LettersApril
2005
Iranian woman's national soccer team?I have heard that Iran is starting a woman's national soccer team. My daughter currently plays for the University of California, San Diego, she just turned 18 years old. Her club team was the US National Champions in 2002. She has been to Iran twice, and has an Iranian birth certificate. She would be a great asset to the team with her national championship experience, and would be honored to represent Iran. She plays center midfield/stopper. She is 5'8", 140lbs. Please help me to get this information to the right person, or please tell me who I should contact. I played soccer for Pars in Abadan in 1970's. Dena would like to send them her Club and College resume.
Cruelty? What cruelty?In response to Kaveh Afrasiabi's "Farewell
to a dog": And how is your theory relevant anyway??! The Americans LOVE their dogs, but that doesn't stop them for having the highest crimes rate in the world! By the way Another high-school shooting just happened yesterday!! And did the euproean's "love" for animals and "especially dogs" stop them from using and abusing African HUMAN BEINGS as slaves for centuries?!! Did it stop the Germans from killing 6 million others just because they were Jewish?!! What of these horribles things have we (the Iranians) done?!! How many genocides have we committed!! How many slaves did we have? Our culture is filled with poetry, love, compassion, art and mysticism and yet the Western media and naive people like you still find a way to portray us as cruel savages around the world!! And who said that Iranians mistreat animals anyway? I don't know how many years you have been out of Iran but I have news for you, Iran today is not the "Shiraz" you left decades ago!!
Bush language, only languageIn response to Fereydoun Hoveyda's "The piano and its stool": Sir, your article is interesting and pertinent, but the problem seems to be: what is to be done with the nation-state today? The nation-state has served some purposes, but today states are no longer the exclusive, legal manifestations of communities, nor do governments always represent their peoples. Most governments in the world, we know perfectly well, are violators of human rights: property rights, the right to speak, write, publish, assemble and criticize, you name it.. The solution is not necessarily legal, nor to do with the institution of the United Nations. It is political, and it is precisely the political problem of dictatorships and despotism that is being addressed today by the Bush administration. Democratic governments are less likely to violate rights and U.N. charter principles, so the more democracies there are, the better the United Nations is likely to function. Another, less likely solution is for the UN to actually start promoting and defending the rights of people over those of states or imagined communities. That seems improbable as the body is an assembly of states, working on the assumption that its members defend the interests of their citiziens: an assumption lying somewhere between fantasy and comedy, but far removed from reality. To deprive a state of its voting right for persistently violating rights (a euphemism for murdering and torturing), over several years, is so feeble as to be ridiculous. The very plain language being used by the Bush administration is the only language murderers and thugs around the world understand, much though it may upset the Left, France and Europe´s middle classes.
Deeply troubled RepublicanI am a concerned American who wants to know more about Iran. I am deeply troubled about what is going on in Iran with the mullahs. I am a conservative Republican and I don't want to see another war in Iran like Iraq. Help me to understand what the people of Iran want from the UNITED STATES. Thank You for your time.
Great place to visit?In response to Photos, "Desecration of Bahai cemetey in Yazd": Some friends argue things in Iran have changed since 20 years ago and the country deserves a visit. I admit those who have contributed to major developments in limited areas of art, literature, cinema, music, and construction of cities and villages deserve much appreciation and applause. Yet, I always have been skeptical if under current philosophy of governance things could really change. The destruction of a Bahai cemetery in Yazd confirmed my skepticism. It is very unfortunate and indicates persistent atmosphere of fear and hatred in Iran. Unlikely any Iranian whose priority is freedom can call Iran under its current leadership a home to visit!
DishonorableOn iranian.com's "nothing is sacred" policy: Dear Iraninan.com, greetings. I have on a few occasions visited your site, and have come to notice the slogan "nothing is sacred" upon the heading of the website, and, still though in disagreement, with all due respect, it has always come to bring me to alot of discomfort and concern. So I am writing this letter, to communicate for my mind and heart, because I have so much care for my Persian heritage and culture and the wellness, peace and prosperity thereof, and truly with all due respect, this slogan to me does not stand well for us as a honorable people, I believe .... So I must express to you, that as an active Iranian artist in a multi-cultural community of familyhood, honor and dignity, with all the experience that I have been lucky to have sharing, clearly, my friend and hamvatan, the most incredible, great beautiful truth I have come to realize is the deeply crucial validity of everything being sacred, ....(and I say crucial because I understand, to see the sacred to be the only understanding vision that holds protection and preserverance of dignity, unity, health and wealth, balance and togetherness)... Now, I do realize there being a lot of confusion and strife in regards to religion in our culture, that will make us want to rebel and react, (which unfortunately usually causes for more trouble...)...but, all politics aside, what about the Spirit and energy of everything?... As a clear example, heres the definition of sacred that might shed some light upon your vision of the word:
See, to me, sacredness is nothing but unselfish love that gives with care and respect without expectation, unconditionally, and supports positivity ... ... , beneath all the shadows of greed and profanity, the sacred is a holy place in the heart that never ceases to exist and is one with all, selfless, and unconquorable, ...but its our own choice to awaken the beauty, love, and unity within, and allow for our hearts to see and decide for us, not giving in to the fear and shadows of ego, to truly see that all is One, all is Blessed, and all is Originally made of Love, Sacred! ....So we can Rejoyce and live with respect and honor toward each other and everything, Inshallah! With concren for all Iranian and all Earth's people community, With Peaceful blessings,
Stronge messageIn response to Siamack Baniameri's "Payback time": Siamack's "Payback time", is an excellent piece of satire. It's message seems to be stronger than that of many political organizations. Bravo! Sun will shine one day!
Majority against homosexualityIn response to Dario Margeli's "Ding dong! Ding dong!'": First of all I am appalled to see such a discriminatory article in an Iranian website! Who does this guy think he is? You absolutely cannot come into an Iranian website and start offending all Iranian people, our culture, our country, our leaders (former and present), AND our "book"! I understand that you wanted to go on a peaceful vacation to Iran but just because you had some trouble in the embassy gives you no right to start ranting and raving about us Persians. You're not even Persian, anyone can tell by your name, and by the rude and despicable way you speak of our country... who gives you the right to put Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Sudan in the same boat then call them all "shitty countries"? Let me tell you something... you're the one who can go to hell. Also why are you jumping to conclusions about homosexuality? Everyone has an opinion, this does not mean that Iran is a bad country because the majority of the people are against homosexuality... you should get a grip and think hard before you start putting some bullshit on a Persian site... and remember: "Persian Pride, WORLDWIDE"
Have some respect for anti-gaysIn response to Dario Margeli's "Ding dong! Ding dong!'": Hi Dario, I read the entire piece and i tried really hard to piece things together and make sense of it all. Okay. Let's say you are so diturbed and anguished by the way you were treated by the not-so-professional staff member who was interviewing you and that left a bad taste in your mouth. Let's say that the anchorwoman in that satellite image was so ugly and zesht, it made you puke right on the spot. What does it all have to do with denigrating our religious beliefs? I don't know what i should conclude about your sexual orientations and prefrences. Let's hope that you are not a male-loving male, because if you are, the way you tried to represent your views and stand for gay rights, was so reprehensible and illogical, that i don't think even a true gay rights activists would want to see you as part of their support groups. You resorted to offend all muslim religious beliefs, their holy books and who was responsible for its contents, just so you can say it is not a heterosexual's buisness to tell a homosexual what to do and how to do it? Do you have no basic understandings of the concept of shame? This is not about being superior or better than anyone else in this world. How you have not been able to grasp that concept with all the intellectual might i see in you, is beyond me. Nobody really gives a hoot as to what you do or how you express yourselves sexually. There are gays in iran aplenty. They can't do their deeds in public, so they do it in private, why? because that is their private buisness. No one wants to enjoy seeing them perform just because its their right to do so. No heterosexual couples would like to perform in public either, unless they are sick or something. If you want respect for your rights and desires then the least you can do is to pay mutual respect to others's beliefs. period.
Is this the best you can do?In response to April Fool's feature "Liberty Gulf": Not funny and really stupid . Whose dumb idea was this? I hope you did not spend too much time on this crap. Is this the best you can do?
Once backward, always a backwardIn response to Hushang Shahabi-Sirjani's "Re-thinking 'Ey Iran'": Hushang Shahabi-Sirjani is an Iranian male will balls. I was waiting
for someone to shit on the "Ey Iran" anthem. But that's
not the only thing to shit on when it comes to Iranian history.
Let's compare Iranian history to that of the US and the UK.
Vickie's curseIn response to April Fool's feature "Liberty Gulf": Perhaps the President of the US feels that he/we have the right to rename any body of water as he/"royal we" chooses. How about renaming the Pacific Ocean? You know, Pacific - Peace - Do we really need that? I have hope that, like Pharoah, he will find the sea that closes in on him. Thank you,
A professional outfit with classIn response to Parkhash's "Ulterior motives": Dear Parkhash, Thank you for your e-mail which was more entertaining and enlightening than Khorsandi's original piece. To try to allay your curiosity and suspicion of ulterior motives, let me tell you about my connection with the Iran Heritage Foundation. I have lived in the UK most of my life. I know a few (not most, not all) of the founders of IHF. I have supported IHF by participating in their events right from the start, and encouraging others to do so. Their events are well organised, innovative, informative and (in my humble opinion) generally supportive of greater understanding of our culture. I would certainly understand if IHF is not to the taste of all Iranians, but, as I hope you appreciate, culture is diverse. The Iranian communities abroad are a real mix and display their identity in different ways. For example, some people like Hadi Khorsandi, others like Peyvand Khorsandi, and some neither. IHF and I may share a trait in not being particularly (i.e. unnecessarily) proud of our history and heritage. I believe that IHF does a professional job in raising funds, organising events, publicising its activities and generally assocating Iranians with success rather than failure and chaos. I am sure you could find Iranians who truly love their culture and heritage and are deeply knowlesgeable - but could they also organise an internationally-recognised event? IHF is a professional outfit which handles everything with poise and class. There might not be as much passion as you and others might want, but the speakers turn up, the exhibits are displayed, the drinks and meals get served etc. and in a few months time there is more for those who are interested in seeing more. IHF is doing a job which should be done by government or government-sponsored organisation - equivalent in Britain would be National Trust, British Council etc. They have limited funds and they use their discretion in expenditure and support of various initiatives. If some people do not like this - and it apears that you and Khorsandi do not - then you should set up your own Real IHF. Who knows you might even see me at your events. P.S.: Please spare me the punch line of your joke. I think I can survive without it.
Ulterior motivesIn response to Soroush Kordestani's "Rubbish beyond belief": I was curious to know why someone who, is based in the US and, writes under the name of Soroush Kordestani should be so concerned about the workings of a London based company, Iran Heritage Foundation, that would compel him to object, in such strong terms, to Mr Khorsandi's article ["Tarzan among apes"]. Then the bell rang! It was Kordestani who had written an article on the issue of national identity, on this very site and only a month earlier: "So where are you from?" He ended his article by proclaiming, among other things: "I am not a great Iranian nationalist. I am not necessarily saying that we should be proud of our history and heritage..."!! Now suddenly the penny dropped and it all made sense. Like Kordestani, the members and management of IHF, are neither great Iranian nationalists nor are they proud of their history and heritage. In these regards Kordestani and IHF share common grounds, hence the emotive outburst by the former in defence of the latter. But why does IHF work under the banner of promoting Iranian heritage, one may reasonably ask. The answer is simple: heritage and culture are the most unsuspecting of all banners to rally behind when there are ulterior motives at work. What ulterior motives?, I hear you asking. I won't give the answer without having a little fun first. Perhaps I should leave you with a little puzzle to solve: What is the connection between IHF, Islamic Revolutionary Guards and a little cell in a Swiss jail?
Are you out of your mind?In response to Kamal Artin's "Forgiving Saddam": Kamal, You ought to be out of your mind. This guy is a fucking monster that needs to be burned alive or better yet thrown in a chemical pool. Go back and revisit the pictures of Halabcheh Mr. Nice Guy. I guess, if it was up to you, you wouldn't mind giving him his old job back. Man, am I pissed at you or what? Jesus, I can't believe you call yourself a Kurd. I am outraged and I hope you never be elected for anything.
It won't happenIn response to Kamal Artin's "Welcoming separatism -- cautiously" and Siamack Salari's "Royal Mirage": I couldn't help it but just to respond to the recent article you had posted on Iranian.com. There are many articles or editorial that I read often and would like to respond to it right away. For example that guy who always writes on Kurdistan and he dreams about an independent Kurdistan. However, I have a rule. My rule is to think about it again, then take a deep breath and then go over it again and before I respond to anything. In the case of our fanatic Kurdish friend who lives in Orange County, USA, I say forget it, first and foremost we the Iranian people will never let this happen, second, I actually love Iranian Kurds and all other minorities in Iran and truly believe that they have being mistreated and abused by every dictator who has ruled Iran. However, this recent Article made me so mad that even applying my rule didn't help me to calm down. Therefore, I am responding to Mr. Salari's article "Royal Mirage", or what I call Sheik Arab's propaganda to lure Iranians to their country and then stab us behind our back like they always do. In his propaganda article he talks about how beautiful Dubai is, my respond to him is does he even understand what beauty is? That is a fake beauty you see. It is all artificial and man made. Dubai is a desert and it is built mostly by traitors like you, who promote this sheikhdom. I am wondering does Mr. Salari even know the history behind UAE. How the UAE helped Saddam Hussein to kill our people and bomb us with chemical weapons. Or even does he know how UAE is trying to fight for the three islands that belong to us. Oh, let me also remid him, how our young Iranian girls are prostituting in UAE, or maybe I missed it he was also promoting that. To you and all those who who go to Dubai and invest, perform music and invest I have nothing else to say but just go to HELL. If you really want beauty I tell you to visit Iran's Kurdish province, Mazandaran, Khorassan., south, east, north and west of Iran. That is true beauty and is not man made.
Abadani friendIn response to "Back home", Abadan photos and memories: Hello my old friends, My name is Sam Adlparvar.I am the fourth from the right in the Roya Elementary picture.I was Surfing the Internet looking for old friends & I came across Shahrzad & Maryam's names. Needless to say I was very pleased to have found every one especially my dear friends from childhood. I was at Jahanshah's birthday party & I too have some pictures of that night. As I remember his mother was an American & very sweet. In one of the pictures she is standing with the family dog & his father stood at the other end. We later went searching for prizes around the garden. I just wanted to touch base & introduce myself.wish you guys all the best.
Bad in 1953, good in 2005?In response to B. Bamdad's "Regime change": Mr. Bamdad is perfectly right to express his opinions. He lives in an America that he hates and yet enjoys its protections and hides under its First Amendment to criticize NIAC or any other organization. Mr. Bamdad draws faulty conclusions from faulty facts. I am not sure if he has read the HR 282 or not. He has written opinion letters before about how much he hates the 1953 CIA coup in Iran and the U.S. support for Iraq in its war against Iran ["Jimmy Carter, hide your head in shame"]. Yet, at the same time he supports HR 282 which gives various U.S. intelligence agencies the mandate to oeverthrough the Mullah's in Iran. Another Bill authorizing the U.S. use of military force against Iran would be the next step. I find Mr. Bamdad's reasoning faulty. Why he would think that the majority of Iranian Americans support another Coup or military invasion in Iran.? Having we had enough outside interference into Iran's internal affairs already? It is plausible that the Majority of Iranian Americans, after having seen Iraq and 1953 coup, have reached the conclusion that a peaceful transition to Democracy is the solution to Iran's government problems. Mr. Bamdad needs to explain his contradictory opinions. I think our intelligent community is well equipped to draw its own conclusions after reading the two letters prepared by NIAC allowing its members to support or oppose HR 282. The only correct statement Mr. Bamdad makes is that NIAC's membership polling may not reflect the opinion of over one million Iranian Americans. I have not read anywhere on NIAC's site that it reflects the opinion of the entire community. Mr. Bamdad unfaily implies that NIAC receives money from Mullah's regime. NIAC's source of income is posted on its web site and being centered in Washington, D.C. it receives very close scrutiny from Department of Justice and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
Mistakes in mediocre rubbish I was just reading Payam Ghamsari's "Persian
Romance",
when I came across a reference to the "Afghani waiter" Najeeb. Commenting
that he "whined" in his "afghani" accent,
and that Ali hated the way he spoke. Second, Payam should know that Afghans never talk like that. It is retarded and doesn't make sense grammatically. For Payam's future reference, when he continues writing amateurly mediocre rubbish - The Afghan language (Dari) is more 'ketabi' than Farsi-e Tehrani. Dari doesn't use corruptions like "ru", and rarely uses "eh" (except in the colloquial Herati language). It doesn't change "aa" to "ooh" (You wont hear an Afghan call himself Afghoon, like an Irani calls himself Irooni). I'm not trying to be arrogant at all, but just letting
you know that Dari is much closer to the language of Hafez and
Ferdowsi, and you should listen to Afghans talk before inaccurately
portraying their speech in this verbal diarrhea that you call "romance
writing".
Where's the evidence?In response to B. Bamdad's "Regime change": I am appalled by this essay. Rarely have I seen such poor analysis of a subject. NIAC performed a survey and published its results (I am not affiliated with NIAC at all) and Bamdad has written a scathing and slanderous essay condemning the organization because he/she doesn't agree with those results? Did the author even see the survey? Furthermore, the author misconstrues and misinterprets the issue: just because a majority of those surveyed do not advocate regime change in Iran as formal US policy does not mean they favor the continuance of a theocracy in Iran. Of course, the majority is against the IRI. Duh. What the majority seems to favor, however, is a different way of going about that regime change. Bamdad has gone on a rant about something quite different. He/She is really talking about whether regime change in Iran can be achieved more quickly and peacefully through interaction or inaction on the part of the US government. This would be a worthy topic of discussion if the author were honest about it. Instead, Bamdad has chosen to attack an organization because it put out a statistic he doesn't agree with. And for evidence against it, the author has used what? His little black book of Iranian friends? His conspiracy-minded ideas about how the IRI has infiltrated and is behind the NIAC? Where's the evidence? With virtually no information, Bamdad has slandered the NIAC leadership as "bullshit artists" and vowed to find a way to have them prosecuted. As a journalist, an essayist, and as an American he/she has truly failed the "innocence until proven guilty" tenet. Is it so difficult to imagine that an organization might have been created merely as a resource for bringing Iranian-Americans together or for polling its opinions or for acting as a forum? Apparently, Bamdad can't bring him/herself
to think so. He/she is too ensconced in the bubble of his/her own
murky opinions.
82-year-old laufging to deathIn response to dAyi Hamid "Zabooneh roozeh" on Bern's Persian radio (?): We enjoyed it a lot. Even my mother who is 82-year-old was laufging to death. Congratulations on your modern rowzeh. I am 59-years old and when I was a child used to go rowzeh for fun and thase special tea with flavor. Keep up the fun job.
Best and brightest mindsIn response to B. Bamdad's "Regime change": Take one part uninformed opinion, one part hysterical overreaction, and two parts lack of factual support, and you get a wild and hyperventilating piece like B. Bamdad's "Regime Change." I think after 26 years, in my humble opinion, most of the grievances Iranians have against the Islamic regime are pretty clear, plus a few hundred more other issues, give or take some. We all have different reasons for why we live "here" rather than "there." However, though most would like to see fundamental changes take place in Iran, it seems that some segments of the diaspora community believe it can only happen through US intervention. They apparently think achieving change both here and in Iran is somehow beyond the grasp of Iranians and that some sort of vigilante John Wayne figures are needed for things to change. I know I am not alone in saying that is an insulting and infantile view of the situation. I also think it is totally wrong. I don't want to personally attack Bamdad for wanting change in Iran or wanting the best for Iran, but I think that uninformed and irrational statements like his are harmful and counterproductive. If you read this, I want to tell you you are defaming the wrong people and making unfounded claims about NIAC apparently without knowing a thing abut them. NIAC is not well-funded, nor does it have any pretense to "represent Iranians." It does not aim to alter or infuence the course of Iranian & American relations. According to its annual report, it actually operated at a deficit and still has managed to promote a growing Iranian-American political voice. Iranians still haven't understood what an asset NIAC is to the community as evidenced by its small budget. It is a non-partisan organization staffed by some of the best and brightest minds in the Iranian American (many working as unpaid interns) community to promote civic participation, not to tell them what to do. It seems absurd to me that upon recieving an email about how 504 other Iranians took the time to participate in the US political system, one can so freely throw around names and trash an organization that was created to challenge our civic indifference. You have no facts in your piece, no references for your assertions, just unverifiable claims to legitimize your bogus argument. Instead
of trying to tell other people to shut up, you should figure out
a way to make your own arguments more persuasive. That's democracy.
Save the hate and time to write to your own representative
to ask for what you want instead. In the mean time, educate yourself
about NIAC so that even when you want to be critical of it,
you can write a somewhat accurate account instead of spreading
rumors. Here is a start: www.niaccouncil.org
It's COLDDDDDDIn response to Maryam Manteghi's "Choose Canada": Few things you forgot to mention about Canada! 1. It's COLDDDDDD in Canada Everywhere but Vancouver and
VC is Wet! I personally prefer Canadian government and people, I like the fact that there are Mexican/black gangs there and I like their tougher Judicial system, but when I think I can live in San Francisco or San Diego California, have Medicare to pay for my hospital, pay bargain prices on merchandise and enjoy mild/warm/sunny climate 365 days/year, and make $50,000 to $100,000 on my house's value appreciation, I forget moving to Canada. For those who can
dig it out, there's enough wealth in United States alone to match
the rest of world put together. For those who can't move to USA or Australia, Canada is 3rd best.
This could be her last yearMy sister is 22-years-old and she attends Birmingham University. She is on her second year doing bio medical material science. She is an overseas student therefore we have to pay £10,000 a year for her fees. Unfortunately I am no longer able to continue my support since I am a single parent with no proper income. The university is aware of my sister's financial difficulties and they offered no support. But they have warned us that for next year (final year) she has to pay all the fee up front, or she can not start the course. Please I am very worried and concerned. My sister is a very kind and smart student, and it would be a shame for her to drop out. Her only support is me and I just cannot do it any more. Can you appeal on our behalf in case there is a kind person who would come forward and help my sister? Even if the help is not so big we are still grateful. Looking forward to hearing from you . Best wishes,
Lost & foundArmik April 30 | April 29 | April 28 | April 26 | April 25 | April 8 | April 7-Page 1 | April 7-Page 2 | >>> All past letters |