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Letters

June 16, 2004

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* Unparallel effort

Mr Kasraie, [Spiraling into oblivion]

We are greatly heartened by your article on the Pearl Palace. We at Taliesin, Cornelia Brierly, the Casey's and the Nemtin's are alive and well and could be of help to you.

This was an unparallel effort by us all. William Wesley Peters was the chief architect of the project and is the designing architect. Frank Lloyd Wright was no longer living, having died in the spring of 1959. Please feel free to consult us for further information.

Are the photos pictured with the article the current state of the building? [See reply below]

Stephen M. Nemtin

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* Dire state

In reply to "Unparallel effort",

I wrote the article about The Pearl Palace. [Spiraling into oblivion] I guess what misled me into mentioning the palace as a FLW design was the brochure I purchased at the Pearl Palace itself last may . In the brochure, which I have a copy of, it lists the architect of the building as "The company of Frank Lloyd Wright". I guess they mistranslated "The Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation".

I did feel hesitant about who exactly was responsible for the design, since 1966 would be past FLW's time indeed. But then again I did try to hint that Wes Peters could have been the chief architect by mentioning the Wes Peters interview, where he directly mentioned how he had interviewed princess Shams. The pictures come from the brochure as well. However, those pictures are old.

The building currently is in a very dire state. I was only able to take 3 pictures due to poor lighting conditions. They had cut off electricity due to a massive water leakage problem in the building. The concrete supporting the dome was literally falling apart, and I was amazed that the dome was still holding. They have pulled a cover over the dome to prevent further water from penetrating inside. The pictures I took are in slide form and belong to Professor Marian Moffett.

My main goal for writing that article was only to try to gather attention via a suitable media, since nobody seems to care about the building in Iran. At least I was able to reach the attention of the main architects themselves.

Nima Kasraie

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* Brilliant Bush

We don't need a lesson on politics from a novice Columbia freshman!? [20/20] We are educated and savvy enough to make the right choices when it comes to electing the next President of the United States of America.

By the way, President Bush attended Philips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts. He then attended Yale and also earned an MBA from Harvard.

You should be ashamed of yourself making fun of this brilliant president! You should be watching Beavis & Butthead while chocking your chicken!

Rostam Irani

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* Left-wing idiocy

Roozbeh Shirazi reminds me of exactly why I stopped hanging around with politically- active Iranians [Watch out for Iranicons]. Almost all the college-aged Iranians that I've known take to the anti-American ideology of the far left-wing like a moth to a flame. Instead of learning their hatred for the U.S. from an Islamic sermon, they develop their hatred for the U.S. in the bastion of pseudo-intellectual, left-wing trash that is modern academia.

Shirazi creates a caricature of modern Iranian conservatives that is typical for many left-wing ideologues. It reminds me of the descriptions of Jews in pre-WWII Germany or the descriptions of Aftican-Americans back in the days of slavery. The goal is to dehumanize anybody who disagrees with you and create a list of ridiculous traits in a sad attempt to stereotype them and minimize their influence.

The reality is that there is a variety of beliefs that conservative Iranians have. I am a twenty-something Iranian who recently graduated from UC Berkeley and I have no interest in bringing back the son of the former Shah or establishing a puppet government of the U.S. in Iran. Yet, I don't feel the overwhelming need to rehash the laundry list of CIA crimes at every opportunity as a sign of political awareness.

I don't ridicule people when they feel an ounce of patriotism for a country that has given them so many opportunities. I don't think ousting Mossadegh 50 years ago was the turning point in Iranian politics that led to the current state of the country and I place the blame for Iran's problems squarely on the shoulders of Islamic fundamentalists. Radical ideas, right?

Shirazi can go ahead and continue to regurgitate Chomsky and his steady stream of vitriol for the U.S. government while living here. The irony here is that Reza is exactly the type of young and naive fool who would have joined Khomeini's cause and fell for the lure of his message. Now he has repackaged the message of Islamic extremism and hatred for western governments with left-wing intellectualism (if you can call it that) and he's helping spread that idiocy among young Iranians.

It's a sad day when supposed institutions of "higher education" have become modern-day madrassas that pump endless streams of radicalized Iranians who have nothing but contempt for the American flag. Let's hope that with some age and experience, they'll realize that they don't have to conform to this infortunate norm.

Robin H

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* Friendship with Iraq ultimate interest

Dear Aghaie Amir Irani-Tehrani,

In reply to your letter, "Jaded Shiites", I strongly believe that enmity between Iran and Iraq is far deeper than governments of today and yesterday [My article "Iran-Iraq friendship pact"]. There is a strong racial under tone and mutual hatred on both sides which I found similar to that of the Franco-German relation of pre-1945. That is what needs to be overcome.

Do keep mind that governments come and go, it is the nations that stay. Friendship with Iraq is to the ultimate interest of all Iranians.

Cheers and a few Mojito's for the rest of the rubbish in you e-mail letter.

Sharif

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* Middle Eastern not a problem

Hi Ahmagh Khan, [Worse than Blacks]

I disagree with most of your point of views about people, job and life style in U.S. You are right some young people in IRAN think that as soon as they come to U.S. there is jobs, Beautiful girls or boys to go out with, etc. But reality is not that simple.

I moved myself here almost six years a go with B.S. in Software engineering from IRAN, it was hard in the beginning to find a job, specially because I did not have green card but I did not loose my hope and finally got job in my field less than a year.

I have had 3 jobs in 6 years and it was all for better not worse I got laid off right after 9/11 and job market was so bad in that time but I kept sending resume and finally got a better job than what I had before, they did not reject me because I was a Middle Eastern even in that bad situation.

I never felt they underestimate me because my degree is from Iran or I am from Iran. You are right, there are some red neck whites who do not like any one except whites from Europe but they are not majority of people. I have seen lots of Americans that respect our culture and considers us very smart.

I have an American co-worker who loves Persian cuisine so much, I told her once if you win the lotto you can hire a Persian cook, you know what she said, she said:" I do not think there is any Persian here that becomes my cook they are mostly Drs, Engineers, businessmen and etc."

I hope I have not offended any body that works as cook we have so many good Persian cooks at Persian restaurants that we love their meals, and we appreciate their work, but I just want to make my point that not all Americans dislike us or dislike foreigners. There are always prejudict people everywhere.

You are right, life is not perfect here, it is not perfect any where at least on earth, but you can live in any way you wish here, you can be a good Muslim, you can be a good Jewish, a good Christian, atheist or what ever you wish, nobody stops you from being what you want to be unless you create trouble for others.

About job and education you can make progress as much as you want but there is a condition you should work hard and try hard too. If you are a good Dr, Engineer, Plumber, cook,... nobody care where are you coming from or what is your race, at least this is my own experience may be I was lucky to deal with understanding nice people.

Some thing that we should remember too is when you show self confidence and "gheiafe hagh be janeb" and also have the talents and you are goal oriented every body respects you and no one dares to put you down or under estimate you.

NM, California

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* Going for the jugular

dear Ahmagh khan.... (wish i did not have to address
you by that name) [Worse than Blacks]

with all due respect, you are not being a good role-model for your beloved cousin. you have tried to paint a very not-so-pretty picture for him, but in reality you have overstepped the boundry and dashed a young man's hopes and dreams. as someone who is going through the rough conditions that you described, i have to agree with you on certain points that you made, but it is not all that bad. we all have heard about how nearly impossible it has become to obtain permission to enter the country and i don't think anyone needs to hear anymore negative news on what really goes on once they are in here.

if you look carefully in your community or nationally, you could notice that up to %70 of those who perform menial jobs at various levels, do not have to belong to a group or a union, and when it comes to plumbing or more techniqually oriented works, virtually anyone would qualify by getting licensed from state or county.

The issue of "lonlimess" is a worldwide dilemma and is not just restricted to iranians or immigrants in the states. in today's modern societies every family's top concern is becoming economically prosperous one and could really care less for social gatherings.

how can you even bring up the issue of "orzeh" and whether one has it or not! into this, knowing the economic disaster currently in place in iran? does one really can make money over there if they have orzeh? and how exactly is orzeh defined by your standards? Lying and cheating would not happen to be a part of having orzeh by any strech of imagination, would they? You could at least pretend that you support him and his decision, knowing the hurdles he has to overcome to get that visa, instead of being downright realistic with him and going for the jugular.

kyle

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* Americans can tell the difference

I found this article [Worse than Blacks] quite entertaining and some of the points were accurate. However, in general I disagree that Americans do not know the difference. Americans usually can tell the difference between Iranians and "others".

First of all whether you admit it or not as a group we are a lot more educated and more sophisticated and that is reflected in our demeanor and the way we come across. Even when I have gone to Middle Eastern stores to shop and there are Arab people there, the American customers always come up to me and ask me for advice >>> Full text

Azam

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* Monarchist magnet

This is a reply to babak kalhor's "Mental midget you",

What a great piece! written with such dignity and taking extra caution so as not to insult anyone's integrity, i have no doubt that just reading this letter will increase the number of those who will decide to become Monarchist or excuse me, Nationalists! by multiple folds, but i am sure that was the ultimate level of clarity and logic that could ever imagine yourself aspiring to.

Dignifying your opponents as "jackasses" and mental midgets, would not only add additional merits to your cause, as it always has, but it also creates a huge brethren of supporters for the return of monarchism to iran.

To disgest the breath of your "point of contention" would be to do away with every aspect of human integrity and decency and to virtually become one just like you. what is so "nationalistic" about pushing a series of defunct and obsolete ideas down a vehemnetly oppsoing public's throat and charactrizing them as dim-wits?

kyle

P.s. I have had enough of your emails bragging about you calling your lawyer and asking him to go after me. please, threatening someone especially over the net, will not do you any good.

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* Looking for Ali Reza Shahabi

I'm writing to you from Denmark, because I'm looking for an Iranian-American man called Ali Reza Shahabi (born 1939 in Qom). I don't know where to turn, so I'm just hoping that one of you can help me - maybe spread my word or point me in another direction where to look for him.

He moved to the US from Tehran in the beginning of the 60es and came to Denmark in 1965 before he went back to Chicago, where he was working as an assistant vice president of engineering for a company.

I also know that he was educatet from an American University where he got a Master of Science of arts and crafts.

I really hope you can help me and would be so grateful if you would drop me a few lines. It's a very emtional matter that I find him.

I also attach a photo of Ali taken in 1965.

Wenche Hugaas Jensen,
Journalist / SPORLØS

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* Stupid mistake

Such an irresponsible poll and question was posted about bombing or not bombing. There is a good proverb in Iranian language "raise the one that you gave birth before having another one -- zaidy aval bozorg kon ta be bad beraseh.

The world should wait and see what the stupid mistake they did in Afghanistan and Iraq and then have other plans.

Please think before posting irritating items on you web.

Ray Lotfi

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* I thought he's my soulmate

I love your stories [The one I can't have]. i am also heart broken. I am with this persian guy for almost 6 years. He went back to Iran and cure his heart. I know he's probably dating a Persian girl over there. I do love him; I thought he's my soulmate. I missed him dearly. I wish he'd come back here to San Diego.

M Nelson

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* Wonderful singer

For the first time I am listening to this wonderful singer, Zaza. I wish her all the best I am enchanted with her voice.

Youel Eshay

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* Connection to long ago

Dear Ms. Azam Nemati:

I am writing this message of appreciation to thank you for putting together the marvelous collection of Persian music on Iranian.com. Listening to the pieces and reading the delightful descriptions have given me hours of ecstasy. 

Having been away from my beloved Iran for some forty years, I feel so miserably isolated from the culture that gave my life much of its meaning. Your enormous contribution has enabled me to make a connection to the sound, words, tunes, and names that were so much a part of me a long ago. Thanks so very much.

Saeed 

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Archive
All past letters

By subject
June 2004

June 16

Architecht
* Unparallel effort
* Dire state
Anti-Imperoialist
* Brilliant Bush
* Left-wing idiocy

Anti-Midle Eastern
* Not a problem
* Going for the jugular

* Americans tell difference
Debate
* Monarchist magnet
Heartbroken
* My soulmate
Lost & found
* Ali Reza Shahabi
Poll
* Stupid mistake
Music
* Wonderful singer
* Connection to long ago

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