a few skeletons can be found in my closet. I promise you will have fun filled days looking into my past. Enjoy! * Prove it Dear Ms Modanlou, It would be my pleasure to answer your questions. First, Ms Sabeti's personal background,whatever it is, has absolutely nothing to do with her political opinions as long as she does not attack political platforms based on assumed personal traits of its proponents. Otherwise it is a two way street. Chizi keh avaz daarad geleh nadaarad. Second, by all means, Reza Pahlavi's life as any other public figure , the record of his father and grandfather, the role of SAVAK, his association with any government, his wealth and the whole idea of monarchy have to be scutinized. This has to be done however methodically and professionally. I believe in the presumption of innocence and that everyone is honest unless proven otherwise beyond a shadow of doubt. So here is your challenge: -- Come back with all the documented evidence of the number and identity of people tortured or killed by SAVAK. -- Please prove that Mohammed Reza Pahlavi was a thief or give us the exact size of his wealth etc. Third, I did a background check on Ms Sabety ["Taste of your own medicine"] because she made completely unsubstantiated and false allegations ["Distasteful irreverence"]. People like Ms Sabeti are a proxy for pseudo-intellectuals who have done far worse damage to Iran than thugs like Rafiqdoust or Saeed Emami. Our people looked at their roshanfekrs as intelligent and balanced thinkers and followed them to the hell of the Islamic Republic. Ms Sabeti's earlier wirtings were completely inconsistent as in one hand she admires Khomeini's leadership and on the other hand she said she went to school in liberal New England and brings up her children in the United States. Or better, she claims the Islamic Republic confiscated her weallth presumably amassed by her family during the Pahlavi era and yet her "surrogate mother" Mr Javid was working for an organization funded by Bonyad Mostazafan -- the same body who confiscated Ms Sabeti's wealth! * All very subjective Dear Teacher, By now you would agree that it is pointless to argue with students. Their job is to think outside of the box, and in this they have the sheer irrelevance of past time and forms on their side. Dictionary, like law, is about what was when it was laid down on paper. The nature of evolution makes everything passe and the definition of art is no exception. But, it is hard to capitulate to students; so my favorite exercise when I teach is to carry for my students his/her valid point to its extreme logical conclusion and then ask him/her to react to it. Here ia how I suggest you broach the art issue: Ask the class if a fart (which phonetically has a lot in common with art) is a smell, frangrance, or scent? The idea here is that it is all very subjective and that definitions are not absolute truths; at best they provide a common reference that makes conversation possible. * Happiest days Dear Shahrzad, This is just a short note to tell you how very much I enjoyed your recent article regarding your visit to Abadan ["Oh, sweet home"]. I lived in Iran for many years, and spent the happiest days of my life in Abadan. I'm sure that you do not remember me -- but you may remember my children, Parviz, Parvaneh, and Dana Habibi. The photographs of Braim brought back many happy memories, as No.304 Braim was our home, until we left Abadan when my husband retired from N.I.O.C. in 1978. We lived in No.452 in the Sixties, and also Segoosh in the very early years, when you were living there. (I think at that time we were neighbours!) Please tell me how are your parents and where are they now ? I knew them well. Also, tonight I was speaking with an old friend (also from Abadan) Mr. Yusef Ganjavi, who said that he would like news of Mr. and Mrs Irani, and their whereabouts. I look forward to hearing from you. * I salute ultra-nationalists I'm not racist nor anti-Jew. However, I'd like to make a comment on something that has been bothering me for a while. First of all, Jews are the only minority groups who DO NOT distinguish themselves by their nationality, simply because they don't have any! They always distinguish themselves simply by claiming their religion. You ask a Jew, Where are you from? He'll say, I'm a Jew. Secondly, I'm sick and tired of Jews and Bahai's, etc., complaining of being abused and mistreated by mollas. Look what the mollas are doing to the Muslims! Mollas are ANTI-HUMANITY. I wish all Jews and other minority groups who were born in Iran would fight to free Iran instead of acting like we all OWE them something! I salute ALL ultra-nationalist Iranians who are fighting to free Iran from all Muslims , Jews, Bahais, Kurds, etc. I SALUTE ALL IRA LOVERS!
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