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Letters
- Latest comments on articles (Received June 1997)
- Comments on THE IRANIAN magazine & Bulletin
- Letters published in past issues: (Feb./May 1997) - (Dec96/Jan97) - (Sept/Oct 1996 ) - (July/Aug 1996 ) - (May/June 1996 ) - (March/April 1996 ) - (Jan/Feb 1996 ) - (Nov/Dec 1995)
Let's put our own house in order, first
Kamran Rasegar's article ("Islamophobia")is a well written tale of the prejudice most Iranians and for that matter Middle Easterners experience these days. Oddly enough, Islamophobia is first and foremost an Iranian problem before being that of a Western mind's.
I wonder how many Iranian women wearing headscarves have been stared at with suspision by their fellow Iranians in streets, shops etc and accused of being the 'agents of the regime in Tehran', called backward, and even harrassed verbally simply because they have decided to lead a slightly more traditional life style? Men with a trace of beard are no exception either.
In fact the attitude of the average Western person to a Muslim-looking person is a lot less steresotypical as compared to that of say the average Iranian in the streets of LA. In today's community of Iranians living abroad where praying three times a day and abstaining from alcohol is tantamount to fundamentalism and radicalism, talking of Western attitudes and changing them is being over ambitious to say the least.
Your concerns, dear Kamran, are appreciated but let us put our own house in order first.
Khashayar
lessa002@tc.umn.edu
What happened to the intelligentsia?
Let me start by apologizing for responding to your present article without having read "Iran after the Revolution: Crisis of an Islamic state." But there was a significant point missing in this exceprt ("Autocratic.Immature."), that necessitated my humble reaction, and that is the role of the specially-bred Iranian intelligentsia (as a whole, from the academia to artists to writers, etc...).
Your navigation through contemporary Iranian history -- UP TO THE MID 70s -- correlated very closely to the one of the late Bizhan Jazani in his book "The Thirty-Year History" in which he also foresaw some future events with relative clarity.
He, however, deliberately avoided picking on the specially-bred Iranian intelligentsia, other than to rightfully disclosing them as being deeply religious (contrary to the claim of some, who were trying to prove otherwise WITH RELIGIOUS ZEAL.) You also deliberately avoided picking on them other than mildly slapping their sacred wrists by recognizing their "political immaturity and structural weakness."
Why? The answer may be traced to some fearsome monster named "grande bourgeoisie" which apparently was the root to all of Iranian socio-political ills (Jazani called the same monster "THE DEPENDENT grande bourgeoisie" as if THE INDEPENDENT version of the same was a desired one.) This line of abstract thinking, then led to the unconditional cleansing of the Iranian "petit bourgeoisie", an amorphous strata containing a wide spectrum of the Iranian populace, INCLUDING the "specially-bred intelligentsia."
You, then continue by stating that: "Finally, the character of the ruler in 'autocratic rentier states' is an important factor in crisis management. A ruler's lack of will for a time of crisis would, of course, be detrimental to the system as a whole."
Let's review. According to your formula, the causes of the 1979 uprising can be summarized as follows:
- Shah's White Revolution, followed by
- The intellectual divergence and cultural alienation reaching its climax in the 1960s, followed by
- Relative economic flourishment as the result of increase in oil prices in the 1970s, followed by
- "..Benevolent distributive policies as well as on repressive measures and prevention of the formation of autonomous class-based organizations, including those of the grande bourgeoisie, intelligentsia and the industrial proletariat", followed by
- "The feeble character of the Shah combined with the political immaturity and structural weakness of the newly dominant middle classes", followed by
- The last straw: "A combination of these factors was present in the mid-1970s. The Shah began to lose his will to fight, especially after the victory of Jimmy Carter in the American presidential race of November 1976 and the ensuing pressure of human-rights issues by the new Democratic administration in Washington."Where in the world is the role of "The Intelligentsia" here? In every single revolution of the 19th and 20th century, one could pinpoint the leadership of the intelligentsia at the very battle front. Was Iran an exception or right in the heat of the battle, the specially-bred Iranian intelligentsia opted for foregoing its responsibility and hiding behind the clergy and the other traitors?
They were simply faced by the question: "Emancipation or Wealth (including security, safety, prestige,...)"? And between being clever and cowardly, they chose the latter. For the first choice demanded sacrifices, while the second just required weak hearts, thick skins and forgetful minds. But god forbid, you do not want to insult the specially-bred Iranian intelligentsia, because it's going to be "tof-e sar-baalaa" and further "chaaghoo dasteyeh khodesho nemibor-reh."
Mr. Ashraf, sometimes, as demented as it might sound, I feel glad that people like Bizhan Jazani, Hamid Ashraf, Mohammad Hanif-Nezhad, Saeed Soltanpoor, and many many other of the truly progressive Iranian men and women who died for their ideals, did not live to see today's Gorbachevs, Reagans, Yelstins,... of the world. Or worse yet, transform into Lech Walensas, Regis Debray,... For in the final analysis, they too belonged to the Iranian petit bourgeoisie and intelligentsia.
Kamran Seyed Moussavi
Seyed.Moussavi@gsa.gov
Fundamentalism: No phobia; outright threat
First it strikes me as odd that given all the outright threat to modern civilzation from Islamic fundamentalists one could consider civil precaution as an unreasonable reaction and diagnose it as "Islamophobia". As if Islamic fundamentalists have yet to be proven guilty of ill will for basic values of modern civilization and human rights.
Second it seems odd that putting all European and North American nations in one basket and calling them "Werterners" is okay but for them to pool together a bunch of Middle Eastern nations is not okay.
Third, I can see a few good reasons why the American Muslims are the fastest breeding minority here. Their looking up to a leaders such as Louis Farrakhan does not help reduce "Islamophobia".
Cannot expect the world to be 100% politically correct whith "Islamic forces" when they have not even made an effort to put a humane face on their actions, which speak even louder than their savage words.
Hojat Salehi
hsalehi@fir.fbc.com
Islamophobia: Khodaa-o-khormaa
This opinion article (Islamophobia), wraped in eloquently formed, and mostly borrowed, words and phrases is nothing but another attempt to convey the "naneh-man-gharibam" mentality of some, yes, Moslem Middle Easterners.
The author should wonder whether the likes of Professor Reza, Dr. Moavenzadeh, Mr. Yar-Shater, or any other free-spirited Iranian (or Moslem Middle Easterner for that matter) would share this notion that: "Islamophobia is rooted deeply in the Western psyche and is manifested as biased views in news media depictions, reactionary foreign policy, negative depictions in popular culture, and hate crimes against Muslims and people of Middle Eastern ancestry. Prejudicial views in each of these fields create a symbiotic web of fear-based biases that are immensely difficult to counteract."
[Consider these events:]
-- Norman, Oklahoma (Walker Tower, the first COED dormitory in U.S.): Seven Iranain students are arrested for killing a lamb in a dormitory bath tub (before dying, though, the poor lamb escapes from the hands of our beloved brethern, gets out of the room, goes down to the GIRLS' floor, and runs around to find safety, until it dies from bleeding, all with the gang of seven in pursuit (Lamb & Christianity);
-- In Tampa, an Iranian convenience store owner sets his store on fire to collect insurance damage;
-- In Seattle, an Iranian convenience store owner mixes water in his gasoline and gets caught;
-- In Greenbelt, an Iranian convenience store owner mixes water in his gasoline, gets caught;
-- I personally know many Iranians, Arabs, Turks, who got fradulant college degrees;
-- I personally know many Iranians who either never pay, or cheat on, their income taxes;
-- I personally know Iranians who hide their cars in their friends' garages, report them stolen and collect insurance money; SHOULD I SAY MORE?DARD-A DELL: You may say, but everybody does all that. No, not everybody. Only people with WEAK MINDS AND HEARTS. Only the ones who were raised under the influence of corruption starting right in their own family rooms. Mr. Mohammad Derakhshesh truly says: "The first thing that the culture of exploitaion shoves down a nation's throat is the corruption of the mind. With that done, the material corruption becomes very easy." We, Moslem Middle Easterners, symbolize this "culture of exploitaion" and if we are also WEAK IN MINDS AND HEARTS, then we have nothing and nobody to blame but ourselves.
Yes, the Western mass media is biased. You know that, right? Then don't give them more excuses. Slaughtering a lamb in a shool dormitory is not an accepted behavior. Don't do it. Smuggling a spouse in a suitecase, and the tragic consequence is not accepted behavior. Just don't do it. You can't have both, khodaa and khormaa.
Kamran Seyed Moussavi
Seyed.Moussavi@gsa.gov
Moslem fundamenalists at fault, mostly
While I can very well sympathize with the writer, Kamran, (Islamophobia) he is probably too young to remember when Iran and the U.S. had a very good relationship. Then it was the overthrow of the late Shah's government and the illeagel seizing of the U.S. Embassy and the U.S. diplomats by the rogue priest Khomeini.
That move was the biggest violation of human rights and Qoranic law that any one nation has ever done. If anuyone does not believe that it is against what the prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) then let them read what he has said about ending the holy wars. About three years before His death, He forbade any more holy wars. That one act of the Khomeini regime caused the peoples of both Europe and the U.S. to look on the people of Iranian and Arabic descent with complete distrust.
My wife's family are Persian, and I have been thru the problems of discrimination with her, a terrible and trying time. What Kamran may not know was that Khomeini said that he was releasing the American blacks because they were not the same level of human as the whites or Arian people. This was pointed out to me by a black security guard at the time , and he was ready to go to Iran and blow up the whole country.
Yes, prejudices are a shame, however, a large part of the prejudice IS THE FAULT OF THE MOSLEM FUNDAMENTALISTS, such as those who have taken over Iran, and made it a despised nation by most of the rest of the world. Anwar Sadat, the late president of Egypt, was a true Moslem, not a cruel heartless fundamentalist fanatic. As I am writing this [Moslem fundamentalists] are trying to take over Algeria, and turn it into another terrorism-exporting Iran.
If Kamran is siding with these types of inhuman beings, then he deserves the examination that he got, and even more so. If not then he can see what these fools have wrought. Religious fundamentalism is to be condemed and deleted from human kind whether it is Christian, Jewish or Hindu or Moslem.
Kenley Gray-Feather
kenleym@tiac.net
Persia, Iowa: Now I know
I enjoyed reading your Persia, Iowa story. I related to it because I lived in Ames, Iowa for 12 years and many times I traveled to Council Bluffs, Iowa, and passed Persia wondering why it was called Persia! Now I know.
Kaveh Nikpour
Kaveh_Nikpour@KCSM.pbs.org
Make Persia, Iowa, glad
Thanks for the lovely Persia, Iowa story. It brought tears to my eyes; for no particular reason. All I could think of was "if you build it, they will come"; I think that was in some corn field in Iowa. Maybe someday we will make Persia, Iowa glad it had that name.
Peace.
Kayvon Jalali
shiraz@sj.bigger.net
Teheran, Michigan
I enjoyed reading your column about Persia, Iowa. For your information, there is a ever smaller community called Teheran, Michigan. On Rte. 29 off I-55.
Ahmad Vaziri
avaziri@ucx.ucr.edu
Not a lesser man
I'm glad that you (Bahar Jaberi; "Changing times, changing roles") see things like that. I also think women should contribute to society with their talent and their effort.
I hope I see the day when all females in Iran could stand on their own feet, without having to rely on their male counterpart for their every day need.
I don't think that it would make me a lesser man if my sister or my mother decided to work.
Mehran
95156778@brookes.ac.uk
American pleased by Haydeh
I stopped by for a little while to see what you were all about. I sampled some of the music and was very pleasantly surprised to hear some Haydeh.
I had some Iranian friends years ago who let me record some of their music. Haydeh was one of the singers, though I didn't know it at the time. Could you please tell me if there is somewhere I can buy some tapes or CDs of hers? Thanks. By the way, I enjoyed your magazine and will be back again.
Jim Bower
jimbower@sprintmail.com
What a treat!
Just read your sites on Vigen & Googoosh; what a treat! I'm very emotional & surprised by your efforts and hard work to keep this forgotten (or silenced) part of our culture alive.
Congradulations on a great job. God bless you all.
Hezar Afarin
Henrick Vartanian
henrickv@earthlink.net
Googoosh at the office
I really enjoyed hearing "Pol" by Googoosh at the office; thanks so much [for THE IRANIAN Bulletin emails].
Kambiz Kashani
kashani@lainet.com
Abadan: Good memories
Tonight was my first time I read THE IRANIAN on the Net. As I was browsing thru the topics. One word caught my eyes, Abadan. I was born there, and proud of it. If I had to live my life again. I would want to be from Abadan. I enjoyed reading your articles about it.
I have been in the States for about 12 years. I have not gone back in these years. The only good memories I have is from my hometown.
Thanks for your article.
Soheyla Carrel
SoheylaC@concentric.net
They're inside jokes, man
Oh man, I just can't believe that you, Mr. Javid, is behind those bad jokes (about Abadanis). I just hope you are not some self-hating Khuzestani (who thinks he is from Tehran).
I think native people of Khuzestan, do get your jokes. I have a strong feeling you are proud of being from Abadan (are you?). But a non-native person may not get the jokes, that, that's just an inside joke man. So please, take it easy. Don't hurt us too much. I love my hometown. The place I was born and raised.
Take care my pal.
Ali
ali@CIR.CIR.comP.S. you look good in your Rayban glasses; did someone get them for you from bazaare Kuwaitia? hay it's a joke.
It's not our children's fault
This is a comment regarding your article : "A letter from America". I believe THE IRANIAN as a member of the Iranian media has the responsibility to give a general idea about Iranians. I believe with this article and Mahdiyeh's letter you have seperated and generalized Iranian girls into two catagories a) Iranians raised abroad : Sheila; and b) Iranians raised in Iran : Mahdiyeh.
It is like you are trying to say whoever is in Iran is like Madiyeh and whoever is here is like Sheila. Despite my experience that tells me many Iranian girls , living abroad, are "Gharb zadeh" (and so are many iranian guys living abroad), I do not think it is appropriate to generalize people here. And I do believe THE IRANIAN gives readers samples of Iranian culture.
The content of this article is not very different from others articles in THE IRANIAN, the only difference is that the innocent "sheila" was not that much a politician to know not to reveal her desires so openly in public. If she is talking about her desires and fantacies , which are more like appropriate to many teenagers living in north America, I know many much older and adults who still stick to fantacies which are appropriate to teenagers.
I do not get it: is it appropriate for women to be interested in nude pictures of guys like Shawn Michael or things like that and not appropriate for a girl at age 13? Sorry to say this but I read the comments and got a real sad feeling to see us Iranians just want to blame our teenagers. But no one is responsible for how our teenagers think but US.
So many adults look like Madonna. I see them following whatever funny rule u can find in fashion shows etc. Seeing parents spending their lives at nightclubs at the expense of leaving their kids to do whatever they want etc...., I don't expect anything good coming from our teenagers.
And sorry to say this but they are many girls in Iran no different than many adults in California or north America. The only difference is where they live. I just wish Iranians abroad would come out of the "lost generation" catagory.
Syavash
sabet@drill.me.utoronto.ca
Courageous artist
[In response to "This man is a painter"] I've got one sentence to say to you: I ADMIRE YOUR COURAGE.
A "good" journalist should...
Art does not begin and end with paintings ("Who?"). Iranian-American culture serves a diverse community whose new progenies demand rather versatile means of artistic expression.
A "good" journalist reports any popular and not so popular wave of change without imposing his/her personal, value judgment to inform his/her public. You too may consider the obligation of including the names of all the Iranian-Americans involved in the arts regardless of your own definition of what art may be.
Fondly,
Moana Rumi Nikou
rumi@pixi.com
Shameless tabloid journalism
"Shayaadi gisovaan baaft keh man alaviyam..." Oh please J. Javid, don't be bashful ("Who?"). While you're at it, why don't you mention that we should also forget our nation's older journalists like Afraashteh, Mas'oud, Eshghee, Gol-a-Sorkhee, ...... and start singing the praise for the likes of yourself?
You say "journalism is not about recycling," but you simultaneously are recycling the most prevalent trait of the Iranian [vagheeh] tabloid journalism -- unbridled shameless-ness -- all in the name of benevolency and fake progression.
Like Haafez (one of your favorites) said: Dar-a meykhaaneh bebastand khodaa-raa mapasand, Keh dar-a khaaney-a tazveeir o riyaa bogshaayand.
Kamran Seyed Moussavi
Seyed.Moussavi@gsa.gov
More attention to new artists
I specially enjoyed your cover story regard Mr. Dadgar (This man is a painter). It is great to recognize the new tradition.
We all know enough about our great past but it is time for a new era. It is time for us to stop be so proud of our past and look at ourself in the mirror. It is not take that much to realize what we are and where we are heading. Mr. Dadgar and people like him diserve more attention.
Keep the good work,
Behrouz Zamani
bzamani@spdmail.spd.dsccc.com
Farsi shikar ast!
Salam,
My name is Bridget and it was nice to see your homepage. It is refreshing to see your open-mindedness. I'm sorry that you don't feel at home anywhere, but since you were born in Iran, it will always be home, right?
I am learning Farsi right now. Farsi shikar ast! (Persian is sugar!) See! I am 23 and I go to Miami University in Oxford, Ohio USA. I really admire Iraninan culture from its ancient times. You do have so much to be proud of!
I sometimes wish that I weren't American. People tend to judge me without knowing me and think that I am like other narrow-minded Americans they may have met. I like America because it is where my family is, but otherwise I like other countries a lot, too, and the cultures there.
In fact, I was in Pakistan recently and I felt as if I could stay there for a long time. But my next goal is to visit Iran and see all of the beautiful architecture and art that I can.
Khoda Hafiz
Bridget
UNIQUE-ID@muohio.edu
Latin Farsi: Disasterous
What a disasterous idea (Eenjoori beneveeseem). How absolutely appalling to even entertain the thought. For the sake of a minute portion of Iranians living abroad not taking the trouble of keeping their cultural heritage alive we are contemplating this gastly idea. How shallow.
But then again haven't the same self-serving attitudes been the driving force in the demise of the very fabric of our society? While many of us understandably dislike the "Arabic" influence in our language, it is no reason to convert it to a "Latin" influence. Look where it got Turkey.
Times like this I wonder if the infamous "British conspiracy" is at work?!!!
The West's (rotten) record
You claim to have all the answers to sink any argument put forward by a militant Shi'ite Iranian revolutionary (Dr. Ahmad AShraf's "Conspiracy Theories and the Persian Mind"). Surely however in your heart of hearts, you only know too well your sympathies towards racist and decadent regimes such as the hard-line anti-Arab government currently exercising power in Israel.
I suggest you look at some of Amnesty International's reports on human rights violations committed by the Israeli secret police and their armed forces. Secondly on refuting the 'evidence' that certain members within the Bahai faith had alleged links to a Russian Tsar, you moved on to say whatever probable cause Iranians had to suspect foreigners were completely baseless.
You may not know that Iranians and people from the East are not the only people who suspect Western governments of foul play and corruption. As a citizen of the United Kingdom I know only too well of the domestic scandals that have rocked the Conservative Government in recent months. Shocking news that Britain's largest contractor has been selling devices used for torture to Saudi Arabia have only recently come to light.
Moving across the Atlantic one can hear the news of the CIA dealing in drugs with criminals in the black ghettos to weaken them in their fight for self-improvement. Before you totally demolish any premise for people to suspect Western governments of interference in domestic policies in Iran, I seriously think you ought to examine history in a less biggoted and prejudicial manner.
At the turn of the century, Britain played a key part in aiding Abdul Aziz conquer what was then known as Arabia. The governing body at the time extended its support in the form of military supplies and intelligence. The results were astounding as far as Abdul Aziz was concerned. Almost three hundred and fifty people were massacred by Abdul Aziz's fighters all of whom had been armed by the British. So sir, I think it does not take a genius to figure out the role western powers have played in the Middle East. Their track record speaks for itself.
Trent Cunningham
arazeghi@cyberia.com
Remember the needy in your Mercedes
I read "The aftermath in human terms" and I would like to make a couple comments. First, as an Iranian who has lived in America for 21 of the 22 years of my life, and who is intensely proud of my culture and heritage, I sometimes become very very disappointed and disheartened at my hamvatanan (compatriots).
It shocks me that in a community of some half a million Iranians in Los Angeles, there is not at least some network, or some subset of a network, that would band together and prevent these Iranians from slipping through the cracks.
I thought we Iranians were a proud people. Nationalism is 'in our blood', right?? Well frankly that nationalism doesn't mean a DAMN thing if we turn a blind eye to a fellow Iranian in need; it doesn't mean a DAMN thing if we cannot come together as a strong and united community to help those Iranians who desperately need it. I thought that's what communities were for.
It doesn't matter if you're Muslim, Jewish, Bahai, or Armenian. We are all IRANIANS, period the end.
For those Iranians sitting in Beverly Hills or elshwhere, driving their Mercedes Benz, I would like to say this: please, think of these people the next time you go shopping or settle into your comfortable homes, free from the ills and 'diseases' that affect urban America at its worst; and realize that these people aren't as 'free' from these problems as you are. But they still put up the same flag that you do. Remember that.
Sina Dadfarmay
sdadfarm@midway.uchicago.edu
Hooked on Shahin & Sepehr
Can't relate to the Iranian stuff but Shahin & Sepehr are GREAT!
Thanks for the samples too. First heard "The Last Goodbye" on Higher Octave II and I was hooked! Can't wait for a "New Age" radio station in this area so more people can be exposed to this kind of music.
Billy Meadows
herby@cookeville.com
Pride in being "irounee"
I could not believe that these two men (Ashpazbashi -- The soup guy) would rather be known as Italians than take pride in their own culture. There are so many Iranians in this country struggling to gain the wealth and recognition these men got. I feel that we should not even acknowledge such Ablah (stupid) people like these two.
The only way we as Iranians can ever hope to change the way our people are viewed within the American society is to have successful people like the "Soup Nazi" take pride in being "irounee" and state that they are from Iran not deny it. How can he go to Iran for so long every year if he denies his race. I really feel sorry for these people, they are so lost in life.
Thank you
Parvaneh Khayat
parvaneh@ea.oac.uci.edu
My own name or nothing
Hah! Thanks so much for your article on why people Americanize names ("Why change a name?"). My name is Shirazeh, like the city, and I always wanted to be ANYTHING but Shirazeh. I accepted Shary, Shirley, etc. now its Shirazeh, or I won't answer. st
Shirazeh Tabibi
st7820a@american.edu
Where is the Arabian Gulf, Mr. Perry?
[In response to "The boot for the cat"; former U.S. Defense Secretary's article about U.S. strategy in the "Arabian Gulf")
I have a simple question: where is the Arabian Gulf Region? According to all recognized international documents the correct name is the Persian Gulf not the Arabian Gulf.
It is really sad when one sees that someone who was one of the most important political and military figures in the world makes such a mistake.
Reza Sadr
rsadr@cadesm60.eng.utah.edu
Very informative
I read your research (Internet in Iran) and find it very informative. I am a programmer and have been thinking to move to Iran after being away for 21 years. After reading this, I found out I have to learn much more about putting together Networks.
It seems that once there, I will be on my own with what I already know. And if I decide to open up an ISP -- I will be up aginst DCI (Data Communication Company of Iran).
Nader
nader@ziplink.net
Harsh view on dress code
[In response to "A hat will not do"]
To whom it may concern:
Your descrptions were harsh, and untrue.
FF
Chador: Extremeley misunderstood
I appreciate that you have taken an interest in Iran, but I am also extremely disgusted your lack of respect for its culture ("A hat will not do").
I am an 18-year-old native of Minnesota, and also an Iranian. I had the wonderful experience of visiting Iran for the first time this last winter. Yes, the culture in Iran is extremely different but unfortunately, extremely misunderstood. In Iran, I met the most caring and hospitable people in my life.
It is good that you are providing information regarding the dress code in Iran for any prospective travelers (though I doubt there be many as a result of such ignorance towards it.) I suggest that you take a more compassionate and unbiased look at the country and maybe you would not write such an insulting document in the future.
Thanks but no thanks,
Sarah Afshar
Marketing Major
University of Minnesota
afsh0002@maroon.tc.umn.edu
Qiyaamat in Irvine
I was hoping you would do something like this (Qiyaamat ). i see doreh had strong presence there...nima, mehrdad. way to go guys.
I missed Sizdahbedar at Visona Park this year, but instead went to Irvine in southern California. what a site....wish I had taken pictures of the people and the crowd and given them to you. I had a camera but I was too busy people-watching. it was quite a site:
- The Iranian Oscars: latest fashions (no, not just picnic fashion, I'm talking about beach attire, night dresses, 3+ inch heels, suits,...you name it);
- The celebrities: one of the Silouhette (pop music group) "sisters", Mekabiz, Faramarz Assef ("Haji" pop singer), and Mr. Khordadian (dance instructor) on top of a table with his heavy "ghers" dancing away....
- The food court (with over a dozen booths) complete with all sorts of kabobs, balaal, aajil, ....and my favorite: chaaghaali-baadoom (del-dard gereftam enghadr khordam), and a casino booth teaching poker;
- And even some sort of an Iranian/Los Angeles "gang": a group of young men all with identical black t-shirts with "P.A.R.T.S. for Life" on them, all hanging out together in a tightly close group. (they looked too intimidating for me to ask them what that stood for.)
Farshid Ketabchi
farshidk@faslab.com
Sizdahbedar: Good job
Thank you for a great article and good pictures of the Sizdahbedar (Qiyaamat ). You did a good job. Looks like a lot of people check out your site. my friend, Negin had checked out your page and had emailed me about the article and my picture too (Thanks Negin).
Kaveh Nikpour
Kaveh_Nikpour@KCSM.pbs.org
Excellent!
The article (Qiyaamat ) is excellent. I dont know how you do it, the write up, organization, etc. But you do a great job.
Nima Nikuie
mnikuie@cisco.com
SAVAK interrogation
Your registration page reminds me of SAVAK interrogation.
Shahram Ahmadi
abadani@ix.netcom.com
Living pizza
[In response to "My life is like a pizza"]
Why your life IS a pizza.
Wayne Forrest
fs000035@fairstar.com.au
Feel lucky
I just read your New Year at Times Square article. I really liked it. Sometimes I feel at the intersection of too many worlds, and I need to go back in mind and time to where I started.
But my roots are far less sturdier than yours. I'm not quite Iranian, nor for that matter do I identify wholly with any other nationality or cultural group. Or too many maybe. So despite the apprehension you felt, feel lucky to not only have a place but a whole people who are completely yours, and to whom you belong.
Best wishes
Fred Shahrabani
sharf@sympatico.ca
Morbid Persian patterns
I must say I have not read something as refreshing as your piece (I'm NOT a rug) for a a very long time. You could not have said it any better. Yes we all tend to be rugs. Individuality and ideas are as far away from our predetermined lives as passion and fullfilment.
Somehow we always manage to get together and repeat the same morbid patterns. I wonder if this Persianity is in our blood or if the only way to stay away from it is by staying away from Iranians altogether.
Live well,
Pejman Khoshkhoo
pejmank@worldnet.att.net
Tof-e sar bala
The writer of this piece (I'm NOT a rug) pretends to be made of a different fabric, whereas at least in one respect suffers the same problem that he ascribes to his fellow compatriots. He theorizes that all Iranians are programmed to behave a certain way, and in the process "they step on, degrade, and put each other down, as much as they possibly can."
Reading this line I could not help feeling that the writer himself is guilty of the same sin with which he accuses others. Without giving specific examples, he issues blanket statements and assumes that the Iranians are a unified entity, same color, same shape, same code of conduct. As if all Iranians are cut of the same material. If that's the case, how can he then put a space between himself and this mass of ignominy?
Massud Alemi
malemi@sysnet.net
'Cause mommy said so
I can't tell you how it feels to read your article (I'm NOT a rug). It definitely hits home bro. I'm a student at Chico State University in California (the only Iranian here) and the reason I chose this school was because I just wanted to get away from all the bullshit that goes on in the Iranian Community in southern California.
Over 90% of my friends go or have graduated from U.C.I. and guess what ...? All biology majors.... Do you know why? Cause mommy and daddy said so....
Thanks again for your article
Afshin Sharafabadi
afshin@iticorp.com
No interests, no relations
[In response to Iran-U.S. survey] There is a famous saying in politics:"Governments do no have friends, they only have interests." Therefore, if it served U.S. interests to have full relations with Iran, they would have done it by now, so I guess it is not.
Ardeshir Hashemi
a-ardesh@seanet.com
People preserve culture
Happy to hear that somebody out there is still introducing himself as "Iranian." For all the reasons you explained ("Why Iranian? Because").
Although not everyone who uses "Persian" is doing it to avoid a fight. Some just want to get away from the culture and the association altogether. I'm afraid those or goners. You won't reach them. But your piece is a real contribution to the discussion of the cultural heritage and that it is the people, not just books and museums, that keep it alive and progressing.
Thank you
Masood Karimipour
San Francisco, CA
mknyc@sprintmail.com
Advice: BE PROUD!
I have an advice for you (Ali Parndeh's "Why Iranian? Because"), my fellow countryman, that my help you better cope with the kind of difficulties you mentioned in your piece: CONTINUE TO BE PROUD OF YOUR HERRITAGE!
And don't feel you owe any explanations to anybody, about your herritage, customs, traditions, or way of life. Especially to brain washed ignoramouses, addicted to lies propagated by western media which is commited to creation of a hostile enviroment twards Iran,and Iranians in an attempt to justify future designs on Iran.
Morteza Aalami
Morteza.X.Aalami@boeing.com
Darbandsar: Childhood memories
When I lived in Iran, we had a little villa in Darbandsar which we often went to on the weekends. Reading this article (Nasimi az doust ) brought back so many wonderful memories from my childhood and the time I spent there.
Darbandsar is a beautiful and peaceful little village and I'd recommend going there for anyone who visits Iran. Thank you for the article. Darbandsar was the last thing I expected to read about on the web, but it definitelydeserves to be mentioned.
Yasin Saadatnejadi
ynsi@bu.edu
Enjoyed going back to Iran
I enjoyed your pictures (Nasimi az doust . Going back to Darbandsar after 17 years).
I had the same experience when I went back to Iran after 18 years. I traveled from the south to the north of the country and many other places. I enjoyed it.
Good Luck
Reza Abadani
reza4@IDT.NET
Best information on military service
This was truly a great story (At peace in the Iranian army). I am a 21-year-old Iranian male from Los Angeles, about to graduate from college, and I feel exactly the same way about going back to Iran. I don't know whether I would be wasting 2.5 years of my life or if I would truly benefit by making the trip.
This story was better than any information that I have found in any documents or articles. It is still a very hard decision and I'm not sure what to do.
Sincerely,
Darioush Nikravan
yoosh@aznet.net
Shadi's fresh breeze
Shadi Ziaie's piece (Discovered: Girl's poop) was absolutely a fresh breeze. Hope to see more of the same kind of insight from her and writers like her.
Massud Alemi
malemi@sysnet.net
Please don't...no, no don't poop
Great piece (Discovered: Girl's poop). I liked it very much. But I still couldn't figure out at the end of the article if girls poop or not. It would have been much better if they didn't.
Regards
Kamran Iranpour
kamrani@ifi.uio.no
Oslo Norway
Bullshitting about poop
This is what is wrong with the young adult Iranian population...you have these people making these generalizations and talking about poop (Discovered: Girl's poop), rather than really communicating with each other...One thing I hate about Iranian people is their tendency to be superficial (tendency to bullshit), and not be down to earth and straight-foward.
I am a 19-year-old Iranian male that has yet to find a truly intelligent, down to earth Iranian girl...So, to your Poop lady, tell her to read a few books then have something to say, not sound so catty and sarcastic.
Frustrated by the lack of taste and culture in our community,
Roozbeh Shirazi
rshirazi@students.wisc.edu
Liked poop a lot
I liked your story about poop (Discovered: Girl's poop) very much.
Nicholas
bc218@scn.org
Girls answer nature's calls, too?
[In response to "Discovered: Girl's poop"]
Not bad, not bad at all...
Majid Zadeh
mazadeh@earthlink.net
Touching jaded New Yorker
Give Laura Rosen my best regards... Tell he that her feature (Iranian. American too) touched a jaded crochity New Yorker!
Banafsheh Zand
mattsheh@dti.net
Italian with an Iranian heat
I enjoyed your article and would like to reassure you that there are many Americans, specially one Italian-American who cannot get enough of the Iranian culture, its language and most importantly its wonderful people.
I have recently married an Iranian woman and am looking forward to our visit to Iran. I currently am taking lessons in Farsi and all that implies.
I am proud to say I am Italian, but also Iranian in my heart.
Sincerely
Adam G.
TERMINNI@aol.com
More Iranian than Iranians
The reason why I'm writing this message is that a particular statement caught my eye: "I think I am more Iranian than many 'real' ones."
How ironic. In the quest to identify with an Iranian identity, our fellow compatriot has pushed her limits and has developed more love and affection for maameh-meehan (motherland).
We all have that feeling. At times we, those of us who want to cling on to our Iranian heritage, become more Iranian than some who live in Iran.
Yek Irani
ibrahimabdul@hotmail.com
I feel left out
[In response to Laura Rosen's "Iranian. American too"] I am Iranian as well, but not whole; half. My mother is American and my father is Iranian. You and I have many likenesses, but we also have many differences.
For one, I am only 14. For another, I don't speak nor read Farsi, and I am only farmiliar with a few words. Sometimes as I sit and listen to my relatives speak to each other, I feel lonely and left out. I have no clue what they're speaking about, and wonder if I am their topic of discussion. This is why I have made it my goal to learn to speak Farsi fluently as soon as possible.
I am trying to learn my native language as quickly and efficiently as possible, and for these reasons I look towards my computer. If you have any suggestions as to how to go about this more logically, please write to my email address. I am looking towards a 65 dollar program called Persian Teaching System. Any comments on this program would be appreciated.
I want to visit Iran some day, but fear the military draft. My older brother is 26 and he must wait another year until he may visit his home freely (without fear of military service).
Thank you
David Haghighi
ToiltDuck6@aol.com
Iran-U.S. culture: Beautifil union
What a wonderful and valuable article Ms. Rosen has written. I was always told that when you work hard for something you appreciate it all the more. This is surely true of learning about and growing to love Iran and its people, the rich heritage that it means to be both Iranian and American, to be the offspring of such a beautiful union.
What a shame that there are some on both sides who would criticize and condemn rather than see people for themselves and be thankful to God who created people ,each for a special and unique purpose. Congratulations to Ms. Rosen on her insight and courage in sharing.
Thanks
Patriotism=Homesickness
[In response to "Don't forget home"] Let me assure you that you will never feel at home anywhere, not even if you go back to Iran. You have decided to have an Iranian identity mostly because you have good memories from your childhood in your homeland.
Besides that, your first impresions of things such as family, food, seasons, friends, ... happened in Iran, and one never forgets the first impresion. The combination of these two factors makes you to always want to be a proud fellow-IRANIAN. I don't belong to any minority in Iran.
But, I have experienced who it feels to sudenly become a disregarded minority here in Sweden. I wonder how do our minorities (religious and ethnic) remember Iran and if they see themselves as Iranian.
Shahab Azadrad
shahab.azadrad@trollhattan.mail.telia.com
I HATE Iranians!
The past 20 years in the USA just about any Iranian I've had the unfortunate displeasure of dealing with has been nothing but a flaming ass hole. I hate Iranians.
The only good Iranians are the dead ones!
Ludicrous accusations
Well Tony I've got news for you. First of all, what you have said (Letters, Sept. 96) portrays you as a very bitter, shallow person. Now, I don't know you, but if you are foolish enough to falsely accuse Iranians of taking advantage of the USA you really cross the line.
Can you really judge a race, (Iranians) by what a few members of their ethnic group do? Their are good and bad people of every race, religion, etc... Can we judge all Germans by the Nazis? No. Can we judge all the Irish by the IRA? No. Can we judge all Italians by the Mafia? No. Can we judge all Southern Caucasian people by the KKK? No. Can we judge all African-Americans as being gang members? No. Have I gotten my point across? I hope so.
Guess what Tony: I don't even feel the need to defend my race to someone as uneducated, and uninformed as you. If I were talking to you right now in person Tony, I would be speaking in a calm, rational voice.
However, due to your ignorance you have probably offended many Iranian people, including myself. Next time, remember that we should judge people by the "content of their character, not by the color of their skin." Judging us Iranians by a few members of our race is ludicrous.
Sara l Chalifoux
schalifoux@juno.com
Spot on!
As an Iranian in Britain, I thought your comments about "To be or not to be an Iranian" were spot on. well done.
Nina Chowdry
n.chowdry@unn.ac.uk
Music, Sandy, Copyright, Sleaze
I write to you today because I'm frustrated and now MAD. After reading the reviews on the musical group "Sandy" (I followed the Gogoosh site in your top 30 most read articles in the magazine) I decided to write this letter.I too have enjoyed the fresh sound of Sandy but I would like to bring a topic to light for you and your readership.
I listened to Sandy's "Ding Dang" CD and to my surprise I found a familiar song on that CD which I had heard before. Actually the song which was previously recorded in 1991 by a group in Atlanta by the name "Shabahang" who happened to be friends of mine. The song was a redo of several tracks that were originally done by a group from the region of Bastak (near Shiraz) by a young singer name Soltani.
But to my surprise there was no mention of Shabahang in the credits. I recently bought the latest CD by Sandy" named "Cobra". I was shocked. As I listened to the 3rd song on the album called "Eshgh E Bandar" I realized these people had copied a song from Shabahang almost Word By Word. The original name of the song is "Bodo Pishom" and was released by Shabahang in 1988 (Album's name is "Dele Bi Parva" and was a big hit in Iran. On the cover of Sandy's CD it clearly states that "ALL SONGS, ARRANGEMENTS, LYRICS from A to Z by Shahram Azar".
After I read the write-up in your page about Sandy which says " If anyone can save Iranian pop from the sleaze and cheese of the tired L.A. music scene, it is these guys." I don't know, but I think dishonesty is the biggest sleaze specially when the party involved claims to be a saint or as they put it "MA MARDOMI HASTIM". I wonder if they have ever heard of copyright. You be the judge!
With regards,
Mojtaba Akbarzadeh
pakbar@atl.mindspring.com
Cyrus in Australia
What a beautifully written piece that was ("Cyrus in the park"). Keep up your GREAT work. I'm always looking forward to reading your magazine.
Azadeh Amirsadri
TEHERAN@aol.com
Wish Anglo-Iranians cared as much
I wish the Iranians in England were as committed as you guys ("Cyrus in the park"). It makes me happy to hear of people who want to do things to show off our county's history.
I have lived in England for 17 years and in America for 4 years, my parents own a Persian restaurant (thank God as we have gorgeous food!) but the Iranian people are soooooo ungrateful.
I think I need to go learn how to read Farsi. Here's to a wonderful new year coming up. Keep up the good work!
Your's in desperate need of that "Iranian Feeling"
Goli D.
MNBC5GD1@STUD.MAN.AC.UK
Identity crisis? Talk abou it
I enjoyed reading your piece on the split personality of younger Iranians ("Identity Crisis: Who am I"). I left Iran when I was 16, so I can relate. It's something that can cause pain for the kid and the family too, as your brother's case showed.
Maybe because of your work others will be encouraged to talk about it, and kids can stop feeling conflicted. Your brother matured nicely and worked it out. I'm happy for him. There are cases that didn't have as good a resolution, and there are those that are still working on it. Your work I'm sure will help them realize that they're not alone. I hope you continue to write on the subject.
Thank you.
Masood Karimipour
mknyc@sprintmail.com
Iranian root of Hungary's Jasz people
I just read your page "Searching For Us" about the Jasz or Jazygian people, a people of Iranian origin in Hungary. You seem rather keptical about that. The Jasz people have already abandoned their language for Hungarian.
Of course they had not come from Iran itself. They were Alans, as you rightly write, i.e. they were a branch of the Ossetic people, which now live only in a small area in Northern Caucasus but spread formerly to parts of Southern Russia and even further west. The Ossetes, Persians, Pashtos and other Iranian groups (including an extinct branch as far east as Khotan in Chinese Xinjiang) all came ultimately from an Iranian homeland somewhere north and north-east of the Caspian sea. From there they could easily migrate to Central Europe - I mean there have been other migrations or military raids (Gengis Khan) along the same route.
In 1957, a document was discovered in a Hungarian town, namely a word list written on the back of a Latin-written document. This is the 1422 document that is mentioned in your page. The man who discovered it first thought that was Turkish (apparently he didn't know Turkish) but he made a copy for a linguist friend and in one hour it was obvious to him that the language was a variety of Ossetic.
Examples: daban horz (first words = Oss. dae bon xorz 'good day'), dan aqua (the second word is the Latin translation = water, Oss. don), fus oves (i.e. sheep), jayca oua (jayca with Latin values of the letters = yaika; oua = Latin for eggs; Ossetic aik = egg). Other words are not so obvious only because of the funny spelling of some sounds or because of differences between this old Ossetic dialect and the modern standard Ossetic language. And some letters are difficult to read.
So the document is solid proof of the Ossetic affinity, hence of the Alan origin of the Jasz (i.e. an Iranian origin in the broader sense of the word, i.e. the Iranian linguistic family, not the population of the modern country of Iran). And of course the immigration of the Jasz in Hungary is a historically known thing, as there were already monks and political authorities in that time to write down things that happened. In short, one can certainly trust what Dr. Batho told you.
All I know about the Jasz comes from the following source (written in German, but the author is Hungarian): Julius NEMETH, Eine Woerterliste der Jassen, der Ungarlaendischen Alanen, Berlin 1959 (in: Abhandlungen der Deutschen Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Berlin, Jahrgang 1958, Nr. 4). I have xeroxes of part of it at home.
Let me add that the name "Jazygian" may not be adequate. That's a name found in Antiquity in Greek and Latin sources, and the Hungarian historians of the past thought they could identify the Jasz people with them. (Similarly, the Hungarian use Sicule as the "foreign" equivalent of Szekely = Hungarians of Rumania, although these never had any connection with Sicily.) In fact, Jasz = Yas is a dialect variant of As, which is related to the "Os" in Ossete. The old name Iazyges can hardly have anything to do with that. The name Jasz certainly has nothing to do with Yazd either. But it's not a bad thing if the Jasz story creates contacts between the Hungarian and Iranian peoples.
(I had to sacrifice the acute on the vowels on Ja'sz, Batho', Ne'meth, Sze'kely and Re'my. And I apologize for any mistakes in English grammar.)
Cheers
Remy Viredaz, Geneva
remy.viredaz@span.ch
Sense of affinity
I loved the story on the Hungarin/Iranians. You must have felt a special sense of affinity and pride while there. Good job!
Mohammad Nayeri
MNAYERI@DHVX20.CSUDH.EDU
Kids love dogs
I enjoyed your travel articles and will read them in several classes for teaching the flavor of someone's actual reflections about Iran today. A special favorite is Panbeh by J. Javid. Kids here have a fondness for animals AND DOGS!
Linda Mardi
GTE/mardi@gte.net
Good taste
I read your article on Harper's magazine ("The best magazine on earth") with much interest. It struck a very sympathetic cord in me. I am also a fellow reader of Harper's for many years. Congratulations for your good taste and your promotion of that excellent magazine. I hope that you can be an Iranian Lewis Lapham. Keep up the good work.
Vahraz Jamnejad
vahraz@mail1.jpl.nasa.gov