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April 30, 2003 * Iranians didn't exactly abandon monarchy Mr. Hoveyda's article, "Monarchy and theocracy", provides an extremely interesting take on recent history. His book may be the first Jungian analysis of Iranian history. While reading the article I found myself wondering about two points. First, why did Mr. Hoveyda pull back from taking the Jamshid/Zahak archetypal story further? After all it would be logically consistent to equate the clerical rule with that of Zahak's. Is this because Iranians overall do not appear to be acting in a way consistent with the myth (e.g. no Kaveh)? Or maybe, that chapter of modern Iranian history is yet to be written and therefore cannot be prejudged on the basis of the myth. I realize modern history doesn't have to exactly match myth, but I can't help but wonder about what caused the author to pull back from the obvious matching of the archetype with the historical figure. My second comment/question has to do with the idea of continuity in Iranian history and how, as Mr. Hoveyda put it, the people so easily gave up on the 'traditional monarchy'. It could well be that - discarding the myth perspective and adopting more orthodox historical interpretation - the Pahlavi era was the break with the 'natural' flow of Iranian history. Considering how the Pahlavi dynasty was founded including Reza Shah's social background, and the essentially secular character of the Pahlavi rule (personal religious idiosyncracies of the individual Shahs notwithstanding), the IRI can in fact be seen as a return to traditional Iranian history. After all, Iranians didn't exactly abandon monarchy in favour of a new way of government. As people like Mohsen Kadivar have pointed out Velayate Faghih is more of a re-packaging of the monarchy rather than a departure from it. It is also a return to Iranian history because it once again integrates (and legitimizes) kingship, or supreme leadership, by explicitly invoking religion; a significant aspect of the history of Iranian monarchy from Zoroastrian times. * Vicious circle of traditions I truly enjoyed reading the excerpt of your recent book in Iranian.com [Monarchy and theocracy]. You eloquently explained the vicious circle of traditions and mythology which have brought about many misfortunes in the recent history of our country. I was wondering how the bazaari merchants and their support for perpetual chaos (in order to maximize their profits) would fit in the Iranian "permanence"? Parviz H * Secret to success: Dirty politics In reply to "Monarchy and theocracy": I know that some of my Jewish friends are quite superstitious. They carry
salt in their bags in order to offset the effects of bad eyes. One of
my Iranian friends once bought a house which belonged to a Jewish family
and on top of all the door frames there were tiny religious scrolls and
also religious objects. We Iranians have got a reputation that is far worse than we really are and people like you don't do a service to reinforce such stereotypes. In order to succeed in future we Iranians have to give up being too simple-minded and gullible and learn how to play dirty politics. Behzad Y * Pahlavi regime dug it's own grave Dear Mr. Sepabody, I read your story "Will
anyone miss us?" on Iranian.com, and -I must say- it was
very painful to be reminded of what we have lost after the revolution.
I was only 4 years old when you where on your official visit in Soviet
Union in 1966 and cannot recall much from those years. Still, my heart
was filled with a strange mix of delight and sorrow when reading your
story. How could Iran end up in the Islamic Republic 13 years later? Farhad * Typical servant of the Crown Cannibal Once again we have to be reminded that most of the people who served the Crown Cannibal were total illiterate idiots [Will anyone miss us?]. Being an open minded reader, I suppressed my anger and pre-judgment and gave the man the benefit of the doubt. I said to myself "perhaps he will have some interesting points about history". Was I wrong! An Iranian kid with fifth grade education can write better and with a bit of more historical value. He should be ashamed to show the world that he was just a typical servant
of the Crown Cannibal who was among his entourage and totally useless
(not to mention the big idiot who called himself as king of kings comes
across as an imbecile in this article which most of us intelligent Iranian
who never kissed You miserably failed when you attempted to make your piece interesting
by injecting a bit of cheap romance by mentioning the frozen "Russian
Girl, Tania". I have read many books by people who served the tyrant
and many of them had some insight into history but this one should be
put away because it sounds like an average tourist with average intelligence
that had gone to school for a few years has attempted to write Why don't you talk to someone intelligent and familiar with history and let them hear you and judge whether you have anything of historical value. Then get together with Ms. Collins and tell her some of your romantic tales (if there is any which I doubt because someone with your intelligence level must have only attracted gold diggers like yourself)to put on paper. If not, don't be sad because you can always dish the dirt on the other servants who served your majesty specially the "homosexual ones" and that stuff always sells. Now, I know all the Monarchists will take their pens and from the safety of their computers would write insulting words (most of them don't have the balls to do otherwise anyway) but the reality is that your majesty was insecure "little man" and most of the high class whore flown for his entertainment (with Iranian people's money) would end up just talking to him because the poor brother did not care for women because in a way he was one! You know what I mean, he played the subservient one. Now that is your clue to a great book. * Karbala: Love affair In recent days, if you do watch TV news, especially the CNN, you might have noticed some reports from Karbala where Shiites were beating their chests with their hands and fists, their backs with chains and their heads with something like a machete. It is a ritual that takes place once a year. They are the mourners who torture themselves for the martyrdom of Imam Ali's son Hossein. At times they work themselves into a frenzy and become absolutely intoxicated and out of their minds. Most people, including the mourners, do not know the truth behind this
phenomenon. The fact is that Hossein, son of Ali, and Moavieh, the Caliph
of the time, were in love with a beautiful woman called Orraynab. Orraynab That was the reason for Hosein's killing, and Shiites are mourning the aftermath of a love affair gone astray. Some martyrdom. * MKO should stand trial Photo of the day "MKO attacked" showed that the MKO is a terrorist organization. The MKO supported the taking of American hostages shortly after the Iranian Revolution. The MKO killed several American diplomats in Iran during Mohammed Reza Shah's time period. The MKO is a Marxist-terrorist organization. The E.U. calls them terrorists. The USA calls them terrorist. During the Iran-Iraq war the MKO was in Iraq aiding Saddam. Tehran even calls the MKO a terrorist organization. The MKO members should stand trial in the World Criminal Court for crimes against humanity. * How conveniently you forgot Dear Fatemeh Khanoom [Did
anyone care?], Anonymous * Baghdad's shattered musical instruments In the recent news of the war in Iraq, there were many incidents of looting [Did anyone care?]. There was one incident of looting in the School of Music in Baghdad. After the looting, I watched a brief interview with an Iraqi gentleman who apparently was the head of the school. He was openly heartbroken. Despite his plea to save the Musical Instruments, the looters broke them without any concern, apparently this sweet teacher of Music could not prevent the incident despite his trying to get help. He said, "How can I tell my 4 children and the other students that their Musical Instruments are destroyed?!" He then quietly sat down at the Western Piano that somehow was spared from destruction and played a beautiful Iraqi tune that touched my whole being. Now I am shattered. Why? Because I am a clay artist/ a potter. I understand with all my heart that as the clay pots each possess their own soul, so do these beautiful objects we call Musical Instruments. As my clay pots carry a sacred and eternal message, so do these Musical Instruments. The more they are played, the more souls are touched by them, the more souls they possess. No doubt, these instruments were played a lot, therefore they carried some unique energies from the ones who played them, and from the ones who listened to their sounds. Even if some person or organization provides this man or the school the funds to purchase new Musical Instruments, they won‚t be the same, because one cannot replace them, simply because the new Musical instruments cannot be the same as the ones that were lost. They cannot hold the same energy, but hopefully over a period of time, they will hold new energies, and they will have their own unique essence. Let‚s hope for better days! * Fantastic voice of our Marziyeh I was very belighted to see this wonderful site and listen to the fantastic voice of our Marziyeh.I some times can not find an appropriate word to thank you that how much is important to listen to the voices of those shall live forever. Hooshang A * Brings a lot of joy Dear Ms Nemati, Your music selections are wonderful and brings a lot of joy to me and my wife. Please continue to do good work. Salaamat Basheed, More letters (April 30, 2003) |
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