|
Nezami
Opinion
Catching up
The Muslim world at the threshold of the third millennium
By Fereydoun Hoveyda
October 5, 1999
The Iranian
Many economic, political, social and cultural reasons have been advanced
for this interruption. But they had one common denominator: the triumph
of ultra-fundamentalist interpretations of the Quran, around the 12th 13th
centuries ...
Ghazali condemned thinkers such as Abu Ali Sina (Avicenna) while in
Andalusia half a century later, the fundamentalist clerics branded philosophers
such as Ibn Rushd (Averroes) heretics and burned their books. Fortunately,
many of their books were carefully gathered by European universities whose
scholars pursued the work of now condemned Muslim thinkers and scientists.
The famous Italian historian Geoffredo Quadri goes as far as to assert
that the Renaissance would not have been possible without Averroes's ideas!
In other words, if not for the rising influence of fundamentalists, the
scientific and industrial revolutions could have developed in the Muslim
world, not in the West ... GO TO FEATURE
Outlook
(Sound familiar?)
Racism Among Hispanics
Washington Post Op-ed
By Richard Estrada
Tuesday, October 5, 1999; Page A17
DALLAS-Everyone knows homegrown racism has occasionally been directed
at Hispanics in the United States. But here's a question too seldom asked:
Is the United States importing Hispanic racism directed at other Hispanics?
...
Sadly, the racism exhibited by some Hispanics against other Hispanics
is at times more virulent than that directed at Hispanics by European Americans.
Hispanics imbued with racism are coming to America every day. Unaware that
however imperfect this country may be when it comes to its ideals, they
need to know what those ideals are and recognize how imperative it is to
try to live up to them... FULL
TEXT
Thanks to Laleh Khalili
Okay baba...
Parhum writes:
Hello. I am a Zoroastrian. I would like to get more information about
my religion and I was wondering if you could help me. Also, I know that
some of you aren't Zoroastrians and you don't quite know everything. Well,
as I was looking at some websites, I found that it said that Zoroastrians
are Fire Worshippers. WE ARE NOT AT ALL FIRE WORSHIPPER. GET THE FACTS
STRAIGHT. I WOULD KNOW SINCE I AM AN ACTUAL ZOROASTRIAN. WE DON'T WORSHIP
FIRE. WE JUST RESPECT FIRE AND LIGHT. LIFE WOULD BE DIFFICULT WITHOUT FIRE
AND LIGHT. WE WORSHIP ON AHURA MAZDA, OUR GOD. SO BEFORE YOU TYPE SOMETHING
UP, PLEASE GET YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT BEFORE YOU GO OUT WRITING GARBAGE ABOUT
US. I WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF YOU WOULD PLEASE CORRECT THAT. THANKS.
More Letters
* Wrong, wrong, wrong
Mohamad Dilmagani writes: I just
read your front page article in The Iranian Times called "Persian
work ethics" and frankly it just hits me the wrong way:
The writer apparently in an extended period of bad mood, decides to
write a two-page article and attack every Iranian characteristic or behavior
he can come up with. He tangles issues ranging from our cultural interpretation
of zerangi, to politics, work habits, oil (of all things), productivity
and women's role in our society. Of course in every case, the so-called
Iranian way of dealing with these issues is wrong. Let's talk about some
of these issues:
Zerangi: I have tried to come up with a translation of this word in
English and the closest I can come with is "opportunistic". I
think everybody agrees that the masters of this technique are Americans;
not that there is anything wrong with it. After all, America is known as
the land of opportunity and they are proud of it. Majority of Americans
don't believe that by being Mr. Nice Guy and waiting for your turn in every
situation, one will be successful. I think if we look back at our cultural
history, we will discover that the concept of zerangi didn't really flourish
in Iran until we became more familiar with Western culture. So let's not
give all the credit to Iranians; this is just a sign of our times ... FULL TEXT
* Open your eyes
Golboo Matinkhou writes:
I just finished reading your article ["Khodeti"]
and I feel so moved. What you said is so true. I am the girl you are writing
about. I'm single, 28, and living on my own. My parents live in Germany
and for the past seven years, I have put myself through school. I have
a great job, support myself and live my own life. Sad part is, nobody seems
to recognize me for what I have achieved ...
I like to get married too one day and I won't accept anything but an
Iranian man, but I have to prove so much sometimes that it is easier to
just give up and stay single. I wished Iranians, specially Iranian women,
wouldn't be so judgmental about single women. WE do like to have a family
and settle down but our options are so limited, because we don't have the
luxury of living with our parents.
Please try to open your eyes. You don't have to live at home to be "najib";
that should be in your blood. Thanks for bringing up this very important
issue ... FULL
TEXT
* Scholarship: Academic scholarship,
northern California
The Society of Iranian Professionals
in northern California is now accepting applications for the 1999-2000
Academic Year Scholarship. Please forward this application to any Iranian
student, parents, family members and friends in U.S. to be considered by
SIP Scholarship Committee. For information on donation please write to:
Anjoman99@aol.com
Books of the Week
* Nastaran-haaye
surati (1998)
Novel
By Reza Julaie
* Sharq-e
banafsheh (1998)
Novel
By Shahriar Mandani-pour
* Del
daadeh-gi (1998)
Novel in two volumes
By Shahriar Mandani-pour
See more
Iranian books for sale
THE IRANIAN
Bookstore
Video of the Week
Noruz
1378 (On Sale!)
Get two of the best-selling videos (total of 22 hours of entertainment)
for a combined price of just $99 and save $51. PLUS you will get two free
CDs (Googoosh & Moin) with your order!
THE IRANIAN
Video Store
Copyright © Abadan Publishing Co. All Rights Reserved.
May not be duplicated or distributed in any form
|
More
news
Iran closes publisher over ``blasphemous''
book
TEHRAN, Oct 5 (Reuters) - Iran has suspended the licence of a publishing
house which printed a book deemed blasphemous to Shi'ite Islam, an official
at the Culture and Islamic Guidance Ministry said on Tuesday. The official
told Reuters the book Divaneh-ye Dovvom (The Second Lunatic) was written
in what he termed a ``cryptic style'' and disparaged the 12th Imam, whose
return to earth to usher in an era of perfect justice is eagerly awaited
by pious Shi'ites ... FULL TEXT
Iranian MPs question government development
plan
TEHRAN, Oct 5 (Reuters) - Iranian parliament deputies on Tuesday
poured cold water on the government's ambitious $112 billion development
plan, saying it was too general and lacked concrete answers for Iran's economic
ills. State media said the conservative-led assembly held a closed session
to review the five-year plan, which aims to boost annual growth to six percent
from the current 1.6 percent, fight high unemployment and trim the bloated
state sector ... FULL TEXT
Europeans, Arabs make strong showing at
Iran fair
TEHRAN, Oct 5 (Reuters) - European and Arab companies were out
in force on Tuesday at Tehran's annual international trade fair, encouraged
by President Mohammad Khatami's overtures to Western and neighbouring states.
Some 1,000 companies from 85 countries and 1,500 local firms are attending
the fair, the largest in its 25-year history ... FULL TEXT
Iran plans petchem plants worth $6 bln
by 2005
TEHRAN,
Oct 5 (Reuters) - Iran plans to build five new petrochemical plants worth
$6 billion with the help of foreign investors by March 2005, a senior official
said on Tuesday. Mohammad Khayat, a member of the board of the National
Petrochemical Company (NPC), said three of the projects had been put to
international bidding and the other two would be put on offer ``soon,''
Iran's official news agency IRNA said ... FULL TEXT
Iran seeks $10 bln foreign capital in mines,
metals
TEHRAN,
Oct 4 (Reuters) - Iran is seeking $10 billion in foreign and private investment
to develop its mines and metals industry, in a drive to ease reliance on
oil, Mines and Metals Minister Eshaq Jahangiri said on Monday. Jahangiri
told a news conference 100 projects would be offered for international tender
at a conference in Tehran on October 19-20. He said 30 of the projects were
in steel and aluminum but did not say if the $10 billion included $3.5 billion
in foreign capital being sought for the steel industry ... FULL TEXT
Iran seeks Saudi investment in mining sector
TEHRAN, Oct 5 (Reuters) - Iran is wooing Saudi investment in its
mining and metals industries, the official IRNA news agency said on Tuesday.
IRNA said Iran's Mines and Metals Minister Eshaq Jahangiri met Industry
and Electricity Minister Hashem bin Abdullah bin Hashem al-Yamani and a
120-strong Saudi delegation visiting Tehran for bilaterial talks and an
international trade fair ... FULL TEXT
Short film by youth: Winners
Tehran
(Iran dailu) - Parivash Nazariyeh has been award the grand prize at the
international youth short films festical in Iran. Other winners announced
as well ... FULL TEXT
Films shown this year: Review
Tehran (Hamshahri) - Nasser Safarian reviews what's been happening
in the Iranian film industry during the past year. Some interesting little
details. ... FULL TEXT
Wrestlers hope for fourth world title
Tehran (Hamshahri) - Iranian free-style wrestlers are confident
that they can win the world championships which will be held in Ankara this
week ... FULL TEXT
What for?
Tehran
(Hamshahri) - Do the coaches of the national soccer team have a clear purpose
in organizing friendly matches with other national teams? The purpose should
not be to win at all cost. The idea is to try out new ideas, put in various
players, and prepare for more important matches ... FULL TEXT
BBC
Persian Service
For the latest news,
interviews and features on Iranian current affairs ... LISTEN HERE
$ Rate
Updated October 4
Buying: 850-870 tomans per dollar
Selling: 875 tomans per dollar
Source: Sehhaty Exchange (U.S.)
CALL TOLL FREE: 877-SEHHATY (877-734-4289)
or 800-995-0264
Mention this code for a better rate:
FA 37 B
Business
news
The Web
Iran
ArtPersia.Com
If you haven't visited this site recently, take a look.
It has grown considerably and if you're into modern art, you will not be
disappointed.
Beyond Iran
Hair - The
Daily Fascination
Having a bad hair day? Ah well, stop by this latest ThinkQuest
site anyway. It's a terrific ode to hair, complete with general facts, "health
and care" information, "fun and games," and all that's "interesting
and odd" about the stuff.
More
web sites
Quote Unquote
Shame on you
You talk about martyrs as if they were brought in from another planet
or something. These were the young soldiers who gave their lives and enabled
us to still have Khouzestan. Shame on you.
-- Mohamad Dilmagani
Letter
to The Iranian
October 5, 1999
Photo of the Day
Supporting
Al Gore
Music
Musician of the Week
Probe
* Water Lilies: Dance
* Weeping clown
* Caravan
* Sand storm
Music
artists index |
