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February 2003 Page 1 * Ganjavi was an "Iranian", not Azari I just read a biography of Nezami Ganjavi on the Iranian site. It described him as an Azeri poet from Azarbaijan and not a word about the fact the he was actually an Iranian poet who lived in Ganjeh which was part of Iran at that time. Someone should ask this biographer if Nezami Ganjavi was an Azari poet then why did he compose his masterpiece "Khamseh" in Persian and not in Turkish? It is the same story of the Turks in Turkey claiming that Molana was a Turk. Again then why did he write all his great mystical poems in Persian? I don't blame these Azaris and Turks for wanting these great poets to be from their countries. It is a matter of great pride for any country to have produced such great men, and they do belong to humanity and not any specific nation. However, a site called "Iranian" should not put a biography of Nezami Ganjavi written and distorted by an Azari writer. Don't we ourselves have so many biographies of Nezami? Why do you have to resort to one written by this Azari writer who is not truthful to his subject? I hope you take this distorted biography out of your site and put one that says Nezami Ganjavi was an "Iranian" poet, not an Azari poet. Nahid Shafiei * Why should we sabotage ourselves? I do not understand why Mr. Guive Mirfendereski has to malign the Persian Gulf Task Force? [The last stand of all things Persian]Why should we sabotage our own cultural and historical heritage and let Arabs continue to chip away on our national identity? The Persian Gulf Task Force should be supported by all who care for Iran. * I looked at all 169 Your photos of S.F. peace march are brilliant! [Also Americans] You captured the energy and emotion of your subjects so effortlessly. I looked at all 169 of them! Congratulations on a beautiful photo essay. Samina Arif * Photos capture historical event Your photo essay is excellent. [Also
Americans] I stood out there on Market Street for 6 hours and video taped as
much as could. It was exuberant feeling. Your photos really capture the brilliant
signs and elation I felt being apart of a historical event. * Superb Your photo essay of San Francisco demonstration was superb. [Also Americans] Congradulations. The photos made me feel homesick. It was certainly more fun to be on the street in San Francisco than in the freezing cold of Manhattan. All the best, * Half-Iranian Lithuanian pianist I am professional pianist and interested in Iranian music very much! Especcially piano and folk-songs. But I can understand only European scores. Azerbaijani mood of Mugams I can reed at the piano easy. Some of them have Iranian roots and even mood and name. (My Grandmother is Iranian) But I have only Tesnify! Irina Kudinova * Mon cousin Behrouz BEHNEJAD Bonjour! Je suis Farzaneh VALAI et j'habite en France. J'aimerai contacter mon cousin Behrouz BEHNEJAD. En consultant votre site, j'ai vu sa photo. Pouvez-vous nous mettre en contacte s'il vous plait. Merci d'avance, * Moving pictures Thank you for posting these moving pictures in The Iranian. I am looking forward to more such events in the near future together with your skillfully taken photographs. * This is payback time I just saw your pictures from the anti-war rallies held in San Francisco [Also Americans]. I wanted to convey my thoughts to you. I wanted to tell you about Saddam Hussein and what he has meant to Iran and Iranians. Saddam is directly and indirectly responsible for the death over 1 million Iranians. These Iranians, your brethren, were killed with bullets, anti-aircraft artillery aimed at troops. They were shot down with rockets, they were killed in their sleep with scuds, they were gassed trying to liberate Khorramshahr, they were killed in the first few days when Khuzestan was over-run in 1980, they were killed in captivity, they were poisoned, they were burned. Saddam spared no means to inflict as much death and suffering on OUR brothers and sisters. He is not worthy of our sympathy, his people do not deserve our sympathy, Arabs by in large DO NOT deserve our sympathy, because through those eight miserable years they spared no expense, no amount of resources, nor even soldiers in the pursuit of aiding and abetting this mad man. As far as I'm concerned the ENTIRE Arab world can go to hell. This is payback time, and the hens have come home to roost. Afshin * Gays I understand. But why Iranians? I can understand American gays from SF, CA supporting Saddam and Arafat. But why Iranians? [Also Americans] * Thanks for taking us there Thanks for taking us there. [Also Americans] My favorite is "Sow Justice, Reap Peace". Joan Valanejad * Great Great pictures. [Also
Americans] Thanks. * Dast mareezaad! Dast mareezaad!! It was excellent! [Also Americans] * I DID show ways to achieve THEIR objective Mr. Ala's [Polite objection] and his henchman, Mr. Charmchi's [Erasing our identity], own organization was not 100% in agreement about their harsh, divisive, and anti-Iranian treatment of Ebi. In point of fact a good number of the members were against the boycotting of Ebi and voted as such. Many of the members of the organization have written to me expressing their dismay at the organization's stand with Ebi and their official response to me. [The last stand of all things Persian] I still believe that the organization is wrong in its 100% all of the time militant approach. As for Mr. Ala, he also tends to misrepresent reality, never mind me or my motives (assuming they take off the blinders and see things as they are for a change). I challenge Mr. Ala to share with the readers any proof of attending two of my speeches, that I wrote to him and said he cannot trust an Iranian (maybe not in the context in which he had sought advice), or that in my speeches I urged Iranians to forgo their heritage or rights. If anything, mine has been a voice of reason, sometimes that benefits Iran (and these chauvinists) and sometimes it may not, but for each case at least my readers appreciate being informed. Mr. Ala does not like me personally and I think his antipathy for me has gotten the better of him. Well, cannot win them all, I guess! Mr. Charmchi, on the other hand, is so self-righteous that nothing he has written about me now or before, under flunky pseudonyms, should deserve a reply. As I figure it: this is the problem with these guys -- They can write well but they yet have to learn how to read. If they bothered to read my Persian Gulf piece, independent of their personal dislike for me, they would have noticed that the piece actually shows different ways that they can achieve their objective. I also offered a new application of Darwin's theory of evolution (which Mr. Charmchi illiterately dismissed as silly)! For his edification, I should explain. What is the logical conclusion of the "natural selection" process that over time has given us the name "'Persian Gulf," as I claim? That, the name is the fittest -- as in the survival of the fittest. What made it the fittest? The fact that Arabs too helped in its propagation and survival. Of course, as one member of Mr. Ala's organization wrote to me, this and other things in that piece are too subtle for these engineer-types! Finally, for Mr. Ala's information, he and his gang, to my best information, came very close to being investigated by the authorities for their threats against the target of one of their organized letter-writing campaigns, a situation which was averted by the grace of my name. Flatare hoc tuus nuus ex ergo. * What's the difference -- Arab, Persian, Turk... I marvel at the general ignorance that pervades our government and media about a region, its culture and geography at a time when we are asked to commit great resources to regime change in Baghdad. In the Danziger cartoon (Feb. 28) Saddam Hussein is shown being interviewed by a gibberish-spewing Dan Rather, while a confused-looking Saddam Hussein is looking over to his minion for meaning. The head-scratching minion is consulting a Farsi-English/English-Farsi dictionary! No wonder, everyone is confused. Saddam is an Arab; Arabs speak Arabic, not Farsi. Farsi, or Persian, as in the Persian Gulf, Persian cat, Persian carpet, is the language of Iran, Afghanistan and Tajikistan. Do we know whom we are fighting? What's the difference -- Arab, Persian, Turk, Paki, and Afghan are alike, right? A letter to the editor pointing out Danziger's mistake was published the next day in the Boston Globe. My letter was not (see below). O, well. Now here is a thought: what if Danziger meant to refer to Farsi all along pointing to the absurdity of talking to Saddam: Dan Rather's English being like Chinese to him, so it matters not what deictionary you use; or the US-talk is just as alien to Saddam.
* Slogans cannot save Iran Your Highness, Prince Reza Pahlavi, Most of your life you have lived in the United States. As you have observed the Government of the United States levis taxes to appropriate funds for her budget. For many years, they have spent more than they take in, and people of the United States or foreign entities do lend huge amounts of money to the Unites States. They do not count on the U.S. gold or silver reserves, nor do they count on jewels to be used as collateral; they count on the U.S. productivity as a solid collateral. Of course, the U.S. military might plays a major role, but even the U.S. Military might relies on the U.S. Productivity. Let us forget the pre-Pahlavi Iran. Back then; the only people who were taxed were the poor farmers. They carry the entire burden because they were the only productive people of Iran. Nothing is 100%, and this is in generalities. As of the establishment of the Iranian Constitutional Monarchy (mostly Pahalvi era), most of the time, about 95% of the budget came from oil revenues. The best of Iranian statesmen referred to it as OIL INCOME. It is a misnomer that has fooled almost all of the Iranians, including those who made such nonsense statements. Most of them behave as if there is no end to it. Time and time again I remind myself statements made by Dr. Milispo at the end of his two missions to Iran. At the same time, I remember the HAQQE TAVAHOSH (compensation for the wilderness condition of the service location) that American Military Attaches used to charge Iran for their service within Iran. Most Iranians resented that, but at the end they were proven valid. Your Highness, we have major problems that require serious people. We do not have proper taxation to finance our extravagant government. We do not have productive privet sector to support taxation. Our public sector, like most other public sectors of other countries (barring communist and ultra socialist regimes) is absolutely non-productive. We do not have a substantial productive private sector that can be taxed. Majority of our private sector is engaged in occupations, which are referred to as DALLALI (middlemen). They don't produce; they facilitate transactions. Your Highness, our nation needs proper taxation and a government that makes it her duty to live within her means and limits. Future government must assume that there is no more oil or gas to be sold and discipline itself to either facilitate real private sector productivity or declare that it does not know what it is doing. Some officials of the previous regime had the audacity to say, "We will buy technology." The net result might be that Iran may soon become a fourth world country. Slogans cannot save Iran. * Ketaabi az musighi Hello (Baa Salaam) English is too poor to be able to express feeling so Please let met express my feelings in a language which is reach enough to handle it (Persian (Ghand-e parsi) ) I am getting closed to fifty years of age (47), Ammaa deli ke aashegh-e taa ashegh-e javoon mimoon-e) Kari -ke shoma javoona tooy-e een asr-e zolmat va bidad mikonid , tanha hessi raa ke be maan elghaa mikonad een-ast ke "" MAAN EFTEKHAR MIKONAM KE YEK IRANI HASTAM), Kaar-e shoma javoona " SOTOODANIST". Ejazeh bedahid be ebaarat digar begooyam: " Aanche khooban ham-e daararand
to tanhaa dari (HAFEZ) )" SITE
shoma ketaabi az musighi ghani-e maast. Haar kessi mitavanad az aan lezat bebarad.
Honar zaan-e Iraniaan ast-o bas (FERDOSI) ) Een khalaghee-yat-e honar-e Iranist .
Zabaanam ajez az tosif ahamee -yet kar-e shomast.... Maa zende be aaneem ke herkez namee reem..... * We never claimed we were the superior race (perhaps others feel inferior) I'll keep it short: Gimme a freakin' break people! We never claimed we were the superior race, perhaps
others just feel inferior for their own reasons! * Mossadegh's fall was certainly a setback
The pictures are also quite revealing of the political tension that existed at the time, I for my part had never seen most of these pictures before. I find it difficult to really comment on them. The ambition of the Shah to take control appears obvious to me, and the arrogance of the military and SAVAK's chief Nassiri who holds the paper of Mossadeghs arrest is also quite shocking. On the otherhand I think it was certainly a very unpredictable periode where Iran's
national stability was threatened by pro-Soviet Communists and anarchists of all
sorts. Would an aged Mossadegh and what seemed to appear as a competent cabinet have
been able to control radical factions such as the Tudeh if his government was maintained
in Power despite the apparent smiles of the Soviet
Ambassador? On the otherhand Mossadegh was certainly a stubborn Man, and as his trial proves a great comedian at times. I am too young and did not live in that periode to be able to have a clear opinion of the pro's and con's of the former Prime Minister. He was certainly an intelligent man but I am not sure he would have not become a victim of his own political legacy. Like most nationalist mouvements of the Time, the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union imposed their radicalization. Be it Nasser in Egypt, or Pinochet in Chili, Nationalist views were very quickly recuperated by real politics. I think the Shah respected the Mossadeghs patriotism but feared his unpredictable nature. It is unfortunate that both men without doubt equally ambitious did not come up with a compromise that would have maintained Iran's political future within a democratic and Constitutional Monarchy with the King limited to his symbolic role. The generation of Iranian Nationalists like Bakhtiar would have certainly contributed to the counties political maturity and religious factions would not have gained in popularity and attract the likes of Bazargan and Sanjabi. The fall of Mossadegh was certainly a setback in Iran's political drive towards
Democracy. * We need another Mossadegh These leaders not only stole the national treasures and resources but also destroyed the culture, our heritage and pride. One can only imagine that they all have served the interest of the West. So, how dare does the son of Reza Phalavi the killer of our hero who lives in California speaks on behalf on Iranian people in public gathering and on TV. Shouldn't he and his corrupt family be punished and arrested for stealing the
wealth of Iran? How dare does he refer to us as his people? He like his coward father
is trained by CIA to come to Iran and destroy Iran for another century. Amir Nasiri
Mr. Ashaq Raza's poem "Tell America tell" is nothing but idiotic Arab propoganda. I am surprised that such a poem was published -- this is iranian.com not arab.com. Mr. Ashaq Raza seems to have pity on the taliban and other Islamic fascists in the region... that pretty much sums it up.
Thank you for sharing these unique photos about Mossadegh. [Almost] These represent a truly shinning moment in our glorious history. At the same time we witness a turning point, for the worse I might add, in our
history. Dr. Mossadegh was and will forever remain an Iranian icon, a true nationalist,
and a symbol of true democracy for current and future generations.
This is in regards to the article written about changing Iran's name to Persia. [The great land of the Sophy] I have to admit, it is one of the most beautiful and elagant peices of prose I have read about the cultural contributions of Iran/Persia to the world. However, I don't agree with changing Iran's name to Persia. Iran was, is, and will remain Iran. Kourosh refers to our land as Iran. Persia
was a name given to Iran by the Greeks, our mortal enemies, who also burned down
our capital. By refering to our native land as Persia, we are trying to please the
West, and no one else, and we would rob ourselves and our future generations of their
heritage. Currently many Kurds are living in Turkish and Arab countries, such as turkey,
syria, and Iraq, they all belong in Iranzamin. Half of Paksitan is Baluchistan, they
are Iranians and also belong in Iranzamin. The Pashtuns and Tajik who are in Afghanistan
and Tajikestan also belong in Iranzamin.
Thank you for Mossadegh's pictures [Almost]. They are great.
ma yeki az bastegan mr. bozorgi hastim. [The birdman of Boumehen] lotf befarmaid be ma begooid dar more ishan az koja in hame etelaat darid. ya agar aks-haye bishtari dirid be ma e-mail konid.
I just read your article and I wanted to share my thought and respond to one point you make about the change from "Persian" from "Iran". [The great land of the Sophy] When I was the President of the "Persian Student Organization" at UCSC, We invited the Shahnameh Society to come and speak at our school about the roots of our own language and culture. During their presentation, besides teaching us how Farsi was preserved throughout the Arab conquests by the Poetry and stories of Ferdowsi, we also learned a bit about the history of the the word "Persian". They let us know that "Persian" actually comes from the GREEK word "Persepolis" which means land of the Persians. The Greeks have written Iranian history and unfortunately that is the history and name that much of Europe and other influential hegemonic powers in the world came to adopt. However, us Iranians knew ourselves as Iranians according to all of our own writings, scriptures and poetry. In their presentation, the Shahnameh Society said that in the 1930's, the Shah changed it BACK to "Iran" as an effort to Nationalize the Iranian identity. I ask you : Have you ever noticed that Iranians cannot pronounce "Persian"? They say "Pearr-zhen". If this was our name, why can't we pronounce it? I wonder this myself. Why are we calling ourselves a name that Greek people gave us? Do the Germans call their country Germany just because that is what we call them? No. They call themselves "Deutschland." My point is: As a member of the young Iranian diaspora living here in America, everytime I hear someone say "Persian" I feel that they are hiding from saying they are Iranian because of the negative media images of Iran we see here in America. I understand that my parents generation lived here during the hostage crisis and it was difficult to find work and survive letting everyone know you are Iranian, but I feel that times are changing. I know many Iranians don't relate to having Islamic background (nor do I). But shying away and saying we are "Persian" for that reason is not recognizing that there are so many types of Iranians. Also, if Americans get IRAN and IRAQ mixed up, that is not my problem (it happens all the time). I will not shrink to make those who are ignorant feel comfortable anymore. I think it is time for our generation to represent ourselves. If we don't like the image of "Iranians"- why don't we be the new face of Iran? I think it is time to take back the images of our history and heritage so it not American media who defines us, not the Greeks, but us Iranians ourselves. Thanks for writing the article and sparking such thought and consideration about
our background.
I am trying to get a tourist visa to Iran to accompany a Canadian friend on a visit there. This friend has been to Iran several times and speaks Farsi, and he has just gotten his visa via the Iranian office in Ottawa. It would be a great opportunity for me to visit since he will accompany me to some of the major site in Iran. I called the Pakistani consulate in Washington that handles U.S. contacts with Iran, and a gentleman there said I should go through a tourist agency. I found one from Tehran on your site but their English is limited and they charge at least $500 just to get the visa. Do you or any of your colleagues have any contacts in the travel industry that might be able to help me?
Regards London, January 2003
I wanted to make a few comments on the articles about Michael Jackson. ["Freakumentary", "Neverman"] First of all I like many peopl was quite shocked at the answers Mr. Jacskon was giving to the interviewer, yet there are some things which we should understand. Michael Jackson was a star from the age of five, he did not have the same pleasures as we did of going out and playing with our friends and not having a care in the world, he was being abused by his father and had so much pressure on him to perform well and always had to be the leader. His father would always make the other children follow Michael, you can imagine how much stress this is for a 5 year old child! He talked about the time of his puberty where he broke out in acne etc. Well we can say to ourselves all teenagers go through that time, but how many teenagers had to perform in front of thousands or millions of people? How many teenagers where pictured in the tabloids etc, of course that time must have been harder for him (not that i agree with his plastic surgeries). The issue of his three children was also raised, in one article it was stated that their eyes were blue, which when I watched the program they looked brown to me. People say that he is crazy for covering his children with masks/ scarves but seriously this is Michael Jackson, can you imagine if he didn't cover his children and some person tried to kidnap them, do you know how much money they could get from him! We all know he loves children so if any of his children where ever kidnapped he would pay all his money for them right. Those children are not just any children they are the King of Pop's children! I'm sure if any one of us were in the same situation we would do all we could to protect our children. As for the sleeping in bed with children, society tells us that this is wrong, but I honestly believe that Michael Jackson would never harm a child, he just has an obssession with children and I believe this is mainly because he never had one himself, his childhood was taken away from him, he never had a chance to experience it I do believe he needs some counselling but im sure if we were in his situation
we would be the same! As for the plastic surgery, as much as it made me mad to hear
him say he has only had two surgeries, when in fact his face screams out more than
that, there are so many in Holly Wood having surgery etc etc, ok so he has gone overboard
but who are we to judge someone?
I tell u something about Sadegh Khan [Hedayat]: [The Pearly Cannon] He was a very good neveesandeh and still is LOL! He always speaks the truth from his heart. Is he alive? I want to talk to him. LOL.... U guys make me laugh a whole lot. Thanks .
I visited the web site with pictures of Mossadegh. Extraordinary job. [Almost]
This article presents only a part of the story. [The
great land of the Sophy] I am sure that Ferdowsi was not exposed to Hitler or
ordered by Reza Shah to write in Shah-Nameh:
This photo that you used in your cover and photo essay section ["Iran diary"], was edited in Photoshop. I don't know if it's on purpose or not, but please consider that juxtaposing these kinds of fake pictures with real photographs of Iran's heritage not only helps the hardline elements in Iran, support negative stereotypes that are politically and socially detrimental in today's volatile global situation especially in our region. Please be weary of your actions and intentions (See reply) FN
I'm in a serious doubt about the intellectual community of my lovely land IRAN. Please don't make mistake. I'm not talking about the intelligent ones. Just being proud of my nationality doesn't solve my problems, which I consider it the HUMAN problems in his way to the Creator, Perfection, God, you name it. Why don't we take advantage of technology to talk to each other free of any threat? The way a human is supposed to live. Don't forget the role of creation, that we get what we deserve. In my dictionary an intellectual means a FARA - MARZI. For a better life for IRAN,
let's educate each other, by communicating. If you're worried about PhDs, don't be.
I know a bunch of great illiterate people. The difference is that they don't count
themselves as commoners.
Congratulations! [Katarina] Is this the birth of Playboy Iran or maybe Penthouse? This reminds me of a writer in pre-revolution weekly Javanan, nicknamed R. Etemadi. I should say a "raw documentary"!! Even pornography has its own culture!
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1. PLEASE PLEASE change the "featured personal". It's been up
a while now and frankly, her "I'm too sexy for my shorts" look and her
aspiration of " "doing" a PhD in five years" is starting to wear
on me. 
Feel no offence by this comparison but I was surprised to see the resmblance
of Mohammad Mossadegh in 
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