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Shahin & Sepehr

 

Sehaty Foreign Exchange

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Letters
March 1-5, 1999 / Esfand 10-15,1377

Today

* Women:
- Iranian women are mature and aware

- Insulting & inaccurate
- Poetry - not lifestyle - made the difference

Previous

* Bahrampour:
- Too long & descriptive
*
Abadan:
- Owpatan to Obbadan to Abadan
*
Angylina:
- Silicone
- I was born in [BLANK]
*
Tourism:
- Things have improved


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Friday,
March 5, 1999

* Iranian women are mature and aware

You have made a number of assumptions and generalizations ["To live or to be alive?"]. There is more to life of Iranians than the relationship between women and men and even your look at that has been one-sided. On the issues that you have raised, there is a wide spectrum but your contacts included only a certain group. Who cares that there are women who haven't experienced going to a party until they are 22? Do you know how many men live in Iran who never experienced the joys of parties?!

In my visit to Iran in April 1998, on a number of occasions, I was delighted and proud to hear young women discussing literature, movies and plays everywhere (even while waiting in line to see a play). I really wonder how many girls their age in America are able to see things at this level of maturity and depth? They looked at men straight in the eyes and were very much clear about what they have and what they need to fight for ... FULL TEXT

Yassaman Mottaghipour

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* Insulting & inaccurate

Ms. Khalili's portrayal of women ["To live or to be alive?"] in Iran is an insult to all Iranian women who despite deep-rooted social and political constraints, have made great strides for representation and participation in the society. A bourgeois reflection of Iranian women as portrayed by Ms. Khalili is unjust and inaccurate ... FULL TEXT

Jafar Javan
Washington DC

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* Poetry - not lifestyle - made the difference

Forough Farrokhzad's fame came from her poetry and not her choice of life style, meaning if she had not written a single verse of poetry, would she still be the "Magnificent Living" in Laleh Khalili's commentary ["To live or to be alive?"]? it goes without saying not every woman who chooses to leave her husband and child, etc.., is a poet nor becomes famous, at least not for poetry!

Sepehr Sohab

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Thursday
March 4, 1999

* Too long & descriptive

I first learned about Tara Bahrampour, the author of "To see and see again", from excerpts in The Iranian magazine. Then a couple of weeks ago I heard her interview on the U.S. National Public Radio. Finally I met her at Politics and Pros bookstore where she read parts of her book .

My husband and I both read the book (I have not finished it yet) and we both think that the book is lengthy and too descriptive. A lot of times it feels like I am reading a detailed dictionary of Farsi words in English! One can easily skip paragraphs even pages without missing the story.

When she explains about her childhood I don't feel that I am reading about a young girl of this generation. It easily fits my time and my childhood rather than my daughter's (I am in my forties).

Of course this is my take from the book. Maybe because I am too familiar with the culture. I am sure the book would be more interesting for my daughter or the younger Iranians who are not as familiar with Iranian culture.

I admire Bahrampour's interest and effort in searching for her Iranian heritage and wish that all young Iranian are as enthusiastic about their motherland and their root as she is.

Simin Habibian

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Wednesday
March 3, 1999

* Owpatan to Obbadan to Abadan

I was born and raised in Abadan although my father and mother were Zoroastrians from Yazd. I like to give you a brief explanation about the name of our hometown: Abadan.

When I was a young boy I asked about the meaning of "Abadan" and people always interpreted it as "a place that is aabaad" (flourishing). Many years later when I went to university I found a book named Iranvij by Dr Bahram Frahvashi and there was a short explanation about Abadan's name.

According to this book: there was a small castle and light tower near the mouth of Arvand river, built to protect the waterway and guiding boats or small ships in and out of the river. This place initially called OWPATAN which is combination of OW (aab=water), PAT (pad=defend or protect) and AN (jaa/makaan=place). Put together OW-PAT-AN means the place for protecting water.

"P" changed to "B" during the Islamic period and the name became Obbadan and finally during recent times it turned into Abadan.

Daryoush Mehrshahi
Geography Department
Sheffield University
England

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Tuesday
March 2, 1999

* Silicone

Dear Angylina,

Silicone parts are made for toys. Also, next time try having someone proofread what you write. Say hello to your "attourney".

Nariman Neyshapouri

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* I was born in [BLANK]

Since [you quoted part of Angylina's biogrpahy] she has taken out the part that says she is from Tehran, Iran.

Simin Habibian

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Monday
March 1, 1999

* Things have improved

Dear Khodadad,

Based on your article ["Waking the friendly giant"], I am to assume that you have not been to Iran for quite some time. I had an opportunity to travel with 12 foreigners last year and we saw all the mid to southern parts of Iran by car. We camped where we could and stayed at hotels in locations which were dangerous due to smugglers.

I was quite surprised to see that the Iranian historical conservation society has started to preserve historical locations. It also charges the tourists (foreigners pay dollars and Iranians rials). Also, there were souvenir shops and beautiful traditional coffee shops where you could rest and have anything from cold soda to cappuccinos. I was also amazed at the number of tour buses full of Japanese, Italian and German tourists.

Another point is that on Iranian TV they have a program called Good Morning Iran. It takes you to different parts of Iran every morning and shows the best parts of the country. This way people get to learn about their beautiful country and make plans to visit these locations. There are well-organized tours provided for Iranians as well as foreigners.

Here is the downside: The hotels in Iran are not privately owned and have been operated by the bonyads. So they have not been maintained in over 20 years. Also in you can only travel with your family members. If you are a female you cannot travel easily either.

But over all, there is a shift in the attention given to tourism.

Ferial

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