|
Monday * Is it just me? Looking at the Photo of the Day about the Iranian Air bus tragedy, I remembered why I hate America and everything American. Sorry but from American sitcoms like "Friends" and" "Ally McBeal" to big Hollywood blockbusters. American culture (what culture?), American policies, America's self-proclaimed policing of the world, American accent and to be honest American everything. Please don't get me wrong, I live in a Western society and I like to think that I am an open-minded person. I am not by any means a fundamentalist and I also don't work for an undercover Iranian news agency. I just don't like America. I was brought up in Iran in a society that beneath all those slogans like "Death to America" and "Down with America" and so on, believes that America is the land of opportunity and admires America and Americans. Just ask any young Iranians where would they like to travel if they had a chance? I guarantee the answer would be the United States every time. Sorry, but I don't understand the reason. What have Americans done for us to make them such heroes? These were the same people that took the Iraqi side during the war. How many of our people were killed by American-made missiles and bombs? And it took them just under a year to change their mind and go against the Iraqis during the Gulf War and impose a sanction on Iraq that is slowly killing innocent Iraqi children. And what right does the American navy have to be guarding the Persian Gulf? Like in 1988 when they shot down that Iran Air Airbus and killed 290 men, women and children, their excuse was that they thought the Airbus was a war plane! Well they must have been thick and stupidly blind. With all that state of the art weapons and radar they could not tell the difference? Did they apologize? Did this tragedy make any headlines? What if this plane was an American passenger plane? Oh my god -- all hell would break loose! But who cares about Iranians? A bunch of fundamentalist terrorists! How long would it take for people too see America's true colors and realize that all they want is to look after their own interest? Why does America have to put its unwanted nose in everyone's business? Isn't that the United Nation's job to deal with most problems America thinks it has the right to solve? Or is it just me, being bitter about the 8-year war that almost totally destroyed our country and crippled our economy? Is it just me that's sick and tired of watching American heroes save the world from such "baddies" like us? * Stoning is neither inhumane nor unjust Regarding the issue of stoning ["The first stone"] , let's make some points clear: 1) It is a part of Shari'ah (Islamic Law) and it's something that all groups and sects of Muslims are in total consensus about. All Muslims believe in following the Sunnah (example) of the Prophet Muhammad. This is what he prescribed as punishment for adulterers who are married (for unmarried people, the punishment is flogging). 2) This is not only in Shari'ah Law, but is also found in the Bible, thus it is an Law which has existed since a very long time, i.e in previous religions as well. Those who claim Jesus abrogated this Law will find that this is a later forged addition to the Bible (//www.religioustolerance.org/john_8.htm) 3) Stoning is neither inhumane nor unjust. What is unjust is murder, rape and adultery, breaking up a family. In Islam the family is considered the core of stability of society. If that core is destroyed, it threatens the stablity and well being of the entire system. That's why the punishments of these sorts of crimes are so hard. Moreoever, as has been stated, the requirements for such a punishment to be carried are quite high. Four righteous eye witnesses are required to give witness that such a crime occured, or the accused must proclaim four times that he or she commited this act. In 2000 for example, 75 criminals were executed in Iran. Of these 75, a number was through stoning. If we say 10 of them was stoning, do you really believe in a population of 65 million only 10 (=5 couples) commited adultery? I doubt so. In any case, it is not "fun" nor something one enjoys to stone. It is a necessity though and has to be done in order to preserve the order and well being of the society. God has made it so easy through His laws and revelations that there is no excuse for commiting adultery. One can get married and divorced and there is temporary marriage. Having all of these things, it's quite hard to understand why someone would commit adultery. If you don't like to live with a person - divorce him/her. It has been stated that according to Islamic Law, the woman cannot divorce a man without the man being either insane, impotent or unable to support the woman. But this is not true. In the abovementioned cases, if she divorces him, she may keep the Mahr (usually money or valuables given by the man to a woman upon marriage - in Iran many times not given but just specified at the time of marriage). If she wishes to divorce him on reasons other than those abovementioned, then she has to give up her right to the Mahr. If she doesn't want to give the Mahr she can give some other property (usually with the same value). Now one may ask if everything is perfectly practised in Iran (or any other Islamic country). The answer of course depends on who you ask. But there is a strong cultural view of women in Iran, regardless if the man in question is Muslim or non-Muslim, religious or irreligious, that is not always compatible with the Islamic view. That should o fcourse be changed. But we will not change our Islamic Laws based on our own whims and desires, for had that happened, then we would not have been muslim (=submitted to the will of God), but we would have submitted to our will. And ofcourse everyone has his or her own views in all matters, and this would lead to inequality regarding whose view is going to be Law, so therefore we follow God's Laws. I hope this cleared up somewhat the distortion that lies around this. Regards, * I was wondering I still was curious to seek out more information about "stoning" as a current punishment still practiced in Iran and in other Islamic countries ["The first stone"]. I was uninformed about "stoning" and just assumed they were similar to the Salem Witch trials of the late 1600s in America where a group of pompous religious fanatics claimed they had a biblical basis for their actions when in fact, they (the Puritans of Salem) had no basis at all for their actions. Since the Puritans had no biblical endorsements for their actions, the trials ended as abruptly as they began. The very source they claimed to give them the authority to burn citizens was indeed the very source that brought the trials to an end. I checked the Internet to seek out some information as to why the Islamic Republic still stones people as a form of punishment. I was wondering if this was a punishment established by a renegade government or religious zealots and was this carried out without the endorsement of the proper legal authorities or outside the endorsement of the true believers of Islam in some back ally where other crimes are committed? I thought perhaps stoning sites would become horrific tourist sites such as Salem, Massachusetts, or the Auschwitz concentration camp, or prisons which have now been turned into museums where people can go and remember the great cruelty mankind is capable of inflicting on each other when they are left to their own interpretation of justice and mercy. I'm not Muslim so I don't know if the below passage is taken out of context from the Koran, but I wonder if the below passage is the basis for modern day stoning in Iran? For comparative purposes, I looked in the New Testament to see if Christianity has a similar law for adultery. Below are the two passages I found. "If" the below text is not taken out of context, then maybe stoning is more of a religious issue than a governmental issue? I do not know about the Koran, but in the Bible there are many stories recorded for historical purpose and not for instructional purposesstories about people lying, killing, committing adultery, stealing.they are recorded as examples to shun not to imitate. MUHAMMAD - From the Hadith of Abu Dawud, #4428: "Buraidah said: A woman of Ghamid came to the Prophet and said: 'I have committed fornication', He said: 'Go back'. She returned and on the next day she came to him again, and said: 'Perhaps you want to send me back as you did to Maiz b. Malik. I swear by Allah, I am pregnant.' He said to her: 'Go back'. She then returned and came to him the next day. He said to her: 'Go back until you give birth to the child.' She then returned. When she gave birth to the child she brought the child to him, and said: 'Here it is! I have given birth to it.' He said: 'Go back, and suckle him until you wean him.' When she had weaned him, she brought him to him with something in his hand which he was eating. The boy was then given to a certain man of the Muslims and he (the prophet) commanded regarding her. So a pit was dug for her, and he gave orders about her and she was stoned to death. Khalid was one of those who were throwing stones at her. He threw a stone at her. When a drop of blood fell on his cheek, he abused her. The prophet said to him: 'Gently, Khaild. By Him in Whose hand my soul is, she has repented to such an extent that if one who wrongfully takes an extra tax were to repent to a like extent, he would be forgiven'. Then giving command regarding her, prayed over her and she was buried." JESUS - From John 8:2-11: "At dawn He (Jesus) appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and He sat down to teach them. The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in women caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, 'Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do You say?' They were using this question as a trap in order to have a basis to accuse Him. But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with His finger. When they kept on questioning Him, He straightened up and said to them, 'If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first one to throw a stone at her.' Again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, 'Woman, where are they (who wanted to punish you)? Has no one condemned you?' 'No one sir', she said. 'Then neither do I condemn you,' Jesus declared. 'Go now and leave your life of sin.' * Islam uniquely terrible? I wrote "Fact or fiction" in reply to "The first stone" written elegantly by Ms. Setareh Sabety. I and many other like minded people thank you for allowing all to voice their opinions in iranian.com, a platform freely available to voice one's opinion. Since then, I have received a number of responses to my letter. The common theme in all was "Fact and Fiction about Islam". Your readers comment inspired me to shed light on to the subject of faith and spirituality. Why, I ask myself, am I reading more than ever, in the past 24 years about brutality, torture, hanging, head chopping, stoning and human rights abuses by the so-called Muslim states? I have often asked myself, why is this only happening to countries governed by Islamic law? Is there something uniquely terrible about Islam? Is there something inherently embedded in the mind of people that bring forth this kind of atrocities from their regimes? Nothing good has come out of Islamic states such of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Iraq, Palestine, Syria, Lebanon and of course Iran? Let's start with the basics. Let me get this point across. I am not here to preach nor to promote any religion. We all have heard enough of that. Our life has been made miserable amply by those who are supposed to be the flag barers of Islam. In fact, religion is a private matter and should be practiced, not preached. I firmly believe in this with all my heart >>> FULL TEXT * Powerful pen Dear Ms. Setareh Sabety, You have a powerful pen that also reflects your political perceptiveness and humanitarian care that I find praiseworthy. ["The first stone"] I share your dismay and frustration with atrocities like stoning, public lashing, political imprisonment and repression of press freedom, etc., etc. that still go on in Iran. Keep on writing and all the best, * Raahe noon Dear Mr. Farzad and all the agents of the Islamic Republic, ["People voted for Islam"] On behalf of all of us, the persecuted people of Iran, please thank your masters for bringing PROSPERITY to our country. Thank you for makig our mothers and sisters begging for customers in the streets of Dubai and Ankara not to mention all the cities across Iran. Thank you very much for getting us all so much poor that we have to work 18 hours a day and in the end selling our carpets and things to make both ends meet. Thank you very much for making one tenth of the popultaion addicted to drugs (accordin to your own masters). Thank you very much for all the displacement of Iranian people in the past 20 years. Thanks for the bloody war which left 1 million dead and 500000 cripples. Thanks for all the executions and stonings. Thank you very much for the times when we are treated like barbars in foriegn countries. If you have one tiny bit of dignity and SHARAF just come out of your Mercedes and go into the crowds to see the depth of hunger and poverty. The problem is the fact that not only you, but also your masters don't have that SHARAF that we are looking for. ENNAA LELLAAH VA ENNAA ELAIHE RAAJEOON TAMAMEH IN HARFHAA SHODEH BARAAYEH SHOMAA RAAHE NOON * Seems like yesterday I enjoyed Mr. Nafisy's article "Firmly planted", but was somewhat dismayed by the negative reaction it received from the readers . Let's face it ; it would be hard to visualize the Shah's repression , for those who were too young before the revolution or were not even born then. To me , however, it seems like yesterday . Early in the seventies , at the university of Isfahan, I was witnessing the arrest of fellow students and friends on a daily basis . One was easily given at least seven years in prison , if caught reading books of Samad Behrangi , Maxim Gorky or Bertolt Brecht. What justification can anyone find for the formation of SAVAK during the Pahlavi dynasty's reign? A brutal secret police force, with a network of spies and informants that imprisoned without trial, tortured and killed without mercy because the nation refused to behave like a flock of tamed animals. The Shah abolished all existing political parties and decreed the Rastakhiz Party whose membership was compulsory to the entire adult population . This was truly the reflection of his blind arrogance and ambitious tyranny. We all realize the agony and the trauma of the loss of a family member . The majority of people, however, did not respond to Pahlavi's recent tragedy, i.e. Leila's death. This is not due to insensitivity. It merely has a class nature. We find it hard to relate to a privileged few with lavish life styles -- those who have never had to work, yet can afford to pay $6,000 in weekly hotel fees. This is not extravagant, it's bizarre, sick and excessive. Most of us have to work every day to pay a 30-year loan on a home. People of Iran have not forgotten the horrors perpetrated by Reza Khan and his torture chambers; the anti -intellectual climate created by his son, and the irrationality of their regime based on inheritance by the first born male, which is so chauvinistically patriarchal . The demise of the Pahlavi system is just a lesson that history teaches us : the disintegration of a family that was nourished on the culture of tyranny . * Bad journalism Mr. Nafisi, I read your piece on the palaces ["Firmly planted"], and as a professional editor, I suggest you stay away from topics that you're so clearly biased about. It makes for really bad journalism. Our nation went to the dogs in 1979 because of such poor leadership provided by the "roshan-fekr-namaahaa." It's high time you guys grew up and behaved responsibly. Sincerely, Azin Hatefi * Sangak & dentists Dear Ashpaz Khanum Baashi, Your beautiful recipe ["Like hope"] brought tears to my eyes (and I haven't yet started to chop the onion for the ab-goosht), but you failed to include a very important part of the recipe. About the same time one gathers the stones, or at least has them in the drying period, one must make an appointment with one's dentist. One can wait until the sangak is baked if one has the sort of dentist that takes emergency calls. If the sangak is as delicious as the one in Iran was, at least one tooth is going to be chipped by the bit of stone hidden in one fantastic bite. If the sangak is as delicious as the one in Iran was, the dentist bill will be worth it! Did Iranian dentists andsSangak bakers have a conspiracy? I have always wondered.. Thanks for the recipe anyway. Have a great day. Sincerely, * Good friend of mine The picture showcased in the Nostalgia section belongs to Aryamehr University students -- now called Sharif. The person sitting in front is William Haratounian, a good friend of mine who at the time was studying metallurgy or some such thing. Though I have not talked to him for over twenty four years, I have heard from friends that he now owns one of Tehran's best photo equipment shops and caters to Iran's top photographers. Thanks for showing it, Farzan Navab * Enjoy Dear Staff, Just wanted to say I really enjoy this web site. The content is great, giving what I would consider an open forum for all opinions relative to Iran, past and present. I especially enjoy the Nostalgia section, both reminisces and photos. I am American. However my wife is Iranian. We just celebrated our 17th anniversary. She has not been back to Iran since before the revolution. Being able to see the Iran she knew, even if just in pictures and words, is very enjoyable for both her and I. * It's simple This is in response to the letter by Farzin "Throwing in the towel": Farzin remember we're not living in Iran! In Europe or North America people have freedom of speech. It's very simple: if you don't like Nooneh's writings don't read them! Also, it was much nicer if you could comment on people's work without insulting them. * Disgrace What a disgrace, for an Iranian girl ["Azita Youseefi"] from a good and educated Iranian family to take off all her clothes and pose nude for a magazine. I want to throw up. Azita, you are an absolute disgrace to all second generation Iranian-Americans in this country. That's all I have to say. * Iranian library system Hello, I am seeking to correspond with a librarian who has worked for several years in Iran. Would you be able to put me in touch with an Iranian who might be able to answer some general question about the Iranian library system? Thank you so much!
|
|
 |
Web design by BTC Consultants
Internet server Global Publishing Group