Letters

October 2006
Part 1 -- Part 2 -- Part 3

October 20

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Crawl back into the Dark Ages

In response to Sima Shirazi's "I'm the boss":

I am glad that Sima Shirazi wrote this piece to remind us that Paleolithic rituals of behavior are alive and well among a select group of men like him and his caveman friends. I decided to write him and his family this thank you note/analysis of his commentary by generously quoting his own words.

So Sima, thanks again--no doubt you keep a customized Versace nightstick close by to 'keep your bitch in check.' You must 'hit her to humble, not to hurt her'--after all, 'a bitch likes a little mistreatment.' It takes a real man to beat and degrade a women to assert himself. But the real kudos have to go to Sima's father, who must have taught his little boy all about 'keeping his bitches in check' and not being 'pussywhipped.' He probably did a good job of showing little Sima 'how to treat his wife like shit', and how to 'shut her big fucking mouth'.

And I'm guessing Sima's dad taught his little boy that 'God made women to please men and not the other way around', and drove that point home by 'pimp slapping' his mother 'across the ass' and 'smacked her around now and then' but 'not to hurt, but just to humble.' No doubt he modelled this behavior enough to drive the point home. He even showed Sima how to save a troubled marriage - -'the only way a man can save his marriage when it comes to this point is to humble the bitch. Deep down this is what she wants. She wants to be fucking humbled.' Well said, Sima. And good job teaching , Sima's Dad.  After all, how can one expect a little boy to learn all of these social intricacies on his own and without sage adult guidance?

Finally, Sima's mom deserves a special, special round of applause. What a good sport she must be. She stayed around long enough to make sure that Sima learned all of this curriculum. Sima's mom must be a real trooper to stick around because as Sima tells us, 'women like a little mistreatment, a little slap on the ass, a little "shut da fuck up and get me another beer from the frige, bitch." I am sure she must beam with pride everytime she thinks about the man that you've become, and appreciates all your father's tireless practice on her to ensure that you got it all right. I sure she enjoyed every second of it and went around telling her friends that her husband isn't pussywhipped and her son doesn't plan to be either. So, special thanks to Sima's Mom, for tragically contributing to her son's development and having such thick skin.

But I can't help wondering which woman must have hurt you so much, flipped your pride inside out and emasculated you to the point that you dare publish this kind of trash--this reeks of relationship-induced insecurity. Were you cheated on? It also sounds a lot like Tom Cruise's character in the movie Magnolia, who spent his whole life hating women because he couldn't stand up to his father. Who made you such damaged goods? Was it your father? An ex-girlfriend that rejected you? Is it the fact that you were given a female first name? Or the fact that you probably resort to abusing women because can't hold a woman's attention even by spending lots of money on her?

I can't help feeling a certain rage that you share my last name (no relation, Thank God--I have realized the 'Shirazi' last name is basically the Iranian equivalent of 'Jackson') because I can assure you if anyone in my family talked or acted like you, they would get this disgusting mysogyny stomped out of them with the help of a few dozen cousins or so. No self-respecting person would let such a small person like yourself in their house anyway.

Finally, I'm of the opinion that most Iranians already have enough to worry about in their daily lives and that we already suffer enough of an image problem in this country without the social and cultural leftovers of our community contributing to our problems. So do us all a favor and crawl back into the Dark Ages, and be sure to tightly pull the lid over your trash can. If you are so into woman-bashing, I suggest you go sign up to hang in the hills with the Taliban--it seems you would have some major ideological affinity going on with them. I hear anything goes in Qandahar,and that it is nice other there this time of year. And if you aren't 'man enough' to go there, my advice to you is that you keep your ideas limited to yourself and your Neanderthal clique--they are disgusting, decidedly unfunny, and even criminal.

Roozbeh Shirazi

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Are you a 40 year-old virgin and addicted to internet porn?

In response to Sima Shirazi's "I'm the boss":

‘In my little castle, I'm the one and only boss. I make all the desicions, I'm always in control and I never let a bitch tell me what I can or can't do!’

You really manage to pull that off?  I’m impressed... but see, do you actually live with somebody?  Cuz if you don’t, then I will not be as impressed as I am right now!  I mean, it’s just that it seems easier to make all the decisions when ‘bitches’ aren’t around to ruin your plans...

Anyway, thanks for the clutch relationship advice, Sima.  Is that how your dad charmed your mom into marriage?  Even if they do belong to daddy, though, your words are well-taken.  I’m sure that the men who read your thoughts on women will recall them the next time that they decide to approach a girl for her number, or to commit a little bit of rape or something.

I know that men like you exist out there, but usually, if they ever open their mouths to speak the words you feel so comfortable writing about women (under a female pseudonym, no less), they usually leave with a broken jaw.  So whenever someone like you gets a chance to speak their piece, it’s a real question generator among those who are still struggling to ‘dick-motize’ their way into manhood.

I find myself wondering: what is it that is making you talk this shit?  Are you like, a 15 year-old virgin and addicted to internet porn?  No, I doubt it... not unless you’re parroting your father.  Are you a 40 year-old virgin and addicted to internet porn?  Maybe.  Is it sheer, Colin Farrell-wannabe ignorance talking here?  Or are you really that messed up in the head that you actually think you are dropping knowledge or something?  Because dude, the only knowledge that you should drop here is your real name and the address of your workplace, so that you can get fired from whatever 9-5 toilet from which you get shitted on, every day of your unnecessary life.

Here’s a tip for YOU: when the hair gel can’t mask your baldness anymore, when the online-purchased Cialis can’t keep you up anymore, when the black party clothes can’t hide your man titties and your zan zaleel friend Davood is too busy having a woman to deal with your bitterness, go back and read your retarded article.  Think about what made you write it.  Ask that One girl who dated you why she dumped you.  Ask yourself why nobody can stand to be sober around you.  Figure that out, and I promise that you’ll be less of a terrible person... someday.

Maziar Shirazi

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Bush knew and knows

In response to Pedram Moallemian's "Bush’s greatest victory":

Wow, I just finished reading your article regarding Neocon's success in accomplishing their main objectives from the outset.

When Bush states that this has been a catastrophic success in spite of the evidence to the contrary, most think he lives in a parallel universe of his own and is just too dumb, or as Bob Woodward puts it, in a "State of Denial", he is not only in denial, he knew and knows exactly what had to happen and how.

The strategic objective as you mentioned was to pit the Sunnis against the Shi'ites and Sistani et al and their backers, the Islamic Republic obliged in the most servile manner. The Americans could not have found better Allies in the Islamic Republic. The ramfication of this collaboration is now that one billion Sunnis view or will view the slaughter of sunnis by Badr brigade and shi'ite death squads in Iraq as an existential threat. In other words, Mission accomplished... the military industrial complex has secured its budget requirement for the next 100 years.

Good luck,

Mixmaster

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U.S policy in Iraq fails. Why?

On Iraq war:

Three years and half ago when the U.S invaded and occupied Iraq,the Americans were dreaming of capturing hearts and minds of the Iraqis overnight.They were planning to establish and extend so called the Greater Middle East with American-Style Democracy. But all these dreams, assumptions and plans failed .Indeed it turned Iraq into a safe haven for the new generation of high-tech terrorists all over the country.The following is a brief account to evaluate main reason of Iraqi war failure.

You do not need to be a political analyst or terrorism expert to realise main reason of the U.S failure in Iraqi war.The U.S is using the most advanced and highest possible technology in this war but to this date they have failed.In my opinion ,the main reason of this failure is that the Americans overestimated their capabilities and underestimated Iraqi culture and characteristics.

They were thinking that simply because of a false claim that Saddam was developing WMD's they had to remove him from power and that is it.They never thought about Post-Saddam era. They did not realise that removing Saddam from the power would not solve the issue. Billions of dollars of American taxpayers were sent down the drain to turn Iraq into a real headache for Washington.

I strongly believe that Americans had absolutely no idea about the kind of people they were dealing with.They were simply misled by the Iraqi opposition and they portrayed themselves as the saviour Angels ,what a catastrophic mistake!!. Now maybe we can safely claim that torture, violence and hatred were not only related tothe Batth Party and Saddam. They have already been removed from power and violence and the threat of a full scale civil war is spreading all over Iraq.We may conclude that violence, intolerance and terrorism are originating from iraqi people themselves. Saddam was simply ruling this kind of people and he knew how to control them but Americans never knew it.

George Bush has frequently emphasized that the main reason of this war was to keep America safer and more secure. But to this date there has not been a single clue about the relationship between Al-Qaeda , the Bath party and Saddam.

Although Americans do not appreciate Saddam publicly, but maybe they have realised that his brutal dictatorship was the best possible choice for Iraqis. Every one should get what he deserves and Iraqis are not exception.

These days the Bush administration is dealing with the upcoming elections and the result is obvious before the start .However after the election and losing the House and senate to the democrats , the Bush administration needs to come clean and submit a real-world solution to Iraqi war crisis. Immediate or gradual withdraw will shift Iraq to civil war and a nationwide turmoil. Staying in Iraq costs a fortune and a would be-Democrat controlled congress would not be happy with that. The idea of greater middle east with freedom and democracy has already expired and it needs to be filed as soon as possible. So what is the best solution for the U.S?

Maybe the best way is to be honest with the rest of the world and admit a catastrophic failure in Iraq!!

kianosh saadati

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America has become... a MAD nation

On Iraq war:

I recently read an interesting article about U.S military casualties in Iraq. Some excerpts:

-- Average death toll is 64 per month
-- Average had fallen to 43 per month up until September of 06'
-- So far in the month of October more than 70 U.S. servicemen have died. At this rate October will prove to be the deadliest month for U.S. military personnel
-- Mortality rate has climbed considerably in recent months
etc....etc....etc..

(Interestingly enough there was no mention of the 655,000 or so Iraqis who have perished because of  baby George's warmongering!)

Is this the best that a self proclaimed civil society/nation can do? The same society who wishes to spread democracy throughout Middle East. The same society who supposedly values each and every human life. The same society who abhors POW torture. The same society who strives to protect its own citizens from terrorism. The same society who values and advocates freedom of religion and expression.  These statistics make a mockery of the human spirit and/or genocide we have been witnessing in Iraq for the past 3.5 years. Someone ought to tell baby George "I thought back in 2003 you said all hostilities have ended and coalition forces have prevailed!!!!!!!!!!!".  It is maddening to equate human death toll to statistics alone. But then again all one has to do is to think about the type of nation America has become... a MAD nation. 

Respectfully submitted
Kamran Ramyar

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Why do you think she is reponsible for the world's problems?

In response to Behrouz Bahmani's "Anousheh's dream comes true":

Dear Behrooz,

I get surprised to read that so many Iranians were not really happy that one of their own went to space! Behrooz, why you have such a bad attitude despite your optimistic name (Behrooz)? IYou remind me of the persian saying: HASSOOD HARGEZ NAYASOOD! It is sad!

I remember my co-worker Engineer Mina who was crying when Anousheh took off, and I was excited as well, thinking all Iranians are too! I am sure we mostly are!

Why do you think she is reponsible for the world's problems? Her money, and she should be able to do whatever that pleases her! Isn't that the responsibility of people themselves and the governments? Let's see how you are helping the needy iranians with your limited budget!

There are many Iranians who are richer than her, but they don't give a damn about poor Iranians,and they never get criticized! This is her life, not yours or mine! she already has done good thing for humanity and peace, and that deserves my respect! But, she shouldn't do good things for humanity and Iranians just for publicity, she should do it if her heart, her big heart, tells her to do so! Looking at her eyes, I would not be surprised if she does something good for poor Iranian children! I think she is great Iranian ambassador, but she is not the only one!

One person is missing here is her husband Hamid. He is a real gentleman, without whom she would have never been able to become so rich achieving her dream! It all happenend since they are a good team! They cheer each other on, as we should cheer on every good Iranian and be happy for them from the bottom of heart!

Jon Goldust

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Re-appearing dignity

In response to Interpid Resolve's "Disappearing dignity":

My heart bleeds for the fine young man who has written about his disappointing encounters with the young Iranian ladies. I offer my sincere and heart-felt condolence to him. I admire such  young minds who despite the odds, do their level best to live their lives as their forefathers did one, two or three hundred years ago. Iranian women of today are long-tounged (Zaboon Deraaz), outspoken and full-faced(Por roo). You might say how about men? I would say good question.

Like intrepid, I was raised to believe that; ‘one dayI would marry a nice Iranian girl who comes from a good family, who has poise, dignity and self-respect.’ Did I? Well, yes, but not quite. From the word go, she made clear that she could not cook and had no interest in ironing and cleaning and washing. She was a true gender bender. I said to her; ‘hay, you are more of man than my old man. Needless to say that had part path.

Like Intrepid, my final outlook is hopeful too. I am still searching hard for that Miss Persia. Searching the Google. You may well laugh, but where else can you find a Persian girl with those attributes these days?

In my opinion, most Iranian men today are as they were a couple of decades ago. They have the same temprement, the same desires and the same approach towards women and family. They still welcome beauty, youth, chastity, bashfulness, reticence and no-mileage in a woman. They don’t pretend to have a taste for such like traits in women, they genuinely mean it. This is despite the fact many of them have now lived in the West for over several decades.  Hats off to them. Some Iranian men can still manage two, three, four or more women at the same time in New York or London or Paris, in the same way that their grand fathers did back in down town home patch centuries ago. They do this in order to keep the eternal flame alive and kicking.

I think something has gone seriously wrong with our women in the last thirty years or so and we are not doing anything about it.  I mean we have to explain to these young ladies that if you are really serious about remaining Iranian in America today, then you should start acting like Iranians in a manner worthy your men. Start listening to men and do as they say not as they do. Our community elders have to point out to them that if our great traditions require women to remain dumb and docile, they should remain dumb and docile without any ‘ifs’ and ‘buts’. We do not have ‘ifs’, and ‘buts’ in our historic culture and that is how we managed to conquer the world!

I am so glad that this young man raised this issue so that we men have an intelligent debate about it and get our young ladies to realize that we have their interest at heart when want to restore their lost dignity. Indeed most of are happily married and some of us are gay.

Alef. Refugee
baaarzemazerat.blogspot.com

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Don't think you can change us

In response to Leila Farjami's "Profound blindness":

So you don't like what people like Faramarz Fateh or Sima Shirazi have to say? [See: "What has happened to Iranian men?" and "I'm the boss"] That's quite alright. Everyone is entitled to their opinions, regardless of how disagreeable or objectionable you may find them to be. However, the fact remains that there is honesty in the views they expressed. Yes, honesty, one of the very qualities women nag about not getting from a man. You want honesty, but when confronted with it, we are labeled sexist, boorish, and abusive.

The fact remains, women have their place in society, and men have theirs. Don't like it? Don't complain to me, complain to the manufacturer.

It's a safe bet that a majority of the women who find these views objectionable are living a life where someone else, invariably a man, is providing the bulk of the creature comforts which they enjoy. You complain and whine like a little spoiled brat that you want a Mercedes or BMW so you can be stylish when you drive to the mall, then complain that your man is never home because he is working long hours to bring home the income required to support you in the lifestyle that you insist on maintaining.

All the while questioning him like a CIA or SAVAK operative if he wants to drop a couple hundred bucks on a night out with the boys so he can get a break from the incessant routine of having to satisfy you by getting you what you want then having to hear your complaints about how your yenta friends have this bauble or that accessory, and that you just HAVE to have better.

Don't even think for a second that I advocate the idea of women being abused or mistreated by a man. But it is true that there are some women who require "periodic maintenance". Every once in a while a woman needs to be reminded that her vagina isn't the only one in the world, and that it doesn't give her the inalienable right to have things her way every time, all the time. It also isn't a license to manipulate a man and browbeat him into submission by using it as a bargaining chip. We were already raised by a woman. We don't need another mother. If you don't like the way your man was raised, leave and find another one. Don't think you can change us.

Kaveh

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Deluded and misguided dignity

In response to Interpid Resolve's "Disappearing dignity":

Intrepid resolve sounds like a noble title yet much like the woman that the guardian of Iranian female honour and morality is desperately searching for, sadly it is but an illusion.

It is rare that I have the misfortune to read something that from the outset offends my sensibilities and basic common sense. Disappearing Dignity is an exercise in subtle misogynist delusions and convoluted logic. The intrepid conscious of the fairer sex manages to contradict his own preconceptions in his rather bold opening statement.

Intrepid states that...

"There is a generation of wonderful, beautiful, intelligent young Iranian women that sleep around and engage in activities that would shame their families if they knew"

I do not doubt that there are plenty of wonderful, beautiful and intelligent young Iranian women. I do however doubt that they all sleep around and it is not a fore gone conclusion that their family's would be shamed if they knew of the activities that they engage in. The problem of course is that while these women are intelligent they are not as intelligent as the noble and intrepid knight in rusty armor. Who says chivalry is dead, here is a man willing to defend wonderful, beautiful and intelligent women, though obviously they are not that wonderful or intelligent in his small mind because they engage in what he deems to be inappropriate behaviour. I do not doubt resolve of Intrepid but he is projecting his own insecurities on to others.

Of course Mary Whitehouse does attempt to explain his rather disturbing perspective by sharing the indoctrination that he was subjected to as a child.

I fail to see why women should be made responsible for the fact that his mother raised him to believe that he would find the woman of his dreams. He apparently looked for a woman that embodied the traits that his mother had promised him, but on a much deeper a level. Clearly he is a profound individual who is not concerned with superficial pretence, he wants a woman who has self-respect, but it must be justified self-respect. I assume that by justified he means that he wants a woman who was told how wonderful she was by her mother, in much the same way he was. He also tells us that the self-respect must be justified with certain principles by which he means his own principles or rather his own preconceptions that he has confused with principles.

Women he would have us believe have a twisted sense of right and wrong and as an after thought he concedes that this is also true of men in an attempt to maintain the illusion of balance. He then goes on to reinforce his point with some hard evidence, after all who can argue with Jerry Springer and an old Russian adage? However the last sentence reminds me of a different old adage...

"And that is the case with people nowadays who get together only with their yes-men or yes-women so that they can always feel that they are in the right."

Those in glass houses shouldn't cast stones! He is not searching for an individual he is searching for a reflection of himself. A woman that is will tell him that he is the fairest and most righteous in the land.

To be honest I find it too painful to explore the rest of his intrepid argument or rather lack there of. Reading through it once was bad enough and as much as I enjoy pedantry I would merely be repeating myself as Intrepid does, which would be counter productive. I will also resist the urge to explore his nationalistic inclinations and his Henry T Ford thoughts on women from different cultures.

Instead I will attempt to summarise and offer my own thoughts on the matter however unlike Intrepid I will speak only for my self, not all men and women.

The crux of the matter seems to be that the author is lonely and wants a woman. He is bitter that he has yet to find a woman that conforms to his own preconceived ideas and lives up to what his mother promised him. He wants a woman that is intelligent providing that the intelligence she possesses does not exceed or contradict his own intelligence.

The fact that a family is ashamed of what a person does or did does not necessarily mean that what that person did or is doing is shameful. Parents and families are full of individuals some of which are wise and intelligent, others that are not. No doubt many of the families that would be shamed by the fact that their daughter explores a sexual relationship would be equally ashamed of their daughter marrying someone from a different culture or colour.

Whether or not a woman or man has is virgin, has slept with one person, ten people or a hundred people is irrelevant. What matters is who that person is when you meet them, we are all products of our experiences so if you meet a woman that you feel has all the qualities that you are looking for, the amount of people she has slept with should make no difference. Engaging in sexual relationships whether casual or serious does not mean that a person lacks self respect or has poor morality. Education does not mean that a person is intelligent or decent I have met plenty of well educated and intelligent bigoted people. The problem is not a decline of morals the problem is hypocrisy and double standards.

Dear Intrepid, the question that you should be asking is not what does a woman, have to offer you, but what do you have to offer them. The reason why you are still single at the ripe old age of 32 may possibly be because you do not have as much to offer a woman as you believe you do. It may be worth your time to actually have a conversation with one of these women that you deem wonderful, beautiful and intelligent but shameful. Instead of judging them and assuming that they must lack morals or self-respect, ask them why they felt or feel the need to explore their sexuality. You may find that they have very valid reasons for doing so and that they perhaps challenge you and your own perceptions.

On the other hand you can just continue pretending that you actually want a partner who is equal and hide behind politically correct language with misogynistic undertones while searching for an untouched virgin from some small village. The sooner you go to khastegari the happier you and the poor girl that is forced to marry you will be.

Why is it that people never stop to think whether or not the problem lies with them and assume that they must be right...?

Yours patronisingly,

Payam Ghamsari

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All I can say is she has balls

In response to Behrouz Bahmani's "Anousheh's dream comes true":

Being claustrophobic and afraid of heights, I would not space travel if the Russians or Anousheh paid me $40 million dollars. She paid $20 million dollars to be the first female space tourist, not because of her childhood dream. I bet $20 million dollars if she can pass a polygram test regarding this dream.

By the way I'm not Jealous of her since the Richest guy Bill Gate has close to $70 billion dollars and the Richest Iranian Mr. Omidyar can ship Anousheh to a galaxy where no woman has gone before. On Opera she sounded like a typical Myrtle saying she would do it even if it was a one way ticket. But her $20 million dollar space travel did show the world that Iranian womem are not about vails shown on the news and Media. So all I can say is she has balls.

Saeed Shoja Nia

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She dared to dream

In response to Behrouz Bahmani's "Anousheh's dream comes true":

My dear,

You are right! The day she was on the news and leaving for the space, I looked up to the sky, thinking of her, of what she will feel and how this unique experience will change her life and personality forever and ever. I wish her the very best of the whole world and hope she can help more Iranians to take this trip and see it for themselves and stop to prejudge others or have their comments ready on what they can not achieve themselves or even dream of. It is good to have someone among ourselves who did dare to dream on and did her best to achieve her goals. Our children do need such personality and that has to be said.

I have never felt sorry or angry or jealous at all and perhaps I am among those very few Iranians who did care and were happy for her doing so. I also did a wish, so she can help all the world leaders to take the same trip, to see how small this planet is and that there is no future for this planet if they keep going on so with their policies.  I wish I could meet her and tell her that I am proud of her and do envy her, that I do hope she lives a long life so she will be able to talk about it, write about it and tell us all of her experiences. Who knows?

Charlotte Najafi
The Netherlands

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Going back after 32 years

In response to Saba Parsa's "Heading south":

Dear Saba,

Thank you very much for showing some parts of my beloved country (IRAN) to me. I left Iran in 1975 with my American husband and never had the chance to see the South of Iran. We are planning (Inshallah) to go to Tehran for NowRooz this coming year, may be can make it to Bandar Abbas and Bushehr. Thank you again.

Mahroo
Iranian living in Houston

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Slow porn

In response to the Guardian's "Iran bans fast internet to cut west's influence":

This is certainly terrible news. There is nothing worse than watching porn at 128 Kbit. This will surely add to the frustrations of the country's young and old.

Abbas

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Inciting anger

In response to Sima Shirazi's "I'm the boss":

I am writing this email in regards to the caveman article written earlier. My husband and I read the article this morning and we were both shocked and very dismayed at the fact that such articles are accepted at The Iranian Times. The language used was extremely rude for both Iranian and American cultures and the subject matter was simply used to incite anger (which it did) and portray men in our community as "caveman".

I was obviously under the incorrect assumption that your online journal has certain standards and ethics. I was very wrong. Not only was I wrong, but I am ashamed to have ever been a contributor to your online journal.

2b

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Self-esteem issues

In response to Interpid Resolve's "Disappearing dignity":

I think it is a programmable robot you are looking for, not a human woman. Your long drawn out critique of modern Iranian women is obviously more about you than about them: your own identity and your are the real issues.

David Donnell

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Settling an old score

In response to Interpid Resolve's "Disappearing dignity":

It is true that there are ethical challenges in the Iranian community, but I fear that the spurned author is settling an old score with this article. Is the author suggesting that at the age of 32, he himself has never dated before or had sex? Does he suggest that the poor girl should have been housebound and longingly gazing at the door until he arrived on the scene, or that the overwhelming power of his charm should have erased her past?

The image of the Iranian super woman, perpetuated by our mothers, is in the category of fairy tale and false hope. But as I will not myself marry a homely boring dumb girl just because she is an Iranian, I have no expectation that a woman, significantly out of my league, will marry me because I am of Persian descent. LIke the author, I abhor the excesses of the libertine life prevelant in Tehran and elsewhere amongst some Iranians: of drugs, promiscuity or worse. The girl in your article has done none of these things. She has had a relationship, she has been truthful about it and as it happens you don't fly her kite. That's life, live with it, stop being so bloody sanctamonious!

Arash

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Keep looking

In response to Interpid Resolve's "Disappearing dignity":

My Dear Young Man,

(Baradare' Azizam) ... I read Your Artcle Carefully, and I Agree with Everything that You are writing ..

I Want to Caution you about something: I Am 48 years old, and still looking for that woman that you described ..

Be Careful ...

Mohsen

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The real beauty in woman is not only in her virginity

In response to Interpid Resolve's "Disappearing dignity":

Sorry to hear that story about you and you disappointment, but I think you really need to see more defends women. American woman are so so pure but the bad reputation don't let you see this things more than the dignity you talk about their is compassion for others been a hard worker, the real beauty in woman is not only in her virginity my friend let me tell you a story I had a perfect marriage and a Persian woman didn't have a heart to leave my child with no father I always want to see Iran and I went and that trip took my husband woman in Iran are the most jendee prostitute women just because they see money they don't have heart yes virgins Kaja I meed lots of woman that had anal sex just to keep their virginity's but those are the worse, and when you marry them they full you no only that they trash you because you are not Iranian, and try so hard to make you look like shit, I advise you to run fast from Iranian women yes they cook good and Assam you but they are a fake, look around you we all make mistakes in life but aur real beauty is in our souls not face good cooking been smart just the pretty face they show at the biggining don't let them full you. American, woman are much better than paersian becouse they don't lie don't let your hate for the west be blind.

Cecilia Martinez

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It's just not like that anymore

In response to Interpid Resolve's "Disappearing dignity":

I am not sure what the answer is to your dilemma about the irany women values, dignity, etc. And I apologize for my poor writing skills in advance.

Believe me, everything that you look for in your ideal woman is what every man wants and dreams for, at least the ones I have known. It won't happen... it's just not like that anymore.

An older man once told me that "40 years ago, you married them, then did-em; now you do-em and then marry them". That is the culture now, for American, irany, French... all.

You may be right about the oppression and the result blow out from everyone trying to bone more than her/his friend. What I can say though -- after having grown up in the States -- is that the Iranies around me have an identity crisis. An American is an American, a Canadian is Canadian, but all I hear around me, especially in the younger generation is this "American-PERISAN" duo.

Not sure what it means, but they're all THAT. THEY all speak English, even to each other--to their own PERSIAN friends while listening to Arash music which is Indian background music with PERSIAN and English lyrics.

THEY call the Americans "the white people"! White people music, white people clothes, etc. AND how you don't want to be like them... just be PERSIAN.

I think it is this identity crisis that has let to a lot of the behavior that you're referring to, not that I am judging them, that's their personal life style they want to pursue. But I'm afraid you won't be able to find what has been tattooed in your brain.

F. Bathaee

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Lots of generalities

In response to Interpid Resolve's "Disappearing dignity":

Generalities, generalities, generalities...

Alaleh Alamir

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Male machismo

In response to Interpid Resolve's "Disappearing dignity":

As I read Interpid Resolve's article, I realized how, growing up in Iran, I always felt a sense of disgust towards male machismo, and towards the double standards of male/female behaviour. Perhaps it was due to the fact that I was mostly raised by my cousins and saw the world enough through their eyes. Just to paraphrase a single line from this article: "I thought she would have those values that I could not find in American culture". It seems to me that she did. That she was faithful to her previous relationship even though she was mistreated. Or would you have prefered a young virgin?

Here it is again, the different point of views: men intransigent in relationships and women trying to make them work. Seems to me you found the right person.

Jam

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Teach our children "Iranian Values"

In response to Interpid Resolve's "Disappearing dignity":

I enjoyed reading this article very much.

I hope that someday we can look back and see this issue as the thing of the past, or else, we are going to have a big problem teaching our children what is the "Iranian Values".

Thank you very much.

Ramin

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Special, differently

In response to Interpid Resolve's "Disappearing dignity":

The question for me is why he has formed such far reaching conclusions and generalizations about the Iranian girl, at both ends of the moral spectrum. Rather than deal with what I consider to be grossly superficial conclusions and generalizations, it is perhaps best to examine the factors that may contribute to either such illusory perceptions of chastity on the one hand, and firm conclusions of its modern day perversion on the other.

Just as most societies have consistently marginalized half of their people, alongside their minorities, Iran's culture is deeply rooted in religious doctrines that differentiates between the sexes in terms of civil rights, social roles, and natural capacities. No one needs to be reminded of our tortuous historical past and the ravages of conquering armies of barbarians, and the "civilizing" influence that Islam has exerted on our people.

Like any other culture we have redeeming qualities that when taken to extremes inflicts the greatest damage to our society and the development of the girls in particular. These girls are the mothers of the next generation of men and women and that any discrimination and inequity during their growth, education and development, has in more instances than not perpetuated the cycle of differentiation and sanctioned subjugation of women in our society. I need not mention any examples here, as they are numerous and far reaching in every aspect of life in Iran.

So, I am deeply puzzled as to why the author believes that the Iranian girl has a unique capacity and potential amongst the women of the world and that she is somehow squandering it more so than any other girl from any other society. Is it not the case that once the restraint of social norms and expectations is removed, both men and women assume their rightful responsibility to live a life that is worthy of our station as human beings? Is it not the case that under these circumstance the level to which we sink or rise is in proportion to our commitment to the moral principles we adopt and practice in our daily lives?

Many of us Iranians believe that we are "special" and distinguished from the other people of this world. Well, I happen to believe that we are "special", but perhaps for different reasons than the author. We are special because we have an uncanny ability to rise to the level of the sublime and sink to utter degradation in every aspect of life. Examples abound to support the assertion that we are a people of contradictions. We are the birth place of the first human rights charter and two monotheistic religions of Zoroastrianism and the Baha'i Faith.

We have absorbed and transformed the conquering armies of Tamerlane and Islam to produce the greatest achievement in arts, architecture, poetry, astronomy and the sciences. We also have a recorded history of savagery, brutality, despotism, and corruption born out of the very milieu of the same society. As in any society, the achievements benefit a minority of people, and the ailments of the society are heaped on the weakest members of society and women in particular. Our girls are taught and prepared from a very young age to accept their preordained roles. Is it any wonder as to why we have such extremes in our society and why many have rebelled?

So, I dare not attribute any perceived distinction of an Iranian girl to the nobility of our society to produce such an illusive and rare species. Far from any nobility, the dogma and double standards in our society bears its fruits once the "cover" is removed. Those that comprehend the timeless nature of moral principles and that adherence under the most dire of circumstances, assures the best outcome, will recognize this attribute in another human being of any culture and society. Simply, you have to know it and practice it in order to recognize it in another person.

So I remain optimistic, that while many of us Iranian men and women, may have lost our moral compass, when we do find it again, we will follow it without fear of God (khashiyat'ullah) or society (aaberu). No doubt we have the potential to be the first amongst a new race of Men and Women.

B. Sohrab

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Dignity is not bekaarat

In response to Interpid Resolve's "Disappearing dignity":

Today, I read an Iranian man's comments in regards to Iranian women's "disappearing dignity"! I call this 32 year old man from California, Mr. Jesus since it appears that he has done nothing wrong in his entire life. Mr. Jesus is searching for a soul mate, however, he has very strict conditions (I believe the conditions were placed in his head by his mother).

Anyway, Mr. Jesus  is searching for a person/woman who just dropped out of heaven, her skin never been touched by a male figure. Because, he believes that having sex, even one time, makes a person's dignity to completely vanish in thin air. I like to know, what has Mr. Jesus been doing, say, for last 15 years.

Did Mr. Jesus sit home every evening next to his holy mother and simply talked about "saalem" women and importance of "dignity"?! Did he go out on dates? Did he touched women? Kissed any women? Have sex? Is Mr. Jesus a 32 year old Iranian virgin? Come on man ... who are you trying to kid?! Get off your high horse and see people as what they are, human beings with many and various traits.

Final word: Mr. Jesus please look up the word "dignity" in your English-Persian dictionary ... I doubt very much you find Dignity = Pardye Bekaarat!

Azad

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Go to hell... I mean heaven

In response to Interpid Resolve's "Disappearing dignity":

You are like all other Iranian men looking just for a virgin... (even if she is fifty years old). Why don't you just die and go to hell... I mean to heaven. There are plenty virgins there waiting for you.

You should be ashamed of yourself that considering all non Iranian women as being well... kind of whore. and only Iranian traditional women being honorable. You have no idea what honor and dignity even is. Definitely it does not lie where you see it.

I apologize for my non polite response... But a man like you deserves it.

Hedieh

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Playing games

In response to Dokhtar Shirazi's "Treat ‘em mean, keep ‘em keen!":

These male go along with women and keep them happy, that they are the BOSS. In reality they are playing GAME,what they have taken from women during the history is the control of the society governing the world and taking the children of the women to fight war with to make money or more of it so you can see if women ruled the world there will be no war or less war, so are you going to be happy because he bought you a good dinner or expensive fur or jewel? or you are going to stand up and say, I want half or I want all, I want to rule?

Davood

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Iran is better off to risk it

In response to Rasool Nafisi's " The Khomeini letterr":

Dr Nafisi,

First, I am surprised that Iranian.com published your analysis behind possible reasons to release that letter. Among Iranians, and especially Iranian-Americans, it is thought that iranian.com (like Radiofarda and many other outlets) is funded by the US government and therefore does not want to offer significant dicussions/commentary about Iran, fearing that open mindedness of Iranians (especailly in Iran) is against US interest.

Second: here is another possibility behind the timing of release of that letter: As you mentioned, there is an open debate going on in the country about nuke power and whether/if Iran should really go to the next step (of development of nuclear weapons). Many in Iranian newspapers and some in open debates claim that unless and until iran has nuclear wepons capabilities, it will always be target of attack and unstability by the west and or by their cronies and henchmen (Saddam, Israelies, perhaps one day afghanies , pakies, etc --- whichever is conveient for US to activate at the time). Therefore gathering support in Iran among the population for possibility of large investment and effort in building nuclear weapons by iran should be touted by the government. This is in particular important if sanctions are impose don Iran.

In fact one can argue that regardless of how harsh any sanctioons on Iran might turn out to be, Iran is better off to risk it, and endure that toughness and go nuclear. Some argue that such is the only winning strategy. The reason is obvious: If Iran has nuclear weapons (even in defensive capacity), no one would dare to do what Saddam did in the 80's, inlcluding the west  (e.g., Israelies and Americans). In that situiation when nukes can be used as guarantors of security, the country instead of spending bllions on its military can spend those $$$s on advancing social and economic programs. Thereofre enduring those possible snactions is viewed as an investment in the future of the country. Perhaps Mr Rfsanjani (whom I have no trust in his alleagance to iran), might have released the letter for that purpose.

Zohreh

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Mosht neshaneye kharvar ast

In response to Faramarz Fateh's "What has happened to Iranian men?":

Dear Faramarz,

your article may sound so fascinating and egalitarian form your own perspective or other men (not particularly Iranians) who are in line with your attitude and mind. Yet you may have no idea as how "mard salar" you sound as your own word is revealing "Believe me, I am the first to disagree with this situation as I fully support equal rights for the sexes" and then few lines later talking about "ki kio mikoneh" This is a clue that you as a "egalitarian" well educated and pro feminism only offer lip service and do not a believe in what you say. What is said may be politically correct but yet one must also demonstrate it by his words and actions. Mosht neshaneye kharvar ast.

faegheh shirazi

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Welcome to America, boys!

In response to Faramarz Fateh's "What has happened to Iranian men?":

Welcome to America, boys! This is how "American" women treat their "American" men. You didn't think your wives would be any different from ours once they got settled in here did you? Better hurry up and divorce them before they do it to you. The rule here is "do it unto others, before others do it unto you." So much for the land of milk and honey...more likely the land of "here's the money", the words spoken by millions of husbands every payday.

Peter Terry

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Badbakht marde Irani

In response to Faramarz Fateh's "What has happened to Iranian men?":

Hahaha. I liked the free spoken article on the iranian 'zan zalil' men. Khaaaak bar sareshoon, badbakht marde irani.

Mehran Noghabai

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Husband had the guts to sleep around

In response to Faramarz Fateh's "What has happened to Iranian men?":

Actually I met a "ZanZalleel" married Iranian guy who had some affairs with other women, but he was just afraid his marriage falls apart and his wife takes their child away from him. But still he had the guts to sleep around!!!!!!!!!

Zinat

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Happiness is internal

In response to Siamack Baniameri's "My beautiful gold digger":

Typical Iranian girls!!!!!!!and guys!!!!!!!!!

I wish we could gain happiness by mateials. But unfortunately, happiness is internal and never will be achieved by external things in life.

By the way, I love your articles!

Zinat

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Dying desire

In response to Siamack Baniameri's "My beautiful gold digger":

... and by the time she gets to say "yes" not much would be left of her to desire!

Guive Mirfendereski

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I wonder

In response to Siamack Baniameri's "My beautiful gold digger":

Dear Siamack,

I read your article , I was thinking about this ,what does motive you to write it.

It s good that you are good writer but I wonder that what s your intention for writing it? And did that girl accept your invitation?

Somayeh

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Money or honesty

In response to Siamack Baniameri's "My beautiful gold digger":

Not everything could be compensated with money, chemistry, respect, honesty and devotion. I am sure if she is into money she would come around.

Ramak Hamzeh

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Raped... by who?

In response to Khandan Golmast's "Raped":

Dear Ms Khandan,

I hope you remain Khandan forever. You speak of Iran being raped and abused by the betrayal of the revolution which you express to see in the eyes of those who were there during that time.

I am not sure if you lived there-in Iran-prior to the revolution to maybe see the same thing in the eyes of those living during the prior years! Maybe those eyes burned even hotter.

Maybe if you lived in the small cities in the southern part of the country, or went to school in the not so nice part of the cities and looked into the eyes of the children standing by to get a ride in the back of a dump truck wearing rubber shoes without socks--I did--, you would then see hot burning eyes, so hot to burn yours !!

F. Bathaee

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Fascist in nature

In response to Amil Imani's "Is Islamic fascism a slur?":

Hyperbole aside, from a purely academic, definitional point of view a good case can be made in favor of describing the I.R.I. as fascist in nature. How useful such a categorization might be is another matter, as the term "fascist" has been so abused over the past 40 years as to render it ineffective for use in rational discourse. Those of us old enough to remember, as well as certain former "new leftists" who would prefer to forget, will recall during the Vietnam War frequent reference to the US as "fascist".

Bill Phillipson
Waco, TX

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The truth is what they say it is

In response to Slater Bakhtavar's "The lion prowls":

To me it is more like a pussy cat's meow. These neo-con lackeys don't want to accept the tragic outcome. I was in favor of overthrowing the Taliban. But this administration fumble this so badly that after five years they are coming back. They are back in Kandahar, Kabul and practically all the Afghanistan border with Pakistan. It is shameful.

As someone in this administration once said "truth is what we say it is" and these lackeys with smirk on their face (picture) propagating this nonsense.

Foad

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Iranians are not going to embrace your atrocities

In response to Steven M. Goldstein's "From Cyrus to Ahmadinejad":

Here we go again, a propaganda letter from an israeli who is trying to stir the pot helping to overthrow the iranian government with the help of iranians!

Changing this regime, does not mean that Iranians are going to embrace your atrocities against innocent civilians in Lebanon and elsewhere. Your regime, US, and Iran are all the same radicals with different names giving a true meaning to JUDEO CHRISTIAN ISLAM coalition!

We are for peace and equal treatment of all god's children, not only the chosen ones! Arabs, Jews,.... are all human but a lot of times some are not acting as one! Learn to love, not hate!

Jon Goldust

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It IS a religion

In response to Kianosh Saadati's "Do we really need another Bab?":

So Mr. Saadati is having a hard time seeing the Baha'i Faith as a religion, eh? Baha'is pray to God every day, fast once a year, meet regularly for collective worship, have a vast volume of Holy Writings exclusive to their religion revealed by two Divine Messengers (the Bab and Baha'u'llah), a new calendar with the days and months named after attributes of God, 11 Holy Days a year, a time for celebration and charity before the Fast, their own principles, practices, system of administration unique to the Faith, and finally some 20,000 martyrs so far who preferred to die rather than recant.

In just 162 years, the Faith has attracted adherents from over 2100 ethnic groups with members ranging from tribal peoples to a king and a queen. It is one faith without blood on its hands, which actually practices the idea of the love of God being reflected in how we love and treat others. What part of all this makes Mr. Saadati think it is not a religion?

Wendy Scott
Ceres, California

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Another Bab? Why not?

In response to Kianosh Saadati's "Do we really need another Bab?":

Doost-e khoob-e man!!

What happens in some parts of the world (including our beloved IRAN), in the name of religion or beleif is so unreal that there's simply no explanations for, another Bab? why not??!!

How come another (Mahdi) or another (Koorosh) and not another (Bab)?

As long as some people NEED to leave under the  IMAGE OF GOD (zell-ol-llah, Aryamehr!!) or SPIRIT OF GOD (Rooh-o-llah, Bot shekan!!), why not another (Bab-o-llah), my friend??

(PAYANDEH IRAN)

Majid Soltani

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Read all about it

In response to Kianosh Saadati's "Do we really need another Bab?":

Mr. Kianosh Saadati,

In a democracy everybody is free to have his own opinion and to manifest it. If you have time I recommend to read the 2 volume books of Delaram Mash-hoori called Ragu-é Tak published by KHAVARAN 49, rue Defrance - 94300 Vincennes - France E-Mail: khvaran@wanadoo.fr,

I hope you like it.

Much respect,
Daryoosh Sanei

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Really brought shame to our creator

In response to video showing killing of stray dog:

After watching 10-15 seconds of the video in which they kill a stray dog in Iran on your site, I got so depressed I could not function for hours.
I called my wife and started saying things like "I hope ke in Goerge Bushe kesAfat Iroono va in mardome ahmagho ba khak yeksan koneh".
My wife reminded me that in the last 3 years, over 500,000 Iraqis, many of whom were children have died and I didn't have the same reaction. She asked me to put things in perspective and do something to help.

I am thinking us humans have really brought shame to our creator. Haven't we?!

Faramarz Fateh

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Sick son of a bitch

In response to video showing killing of stray dog:

What kind of sick son of a bitch video taped this and why the hell did you post this?

MS

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Loving dogs more than kids

In response to video showing killing of stray dog:

It is a sad picture, however, the other extreme are the Americans who love their dogs more than their kids, or the money they spend on animals that could save lots of starving kinds may be this should also mentioned.

Thanks

Lotfi

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Why didn't he prevent it?

In response to video showing killing of stray dog:

First, I want to than you for your concern about animals in Iran. The situation there is far worse than this video. BUT, I was wondering if you could remove this video. I know that my request may look strange, but, it is a very disturbing and heart breaking VIDEO. I couldn't watch all it. The question is who is the Animal Rights activist? WHY HE WAS WATCHING, DOING NOTHING, AND EVEN WORSE, TAKING VIDEO LOOK LIKE HE IS FILMING AN ASCAR MOVIE?! I THINK HE ALSO INVOLVED IN DOING THIS BECAUSE HE LET THAT HAPPEN AND DID NOTHING TO PREVENT IT.

Farouk Azizi

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This nadir cruelty

In response to video showing killing of stray dog:

I am surprised that this callous crime was allowed to happpen without the intervention of the so-called animal rights acitvist who shot the footage. Is it possible to know why this hideous act of savagery took place who were its heartless perpetrators? Whatever happend to the nation whose children were raised on a motto that warned them against harming a grain carrying ant for it too has a sweet life? Falling from such zenith of compassion to this nadir cruelty clearly demonstrates the depth of moral decay this nation has gone through. As Gandhi reminds us: "The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way in which its animals are treated."

Can we claim greatness any longer?

Parkhash

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Why won't he die?

In response to video showing killing of stray dog:

I know of a person killed in this way in 1979. His assailants kept saying why won't he die.

aks

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Those EVIL kids

In response to video showing killing of stray dog:

Those were EVIL kids that should be shot with the same gun they used on the dog to get a feel for what they did. Shame on those barbaric fuck faces.

Ali Bashar

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Not a big deal to offend Christianity

In response to Saman's cartoon "Immaculate conception":

Can somebody please tell our resident cartoonist that he is a little too late to jump on the now fashionable bandwagon of sacrilegious cartoons?

Besides, it is not a big deal to offend Christianity - no one, apart from the poor readers of Iranian.com, have even noticed you. Dare you draw the symbolism of the Black Stone and send it to a Muslim journal for publication? Now that's the challenge Sami!

Parkhash

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You must be upset about too many things

In response to Hossein Hajiagha's cartoons:

Dear Mr Hajiagha,

I have been reading your cartoons for a while on Iranian.com.

My question is: Do you happen to be angry against the men as well? Do you think that everything men do is fine and justified ?

Do you happen to think about the females in your family when you publish these  kind of cartoons ?

Here's a link to one of your cartoons. Believe me I did not chose the most obscene and nasty of them because I though you may be ashamed by looking at them... You know very well which ones I mean.

Please show this cartoon to a member of your family and ask them what they think about it. Unless they are as behind the times as Talibans and have old fashioned ideas about women, they will be shocked !

It's always easy to take a group of people as the culprit when you don't want or can't look for the real problem.

From your cartoons, you seem to have got a problem. We all have problems and there is nothing extraordinary about it. Only the way we as, human beings, tackle the problems is different.

You seem bitter, revengeful, resentful. You must be upset about many things, just too many things.

You are not the only one on the earth to have to deal with difficulties of life in a foreign country.

You must be very lonely.

You must be upset about being far from your country. You must be upset about a woman who ill treated you in the past.  You are upset with the Western culture,  With Western women, With Iranian women particularly.

You must be filled with anger and resentment the way you have been treated in your personal and affective life. You did not find anyone or anything to empty out your anger.

There was a good problem there :  women and the recognized opinions of women in Iran. You did not find a shorter wall than women's wall as the saying goes  in Iran  to push out your  anger, your  unhappiness, your  loneliness,...etc. It seems to be a good therapy for you. You take pleasure in attacking women of your country. I would understand if you had attacked the men by the same way. Back to your cartoon mentioned above, why don't you publish a cartoon with a picture of a man living in Iran telling : "dar Iran azadi nadaram bayad beram Canada" and then in Canada "Akh joon mojaradi, har rooz va har shab ba chand zan khabidan eshgh ast". 

I am not judging you but the idea behind your work.

I wish you good luck in your work and in your life.

Bazoft

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Why the wait?

In response to Hossein Hajiagha's cartoons:

I think his cartoons are insulting to all intelligent Iranians living abroad. He might be under harsh circumstances but that is not an excuse to insult on everyone. We all have gone through difficult times. If he is so eager about moving back to Iran then why the wait? I believe he is paving his way to get back to iran.

Behrouz Heshmatipour

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You have got talent. You can work for them.

In response to Hossein Hajiagha's cartoon, "Repentatnt intellectuals returning to Iran":

In this cartoon, Mr Hajiagha claims that Iranians  are massively leaving Western countries and going back to Iran to beg for mercy. How many people around you have left Canada for Iran in 2006? Why are not you among them?

Through your cartoons, we can feel that you hate Canada. You hate Western culture. You hate Western woman. You are unhappy of living in canada. Then, why don't you go back to Iran and work for the Akhoonds.

You have got talent. You can work for them. There are many interesting topics you can work on in Iran.

So please pack your luggage and leave Canada and  live happily ever after in Akhoond's regime.

Said

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He just calls everyone names

In response to Hossein Hajiagha's cartoons:

Jahan Khan,

I have been reading your site for a long time. Why do you have this guy, Hajiagha on your site? It is really bad for your site. You have probably noticed that your readership has considerably dropped. This is because of the poor taste in letting these people submit horrible, tasteless, pointless cartoons. He simlply sounds like a loser who hates everyone, and calls everyone names. How do you think this will help you? Perhaps he is related to you. But he is a huge liability to your website. He is not even funny. He just calls everyone names and for some strange reason he thinks he is a "Honarmand." This is not about freedom of the press. This stuff is simply junk. I expected more commonsense from you than having this low life on your site. Good luck!

Eradatmand,
Jahangir

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This guy is sick. He is pathetic. He is a psychopath...

In response to Hossein Hajiagha's cartoons:

Dear Jahanshah,

That you want to publish all the madness and sickness of Hajiagha, I can understand. It's your site and your choice. It seems you don't like too much critics regarding Hajiagha. I sent a letter that you never published. Don't you think that those who does not appreciate the sickness of mind of Hajiagha should be allowed to speak their mind? I Have seen only two letters criticizing him and they are quite fair.

This guy is sick. He is pathetic. He is a psychopath. He is misogynous. He seems not to have sex for ages and I can understand why? What woman can want him? He is repeating the same old song...that Iranian women have sex with a man or two every day. So what? do you care about this? is that such an important issue? Don't you see that he spread his sickness through your site? don't you see that he is using your site as a free tribunal to tell all his shit?

This guy is sick. He needs help. He needs a doctor. He needs medical help . He can be dangerous. Are not you tired of his always repeating  the same things? At least if you let those who don't think like him to speak out I would understand but he seems to be your protégé. I would have expected more of your site. It's regrettable. I enjoy your site except the repetition of the cartoons of Hajiagha.

Thanks for your attention,
Somayeh and Said
Please pulish our letter and forgive our poor English.

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Are you willing to support me

Letter to Canadian Art Council:

I was applying for grant and help from Canadian art council  two times from years 1999 to 2002 because I didn't submit a nice letters or describe my situation and at this times was became homeless on street and Thanks from Canadian democracy I didn't have any chance to find help from you are. in other hand art gallery a local and art organization mostly are run by white Canadian same as you are and this people are rejecting the others nationality when some one like me asking for support or art show. on 2003 I left Canada to USA and los Angele's and thanks from people in LA and government and immigration in California and city of Santa Monica for supporting me when I was there they are very nice educated people. not like racism Canadian?! now I back in Canada and I live in Victoria I like to open place and start do some painting and workshop here I finished my computer animation and 2D in LA, and over 15 years was in Iran my home land had art show or works as artist with no problems. but I have problems in Canada and every times I land here as Canadian citizen, I don't have enough money and support to looking after my goals as artist, I did not create any art works after 2003 I back in Canada because same problems, money and cost of living in Canada so expensive. some nice people are willing to support me for short times to have space for my art gallery for low rent in Victoria and I have plane to open the CI PA Canadian In depending and Professional organization to bring artist to ghters for support each others and some things right for all of us and art in are community and Canada. Now I am asking again and this is last question are you willing to support me or your grant alleyways go to some spicals groups or people. you are bring negative wive in my mind about Canada after rejecting my request which when I have hard times here more then Iran (I should stay in Iran) and this cost me to crate art works to against the Canada and Canadian system or government. My next goal to crat painting about Queen and Government general in uglyest posible I can to add in my protfulio and what is happeing to me in Canada after Iland here.I don't care I go far as need to find answer and justice why my life change badly in Canada and why in USA or was Iran I had respect, support art show .....If you liked or not I will go far as take to find answer, why I should starving and strageling with my life here if we have democrcay?
canadacartoon.tripod.com or many as hundred art works every month I will add on net about Canada.

Hajiagha art works search on google.

I wish this honest letter and my request give you an ideas what is going here and why asking for support.

Sincerely,
Hossein Hajiagha
Victoria, BC, Canada

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Not as common, but ...

In response to Nema Milaninia's "The narrow war":

There have always been Iranian women who wore the neqab. They have not been as common but they do exist. I used to see them in the bazar area of Tehran and the religious cities when I was growing up and later I learned that many wore different kinds of neqab in the south of Iran, such as in Bandar-Abbas.

Clare Johannes

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I guess the CIA is hard at work

In response to Cyrus Mossaddegh's "Fifteen minutes a day":

At first, I thought that you were concerned about Iran. Then, I was intrigued whether US has tried to use you, since it sounded a lot like Cuban exiles. You even admit that your Persian is not good enough to write in Persian, but you want to create a government in exile! Don't you think that you should at least learn Persian well, if you want to help the West to take over the country?

Sounds suspicious to say the least! I guess the CIA is hard at work, and in need of new recruits, so Iranian.fools are a good place to start!

So long and good bye!

Jon Goldust

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Opened up a whole new musical world

On Jalil Shahnaz music:

Thank you Azam Nemati for making the recordings of Jalil Shahnaz available at Iranian.com. I first heard him playing on Radio Darvish but due to my ignorance, it took much searching and the good fortune of coming across your site before I found out who had been playing. It has opened up a whole new musical world. Many thanks.

Thomas

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There is no one to blame but ourselves

In response to Areyo Barzan's "Capitalist jihadist":

Dear Areyo Barzan:

Your article was a most un-delightful and naive critique of Ali Sina's article "Viva Oriana!". It was way too long. You should try to write a lot less and be a lot more concise. You should also try to read more so you don't appear to be so naive. You can start by reading the site www.radioefsha.com and read Masood Ansari's and Bahram Moshiri's articles on Islam and its historical beginning. Then you should spend some time on Sina's site www.faithfreedom.com.

In my experience, people opinionated on Islam, never want to admit that they have never read the Quran. It takes clever maneuvering and specific questions about the Quran before you can get most people to admit that they have not read the Quran that carefully, after all. Go ahead and read the Quran, in a language you can understand.

You should then follow up by reading the history of Islam by Shojaedin Shafa (After 1400 years) to correct your vision, or lack there of, about the contributions of Islam to the Iranian society.

Your paragraphs about Western influence and involvement in the Iranian revolution is also ill informed and typical of Iranians, who always blame others and never want to own up to their own frailties. Read Hossein Boroujerdi's (no relation to Ayatollah Boroujerdi who was arrested on October 8, 2006 for his call for separation of Church and State) account of how the Islamic revolution was in the brew since the early seventies and how his own involvement started to shape events from bank robberies to Cinema burnings to Islamic mock trials and assassinations.

Students like Chamran (one of the most influential figures in the Islamic Republic) who Graduated form Berkeley in 1970, would go to South Lebanon, Iraq and Syria to be trained in terrorist camps to go back to Iran and start their Islamic activities. The CIA itself admitted in 1978 that its intelligence indicated that Iran was not even in a pre-revolutionary state. I remember that statement, vividly. Read the book By the Israeli Intelligence officer Ari Ben Menashe, to get a better understanding of the lack of Western intelligence on the Islamic Revolution.

For Sure, in the later stages they tried to influence it their own way (France gave Khomeini free access to world wide exposure through the medium of television, and the U.S. sent Ramsey Clark to try and influence Khomeini and sent General Huyser to tell the Shah he was no longer popular and did not have the support of the U.S.) but it is absurd to claim that the West had anything to do with the revolution. No one could have f... ed it up as bad as Iranians.

My dad, who had brought me up to be wise to the deceitful and cunning nature of the Mullah, spent the night before Khomeini's arrival in Tehran, drinking whiskey in celebration, while half a world away in the U.S., I witnessed students in my University skip classes in jubilation and for celebration of the Revolution. On this, I am afraid, you sound more like Daei Jan Napoleon. There is no one to blame but ourselves.
You write:

"Finally on your claim that "capitalism is democracy" I can only say:
Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha
Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha
And more
Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha
From your statement it is evident that you do not even know the meaning of the word democracy nor you have ever studied the history behind the many democracies in the world, especially in Europe."

This paragraph indicates you could benefit from investing in a dictionary. Capitalism is: "An economic system in which the means of production and distribution are privately or corporately owned and development is proportionate to the accumulation and reinvestment of profits gained in a free market." (American Heritage dictionary). In other words you cannot have capitalism in an oligarchy or autocracy or dictatorship and democracy is a prerequisite. Capitalism is the freedom of market, freedom of ownership and freedom of choice. Capitalism is democracy.

You continue:

"A murderer is a murderer regardless of whether he is in an Armani suit or a dirty turban and a bomb is a bomb regardless of whether it being carried by a suicide bomber or being dropped from a ten million dollars airplane."

Are you serious? Did you actually think about this statement before you wrote it down? Are you saying that a man walking into pizza parlor at high noon in Tel Aviv, full of dining men, women and children, detonating an explosive belt around him, full of nails and sharp projectiles, is on par with a bomb that drops on the Alqada defenders of one of the cruelest regimes in the history of mankind, in Afganistan? Do you smoke? You should stop it. It's bad for your health.

You then continue:

"As a Zartoshty Iranian I am proud of my history and heritage from Cyrus the great's declaration of human right to King Darus's construction of Suez Canal. From Hafez poetry and Kharazmi's scientific achievement to Ebne Sina's philosophy and Omar Khayyam's mathematics and poetry."

This is the most uninformed and shameful statement you have made. You should read the history of Iran after Islam (try The History of Persia by Sir Percy Sykes) to understand what barbaric cruelty the people of your faith, namely Zoroastrians, have had to endure under Islamic rule. The people you have named here all made their achievements in spite of Islam and not because of it. No one of them believed in this cruel doctrine and if there is an antithesis to Islam then it must surely be the poetry of Hafiz and Khayyam.

After you have educated yourself, then you might appreciate Sina's and Fallaci's point of view. If not, keep on reading.

Shahriar Mostarshed

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Gross violation of responsible journalism

In response to David Maynard's "Save Nazanin from Nazanin":

Iranian.com publishing of such intentional defamation of character is gross violation of responsible journalism.

Articles presumes that the interview was done by phone where if the writer before trashing Nazanin AJ would have at least read, it said was done by correspondent.

Writer also claims Nazanin (A GIRL WHO LIVES IN TEHRAN) only speaks Kurdish !! (no source provided). Persian is common language of Iranians and most , especially younger ones with smallest education speak it.

Somehow Nazanin Fatehi's attorney understands her, The Judge does and the newspaper reporters from 3 courts understood her and reported her testimony and she also understood everyone at the court and responded!! Somehow the the boys (boyfriends) understood her before the rape attempt happend as well as in court. The court was in Tehran and in Persian and not Kurdish!

Somehow the RADIO interview that was done with Nazanin's mother and is on many sites are spoken in Persian. If the mother spoke persian and understood persian, the daughter doesn't?

David Etebari

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Where's Byrom Manochehri?

This person was studying film making in London around 1965-6. He was a friend of mine at that time, I hear he has been successful and is or was making films in Iran.

Can you tell me any recent news about him. He would only remember me as Anne. I am now Muslim the last few years which is how I came across his name after such a long time.

Anne Tambakis

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Bush's policy cannot meet the democratic and secular solutions we need

In response to Amil Imani's "Is Islamic fascism a slur?":

Dear Mr. Imani,

I appreciate your courageous last article in Iranian.com. A good, but not enough, counterargument against people like Ganji and some dubious "secular" henchmen of the IRI, who abuse Iranian.com to hypocritically defend their IRI.

I accept that our main problem is with international political Islam, but I am sure that Bush's intelligence is not at that point to realise the real nature and aims of political Islam. Furthermore, Bush's policy cannot meet the democratic and secular solutions we need.

Jahanshah Rashidian

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There is no safe place to run

In response to Amil Imani's "Is Islamic fascism a slur?":

Dear Mr. Rashidian,

Thank you for the note. I agree with your assessment. However, our main problem is not with international political Islam, it is with Islam itself. Islam is political to the core. Islam and the State are one.

Do you think the main problem is with the Bush and the rest of the fans? Do you think US should Stand and Fight, or Cut and Run: Well, let me explain what are the alternatives:

Mid-term elections are just around the corner. Polls show that many Americans are unhappy with the Republicans and are likely to vote for Democrats. Fine and dandy. This is America where the voter is king. And when one is king, he needs to be a wise king.

The foremost topic on the mind of the voter is the Iraq mess. Republicans, particularly the person of George W. Bush, are blamed for making the mess and not being able to clean it. So, the Democrats may be the answer, some think.

The Democrats can indeed be the answer. Unfortunately, their answer most likely will be disastrous. Faced with a ruthless enemy bent on your destruction, you either stand and fight or cut and run hoping that the enemy will not pursue you to your grave.

Once again it is decision time. We do well to recognize that short-sighted people with short memories are prone to make terrible choices, even when they have the best of intentions.

So, we want to refresh the voters' memory to help them in making wise decisions. The vote you cast will not simply replace one politician with another. At this point in time, every vote has great existential implications. Whether we like it or not, we are truly in a war of survival with Islamofascism.

You cannot negotiate co-existence-live and let live-with Islamofascists any more than the Clinton administration succeeded with its compact with North Korea. Before the ink dried on the Clinton-North Korea agreement, the North Koreans embarked on cheating. Now, we are faced with a suicidal-genocidal adversary with nuclear weapons headed by a megalomaniac playboy.

The present mess in Iraq is plenty bad. Perhaps mistakes were made. Perhaps we should not have invaded the country. Perhaps we should have kept up the terribly costly over-flights over Saddam to keep him in his cage. Perhaps we should have taken our chances with the French and the Russians who were ruthlessly working to end Iraq's embargo to enrich themselves from ill-begotten deals with Hitlerian Saddam. Perhaps we should have ignored all reports that Saddam had stockpiles of WMD. All this hindsight was not at hand, unfortunately, when the decision was made.

Admittedly, Iraq is a mess. The Administration claims that there is progress, although much killing, mostly internecine, goes on. But, should we cut and run as many Democrats demand? The Democrats say that we should quickly bring our men and women home and let the Sunnis and Shiites and the rest of the Jihadists kill one another all they want. They further appeal to the pocketbook of the taxpayer by saying that the billions going down the Iraq sinkhole can be spent on the sorely needed domestic projects. Sounds good indeed, as if it were the only true and prudent thing to do.

But the battle in Iraq is all about power.

Islamofascists want power and the region is flush with it-oil. The factional fighting is about who is going to get control of the oil spigot. He who controls the spigot shall dictate his terms to all the oil addicts of the world. That's us. Then starts the real "negotiation" with the turbaned oil barons. Muslims' preferred negotiation style is very straightforward. You give, they take. You give as much as they can extract now and you will be forced to give the rest of whatever they want down the road. What is it that you have to give? Whatever they demand. You want oil? You comply and meet their terms.

Keep in mind that Islamofascists have a compact with Allah that allows them to make and break any commitment to anyone at any point. They share this "justifiable" deception belief with their atheistic kin, the Communists-the end justifies the means. It is indeed foolish for principled people to delude themselves into thinking that the Islamofascists honor the commitments they make. History is replete with instances where Muslims have sworn and sealed the Quran with a compact and have turned right around and violated their promise at terrible costs to their victims who took them for their word.

What are some of the Islamofascists oil barons' terms? Just a few for starters:

* The United States of America completely pack and leave the Middle East.

* All kafir oil addicts pay for their fix through the nose.

* Islam to be granted all its God-given rights in kafir lands.

* The entire package of sharia stone-age rules and laws supercede local rules and laws.

* Mosques, Islamic centers and medressehs be granted privileged status and exempted from civil scrutiny and laws.

* Women be relegated to their Islamic place-caged in the house, deprived of education, don the hijab, and live at the pleasure of men.

* Taliban-type of Islamic purity becomes the standard.

Now, is all the above just fear-mongering and Democrat-bashing at election time?

You are free to see it that way. But, it is always more prudent to go with the facts than fiction. Do you think the Democratic fumble with North Korea under Clinton was an isolated instance? Well, what about Clinton occupying himself with handling other things instead of the Osama problem? Do you buy the story that he truly devastated Osama by firing a few missiles into the rocks of Afghanistan?

What about that other Democratic genius, Jimmy Carter's handling of the 1979 Revolution in Iran? The 1979 uprising of the Iranian people was hardly Islamic until Carter and his mis-advisors decided to support the mullahs, instead of going to the aid of the secular Iranians who yearned for a democratic society.

So, here are George W. Bush and the Republicans trying to clean up the horrific mess the Democrats left behind. The savage mullahs of Iran are plenty evil without the bomb. With the bomb, the end is truly at hand. The mullahs have no compunctions about killing tens of thousands of their own people. They have set up a "Special Court of the Clergy" to try and imprison any of their own clerics who dare to oppose their doomsday designs. They even arrest and torture the ordinarily untouchable ayatollahs for speaking up for the rule of law and tolerance.

These are terribly trying times. Free people must decide their priorities with foresight and wisdom and shy away from shortsighted simplistic solutions. It is by far more prudent to face the implacable Islamofascists on the march now than to cut and run.

There is no safe place to run.

Our best hope for safety is to firmly resist Islamofascism in all its forms. We Iranian-Americans greatly cherish freedom, perhaps a bit more than others, because we have been first-hand witnesses to the horrors of Islamofascism. And we keep in mind that freedom is not free. Anyone or any party that promises otherwise is either a fool or a charlatan >>> More letters in October 2006 Part 3 -- Part 1

Amil Imani

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Democratic de-Islmization

In response to Amil Imani's "There is no safe place to run":

Dear Mr. Imani,

In response to your article, Islamo-fascism, and your reply to me: I use the term "political Islam" not because it is used by some Iranian left, Tudeh Party aside, but the term is also separating over one billion people living in the "Islamic" world from a bunch of Islamists whose first victims are these "Muslim" people.

I agree with you that Islam in its core, has inseparable political character "Al-Islam w-al-dawlah", but we cannot blame all Muslims of being the doomed followers of this belief system. We cannot blindly provoke them against ourselves, against our values of secularism and democracy. No secular alternative can or should ignore this point.

Fundamentalism, not only in its Islamic form but in all its different forms, is a terrible, pervasive attitude against democracy, modernity and social justice; it is too fearful, too restrictive, too lacking in moral to provide a free trreitory for the human being to soar or for human societies to blossom.

But there are far more fundamental things to understand about fundamentalism, especially in this age of Islamism. An adequate understanding also includes some inescapable and fairly critiques towards liberalism which is not alwyas separated from religious fundamentalism.

I do not accept your arguments that Bush is more resolute against Islam than Clinton was. Actually, under both parties, US foreign policies have been only considering the hegemonical aims of American capitalism. US policies provided us a rare revelation about the cause of human being or in this case about secularism. Even we can see that some kind of Christian fundamentalism arrived linked with Bush's administration. Bush even demagogically considers a bearded Shiite PM in Iraq or Karzei in Afganistan as democrats! No wonder that the same policy can seek for compromises with any other Islamic regime, namely the tatalitarian IRI. I personally do not trust US administration, especially the one which is now in place.

If you surf on my articles in Iranian.com, you will find out that I severly denounce Islam as both a totalitarian social order and an archaic belief system which has roots in the primitive clan society of Arabiab pagans. But we should also accept that this "plague" has many centuries of obscure roots in the culture of Muslims. We should of course de-islmicise our society, but only with adequate measures and in a process of democracy.

My friend, I can read between your lines that you are much more American than Iranian, no problem, I have also a German passport, but have lived many years in Iran before studying in France and finally being German! But when we talk about Iran, we must consider Iranian particularities as the only valuable preconditions to be adapted, not French or German particularities in my case or, especially, American ones in your case. What we want unfortunately seems far from mechanical realisation, but the D-Day must be coming.

Jahanshah Rashidian

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>>> More letters in October 2006 Part 1 -- Part 2 -- Part 3
>>>
All past letters

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