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April 22, 2002



* We're all terrorists?

I am writing this in response to your article "Huge blow" in the Iranian.com. I see this bill as another work of "special interest" groups manipulating the politics of this country. I think beside the consequences you mentioned in your article, there are some unintended consequences that I belive we Americans are going to pay for in future.

This bill says that by unanimously vote(97-0), US Senators feel that our intelligence, immigration, embassies, and the rest of agencies in charge are incompetent. The Senators are saying that with billions of $$ that we have spend on CIA, FBI, national security agencies, etc we can't distinguish between a university professor, a grandmother, families wishing to visit their families or simple tourists, and a terrorist intending to do harm.

An unintended consequence of this admission is a long term economic impact of this bill. If honorable Senators of United State can't trust their own government agencies, how would a foreign investor feel about investing in this county. Our pride has always been that US is the safest place for investments, and we have attracted money from all over the world. But now it seems that even our Senators don't belive in this country.

Daryoush Mehrtash



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* Will anything galvanize Iranian Americans?

I hope that this mobilizes the Iranian-American community in the United States [Huge blow]. The reason that Iranians were targeted is that the American Isreali Political Action Committee, which is the second most powerful lobby in the United States, next to the AARP is targeting Iran. Members of the House, Senate and Administration are very careful to work with in the interests of this lobby.

The Jewish American groups, with primary support from 6 million Jewish Americans are effective fund raisers, and lobby government officials in the interest of Israel. They are unified and pursue the political and economic goals of the state of Israel effectively in the United States. Despite the fact that Israel on a per capita basis has a GNP equal to that of Great Britain, the United States provides 10 million dollars a year to Israel.

They are effective in getting things done, by raising money, wielding power and remaining focused and united. We simply whimper and remain passive. We need to learn from these effective political action organizations, and the people who support them.

Despite the fact that Iranian Americans are wealthy, educated taxpayers, their participation in the political life of this country is non-existent. There are no Iranian political action committees, and even if there were, Iranians would not contribute to them. There are other ethnic groups that have similar interests, like Arab Americans or Central Asian Americans, but Iranians spend more time talking about how they are not Arabs, than trying to figure out how to make a statement by combining forces with these other groups.

Iranian Americans do not hold positions as major editors of newspapers or magazines, and neither do Arab Americans. Iranian Americans who are leaders of major corporations, run away form politics. Jewish Americans are economically, politically and socially more effective than any other minority group in the United States. Will anything galvanize the Iranian community into learning to advocate for its own interests. Will the fact that your old aunt can no longer get a visa to visit you here, motivate you to become politically active?

Darya



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* Iranian regime at fault

As an Iranian American I am sorry about this legislation. However, I think this is the price countries and regimes have to pay who either sponsor, train and/or enable terrorists to export chaos, loss of life and liberty, and human tragedies to other nations.

I do agree with you that there should be additional countries on the list of this resolution. America has always welcomed everyone. Its borders have been open, tourists and students have often just stayed on with no check on their status. It used to be different. Students at the universities and schools were checked for their status. Now they can get lost without any follow-up.

Unfortunately times have changed. It is the countries that have regimes with no qualms to kill or terrorize who are at fault, not the individuals who are innocent. But there has to be a way to stop this, and the only way for America is to be more vigilant.

That is the reason that this legislation is right for America, even if it may seem wrong to others.

Thank you,

Sincerely,

Shahla Samii
New York



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* Similartities and differences

Having lived in the US for many years , these are the facts I have found about Iran and the U.S.:

1. Freedome of press
In Iran you are free to write and the goverment is free to do what they want with you, i.e. to arrest you. In US, if you are Pro-Israeli you are free, otherwise , you are not. Try and get an article against Sharon published in New York Times !!

2. Freedom of Media
In Iran , people receive a lot of lies from the TV and radio. Most people do not even bother to listen to the news from the Iranian media. In fact, they believe the opposit of what they hear is true !!!.. Most people rely on getting the news from European, American or even Israeli broadcasting .., (Farsi section ).

In US, again thre media is controlled by the Pro-Israelis, anti-Mid Eastern people. The trurth about the Middle eastern and Isalmic conutries is replaced by one-sided stories, to give negative imgaes of those places to the American people. However, Unilke the Middle Eastern people, Americans BELIEVE what they see and hear from their media. Only a monority of them will try to explore other avenues. That explains why only the American people are sympathisinf with Israel in the recent incursions on Palestine, while even the Europeans are mostly sympathising with the Palestinians.

3. Personal Freedom
In Iran: You have limitations on they way you dress,...and certain types of activities in the public.... In US, there is a lot more freedom, for how much naked you want to be.... even free sex in certain places (Vegas)...naked women are used to advertise for anything.... Using the excuse of " fight with terrorism" many of the personal freedome are being limited such as our emails....telephone lines....and even home searches....using racial and ethnic profiling , when you are applyimg for a job or traveling....

4. Free Election of the Government by people
In Iran: Things are improving but still a long way to go.....very long way.... In US, you think this is the most democratic country in the world....but the truth is that, the votes are bought by money and power, again, the Pro- Israeli people are elected. How many Muslim or Iranian representatives are there in the Government... Middle Eastren people are blocked from getting to high and sensitive positions, such as Secretary of State, Defence secretary......
.
5. Human rights vilations
IRI has a known record of violation of human rights and it is well known to all the people in the world. Sometimes even has received certain types of sanctions and punishment for this . US, is known as the " civilzed world" !! as Bush keeps saying in his speeches; " an attack of terror against the civilzed world"....

The civilzed country , is backing up the massacre and killing of the Palestinian people, the killing of Iranian and Iraqi people ( with the support of Saddam during the Irani- Iraqi war), the killing of people in Afghanistan... (people were targeted using pictures taken by the airplanes, bc some looked like " Bin Laden" !!!!. We all have seen the recent treatment of the group of people who are being held in Cuba....they are being treated as animals .... Only those two who are US citizens are being given some rights to have an attroney. The rest will be there with no one to defend them and even interview them and see what are their conditions. Shouldn't the human rights apply to them as well?.....

At the end I have come to the conclusion that difference between these two systems is only in the "appearance " not in the "core" I like to know what the others think....

Mojgan



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* Someone-else-will-fix-it mentality

Dear Katayoon, [How could they?],

I share your outrage at this bill, but more so than the Americans who are more worried about what's on TV tonight, I'm outraged at the Iranian-American community for it's lax attitude and "oh-someone-else-will-fix-it" mentality.

Having looked at a few Iranian activists sites (antidiscrimination.org , iic.org , american-iranian.org ) this morning, I saw either no mention of this bill or something referring to ban of students only. So much for our watch dog groups.

I say to all the compassionate Iranian-Americans: People who so passionately cry for democracy in Iran .... you've got one here and it is taking away your right of visits from family members. And what are YOU doing about it?

Moe



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* What idiocy has led the Iranian community to do nothing?

In response to Ms.Hadizadeh's article [How could they?], I'd like to thank her for asking these thought provoking questions. However these questions of the Iran-Libya Sanctions Act raises another more critical question, which has baffled me for some time: why aren't Iranians in the United States politically active? Why is it that with the claim by many -- proud Iranians -- that Iranians in the U.S. are the most educated, wealthiest minority, and with a large concentration in in one important state like California not doing anything to bring the downfall of Sen. Feinstein in the next election?

Why is it that the Iranian community with all of these "success quotient factors" complete failures in the political arena in this country? Iranians should stop complaining or conversely boasting about these attributes or lack there of and start to organize politically like many other ethnic groups which are smaller and with less money, collectively. If one looks at the immigration of other ethnic groups, it is the FIRST TWENTY YEARS of those groups' organizing politically to make a mark on the U.S. landscape, or fade into insignifigance.

There are many excuses, as usual from Iranians, such as "we are multi-religious,...we haven't been here long enough,...or Iranians differ on too many political issues regarding Iran." Well, the facts are very different: 1)atleast 70% of the Iranian population in the U.S. are nominally-Muslim 2)Iranians have been in this country since the 1920s, admittedly most after 1979, but nonetheless that is still more than 20-years, and 3)the politics of the U.S. haven't anything to do with Iran directly when it comes to establishing lobbying offices, and fielding CANDIDATES.

I'd like to point out that in the past I, personally, did attempt to work with some Iranian candidates and even fielded some ideas at official Iranian publications and forums with these ideas. However when it comes to -- action -- and I mean really simple steps, Iranian-Americans are very much apathetic and paranoid interms of doing anything.

The next generation I doubt will succeed because, unlike the Cuban-American community, the Iranian-Americans don't have the essential to become organized. We do not have a developed "group identity" from a common experience of cause. I appeal to the Iranian-American youth to be very bold and tenacious. Get involved in politics, if your interested, but do it with such passion and aggression. That is the only way to get your voices heard.

The simple evaluation of recent political activism has taught us a lesson. If you have the desire and guts as a group to become aware and then organize meetings, and finally raise money, and start getting the so-called Iranian Community, especially in southern California -- where Iranians have media outlets, and money and are highly concentrated, then something could happen. For instance, has even ONE IRANIAN ATTEMPTED to run for Congress in the Los Angeles congressional district, for either Republican or Democratic tickets? I wonder, frankly what idiocy has led the Iranian community to do nothing? Pakistani-Americans which are at 200,000 have already established several lobbying groups and have fielded several candidates for mayoral, congressional, and other seats in several cities. They've only been here since mid-1980s.

Cuban-Americans, which came here in the mid-1960s and are numbered about 600,000 in Florida and New Jersey have already mayors, congressmen, and many lobbyist organizations which are powerful and so on. Arab-Americans, specifically speaking of the Lebanese community, have lobbyist groups, three congressmen that I know of, a few Senators, and a former governor. Admittedly they've been here since the 1920s, but hey that's no excuse for Iranians, now is it? So the entire concern with the cracking down of Iranians as being branded "terrorists" by the Senator Feinstein, Tom Lantos, or Arlene Spector, for instance, is no ones fault of theirs, but Iranian-Americans, most specifically those living in the state of California! Actually the Iranians in the Maryland, Virginia area seem a bit more active for their size and might do something.

Very simply put in perspective, if the Iranian-American community is supposedly 1-million, of which half reside in California, and 70-80% of the adults have university degrees, and large numbers of them are doctors, engineers, businessmen, then doesn't that tell you something is wrong with this community? A community which already has radio, television, and pretty decent newspapers and websites? The concern has to come about very definitely and swiftly, because if Iranians are expecting the "next generation to do something" then they are sorrily mistaken.

There is a Persian saying, writing on stone lasts for ever, writing on sand is taken by the wind.

Sincerely,

Cyrus Raafat

PS - If there any any Iranians interested in forming a lobby-group please feel free to contact me.



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* Utterly shocked

I am utterly shocked [How could they?]. I am living abraod, so I had not heard this was in the works. Do we still have time to write to our representatives and protest? Where can I find the addresses?

Karintha
(non-Iranian) American living in Germany



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* Totally unfair to Mossadegh

I had the opportunity to be Dr Sahabi's Student in University of Teheran [Taking a bow]. I have great respect for his teaching but as a defendant of Liberty and freedom, I have strong reservation. In my opinion both " Liberty and Freedom" in Dr Sahabi's lexicon, had dogmatic and theocratic meanings. In the Wisdom of Dr Sahabi as well as all other fundamentalist, Islamist intellectuals, the ideal state was a theocratic regime similar to what is now in power in Iran.

It would be totally unfair to Dr Mossadegh if we compare the nationalistic goals and ideals of Dr Sahabi or Dr Bazargan to Dr Mossadegh nationalism!! Mossadegh was a committed liberal, Dr Sahabi was an entrenched theocrat. Democracy and theocracy are diagonally opposed by the very essence of the meaning of the words. In a Democratic State, religion belief is a personal choice, in a Theocratic regime the religion is a must and there is no or little choice. In the process of democracy man is facing man, in theocracy man is facing the almighty unseen God! One is based on the law of man and the other on the Law of God.

Selection of Dr Sahabi to the "Shorai-eh inghelab" by Ayatollah Khomeini is a clear indication of his deep commitment to fundamentalism and religious dogmatism.

Signature reserved



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* Are we so void of good politicians

The fact that these folks (Mohammed Khatami, Ayatollah Hosseinali Montazeri, Mehdi Karrubi, Ayatollah Khamenei) attended Sahabi's funeral or praised him should tell any Iranian patriot the kind of personality Sahabi was! [Taking a bow]

Akhond Khameni -- excuse me, the Supreme Leader -- praised Sahabi for his contribution in creation of this night mare called Islamic Republic and he should, after all bird of feathers, flock together! "Konad hamjens ba hamjens parvaz"

I realize so many decent Iranian patriots and politicans have been killed by the Islamic regime, but are we so void of good politicians and patriots, (Ghaht o rejal) that we now we have to start praising people like Sahabi? Whose next, low life's like Bazargan and Sanjabi who went to bed with Khomeini to bring us this situation.

Tune in next week folks as Iranain.com will introduce us to new Iranian patriots, Yazdi, Soroush and Ghotbzadeh!.

Mr. Irani

P.S I hope none of these prestigious people attend my funeral or praise me for anything!



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* Would you side with Saddam to get the girl?

Siamack Baniameri (What crisis?) certainly has a way with words and a biting sense of humor. One wonders, though, how he would have felt if a non-Iranian had written a piece similar to his during the Iran-Iraq war, with the uninformed, but well-built "hero" siding with President Saddam Hossein, and ending up in bed with a "cute" pro-Iraqi girl.

Siamack suggests that one should side with the stronger party in a conflict. Iraq was militarily stronger than Iran, and had the backing of many countries, including the United States.

One does not have to favor either party in a war to be able to sympathize with its victims. There are few real "winners" in wars but many, many losers, most them outside the privileged circles that Siamack seems to have had as his real target. Surely someone with his imagination and ability could have poked fun at them without appearing to argue that the suffering of the Palestinians -- and the Israelis -- "does not matter"? Such tragedies can only truly end if more of us care, even without being there

Hossein Shahidi



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* Proving Iranians are shallow

Here I was looking forward to reading an article on "The Iranian" web page, hoping to find some written material that would justify my own "fantasy" that Iranians are quietly proud, yet humble, intensely intelligent, yet not "in your face" about it, and certainly not shallow. After reading your article [What crisis?], guess what? You proved it. It was just a fantasy.

Sincerely,

A reader no longer,

Shireen Keyl



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* Mockery of the pretentious intellectuals

I found Siamack Baniameri's article "What crisis?" honest, funny, a mockery of the pretentious intellectuals and to the point.

I enjoyed reading what is really going on in a mind of a male when discussing serious issues with his counterpart. That was interesting to know.

Thank you for giving an opportunity to the younger Iranian generation to explain themselves and their thoughts.

Mahvash Shahegh



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* More suitable for Playboy

Your article "What crisis?" was fun to read. However it is more suitable for the pages of Playboy magazine, rather than a daily newspaper. You are certainly well qualified to write a book on the subject of picking up women, however that doesn't change the realities of the world we live in.

What you do in the privacy of your apartment is your business. What Israel is doing to the Palestinians is the world's business. We need to all stand up against injustice anywhere, anytime.

Some day, perhaps in the not too distant future, if events progress the way they are doing, you and I are going to find ourselves in the same predicament as the Palestinians. Who are we going to turn to for moral and political support then?

Enjoy life to the fullest, have as many girlfriends as you like, and think about your fellow human beings once in a while.

All the best,

Shahram Mostarshed



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* Most pathetic depiction of romance

"What crisis?" is the most pathetic lame depiction of romance I have ever encountered in my life. Never have I come across anything so blatantly disrespectful and petty! I think you really need to step back and re-evaluate what it is that constitutes affection or reciprocates it. I am almost certain that women do not find you as irresistible as you may like to think.

"I taste like ice-cream, big boy. Come and have some." Are you for real!??!?!

It?s sad when a mere few lines can decipher the convictions and ideology of a person.
Your apathy and belittlement of not only women, but also people; life for that matter bears the reflection of your own self-worth.

Nothing is weaker than a mind that cannot offer a defense for itself and so must resort to brute force. I pity you. For, you will never be able to comprehend wholeness or selflessness but will forever be the subdued prisoner of your own superficiality.

MB



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* Perverted bird brain

Mr. Baniameri, [What crisis?]

You are a disgrace to Iranian men and a total idiot for assuming that the rest of us like you have bird brains (like you . Your perverted imagination is not even artistic enough to be accepted as a rejected little man's fantasy.

How do you expect us to believe that a beautiful Iranian girl with a rich and good looking boyfriend will simply leave him for a nobody like you just because you are a Jew sympathizer? Even a bird brain like you should know a little about the atrocities the Jews have been committing for years and the Jewish owned media in the West has prevented the news from spreading.

Thanks to the Internet and the efforts of true human right activists, the world is becoming aware of what the filthy Jews are about. You are either a Jew or a lowlife Iranian who is not successful and that is the reason you have contempt for the young man who has money.

I bet you came up with this little absurd fantasy when you where sitting in your little basement apartment fantasizing about beautiful Iranian girls who don't even notice you because you have nothing to offer.

Azam Nemati

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* Same Plestinians they are weeping for

I am shocked at the Iranian community outside of Iran preoccupying themselves with the affairs of Israel & Palestine... What we need to be concerned about are the atrocities that are going on in Iran right now under this regime in the name of Islam.

The same Plestinians they are weeping for are the same ones who fought against the Iranians in the Iran Iraq war. They were on the Iraqi side, because they are their ARAB Brothers.

Thank you,

F.N.
USA



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* U.S. intentions are clear

Regarding Mr. Hodges' article "Misreading U.S. intentions", personally I don't understand how ANY American can come to the conclusion that a "Jewish state" has a "right" to exist after considering that "we hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal ...".

Aren't governments and states to be judged on the basis to the degree to which they aspire to represent all their citizens and those under their dominion? I dare say that if the Israeli government were, in fact, a democracy in the model of the U.S., and the U.S. government were to begin expressing through our foreign policy the ideals that we hold dear, peace could be had for the taking.

U.S. intentions are clear. Democracy and human rights must be CRUSHED in the Middle East. Submit to the divine right of nations or die. Well, the divine right of SOME nations; a Jewish state has a right to exist but not a Kurdish state, for instance. At least that is what our leaders are saying. :-(

Bradley J. Hernlem



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* Same tactics as Zionist gangs

I would like to deal with the latter part of William Baker's article "Absurd exaggeration" first.

The Palestinians resorting too suicide bomb tactics are resorting to the same tactics as the Zionist Irgun and Stern gangs lead by none other than Menachem Begin. When the Zionists bombed the King David hotel in Jerusalem in 1946, zionist advocates would condemn these actions as the only way to advance their nationalistic cause. By condemning outright the Palestinians who resort to suicide bomb tactics is a simple case of pot calling the kettle black. Secondly, I place the onus on Mr Baker to what tactics he would use when living under the most oppressive military occupation in the world and being deprived of the most elementary human rights.

I challenge Mr Baker to explain what the difference between the 1948 massacre of the village of Deir Yassin and the recent incursion of Jenin is? Is is because the Israelis have all the trappings of the state, a sophisticated military that wears a uniform and has a system of government, whilst in contrast, the Palestinians appear to be a bunch of ragged ass bandits? Mr Baker, Israel calls itself a democracy and its former prime minister Ehud Barak recently had the audacity to claim it was the only outpost of western civilisation in that area. Yet, no western style civilisation would flounder the Geneva Convention on human rights and prevent aid workers and ambulances to reach the injured and the needy.

If Israel asserts its bogus claims about being a democracy (certainly a democracy for its Jewish citizens at least) then it must behave like one. That is why it has attracted such opprobrium and scathing criticism in the European Media. Secondly, if these are the actions are representative of a race of people that was almost annihilated more than half a century ago then they leave a lot to be desired.

With regard to Mr Baker's attack on Mr Said's criticism of the American Media, I would defend Mr Said [Palestinians will not go away]. I would also agree that there are many compassionate and humanitarian Jews and I loathe and condemn outright any anti-Semitism However why does the American media not describe the West Bank and Gazza as 'Occupied Territories' , or that the paramilitary style settler's are strategically placed provocatively in the middle of piss poor Palestinian areas?

The New York Times, has not condemned any Israeli aggression at all. The other more 'enlightened' news papers such as the Washington Post and LA Times which have criticised Israeli actions do not go the full length and condemn the actions. The LA times only this week wrote that no evidence has emerged to support allegations of large scale massacres of Palestinians. Yet, there are eye witness accounts and fist hand testimony that a massacre occurred with old women and children, and the dead being recovered from the rubble.

Would Mr Baker like to explain why CNN camera men are strategically paced when bombs detonate in Tel Aviv and why faceless Palestinians are relegated to being statistics wiped out by Israelis in retaliatory responses. Mr Baker, use what your common-sense and your eyes see. If I were to say that eye witness accounts and first hand testimony of Nazi perpetrated Jewish Massacres are all hearsay evidence then I would be called an anti-semite and holocaust denier.

Afshar

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* Subtle insight into mixed feelings

I love your writing [Sarvenaz]. Especially your subtle insight into your own often mixed feelings. you are already a very good writer and someday you will be great, if you don't end up being satisfied simply being in love and having those children your mother craves so much.

I look forward to reading more.

Thank you again.

Bill



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* Stop the anti-Islam attitude

Stop the anti-Islam attitude on this site. I've had enough of reading crap from people who disrespect women who wear hejabs and or people who follow the faith.

SaintsSinners



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* Hejab not a sign of oppression

Dear Kamran Shariati, [Iranian or Arab?]

You like it or not, the system of government in Iran is called Islamic Republic and no matter how big your inferiority complex is,at the moment the Hejab is representing how iranian women are dressed, it is not a sign of oppression or injustice, inspite of what the media tells you and you with your easily taken simple and selfish and shallow mind, take it all in. With all the pain that Iranians have to deal with every day of their lives, you are embarrassed?! You are an embarrassment to Iranians.

SB



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* Looked very elegant to me

My name is Stefanie from Holland. For me the picture I saw was not a funny picture but a big dressing
support because in 1 week I am leaving to Iran and I am insecure about what to wear. So thanks. Now i know a little bit more. The woman looked very elegant to me.

Best wishes,

Stefanie Bredewoud



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* Khod forookhteh

How could you ever, ever relate "PAHLEVANI" with Shaban Beemokh. He was another low life and "khod forookhteh" like you and Homa Sarshar etc...

SB



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* "Mr. Hosseini"gets his turn :-)

My salute to the the combatant Muslim community of the Internet and may the eternal wrath of God fall upon on all non believers.

My nephew Gholam Computer has brought to our attention that the anti revolutionaries outside of Iran in their hopeless fight against our glorious revolution have recently started a futile campaign of psychological warfare against this worthless slave of Islam and obedient servant of Imamat and Velayat. We do not speak the language of Kofr so Gholam will translate.

First and foremost, this worthless slave has been a dutiful servant of the Almighty all his life and has never deviated one cm from the path of the truth and religion. I was born in a poor family of true Moslems. I lost my father Agha Karim Kalehpaz at the age of twelve.

I started to work as a construction worker to support my mother and my five brothers and sisters. Later I got a job as in the Vahed bus company washing cars until I got my drivers license. I was a diver for Vahed for twenty years until I retired and became "Shoufer " for families. After the glorious revolution I was the head of Kommiteh Gholhak for ten years until I was put in the charge of the Kommiteh Emdad Imam Shemiran.

During my entire life I have not missed a single prayer nor one day of fasting. I have paid my Zakat, Khoms and have been leading the Dasteh Azadaran Hossein Gholhak for the last forty years. I have been nineteen times to Mashad, three times to Karbala and one time to Haj. I am the father of one martyr, uncle to another three and can count twelve Janbaz in my immediate family.

Second, regarding the baseless claims and accusations of my sigheh, Setareh [Aghaye Hosseini]. May God guide her to the true path. I went to work for that family because I was out of a job and needed the money. It shortly became obvious to me I had stepped into the house of sin.

The women did not even know what hejab was. Alcohol and pork were noghl va nabat. "Agha and Khanom" did not pray. They had parties which put Sodom and Gomorra to shame where men and women would hold each other tight and "dance."

For those of you born after our glorious revolution, it is hard to even imagine the depth of that depravity.
Everyday was akharolzaman. I did my best to guide those who listened to the true path by preaching the word of God, by directing them to the true path of Islam. I was Balal Habashi in the household of Abu Lahab. That is why everyone trusted me.

Setareh was the smallest child of that family. Her soul was still clean. She was not still polluted by what went around her. I took her under my protection. I talked to her about religion. I talked to her about the glorious women of Islam.

As her heart was pure, she reflected the light of God and came towards me. We would spend more time together than she spent with her own family. I started to think that I can give her the best gift of all. Eternal Salvation. And yes, I fell in love. "Khaterkhah shodam."

I went to our Molla at the Gholhak mosque and asked what to do. He told me I should marry her. I told him the moment I talk to her father, he would throw me out of the house.

He told me she could first become my sigheh and later on we could make it permanent "Aghd."
I asked him how. He told me as long as there is one witness present, according to "fegh"there is no need for documents. I told him Setareh does not understand the language and cannot even respond.
He told me the following hadith: Abu Huraira Volume 7, Book 62, Number 67:

The Prophet said, "A matron should not be given in marriage except after consulting her; and a virgin should not be given in marriage except after her permission." The people asked, "O Allah's Apostle! How can we know her permission?" He said, "Her silence (indicates her permission)."

So I set a date with the Molla and picked him up on the way back from Setareh's school. Setareh did not say a word and the Molla read the "Sigheh Aghd." Setareh and I became man and wife.

I consider this one of the my proudest achievements. For I saved another human being from hell. To those of you anti revolutionaries who laugh at me for marrying a nine year old. You are either Muslim or not. If not, go burn in hell.

If you are Muslim, then I followed the path of our prophet who married his favorite wife Aisha who happened to be his best friend's daughter when she was six years old. I followed the path of our Imam Ali who married Fatima when she was eleven years old. I followed the path of our glorious leader Imam Khomeini when he married his wife Khadija when she was twelve years old. I have only done my religious and ethical duties. The claim that Setareh was not ready for her marital duties is completely false.

Imam Khomeini himself says:

"A man can have sexual pleasure from a child as young as a baby. However he should not penetrate, sodomizing the child is permitted. If the man penetrates and damages the child then he should be responsible for her subsistence all her life. This girl, however does not count as one of his four permanent wives. The man will not be eligible to marry the girls sister. It is better for a girl to marry in such a time when she would begin menstruation at her husband's house rather than her father's home. Any father marrying his daughter so young will have a permanent place in heaven." "Tahrirolvasyleh", fourth volume, Darol Elm, Gom, Iran, 1990.

I waited for two years so we could consume our marriage at which point I was going to go Setareh's father and tell him about it. But bad luck struck and as a result of bad environment Setareh started to cheat on me.
I saw her myself with my own eyes kissing an American Boy!!! Brothers and Sisters, when our leader tells us the relationship of America and Iran is like wolf and sheep, believe him.

You had not seen those days. Their law, their godless, imperialistic, Zionistic, Bahai, unjust Iaw said a Muslim man could not marry a nine year old. But, an infidel, "koun nashosteh" American can kiss a moslem woman when he likes too!!!
What is Imperialism and Zionism if not this?

That was the law that thief Shah and his whore sister Ashraf passed by the order of their American and Jewish Masters to enslave our people. The best part was they called it the "Famliy Protection Law." May they burn in hell forever for they sold our Namous. Now you know why the honorable people of our country made their revolution.

For doing my religious and human duty, that man Setareh's father fired me instead of killing that Amrican infidel.

I still remember it like yesterday. He looked at me under his glasses and said. "Here is your last cheque, we don t need you here any more and If I ever see you around my house, I will break your legs." It struck me like thunder and there was nothing that I can do. They took our wives, they violated our namous, our religion just like this.

The Molla of Gholhak advised me to wait and do nothing until the day comes. And by God, that day came. Our turn came when we threw the whole corrupt lot of them out. Now, after all these years, I understand that Setareh has finally come to her senses and wants to come back to me, her lawful husband.

She wants to have "Dialogue", like our President.

Setareh, if your read this. I forgive you. I love Dialogue. You can still come back, you are still my Sigheh. I have never divorced you and nothing, no law can make me do that.

Mokhless-e- Doustdaran,
Tchaker-e- Alaghemandan.
AlAhghar Haj Agha Hosseini



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* Parents' negligence

Your article was very moving [Aghaye Hosseini]. I am speechless as to your parents' negligence of you. Given that, apparently they were well-educated (and not just rich and well connected), it behooves me to see why they would not have enlightened their daughter about sexual matters and etiquette with the 'help' earlier on in life. There are lots of Aghaye Hosseini's out there. Given half the chance many would take advantage of an innocent nine-year old, if the circumstance presented itself.

Like you, I also came from a home with a driver who was responsible for taking me to and from school. I was given strict instructions to sit in the back seat. I was told it was more lady-like. After reading your article, it dawned on me that my mother must have had other reasons to enforce the seating arrangement.

By the way , you might do well to check your dates. Last I heard the Komiteh did not recruit anyone over 30 much less 72. I enjoy reading your articles and have the impression that you have a special abhorrence for the current regime (which you claim to have taken away all of your parents' possessions etc). However, relating a child molestor to the current regime, or worst still relating the current regime to child molestation?!! - Just because it would sound good and the Iranian.com crowd is likely to buy it?!

Not all pious men are child molestors Madam and not all atheists have 'clean hands' - forgive the pun!

Shaadan S



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* A lot to be said about neo-tribal traits

Dear Mr. Enayati,

Your article titled "No heroes" together with a host of other articles by other writers were brought to my attention through iranian.com when he kindly published a piece of yours truly titled "Challenging the myth".

From among all those articles that I read, I found yours to be the most levelheaded one. You had successfully verbalized surprisingly many things that have been on my mind too, but I haven't been able to articulate on as fluently as you had. My best attempt so far has consummated in "Challenging the myth" which does not compare to your two eloquent articles that you have published in iranian.com .

There are many fellow Iranians who write in an as impeccable English as you do, but most of them leave me disappointed in terms of content. You didn't. Thank you very much, then, for caring to share your thoughts.

Many of the points you have raised are, in my opinion, of utmost importance. I just do not know if they are fully appreciated by iranian.com's readership. Believe me, I'm not into flattery. In fact, I despise it myself. but let me just say that if I want to quote the paragraphs of your articles that resonated with me, I should quote almost all of your writings. Allow me, therefore, to underline only one paragraph of "No heroes" here, as it is worth to be read and mulled over over and over again.

"My contention is that even if our democratization efforts were not that far behind those of Western democracies, there would still be no compelling reason for one to resemble the other, follow a similar path or arrive at the same destination as the other. That is not to say that valuable lessons cannot be learned from experiences of others. However we must exercise great caution not to use a model whose underlying assumptions and conditions are intrinsically very different from our own particular, and sometimes very unique, set of circumstances."

Very well put!

In regard to your earlier article entitled "Passions and tolerance" I have a word or two to add to your observations where you had found "ironic" the way we Iranians behave when it comes to political debates, and in general the way we treat those with whom we have not already formed a bond, through blood or acquaintance.

I, too, have noticed that in our "dialogues", we Iranians tend to go from one extreme to the other in a fraction of a second. Especially in Iranian chatrooms which are equipped with voice this amazing quality of our social conduct cannot go un-noticed. One moment we are busy sucking up to each other with all sort of pleasantries that our ancestors have developed and the next moment we are cursing the bejesus out of each other and verbally tearing each other apart.

I can think of no explanation for this phenomena, except attributing it to the residues of a tribal culture where people upon facing each other are first and foremost eager to figure if their party is a friend or a foe. The situation is not as simple as this. There are all sorts of well-established hierarchies when it comes to our conduct which help make the basic idea of equality unfathomable, and I have to confess that I am as ignorant in the area of sociology as the next person. Could it be, as you had humorously suggested, that this kind of behavior may have already developed into some genetic disposition?

One difference is, of course, that in an officially tribal setting, such things are to a great extent decided by territory or your allegiance to a specific tribe. In an apparently urban setting, however, the individual with a tribal mindset (or tribal genes) is in a state of puzzlement as who is the friend and who the foe, who is "khodi" and who is "gharibe".

Now that the tribal borders have become fuzzy, he is desperately in search of criteria to distinguish his friends from his enemies. More often than not, if you agree with him, then you are a friend and gain his respect and will be treated accordingly. As soon as you disagree with him you become an enemy who must be at least humiliated, if not outright annihilated.

There is a lot to be said about such neo-tribal traits, if you will, that we are afflicted with. I suspect much of our social behavior that forcefully resist democratic values can be explained by resorting to these traits. But I guess I stop here for now, hoping that someday some fair expert who is not afraid of our rage resolve these ironies and tell us why we really behave the way we do.

All the best, and looking forward to more of your writing,

Ataollah Togha



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* Wiser and less intolerant than say 20 years ago

Enjoyed reading your witty article, "Challenging the myth".

Two comments:

1. Agree - Democracy and democratic habbits are cultural and can only change in long-term. So, a change of government for example is not a panacea. Esp. if it means change of leader but same ignorant bunch of followers.

2. Diagree - Striving for democracy and common agreement among Iranian citizens that democratic means and ideals shall be adopted, will certainly have an effect on moving away from undemocratic cultural habits. In fact it is the only way. I think we Iranians residing abroad, and a large majority of people in Iran are wiser and less intolerant than say 20 years ago. Not of-course by judging their driving habits, and that of mine by the way, of-course! (See response below)

All the best

Sa'id Farzaneh,
London, UK



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* Symptoms of deeper traits

Dear Dr. Farzaneh, (See letter above)

Thank you for your encouraging comments.

I certainly agree that in my writing the relationship between the way Iranians drive and their suceptibility for democracy is not clarified. However, I do believe that our driving habits can be examined as symptoms of deeper less discernible traits that govern all aspects of our social conduct.

Traits that are responsible for our general intolerance/unforgivingness, lack of respect for the "rights" of those who are not viewed as "khodi", failing to make an effort to abide by laws, obsession with being "zerang", indiffirence towards, if not total disregard for, the values of equality and justice that seem to be the very purposes of democracy, and so on and so forth.

Hopefully, some Iranian sociologist will someday provide a satisfying framework to explain all these observations and more by connecting them in an organic way.

Regards,
Ataollah Togha



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* Very similar

Dear Niki,

You've hit the nail on the head regarding Ali . I know this guy in here ( U.K.) that has a vivid imagination very very similar to your ALI, in fact he is right up your alley!! Everybody calls him Yusef Chaakhaan, after reading Ali, I thought perhaps you had changed the name.

All The Best,

S.B.



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* He finally confessed

I just received the email about the girl who is not Jewish and who had an Iranian-Jewish boyfriend who broke up with her because of differences of religion. I feel as if I have been reading about my own life. I also met my ex-boyfriend in my freshman year in college and we consequently dated for a year.

At the end of that year, he confessed that he could not keep going with this relationship because I was not Jewish. His family (especially his mother) convinced him it was better to end it now. His family had not even met me. It has been almost a year since our break up. About five months ago we decided to talk less. Although i know our feelings for each other have not changed, we hardly ever see each other. ( I saw him for the first time in three months just the other day.) Although I have had relationships since him, there is no-one that will ever be able to replace him.

Unlike BW, I do see that this view of thinking is narrow-minded and prejiduce. Although, I acknowledge all these faults, I am still unable able to move on. People tell me that time heals all, a year after I first heard this advice I am beginning to have doubts.

I just wanted to thank you for the advice you gave BW, because I relate to it immensly and it made me feel like I was not the only one.

Many thanks,

EK



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* No more negative waves please

On the very subject of a Jewish guy and an Iranian khanoom not getting married, I should say, what if we reverse the question? [He's Jewish, I'm not]

I mean, what if the girl would ask her jewish boy (with a small j ), that I can not marry you, even though we both in love, because I'm from a Muslim background!!??

My suggestion to this lady is to think of love as a mixture of physical and emotional responsibilities. In a classic "Mother & Child Love" example, love dose not exists only in the mind and heart of the mother and certainly not from the beginning. It is also comes from the responsibilities that a mother feels towards her child. Yes it comes from tired eyes of a mother due to staying wake night after night to watch her creation comes to no harm. It comes from a soar feet due to running around all day long, a looking afters, a giving all her times and a few hundred other sacrifices that a mother (Or a father by that matter, likely more & more of it these days) dose during her child?s life. That is why it grows and grows stronger as the time passes. And become part of her and she can not, not love her own creation! She sees her own life in her child.

Feeling responsible towards your love ones is the most essential ingredient of any "Love Potion", if you know what I mean? Man & woman love is and has always been looking up to that kind of love as a great example or role model!

Yes this guy dose not know the meaning of all these. We should bang the heads of a few guys like him to the wall until they wake up from a three thousand years of sleeping in ignorance and censoring of feelings. This guy, and anybody who think like him specially at this time of boiling religious hate treats ended in a massacre in Palestine, should go back to his country and Mary a Rabbi? (Man or Woman). And may be in the future, in his way of reaching to his glorified Promise Land, obviously full of gold! destroy a few dozen of Palestinian lives in the way as well!! Leave us alone hear in our real and beautiful world to live free of the all the negative waves coming out of dead ideas, after all we are Iranian. And we are proud of it too!

Long Live Love!

Long Live Life!

Kaivan



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* Find another one!

I don't know you and I don't know how old you are but considering your response to the letter "He's Jewish, I'm not" I can see that you think like two typical American teenagers who can only live a life constantly looking for love!! and getting fucked by a never ending number of boys and all the while worrying about finding new relationships. The freedom gained by women in doing what they want with their bodies has brought them nothing but the loss of energy and integrity. It has only made women more available to men who no longer care to give anything in return for the love they recieve.

I cann't find anything wrong with a guy who has decided to choose his way of life and as a result finding out that love cannot be the only priority. You say if a white person decides not to marry a black person, he is a racist, and... being black or white is not a way of life, but a religion is a way of life around which you decide about everything else.

A love between two people who have different goals in life cannot last foreever. in Hollywook movies which give people wrong ideas about love and marriage , you always only see a few hours or days of people who fall in seemingly great loves. They never show you the rest of the story. In hollywood only the love and then the fucking part of the relationship is importatnt, the rest of a couple's life like bringing up children, and getting old together is never seen in these movies. Thoes great loves you are talking about are only in the movies. When the initial intense love is forgotten, (and this happens sooner or later in every marrige)then it is the shared interests and believes which keeps the real affection going.

I don't know the guy, but maybe like many other guys he just got tired of this woman and he wants a new love! and he only was looking for a way to get rid of her. Whatever the reason, well, this is just the end of one of thoes great loves that you are talking about ! No matter what his reason is, and in spite of your stupid reasoning, you gave this girl the best answer. Find another one! All guys are the same. but make sure you don't keep the next relationship this long, and make the next guy tired too. make them marry you, if you can !!! The commitment may keep their mind away from all thoes other available girls.

With Affection

Roya

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* Easy to listen

Thank you for making it very easy to listen to the sample and order Sattar's latest CD. Most Iranian order sites have a long process to even find out what they have in stock. I ordered (2) CDs. Please continue to do so with other artists.

I have bought CDs from other sites from unknown artists to simply give them a try. After listening once I put them away. This provides the opportunity to hear them. Thanks again.

Azam Nemati

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* Edit "F" words

Dear Iranian.com editor,

Being a regular visitor of your site for the past few months, I have truly enjoyed reading articles, stories and opinions of my fellow Iranians (and sometimes non-Iranians) on different subject matters. Although I believe in complete freedom of speech and expression, I do not believe publishing letters such as the one titled "No, fuck you" (published on April 18, 2002), is appropriate for your site.

Remeber that you call this site "Iraninan.com", people visit this site to learn about Iran, Iraninans, our values and culture and they do not want to be offended. Mr. 'Ali Ahmed' did not have to use such graphic language to express his opinion and offend the readers. I suggest that you at least screen your letters for the "F" word before publishing them or your site might just loose its true value and purpose.

Regards,

Yassaman



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* Leeste naaghess

in list shoma [Iranians of the century: Notables] kamelan va kamelan naghes bood va radehaye taasob dar an dide mishod.aya be nazare shoma tasir gozari kesi mesle GHOLAMHOSSEYN MASAHEB, KHOSRO GOLSORKHI, NORALDIN KIANOORI, ALI ASHRAF DARVISHIAN, AHMAD SHAMLOU, ALI AKBAR RAFSANJANI, SEYED ALI KHAMENEI, MONTAZERI, AKBAR GANJI ya GHOLAM REZA TAKHTI kamtar az khodadad azizi ast?

agar ham betavan naboodane kesani mesle rafsanjani ya montazeri ya kianoori ra be no haye mokhtalefe taassob nesbat dad baraye kesani mesle shamloo ya nemitavan tojihi yaft.che khoob bood agar dar entekhabe list tavajjoh bishtari be gharne gozashte mikardid na be dahe gozashte.

Sasan

Reply: The people on this list were selected by readers. Not by iranian.com.



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* Get your butt kicked by Alexander the Great -- on film

My name is Julie Harkin and I am currently working as a Casting Assistant on a project called "Fire From Heaven", a ten part series based on the story of Alexander the Great for HBO and Mel Gibson is the executive producer.

We are looking for genuine male and female Farsi speakers for the project. It shoots from August 2002 to April 2003 in Italy, Morocco and Thailand but obviously actors wont be needed for all that time as the Persians will only feature in some of the episodes. We don't have scripts at the moment just a vague idea of some the characters.

If you think that you would be able to help us in our search then please contact us on any of the following numbers:

Tel: 020 7491 9689
Fax: 020 7491 0439
Julie mob: 07989 578820

Thanks

Julie Harkin

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April 2002
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