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Wednesday * Are we ready for it? I just read the the short story, "Dariush" written by Nooneh. I admire the boldness that the author has for composing such a story. She has touched on such a taboo subject for Iranians: Unmarried Iranian women and sex. Are we ready for it? Can we talk about it? Living in America for almost 18 years, I would think that I should have been relieved to come across such an article. But strangely enough, given that it was written by an Iranian, I felt a bit shy and awkward. However, I began reminiscing about one of my favorite poets, Forough Farrokhzad. Now that woman was truly ahead of her time. Her poems were so charged sensuality and potent sexuality. Yet Forough weaved her tales in such a way, that there still remained an air of mystery about her liaisons. Though that was more than three decades ago, and in Iran for that matter. So I could not understand why I felt strange reading "Dariush". After all, we are now in America. We are liberated Iranian women, free to explore our sexuality. Right? But are we really free? Can we just date Iranian men, have sexual relationships with them, and then move on to others? I would be very interested in hearing from other Iranian women. * Out of place I don't often feel compelled to commment on the never ending controversies in The Iranian, but I have to admit that I agree with many of the people who don't care for the short stories by Nooneh ["Bahram", "Dariush"]. They do feel out of place in your journal. My reasons may be somewhat different than those of other readers, but in the end I share their opinion. For me the writing is puerile and undeveloped. It is the kind of writing one would expect to find in a tabloid at the grocery checkout stand, but not, let's say, in the Atlantic Monthly. Sex has got to be the oldest, most tired controversy on earth, and I cannot believe the amount of human energy expended arguing over every conceivable aspect and issue related to it. The reason I object to these stories is because for the next god knows how long, we will buried in this controversy and all the sad, worn out opinions and attitudes around it. If the writing and perspectives depicted in Nooneh's stories were well handled or had some esthetique merit, I would say okay. But I don't think these stories are worth condeming your readers to the literary equivalent of having no TV, except for reruns of Days of Our Lives. Sorry to be such a snob. Yasmine * Sublime art indifferent In response to editor's reply to "Boy, was I wrong"; I want to note that I overlooked the fact that the poem by Iraj Mirza was already published in 1998. I stand corrected on that one. Regarding the said poem's content, it is still obscene and certainly not middle grounds between "Playboy and the Koran" as you put it, nor is "Bahram", "Dariush", and other verbiage in that class. "Where do I draw the line between sublime and the obscene when it comes to sexuality?" Sublime, is an expression that is awe-inspiring as in your own example of Michelangelo's statue of David. It is sublime because of its perfection in displaying anatomical beauty. It is sublime and therefore art because it is indifferent. Viewing it is neither good nor bad. Nothing other than the content can make the intent of the viewer turn an indifferent act into one that is morally good or bad. This is where C\culture comes in. What may be considered "art" is (as far as I can judge) largely dependent on the surrounding culture. I don't think it would be "vulgar" (as you put it) if an Iranian produced a similar statue, IF they had the same intentions as Michelangelo. Obscene is shocking in a depraved way and it is offensive, like certain words used in the aforementioned material. And obviously I am not the only one who is addressing this issue. Originally, my argument pertained to the fact that the said articles simply didn't seem to belong, and were out of place in a site such as The Iranian. Ray Irani's last letter "What does 'Nothing' really mean?" beautifully elaborated on that very issue, as well. I couldn't have written it any better myself. Given the overall characteristics of the Iranian culture (philosophical, religious, ethnic, or even geographical) one who caters to the masses of all ages should really think of what would be the cultural calculus here. If you plug in the current and old values and then add a variable for cultural "stretch", can you come up with the right answer? Or is the answer something we simply make up? * Don't drown in your underwear You asked the question: "Where do you draw the line between the sublime and the obscene when it comes to sexuality?" It seems you are missing the point altogether. Your point is that given the subject of sexuality, there must exist a line where one begins to dabble in the obscene and perverted. But we should keep in mind not only the subject but also the medium (or media). In another words, you would do better by asking: "Given a public forum which has marketed itself as a family, old-world (Iranian) electronic periodical, which topics fall in the realm of obscene (filthy, impure, perverted,...) and which topics, in the realm of the sublime (elevated, uplifted, exalted, ...)?" By the way, let only the coward hide behind the adulterated notions of "free (sexual, obscene, self-indulgent) speech" or use that great evil threat "censorship". A great part of our neuro-anatomy is dedicated to censorship (inhibitory pathways) -- this is what allows us the capacity to take the base and obscene and elevate it to become the sublime. Sexuality, by the virtue of its relation to humanity and human identity must be a topic treated with due protection, discretion, and in a circumspect manner. The first declaration about any living human is usually "look it's a girl!", or "it's a boy!". Sexuality is a quintessential part of humanity, as is one's blood. Much like blood, it must be treated with special care. Exposure will not only spoil it, it will turn it from being the life of a creature to the killer of it. I am saddened. Things that seemed so obvious to people not long ago now require explanations. Is this the face of progress? Lewd nakedness strewn (in words or in pictures) all over the place? Is this the culmination of 2500+ years of culture? For us Iranians to drown ourselves in our underwear? >>> FULL TEXT * Not a trace of literary art I am writing to you to express my strong agreement with the many who opposed the recent controversial story in iranian.com ["Bahram"]. When I read "Bahram" not only was I offended by parts of the article's graphic nature, but more so disappointed to see the cover story of being composed of an article that contained no point. There was not a trace of literary art in this article, no moral to the story, and not a single attribute that could not be found in every semi-x-rated site on the net! At that time I confess that I procrastinated in voicing my opinion, perhaps relying on the fact that my fellows would. They did, but there again comes "Dariush"! Something longer, shallower and more graphic in language than it's precedent! This time, I was trying to put my thoughts into words and write to iraniajn.com, when I came across Mr. Ray Irani's comments on the same subject. He puts it in the best words ["What does 'Nothing' really mean?"] when he refers to these articles and says "It doesn't belong." If "an Iranian creates a similar statue of a nude Iranian man or woman" (Editor's Reply) with a caliber to any degree close to that of Michel Angelo's David, or Aphrodite of the Greek, by all means show it off! But, man to woman (!), how could you make this comparison here?! What did you find in these two stories (in any social, political, religious, literature,... category) to make them "belong" to an e-zine literally called "The Iranian"? A publication addressing Iranians all over the world, especially those of us living far from our homeland, longing to see/read/hear a piece that stimulates our thoughts and emotions towards our Iranian culture and heritage. Atousa H.S. Mohammadi * Support I am greatful for recieving emails from your organization with links to current issues of iranian.com. Usually I find interesting topics that keep me entertained or add to my knowledge. Recently I read your response to Sam regarding art, where to draw the line (if any!), and comparison between world famous wroks of art and Iranian ones. I just wanted to express my support of your analogy and decision on this matter. Keep up the good work. * Bunch of chickens The letter by Mr. Nariman Neyshapouri ["DARING to criticize Israel"] made me write to iranian.com for the first time . Over the last two years since coming from Iran for a temporary stay that will be over soon, and particularly since a few months ago that I have been visiting your website I feel like I have had the chance to open a window into the mentality of the Iranian-American community. This community has often surprised me with its ideas. Let me be focused rather than giving you a free association. The above mentioned letter made me share with you my idea as an outsider. I believe it gives you a chance to see what someone who has a different mind set, while being somehow connected to you, thinks of you. I am not considered an Iranian-American. On most issues I still have the same mentality that the majority of people have in Iran. I hope what I am saying will not sound offensive since in order to make your point sometimes you have to resort to extreme measures, in this case just a little harsh language. After all your audience seem to be able to comply with the necessities of advanced literature like the language used in your recent short stories ["Bahram", "Dariush"]! I was enraged by the above letter. The essence of the letter was to ridicule and humiliate another fellow countryman ["Did Tel Aviv pay Salman Rushdie, too?"] who might believe in a different religion and didn't agree with the views of those who tried to incriminate Israel in the Khobar explosion ["Ghost of Khobar", "Look in the mirror"]. So what? But the writer crushed a value that is an inherent part of our culture i.e., the unwritten law of equal rights for all minorities. That the country belongs to all of us. We, the people of Iran, regardless of this or that regime genuinely do not have any problem with any religion. I have realized this fact better than ever since coming to the U.S. I still have the same mentality and have not assumed the discriminatory attitude of the Western culture. Still I have difficulty understanding some of issues discussed in this website. Even my opposition to our regime is of a different type, its the same type of opposition that you hear in every day life in Tehran. Therefore hearing a drunken brawl like "I WILL defend my country and culture even if it means being labeled anti-Semite. So be it", from someone who thinks is Iranian is beyond my tolerance. Who the hell are you, you miserable emigrant, to talk like this about one of our best minorities in Iran? >>> FULL TEXT * Nature/culture dichotomy The letter criticizing Shirin Neshat's picture of chadori women on the beach ["Penguin women"] as a picture of a "bunch of penguins" compelled me to write a response. I found Shirin Neshat's picture incredibly beautiful. This is why: chadori women are a symbolically laden reality and should and do have a place in our mental landscape. Stop feeling ashamed of being Iranian! There are many kinds of Iraninans some of whom where the chador. Many of them forcefully, but many of them willingly as well. Even if there had been no revolution we would still have chadoris which would want to take a walk on the beach! Now back to why I think the picture is art. Because it takes you beyond the subject of chadori women walking on the beach. If you look long at the picture you will see that it in fact conveys a very optimistic mood. The women are not entrapped in the chador but are moving with it towards the sea. Which everywhere symbolizes rebirth and renewal. They also do not appear like a flock upon close looking. They each seem to be wrapped in their own world busy in going in a forward direction. There is even a sense that the big sea ahead of them will wash away and render meaningless their chadors in its vastness. The picture posits a nature/culture dichotomy but one in which nature has a happily a larger presence. The chadors then seem ephemeral and light in the wind and the ever powerful sea makes them lose they're suffocating signification. The chadors in this picture do not appear cumbersome. They are flowing in the wind and beautifully light. The women are moving forward towards rebirth and the vast beautiful sea makes a mockery of the clothing of these figures dwarfing them. To the sea they could be wearing bikinis and it would'nt care! So to see this picture as a "bunch of penguins" is like calling rock and roll a bunch of noise. It is simply naive and uninformed and betrays a sense of shame, on the part of the author, about our identity as Iranians. * Bad as a New York cabbie I only just read your article ["Quit whining"]; perhaps it is a good thing that it is so. It is clear you are confusing a number of issues. If you are writing an admonition to the Iranians to stop whining, then do that. Encourage us to stop whining. Do so in the great traditions of our culture: with wisdom, understanding, with humility, with depth. Your article sounds like one written by a base New York cab driver. I have some questions for you. Why are you framing it as though it is God who is speaking, and is tired of whining? How do you know what God would say to Iranians? Do you know God? Have you communed with Him so as to know His mind, His heart, and the issues that concern Him, given every human being (including yourself)? Have you heard His invitations to you to come and fellowship with Him, and get to know His heart and mind? Has he been so good to you to have brought you to a point of seeing your need for Him, and show you every answer He has ready for every need of yours (including His answer to your questions about your own death)? >>> FULL TEXT * Chronic Fatigue Syndrome My name is Manuela and I am a young woman from Germany. You might wonder why I am writing to your Iranian website. I have been reading your site for a while and I must say I like it; I like how you people communicate with each other and I like the stories behind the scenes. Additionally we are both immigrants and therefore have to deal with a different culture. Oh, I do love the United States and I prefer to live here rather than in Europe, but there are certainly challenges to be a foreigner, as you might feel in the same way. Let me tell you a little bit more about me and what I am doing right now, it might be of interest for many of you, since it has to do with modern killer diseases and how to treat them. I am very interested natural medicine, since I am a sufferer myself. I suffer from chronic fatigue syndrome, or short CFS, which is a severe autoimmune disease. CFS affects millions of people the world over. It is misdiagnosed, goes undiagnosed or is misinterpreted by many. It has been described as "a multi-system disease that affects the nervous and immune and musculoskeletal system". This includes unexplained persistent severe disabling or relapsing chronic fatigue, short term memory loss or disruption severe enough to cause substantial reduction in work, school, social or personal activities. Symptoms can include sore throat, severe muscle and joint pain and many others. One author has called it "The Crippler" because of its literally crippling effects on the body. Up to age 19 I had perfect health, then it rapidly deteriorated with the onset of mononucleosis. I sought help in Germany to no avail. The doctors used to say "everything is fine with you, it is all in your head." Within a couple of years I was unable to work, even bedridden, and after getting no help from the medical profession I became frustrated and desperate. I knew something was terribly wrong with my body but I did not know what. I dedicated my life to make it known to people that there is help available. Sometimes one needs to go a little further and take a way that is not very common, but it is worth the effort. What could be more important than health? I invite you to write me with questions you might have or you even might know somebody who is not in good health and needs help. Please feel free to contact me. You can write me at manuela@cfshelp.com and check out my website www.cfshelp.com where you will find more information >>> FULL TEXT Yours in good health,
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