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| November 5, 2002 See this month's letters by subject To top * 10 reasons to be melancholy I'm a journalist and I work for an international magazine called COLORS -- a magazine about the rest of the world -- wherever you are, it will teach you something about somewhere else. Published bimonthly, available in 70 countries (total: 500,000 copies), every issue of COLORS is bilingual, pairing English with six other languages including French, Italian, German, Croatian, Italian, Hungarian and Spanish. COLORS is a different kind of journalism. It contains no celebrities, no news, no columnists and no bylines. The stars of COLORS are ordinary people. I am writing to you regarding the next issue which will focus on the theme of FOOD. It is going to be collection of interesting dishes from all over the world. Every dish will tell a story, an excuse to talk about ecology, politics, economics. Basically food as a political issue. I'm writing an article about Iran, about hot and cold food. I thought to pick one dish that help to feel better if you are melancholy and list 10 reasons why an Iranian should feel melancholy today. It's basically a way to talk about Iran and list the 10 major problems of the country. I really would like to ask some students working for ISNA the 10 major reasons to be melancholy in the today Iran, the ones that they think the international community should know. From economic problems to social problems. Not an essay, just a list. Because I'm really late I ask you to reply as soon as you can. Thank you very much. Bruno Ceschel COLORS Magazine Via Ferrarezza 31050 Catena di Villorba (TV) Italy T +39 0422 516311 F To top * Iranian-American TV program Please let me know how I can use your services to reach more Iranian Americans for this already respected talk show in the Washington DC area. This is a weekly talk show about Iran and Iranians. It is called Accent and this is the first time that any Iranian program is conducted in English to reach the non Farsi speaking audience as well. As a long time community volunteer and the producer and host of this show I believe this is a prime time for Iranians to identify themselves as who they are, what is their past and where they are heading. Our second generation Iranian Americans are our best assets. They must be introduced to this society beyond the Iranian community and they must be included in our cultural and historical discussions in a language that they are most comfortable with. They should not be alienated because of the language barrier. I have been promoting this belief for the past few years and I have been encouraged and received by our community and especially by our younger generation. I am devoted to this cause. I hope that other channels of the Iranian media extend their hands to assist me in this endeavor. Please contact me for suggestions to reach our second generation role models through the Internet. I appreciate your cooperation. Zohreh Rastegar Producer/ Host of Accent Program To top * Momeni Foundation scholarships With honor and pride, Momeni Foundation announces the year 2002 scholarship recipients: Ms. Bahareh Habibi - $1000.00 Ms. Shapari Enshayan - $500.00 Ms. Parisa Ghazi - $500.00 Ms. Afarin Majidi - $500.00 Ms. Shabnam Mirsaeedi - $500.00 Mr. Daniel Zaghi - $500.00 Mr. Bahram Shoumali - $250.00 The outstanding achievements of this group and the many other applicants are a source of pride for all people and particularly of those of Iranian descent. For more information about the year 2002 scholarship recipients and Momeni Foundation, please visit momenifoundation.org. Moji (Mojtaba) Momeni To top * Old family photos My family has some old photos of our great grandfathers who were reportedly members of the Persian royal family. I have researched the internet but have not been able to locate very much information and am hoping you might know someone who can help me trace my ancestors genealogy. The first photo is a 19th century picture of my great great grandfather on my fathers side dressed in royal attire and bearing a sun shaped emblem on his lapel similar to others I have seen worn by the Kadjars. He is sitting with seven men standing behind him. The handwritten Farsi inscription on the back of the photo reads "Sayof Almac with seven of his slaves that were very close to each other". The second photo is the same great great grandfather dressed in more military or 19th century old style attire. The inscription at the bottom of the photo reads "Mortuary of Mir Soltan Ahmad Sayof Almac, Son of Rahim Mir... ?, of the family of ... ?" The third photo is of my great great grandfather on my grandmothers side, wearing 19th century royal attire and holding a very old style sword. The inscription at the bottom of the photo reads "Akbar Mirza, great grand father (moms side)". I am wondering if this is the same Akbar Mirza who is the son or grandson of Mohammed Ali Shah Kadjar. Do you know anyone who might be able to help me trace my family history? Thank you, Soraya To top * Touraj, Ramon, Kosro Hello! I was stationed in Wildflecken West Germany with my wife Beverly. We made very close friends with Iranian refugees that lived in Bad Bruckenau. We would love to make contact with them again, as they were very special to us, and helped us make it through a hard time. Please forgive my spelling, but their names were Touraj, Ramon, Kosro. We truly cared for these men, and would love to let them know that they are still in our thoughts! We believe that Touraj settled in Hamburg. Ramon was an awesome soccer player. Any help that you can give us would be greatly appreciated, as we are indebted to these men for making our own stay in Germany more bearable! Thank you sincerely for giving us a broader view on life! Todd A. Lares, MD and Beverly Lares To top * What does it take to be declared as a minority? I have been curious as to what it takes to be declared as a minority group like the hispanics, east-asians, and african-americans. In light of the events of 9/11, we have definetly become a minority. I searched the internet and wasn't able to come up with information. The way that I see it, minority groupings are complexion based, not ethnic based. The east Asians aren't one ethnic group. As a group, there is a large presence of "south & western Asians" in the US. Do you know the process for this? How can I go about obtaining the information? Do you know, if there is anything in the works? Majid To top * Iranians are their own biggest fans Regardingn "No sand between my toes", Exactly like every iranian ive ever met... try to make yourself seem innocent yet modern... lol... seemingly kind..yet very judgemental.... you think being "polite" to your own siblings is family love? its all for show... I hate your true view of Americans... if we are below your standards... then why is our counrty sooooo much greater than yours? Why do you ALL beg plead and lie to to put your feet here... then spit on our SACRED ground? I am a quiet, reserved, thrifty (you love that) open-minded American woman who has the terrible luck of being married to an Iranian man... i gave him 2 beautiful children... i cook persian food better than most persian women... i served him and all his friends... HAPPILY. Tell me this.... why do Iranian men love to kick thier wives and children? why are they so angry all the time? I'm sorry to sound prejudiced... because i truly wasn't... but the persian people i know... are mean... they lie for each other... they forget when someone treated them kindly... and with respect... materialistic... and completely their own biggest fans... like you... lol Go wax your unibrow... you'll never be AMERICAN you'll see how passionate an American woman can get when thier Iranian husband abuses their own children... at least be smart enough to hide your contempt for America... one day you may have to leave.... Leigh To top * Film: person's view of life I was rather disheartened by your article [Debating everything], while I do see your point about wanting your country to be depicted truely. However, I think that film is an art form that explains a person's view of life and this perspective may be very different from your own, but still as true. E.Stasio To top * Cinema Rex victims The number of people who are burned in Cinema Rex was more than dozens. I am not sure, what was the exact number, but both Kayhan and Etelaat newspapers have said the number of people whom are killed was 300 or more. You can find a copy of papers in New York Public Lib. at 42nd Street and find the exact numbers published by the government back then. Back then, some one told me the Abadan's movie theaters would have more than 900 seats. So, they would thought more than 400-500 were in the movie thither. You are from there and can tell, if it is true or not, but there was no survivor. The front door was locked and the back door was the place that the fire started. Shahrokh To top * Good rhinoplasty I have been looking on the internet for a good rhinoplasty surgeon for ever now. I can't find any good information ore adresses and I was wondering if you could help me with this? Do you know any adresses of surgeons in Iran ore sites that have more information for me lots of thanks, P. H. To top * Circulating around I just re-read the "International Enough Day" article by Afshin Levy and I am still very impressed. It has been circulating around on e-mail and on various web sites, with no attribution, so I decided to try to find out who wrote it. That's how I found your zine. Thanks for printing it -- it sums up the way we should all feel all the time. Kris Herzog To top * Kambiz Adib I was surfing the internet today and came acrossa photo of Iraians of the day, in your June 2002 issue. I happened to see someone which I have lost track of over the years and don't know how to contact him. I am an old freind, he knew me when he was living in Cincinnati. I would like to see how he is, his name is Kambiz Adib. My name is Rene. Thank you so much... To top * Reprinting articles I know Mr. Dan Munoz from Chula Vista Economic Development Commission in San Diego [California]. Mr. Munoz Sr. was AIAP feature speaker in July. They are Publisher and Editors of La Prensa Sandiego weekly, meaning the San Diego paper. La Prensa Sandiego is influential in the Hispanic community and Election process. My 1st commentatory in La Prensa Sandiego was RE Education and the November Elections. Since our community does not have a real newspaper, Mr. Munoz and I discussed possibility of an "Iranian-American Corner" (page?) in La Prensa Sandiego. Katayoon Hadizadeh and Mersedeh agreed to post their articles & poems in La Prensa Sandiego, as well as Iranian.com. We have plenty of content to keep the Iranian-American Corner going, but having a closer tie with Iranian.com can secure an unlimited supply. The tie may lead to other cooperations in the online & paper channels. One thought is to have the "Corner" in La Prensa Sandiego, and introduce it to Iranian community's stores and public. Timely newpaper announcements can go out with LaPrensa, which can not be done with our current monthly publications. Ramin Moshiri Reply: Mr. Munoz is welcome to reprint the features as long as he mentions iranian.com as the source and gets permission from the individual authors. -- Jahanshah Javid To top * New leader -- in San Francisco It is time to find some body as a front runner or a person to run IRAN in the feature as a new government. Nobody knows that person or who is it going to be -- that is a problem in all Iranian movements. No leader yet. I can tell you anybody with education and good background could be a prime candidate for Iran's future. He would be better than these mollas. For example, Reza Shah, Banisadr, top Iranian military person (I don't know any by name), Masoud Rajavi from Mojahedin, new person in the San Francisco Bay Area called Nader Shekargi -- anyone who can take the wave of Iranian demonstrations to the right direction to over throw this regime. This is my idea and a lot people could think I'm wrong. But that's what it takes to get rid of these people. Mehdi Bibaak To top * Fiasco in Spain Regarding President Khatami's visit to Spain, Today I can comfortably say that I am disgraced to be an Iranian. Why?. Well may be this story may make you join me in my feelings. A friend of mine emails me this paragraph in a Spanish newspaper which talks about Mr. Khatami's new fiasco. It seems like he again has watered the flowers one more time (Daste gol be aab dad). As our beloved president is making his new economic trip to Spain, him and the rest of the administration have again acted like a bunch of classless imbeciles. The joke in Spain is that president khatami has instructed the Spanish officials that he will not participate in the dinner party the spaniards are throwing for him if there is wine served at the table. To make matters worst he has also said that he refuses to shake the hands of a top spanish official because she is well a "she". Apparently it is forbidden in Islam to shake the hands of a lady. It is not enough for the current regime to make others abide by laws that would be less humane than those of the jungle to say the least. But they have to publicize them for the whole world to know. The spaniards have always been sympathetic to Iranians. Many iranians moved to Spain in the early eighties and still many live there. But the new fiasco by our president may in fact change things. The nerve that man has to dictate who's hand he will be shaking when visiting the officials of the same country who is hosting him. I am tired of hearing how I should be proud of my culture and herritage and be proud of being an Iranian. Well I am sorry but when the whole world knows us as hostage takers, terrorist supporters and now idiots of the middle east..please tell me what I should be proud of. After all these people who have rediculed us (the current regime) come from the same land that you and I come from and are as much Iranians than the ordinary iranians who don't behave in such manner. Until the day that we get some of our dignity back. Pesare Gol To top * I am not saying America is perfect Dear friends, I am an Anglo-American and I turned 50 today. I have been Bahai for 32 years. I was married to an Iranian lady for 16 years and we had two beautiful children. What I want to talk about is American hegemony against radical 'Islamic" fundamentalism, and the future. Is it like the past, when Nebuchadnezzar or Titus punished Jerusalem? Of course, they were punished themselves later. I am not saying America is perfect or that it doesn't need to be shaken up a bit. But we see American forces gathering around Iran, in Afghanistan, Georgia, and the Gulf states. As a Bahai, I remember that the House of the Bab in Shiraz was destined for pilgrimage; as were the Houses of Bahai'll?in Tihran and Baghdad. Only time will tell how God will use some method of liberating these places; but it is certain to me that they will be liberated and made available to the peoples of the world. Radicalism is spreading, and sometimes it seems like it will be 'Islam' versus the world! There was a tradition that at the time of the rise of the Promised One, the religious doctors would be the most corrupt the world had ever seen. Wickedness would originate with them and revert back to them. I think we have seen and will see more of this... because such teachers and rulers have ignored the Twin Manifestations, or done everything in their power to oppose Them, and teach their hateful mis-interpretations to new generations of poor students. Where will it end? I take refuge in God. Only God can show the way to security and peace. Mark Townsend To top * Heart-warming songs Dear Ms Nemati, I very much enjoyed your compilation of Shusha's heart-warming songs. The songs as you aptly cited in your introductory words, are wonderfully simple and subtle at the same time: "Savar vaghti tofang dareh savare" My wife used to read to me from Shusha Guppy's book 'The Blindfold Horse: memories of a Persian childhood" which we thoroughly enjoyed. Warmest regards, Reza Bayegan To top * "Turkish-Kurdish" border? I protest for the caption under a photo by Hasan Sarbakhshian on October 24, 2002 describing the Turkish-Iraqi border as the "Turkish-Kurdish" border. A statement in this kind will support the worry of the Turkish people that the West is trying to create an artificial Kurdish state in Iraq. Ervin Serter To top * Iranian men? Do they exist?! I just wanted to comment on the lady who wrote about not being able to find an Iranian where she lives but she only wants to date iranian men. [Who are we kidding here?] My name is Layla and i live in Manchester, England. I want to say that for most of my adult life i felt the same way as she did, i only wanted an iranian man however it was extremely hard as there isn't much choice and if there are iranian men here, they are either too old, or too young, nobody in the middle. Even my brother had a problem finding someone but in the end he went to Iran and found a wife there. I don't think it is as easy for a woman to go to Iran and find a husband. Another problem i had was that i was born in Iran and raised in england, i like to think i have the best of both worlds but i have managed to retain my Iranian being to a very high degree. I thought i'd never find someone and was always looking for the perfect *iranian man* (do they exist? lol) Anyway, one day, out of the blue, i met an english boy, he's from a very traditional family, he has a good job and good background and we are getting married next year, my parents are very happy, his parents are happy and i'm over the moon! I guess what i'm trying to say is that if you could send this email to that lady and let her know that its also quite beautiful to be in love with someone not from your own culture and tell him about yours, at the moment i'm teaching my fiance all about Iran, and also a bit of the language, and he loves it, i won't be trying to change him but i can show him and tell him where i come from and what makes my blood run Iranian. I know you already have told her all this, i think she should just A) not look so hard coz it doesn't happen like that and b) if someone comes along who isn't iranian but is so into her, then it will work out, but there has to be compromise and a desire to learn, she should open her heart a little more and mind in order to escape any lonliness she might feel now She cannot escape whatever destiny has in store for her. Anyways, sorry that i've given u both a headache, i wanted to write to her but her email wasn't available. Layla To top * On the other hand Dear Mr. Mashadi, [Getting the job done -- by ourselves] I wanted to say that I agree globally with your articles analysis, in that Iranians should strive by themselves to achieve legitamate goal for a Democratic State in their country. I would like to nevertheless insist that if their may indeed be radical views among some American policy makers in regard to the attitude to be adopted in order to bring Democracy or a pro American regime in Iran. You suggested in your article: "Others believe the United States should do the exact opposite, a la Ariel Sharon. They should bomb Bushehr, overthrow the mullocracy, and install a Western-friendly government along the lines of a Reza Pahlavi-run secular regime friendly to America and Israel. Whether it's a constitutional monarchy or a democracy is up to the Iranian people to decide, the viewpoint goes." This is not at all the point of view of Reza Pahlavi and the Third Wave movement he claims to lead. Nothing in the interviews or speaches past or present indicate that the Crown Prince of Iran wishes a foreign intervention in order to re-establish him on the thrown. In fact he encourages quite the opposite. Nevertheless I believe his message has been one of alertness of foreign opinion on the fact that Iranians want to be sure that in case of a crackdown on their fellow citizens by the Army or Police of the Islamic Republic, that they would not be neglected or forgot as it was the case for the Chinese during Tienanmen Square in 1989. I believe the major goal and intentions of Reza Pahlavi and the Third Wave is to keep western public opinion aware of the predicament of the Iranian Nation and not at all to substitute its legitamate aspirations for a Free and Democratic Iran. That American politicians may have second thoughts in passing a bill on Iran is not a surprise to anyone familiar with the political world. As far as I know Reza Pahlavi has first and foremost appealed to the Iranian people to foster change through whatever means possible based on non violence. On the other hand the nature of this regime and its eventual reactions are still unpredictable as the events of the 9th of August suggested. It is only legitamate I believe to be alert and be careful as to the limits of this regime's capability to change from within. In the long run whatever the decisions made in Washington or elsewhere, It is up to iranians to carry out this change but they also have to know that they are not alone in their strife. I think this is Reza Pahlavi's message. Darius Kadivar To top * US wants control of price and availability Dear Mr. Farzin, I do not know your background in these geopolitical matters [Saudi rescue plan] but I feel there are a few flaws in your thesis. The biggest one is your statement that the US government is ONLY interested in providing service (as far as energy is concerned) to business and not interested in "price control". This assumption is false. The US government is interested in controlling both, price and availability. The fact that the current US policy to abandon all the international environmental treaties is, to be sure, to control the price. Basically, price and availability are intertwined and one can not control one of these variables without affecting the other. As for instituting a more democratic and constitutional government in Saudi Arabia after the war with Iraq, I like to refer you to current situation in Kuwait. International communities spend close to $60 Billion to conduct that war and what kind government exists in that country now? Finally I feel you must have been listening to Ms. Condolisa Rice kindergarten type of explanation for all the ill conceived current administration policies. I expected more. Foad To top * CIA files 1953 to 1993 I am writing to suggest the following Iran resource link for your website's links section. Iran CIA - State Department Files: 4,600 pages of CIA and State Department files covering Iran. CIA files dating from 1953 to 1993. Subjects include: The political situation in Iran after 1953 coup against the Mossadeq government and the re-establishment of the power of the Shah, 1987 Mecca riots, Iran's relationship with the Soviet Union, and various aspects of the Iran-Iraq War. State Department files' subjects include: The United States shootdown of the Iranian Airlines Flight 655, developments in the Iran-Iraq War, and terrorism. Thank You for your consideration, Brion Clayton Web: //www.paperlessarchives.com/wwi_history.html To top * Zamzam Cola We need the address/name of the company that makes Zamzam Cola in Iran. Thank you Marvin Bibi Reply: Go here //www.zamzam.co.ir/company.htm To top * Iranian.com anthology Email to The Iranian Times members, Dear friends, Dr. Ahmad Karimi-Hakkak, Professor of Persian Language and Literature at the University of Washington (Seattle), has expressed interest in editing a collection of articles published in iranian.com. Over the past seven years, hundreds of features have appeared in iranian.com and we we are looking through them to select "the best". But we would like your input as well. Tell us which articles, short stories, or poems you would like to see in the anthology. If you can't exactly remember the author, title or web address, Search by key word here Search by author here Search by subject here YOUR FAVORITE FEATURES (include web address url if possible) 1- 2- 3- 4- 5- Thank you for your participation. Jahanshah Javid iranian.com PS: If you would like to be a member of The Iranian Times mailing list, register here. It's free. To top * Don't even! I've enjoyed reading your column immensely [Nazanin's great leap]. The following quote from one of your columns made me want to write to you. You said "... For me all other beaches stopped existing when I got acquainted with Laguna Beach." I've also seen Nice, Laguna and more beaches across the world than I care to mention. But the most beautiful beaches in the world are by the Caspian Sea in our beloved homeland Iran. Don't even forget your roots. Take care and best of luck, Joonijun To top * Out to lunch? Regarding "Nazanin's great leap", LOL! Are you out to lunch or you just come across like that? Pyrooz To top * No guts to get up and dance i just read the dance thing that you wrote in iranian.com [Abbas Agha's dancing lesson] and it's hilarious! and i totally understand what you mean! i've been practising dancing in front of the mirror and even tho i am a confident person in speaking and stuff, i still don't think that i'm going to have the guts to get up and dance at the next party! anyways... luv. shireen To top * One of the " Regarding "My brain", I guess he is one of the " the little head " that has nothing else to do just to write you. Sherry Fallah To top * Concerts in Sweden I would appreciate if you can help me to get in touch with Iranian artists in order to be able to arrange a concert here in Sweden. Naimeh Khorasani To top * Kalleh shagh Regarding "My brain", It is a scientifically proven fact that God almighty messed up big time in creating Man. His Almightiness gave Man two vital organs, but not enough blood to circulate through the body and keep both of these organs functioning at the same time!!! The lower organ has the advantage of gravity working in it's favor, therefore takes control instantly. Thus, men think with their little head more than their big ones. But I would also like to point out that the proverbs and expressions that we have in our dear Persian language, can amazingly enough be applied to BOTH heads and produce interesting results!! Here is a list of these expressions: "Sar beh havaa boodan!!" "Kalleh khar boodan!!" "Kalleh gondeh boodan!!" "Sar beh sar gozaashtan!!" "Kollaah sar raftan!!" "Saree keh dard nemikoneh dastmaal nemibandan!!" "Sar az kaareh hameh dar aavordan!!" "Bi/Baa kalleh boodan!!" ... and the gem: "Kalleh shagh boodan!!" Kabab To top * Get real! Dear Mr. Banner (as in Flag Waving?) [U.S. created what Iranians couldn't in 5,000 years] The United States succeeded in 1776 because the French (Lafayette) helped us. No outside power helped the revolutionaries in 1979 to succeed in Iran. The British installed Reza Shah "The Great!" The CIA put Shah Reza back in after Mossadegh had ousted him in 1953. US neo imperialism backs puppet regimes and does not take kindly to any grass roots democracy movements which might nationalize things like petroleum and make us lose the upper hand! Read Noam Chomski and Michael Parenti if you want to hear it from somebody else well published! Get real! Has the United States ever had a trade embargo leveled against it after 1776 or been bombed other than 9/11? The 5000 years of Iranian history you speak of included invasions and conquests by Alexander The Great, The Arabs, The Monguls, The Turks, The British. There is just no comparison. What Americans did in 200 years was find a new world rich with resources, sparsely populated by native Americans who then were basically exterminated to make way for industrialization and it is only now with Indian casinos that they are getting some back! Brian Appleton To top * Looking for the book I am looking for the book "Shah of Iran: People of the 20th century series". As I understand it, it is not printed anymore but I was hoping that you might know where I could get a copy. Thanks. Ben Marks To top * Sponsoring students Do you know of any sites / organizations that sponsor students in the US to take educational trips to Iran? Yasmin A. To top * Sticking our nose Regarding Bahais, [Heechee kam nadaaran] Why can't we people go about our lives without sticking our nose into other people's religious beliefs or political inclinations? F Rafat To top * Achievable objectives Dear Mr Milani, Thank you for a refreshing view [An apolitical solution] on how the quality of life in Iran could be improved. Your forward looking approach is in sharp, and welcome, contrast with the nostalgia to which many of us are still deeply attached. We have often interpreted radicalism as merely overthrowing authoritarian governments, without changing those individual and collective practices of our own, some of which you have mentioned, that make it possible for authoritarianism to survive across our society in different political colours. I would, however, suggest that in order to find, in your own words, "realistic ways" for the "betterment of the Iranian society", we should not "set aside our political ideals", but review them thoroughly to make sure they are achievable objectives, rather than mere dreams -- or nightmares. I was also moved by, and have quoted, your touching reflections a few days ago on the closure of the Gol Agha weekly. [Death of a close friend] Hossein Shahidi To top * Vigen! Come to Greece I read the wonderful article about Vigen today. Really he is the greatest singer in whole world. I have a message from Iraninans living in Greece. First of all we love you Vigen and we are praying for your health and secondly we are wishing him salamati and hope he is strong enough to travel here in Greece. We cannot come to America, but if he can why not, actually none of our singer were here, why? Helen Eskandarian To top * Only ourselves can make difference Great article [Getting the job done -- by ourselves]. We need more voices like you to tell our people that only ourselves can make difference. H. Adgani To top * We need a lot like this Dear Mahrokh, Thanks for the excellent article in iranian.com [Getting the job done -- by ourselves]. My admiration and congaratulations. Keep up the good work. We need a lot of works like this. Excellent. Thanks again. Peerooz To top * Revolutionary jokes I'd love it if you would post a note to everyone to pitch in any of the early (1979-84) revolutionary jokes with the Ayatollahs as characters in them. Roya Hakakian To top * I did what they say one should do Dear Dina, [Advice on producing documentaries] Regarding the making of my documentary, Armed and Innocent, I wish I could say something a note that could instantly set you straight on the path of producing. If there is such an answer, I have yet to have learned it. I suppose like all good things, it has come to me the hard way. I did what they say one should do: had an idea, wrote it up, then went around begging people to look at my proposal. Then I learned that my proposal was not up to snuff. Came back and rewrote. And did that again at least half dozen times. Then one day when I was at my wit's end, someone threw a small organization, one of at least 100 that I had applied to, threw a few pennies at me. That's how I got started. I hope that yours will be smoother. As for the subject of your interest, I would need more information to be able to say anything half helpful. My assumption is that you already know some of these women and for some reason, you have come to believe that a couple of these characters have very compelling stories to tell. Or else, one cannot know that there is a story there worth reporting or filming what so ever. In any event, you may want to take a look at a wonderful film made by a Jewish American woman who had been the widow of a Vietnam vet and goes back to the location where her husband had been killed in Vietnam and finds her own counterparts -- the Vietnamese widows whose husbands had been killed on the very same location by Americans. Best of luck to you, Roya Hakakian To top * Advice on producing documentaries Dear Ms. Hakakian, I have read many of your reviews and articles on line and was just informed of your documentary, Armed and Innocent, which I am hoping to see soon. I was wondering if you could tell me how you began your career in producing and how you pulled the documentary together. I am 26 years old and a graduate of UC Berkeley's Peace and Conflict Studies department. At the moment, I am obtaining a Masters degree in Moral Education. I am interested in making a documentary about Iranian women who were studying at Berkeley during the end of the Vietnam war and during the Iranian revolution. Any advice (how to approach the writing and interviewing process) would be so very greatly appreciated. Thank you for your time and thank you for being a Persian woman I can admire. >>> See reply Sincerely, Dina Afkhampour P.S. Do you think the Berkeley Film archive will receive a copy of Armed and Innocent ? Are you planning any screenings here in California? To top * Ghanem family roots Salut, Je suis un GHANEM Ahmed de l'Algérie étudient en science humaine âgé de 22. Je cherche mais racine familiale GHANEM et j'aime faire des connaissance avec d'autre gens. Je voyage beaucoup en Europe (FRANCE) je voudrais far une connaissance avec vous si vous accepter! , pour faire une pas d'avance de ma recherche. Dans l'espoir d'une réponse favorable je vous prie Monsieur d'acceptés mes salutations distinguées. Merci Hello I am a GHANEM Ahmed from Algeria and I am a 22-year-old student in human sciences. I am looking for my family roots (GHANEM) and I would meeting other people. I travel often to Europe (FRANCE) and if you agree I would like to get to know you . I hope to hear from you soon, Ahmed Ghanem To top * There is still hope Pedram, this was the second excellent article I read tonight, yours [Burn Baghdad, burn!] along with Alan Hale [Squandering solidarity], made me realize that there is still hope, there are people who have the ability and the vision to see right through this administration, I just wished we were not such a small minority. Thanks again for enlightenment, PS: Maybe one day I can learn to write such fine articles! Please keep on writing. Kavon To top * Khalil Ranjbar I am searching for the address of Dr. Khalil Ranjbar who did PhD with me in 1994 at IIT Bombay and had returned to Iran. Prof. T. R. Rama Mohan To top * King Louis helped you In reply to "U.S. created what Iranians couldn't in 5,000 years", As much as I respect American democracy, let it also be said that you would certainly not have won the Battle of Independance without the help of a monarch and that was King Louis XVI of France, who sent General Lafayette as well as spy writer Beaumarchais to help the Amercian Revolutionaries. The American Revolution was more a War for independance than a Revolution so to speak. As for Iranians we certainly were misled historically but we do have Democratic roots in our country such as Cyrus the Great's Human Rights declaration and the 1906 Constitutional Revolution which was crushed by the Russian and British governments who had the grip on the Persian government of the Time. I suggest you to look at this in which their is a link to Morgan Shuster's book "The Strangling of Persia". Just to say that sometimes History is less cristal clear as it appears. Darius Kadivar To top * What's kept us down In reply to [How many Nobel prize winners are of Iranian origin?], Statistically, one billion will have a better chance at phenomenon X than a 60-70 million population. Add to that the fact that higher education in India is still very much Anglophone, the present language of commerce, science, and trade -- if not in substance at least in the number of publications treating such topics. Add to that the fact that one country is a democracy and the other is afraid of itself, ideas, modernity. But what is most intriguing, to me, at least, is the relatively lower population count of a country that has been around for 2,500 years. Reason: many, I suppose, but I am always intrigued by the fact that perhaps the Iranian proclivity to destruction, zero-sum gambits, internecine quarrels, xenophobia, incestuous marriage patterns, tribal feuds, wishing blood, and "mykham sar-be tanash nabashad" attitudes have in part kept the numbers down. Guive Mirfendereski To top * Carter was a peanut In reply to [Dad called the Shah a "nut"], I don't know if the Shah was a "nut" but Carter was certainly a peanut. Darius Kadivar To top * Be maa che? I have a neighbor. He is from Palestine. He studies the Koran and afterwards he drinks alcahol and has sex with girls. I don't know what kind Moslem he is. And why is Iran supporting these people? They are not Iranian. Be maa che marbot ast? Kos khahar va mother harchi felestini. Hossein Haji Agha To top * Your declarations are incorrect Dear Mr. Banner, Your comments [U.S. created what Iranians couldn't in 5,000 years] about ["We are responsible!" by Brian Appleton] start with a couple of claims and declarations on which you base the conclusions and rulings at the end of your note. Much of your declarations are incorrect and erroneous! For example, based on CIA's own recently released facts, it was the United States with its covert planing and intervention who toppled a democratically elected prime minister in Iran back in 1953 and brought the king back into power, not the people of Iran. And as far as the blame for the perils of Iranian people, I agree that almost any nation can be found responsible in varrying degrees for her own perils and iranians must accept their fare share of blame! But what almost all the faulty and broken systems and governments in the third world, including Iran can claim, is that at worst they are responsible for their own problems and haven't gone thousands of miles abroad, plotting takeovers, buying corrupt leaders, toppling governmens, planing assasinations and causing the death and injury of countless millions in the past thirty years! Can the US government claim the same thing? No they can't!! Chile 1973, Guatemala 1954, Iran 1953, Cuba, .... the list is longer than you or I can research and get together in a single e-mail... And as for your comment about the US being a "democracy", I refer you back to the elections of year 2000. DO you call that a democracy? What do you think the chances of a half witted, little-read, unsophisticated, light-weight, pampered boy, even a rich boy, would be to get elected to the highest office in the land, in spite of not getting the majority vote? Non-existing! Unless his daddy was the former president, former head of CIA, former embassador to China and had have all those political I-OWE-YOUs to call in at the right time! And if that doesn't tell you whether or not US is a democracy, just go and try to get an independent on any meaningful and significant ballots, anywhere on state, local or federal level elections! You seem to be unaware of the historical facts and the US foreign policy in the past 50 years! On the other hand, you seem to have bought the CNN/ABC/CBS/NBC version of the politics in America or you wouldn't be so convinced that democracy is an American achievement! May God bless and inform you sir! Farhad Radmehrian To top * Lahazateh besyaar ziba Salam doosteh aziz, Man dishab dar een site lahazateh besyaar zibaii roo baa sedayeh malakooti Sayeh gozaraandam. mamnoonam keh in clip hayeh ziba roo rooyeh in site garaar daadid. Khoobo khoosh bashid Ali Asadi UBC Chemistry Department Vancouver, Canada To top * In the meantime Dear Shahin, [An apolitical solution] Thank you for your article. I sympathize with many of your ideas. I just wanted to add that, in addition to what you suggested, there is another way for every one of us who has left Iran and gained success abroad to give something back to the country. I refer to going back to Iran a few months a year, or a few months every two or three years, to work there and share our knowledge, expertise and experience with the people and the country. This is what I myself am in the process of carefully planning and will implement within the next three years. I realize that it is a difficult thing to do and not feasible for many Iranians. In addition, many of us left Iran in pursuit of a better life and do not want to go back to work and live, even for a short period, in an environment which we find disagreeable. I respect such feelings. However, for those of us who wish to help Iran and are willing to overcome certain obstacles to do it, this is probably one of the surest ways of doing so. I also understand that many of us are willing to return but only after significant changes to Iran?s political system take place. However, such changes may not occur at all, occur too late or not in the form that we expect. In the meantime, we may end up living our lives never having had a chance to go back, experiencing the country and culture which so enriched our lives, and making a positive contribution in the process. N.A. To top * Debating everything I took heart in the fact that Megan Bogart took the time and effort to respond about my piece, "Not THAT good", to iranian.com [Not THAT bad]. To me, more than anything else, it meand that when she said "I ask you why everything has to be a debate?" She wasn't actually advocating the arrest of critical thinking. Does everything have to be a debate? I figure if in one's relationship everything is a debate, than one should definitely re-evaluate the relationship but in the public sphere and regarding cultural creations such as art (and cinema is definitely an art form) one truly hopes all can be debated, respectfully of course >>Full text Naghmeh Sohrabi To top * Not THAT bad As a student at a university in the United States I was handed an assignment that said that I should read the article "Not THAT good", in iranian.com. I was concerned and somewhat aggrivated at the article and here is my response. I don't believe that the West is patronizing Iranian cinema, Sohrabi has it wrong. I have voiced my opinion on this matter and many others many times in my life. I don't think that people like Sohrabi take into consideration the fact that Americans rarely have an ulterior motive when it comes to subjects like this. Most of the time when things like this happen and people get upset they don't understand that Americans don't think that deeply into the topic. I am certain that the people that Sohrabi are talking about did not sit down and decide collectively that they would patronize the cinematic works of any country let alone select one and target Iranian cinema. "Is this lack of a critical stance towards films coming from Iran a result of Iranians' innate genius or a sign that the West is exoticizing, romanticizing, and thus patronizing what it deems to be different from itself?" Could it be that the West actually enjoys the films in question? Could it be that the differences don't make it perfect, I would ask you to please define something that is perfect or genius, but they make the work different. I ask you why does everything have to be a debate? Why must we as human beings fight over everything that could be misconstrued, and in the age of political correctness often is. This debate should not be a debate. If someone likes a foreign cinema, can't it be just that? Why is it impossible to believe that Western societies simply enjoy the works and respect those who create it? >>> See reply Megan Bogart To top * "I voted" doesn't mean crap To vote for the sake of "voting" just becuase it is a right or to gain the right to "complain" later is stupid [Need to get involved -- now]. To vote in a country that politicians can be purchased and sold so vividly is stupid. When a 90+ year old goof ball from the uneducated Southern belt keeps getting elected for the unteenth time and a college drop out and a "Bush" gets voted into office, again, it is stupid to vote. You want a change or a voice, get rich, filthy rich. Hire the biggest and nastiest lawyers, pay off any politician you want, donkey or elephant, green, left or right, and make this country work for you. This one pitty vote is a joke. The only thing it'll do is make one feel good about voting. Showing off that stupid sticker that says, "I voted", doesn't mean crap. Hamid To top * Haven't the Iraqis suffered enough? With due credit to Mr Rushdie for a well argued article [A war of liberation] and accepting his argument that Saddam Hussein is a tyrant and murderer and the Iraqi people must be rid of him I object to the use of the word "war" again and again. Why should we believe that the only way to remove Saddam is by imposing a "war" whether it is a "war of liberation" or a "war on terror". As the Persian saying goes "aatash keh greft, kohshk-o-tar meesozad". Haven't the Iraqis suffered enough? Although I should add that the terror that Bush and possibly Rushdie are referring to has been incited and triggered by the American governments action and policies anyway. I'm not going to mention all those other theories behind Bush Administration's current policy towards the world in general. Jim Entesari To top
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