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Letters

September 24, 2004
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* He was ORDERED

Dear Ms. Sefid, [The coverup]

First of all the behaviour of iranian champion mr miresmaili was no embarrassment to me, because i know he was  ORDERED  to leave the competitions. why cant you understand that? he felt like hell for a few days and even the islamic republic's tv correspondence mr khiabani unexpectedly blurted out that he cried the whole night after he was told to leave. he had taken a whole lot of pain in the past few years and his hopes were given to the dogs after this. why do you blame a victim for an offence he has never committed.

Secondly, it was not the iranian national item you were expecting, it was the islamic republic anthem. at least it is what they claim in tehran. they call it SOROOD JOMHOURI ESLAMI not SOROOD MELLI IRAN.

Believe me what sounds emabarrassing is to exonerate an oppressive regime for his wrong decisions and blame innocent athletes.

Ebrahim Majidi

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* Rezazadeh household name

Sara Sefid is right [The coverup]. The Real Iranian Anthem should have been telecast on NBC. Americans are falling in love with the Islamic Republic of Iran. The American Greco-Roman wrestler stated that the Islamic Republic of Iran has had great wrestlers for over 20 years.

And Rezazadeh has become a household name. I remember when there was an earthquake in Bam, Iran, Rezazadeh went their and donated blood to the Red Crescent there. The Red Crescent is the Iranian Red Cross. Rezazadeh is also a member of the volunteer Army of Iran, the Baseej. And the Islamic Republic of Iran also won a gold medal in Tae Kwon Do. 

All President Bush has to do now is abolish all sanctions against the Islamic Republic of Iran and visit Iran for a cup of Tea with Khatami and Khamenei in Tehran. That would be awesome.

Dr. Rahbary

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* Great gheymeh, with pork

Dear Ms.Taghizadeh, [Pari's cousine]

I haven't read Ms. Ardalan Malek's cookbook yet, but reviewed the table of contents on Amazon and noticed that it had Pork listed in there!

Since I've never heard or seen pork used in Persian cooking, I'm wondering if you had asked her (or knew) or knew how she came to include pork in a Persian cookbook that claims to be authentic? Is including pork a way of giving the book its full Persian-American range?

And please note that I'm not at all religious or asking this question to make a religion related point (since I do consume pork) and in fact I have heard that substituting pork in some khoreshes (gheymeh especially) produces great results.

Farhad Radmehrian

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* Menalah tofigh

Besmetaala.

Emrooz motavajeh shodam be site jamaran.blogspot link dade boodid; mamnoonam! [Cheraa Fucker shodam?]

Menalah tofigh,

Hojatoleslam Fucker

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* Let talent flourish

One thing I have learned in America is "tolerance". In response to Soute Delan's "Do we look like Iraqis?", I say: I am glad that Iranian.com still has the slogan that "anything goes".

To Soute Delan and others, I say: Let people say what they want. Isn't that what we complain about the Islamic Republic? Let talent flourish. Don't kill it.

Besides, it is the " human" thing to do, to have compassion for others and give a damn, isn't it? Or, do I have it all wrong?

Amir F

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* Part-time father thing

Regarding "A miracle", you make me proud to be Iranian (which is a really hard thing to do lately). Keep writing and don't worry about the part-time father thing. What's most important is that she can be proud that you are her dad. And I am sure she is.

Best Wishes from Sarajevo,

Maryam

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* Aylar & ayatollah

What a matching couple of Iranians of the day (August 27, 2004): the Iranian born porn star and Miss Norway-never-to-be, Aylar Dianati Lie, and the pious, the philosopher, the mystic, His Eminency (self-appointed) Ayatollah Javadi Amoli.

My point is that now that we have a shared platform for such prominent pair of the pious and the porn, why not arranging for a quickie by getting these Iranian icons introduced intimately? 

I am sure the good Ayatollah, wouldn't mind fulfilling his Messianic mission by whispering a word or two into Aylar's ear and show her what takes to be a real DIANATI. After all if Messiah managed to bring Mary Magdalene into his circle of followers I see no reason why the Ayatollah shouldn't make disciple out of Dianati!

Parkhash

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* Put your black and white glasses down

It is a very common practice amongst us, Iranians, that we look at people or their works and then try to connect them to any sort of predefined school of mind or philosophy or manners [Do we look like Iraqis?]. It seems we enjoy dividing people to a few sets. This is named strictly prejudice. This is named ideology that we all hate and insult people who have it but we practice daily one way or the other >>> Full text

Mohsen

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* What is this madness?

Dear Ms. Namazie, [No, she was not mad]

So am I to be told that the man only got 100 lashes while the female got death? What is this madness anyway? Please somebody explain this to me. No outcry against the lopsidedness of the sentences-the blatant discimination against gender and violence against gender?  Where's the Koran now? I thought it was supposed to be just in these situations.

Anyone who has truly studied it knows that in the Koran it stipulates that it has to be so many witnesses that it would be virtually impossible to prove and therefore a moot point.  Shirin Ebadi, please step up to the plate! We need you and more like you.

L. Monjezi

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* Hard-line Republicans

I received an e-mail, pointing to your site, with comments as follows: "Iranian.com is taking a wrong step by allowing supporters of Islamists to openly voice their opinions through art work [cartoons] on this forum.... Iraj Yamin Esfandiary's cartoons take free forum policy too far and should be banned."

I have seen Mr. Esfandiary's political cartoons and they have nothing to do with the Islamic Regime. Apparently, the writers equate Esfandiary's anti-Bush cartoons with support of the Islamic Regime.

They have nothing to do with each other, except for hard-line Iranian Republicans who are confusing the USA political cartoons and anti-war sentiment with their own biased views. Some of them are so warped, that they encourage Bush Bombing Iran, their own country, out of frustration.

Robert Kashef

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* Not surprising

How sad to see such feeble attempts at trying to persuade iranian.com to censor Mr. Esfandiary's work [Do we look like Iraqis?]. Even more shameful, to see the words "freedom" and "democracy" invoked to justify advocating censorship.

Sad but unfortunately not surprising. Throughout history artists have been threatened with censorship or worse when they have dared to voice their dissent and I guess our two fellow countrymen (Arya and Daneshjoo) are followers of that disgraceful tradition.

I have always enjoyed Mr. Esfandiary's political cartoons and I think he tackles pertinent and sensitive issues with an abundance of intelligence and wit. His work is brilliant and I hope that you continue publishing his work for many years to come.

Sara

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* Done better

Jahanshah my dear,

You take better pictures than the ones you took of the Yazdgerd play. Why did you put all of them on display?

Take it easy and be good to yourself.

Behruz.

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* As for SAVAK

Dear Roya Hakakian, [author of Journey from the Land of No. See "To rest at last"],

I just listened to your interview on Radio Times on your recent memoires. I wanted to congradulate you for your outspokenness and enlightment in recalling the events of your childhood in revolutionary struck Iran. Unlike you and your parents, me and my siblings were not on the rooftops crying Marg Bar Shah. We weren't revolutionaries from the very begining probably because we felt religion and an Islamic Republic was not the solution to the problems of the society. We were like we used to say a part of the "silent majority" >>> Full text

Darius KADIVAR

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* Bla bla bla

Those of you who argue that Iran violated the "olympic spirit" by refusing to allow miresmaeli to fight an Israeli [Proud of what?] are applying a double standard. South Africa was banned from the Olympic games for DECADES because of apartheid.

I mean, you could argue that South Africa's athletes had nothing to do with apartheid bla bla bla, and that athletes from all nations should be allowed to compete against one another in the name of the "olympic spirit" regardless of their country's regimes. but that wasnt' the case, was it??

The IOC felt free to mix up politics and sport by banning SA from the games, and it was entirely legitimate of them to do so as a form of protest against their country's gross human rights abuses.

The USA likewise boycotted the 1980 (?) Soviet olympics. did the world's media condemn the united states for violating the "spirit of the olympic games"??

The point is, Miresmaeli's refusal to play the Israeli-whether his own choice or not-is an ENTIRELY legitimate form of protest that has many precedents in the past. but when it comes to the fascist state of Israel, there's always a double standard at play. We can't treat the Israelis like we did the South Africans because the former are Jews and the Jews are always the victims. Fuck that.

Bravo Miresmaeli.

Nariman Namazi

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* Isreal is not our enemy

Regardoing John Mohammadi's article "The wrong fight", a number of Palestinian athletes were interviewed by NPR. Virtually all of them indicated that they would compete against an Israeli athlete.

Yassir Arafat has said on a nummber of occasions that he wants Iran to leave Palestinians alone. Mr. Mohammadi, you should be thinking and writing about how we can get back our country. Isreal is not our enemy. The Islamic republic regime is.

Here is a very short list of topics you can work on instead of writing about Palestinians, etc.. all the time:

-- Iranian women forced into prostitution in the Persian Gulf countries.
-- Oppression of Iranian women.
-- Iranian refugees.
-- Imprisoned Iranian students
-- Imprisoned Iranian activists
-- The Islamic regime selling Iranian interest in the Caspian Sea
-- Iran's standard of living sharp decline

And the list goes on... Enough said.

Ali Sarshar

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* Gucci Marxists

Dear Darius,

The question you put in your letter to Maryam Namazie about her article "No can do" tempted me to give an answer. Unlike the Old Europe, whose Socialism grew organically from within the deeply deprived and destitute ranks of the society, Iranian Socialism and its various shades e.g. Communism, Marxist/Leninism, Maoism, and Trotskyism, were all implants. Our communist leaders were almost invariably foreign educated and came from the privileged parts of their societies >>> Full text

Parkhash

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* Athlete, not a slave

In response to "Go and compete"

The people bought an athlete, not a slave. Assuming that Arash refused to play based on his own views of Israel, then surely his freedom of expression was not sold in return for receiving subsidies to participate in the Olympics.

This is an interesting issue in any country: does receiving state subsidies to do something require one to forgo one's right to free expression to promote the state's views/interests instead?

For example, would this mean that artists who are subsidized by the state are required to only produce art that "the people" (or, the government) thinks is" appropriate"?

John Mohammadi

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* Nuke Mecca

A 16 year old girl spoke her mind and you hanged her!!! [No, she was not mad] You bastards!!! I always knew Iranians were a bunch of pig shits and hide behind old women. This is not a judge, but a murder, a sociopath wearing a robe and he is the one who should be taken out and hung! If I ever see and Iranian in America, I will spit in your face >>> Full text

dr. burke

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* Go and compete

Dear John, [The wrong fight]

Little Arash can do whatever little Arash wishes. If he doesn't feel like competing against an Israeli athlete due to ideology or religion, more power to him. But as an athlete, the moment your athletic endeavors are financed by Iranian people, your ass belongs to them.

You will go to the arena and compete until you pass out. Once the people of Iran pay the bills for your training, competitions, travels, uniforms, coaches, doctor appointments, etc., you've no more rights to express your political opinions in athletic arenas.

Little Arash should reimburse the people of Iran for all the money they've invested to develop this asshole and to get him to where he is today. Once he paid the people of Iran back, then he can articulate his displeasure towards anybody he dislikes. [See reply "athlete, not a slave"]

Siamack Baniameri

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* "Mossadegh" rocks

Regarding the New York rock opera "Mossadegh", I think it would even be interesting to write a similar one on the Shah and his life. I have always found that Andrew Loyd Webbers EVITA was a good pop opera about a historical figure. It was interesting because it tried to be unbiaised.

The Peronist government is shown as authoritarian but at the same time the Opera and film with Madonna in the title role were trying to give a feeling of what it may have been like to have known Evita and Peronist Argentina.

The songs were intelligent and thoughtprovoking. Particularily the Evita and Che Waltz which metaphorically confronts Evita and the Che who represents the people of Argentina. The two dance and defy one another during which Evita is to justify her policies and influence on her husband for what she considers the Good of Argentina.

I think this Rock Opera on Mossadeg is an interesting artistic initiative although I may have a different view point on the former Prime Ministers political legacy.

Darius KADIVAR

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* Long way to go

Iraj jAn,

I agree with you, not with oppositions to your work . I read few of the opinions on the Iranian.com [Do we look like Iraqis?]. It is sad that we see the theocracy in our own homeland and suppression of artistic views and media, then talk about doing the same here.

I command iranian.com for reflecting all views on this subject. Reading some of these comments is an indication that some of us have a long way to go to find our path to principals of freedom and democracy.

Reza Moini

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* Merely following state policy against Israel

There has been much noise about Arash's refusal to compete against his Israeli opponent [Proud of what? and The wrong fight]. First of all, we Iranians should be very proud of people like Arash and other high level martial arts competitors from Iran. These people have restored martial arts in Iran and shined on the world competition level, whether it is in Karate, Judo, Taekwondo, Wushu. Keep in mind that this government almost killed the martial arts in Iran, and most high level masters of many styles from before the revolution are living abroad.

It is very unclear whether Arash made this decision himself or not. There is no doubt that he would have won over his Israeli opponent very quickly and earned a very well deserved medal for Iran. The Iranian olympic commitee chairman has stated that Arash was merely following state policy >>> Full text

An Iranian

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* Hypocrisy at its best

John, [The wrong fight]

Well put. I was thinking of writing some thing about all of this and the fact that when Iranian do it, it is shameful and terrorism, when Americans or Israelis do it, it is to defend the freedom around the globe. It is hypocrisy at its best.

Whether Arash did it on his own or was directed to pull out of the race, it was a noble thing to do and earned my admiration to boycott Israel.

Mehrdad

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* Cultural sensitivity

Regarding Schahram's photo essay "Maylee nah Melli",

There seems to be a lack of cultural sensitivity when some of our Iranian friends go back home after a long time and visit their homeland. Specially, when it comes to taking photos under the pretext of telling the world what is going on with women in Iran.

I have a big problem with such photos when I know they are published without the consent of those in the pictures. They look like somebody sneaked into their lives and spied on them (e.g., at least 6 photos just about a girl trying to put her scarf over her bare hair).

Imagine the reaction of these women when they are faced with these photos by their relatives or friends. Imagine some of their parents angry reactions specially if they are religious. Imagine if the government takes hold of some of these photos and uses them to harass some.

You do not need to imagine what happened to the young student whose face was the cover of the Economist during the students uprising. We need to exercise some restraints and ensure that the people won't mind if their pictures appear on some media.

That's the least decent thing we can do.

Reza

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* Central Asian -- in all aspects

Maryam [Basically Central Asian] and Bamdad [I'm... Central Asian] are 100% correct when the say that Iran is an integral part of Central Asia. For one, our ancestors, the Aryans (and some would argue that Turks are a big part of our origins), come from Central Asia. Secondly, Iran and Cental Asia were politically united for several thousand years.

The Achamenian, Parthian, Sassanian, Samanid, and Safavid dynasties all ruled Iran and Central Asia. It was only with the coming of the British and the expansion of the Russians did the area began to lose contact with each other. Central Asia was even also Zoroastrian, before becoming Muslim. Many Zoroastrian scholars agree that the prophet, Zoroaster, was born in Balkh, Afghanistan.

Since the collapse of the Soviet Union it has become increasingly clear that Iran is Central Asian in all aspects: politics, history, religion, language, origins, cuisine, culture, etc. Iranians really have nothing in common with the Middle East, not in language, history, cuisine, culture, etc.

Dariush A.

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Archive
All past letters

By subject
September 2004

September 24, 2004

Censorship
* Gooya blocked
U.S. policy
* Khomeini's Big Lie
Nuclear
* Our right to access
* Stop the BS
* Imperial domination
* Iranians will write future
* Nuclear encirclement
* Textbook propaganda

Conversation
* American wants to learn
Iran-Iraq war/Jimmy Carter
* History, dictators & people
* America's proxy war
* Getting the "facts" out?

TV personality
* I prefer revolting
Sudan crisis
* Arrogance in perspective
Delkash
* Such a shame
Books/Identity
* Male tyranny: Nafisi
* Intriguing romance
* Growing up in cultures

Ahura Yazdi
* Sincere >>> delusional?
* Yazdi dude is cracked
* Fantasies
Execution of 16-yera old
* What is this madness?
* Nuke Mecca
Iran's guerrillas
* Hired criminals and killers
* Peak of treachery
* Armed opposition
Culture/Diaspora
* Disguising ethnic origin
Islam & Marxism

* Gucci Marxists
Target Islam
* I'll drink to that!
* Negotiate with bin Laden
* Islamic Banana Republic
Women/Men

* I prefer revolting
* Beautiful, despite scarves
* How about Americans?
* Our dear maamaan
* Men: Pawn for women
Israel-Kurdistan
* Israeli evil tricks
Olympics/Israel
* He was ORDERED
* Bla bla bla
* Isreal is not our enemy
* athlete, not a slave
* Go and compete
* Hypocrisy at its best
* Following state policy
Religion
* The "no religion" part
Olympisc/Rezadadeh
* Household name
Roya Hakakian: Land of No
* As for SAVAK
Women photos
* Cultural sensitivity

* Aylar & ayatollah
Iraj's cartoons
* Do we look like Americans?
* Blind to the real threat
* Let talent flourish
* Black and white glasses
* Hard-line Republicans
* Not surprising
* Long way to go

San Francisco
* I feel my home is here
* Featuring my beautiful city

Solano Stroll: Berkeley
* Immense timaarestaan
Saman's cartoon
* Bush and Khatami
Iraq
* Meddling in Iraqi affairs
Islam
* Barbarian-defined
Europe
* An Islamic Europe?
Film
* Little Prince and Marmulak
Old photos
* Happy period
* It has verything

Language

* The Fartalogist

Adult satire
* Censor adult comics
* Menalah tofigh
Opera
* "Mossadegh" rocks
Central Asia
* in all aspects
Persian/Farsi
* "Disposable razor" attitude
Food
* Wrong ghormeh
* Great gheymeh, with pork
Music
* Leila's wedding?!
* Happy and relaxed
* Salam az Mashhad
Anyway
* Prophet's hiding place
* Shit you have no clue about
iranian.com
* Add Farsi
Jahanshah Javid

* Done better
* Part-time father thing
* Haircut

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