Letters
September 27-October 1, 1999 / Mehr 5-9, 1378
Today
* Habits:
- Far from it
- We're not lazy
Previous
* Abadan:
- Memory lane
* The Iranian:
- So proud
* Politics:
- Why support Republicans?
* Abyaneh:
- Chic?
* Religion:
- Abusing Allah
* Relationships:
- Trash should be published
- Lost hope in humanity
* Homosexuals:
- Right to be homophopic
email us
Friday,
October 1, 1999
* Far from it
What dAyi Hamid fails to realize ["Persian
work ethics"] is the real reason why the office clerk loses his
stamp and tells you to come back next week. The reason for this is not
that clerks are "lazy". Far from it. The real reason is that
they are being paid very little for carrying out the job (average office
salary 30,000 tomans per month), and with the high prices for necessities,
they are left with no choices but to supplement their incomes with bribes.
The documentary you mentioned ("Divorce Iranian style") was
notable as it showed how people not familiar with the pay-off system were
sent running around and told to come back later. The moment you take out
a couple of "Greenies" (Hezari's), the lost stamp suddenly appears,
and the file, which could not be located in three weeks, has suddenly turned
up.
You go on to state, "Do you think any program of any politician
could lift an economy where any tohfe-ye natanz gets the title of doctor,
engineer, or architect just because his brother is dead? ". Unfortunately,
you fail to realize that there is a difference between getting into university
and graduating. Just because you have conned your way in it does not mean
that you are automatically going to pass the exams and qualify as a professional.
Many of the people killed in the war were not there as a matter of choice
and if the system tries to compensate them in some way, then the families
can not be blamed for accepting. Having read your article may I suggest
you devote more time towards looking after the "dead animal",
which you call a hair style.
Sadri M.
Go to top
* We're not lazy
I just finished reading dAyi Hamid's article about zerangi ["Persian
work ethics"] which I think deserves a response. Let me first
congragulate your staff on your online magazine. dAyi Hamid's article
brings out another characteristic which he may have already treated: The
Iranian habit of ridiculing ourselves. I think this comes from our habit
of hiding personal means and wealth.
We are not so lazy after all. Iranians in America are usually hard
working, and they need not be so, and the unproductive work in Iran is
due to our bad management which is another cultural problem. We should
face the fact that our culture has signifanct structural ills. This
was apparent in works such as Sadeq Hedayat's Tup-e Murvarid or
by Ali Shariati (he said half our people are sleep and the other half
are running away).
We all remember the growth of our economy and standard of living when
the late Shah (I am not a royalist) brought Western reform by this useless
oil. The sickness in our culture is not unique, It is far worse in India
and Pakistan. Things like zerangi, chaaploosi and bazle guie are our historical
baggage. Lets not forget mohabat, vafaa, doosti, erfaan mardaanegi ...
do these have translations in English or japanese?
Shar Zori
Go to top
Thursday
September 30, 1999
* Memory lane
What a wonderful collection from Abadan.
Your photos bring back lots of memories. Only now one realizes how special
Abadan and its community was. I left Abadan for England in 1972 and I haven't
been back since.
Although I never lived in Tehran, I still had a shock when I returned
there for few days just after the war in 1990. I can imagine it would have
been even bigger shock if I was allowed to go to Abadan.
One correction to the pictures called "Deffteery" -- these
are pictures of the local clinic for Braim area and the correct name is
"Dispensary". Pictures that you are calling them fields, first
few look like grass area opposite Hotel Abadan.
Also if you remember with the exception of the bazaar area, none of
the "Sherkat e Naft" areas had official street name or numbers.
There were only distinguished by their house numbers i.e. "Shesh-sadiaa"
(600) or "Chaarsadiaa" (400) and so on, plus the area name.
Despite that some areas had unofficial names like "Chaarbaagh",
"Falakeh Alfi" and so on.
I don't know whether you are aware that there is another site dedicated
to Abadan, Khoramshahr and Ahvaz. Here is the address: //www.abadan.com/
Once again thank you for the lovely trip down memory lane.
Armen Khachaturian
Go to top
* So proud
As an Iranian who has lived most of his life away from Iran, I am so
proud to see so many talents who have blossomed in my homeland that it
makes me feel exceptionally proud. So many artists, writers, poets, photographers,
film makers, scientists and on who have changed the cultural scene in Iran
and abroad.
Their contributions to literature, music and so on has enriched our
culture and the world's understanding of our heritage. I don't know of
any other nation or country with such a wonderful resource.
Undoubtedly people like you should be commended for introducing most
of these brilliant minds to us. Thank you for your efforts. Thank you for
doing what you are doing.
Iradj Sooudi
Go to top
Wednesday
September 29, 1999
* Why support Republicans?
The Republican Party is an anti-immigrant political organization why
do they expect us to help them to win an election [Iranian
American Republican Council]? Have they forgotten the atrocities they
commited against elderly immigrants?
Have they forgotten that under their leadership food stamps and welfare
payments to the needy immigrants were discontinued? (meaning single mothers,
childern, and the elderly). Have they forgotten the anti-immigrants hysteria
they helped to create?
We as Iranians who live and raise our family in this country will not
be fooled by their propaganda. Yes, Mr. Rob
Sobhani is an Iranian decendant but so what? So is Googoosh, Khatami,
the Shah, and Asghar Ghatel!
Where was Mr. Sobhani when all these atrocities were being commited
against the Iranian immigrants in this country? Whose rights was he defending?
It is not enough to say " I am Iranian give me your money; give me
your support!"
And how about the destructive opposition of the Republican Party to
gun control legislation? How about Republican insistance to give back $800
billion to the rich while cutting the budget for schools, teachers, housing
and other important programs that affect everyone's lives? Why should we
support such policies?
Iranian Americans have matured during the last twenty years, we won't
be fooled again.
Mehdi
San Jose Ca
Go to top
* Trash should be published
I fully agree with S.
Smith that Cyrus Rafaat ["Real
Iranian girls?"] seems like a rotten leftover of the Stone Age,
and as a woman, I find his opinions so unbelievably stupid, backwards,
disgusting and hypocritical that I cannot take it seriously at all. His
article is nothing but the evidence of an empty-headed blowhard and as
such, I don't bother to dignify his writings with a response.
However, I disagree with you on whether The Iranian should publish
this article or not. Airing one's dirty laundry helps kill the parasitic
bacteria resident therein! By bringing this article to light, The Iranian
does the Iranian-American community a great service: it puts a mirror in
front of it and magnifies the warts that need to be burnt off.
I declare - LOUDLY- that in fact, such trash needs to be published on
occasion, if for no other reason to keep those of us who hope for more
open minds and thoughtful ideas, forever vigilant. We cannot and should
not assume that just because it is 1999, idiotic chauvinists (of whatever
creed and background) are on the wane, even in the United States.
Laleh Khalili
Go to top
Tuesday
September 28, 1999
* Right to be homophopic
This is in response to the article about Iranian attitudes towards homosexuals
["Acceptance"].
Just like those people made a decision to be homosexuals, the rest of
us have the right to make our own decisions about our own opinions and
actions. If we wish to dislike homosexuals it is our right. If we are homophobic
it is our right to be. You can't tell us how to be.
I hold the opinion that homosexuals are destroying society with their
actions and those who accept them and welcome them with open arms are helping
them do that.
I don't believe homosexuality is right or should be accepted. However
I don't believe cruelty is right either. So therefore I personally, don't
ask, don't support and don't want to know if a person is homosexual.
Freedom of opinion seems to apply to everybody except those who wish
to practice it these days.
Sultan Mehrabi
Go to top
* Chic?
So, now I have seen everything! I mean every door in Abyaneh ["Doors
wide shut"]. Chic? The beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.
Morteza Anvari
Go to top
Monday
September 27, 1999
* Lost hope in humanity
After reading the article written by Cyrus L. Raafat ["Real Iranian
girls?"], I have lost all hope in humanity, dignity, decency when
it comes to men and women ...
I do not pity Mr. Rafaat, nor do I feel sorry for him. I am embarrassed
for him and am quite offended that your online publication would cater
to the unrealistic and delusional ramblings of a man that seems to possess
little if any scruples about how the world we live in works. But, alas,
I am an advocate for freedom of the press. You may publish any article
you desire and I trust you will keep doing thus, however, don't expect
a great deal of respect from the public when you ignore objectivity, good
taste and logic by publishing Rafaat's nonsensical whims and sexual appetites,
then call it a legitimate article. It parallels the pulp-tabloid-drivel
that we balk at upon standing in line at the supermarket. I can see the
headlines now: "Iranian-American Man Will Only Marry a Virgin!"
... FULL
TEXT
S. Smith
Go to top
* Abusing Allah
In response to "Allah
knows best", while there is no doubt that in the 12th century
Islam was a religion that governed lands from Tajikestan to Spain with
tolerance, that is certainly not the case today. It is obvious that today
Islam is utilized as a means to control and suppress people, thus it is
not being utilized in its intended manner.
Nowhere in the Koran does it say women should not drive vehicles, should
cover themselves head-to-toe in blistering weather, need special permission
to travel, or get medical attention. Certainly the Koran does not oppose
couples holding hands or buying some ice cream together. Sorry, those are
modern, patriarchal, repressive attitudes.
A positive clean-cut reading of the Koran shows us love and acceptance,
not torment and injustice. Kadijeh was a successful business woman, who
obviously "drove" horses or the like, and women were merely advised
to dress "modestly".
Oppressors interpret the Koran as they like to take away personal liberties
and boost their own lacking self-esteem. Do not tie Allah to your dogma.
Allah does know best and those who have abused his name are the ones who
need to be most concerned with their after-life.
Hamila Asad
Go to top
Copyright © Abadan Publishing Co. All Rights Reserved.
May not be duplicated or distributed in any form
