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Wednesday * Notorious fanatic There are a couple of problems in today's letters column that I would like to draw your attention to. The first is a question of editorial judgment. The second is a matter of a letter-writer perpetrating a fraud on the editor, i.e., you. First, "Who do you think you're lying to?", the letter from "Jonnie Black" is vulgar conspiratorial anti-Semitism that simply has no place in a respectable publication. I'm aware that you like to print a wide range of views without necessarily endorsing any of them, but there has to be some limit. I hope you will see fit not to publish this sort of material in the future. Second, I believe the "Sorry if we upset you" letter from "EE" is in fact an old essay by that notorious fanatic Meir Kahane. Yep -- here's the original. It's been changed somewhat, but I knew I'd seen it before: //www.kahane.org/meir/openLetter.htm Best, * How is it relevant Since "Just wondering" there have been some interesting responses, some passionate, other calculated and yet other from the armchair gladiators suggesting there is nothing wrong with certain race of people being killed or that mollas should be sanctioned (as if sanctions have hurt Saddam personally) but none interesting as "Sorry if we upset you" from the mysterious EE. Yeah, now this EE sat down and gave us a whole load of history, dates slogans and all. Who might be this EE? Why EE will not address the issue at hand? Why EE will not talk about the illegal OCCUPATION of Palestinian lands against all the relevant UN resolutions, the war crimes, the violations of Geneva Conventions, oppression of the Palestinian people, the blockades, the indiscriminate shootings, assassinations, outright racism? EE does not want to talk about them because there is no excuse for this barbarism, no decent human being can look at this situation and see it differently than what it is. (of course except the US politicians, Ellie the ultimate Weisel and some ethnic columnists) The Zionists and the majority of the Jews have become accustomed to very high standards when it comes to human rights abuses and genocide, if it is not as bad as what Nazis did, well than it is defensible and not bad. So the poor Palestinian would have to wait for Sharon and his thugs to come up with the gas chambers and other forms of final solutions before the Israelis would object to the atrocities being committed in their name. As for EE's account of history of persecution against Jews, I really don't know if all of it is true, I tend to believe probably it is, but what has that got to do with enslaving people, dehumanizing people? How is it relevant in the present Mideast conflict? Is he suggesting that since the Jews have been victims of persecution, now they are allowed to inflict persecution? What kind of logic is this? Cut the crap EE with your "Sorry if we upset you", YOU have the right to life, not a right that somebody gave, it is your natural right, it is yours because you are in this world, because you are, and must be free, just as I or any body else must be free, Yeah EE we are born with this right, people of all religions, casts and color. And you know what EE, there are millions of unfortunate people in different parts of the world who are not born with this right, there are a few millions just over the Green Line in your neighborhood, go visit them some time EE, see how they live, see what has been imposed on them so that a few thousand Jewish Hezbollahis can live their fantasy world. EE, look yourself in the mirror and ask yourself, ask yourself honestly, set aside the Zionist mantra, ask yourself, IS THIS DEFENSIBLE? * Intellectual poverty A wise person once said that those who are always focused on other people's problems do not dare face their own. I recall a television interview late last year with an Egyptian woman. She lived in an extremely impoverished neighborhood in Cairo and was surrounded by piling garbage and debris, and many poorly dressed, dirty, and possibly malnourished children. Here's what she had to say: "We should destroy Israel, and then all our problems will be solved." Regarding the current "debate" on Israel, I do not recall the last time I read such a bunch of drivel and such proud display of intellectual poverty. * Well done! Even if you were paid by the Mossad to come up with such a brilliant, thought-provoking idea you couldn't have done better ["Just wondering"]. In a single stroke of a pen, cybernatically I mean, you opened the floodgates and gave our massive army of Arab-Israeli experts a chance to let out their long-kept deluge of knowledge and flood the middle eastern politics. Even Israelies are shocked by this phenomenal response. It should make them wonder if Iranians are, among other things, born Arab-Israeli analysts. Well done! Talking about the Mossad, it also occurred to me that now that you are their good book (David Zohar) ["No wish for conflict"], it is a marvellous opportunity to apply for membership! They can show their good will by making a handome donation or better still sponsor of iranian.com's 6th anniversory event. Just a thought... - after all you did declar your availability in the "FAQ"! .... just joking really. I know you would never consider it seriously -- would you? Best wishes, * Worth remembering I have been following with interest the debate about the Iranian regime's stance towards Israel. There are in my opinion a few things worth remembering when discussing this issue: 1. The opposition of the Iranian regime to Israel is only meant for domestic purposes and in reality has no value. As mentioned before in a few letters the Iranian regime purchased a lot of it's arms from or through Israel during the war with Iraq at inflated prices. Funny how they were going to liberate Jerusalem using mainly Israeli arms! So do not praise the IRI's stance toward Israel since it's hallow. 2. The material help given to Hamas and Islamic Jihad will complicate the peace process between the Palestinians and the Israelis. Arafat is accepted by the majority of the Palestinians as their leader and by helping Hamas and others like Hamas, Arafat's power as the main negotiating side is undermined and as a result a negotiated peace settlement is postponed. Although I completely understand the frustration felt by Palestinians towards the peace process, helping Hamas-like movements won't solve the problem. 3. Israel wants to dictate a peace settlement which suits her best without giving up much. She wants to have the final say in every thing even after a so-called peace settlement is achieved. It seems to me that Israel will never give Palestinians full freedom in running their own affairs, always using her security as an excuse. How about the security of the others? 4. Hundreds including children are killed by Israelis but if an Israeli child is killed then it's in the headlines immediately. Don't get me wrong killing and specially that of innocent people is wrong, but is an Israeli child more important than a Arab child? I certainly don't think so. 5. I don't know whether Mr Javid's intention was to start a debate about this issue or is he intentionally trying to soften the Israeli image in their barbaric and heavy-handed treatment of the Palestinians ["Just wondering"]. I hope it's the former. Even the Israelis are worried about their image in the world opinion since the Israeli government has hired a French PR consulting firm to improve its image in the face of world opinion. So Mr Javid do not be surprised if a you received a fat cheque from an unknown source which later turns out to be from Israelis. Well it at least could put an end to the financial problems you have at the moment ["Help wanted"]. (I enjoy your site and am by no means saying you are an advocate of Israelis) 6. BE MAA CHE attitude is not an attitude to have in the twenty first century. Public opinion matters very much. I believe without the outrage shown by many around the world, the Israelis would have used even greater force to crush Palestinians. Even the AKHUNDS in Iran are worried about public opinion and the reformer side wants public stonings, whippings and executions stopped fearing world opinion (they just want these Islamic acts to be carried out away from public eyes, well that is Iranian version of being reformists and liberals). So what I think about events throughout the world apparently matters and belittling it is wrong. 7. Israelis as much as any body else have the right to live in peace as long as they treat others the way they want to be treated themselves. The peace movement in Israel is a very strong movement and just goes to show all Israelis are not savages. Its just animals like Sharon (the butcher of Sabra and Shatila amongst other similar achievements) are the main cause to present they problems. Do not be indifferent. Mehrdad * Unabated effort to rip Iran A very nice piece ["Siyaasate vaaqebinaaneh"]. In fact, excellent. For my money the reason why Iranians are not anti-Greek but continue to be anti-Arab is because of the following: The Iranians dealt with the Greeks hundreds of years ago and not much Greek influence was left behind (maybe my distant relatives blue eyes!); no more Greek territorial aspirations against Iran (if there were ever any!). With the Arab, the effort to keep ripping territory from Iran goes on unabated. The Tonbs and Abu Musa, Bahrain, Khuzestan/Arabistan; the Iraqi invasion; etc. all remind us of the basic energy of the Arab to clean the earth of anything Iranian/Persian (Persian Gulf, too), refer to the Wahhabi massacre of Shiites, too, and re-establish the domain of the Sunni over Shi'i, and be necessity of the Arab over the Ajam. All the best, * All Arabs Jan Shiraz in, "Siyaasate vaaqebinaaneh" asks that while many nations have invaded us, why some Iranians dislike the Arabs most. The answer is very simple. None of the other nations imposed their backward and barbaric religion upon us. Or, more simply, Arab occupiers have not left us yet. Seyed Roohollah e Khomeini, Seyed Ali Khamenei and Seyed Mohammad Khatami are all Arabs. If you don't believe me, look at that disgusting black turban on their heads. Zahaak e Maardoosh has not left our beloved country yet! * Prescribing suicide? Here we go again ["Simple logic"] with unrealistic emotional reactions ["The Shah was right"].The Jewish State is fighting for its survival in the middle of a hostile surrounding and she uses every and any possible tool to survive and prosper. What part of that is not understood? Is Israel using her loby AIPAC to gain support and discredit her enemies ? Of course she does and who wouldn't? Is Israel trying to be the dominant power in the region? Of course she is and who wouldn't? Jamam Abdalnasser? Saddm Hossein? Mohammad Reza Shah? Ataturk? And who else not? Even the Taliban would. Is it good for us and bad for them? Please be realistic. Israel did not use AIPAC as long as we had a friendly relashionship with her inspite of all of the Shah's military power. And yes Israel needs the strong friendly non-Arab country of Iran in the area to survive financially. God only knows how much she spends annually to maintain her military superiority. It is not cheap Sir. Try to buy a fancy car and then you will realize how expensive it is to maintain a fancy army. Another friendly strong country will give her a break to cut its military costs. We are as Moslem and even less so than Turkey, because the Ottoman Empire ruled and spread its Islamic empire to Europe for centuries. And they are as strong militarily as Iran, if not more so. How come then that they are not the target of AIPAC? And how come that they were spared from an Iraqi attack? They are Saddam's neighbor too and their land has been used against Iraq more than ours? Doesn't that tell you some thing Sir? Your 2+2 equation doesn't work. I have tried it.You are saying that if we unite with Arabs and use all of our gas and oil income to destroy and eleminate this barbaric and cruel State of Israel (which she is so far), we can then go home and live in peace.The reverse is true, Sir. Once Israel is eleminated , the Arabs will come after us again as they did before. Please do not fool yourself and us. If all of these are still difficult to understand , I will translate it for you: We are not Arab and we are not more Moslem than any other country in the world. And we have been more than twice attacked by your beloved Moslem Arabs. And a lot of our money is spent on arms to protect ourselves from Arab attacks again. And with our foolishness we added Israel and now we are adding Turkey to the list of our active enemies. We do not have the ability to fight the mightiest powers of the world. Are you prescribing suicide attempt for us? No Sir, you are mistaken. Israel needs a strong Iran and they showed it during the Shah's regime and they are showing it now with Turkey. Do I have to explain more? Regards * Blaming other governments I would like to ask you a simple question: Does your organization ever read any of the articles that are sent to you before posting the article on the WORLD WIDE WEB? were thousands or better said millions of people, be it Iranians or from other nationalities would have access to it and read it? I am referring to the article that i saw on your web site today titled as "Who do you think you're lying to?" I am so surprised of the content of this article. Simply said, it is pure TRASH. First of all it is written by a self proclaimed "Iranian NATIONALIST". Why is it, may I ask, that this so called "NATIONALIST" does not give out his true identity by sighing the article with his given name. After all being a true Iranian NATIONALIST should involve a little SELF pride and believe in your nationalistic ideas. What better way of showing your self pride for your nation by introducing your self with your true given name. As far as I remember the greatest Iranian Nationalists of our time were always known by their true names. I am sure as an Iranian, almost all of us can agree that history will remember Dr. Mossadegh as a true Iranian Nationalist. How would you think the history would have remembered Dr. Mossadegh if he would have signed his letters as Johnny GoodTime? Furthermore, please pay attention to the heinous ways of this writer, not only to the government of Israel but also to the people of state of Israel, please allow me to quote directly from the article. Please note how this self-proclaimed Iranian Nationalist attacks people of a nation rather than the government of that nation by writing: "I hope very much that Iran (under ANY regime) builds nuclear bombs, very big ones too, and very soon, and puts you people back where you belong so the world finally has some peace from your greedy grasping petty ambitions." It is obvious that the writer of this article, "Mr. Jonnie Black" is very much obsessed with the size of things, such as nuclear rocket bombs. Obviously he thinks that the bigger a nuclear bomb is, the better it must be. I am sure that whenever this true nationalist goes to a supermarket (or in his case probably a BAGHAALEE) he always looks and searches for the BIGGEST watermelons as well. Do not get me wrong, I am all for FREEDOM OF SPEECH. What I am against is to see hate promoting TRASH on an Iranian web site that I enjoy reading from time to time. In conclusion, I would like to tell Mr. Jonnie Black, that as an Iranian, I also do not appreciate negative ideas from other government toward my birthplace or my people, but I do not blame other governments and their people for our own shortcomings. If you are truly an Iranian Nationalist, you should be in Iran fighting for the freedom of your people from the so-called AKHOONDS that you do not care for so much. And furthermore, as a NATIONALIST you SHOULD give a damn about the regime that governs your people and nation. I do realize that humans usually hate things and people that they fear, and therefore can blame others for their own short comings in life. Let's hope for the day that our True Iranian Nationalist stop blaming everything on other governments and take a stand for the mistakes they make. Until that day, please pay more attention to the articles you post. LONG LIVE IRAN, under a regime that respects is citizens, and the citizens of other nations. Awaiting for your reply. With best regards: * Focus on Iran Whilst the issue of our stance for or against Israel is important, can we pause and focus again on our own country please? Hundreds are once again being arrested or flogged in public and the hardliners are cracking down on everything from shop windows to people showing a bit of hair or places playing music and men wearing ties, in order to reimpose a climate of fear and repression. All this under the watchful eye of the president who is at worst a con artist or at best, weak and ineffectual. People in Iran are crying out for help and rely on us outside to draw the attention of the world to their plight. I have great sympathy for Palestinians, but please, let's save our own people and country first. * IRI's fault In reply to Messer's Siamak ["La-la-ee"], Chavoshi ["Like ignorant Americans"], Mobasheri ["Ability to right rubbish"], Black (?!) ["Who do you think you're lying to?"], Sani ["Simple logic"], It would be inhumane not to feel sympathy for the innocent lives lost in any conflict. However one cannot leave unanswered the drivel written under a wrapper of solidarity for the Palestinian cause with the sole aim of enflaming the debate and using innuendo to drum up support for the anti -IRANIAN foreign policy of the Islamic Republic. You are deluding yourself if you think the cause of animosity between Israeli and Iranian governments, or Iran becoming a missile 'target' for American or Israel military scenarios is ANYTHING OTHER THAN THE FAULT OF THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC, or will you try and deny what is a matter of record? It was the Islamic Republic that sought active confrontation with the West and the state of Israel fanatically pursuing self-interest and not the interests of Iran. It is no good blaming Israel, America or others for the sanctions or what has befallen us, let's get real, we are responsible for bringing it on ourselves. Let's take a leaf out of their book as to how one maximizes one's advantage politically and diplomatically (which cannot be done till we put our own house in order). What is the motive of the above writers to drag Iran into a conflict between two Semitic groups (Semitic not in the racist sense but merely to highlight their common roots)? The intolerance of these two Semitic nations is Hitler's legacy in the sense that each side believes that the survival and well being of one can only come about by total destruction of the other. Given the ever-present Arab hostility towards Iran (and don't blame the US etc. it is naïve to expect them not to take advantage of ANY OPPORTUNITY THAT PRESENTS ITSELF TO DIVIDE AND RULE), what do you think will happen if Palestinians are victorious and realize their stated ambition of the total annihilation of Israel? What effect do you think it would have in the Arab attitude and relations with Iran? What do you think that would do for the Arab desire to maximize their share of the off shore reserves in the Persian Gulf which they call the Arabian Gulf? What do you think will be the fate of Khuzestan? Have we so easily forgotten the Iraqi attack on Iran supported by the PLO and the rest of the Arabs? WAKE UP! Put Iran and Iranians first before other ideals, WHEN WILL WE EVER LEARN to put unity before self-interest? * Get a job! Ms. New's presentation ["Misrepresentation"] of her sociology thesis confirms the fact that the best way to receive a degree is her discipline is to seek out a "victim" group, pore over old newspaper reports, throw in a few obscure leftist theories -- ones shown to be devoid of any durability and substance --, ignore historical realities and common sense, give it a catch and fancy name -- Persophobia, is it?-- a nd voila! a new oppressed and victimized group is created. That was all this world needed, yet another victim group to go around moaning woe is unto us, those mean people over there don't like us. Take out your handkerchiefs and wipe away your tears. Give me a break, will you? Get a job! * Can't blame them Your article was very enlightening ["Misrepresentation"]! I grew up in New Canaan, Connecticut, since leaving Iran in 1979 as a 6-year-old boy. New Canaan is a super "waspy", upper-class enclave 40 minutes east of New York City. Growing up was fun and even trying at times. As you well know, kids can be cruel, especially when all they and their parents viewed every evening on the nightly news was the hostages being paraded around blindfolded by a bunch of thugs, later known as the Basidji's, for 444 days. How else would you want the world to view us Persians when the so-called "new leaders" of our country were openly advocating terrorism as an accepted form of religious expression? How about openly executing thousands of innocent, patriotic Persians simply for their beliefs? Any and all civility associated with our culture was lost when HIM Mohammad Reza Shah, god rest his soul, left Iran on January 16, 1979! I firmly beleive it is safe to say that these mullahs, or non- Persians I should say, have ruined the names of all Persians/Iranians. It is the duty of my generation to restore our standing in the international community! It is a sad fact that there are too many ignorant people in this world that cannot & will not take the little extra time it takes to educate oneself before falling prey to the mass media, whether it's in the US or the UK. Regards, * One of the best books Dear Nakissa Sedaghat, I very much enjoyed your "Lake Rumi". I did buy the The Alchemist at the time of my visit to Iran some years ago. It is one of the best books I have ever read. I was so moved by Mr.Paulo Coehlo's writing that when I was visiting Brazil I tried to meet the author. His two other books that are a dear to my heart are "By The River Piedra, I sat Down and Wept" and "Pilgrimage" which is based on his experience in Spain. I didn't know he visited Iran. I am sure many there cannot wait for his next book to be published. I look forward to reading more of your works. With Kind Regards, * Samarkand Dear Nakissa Sedaghat, ["Lake Rumi"] If you liked The Alchemist you will also probably enjoy French-Libanese author Amin Maalouf's novel, Samarkand, the story makes you travel from the times of Omar Khayyam to the 1906 Constitutional Revolution. It is an entertaining novel which had an immense success in France then world wide. It should definitely be added to your bookshelf. Regards, * Up to us In some countries children are mostly affected by society and in others by parents and family ["Can't walk away"]. What road we want to take is up to us. If we listen to our parents completely we might blame them for rest of our life but if we don't listen them at all we know them as "an obstacle" that we can run through with a truck. * No regrets I was wondering if I might make a few comments about your article ["Can't walk away"]. I too have lived outside of Iran longer than I have lived in Iran. I see it as my good fortune to have had the opportunity of exposure to many different cultures in my life. By chance, I happen to be a male and on the more beneficial side of the Iranian culture's sexual divide. I have no regrets about not living in Iran, however. The arbitrary lines drawn on God's earth separating one country from another do not instill any sense of belonging. As the Iranian proverb says: "Har kojaa ravi, aaseman hamin rang ast." We all are citizens of the planet earth. The social and cultural differences are superficial. In every culture mothers love their children, men and women get together, marry and procreate, they all eat and breath. Every one defends their home. There is some form of deity in every culture. Murder, deceitfulness, rape and pillage are condemned in all societies. There is the concept of good and bad in every tradition. Where the problems arise is what is considered to be good or bad. Uttering a few words in Arabic gives a contract validity in Iran but does nothing in another culture. We get in trouble with one another once we put our blinders on and condemn others for being and thinking differently from us. This, I think is the problem with the group of people who have a hard time adapting to new ways of life. The dogmatic belief that what I know is the only truth will bring demise. You are well aware that your family loves you unreservedly. In my opinion, the next step is to not view where you live as a foreign land. Given the chance, people all over the world will accept and love you. You just need to let them get to know you. As intelligent as you sound, I am sure already know that in some form. One more point I'd like to make is that we fabricate and carry our own prisons. It is not the country, the government or our families that restrict us. We restrict us! Moving to another city of country will not make a miserable person happy. Well, that was my 2 cents. Thanks for letting me bend your ears J. * Weak poetry I also do look at your site. My main interest is the poetry section. The poetry in Iranian.com is weak. Obviously anything goes in this section. Sheema Kalbasi, Mirzadegi as a family, and Nooriala to name a few. I did once read one beautiful poem in Iranian by Mahrokh Pourzaynal. called Gham-e baharan-e iran. But Iranian.com is not an exception. Most Iranian Internet sites have poor poetry and prose. So should I support them in the hope that it may improve or should I criticise in the hope that they may improve? There is the question. MM * I miss her Where's Nooneh? Has anyone heard from her? I miss her stories.....sighhhhhh.
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