Wednesday
April 28, 1999
* Immature and insecure
The author ["Real
Iranian girls?"] makes gross generalizations, which may or may
not be true in the experience of other people. His across-the-board labelling
and stereotyping makes one think he is mentally no more than half of his
expressed 28 years of age.
He askes: WHAT MAKES ANY IRANIAN GIRL IN THE WEST BETTER AS A WIFE THAN
A REAL WESTERNER OR A REAL IRANIAN GIRL IN IRAN?
Nothing makes any Iranian girl in the West or in Iran or a Western girl
better or worse than the others, as a wife or otherwise. It is the individual
that makes a difference. And with each individual comes a background and
a set of life experiences which have served to form that person and makes
them unique in their own way.
Maybe one is more appropriately suited for the author than the other,
considering his seemingly lacking sense of security and self-esteem as
a man. Maybe he needs a virgin so as not to be reminded of his, shall we
say, subpar performance?
Aref Erfani
To top
* Beyond the curtain
I felt so sad for Mr. Cyrus Raafat when I read his article ["Real
Iranian girls?"]. I felt bad for his parents, as they have failed
to raise a decent, reasonable, and open-minded human being.
It appears that this young man does not understand the concept of a
healthy, loving, equal relationship with the opposite sex. He lacks the
maturity of a real man, values a woman solely on her virginity (a piece
of cake?!!!! a piece of meat?), and has no respect for women whatsoever
(in Iran or abroad, Iranian or not).
If Mr. Raafat had only a little experience in love and relationships
(which I doubt) he would understand that if you love and honor a person
(a woman in his case), if you trust and truly know her, if you are planning
to share a life together, virginity aside, nothing else could make her
be less in your eyes.
Mr. Raafat should stop being so arrogant and understand that he needs
to grow up (hopefully a lot), to re-evaluate his prehistoric thinking and
ideas, to see beyond the pardeyeh bekaarat if he is going to share the
rest of his life with a woman. Virginity can be faked, but love and understanding
cannot.
Gita Elmi
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Tuesday
April 20, 1999
* Iranian slave tarde
So true, and so unfortunate ["Siaah
Sookhteh"]. You are very very right, and I hope for the same things
as you. You wrote what I had in my heart for a long time. Just some detailes:
I don't believe America was built on the ideas of democracy. Democracy
is NOT the same as capitalism, although the social system of America seems
to lead people to belive so.
Iranian ideas of supremecy does not start from their immigration to
America. Although we are fortunate enough to not have racial ideas against
our fellow Iranians and consider ourselves the same, we have had the attitude
of racism against foreign races for ages before America even existed.
Note the terms "Siyaah Zangi" and "Kaakaa Siaah"
which start from Iran's era of overseas travels and the import of slaves
from Zanzibar.
The reason Iranians now feel that the White European race is the "right"
one has root in the nationalist movement of the mid 19th century Europe.
These ideas were imported to Iran by "Iranologists" such as Brown,
Hertzfeld, Meyer, Girshman, and many others, as well as European educated
Iranians who saw the European nationalism as a way to distinguish Iran
from the rest of the Middle East and somehow wipe out the "shame"
of the defeat in to the Muslim Arabs at Ghadesiyeh.
Khodadad Rezakhani
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* Idealizing Blacks
I am not sure what Ms. Nadjmi is pointing out here, the subtitle reads
"Prejudice towards Blacks and other non-Europeans" - but the
force of the article is pointed at Iranians adopting Western aesthetic
standards ["Siaah
Sookhteh"].
Though her protest against Euro-centrism is valid, she seems to glorify
African feautures - "the ebony almond eyes, gentle flat nose, and
voluptuous red lips".
Perhaps she should not be one to judge those who glorify adoption of
another racial groups; indeed her entire article sounds like a justification
of a racial fetish. In this woman's case it happens to be people of the
African race.
The only difference between her idealizing Blacks and those idealizing
Europeans is superficial - the objectivization and fetishization of "the
other" is a common psychosocial phenomena.
I also notice Ms. Nadjmi works for the U.S. government, and we all know
familiarity builds attraction, and the government by and large is very
Black.
Babak
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Monday
April 26, 1999
* Damesh garm
Ashkan joon, daasham, das vardar ["Aaberoo
reezi"]! aaberoomoon raft yani chee?! damesh garm eshghee! saf-e
Welfare kojaast!? yeh eeroonee oomadeh America haalaa daareh pooleh naftesho
pas meegeereh!
Zendeh baad eerooneeyeh moftkhor!
Kambiz Mursal-Abadi
To top
* Salavat!
On behalf of all Iranians with reasonable taste, I would like to express
my utmost gratitude to His Royal Highness Ali
Reza Pahlavi for shaving off his mustache. (Salavat befreseen mosalmoona:
Allahoma sale alla ... :)
For god's sake what was he thinking?! Those who have browsed through
the pictures in the Iranian Lovers home page at "www.irani.org"
know exactly what I'm talking about.
Who knows, maybe now that His Royal Highness looks normal the Pahlavi
dynasty will once again have a chance of regaining power on the world stage!
(Salavatt: Allahoma sale...)
Concerned Iranian Constitutionalist ("mashrooteh-khah" a.k.a.
"Taghootee")
Kamyar Yaghoobee
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Friday,
April 23. 1999
NONE
To top
Thursday
April 22, 1999
* Christian Holy War
I read Mr. Tehranian's comments about the genocidal war of extermination
being carried out by the Serbs ["Why
Kosovo?"]. His ability to meticulously manuever around the facts
about the horrendous atrocities being carried out against Muslim women
and children is a disgusting, yet masterful, example of obfuscation. Bravo!
... FULL TEXT
Ali Sadri
To top
* I had three black girlfriends
This is a response from a siaah-ookhteh-e-vatani: from what I know,
nobody got lynch-mobbed because of the color of their complexion in Iran
["Siaah
Sookhteh"]. So please don't compare the Iranian 'battered' sense
of pride with the European Supremacy ideology.
In different stages of my life I had three black girlfriends and even
to this date my Iranian friends talk about them with envy, so lets not
over-dramatize & confuse the issues. As with any other race, it's hard
& in some cases futile to change the elders' conservative views. But
it's always good to know that your granddad wasn't the Grand Wizard in
the local KKK.
Esphandyar Rohrabi
To top
Thursday
April 22, 1999
* Christian Holy War
I read Mr. Tehranian's comments about the genocidal war of extermination
being carried out by the Serbs ["Why
Kosovo?"]. His ability to meticulously manuever around the facts
about the horrendous atrocities being carried out against Muslim women
and children is a disgusting, yet masterful, example of obfuscation. Bravo!
... FULL TEXT
Ali Sadri
To top
* I had three black girlfriends
This is a response from a siaah-ookhteh-e-vatani: from what I know,
nobody got lynch-mobbed because of the color of their complexion in Iran
["Siaah
Sookhteh"]. So please don't compare the Iranian 'battered' sense
of pride with the European Supremacy ideology.
In different stages of my life I had three black girlfriends and even
to this date my Iranian friends talk about them with envy, so lets not
over-dramatize & confuse the issues. As with any other race, it's hard
& in some cases futile to change the elders' conservative views. But
it's always good to know that your granddad wasn't the Grand Wizard in
the local KKK.
Esphandyar Rohrabi
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Wednesday
April 21, 1999
* Zerangi
I have lived in Canada for almost 30 years. I have a few selected Iranian
friends and I hardly do any business with the members of our community.
This is not because I no longer love Iran or lost my passion for it. This
is purely the result of my past expereience in dealing with my fellow countrymen
["Aaberoo
reezi"].
We, Iranians, cherish the thought of being "ZERANG" which
is a term that can hardly be translated into English. Ideally, Zerang means
to be clever and bright. In practice, however, an Iranian who has earned
the title "Zerang", is often a crafty liar, a cheat, an opportunist,
and untrustworthy. One could say, a huge and dark side of our culture is
summarized in one word.
Unfortunately, I am not surprised to hear about wealthy Iranians living
in California on welfare. Until we put a higher value on our principles
and self-respect over and above our personal gains, a lot of us will continue
being zerang without being clever or decent.
Masoud Almassi
To top
* Amateur night?
What is this amateurs night ["Midget"]?
I hope the author of this piece has another job.
Ali R. Shemirani
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Tuesday
April 20, 1999
* The heart, not skin color
In response to the letter "Won't marry down"
Dear Sara,
Thanks for your response. It is very informative but misguided. Regardless
to what you consider yourself to be the truth is, you're not white. I don't
say this as a put down just merely stating a fact. Be it White, Black,
brown, yellow, or red we are all from God and no one is superior.
Before I met my girlfriend I knew racism existed everywhere but was
under the impression that it was more toxic here in America. I have received
e-mail from all over the world most from Iranian women but some from Iranian
men. Every e-mail that I received was of support and empathy. My girlfriend
was the first Iranian women I had ever really spent time with. The fact
that she is Iranian had nothing to do with the way I feel about her. The
reason I love her is because she is a very good person whom I admire and
respect. Thanks to the Internet, I know have a lot of new Iranian friends
write me since I submitted my letter... FULL
TEXT
Michael
To top
* Noble... but not good
Noghrey writes: Please do not promote the ideas of the woman who chooses
Blacks as boyfriends ["Siaah
Sookhteh"]. Although tolerance of other races and cultures is
a noble idea, it is best not to try to ask the public to accept these ideas
based on such isolated cases.
Noghrey@aol.com
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Monday
April 19, 1999
* Disgusting
This story is disgusting ["Midget"].
I think it is inappropriate and misleading to publish this article in the
same column where many interesting and well-written articles have appeared
in the past.
Yahya Fathi
To top
* Right on
Shalizeh Nadjmi's article was brilliant ["Siaah
Sookhteh"]! I seriously hope that you'll provide us with more
of the same astute and poignant writing. She hit the nail right on the
head and held a long overdue mirror up to our community. I've never understood
some of our bigoted and racist attitudes as it seems oxymoronic!
Why do we as a new minority feel it appropriate to react in such a fashion?
After all didn't we leave our home in order to get away from backward thinking?
And finally if anything, having been mislabeled and misjudged ourselves
in the past 20 years, we should be more tolerant! Kudos Shalizeh!
Banafsheh Zand
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Friday,
April 16, 1999
* We're not alone
To single out a few greedy Iranian thieves for fruad is not right ["Aaberoo
reezi"]! After all many friends from the South of the Border,
many associates from the South Eastern Asian nations, good number of Middle
Eastern and African Moslem, Christian, and Jewish brothers, and sisters,
and a greater number of blu- eyed European junkies are in active partnership
with our Southern California Iranian community of corrupt citizens!
Of course, we haven't mentioned all other American friends whom have
been milking the system for more than 50 yeras. To be exact since 1938.
So, the system, in most part, is corrupt, and corruption breeds corruption.
What about the guys whose parents are using Social Security checks,
even though they never lived in the U.S., or ever worked here, and never
paid taxes, and yet live in Iran, and get checks to the tune of a minimum
of $654 a month! What would you call this, and how would you characterize
it?
Reza Azarmi
To top
* Will not "marry down"
[In reply to the African
American in love with an Iranian woman:] Many Iranian relatives do
not want their children, especially daughters, to marry Americans or Europeans,
but especially Blacks.
Despite the fact that we are also discriminated against, we like to
view ourselves as White and thus superior. This is a complex that exists
in our culture. Your friend may be able to tell you that the lighter an
Iranian is, the more beautiful s(he) is considered. Class issues are very
important in Iran as well as in the diaspora.
Whether or not you are professional, well-mannered, handsome, or from
a middle/upper class family in the U.S., in my experience, to Iranians,
you will always be considered a lower class person. It is hard for a family
to accept their daughter "marrying down".
I warn that you may receive malicious messages from Iranian men. Many
of them are adverse to the idea of "their" women being taken
away by other ethnicities, but especially by Blacks and Indians (from India).
Here is an article that appeared in The Iranian that may be of interest
to you ["Siaah
Sookhteh"].
Sara Norouzi
To top
Friday,
April 16, 1999
* We're not alone
To single out a few greedy Iranian thieves for fruad is not right ["Aaberoo
reezi"]! After all many friends from the South of the Border,
many associates from the South Eastern Asian nations, good number of Middle
Eastern and African Moslem, Christian, and Jewish brothers, and sisters,
and a greater number of blu- eyed European junkies are in active partnership
with our Southern California Iranian community of corrupt citizens!
Of course, we haven't mentioned all other American friends whom have
been milking the system for more than 50 yeras. To be exact since 1938.
So, the system, in most part, is corrupt, and corruption breeds corruption.
What about the guys whose parents are using Social Security checks,
even though they never lived in the U.S., or ever worked here, and never
paid taxes, and yet live in Iran, and get checks to the tune of a minimum
of $654 a month! What would you call this, and how would you characterize
it?
Reza Azarmi
To top
* Will not "marry down"
[In reply to the African
American in love with an Iranian woman:] Many Iranian relatives do
not want their children, especially daughters, to marry Americans or Europeans,
but especially Blacks.
Despite the fact that we are also discriminated against, we like to
view ourselves as White and thus superior. This is a complex that exists
in our culture. Your friend may be able to tell you that the lighter an
Iranian is, the more beautiful s(he) is considered. Class issues are very
important in Iran as well as in the diaspora.
Whether or not you are professional, well-mannered, handsome, or from
a middle/upper class family in the U.S., in my experience, to Iranians,
you will always be considered a lower class person. It is hard for a family
to accept their daughter "marrying down".
I warn that you may receive malicious messages from Iranian men. Many
of them are adverse to the idea of "their" women being taken
away by other ethnicities, but especially by Blacks and Indians (from India).
Here is an article that appeared in The Iranian that may be of interest
to you ["Siaah
Sookhteh"].
Sara Norouzi
To top
Thursday
April 15, 1999
* No better than others
Unfortunately, we're no better than anyone else ["Aaberoo
reezi"]. Shock to the system! Unfortunate as it may be, there
are good and bad people in every country, with every religion, with every
skin color, and in all ages. So, why should it surprise anyone to find
out that we, Iranians, actually do scam the [welfare] system [in the U.S.]?
Wake up people. What's the old saying: "az maast keh bar maast"?
Alireza Shemirani
To top
* Monumental kharaab kaari
I am not be surprised ["Aaberoo
reezi"]. On a regular basis I study the Iranian community in U.S.
This is a mild form of cheating as far as our esteemed expats are concerned.
I am reminded of a CNN report back in 1997 when they did a minute clip
on Iranian immigrants in U.S. A lawyer claimed that they are the best and
brightest minority group in California. I wonder in what way are they the
best and brightest?
The American immigration is also being cheated by Iranians, not to mention
a number of local and federal programs. I am amazed by this talent. I mean
I have heard that people get their social security checks right in Tehran.
And they live off it quite grandly.
But we should not be embarrassed. I can cite an examples of Iranians
abiding by the system as well. Too well that is. One must not blame these
people for cheating the system. They often consider the U.S. as a land
of milk and honey and assume that everything is up for grabs. It is no
aaberoo reezi, it is kharaab kaari on a monumental scale.
Nader Naghshineh
To top
Wednesday
April 14, 1999
* I guess I was fortunate
I very much enjoyed Shalizeh Nadjmi article that sheds light on racial
prejudice ["Siaah
Sookhteh"]. It helped to clear up much of the confusion I have
had. It began years ago when I was watching an Iranian movie, in which
two Persian children were engaged in a heated discussion. One of the child
actors turned to the other and angrily stated: "Your father's from
Africa!"
Well, I was puzzled by that statement - it didn't make any sense, for
it was obvious that both of this boy's parents must be Iranian. Then it
occurred to me that the statement about Africa was meant to be an insult.
That realization was very discouraging.
To accept some notion of "European superiority", is not only
sad, but also dangerous. It would mean that anyone not of European ancestry
is somehow inferior - even Iranians. We don't need this kind of thinking
in today's society. Iranians are a great people, and should be proud of
their Asian heritage.
Being a Black female in the U.S. was not always easy, but at least my
family firmly taught me that being Black was something to be proud of.
I try to instill that same pride in my half-Black, half-Persian children.
I guess I was fortunate. My Iranian husband knew by marrying me he would
have Black children. And he believed that would be wonderful.
Dorothy Nowroozian
To top
* Taught to be subservient
Dear Laleh Khalili,
I have read both of your articles relating to women in Iran ["To
live or to be alive?", "Not
their fault"]. I have lived more than half of my life in North
America. I am not in a position to comment strongly on the life of women
in Iran, but I should have more say than another Iranian man since I have
experienced how a girl is treated in Iran.
I was haunted by images of losing my virginity when I was a girl, since
to lose it was to take away the honor of my family. I was taught to be
subservient. Thus I hid my true desires like many did.
You might think my family has a low class status. On the contrary, my
father is an engineer and my mother a teacher. Class and education does
not matter. I was not alone. Thousands of girls in my school and my class,
in streets, on TV, thousands everywhere heard what I heard and saw what
I saw.
This sort of treatment is not unique in Iranain culture but many others
as well. Not long ago a friend of mine came to Canada with his wife and
demanded her to follow him and SERVE him. She still had no power. She had
NO SAY. You might wonder if I followed the dominant culture like sheeps:
Did I follow them? NO
Did I bring shame to them? NO
Now that I am a woman, a proud woman, I have followed no one but my
own wisdom and heart. I have brought honor and continue to do so. I can
only praise what Iranain women are doing in Iran fighting the unfightable.
I admire their courage and hope they never give up.
Gloria Malek
Computer Analyst
To top
Tuesday
April 13, 1999
* Dubbing "Sound of Music"
We (Film magazine in Iran) published a special issue on dubbing in August
1993 and I wrote an article about dubbing musical films in Iran.
[In regards to the Sound of Music, ashk-haa
va labkhand-haa] I believe Ms. Soudabeh Safaeiyeh sang for Maria, Nazila
Zand-e-Karimi for Liesel, Rashid Vatandoust for the Captain and Homayoun
Moezzi-Moghaddam for Rolf.
Other singers for secondary parts were: Simin Ghadiri, Azita Azarmi,
Shamsi Shadmand and Nasrin Azarmi. The translator of the lyrics was Firouz
Falahati, the poet who rewrote the lyrics was Touraj Negahban and Ali Kasmai
was the dubbing manager .
Houshang Golmakani
To top
* Feminist extremist
In response to this so-called poem ["Reborn"],
I echo the concerns of one of your earlier readers who wrote a letter complaining
why The Iranian has such a one-sided stance on things. I would have
to agree with that reader that this magazine presents too much of a liberal
perspective on issues, amply exemplified by the posting of this "poem".
I support showcasing literary and artistic works by Iranian artists
and poets, but this poem
attempts to be more than justa literary piece: it touts an extremist feminist
viewpoint. This kind of extremist ideology is by definition dangerous and
I don't think it deserves the attention it's getting by being posted in
this forum, especially given that most readers would likely be hostile
to such an extremist agenda.
Or if the editor of this magazine is going to post such trash at least
he could balance it by posting some other trash, say an advertising for
the Iranian-American Republican Party, or somthing like that.
Nariman Neyshapouri
To top
Monday
April 12, 1999
* Get out your armor
I loved Ms. Nadjmi's piece in The Iranian ["Siaah
Sookhteh"]. This was as good as it could get. I salute her hopeless
bravery and intended martyrdom, and I hope she has a strong armor ready.
I can already imagine her boycotted wedding, the pointed fingers in the
streets and the whispers and skewed glances of all the iranians. But I
hope she will always remember that there once existed the house of Capulet
and the house of Montague, and a revolution can start with only one kiss!
Ramin Tabib
Minou
To top
* No monopoly on prejudice
I read with interest the piece on prejudice towards non-Europeans ["Siaah Sookhteh"].
A few points:
- To my knowledge the Staten Island never has served as an immigrant
entry point; perhaps she meant the Ellis Island; though the last immigrant
admitted to the US through the Ellis Island was probably no later than
late 1940s. Can we please have some fact-checking at The Iranian?
- I don't know if the average Iranian has "engraved" prejudicial
images into his/her inner beliefs. But certainly we don't have a monopoly
on prejudice. Tribalism seems to be ingrained in all cultures. Certainly
skin color didn't play a big role when the Hutus were massacring the Tutsis
in Rwanda to the tune 800,000.
- If there are Iranians who modify their appearances to look more European,
it is an attempt to fit in, which in and of itself is not negative. In
fact, it seems to exist in many other immigrant communities, even well-established
ones; just ask the occasionally blond and very much Jewish Bette Midler
and Barbra Streisand.
- I find it somewhat ironic that the writer seems to be using the terms
"Iranian" and "Persian" interchangeably (even though
the latter effectively eliminates 60% of those living in the land known
as Iran) yet has sharp criticism for those Iranians pre-occupied with the
their so-called Aryan past.
N. Behzad Fazel
To top
Friday,
April 9, 1999
* She has never told her family
I am a handsome, well-educated, professional African-American male who
met and fell in love with a beautiful, well-educated, professional Iranian
woman. We love each other very much but she has never told her family about
me. They are constantly trying to fix her up with Iranian men for marriage.
She is always telling me how frustrating it is to not be able to tell
them that she has already met someone that she loves (me) and that she
isn't looking anymore.
We sometimes talk about a future together but she is really afraid of
what her father and family may think. I truely love this woman and hope
to marry her someday. Please write me back. I need to talk to someone.
Eternally hopeful
To top
* Damned if you do...
I just finished reading Mr. Tehrani's article on the Kosovo war situation
["Why
Kosovo?"]. As I recall, when the Bosnians were being driven out
of their homes or massacred by the Yugoslavian army, many of us Iranians
commented that the mere reason NATO or the United States in particular
is not intervening is the fact that the victims are Moslems. Now that the
West is actually performing a positive role, some of us have managed to
come up with absurd scenarios as to why the United States has begun taking
military action.
Why do we always have to be so suspicious about everything? This story
is very simple. Milosovic got away with murder twice. His intentions in
the region are very unclear. You don't know where he will attack next.
Better stop him now.
The massacre of the Kurds, Cambodians and Africans are all valid points
and must be dealt with separately. Let's not confuse the issue here. Just
because the West did not stop the killings in Rwanda, it does not mean
they should not stop the killings in Kosovo. Two wrongs don't make a right.
I guess you are damned if you do it, damned if you don't.
Ghassem Namazi
To top
* I'm offended
Sorry. I don't appreciate the humor of the Senator article ["Iran
is a great country"]. As an American, I'd love to see the lines
of communication between both Iranians and Americans open - as well as,
eventually, the lines between our two governments. I don't see the humor
in this sad situation.
And, frankly, I'm offended in the portrayal of Americans in it. These
stereotypes (dumb American) along with characterizations of Iranians (militant
terrorists) are exactly what we need to overcome in order to have this
dialogue. Let's, at least, begin with a worthy site such as yours but not
adding to these stereotypes.
Marla Zometsky
To top
* Get a laugh
I read the letters that some uptight readers wrote in response to your
April Fool's prank ["Iran
is a great country"]. These people have got to get a life and
chill out. Whoever even said that Iran wasn't a great country and the Iranians
weren't the cat's meow?! It's this obsessive sense of false pride that
will never allow the Iranian mind to grow out of it's emotional huvel.
Get a grip folks. I read the very same piece about Diane Feinstein and
Barbara Boxer and laughed. I'm also Iranian though, I seem to have a sense
of humor that some of the whinning readers truly seem to lack. Thanks for
YOUR humor The Iranian! Here's wishing all you a relaxed and FUN
filled new year!
Banafsheh Zand
To top
Thursday
April 8, 1999
* That which we all are
Listening to the lyrics of ashkha
va labkhandha (Sound of Music in Persian) brought tears to my eyes.
The years gone by; the memories and people left behind. And that which
I am today; that which we all are today.
Behrad Fardi
To top
* Peacekeeping?
The author of "Why
Kosovo?" writes: "Instead of Anglo-American bombing of Iraq
or NATO attack on Yugoslavia, the world could have by now established a
credible United Nations peacekeeping force to intervene in cases of outright
state aggression or genocide. That course would have been far less costly
and far more legitimate and humane."
While the idea is quite honorable in theory, the author seems to have
lost sight of the practicalities of such an approach. What makes such a
"peacekeeping" force credible? The stamp of the U.N.? The Iraqi
fiasco does bear the U.N. stamp. One can argue about its legitimacy but
the war on Iraq and the ensuing military activity is under the auspices
of the U.N.
How exactly would a "peacekeeping" force gain access into
a sovereign country (i.e. Yugoslavia) without either the cooperation/permission
of that government or by force (outright ground war)? The former was an
option but did not work (Yugoslav government did not agree) and the latter
is still an option - albeit an expensive one in terms of human lives on
both sides. In addition, while the cause of defending the Kosovars is novel
and humanitarian, it may not be strong enough to get the public (read votes
and money) to support it. Then again, it is too early to tell. It is only
day 15 of the bombing.
In addition, who determines where the peacekeeping force should go?
As the author has mentioned why not Turkey (to protect the Kurds), or Afghanistan
(ostensibly to protect the women) or various locales in Africa? When is
it intrusion and meddling in the affairs of a country and when is it peacekeeping?
And most important of all who is going to provide the resources (equipment
and personnel and money) for such a force? What exists now, whether NATO
or U.N., is as close to such a force as possible. And of course, its legitimacy
is debatable.
Aref Erfani
To top
Wednesday
April 7, 1999
* At a loss
Dr. Tehranian's interpretation of the war against Yoguslavia was quite
interesting since he himself admitted that no one seems to have an answer
to the riddle of why NATO is there ["Why
Kosovo?"].
He shares with others a nascent sense of not understanding this conflict
within the framework of the traditional politco-social studies. Is it imperialism,
capitalist expansion, war-mongering or plain and simple humanitarianism?
He is not alone, everyone from my own mother who always blamed everything
on the whim that "there must be something in it for someone,"
to even best socialist magazines such as "The Nation" (www.thenation.com) are pretty much at a
loss as to how to interpret this within the leftist frame of thought.
May I offer this explanation which occured to me when I was buying a
travel guide recently. Maybe, just maybe, map publishers such Rand McNally
are paying Milosovic to do this in order for them to print a whole set
of new atlases and maps with yet another county added to the world. Other
than that, we just might have to aceept that the plight of hundreds of
thousands of Kosovo Albanians being driven out of burning villages is cause
enough for NATO to do this.
Ramin Tabib
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* Milosovic's bloody trail
I admit that I'm a simple man who doesn't see the many hidden political
forces that cloud Dr. Tehranian's view of NATO's campaign over Serbia ["Why Kosovo?"].
In contrast, what I doubt most is what Dr. Tehranian sees as most clearly:
"... that an opportunity for peaceful resolution of international
and inter-ethnic conflicts is tragically being lost." I thought that
the repeated visits of the U.S. Special Envoy to Yugoslavia and even the
visit of the Soviet prime minister were ample opportunities.
In looking at what is happening in Kosovo today, I can't help but remember
that President Molosovic is the same man that spearheaded the humanitarian
tragedy in Bosnia. In judging his actions, we have the luxury of knowing
that it is not his first time to "ethnically cleanse" an entire
city. In fact, his pattern of actions have traversed a long and bloody
trail.
As nearly half a million woman and children pour across the borders,
many without their sons and husbands, this is not the time to explore theoretical
possibilities for a U.N. that might send troops in places where there is
genocide. The fact is that such a U.N. body has never existed, and with
the weakening of Russia and rise of the United States, perhaps never will.
Reza Shadmehr
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Tuesday
April 6, 1999
* Understandable
In "15
Bedar" you wrote: "Year by year our Persian festivities will
become less and less Persian. But we'll always have each other." That
is understandable. It happened to the British, Irish, Orientals, Indians,
Africans, and now Iranians. This situation is also true for Iranians who
live in Europe or other places.
Kids grow up and understand Farsi but do not talk Farsi. They listen
to rap music instead of traditional Iranian music. Is this bad? I do not
know the answer. If you do not like it what can you do? Take the family
to Iran for at least one month a year. Dollar is 805 tomans now and you
can buy airline tickets for $770.
Loved the pictures. I wish I was there. It is a blessing to live in
a metropolitan with a large Iranian population.
Hosain Massiha
(exiled in Louisiana)
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* Comedy Central
The Iranian Times is a news organization, not Comedy Central.
I am of course referring to your April Fool's prank "Iran
is a great country". Also, what is interesting is the notion put
forward by at least one of your readers that irresponsible
journalism is somehow covered by the First Amendment (you know, freedom
of the press). Freedom of speech is a right guaranteed for those with opposing
points of view. Your credibility as a reliable source of news has in my
view suffered a lot.
Shahram Mostarshed
To top
* Sense of humor
Dear Ali Hashemi-Nejad
Every one tries to make a dollar at the expense of something or someone,
it is what makes the world go around. I believe that it will be a more
tolerant and peaceful world if we all had a sense of humor and did not
take ourselves so seriously ["Iran
is a great country"].
I respect your opinion, and do share some of your concerns, but I do
not find the solution standing on a higher intellectual plateau, throwing
insults at others, for in the realm of things, who is to judge one's superior
or inferior intellect?
Babak Yektafar
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Monday
April 5, 1999
* A wonderful luxury
I enjoyed your rather tasteless April Fool's joke - it did make me smile
but it was rather too close to the knuckle ["Iran
is a great country"]! I really had a good laugh though when I
read the letter by Ali Hashemi-Nejad. To claim cultural
and class superiority and yet to not be able to spell invites hilarity
- not sympathy.
Humor is a wonderful teaching tool - and the responses to your prank
have made me think about the incredible luxury of free speech. It is not
purely an American luxury - it is a luxury that people try and uphold everywhere
around the world. I hope The Iranian Times will make more of the
story about a court case in Iran reported in this week's Economist (March
27-April 2) entitled 'Stop that laughing, please.' The fortnightly magazine
Adineh was banned for carrying a story with the headline 'Is joy
lost in our city? Is laughing a sin?' The article told the story about
a family dining in a restaurant and openly enjoying themselves when they
were asked by a man if they were not ashamed that they were laughing. This
was obviously too much for the group called the Headquarters for Combating
Vice and Promoting Virtue - they went to court to close the magazine and
were successful.
As we wander around what Mr. Hashemi-Nejad calls our
'cultural wasteland' he and the rest of us can thank our lucky stars that
we are free to poke fun, to misspell 'inebriated' (even when we presumably
are not!) and to criticize our politicians when they are silly - without
the threat of losing our livelihoods. Mr.Hashemi-Nejad
should learn to lighten up or rethink the privileges he claims by living
here - of course should he choose to return to Iran I think we could all
heartily recommend him for a job at the Headquarters for Combating Vice
and Promoting Virtue!
Minou
To top
* Sorry for myself
What an awful joke ["Iran
is a great country"]. I'm really sorry for myself for being a
subscriber [to The Iranian Times]. You are running a media and these
kinds of jokes are not acceptable at all. Can we trust you anymore? Have
you ever heard the TV or radio stations in this country [U.S.] giving the
wrong information ... or just joking about it?
Katayoun Hashemi
To top
Friday,
April 2, 1999
* Important points
What a truly awful April Fool's joke ["Iran
is a great country"]. Still, some important points regarding the
senators' political interests were made. Those two nitwits could never
be accused of not knowing which side their bread is buttered.
Shahin Shahin
To top
* I called Senator Feinstein's office
It was such a disappointment when I called Senator Feinstein's office
to find out that your story ["Iran
is a great country"] was completely false with no foundation whatsoever.
It seems that your writers imaginative mind is in a high gear, writing
such a scenario, placing it on the "biggest TV station in history
in Los Angeles ever." Please give a little bit of consideration for
the intelligence of your news recipients next time. Report the truth please.
S. Yadegar
To top
* I am disgusted
The Iranian times makes a mockery of Persian culture and heritage
as witnessed through the type of articles posted to the site in question
["Iran
is a great country"]. The collective intellerctual acumen of those
in charge of producing such worthless information accurately portrays the
class of Iranian people living in the cultural wasteland known as Los Angeles.
All of you are peasnts enemberated daily by images of "gendehs"
like Leyla Foruhar and dillusions of grandeur while all along you are low
class "bazaaris" selling the collective Iranian soul to make
a dollar. Please don't send e-mails to those such as I who are culturally
your superior and reside in a class level exponentially higher than yours.
You should be ashamed as much as I am disgusted!!!
Ali Hashemi-Nejad
To top
* Loved it
I loved the piece on Senators Barbara Boxer and Diane Feinstein ["Iran
is a great country"]. Sounds just like a goof any typical and
ignorant American could easily make.
Alireza Torkzadeh
To top
* Laughed so hard
Thank you for your enlightening "interview" with Feinstein
and Boxer ["Iran
is a great country"]. I laughed so hard, that I got dizzy! It
was great.
A. Hadj
To top
Thursday
April 1, 1999
* Divided, unorganized
This in response to the letter, "She
didn't apologize". I have to agree with Manavi. But I was not
really surprised. What did we expect from Senator Boxer? We are one of
the most divided and unorganized well-to-do minority (actually, sadly enough
we don't even have that title officially) in the U.S. I really don't blame
her.
Politicians in a democratic society merely respond to whoever that has
a louder voice. Louder voice means who donates money, attends $500 per-plate
dinners, VOTES, boycotts, hold demonstrations (if needed while keeping
your cool), etc.
We for all practical purpose don't do any of the above and until we
do we won't really get any respect from people like her. I am not from
California, like Senator Boxer. This made me really angry given the substantial
Iranian population in in this state. So my suggestions are:
1) get your citizenship so you can vote and make a positive changes.
President Khatami followers are doing this successfully/skillfully and
have made great inroads by voting,
2) make appearances when these people are running for office and voice
your legitimate concerns,
3) all American Iranians in California should start a petition and express
cocern at her comments and her bogus apology.
I am not an expert in lobbying but at minimum I would send this to her
office in California and the National Democrat headquarters. The change
has to start from us. Simply reacting to one's response will not improve
our condition greatly. We need to start from step 1 and 2. We also need
to listen to legitimate concern of U.S. politicians as well.
S. Amirghodsi
To top
Wednesday
March 31 1999
* Big elephant
I was greatly interested in an article I read some time ago about what
members of religious minorities such as the Bahai faith followers are going
through to get basic education in Iran ["Illicit
education"].
This is an issue of great importance, and not enough attention has been
given to it. Like racial issues in America, it is controversial, and highly
significant. Ignoring and disregarding such injustice by our fellow countrymen,
is like what a friend said: pretending the big elephant is not sitting
in on the couch in your living room.
We will not attain unity and peace in Iran, unless we learn how to protect
our minorities and our defenseless, until we teach ourselves equality,
love and unity. Until we appreciate our differences, and learn that a garden
with flowers of different colors and fragrances looks much more fascinating
than a garden with only one plant.
Neda Kamranpour
To top
* Pointless
Is it just me, or was the "I'm
no pimp" article the most nonsensical piece written as of late
in The Iranian? I should hope readers will not be subject to such
absurd and pointless pieces as this in the future. Let us continue with
the normally exceptional writing and diverse topics of interest that appeal
to the more intellectual reader.
Behbahani, Massi
To top
Tuesday
March 30, 1999
* Really embarrassing
What is the purpose of posting this story ["I'm
no pimp"]? It's really embarrassing. I am not visiting this site
anymore.
Ali Taleghani
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* Best of Iran
[Farah Pahlavi] represents the best of Iran: dignity, compassion, intelligence,
beauty, depth, liberty, womanhood and forgiveness ["Iranians
of the Year"].
N. Ansari
To top
Monday
March 29, 1999
* Could fuel hatred
I read your article on Charshanbeh Suri in Iran ["Fire
with fire"] extensively and appreciate the efforts that you and
your collogues have done. Alas, I also tend to believe that your scrutiny
of such symbolic issues is where the misery of our nation rests.
The fundamental changes that President Khatami is formulating and the
struggle for change is not about "Chaharchanb'e Souri" or other
trivial matters. The struggle for change is about the soul of our nation
and its evolution into a democratic Islamic nation. I could perhaps compare
your efforts to that of a journalist only concentrating on the behavior
of spectators in a vital soccer game.
The actual game Madame, is the one being played out on the corridors
of Mr. Khamenei's residence on Azerbaijan Street and the Presidential Office
on Pastor Avenue. Your posting could only fuel the hatred of Khatami's
enemies while contributing very little on what Khatamisim is all about.
Mahmmoud-Reza Hussaini
To top
* Khatami: worst choice
Iranians are again being fooled by a "progressive" molla.
But as usual religion has never been progressive for their promoters to
be progressive and as such those who are foolishly hoping to establish
a democratic regime under Khatami are again blindfolded with the fact that
first of all he is a molla and as such can not be progressive regardless
of what he says. And the fact that what he does is completely different
from what he says is another reason that Iranians are again chasing their
own tails and are hoping for some good to come out from this very shrewd
and clever clergy who is manipulating Iranians to score points with his
competition who is Khamenei's faction ... FULL
TEXT
Jamshid E.
To top
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