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Thursday * No sense of superiority It is by now a tired cliché that Iran, since the Revolution of 1979, has regressed fourteen centuries to the beginnings of Islam. Reading Mr. KG's letter ["Rather be a Muslim than a Jew or..."], however, I was shocked to find arguments used during the early phases of Christianity, an even older religion. He writes:
This is the same prescription used during the fourth century C.E. for Jews, stating in essence, albeit less diplomatically, that "you may not live among us as Jews." I could attempt at humor and, as a Jewish person, thank Mr. KG for his generosity and the generosity shown towards my ancestors, allowing for us to convert so as to not be discriminated against, but I will not. (I remember early after the Revolution reading a sad article by a Jewish intellectual in Iran arguing that according to Isam, Jews have the right to exist, otherwise, why would Islam proscribe discriminatory tax laws against a people who did not have the right to live. This is somewhat similar, albeit less stark, to Polish Jews arguing during World War II that they had a right to live, otherwise what was the point of Germans building concentration camps for them.) At any rate, I am simply amused that, in Mr. KG's unique logic, the "complete brutality" of Islam while spreading the religion ranks higher, in the ethical scale, than the Christians of past "enslav[ing] and coloniz[ing] nations" and the Jews considering others to be "inferior." (About this last point further below.) On the positive side, it is a pleasant surprise to see Mr. KG not denying the existence of religious discrimination in Iran. A good first step by at least one reader. The next steps involve convincing ourselves that such discrimination is not morally justified. As a Jewish person born and raised in Iran, I often approach the coverage of religion in iranian.com with some trepidation, not knowing whether the subject, regardless of what it is, will be twisted at least by one letter-writer, to launch an attack on Judaism and Jews in general. Once again we find that the original topic (stoning women in Iran) has been utilized by Mr. KG to "refute" the supposed Jewish doctrine of superiority as the Chosen People. (This as he claims, fully-capitalized-yet-geneologically-incorrectly, his own religion to be "THE MOTHER OF ALL RELIGIONS.") My understanding, and that of other Jewish people I have read or spoken to, is that the "chosen" essentially refers to a responsibility we have towards others and to God and not any sense of superiority. Further, said responsibility is to be dispensed with through good works, worship, and teaching. As an aside, Mr. KG is misinformed that conversion to Judaism is not possible. Such conversions are difficult as they involve significant study and require, at least in theory, a heartfelt belief. They are also rare as Judaism, at this stage in history, is not a proselytizing religion. But these conversions are done, a most famous convert being the late Sammy Davis, Jr. (Of course, I must admit that, conversion to Judaism in Iran is likely impossible as such a person would be "vaajeb-ol-qatl" according to the laws of Sharia.) Regarding Mr. KG's supposition that there are Palestinians wishing to convert to Judaism, I, having many Palestinian and Israeli friends, know of none. I can only imagine that Palestinians, be they Moslems or Christians, would find such a suggestion absurd and undignified, as do I. The solution to the Israeli-Palestinian issue should not, and I trust at the end of the day will not, involve one party giving up their identity or religion in order to live side-by-side in peace and with dignity and comfort. This assertion by Mr. KG, among many of his other statements, demonstrates yet again a tendency by some of our compatriots to create "facts" to fit their deeply held prejudices; one more obstacle for us, as Iranians, to collectively overcome. * Islam alone I completely agree with KG on this subject matter ["Rather be a Muslim than a Jew or..."]. Well said! Without getting into a debate on how politics has influenced and corrupted the various monotheistic religions, on pure theological grounds one can argue that Islam alone espouses equality and denies superiority. Islam alone respects the other two monotheistic religions, as evidenced by the fact that in practically all religious Islamic countries Jews and Christians are free to practice their faith. On the other hand if you look at Catholic and Protestant theology both religions promote the idea that all those who don't "accept Jesus Christ as their Savior" are going to hell. In fact this is a central tenet of these religions. That's why fundamentalist Christians are in a constant battle proselytizing and attempting to convert non-Christians to their religion, in an effor to "save" those people As far as Jews are concerned, Jews are in the unique position of having turned their religion into a distinct race/ethnicity and thereby using that religion/race/ethnicity as an instrument of brutal oppression in the Occupied Territories. For them their religion is an excuse to bulldoze homes, steal land, and kill innocent people. Just this week over 20 Palestinian homes were bulldozed; those people are now homeless. Nothing new. But why do they do it? Because they're "The Chosen Ones", therefore in their view it is fully within their rights to do anything they want and God will still be smiling down on them. The concept of human rights does not apply to "The Chosen Ones". Islam is truly a beautiful faith. The image problem that Islam has arises from the fact that it originated among a people who were and to a large extent still are very culturally and socially backward, ie the Arabs. As a result they incorporated many of their culturally backward practices into the religion, despite the fact that many of those practices (eg, hejab) have little or NOTHING to do with true Islam. * Will be held responsible Let's flood the Iranian regime's web sites with protest mails. Let them know that they should not only worry about the condemnation in the West, that we, Iranians living abroad are aoutraged and humiliated by this inhumanity and barbarism. Let them know that some day they will be held responsible for this, not by Allah, by us the Iranian people. * Reminder I admire the simplicity of Naghmeh Sohrabi's conclusion ["On the verge"] that possession of patience is what separates Khatami supporters from secular progressives who think he's a muppet. Ms Sohrabi should perhaps be reminded that Khomeini himself was DHL'd to Tehran from Paris in a package promising reforms. Even former president Rafsanjani, the pistachio king and indicted killer once feted for his 'reformist' agenda, now cuts a figure as discredited as it is wealthy. While prostitutes are beaten and murdered for trying to make a living in Iran, while swathes of young people remain as stifled by poverty as they are by sexual repression and women's freedom is measured by their ability to showjump wearing chadors, Sohrabi is not alone in waiting for history to stamp its verdict on this 'smiling molla'. * What you make of it That "flat eventless passage of time" which requires the patience you seem to not value, is nothing but a reflection of your inability to value TIME...YOUR TIME!!!! ["On the verge"] The "event" is what you make of it... your election to be "impatient" will only disrupt the rest of us "patient beings" from patiently enjoying our life and our work while "waiting". Haven't you heard, "Life is what happens while you are making other plans"? What the hell are you waiting for? This ain't no dress rehearsal, honey. * Another Shah Sultan Husain? Reading Ms. Sohrabi's article "On the verge" reminds me of my father's advice that "Saalee ke nekust az bahaarash paydaast (a good spring brings good harvest). I wonder four years of Mr. Khatami's presidency and his patience has produced a good harvest. Or does his four year long spring giving us enough harvest, as little as it could be, to be hopeful of future. The question is not whether the current Islamic Republic is reformable or not, as Mr Khatami wants us to believe. The question is whether Mr. Khatami's "patience" has born us any fruit. Whether he has seen the good harvest on his patience and if so, whether he sees us intelligent enough to tell us about it When I was buying a computer a few months ago, I was told if I wait, prices will come down. Well, prices did come down, but then the system I had in mind, which was state of the art then, was outdated. I was told again that "industry can't wait for. You have to make up your mind sometimes", that " you must seize the opportunity", that "opportunity nocks only once". The question I have for Mr. Khatami is that how much suffering people need to bare before Mr. Khatami and the "Reformist" fill that this is the time to act. How may men and women need to be Sang Saared before Mr. Khatami's time would be over? How many Political prisoners need to be accused of "prostitution". Ms. Sohrabi, with much respect that I have for you and of your wonderful articles, may I ask did you find any limitation or time table on patience while you were looking at the dictionary? Did your airplane finally arrive safely? When is the time for us to say please no more Sang Saar? When is the time for Mr. Khatami to speak up? "Gar Sabr Koni ze Ghoore Halvaa Saazy": I used to ask my father has he really seen Halvaa after the Ghoore? he told me I must be smart enough to see whether that Ghoore was capable of becoming Halvaa. Does Mr. Khatami's patience imply that the Ghoore he has seen will be Halvaa, or it implies that he is incompetent. His "Valyie Amre" used to call him Iran's Gorbachev. Is he right on this or Mr. Khatami is merely another Shah Sultan Husain? * Simply NUTS! I just think Mr. Siamack Baniameri is simply NUTS! His articles crack me up! ;) Happy Spending! * At least Iran gave me values Dear Ms. Shady, ["Easy way out"] First of all my real name is Sara and I am not a Mr. ["U.S. behind Shah's fall"] Secondly, let me say that I am a teenager myself and I have lived in Iran and I have been amongst those people in Iran who had wanted to act like Westerners. I do not understand what you mean by "not accepting responsibility." surely my generation is not responsible for what is going on in Iran but YES, those people who took away the freedom of my generation and brought the revolution are responsible for this just as Ms. Rocsana commented "Where are the parents?" Thirdly, what makes you think that we should not blame Britain or U.S. for this? Don't you ever think that those strong countries are behind all the miseries the Iranians go through? I mean I am very young to judge this whole situation but I have read books about Iran and I have heard stories. Fourthly, referring back to the uniqueness, what makes you think that the American culture is so unique. Do Americans or other Westerners have any of the traditions that we have? There are so much traditions that only Iranians have. It is true that we can get better education in the U.S. but maybe if Iran was not the way it is today because of those countries our poor young people in Iran today would have been able to get these opportunities as well. Ms. Shady, I sometimes feel deeply sorry for the young people in Iran. Sorry that I get to have these opportunities in this country that my friends in Iran can only wish for, but I would never wish to be somebody other than an Iranian. The reason that I am in this foreign country today is only because my country can not provide me a good life. Because my country does not give me freedom, education and ect. But my country did at least gave me values, traditions and culture. * From our hearts Hello Sadaf, I really enjoy reading all of your stories. Some how it touches me, it seems it talks from our hearts. I used to go to school with a girl name Azar Kiani from Tehran-Pars in late 1960's. Is there any relation? Good luck with your writing, Manijeh * Very talented Dear Sadaf, Just wanted to let you know that I have been enjoying reading your essays on Iranian.com. You definitely are a very talented writer with many beautiful feelings and emotions to share with your readers. Thanks for giving me a window, albeit small, to the beauties of human's inner feelings. I wish you the best of luck and a whole bunch of happiness. Take care, Hamid * Never out of mind Music is a matter of taste. It is your perogative to like Googoosh's music or not. However, some of your other comments abour Googoosh were so wide off the mark that I could not let them go unanswered. I am sorry that you are so sick of Googoosh ["The hell with Googoosh"]. You must have a very low boredom threashhold because until last summer, she had not released any music or staged any concerts for 22 years! She may be trying to cash in now, but dear sir or madam, had you been prevented from practicing your trade and earning a living for 22 years, would you not like to make up for lost time? Why should she be criticised for this? She stages concerts, the public are free to attend them or not. Thousands have gone to these shows and I know very few Iranians who did not leave having had a wonderful time. In fact if anything, Googoosh's performances have improved since the 70's, her voice is much stronger and the songs have stood the test of time. You also seem to contradict yourself, priaisng a singer like Delkash and then going on about Googoosh's age as if being 54 (which she is not) is something to be ashamed of and saying that "there are so many ones who are younger than her..." so we should trade Googoosh in for a younger model ? What exactly has age got to do with anything? Googoosh is unique, she is more than a singer and she is the best all round entertainer that our country has produced. Sorry if you find her so offensive but you better get used to having her around. She will be in her 60's, 70's and 80's one day but as the Islamic Repuclic found out, even when she is out of sight, she is never out of mind! Marjan * Archeological finds Could you please let me know if there are any archeological finds going on in Iran. If yes could you let me know of a mailing list which would send regular update on archeological finds in Iran. If no please let me know where to find on the net details of previous archeological finds in Iran. Thanks,
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