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Tuesday * We are also Americans I have been reading the postings on your web site on a daily basis for quite some time now. One often sees articles that promote a sense of patriotism, and a debt that we have to "the other side." Others however instill a sense of realism about our identity and future. ["What is this image?"] That we should not proclaim to be exiles, rather accept the fact that we are émigrés and are likely not to go back. However I don't believe any of your contributors have hinted at a sense of dichotomy when it comes to our identity... Finally after living in this country for over 26 years of my life I filed the famous N400 application to be naturalized as a US citizen. Of all the times I could have done so in the past 21 years I decided to file when the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) was practically overwhelmed with applicants. Anyhow to make a very long and tedious story short, after over 5 years of waiting, and 4 return visits to the fingerprinting service of the INS my application was finally approved and shortly after a date was given for the swearing in ceremony. So when the day arrived, I dressed formally for the occasion and went to the court house without a clue as to how I would feel about it if anything. The district attorney of the county I lived in appeared and gave a speech, talking about Ellis Island and the contributions immigrants have made on this nation. True we are Iranian, and we have to preserve our identity, religion, and way of life. That is our obligation, and it is sanctioned and protected by the law. On the other hand we are also Americans, and as such have an obligation to our new home. One need not be independent of the other. We can have this dichotomy. It is our right and believe it or not, our obligation >>> FULL TEXT * Nothing is permanent Dear Sara, ["What is this image?"] While I respect your feelings and sympathize with you, I must remind you that a country's pride is not in the way they dress or the cars they drive or the houses they live in. If that is the basis of your comparison I don't think you can beat the residents of Dubai or Abu-dhabi or even Qatar, Kuwait and Saudi. They wear far more expensive clothings and drive far more expensive cars and live in much more luxurious masions than you can find in the entire Iran or the USA. What you must tell your American teasers is that your country has a cultural heritage that dates back to more than three thousand years ago. Long before any civilized human forms were inhabiting the North America, your country ruled over an empire larger in size than the entire USA. If we are suffering from a backward state at present, this is because we, too, forgot about our golden heritage and thought that religion alone could give us all we needed. But nothing is permanent in this world and our backward state too will end sometime. When? I only hope you live long enough to see that. Regards, * Royalists always less tolerant It's people like Kaveh Ahangar ["Taqbih"] and his tetchy fellows that us Iranians as a nation will never realise the true meaning of democracy. ["Gozaaresh", "Leila Pahlavi beh faarsiye saadeh"] The knee jerk reaction that resulted from Hadi Khorsandi's articles on the death of Princess Leila were the views of a writes in a light-hearted manner not meant to cause any offense. The reaction is reminiscent of the way certain hardline clerics react inside Iran and Mr. Ahangar's attack is remnminiscent of the way Keyhan newspaper in Tehran attacks and demonises those whose line of thinking is different. When as a nation are we going to mature? The day we mature is the day we can look at ourselves and laugh, we can look at our own history and make laughter and fun out of the way we used to be. To forever take things seriously will result in further oppression and intolerance. I dare say if Mr. Ahangar and others showed more maturity, they would have remained silent and at least tried to hide the obvious anger. The day we can become tolerant of other people's opinions, is the day we can pave the day to a true democratic society. I understand that Mr. Ahangar may be a royalist which would explain his anger and his taking offence, but the royalists are one of those political groups who have always been less tolerant to the opinion of others. Yours, * Standard of decency In response to Mr. P. Khorsandi's letter, "Blasphemy?", I would say: 1. I may not be a "discerning reader" by his standard, but I have been a reader of Mr. Hadi Khorsandi's writings for more than 20 years - and, mostly, I have enjoyed reading them. 2. There is no question of "chest-beating" or "worship" (of Pahlavis or any one else!), nor is there a question of blasphemy here. The only point in this instance is the expectation from a well-known writer to realize the boundaries of his profession and have a sense of distinction between humour and humanity. There is not a shortage of subject matter to write about "Akhond and Akhond-bazi". Therefore, Mr. Hadi Khorsandi did not have to pick the sad occasion of the funeral of a young Iranian, a daughter and a sister for his tasteless piece. ["Gozaaresh", "Leila Pahlavi beh faarsiye saadeh"] 3. To make it quite clear to him, Reza Pahlavi (or any other Pahlavi for that matter) who is considered as a public figure, could be regarded as a legitimate subject of satire, and no one would unreasonably criticise the satirist under any other circumstance. But, Leila Pahlavi was not a public figure as such, and thus, it was very wrong of Mr. Hadi Khorsandi to make fun of her funeral. A certain standard of decency and respect for human feelings is expected of a writer. Is that too hard to understand? or too much to ask? Maral Beheshti * Now THAT's progress I have recently returned from my first trip back home to Tehran after 5 years and fairness dictates that I share this fact with you: Yes, things have got better for women in Iran under the wise and brave stewardship of our popular president. On this trip I soon realised that I could show about 2cm of hair at the front of my head and also about 2cm of my ankles, without any harrassment. Five years ago this would have been unthinkable. As I am only 160cm tall, I have calculated that at this rapid pace of change and assuming that an extra 4cm of my total height will be allowed to be seen each year (2cm from the top down and 2cm from the bottom up), in 40 years time I will be able to go out the way my mother did 23 years ago ! Now THAT is what I call progress. * If he had a different name If Reza Pahlavi had a different family name, would more people sit up and listen to what he is ACTUALLY saying, rather than having pre-conceived ideas and dismissing all he says because he is a Pahlavi? Why can't we listen to what he is saying with open minds? He says he wants unity among all opposition forces, he wants no bloodshed. He believes in a secular state and the total seperation of politics from religion, respect for all religious and cultural minorities in Iran, equality for men and women and free elections under the supervision of the United Nations to determine the future system of government for Iran. What is so offensive about any of this and why is it that in our culture people are rarley judged by their own conduct and are instead constantly judged for what their father,uncle, great cousin did or said ?!! I was 6 when the revolution happened. I have no strong feelings for or against the Pahlavis. I listen to this guy and agree with what he says. He does not even claim he wants to be king one day. Can't more of us LISTEN with open hearts and open minds? Can't we use his name and pulling power as a focus for our opposition to the cancer that is eating away at our country? Can't we judge people on their own merits, listen to what they say and look at their actions? Are we ever going to rise above all this futile tribalism and pre-conceived notions about individuals and beliefs? Homayoon Mehr * Azaadegi Regarding Mahdiyeh Javid's "Eshqe gostaakh":
* Forward This article touched my heart ["Shahla"]. Well done. I think once a person follows her footsteps, the only direction is forward, regardless of the consequences. * Home Once again at the end of a long day at work, I logged onto Iranian.com which made me laugh, think and generally feel better about life! I just wanted to drop you this note to say thank you so much for all the hard work that you must be putting in. I only found the site a few months ago, but everytime I log on, I feel that I've "come home". Daste shomaa dard nakonad. * Something interesting My name is Laura Molmud and I am doing photo research for our upcoming history book, "Twentieth Century World History" to be published by Thomson Learning. I am looking for a picture of Iranian women riding bicycles or something interesting. I did look through several, in fact many, of your photos on-line and our author is interested in using a photo by Jamshid Bairami. Unfortunately, it is difficult to get in touch with her. If you have her email address, that would be helpful. In any case, if any photos of Iranian women doing interesting things comes to your mind, please forward them to me. Or if you have any ideas, that would be appreciated. Regards, Laura Molmud * Sharbano I hope you can help me out here. Actaully my mom is looking for her friend whom she hasn't been in touch with for the last 15 years. She came from Iran to Pakistan with her husband and two daughters and then later they all came to the U.S. Her name is Sharbano. My mom's name is Imelda. She was living in British Columbia first and when I wrote to her two years back, she had already moved. Is there any way I can find her? Thank you.
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