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Thursday * Receiving end Aghayeh Khorsandi, ["Gozaaresh", "Leila Pahlavi beh faarsiye saade"] Salam. I think you're a very creative and brilliant writer. You've got a rare sense of humor and that's a gift. It's not something that can be learned. As Iranians we should cherish that and encourage you to write more. You're also an icon. You're not in my age group but I still find your writings very relevant, clever and comic. You've managed to stay "matrah" throughout these many decades. How many writers can claim that? First I read your reply to the protest letters people had sent you and then I read your piece about the "akhoond" in Leila khanooms funeral service. That's funny stuff, about that akhoond character! I should underline the word "akhoond"!! Iranians our sense of humor is very limited. It's only funny when we're making fun of someone and not when we're on the receiving end. We love to dish it out, but... God forbid. We're not good sports when it comes to humor. Same with democracy! We want it but only for ourselves. I certainly would not want to encourage you to start self-censoring yourself to please anyone. Or as Americans say be Politically Correct (PC). What we need is more objectivity and not more censorship. So take heart in knowing that there are other "hamvatans" who appreciate you and your efforts. Keep up the good work! My husband says if Hadi Khorsandi was born in the U.S. or Europe he'd be a legend worldwise. As Iranians we need to get a clue, get out of our little "we're very special and honar nazdeh Iranian ast to bas" and realize that, hey, we're people too just like everyone else. Regards, * Bowl hotter than the soup Dear Hadi Khorsandi, ["Gozaaresh", "Leila Pahlavi beh faarsiye saade"] I always enjoyed your work. You are a good man and a fine writer. Using satire to remind people where they live and what they are doing has always been an effective tool. You use this tool very well. If the people don't get it, the hell with them. People who run around and living in one culture and "beat the stone of other to the chest!" (sange farhang be seene mizanand) are more like "a bowl hotter than the soup." I would dismiss such people simply based on what they like to call their livelihood. If you really care about Iran as a nation and it's people, you would do something for them instead of speaking passionately about the country's liberation. Have you ever noticed that people get passionate about politics and other issues that effects other people AFTER they have had a full meal!? Hadi jan, do not apologize for other people's ignorance. They should apologize for not understanding! I would have written these comments in Farsi but, I don't have a Farsi word processor and after not writing in Farsi for 20 years my handwriting, spelling and grammar would result in a trip to the emergency room for you. They'd have to treat you for a cut intestine. Vahid * Dorost sobat konid Aghaye Khorsandi, ["Gozaaresh", "Leila Pahlavi beh faarsiye saade"] Agar mosahebeh Shahbanoo Farah ra ba radio Israeil goosh mikardid, motevegeh mishodid keh Iranian dakhel Iran fot Valahazrat Shahdokht Leila Pahlavi che asari roye melat gozardeh : 1- In gamaat az haman ghomashi hastand ke shoma tah taghe an hastid va az camputer hol nemishavand. 2- Etminan dashteh bashid ke charandiat shoma ra khodam khandam va kesi brayam nakhand. In shoma hastid ke pas az 22 sal zendegi dar Inglis hanooz na mitavanid dorost sobat konid va na mitavanid be Inglisi chizi benevisid. 3- Az koja midanid be hengam fot pedar Leila ya madar bozorgash kesi baraye anha tasliat naferstadeh. ;Kafar hameh ra be kish khod pendarad; 4- Reza Pahlavi padeshah ghanooni Iran ast, va dar in tardid nakopnid keh beh Iran baz khahim gasht, va ghalame pahahie ananke mamlekat ra be in rooz andakhteh and va farar kardeh and dar haman froodgah khoord khahim kard. 5- Braye ankeh alaghe Iranian ra be selsele Pahlavi bedanid, khobast be mosahebe Shahbanoo Farah keh adrese anra dar zir neveshtam gooh konid. 6- Tosieh man be shma inast shayee prakani haye drogh ke ghabl az fetne khomeni mikardid braye nejat keshvareman faramoosh konid, in hana digar rangi nadarad. * Real power I think the last point made in Hamid Zangeneh's article bears some scrutiny ["No matter who's in power"]. The national interests of the United States and Israel do not necessarily coincide. It is very easy to see how " specially in the post Cold War era" a U.S. foreign policy tilted toward the Arab Middle East would serve Washington's interests (oil, trade, counter-terrorism) more efficiently. Many European countries pursue variations of this type of Middle East policy. Although the pro-Israeli lobby often argues its causes in terms of benefits to U.S. national interest, its real power lies in its ability to mobilize voters and raise funds. Any U.S. presidential candidate who does not espouse the correct pro-Israeli policies would risk losing votes in both California and New York. Of course it does help that Israel is a (limited) democracy and the rest of the Middle East is not. This does not mean that all Jewish voters are automatons who vote uniformly based on a single issue. Also, the approach to Israel does occasionally vary from president to president, albeit within a very limited way. The problem with current decision-making in Iran is that it is being driven as much by the pro-Israel lobby as American policy. Iranian hostility to both the U.S. and Israel allows the latter to make a very convincing argument, based on U.S. national interest, in favour of an even deeper American commitment to its security. And this is when voices that espouse isolating and "containing" Iran start to resonate with American policy makers. This in turn elicits more hostility from Iran. Add to the ingredients people on both sides with vested interest in the continuation of the status quo and the unpleasant history between the two countries and you have a recipe for a very long and difficult road to normalized relations between U.S. and Iran let alone actual friendship. * Spain too In response to "Why not in Iran": As well as the example of Bulgaria, there is Spain, where the dictatorial regime of Franco was replaced by the Constitutional Monarchy headed by his own son, Juan Carlos and no one can now claim that Spain is not a democratic country. Would the people of Spain had acheived this if they had refused to accept Juan Carlos's words and judged him by his father's actions ? * If he had a billion It is so amusing to see that at last we have an Iranian comic publication outside Iran (in addition to the countless already within Iran) with a great sense of fantasy and humor ["Return that billion first"]. If Reza Pahlavi had as much funds at his disposal as is claimed by the nameless Iranian comic, then with only tenth of that amount, he could have "bought" his way back to his country. Better still, he didn't need to risk his life and those of his family by campaigning aginst one of the most horrible states whose boundaries of terror is unlimited. He could have invested all that alleged billions and for generation to come lived a relaxed and care-free life from its proceeds. Instead he has chosen to travel down a hazardous path that no billlions or trillions can guaranttee its safe ending. The only promise that Reza Shah and Mohammad Reza Shah couldn't fulfill was to riase the level of "sho'oor" of a number of their subjects, of which Peerooz is evidently one. * So simplistic According to some, Reza Pahlavi and his family have billions and billions of dollars and he is only in it for the glory and to get more money, so he should not be listened to, no matter what he says ["Return that billion first"]. This way of looking at things is so simplistic. We have to get away from this way of thinking and talking if we are ever to get away from decades of hate and revenge that have marred our country for so long. If Reza Pahlavi is so rich and has more money than he will ever be able to spend, why oh why , if he did not genuinely care about his country would he bother to put his and his children's life at risk to speak up week after week? Especially looking at the last chapter of the life of his father and grand father! Could he not join the ex-royalty club and party circuit like so many ex- royals? He is sticking his head out because he cares. Please listen to what the guy is saying. When , if not now, are we going to discuss grown-up politics? When are we going to get away from this simple black and white way of thinking which dictates that all monarchists are traitors and millionaires, that anyone with the name of Pahlavi is damned and should not be listened to? That all communists are vatan foroosh? That all nationalists are traitors for going along with Khomeini? and on and on. There is good and bad in every circle and in every trait of thought. We must, for the sake of the country, find a common ground and stop looking back all the time. Lets look forward and listen to what people say and even if we disagree, engage in discussion with them. Throwing accusations at people holding any belief, be it monarchist, republican, nationalist, communist etc is the reason our country is where it is today. Surely we owe it to the next generation to change this ? * Philosphical pondering Your letter ["What about you?"] shows that you have a basic understanding of philosophical issues and can analyze a subject with relative fairness. So, why you hide your name, I don't know. However, when it comes to deep philosophical discussions, it is very easy for readers to distort the essence of an article by injecting into it their own uni-directional meanings and pre-conceived ideas. Therefore, I like to clarify a number of points regarding your letter. ["Last refuge"] You wrote: "Does a piece of dust sitting on your dinning table ask 'what about ME?'" A piece of dust will never ask such question because it does not have the neurological complexity of the human brain. If it had, it would ask the exact same question. If you adhere to the belief that you are nothing "more than just a piece of dust in the universe", that's fine with me, but please do not project your inferiority complex onto others. Your reasoning reminds me of the story of Gregor Samsa, the unfortunate hero of Kafka's masterpiece, Metamorphosis: "As Gregor Samsa awoke one morning after disturbing dreams, he found himself transformed in his bed into an enormous bug" (read Introducing Kafka). Without a doubt Homo Sapiens Sapiens (the technical term for modern humans) are the most intelligent species on earth and the human brain is the most complex organ known. One of the hallmarks of such complexity is that humans are not only aware of their surroundings, but they are also aware of themselves. They are 'self-aware'. One of the consequences of this self-awareness is that we not only question ourselves and our surroundings, but also the relationship between these two -- both scientifically and philosophically. Therefore, the two great forces of science and philosophy have been responsible for the emergence of modern human civilization. Apparently, it is only people like you who confuse philosphical pondering with self-indulgence >>> FULL TEXT * Brutal exposure Excellent piece ["Mary"]. It is a shame that such a young life, like Mary, had to have such a brutal exposure to the sick mind of Khan. I hope she heals her wounds as time goes by and you help her out through this process, as well. * Which nation? So Javdon thinks that the Mojahedin are "unnamed soldiers of a nation that does not acknowledge them." ["Burning eyes"] Which nation would that be? I can only assume she is referring to the Iraqi nation. Surely, even the Mojahedin are not deluded enough to expect a nation whose sons, brothers and fathers they butchered in the war, to acknowledge them as anything other than traitors? * Made it possible I loved your website! Thank you so much. I am an American woman married to an Iranian man for 20 years. I have always been treated so wonderfully by all the Iranians I have ever met. Still, I longed to see Iran through American eyes. Your website has made that possible. I have never visited Iran. Thank you so much.
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