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November 26, 2003 Page 3 * Huge shadow Qajars for one exception (Abbas Mirza) have no defense and you do not have to be a historian to know that! ["Missed facts"] The world moved forward when Iranians stayed stagnant under the huge shadow of these fat zellolahs. No offense intended against all shazdeh folks who were as good as any other Iranian. * Striking commonalities Dear Omer, ["Unwilling
warriors"] Coming from a Persian background, I have, of course, seen and felt similarities between our peoples - even our languages (Farsi and Serbo-Croat/Bosnian) have striking commonalities. Above all, living in BiH has afforded me the opportunity of meeting with, working closely with and falling in love with people who have shown me a hospitality, humor, ingenuity, and worldview I will never forget. May your country (and the region itself)
always serve as an example of Unity in Diversity and Justice for humankind
as we approach global adulthood. * Excellent artist I just love Behroo Bagheri's works ["Compelling circumstances"]. She is an excellent artist. * NO! So this is the hottest latest thing the Pahlavi family can offer? ["Why not"] Nazi Pahlavi taking photos of nude Iranians and posting them on the web? Millions of Iranians who are counting (and forgiving, and forgetting) the Pahlavi royal family keeping the memory of Aryamehr alive, are sending their latest 1st generation Eye-Ranian, US citizen, will be going back to Iran sometime in the future, as a nude photographer! A member of one of the richest of royal families, a princess of the Aryan nation which has spread culture and civilization to the world with its 20,000-year history? A nation which produced Zoroaster, Mani, Abu-Ali Sina, Farabi, Khayyam, Hafiz, Sa'di, Ferdowsi, and countless other great scientists, writers and intellectuals, now needs Western "art" being rammed down our throats in a weak attempt of being "sophisticated", "modern", "borgeious", "chic", and don't forget all our words we borrowed from the French, merci very much. NO! As a 1st generation 21 year old male Irooni who has been living in London for 19 years, I WILL NOT bite my tongue and withold my passionate feelings. Did Nazi Pahlavi not think of her position, responsiblities and how her "art" may affect the image of us Iranians? Did she not put into account that she may be serving in the government in the future, or at least have a highly influential position in the future of our country? Instead of at least planning or developing for the future generations of Iranians, having the experience of living in the West, being in touch with the socio-cultural problems 1st and 2nd generation Western-Iranians have, attempting to persuade us to return for the better or worse, she is stripping young male and female Iranians and taking photos of them. NO Nazi Pahlavi, nude art has NEVER EVER been a part of Iranian culture, and NEVER WILL BE! Out of all the genres you could have chosen, you chose erotica? Iranian history, music, literature, sports, cuisine, charity, fashion did not take place in your mind? What about IRANIAN art? What about funding a small school in Santa Barbra and encouraging young Iranians to maximise their potentials there, and no, I'm not talking about erotica. So what happened? Your American friends patted your back telling you how they were wonderfully happy that they managed to corrupt Iranian culture just a bit more? Were they so threatened by the richness of our culture that they had to brainwash you into thinking you could get away with something like this? Political views are something, and you can ask how unpopular Rajavi is, but nude art? Deegeh che begam? I'm disapointed. Didn't you even think that one of the brothers, fathers, sisters, future husbands and wives may see those photos of the individuals? Didn't you think you were being a bit risky? I mean it was difficult enough our parents getting hold of the idea of pre-martial relaitonships, and 25 years after the revolution, conservative views on sex are still unbroken. Did you think that you would spark up a new cultural revolution? A "Persian Renaissance"? That your photo would go onto the frontpage of Time and Newsweek, dozens of biographies written about you, your name going into the artists hall of fame of the 21st century? Oh, what about a Nobel Prize? We already got one in Peace, how about another? This time you could try and win the Nobel Prize in literature, oh, and I've just got the perfect title; "Persian Porn". * Approach to openness Regarding the nude by Nazak Pahlavi I would like to thank you for providing an "open" forum for arts and individual expressions ["Why not"]. I don't necessarily think her work is exceptional, but your editorial approach to openness and lack of censorship is certainly exceptional and heart warming. * One extreme to the other Wow! Ms. Pahlavi has a shot at being a Playboy photographer! ["Why not"] No wonder we have such an extremist religious government at this moment in time! The Pahlavis wanted to turn Iran to another sexually corrupt Western country, and the damn mullahs took advantage of that extreme, and pushed our beloved land to the other extreme, by covering and murdering them! We moved from one extreme to another! Photos are fine works of art, in my Western point of view; but, as a Persian, and for publishing them in Iran, they are just disgusting! So, this is the Iran that we would see today, had it not been for the damn revolution!? By the way, I am a fashion photographer! * Insult to arts About Nazak Pahlavi photo essay, "Why not": What has happened to art? I'm sorry but naked psychos on black and white pictures is not Art! This is an insult to authentic arts. Nowadays people do WHATEVER they want and call it Art. You self proclaimed "liberal" artists: STOP INSULTING OUR INTELLIGENCE by presenting that kind of GARBAGE as Art. * Master crap There is yet proof again that the Pahlavi family is royally f---ed up ["Why not"]. This princess shit head should have someone with a bit of brain that is not from her family check her "Master Craps" an tell her that taking picture of naked asses and other body parts is not a new and unique thing. The people of Iran have paid unwillingly for this idiot to go to school and waste their money. But I look at the bright side that the world can see the royal family is royally screwed up and yet they claim they should be ruling our country. Let's see princess shit head what kind of job is worthy of your royal pea brain? I have an idea. Sine you seem to have a fascination with ass and other naked parts may be you can become the official photographer in the prison cells where men have not seen a woman for a long time. That would do you justice. By the way, your last name would bring you misery and hatred so try and change it. The crown cannibal is in a little place in Egypt and nobody but the little wife visits him once a year and he thought he was immortal. Find a more interesting subject to photograph. How about the parties your family throws with stolen money? * Almost beheaded Dear Mr Abbas Soltani, ["Open season on sultans"] I wanted to say that I enjoyed very much your photos and comments on Zil-es-Sultan's forteress. In my family there was a story about how this Qajar prince almost beheaded my great-great-maternal grandfather Sharif-ol-Hokama (a prominent physician in Shiraz) during a trip he made to the Chehel Setoon in Isfahan to cure his mother, the Mahde-Olya. Apparently my ancestor fell in love with a favourite of the Zil which almost cost his life. However, the Zil forgave the two lovers and they eventually married. I read a lot about the Zil. If I may suggest I think you should write a small book or novel set in this fortress using your own visit and all the stories you can get. * So rich! Thanks Abbas Soltani for the great photos and the great write up. So rich! ["Open season on sultans"] Mohamad NavabNavab, * Zaratosht was a Kurd In reference to your article, "Iranism in time", Zaratosht was not Iranian, he was a Kurd. Still the Kurdish people in Hawraman, Kurdistan, speak the real Zartoshti language; don't tell me Iranians are "Medes". Iranian are Fars and the Kurds are real Medes. Talk to any Kurdish man or woman and they understand the Zartoshti
language. Can Iranians speak Zartoshti like the Kurds? The Iranian
language is mostly of Arabic descent. * Made me to think about her Dear Azam, It was the last summer before I came to the US. To improve my English, I enrolled in a night school right near Pahlavi Intersection. That is where I met Fahimeh. From the first moment our eyes met I knew that I had found the love of my life. We met shortly after and started dating briefly by meeting in different cafes and going to movies. Neither one of us knew where we were going and what was going to happen. We just wanted to be together. I still feel the heat of her hand in my hand when we were in the movies and smell her Nina Ricci's perfume almost every day. Unfortunately
we had to break up because of social standards at that
time. There was no way her family would agree to give her away to
marry a young man with no higher education and no money. Thanks for writing such a beautiful story and thanks for making me to think about her once more. * Saddest story i wanted to say that i usually don't read the short stories on Iranian.com because they get boring and i loose patience, but "Bahram" was different. it was the saddest story i have read in my entire life. i don't remember crying this much... not even romeo and juliet! why couldn't you give it a happy ending like he gets up from the dead!? anyways i wanted to tell you it was a very touching story and that i will print it and keep it forever keep up the good work. * Trip back to the old country Dear Azam and Babak, Thank you so much for making "Emad Ram" music available on Iranian.com. I had not listened to his music since I moved to US. It was a nostalgic trip back to the old country. It brought back some tucked away memories. I appreciate all your efforts. Keep up the good work. * Shadi, nur va aramesh Salam, moddatist ke moshtari da'emi site shoma shodam va ba shenidan taraneha va didan aks haye un be gozashte haye dur miram, ruzhaye bacheghi, shadi, nur va aramesh. daste hameghi dard nakone...karetun harf nadare, age emkan dare ye bakhsh ham be aks honar pishehaye ghadimi Iran ekhtesas bedin. khoda negahdar shoma, * Great Persian music bank Dear Ms. Nemati, Your contribution to Persian music is invaluable. I check Iranian.com often. A few months ago, I was surprised with its great Persian music bank. I really enjoy the music you have added to Iranian.com; I know you have worked hard and still working to bring us enjoyment of Persian music. Mehdi Monajemi * Spirituality vs religious People who find the "path" nowadays in life always fascinate me ["On a path"]. I have great compassion and understanding for them as well. I consider myself lucky and blessed to have been on the path since I turned 14 years old. I too have had my own definition of religion (as I have for everything else in my life). The reason many people are turned off is precisely because they are forced to by some vigilant (and mostly uneducated) fanatic in their own circle of family and friends. My family was very progressive and although I attended many religious ceremonies just like the writer I was turned off by the exaggerated display of fanaticism, which had nothing to do with spirituality. I learned form my parents that compassion and generosity must be presented in secrecy. It is time for our fellow Iranians to learn that there is a difference between spirituality and being religious. Religious people are these idiots who invite many well to do Iranians to the breaking of the fast at their home where the amount of food and deserts would make you sick. I have had many arguments about this matter in my own community. That is why I never go to any of these events. I am happy for the writer to have started her journey but forgetting the nafs and having a peace of mind is a drop in an ocean. You would be a true traveler of the path when you feel genuine love and compassion for all in need and actually acting upon them. And as your prayers giving you the chance to focus, it is really because you have not reached the pinnacle of enlightenment. More
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