Letters
Feb 8-12, 1999 / Bahman 19-23, 1377
Today
* Tehran:
- Like bungee jumping
* Politics:
- Ruling elite not homogenious
Previous
* Survey:
- Church and state don't mix
- Islamic Republic of...
- Mixed feelings
- Islam & democracy
* Civil society:
- Practicing civility
* Angylina:
- More power to her
- Soupy
* Census:
- Good for all of us
email us
Friday,
February 12, 1999
* Like bungee jumping
The article "Traffic
immitating life" brought back memories of my trip to Iran in 1995
(I am American, BTW). The traffic was one of the most frightening things
in Tehran (besides the pollution). Seeing no stoplights and crosswalks,
for all practical purposes, I couldn't at first contemplate how to get
through the mess of cars. Eventually I learned that a pedestrian simply
has to start walking and entrust their life to Allah. Waiting on the curb
is futile; the traffic never ceases and you only end up attracting taxi
cabs.
There is a certain exhilaration about the traffic though, either as
a pedestrian or a passenger, probably not too different than that experienced
by bungee jumpers or sky divers (hmmm.... I wonder if anyone has thought
about arranging travel packages to Tehran for thrill seekers?).
Brad Hernlem
Personal web
site
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* Ruling elite not homogenious
The ruling elite of Iran is not homogenious and many people in the high
echelons of power have personal gain in mind rather than the good of the
nation . Mr. Khatami's govenment has many opposing factions and groups
to contend with . One wishes for their survival at this stage. The serious
business of putting the economy right will take a lot more as it will tend
to destroy the power of the few at the top who will not give up their lot
without fight .
Dr.
Ali Akbar Mahdi 's book (Farhang-e Irani, J'ame'eh-ye Madani, va
Daghdaghe-ye Demokr'asi )which has been posted on The Iranian deals
with all these problems in detail as a book on sociology should do and
it is in so simple a language that one must recommend it to all frustrated
Iranians.
Finally democracy which has been shown to be a major requirement for
social and economical development can not be obtained unless a large group
of people in position of power relinquish their position of authocratic
power and they would only do so if they are threatened . e.g by popular
opinion inside and outside the country, strikes etc. South Africa is an
example and the Iranian govenment is no better or worse.
J.N.
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Thursday
February 11, 1999
* Church and state don't mix
What you said [about an Islamic republic and democracy]
is perhaps one of the most ignorant and contradictary things I have heard
in my lifetime. Democracy is based on the concept of equality and freedom,
freedom of religon, speech, press etc. None of these freedoms exist in
Iran's government. Forcing everyone to go by the laws of Islam is religious
dictatorship. As an atheist, I have nothing against Islam or any other
religon, or anyone practicing it, as long as they don't impose it on others.
In every religon, there are ideas that are disagreeable and sometimes
backward, and Islam is not an exception. This theocracy has made Iran enemies,
oppressed the people of Iran, and made Iran a third world country, all
as the price of what? Following a religon that not everyone in Iran practices
or takes seriously? On top of everything, it is only logical that church
and state should not merge. They are two totally different things...
Qtipp411@aol.com
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Wednesday
February 10, 1999
* Practicing civility
Dear Ms Khalili,
[Regarding your article. "Jonoobe
shahr"] the irony of our land is in its dichotomy, on one hand
we are kind, caring and humane to the point of a fault; on the other hand,
we are uncaring, crude and vicious. I for one hold the belief that we can
call ourselves a civilized society when we can observe a simple act such
as passage of cars in order of their priority, upon arrival at an unmarked
and unguided traffic intersection. Would the first car there at that intersection,
be the first through? Or would it be the most skilled and aggressive driver
that goes first? Would two vehicles arriving simultaneously go head to
head as whom will cross first, or that which is to the right hand side
of the next, go first, followed by that vehicle which was to the left?
We can make ourselves prosperous, we can organize for a purpose and
achieve it, but the welfare of the individual citizen proportionately increases
not by wealth or prosperity, but with administration and practice of a
civilized mode of behavior that would supplant all other rules of interaction
within the society. As such, one wonders if we will ever achieve our dream
of a truly progressive nation?
Good article!
Salian
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* Islamic Republic of...
I fully agree with Mr.
Shakeri that an "Islamic Republic" is a "democratic
republic" as long as the two words "of Iran" is not added
to the end of it.
Sepehr Sohab
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Tuesday
February 9, 1999
* More power to her
It is not nice or appropriate to call other Iranians names just because
we might not agree with what they do. Angylina
is a beautiful Iranian girl who like the majority of Iraninan girls (at
least abroad) likes to model. But unlike the others, not only she has the
guts (and the assets!) to do it but also announces that she is from Iran.
I say more power to her.
Kourosh Ahadpour
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* Soupy
Dear Goddess Angylina,
I am as impressed by your letter and your threat to sue The Iranian.
I'm very proud to have been born in the same country as a young, intelligent,
beautiful, kind girl like you. If this thing was a trick to get more visitors
for your adult page, I have to
congratulate you, you did it. If it was not, then I have a few questions
if you don't mind:
- What kind of soup to you serve to the homeless?
- How much do you charge for the soup?
- What have all those "men" done to you?
- Is your father Iranian and your mother German by any chance?
Looking forward to hearing from your attorney.
Soup-starved,
dAyi Hamid
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Monday
February 8, 1999
* Mixed feelings
Obviously we Iranians still have mixed feelings
about the revolution ["1979
survey"]: how can a majority believe that
"that peaceful and gradual change is better in the long-run,"
and still be of the opinion that "revolutions are good if they have
good leaders"? Aren't revolutions by definition abrupt, and often
non-peaceful? (Also see Angylina's letter)
Behzad Fazel
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* Islam & democracy
[Regarding the 1979
survey:]
If you guys knew anything about Islam, then you
would realize that an Islamic Republic is very democratic and carries all
the virtues of a "democratic republic." (Also
see Angylina's letter)
Sohail Shakeri
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