THE IRANIAN
Letters
Gimme that!
[in Iran the] Internet is available mostly to the academia, religious elite, and foreign embassies. The Internet accounts available to the public are unaffordable and extremely slow. They mainly consist of only email.
I wore my "iranian.com" t-shirt a few times and to Behesht-e Zahra [cemetery in Tehran] since it was the only black shirt I had with me. Interestingly enough, a talabeh, religious student, who was doing prayers for the dead for a summer job at the cemetery was the only person who ever commented on it.
He said he had visited the site [of THE IRANIAN magazine] at the computer center at his school in Qom and offered to buy my shirt with prayer money. Weird!
Kamran Behzadian
kbehzad@ix.netcom.com
Lie ==> pay
In reference to the story ["On American soil"], I must agree that the U.S. immigartion people were very rude, possibly, but not necessarily, without justification.
In her own words, the young lady indicated that she had initially lied to the INS inspectors concerning her work activities while here on a visa which very clearly did not permit her to do so. One must presume that she lied as well on her landing card.
When confronted with a person who is clearly lying to them, any police official will immediately take the offensive on the assumption that, given that they have been lied to in such a direct manner, the individual with whom they are confronted will likely, based on much experience, be unreliable in other respects as well (hence the chains, lock-up, etc.).
There are no kinder, softer, gentler procedures for nice, articulate, middle class people who lie to INS inspectors. Keep in mind that by lying to the officers she had committed a felony for which, luckily, she was not charged. She said that she had been fucked. Indeed she was, but only as a direct consequence of her own actions, an acknowledgement of which I found to be absent from her account.
If there are lessons to be learned by those who read her story it should be to always, always tell the truth when dealing with INS and Customs officers.
Last month, when reentering the States from my most recent visit to Iran, a man in the line beside me was an Iranian Green Card holder who had overstayed his absence from the US by more than 11 months.
After giving a plausible and presumably truthful explanation for overstaying his absence, and following a polite admonition from the supervisory officer to pay greater attention to his obligations and responsibilities as a Resident Alien, he and his family were waved through. The entire process took less than 5 minutes.
Bill Phillipson
wphillipson@mail.hot1.net
Carrying a gun?
[ In response to "Smiling through airport security"]
I am a doctor,in my 60s,chairman of a department at a major university in California.I traveled to London this summer via United Airlines using my U.S passport.
On my return from London, at London Heathrow airport my luggage was xrayed,then de-packed - every item was searched and inspected separateley; my empty siutcases were re-xrayed.
Later I was frisked, my hand luggage re-xrayed and I was asked if I was carrying a handgun!
When I asked if they were the United Airline employees or immigration officers,they said both!
I told them I will never fly with United Airlines again. They lacked simple courtesy. Frankly they did not seem to care.
Bahram Javid
BJAVID@unix1.cc.uop.edu
Problem is Iranian foreign policy
[Regarding Iranians being searched at ariports; related story: "WANTED: Ambulance chasers"]
It seems that a certain group in the Iranian community is associated with ambulance-chasing trial lawyers. The pompous, and bogus sounding Iranian- American anti-discirim whatever, is a pitiful attempt to gain legitimacy but it is a sham perpeterated by sad people who have no meaning in their lives.
The letter from Iranian-American group <//www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/Lobby/1813/alert3.html > reads like a shake-down. Are they Iranian or are they American?
The trouble with Iranians has nothing to do with our ethnicity, or color or culture. It has everything to do with Iranian foreign policy, with the repression in Iran and the fact that Iranian government hit squads operate in Europe.
It has nothing to do with discrimination, as defined by pc-zealots in America. I suggest you write a letter to the Iranian government.
Kambiz Foroohar
kforoohar@forbes.com
Googoosh is DEAD
I am just curious why THE IRANIAN puts so much emphasis on Googoosh and her music. Yes, Googoosh is generally considered the greatest Iranian pop singer of all time. But Googoosh is, metaphorically speaking, DEAD.
Googoosh has not sang a single song or given a single concert in over 20 YEARS; she never even left the country. Right now in Los Angeles there is a thriving Iranian music industry; virtually every pop, classical, and jazz artist is based there. These people are working hard to ensure that our music survives and that that vital part of our culture, which engulfs Iranians young and old, does not die with an oppressive regime.
And they're doing all this in a land whose music is very foreign to their own, which makes it even harder. It is THESE PEOPLE whose tapes and CDs we buy and whose concerts we go to. It is because of these people that Iranian music has survived; it is because of these people that many second generation Iranians like myself were brought into the fold of Iranian culture.
Yet you don't seem to focus at all on these singers: Ebi, Siavash (whose popularity has soared so much that he has formed his own music company and is even considering film offers), Daryoosh, Leila, Omid, etc.
If you're going to have a section on Iranian music in your magazine, do us all a favor and include some of these people too, because Iranian music did not die 20 years ago with Googoosh. There is a new generation of Iranian music and a new generation of singers. The least your magazine could do is to acknowledge this. As the saying goes, out with the old, in with the new.
Sina Dadfarmay
dadfarms@medlib.georgetown.edu
Copy to CIA chief
["Agent Sharp"] was HILARIOUS! Well done. I suggest sending a copy to the director of the CIA.
Sina Dadfarmay
dadfarms@medlib.georgetown.edu
Soooooo funny
Agent Sharp was soooo funny. Where did you find it?
Zahra Mahloudji
zahram@presidio-systems.com
Origin of all things "Esk"
I am very interested in the etymological origin of the name "Esk." As a toponymist, I have studied the origin of island names in the Persian Gulf. Currently, I am researching the name origin of the hamlet of Fenderesk, located near Gorgan in north of Iran. The suffix "esk" in that name has baffled me.
As a child, I recall owning a stamp that depicted the Veresk Bridge, located somewhere in northern Iran and dubbed as the "Bridge of Victory" in the aftermath of World War II, as the Allies used it to transport by rail provision and materiel to the Soviet Union. The suffix "esk" in Veresk, too, has long baffled me.
Does any one in your readership know about the origin of these names, or the meaning of the suffix "esk?" Whether it is a local influence or a Slavic one (such as the "sk" in Slavic languages) may unlock part of the mystery. Are there other place names in Iran ending in "esk?"
Sabbah, the bandit
The subtitle to your recent article on assassination refers to Hassan Sabbah as a "chereek" and credits him with the coining of the word "assassin." The accompanying article, however, refers to the term assassin as deriving from the word "hashish."
It is debatable whether Sabbah was a "chereek;" at most he was the lord of the fort at Alamut, in the least he was a bandit. His followers were known as the "fidais," on the account of their devotion to Sabbah; some are said to have proven this devotion by jumping off cliffs.
The origin of the term "assassin" lies in the practice of Sabbah's followers and like marauders who attacked towns and the caravans trafficking in western Iran and Syria. On the eve of their descent from the mountains, the bandits would consume hashish in order to shed their inhibitions, gain courage, and probably take the edge off the pain which they might have suffered in battle in the morrow. The locals, therefore, came to know these marauders as "hashishiyun," meaning "consumers of hashish."
The Franks who were at the time present in prersent-day Lebanon and other areas of the fertile crescent, adopted the term "hashshashin," which meant the same in French as the local term "hashishiyun." Eventually, the French term "hashashshin" became "assassin" and came to mean "one who slays." The rest is history.
While Sabbah was born in Iran, he acquired most of his Ismaili education (and probably the intoxication routine) in Egypt.
Sabbah, the pharmacist
It is true that Iranians invented assassination but based on the book "Khodavande Alamoot", Hassan Sabbah was a pharmacist and sold medicinal drugs. Hashashin meant pharmacist (someone who sells hashish). The word assassination is derived from hashashin.
Farhad Kashani
FKASHANI@wyse.com
Mighty ugly
I must say that I enjoy your writing, especially your recent article about Shiraz. I must add that you look mighty ugly with a beard.
Saeid Salehi-Had
Saeid_Salehi-Had@ccm.sc.intel.com
Enjoyed Shiraz
Enjoyed the article [on Shiraz]. I 've always thought of taking the same trip with my daughter. BTW, speed up your servers. It takes forever to see the trip photos, although they are probabely samll jpeg files. I will recommend your ezine to all my internet friends. Good luck.
Bahram Shahian
shahian@csulb.edu
Educate generation x
Ba salaam doostan arjmand,
I would like to congratulate you on the better and much demanded cover picture [Persepolis] to your magazine!!! We are Iranian and we need to promote Iranian culture and history.
Please do not miss the opportunity of educating the younger generation of Iranians outside of Iran about their motherland and also reminding the older generation of their roots. Please help preserve the Iranian identity thorugh your pen.
And instead of criticizing Iran, help the people reach an understanding of the circumstances. We need Iran, and Iran needs all of us. Do not worry about the bunch that no matter what would be dissatisfied anyways.
Best regards
A supporter of Iran from far....
Really impressed
I have been getting THE IRANIAN Bulletin for a couple of weeks and I should say that I am really impressed by the quality of it and of the web site in general. The site is tastefully done and the bulletin is great! Keep it up!!
Reza Langari
langarr@utrc.utc.com
Spoon nadaaram!
When I read your article title "Land of rice and tea" the first thought that popped into my head was, "Bangladesh" because it most certainly is the Land of Rice and Tea! However, a fraction of a second later I realized I am reading an Iranian ezine. Well, when I think of Iran, I think of warm bread, colorful carpets, tasty tea, large bazaars and much more!
Putting this all together reminds me of a pleasant memory from 1982. My family and I visited a carpet shop in the famous bazaar in Tehran. We ate delicious warm naan, drank hot tea, and chatted with people. I remember getting my cup of chaai, two cubes of sugar, and waiting for a spoon to stir it. The minutes ticked on with no spoon in sight. Then a gentleman asked my mother, "Cheraa chaai nemeekhoree?" to which I replied and gestured, "Spoon na daaram" as I didn't know the Farsi word for spoon.
The whole store rocked with laughter, and I think even the colorful red and blue carpets joined in the fun. When the laughter died down, my uncle turned to me and said, "You have to hold the sugar cube between your teeth and then drink the tea. What did you do with the sugar cubes?" Well, I dropped them in the cup! I was given two more which I held between my teeth as all the folks around me watched this un-Iranian Iranian drink THE Iranian drink!
Mariam Ispahani
mariam@skypoint.com
//www.skypoint.com/~mariam
Take no shit
Hey there boys & girls, forefathers [/mothers!] of THE IRANIAN:
My sincere congratulations to you all. Hell of a job, keep it up and take no shit from nobody.
With love,
Kamran Seyed Moussavi
Seyed.Moussavi@gsa.gov
Credit due
Having reviewed "Raqss baa fekr-e baaz" I can understand the difficulties Ms. Khorsandi faces in trying to make Persian dance more culturally accepted. Naturally, she would want to emphasize the authentic nature of her work by tying it to her upbringing and travels to Iran.
However, what would also have been nice is if in the interview she had given some credit to AVAZ International Dance Theatre in Los Angeles where, under the excellent artistic directing of Anthony Shay, Ms. Khorsandi "studied and performed Persian dance" (Middle Eastern Dance: Dancer's Directory).
Sincerely,
Sandorak
Sandorak@aol.com
11-year-old: Thanks
This is great that you have all this stuff about Iran. I'm 11-years old and in my life I don't here much about Iran. My dad is Iranian, my mom American, and I am ,well, you know, half of each.
So thanks...
Great taste
It is really quite refreshing to visit your site. Your choice of newspaper advertisements from the 1950's from the New York Public Library shows taht you have great taste.
Keep up the good work.
Sincerely,
Moujan Nosrat
triumph@rancomp.com
Music gets to me
Sometimes I stay up late and I put some of your music while I work. You know, tonight your Vigen songs really got to me.
I don't know, it must be something irooni but from time to time some of these songs get to me so much that I get tears in my eyes.i I am very grateful for these moments.
Dastetoon dard nakone
Sasan Bayat
sasi@total.net
One & only Vigen
I read your commentary on Vigen. I must say that I agree with you on the general importance of Vigen for Iranian pop music. If you liked these two songs from Vigen I can suggest a few others.
I have been collecting Vigen's songs for a while now. I and my brogher grew up singing Vigen's songs for our relatives and friends, I even sang them in some wedings. I am proud to say that I can sing pretty much most of his songs in his own style.
However, we all know there will not be another Vigen and no matter how close my singing or my brother's is to him, there is the style of singing that Vigen has created that cannot be reproduced. And in a sense, no artist should try to copy another one too closely or he or she is no better that a recorder.
Anyhow, if you can get your hands on the following songs I think you will enjoy them. They are from Vigen's earlier material. I think these are the best that Vigen has produced. I hate to say this but he lost much of the quality of his style and voice in the seventies and I generally prefer his earlier material. Try the following: Dastane Yek Eshgh, Sarnevesht, Be Khatere To (the original version).
Vaik Yousefi
vyousefi@bayou.uh.edu
Interesting
Thank You for that very interesting article [on the history of Iran Air]. It is difficult to find information on many airlines and I appreciate the information that you have provided.
Thank You
Caviar Airline
I am very much interested in the Iranian aviation industry and hope one day with partners to set up a regional airline there.
I wanted to comment on your article about the future of Iran air ["Iran Air"]. There is no denying that Iran air has gone through a troubled period (not incidentally related to flight safety) but the expansion plans of Iran air are among the most ambitious anywhere in the world.
Firstly they plan on purchasing 70 new long-range aircraft in the next 20 years. And secondly, with deals to domestically manufacture next generation Russian jets in Iran, I am hoping it will once again be the Caviar Airline.
Naveed Lasi
navl@usa.net
Afghan brothers
Your occasional polls with respect to matters relating to Iran can serve very useful purposes and I would encourage it.
One such policy matter which you may want to consider as the subject of a poll is the Afghan question. My own opinion on this question is that Afghans are our brothers and in view of the type of government rules they are experiencing, under no circumstances there should be a forced expulsion. With the aid of the United Nations the Iranian government should somehow accommodate them.
Javad Vafa
"jujusiju@erols.com"@erols.com
Ambiguous dreams
As har chamani goli! [Iranica's article on dreams is] very undecisieve and ambiguous. But keep it up.
Eraadatmand
Ahmad Akrami
aaakrami@theonlynet.com
Add sports
I am very much proud of our boys who show the strenght of our mighty football to the world. Nonetheless, very often I -- and perhaps many other Iranians too -- am unable to see the result of their hard work.
The Canada-Iran football match is an example. I still have not managed to find out the result of the above mentioned game. I was wondering if it is at all possible to include a Sports Page to THE IRANIAN. I am sure many other Iranians would also appreciate such a page.
Best of luck.
Ebrahim
E.K.Naderali@liverpool.ac.uk
Salam! Who are you?
I enjoyed your article ["Diling diling communications"] and wanted to thank you for making me smile on this cool boring night. I must agree with you. Come to think of it, I do get these calls and they annoy me to the point of madness.
A few days ago, someone called my name in the street. I walked over and we shook hands just like two old friends. He asked how I was and how everyone in the family was doing. I asked about his family, school and work. He asked me to call him and told me to drop by his work sometime. I accepted the offer and after a warm 10 minute conversation, we said good bye. ONE PROBLEM! I have no idea who he was.
He never gave me a chance to say "bebakhsheed, shoma kee hasteed?". He could have said "Salaam Abbas, haalet khoobeh? Mano mishnaasee?" to which I would have answered "ba arze ma'zerat be jaa nemiyaaram". It is as easy as 1-2-3.
So, my dearest friends whom I have not seen for many, many years, please introduce yourself when meeting me or at least give me a chance to tell you that I don't know who you are. After all, I am now 26 years and 350 days old and at this age one tends to be forgetful.
Eraadatmande shomaa
Abbas Soltani
abbas_soltani@ea.epson.com
Waiting forever
I was exited to see few art works. I am not Iranian but I lived in Iran for about eight years when it was like heaven.
Sorry to say I am very disappointed. It takes too long to download the paintings. The public will not sit for two hours to download a very large picture. Make the pictures smaller.
I normally do not give my opinion. I just pass web pages and forget about it. This time I write because when we were in Iran lots of wonderful people helped us get out of there just before the war.
M. Adams
adams@nl2k.ab.ca
Before the brutality
This badbakht-e beechareh doosteh maa bood ["On American soil"]. She was such a happy child before this brutality.
Leyla Bijan
leilabijan@earthlink.net
Severe & cruel
I am the friend of the girl who was detained ["On American soil"]. The trauma she was put through was severe and cruel. There goes another person with a very tainted perception of America and the criminal justice system. She was at the mercy of the INS and to be imprisoned for 24hrs before a call could be made is outrageous and traumatic. Most of all I won't see my beloved friend for years.....
Marjaneh Maroufi
Cosmic-Girl@msn.com
Crying wolf
I think any country has the right to control its borders, and prevent the influx of illegal immigrants. The story of this woman ["On American soil"] is not extraordinary by any means. U.S. Immigration officers have the right and responsibility to control illegal immigration into U.S.
The methods used are not in my opinion any worse or better than any other country in the world. So I do not understand all the fuss. What did she expect? to come to America on a visitor's visa, and after its expiration, work here illegally, and be thanked for it?
If this was the case, the two billion people who dream of coming to America would be storming here on the next flight.
So lady, stay where you are legal, and please do not cry wolf.
Mash Rajab
yavar@pacbell.net
No credence
While I am concerned about the mistreatment some Iranian-Americans are receiving while traveling abroad, I felt this particular woman's account ["On American soil"] did not give much credence to the issue. Instead, it seems to be a story that would rile many readers and, in so doing, helps to sow seeds of destruction.
As an American trying to understand Iranian-Americans better, I would hope to build bridges between our cultures.
Alex Betteswor
AlexWCG@worldnet.att.net
Worse in Iran
[In response to "WANTED: Ambulance chasers"]
Dear Mr A. Mollabashy, MD, you want "Khar and Khorma" but it's not possible!
You wrote: "You see friends, we are lucky. We live in a country where we can be American, and not forfeit being Iranian. Nevertheless, just because we are lucky, doesn't mean we should take our good fortune for granted." That really hurt.
You like to be a proud American and "forfeit being Iranian" but carry the Iranian heritage and not even go through the little pain of being Iranian?! You just want to have the great traditions, and all the good things of being Iranian. You are just another typical passive Iranian, who just came across the pain of being Irani!
Let this be a painfull reminder to all happy Iranian-heritage-U.S.-resident-citizens that while enjoying "our" comfort in a free society with freedom of speech, education, beaches, TVs, concerts.... all sorts of "basic" rights have been cut from so many people in our homeland.
If they search you at airports here, it's for your own safety as well. You may say that Timothy McVeigh could pass the search point undetected. But just put yourself in the shoes of the airport personnel. At least they are polite and don't insult you, and even apologize for their search. It only takes few minutes.
They don't ask you where were you, what did you eat, what did you read, who is this lady who's with you, what kind of dress is this! These are the kind of searches people are facing every minute of their simple life, some place else in this world!
An Unlucky Iranian
mrooein@aol.com
Az maa behtaroon
Your series on the issue of profiling of Iranians by law enforcement in the United States and other countries is very informative. Perhaps the anectodal recounting of personal experiences may one day confluence into a shared narrative strong enough to prod the Iranian-American community to take purposeful action.
Mistreatment at the airport needs to be documented in order to support an actionable cause. An Iranian wrote back to say that discrimination is caused by Iranian foreign policy and derided people such as myself as "ambulance chaser." Now, the founder of Persian Watch Cat has written to say that he has reason to be an activist and if ambulance chasing will get him the result, then so be it.
As I recall there is an idiomatic expression in Farsi that refers to people with a superiority complex -- az maa behtaroon. These are the Farhad and Farids who are now Freds and Franks. If they have the mental and financial wherewithal not to need the likes of Mr. Mollabashy advocating for them, good for them; may every Iranian-American be that lucky.
Our rights
I stronlgy support your cause ["WANTED: Ambulance chasers"], and believe that without a coherent movement, we cannot establish our rights as a contributing minority. In the land of human rights why should we be singled out for our government's policies? Were Russian immigrants all subject to humiliating searches because of suspicion that they may be spies during the Cold War? I think not. Imagine the reaction the World Jewish Organization would have had.
Like the Irish, like the Italians, like the European Jews, and like many other immigrants who fought discrimination and established their rights separate from the policieis of their governments, we owe it to ourselves and the future generations to establish our rights as human beings, as Americans, as Iranians.
If the Japanese-Americans had done this before World War II, they would not have been collectively punished for their government's act of war. And yet, they got their apology, which means punishing a people for the acts of their government is plain wrong, and we, the people and the government of the United States, admit that and apologize for it. Shouldn't the same rule apply to Iranians?
Masoud Loghmani
masoudl@earthlink.net
Wonderful tribute
Very interesting site ["Damavand"] ... As an American, I never expected Tehran to be so lovely because of what's presented on television.
Thank you for making a wonderful tribute to such a beautiful place.
Tina Laine
tinal@notes.calis.net
Weak Shah
Thank you for providing these pictures of our Aryamehr. I downloaded the pictures of the Shahanshah. I also like what you have said. It is quite accurate. However, I think Reza Shah the Great has touched the lives of all Irannians in the same magnitude, except that everything he did was positive whereas I can't say the same thing about the weak and unwise Mohammed Reza Shah and don't let me even get started on the other charcter.
Zendeh bad Iran
Hooman Jalili
hjalili@eden.rutgers.edu
Prefer the good
I purchased the book which your samples are from when in Fars and it is indeed a beautiful publication.
I am disappointed at your relative's comments about his recent visit to Iran. I am sure all the negatives that he mentioned do exist but I prefer to concentrate on all the wonderful people and experiences that fill my mind when it tends to wander back to many happy weeks spent traveling through Iran.
Stuart Redding
stuart.redding5@sympatico.ca
Very negative
Last time I was in Iran was twenty years ago. I have no knowledge of what is going on in Iran other than what I hear and read. What I hear and read is other people's point of views.
Your comments are very negative and unjust ["Fars"]. I am not supporting anyone by saying this. But when an Iranian says things about Iran and Iranians like in your article, what should we expect of non-Iranians? Or how should we defend ourselves when a non-Iranian says these things to demonize us?
Michael Samak
michael.samak@sun.com
Mother nature
Beautiful pictures from the Land of Roses and Cedars ["Fars"]. However, why no pictures from the technological endavours, and new mechanized farms. Pictures should not only reflect mother nature!
Reza Azarmi
Reza_Azarmi@sccoe.k12.ca.us
Good & Evil: Excellent
I found this article [Iranica's "Good & Evil"] to be excellent and hope to find more of this calibre.
Earl McCarty
keltoi@atlantic.net
Ghatr-e daryaa
Every one is entitled to their opinion. But as such I respect the "Beema'refat... and proud of it" article, from the point of view of a person who has spent more than half of his life (and almost all of his adult life) outside of Iran, I find it appalling.
There are many benefits to the "Western" culture, which mostly either directly or indirectly point to individualism. "I like this", "I don't care what others want", I want to do that", "I've got to look out for Number One" and you know, a bunch more of me, me, me type statements.
Looking at Persian culture, one thing that really stands out is pluralism. It has its good and bad. It's annoying as hell when people meddle in each other's business, or as the article suggested, impose themselves on you. But on the other hand, in time of need, pluralism creates an incredible support structure that is unparalleled. Many die-hard individualists in the U.S. join various business and social clubs to benefit from a support structure similar to this.
Many of my friends have recently visited Iran after being here in the U.S. for years. Although their view of the state of the country is quite varied, their thought on the people is unanimous. They all come back glowing with the warmth they felt and has missed for years.
Now it's easy to be selfish and say, I get to pick the parts of the culture that I like and the hell with the rest of it. However, this is the best way to loose the culture in its entirety, good and bad. A parallel in the West is freedom of speech. If you are a proponent, then you should respect it, even if the person speaking is in direct conflict with you.
I find the support and the warmth of our culture unique and worth preserving, even if it means a bit of hardship is due to us. Those who don't want to bother, be careful not to throw the baby away with the bath water.
I believe this poem is from Hafez and it summarizes pluarlism:
Ghatr-e daryaast agar baa daryaast --- var nah oo ghatre-o daryaa daryaast
For those who cannot read Persian, here is a loose translation: A drop of water is a sea when it is with the sea, otherwise, a drop is a drop and the sea is the sea.
Siamak Farah
sia@infostreet.com
Taking advantage
Well, what can I say, I know....Ramin, you are not alone "Beema'refat... and proud of it". Over the course of the years we have had to play host to many friends, family and even complete strangers who decided it was time to visit or come live in the land of plenty.
I say HAD to because on many occasions, we were told, not ASKED, that they would be staying with us, and a couple times, even got a phone call in the middle of the night, informing us that someone was at the train/bus station, come and get me! How thoughtful....
We too, after having had 11 people living with us, our dining room turned into a bedroom, my kids' rooms and belongings taken over and me playing lucky maid/cook/nurse/translator and any other such thing that their little hearts desired, with very minimal help, well, you get the picture. We told all that this would not happen again, no more coming and sitting around waiting to be driven wherever, expecting tea served at all times, and well, again you get the picture!
We were told the same words by the same ungrateful people, and you know what, we don't care. Family is not about being used and taken advantage of. We are much happier now. Visits are more enjoyable, cause we go home and they go....wherever !
Enjoy your new found freedom.
Sahar
MACKIENO1@aol.com
Rude, but...
It is truly a shame that certain families and people still live with out-dated and obsolete manners ["Beema'refat... and proud of it"]. Nevertheless, those they happen to be my father, your father or a friend.
Babak Hazini
BabakHazini@worldnet.att.net
Sympathy
I just finished reading your article ["Beema'refat... and proud of it"] and I must say it was very interesting. A while ago, my brother received another "I wanna come to Canada, can you help me?" letter from a friend he had not heard from in 15 years. This was one of many we had received in the past decade.
Of course, we would always be happy to have family over since that is a rarity in our case. However, we have had a couple of cases in which friends immigrated to Canada and stayed with us while they got settled.
I remember one friend, after four hours in our house, walked in the living room in pajamas and told my brothers and a few people who had gathered there to keep the noise level down since he couldn't sleep. I was shocked! Then once he moved to another city, he tells me that I should call him since he can't afford long distance calls. Hmmmmmmm! I was going to college and working part time just like he was. My reply (too delam of course) was, as the Alicia Silverstone said in "Clueless", AS IF!
On another occasion, this guy and his buddy stayed at our house for two months and once we finally got rid of them, he refused to let me use his address to be able to go to a school in his area.
Anyhow, best of luck and may you have peace in your household!
Abbas Soltani
abbas@ea.epson.com
No more visitors
What a good and true story ["Beema'refat... and proud of it"]. I loved it. Seems like this the story in everybody's case.
I don't feel bad any more because now I know I am not the only one thinking this way. It has happened to me more than 10 times and believe me, I don't want no more relatives visiting from Iran.
Soheila
sheilab@websprint.com
Another proud "beema'refat"
More power to you! ["Beema'refat... and proud of it"] I''ve been in U.S. for almost 18 years and thank God have not had any family visitors yet. (Knock on wood).
I have, however, had my share of "friendly" family visitors when I was in England and your experience reminds me of what I went through.
I remember one time when my aunt, her husband and their four kids practically moved into my single-room flat for five days. I had to spend nights riding the underground subway or walking in Hyde Park and play host and tour guide during the day.
Maybe putting as much distance as I could between myself and those so-called family members, subconsciously influenced my decision to leave England for the sandy beaches of Florida.
Heartful cry
I would like to thank you for Behnood's article ["Maa mimaaneem"].The article pushed me right to the edge of a heartful cry on a Saturday night, when I always miss home. One of these years...
Ramin Takloo-Bighash
ramin@math.jhu.edu
More, please
I have only one suggestion. Could you try to include more articles by Massoud Behnoud ["Maa mimaaneem"] or perhaps make his articles a regular feature of your magazine? He is one of the best journalists we have in Iran.
Thank you for the wonderful work you are doing. You are obviously a gifted and resourceful countryman. THE IRANIAN is by far the best and the most informative and entertaining of Iranian sites.
Rashid Sheedfar
Tisfoon@classic.msn.com
Touching emotional chords
Thanx for another one of those beautiful Behnood articles ["Maa mimaaneem"]. This one really tickled all my emotional chords, one by one. One truly wonders if all the good Iranians have indeed remained back home, and instead, most oaashghaal-kallehs have been exported out (especially to this land of sea-to-shining-sea) the way the Cubans did with Mariel.
Kamran Seyed Moussavi
Seyed.Moussavi@gsa.gov
BessiyAr jAleb
BessiyAr magAleh jAlebi bood ["Maa mimaaneem"]. I just wanted to say thanks. I maintained web pages before so I know it is not an easy thing to do, I am sure you know that they are a lot of people admiring your work.
khodA-hAfezetAn
Dadou
dadouj@erols.com
Uniting us
You are producing a very interesting web site. I enjoy reading the excerpts from Iranian publications, i.e., Mr. Behnoud's article ["Maa mimaaneem"]. Keep up the good work. I was in Iran for two weeks in June after 19 years and tried to visit as many places as I could.
Thank you for your efforts to unite us.
M. H. Shapouri
mike@zoro.cts.com
Sense of humor
Right on ["Smiling through airport security"]. I had the fortune of being born in New York of two American parents, so I have never personally experienced the situation you describe at the airport. I would not expect a terrorist (potential or actual) to possess a sense of humor or to be smiling. Pleasant travels.
Michael Coleman
mjc@int-usa.net
Amused Canadian
My Iranian husband just called me in from outside to see your Web page. He thought it was very amusing. Must admit, I have never had the pleasure to see Iran but perhaps one day once the signage becomes a lot more liberal for a Canadian! Keep it up!
Gail O'Donnell
odonnell.pazooki@sympatico.ca
Finest Iranian artist
I would like to congratulate you for your fine decision in showing Ms Ghadimi's work ["Simply sublime"]. I know this lady personally and I believe that she is amongst the finest Iranian artists inside and outside Iran -- one of the best watercolourists that we have ever had, and last but not least (if you will) a very good draftsperson, something that we lack now-a-days with the new trend of "modern art," untruly producing the illusion that a modernist doesn't necessarily have to be properly trained: a byproduct of a lazy mind.
Finally, being that skillful, she is one of the most humble artists I have ever met, and may be only through this kind of care and consideration she would receive the recognition she deserves.
Koorosh Angali
angali@pacbell.net
Bi hayaa
I couldn't approve of your choice of a nude picture as your cover. This is not because it is not Islamic, but because it is not Iranian either. You'd better hide the gallery among the other articles because people interested in such stuff would undoubtedly find that.
But I just find it ridiculous that a publication under the name "Iranian" appears with a cover in contrast to Iranian culture, where "hayaa" and "aazarm" have always been encouraged.
I'm not against art, I'm just talking about the appropriateness (or the lack of it for that matter) of the picture you have chosen and the "mission" of your publication, which I suppose is preserving Iranian culture, not trying to change it!
Ataollah Togha
togha@andrew.cmu.edu
Nudity & hypocracy
[In response to a complaint about a nude woman on the cover of THE IRANIAN]
Regarding the flak you're catching for posting nude paintings, congratulations. It's a measure of how much convention you're defying, and what cultural buttons you're pushing. And, Iranians are no exception from the almost universal hypocrisy on the subject of sexuality and nudity.
You don't hear Iranians publicly voice objections to upstanding men molesting underage boys. Hell, you don't even get an acknowledment that it goes on, as it certainly did in my hometown. Yet, Iranians, and others, trip over each other trying to appear chaste, banning, even criminalizing, a woman showing any flesh. All because men might be driven to impure thoughts. God forbid!
Iranian women suffer gender discrimination more than most, at work, at school, in law, on the street, and even at home. Iranian women have been stripped of their right to speak freely and express ideas as much as men have. So when one of your Iranian women readers writes to object to female nudity in a painting, it makes me wonder.
She's entitled, of course, not to like the art. But, instead she suggests removing it from her world, putting it in a museum with other nudes. I suppose given a little more power she would start a bonfire, and put the paintings to some good use.
What I find "disturbing", to borrow her words, is her suggestion that you stick strictly to Persian art and therefore promote traditional Iranian culture. The culture, which incidentally, treats her as a second class citizen. Somehow, I picture her on the Titanic as it sank, re-arranging the chairs on deck.
Masood Karimipour
mknyc@sprintmail.com
Celebrating bodies
[In response to a complaint about a nude woman on the cover of THE IRANIAN]
Interesting where people's minds are! I would not have thought about this in a million years. What does a nude back -- not naked back -- of a woman have to do with exploiting women as sexual objects, unless people think of it that way? Perhaps, "ironically," women have been exploited in different ways because of this backward thinking.
The nude back of the woman was, is, and will be a very tasteful choice for any occassion. Instead of being ashamed of our bodies, we should be proud and celebrate it, not cover it up and subjugate ourselves because of some backward ideas some people have. Our bodies are not dirty and ugly; our bodies are beautiful and an infinite source of artistic possibilities. When you begin by calling a nude back naked, the feeling changes. It makes it dirty in your mind and in other people's minds.
If you had put a pattern of a Persian rug on the cover, I could have made the argument that it reminds me of years and years of Islamic rule and tyranny and it has no bearing on real art. How can I make a broad statement like that? How can I seriously make the decision of which art is or is not appropriate? Would I be "objective" if I made that decision? Is Iranian art only limited to the old miniatures and rug patters? Isn't all art produced by Iranians -- whether realist, impressionist, cubist, post modernist, etc. -- simply art produced by Iranians? Why limit ourselves to a small period in history?
These are questions which may never be answered. Maybe because of these questions, more money is going into the pockets of fundamentalist religious fanatics than into our schools for art studies or simple art appreciation courses.
A tasteful and artistic water color drawing of a woman's "nude" back -- not naked back -- does not denote pornography unless you make it so.
I for one applaud your choice in art, and thank the artist of that piece.
Bahar M. Jaberi
jaberib@pdx.edu
Alive vs. dead
[In response to a complaint about a nude woman on the cover of THE IRANIAN]
I, too, noticed the vulgar depiction of the woman with her knees drawn to her chest, one breast peeking through her arm pit, and her pear-shaped behind resting comfortably above the entry point for the magazine.
I, too, thought to myself what could be worse than the point of entry to THE IRANIAN magazine being located at the bottom of a nude. Because I know that the content of the magazine is far from being fecal, I concluded that this must be have been an unfortunate coincidence. What could have been worse? Well, the painting could have been upside down, with the entry at the nose!
Maybe you will feel better looking at the August 1st cover: A tired, windswept, sand-blown, stone bird from the age fossil! I know I will.
Sholeh zard
[In response to a complaint about a nude woman on the cover of THE IRANIAN]
What about the outstanding art of a well done Sholleh Zard? or maybe a nicely decorated Kashkeh Bademjoon? Hmmm? Lets see, what other cliches can we think of perpetuating?
I am so bored with Persian miniatures which if you notice, actually depict women in a much more demeaning way via the 3 or 4 women who usually attend a man pouring him wine and dancing about breasts showing and all!
And let us not forget the allmighty "chogan" scenes! My God, how many times do we have to have our noses rubbed in that!
Personally I welcome the picture. It shows a growth dimension to our culture, one that you would have stifled into a past which has not bode well for us at all.
To mimic "other Iranian publications" as you would have Mr. Javid do, goes against the very nature of what THE IRANIAN is all about. As a regular reader I expect no less.
Bruce Bahmani
B@ANKABOOT.COM
Part of Humanity
Excellent article [Sarkuhi's "Pressless society"]! As a person, not as an Iranian, equally fed-up with manufactured consent as the powerful press in the West is, I can empathize with what you are saying.
Iranians must become and continue to be a part of world society. Even in the West you have those who think as you do in many respects, we are a human family!
Anthony R. Oland
smrskl@earthlink.net
Objectivity
Ever since the first mail that I received from THE IRANIAN I had a sneaking feeling that you were known to me, somehow. Your latest note, which mentioned the names of some of your relatives, confirmed that I was right. And I am happy.
You very much need that for the nice work you are doing, and I wish you great and progressing success. This not only because you are you, but most importantly because keeping your objectivity is very much needed in the business of informing the Iranian diaspora. There is a lot of ignorant malice around and I hope that you will help dispelling it.
Good luck.
Ebrahim Golestan
Ebgol@compuserve.com
Iranian: Badge of honor
Thank you for the article, "Closet Iranians, Organize." My name is Roozbeh Shirazi, and as an Iranian-American attending the University of Wisconsin, I am painfully aware of the introverted and "closet" nature of Iranians.
Being an Iranian raised in the midwest away from a large Iranian community, maybe I was able to escape the trend that pervades the bulk of Iranians on the East and West coasts, because I wear my heritage like a badge of honor. Unfortunately, most Iranians my age that I know, don't.
When will we realize what an incredible force we can be in this country? Yes, we (mostly our parents) have had their share of adversity in the U.S., but we are an affluent community. We are doctors, lawyers, professors, engineers, and businessmen! We are in terms of social status, where most other minorities are fighting to get to.
But Iranians don't have that sense of cohesion, unity, pride, and love. Why do you hide and deny your birthright? I see being Iranian as a privledge, not a flaw. I am 19 years old, and I have more love and more knowledge about my culture than most Iranian adults who live in this country.
Young Iranians, look at the Chicano/Latino and Black communities. Their young adults have ORGANIZED, they have formed the groups like MEChA, Black Student Alliance, and countless others. They have a fire and drive to get somewhere and further>cultivate their culture.
Most Iranian kids born here barely speak Farsi, or a very broken, mixed-with-English Farsi. This is unacceptable, people. Our language and culture is the glue that holds us together. As you see, I am a very opinionated, brash, and verbal person who will speak his mind. Last time I checked, these were traits and characteristics of being poor-rou, an Iranian concept. Not rude, or arrogant, but loud and willing to speak my mind.
I am poor-rou about being Iranian to anyone who has a problem with it. I feel strongly about my hertiage, and I want the rest of the Iranian community to embrace it as well, not tell your American circle you are Italian or Spanish. I have always wanted an Iranian counterpart of myself...passionate about my past, motivated, and determined to succeed in life. I haven't found this person yet in the Iranian community.
I also would love to start or help organize a network, or council for young Iranian adults and students, between the ages of 16-25, for this is the period in our lives where we are starting to go places. We need each other and a support network to make it in this Iranian, hell, minority hostile environment of the U.S.
Roozbeh Shirazi
rshirazi@students.wisc.edu
Mr. Bozorgi: Fabulous
You've done it again! Those are some fabulous photos of a long gone era ["Birdman of Boumehen"]. Mr. Bozorgi's story is so melancholic. Loved it.
Bahman Mahdavi
bahman@sover.net
Birdman: Nostalgic
I read it "Birdman of Boumehen". I got a kind of nostalgic feeling. Here is a man that is living with his past. Just like many hundreds of thousands of us scattered around the world. But our legacy of endurance for humanity will continue despite all the miseries that our people have experienced throughout history.
Payandeh Iran.
Reza Azarmi
Reza_Azarmi@sccoe.k12.ca.us
Anxious
Thank you for the many bulletins, news and messages that you've sent me. Here in Finland it's quite hard to find news of Iran. That's why I'm most grateful for your information. I'm finnish and my boyfriend is Iranian and we're both very anxious and interested in hearing any news of the country we both hold very dear. So thank you once again and I hope to receive new bulletins from your magazine in the future.
H-M Rabina
HANRABI@jypoly.fi
Ads do work
I listened to a clip of music by Hossein Alizadeh - Neynava - that you have listed in the magazine. Last week I ordered the album from Kereshmeh. It is beautiful. I'm so glad I got it. I told the gentleman at Kereshmeh that I heard it on THE IRANIAN, and that's why I bought it.
Just thought I'd let you'all know that the ads do work and you can prove it to at least one advertiser (if he is. If not, he should be.)
Patra Friedman
patra@asu.edu
Aghassi: Well-written
Avery well-written article ["Aqa Ne'mat"]. My hats off to the writer, the singer, and the participants.
Toby Kash
tkash@pittstate.edu
Awesome news page
I am an Iranian student at Florida State University in Tallahassee, Fl. I have to tell you that it is very difficult to get any detailed news on Iran here. Now that I have access to this site, I think that I will be much better informed. The site is awesome; keep up the excellent work.
Touraj Ebrahimzadeh
Tebrahim@aol.com
Regards from Budapest
I send you my warmest regards from Budapest, Hungary. Conguradulations for a great job.
Sina Semsarzadeh
ina@eik.bme.hu
Kushan: Shooting star
I have listened to a sample of "Pegah: A Persian diaspora" and found Mr. Kushan's music soothing. As I was sitting in my office, the music startled and changed the thick air. With each note traveling, there was a glittering trail as if a shooting star passed.Well, Mr. Kushan's music is great.
Jafar Hosseinzadeh
jafar@bbn.com
Old man's reverie
"The Inside Story" is a fascinating story, but why on earth did you quote so much of that childishly self-absorbed dialogue? It was so dense, I just had to skip down.
The New York Times says it best: "It's a pity that they tell such a fascinating story in a novelettish manner, in which sham antique alternates with slangy journalese. This is also one of those factual memoirs replete with dialogue, some of it unlike anything ever uttered."
Please be more eclectic in what you quote from a book. Have mercy on those of us who don't have all day to plow through an old man's reverie.
Alireza Torkzadeh
tork@mindspring.com
