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Baba Taher
Elections
So alike
Us and the Americans
By Laleh Khalili
February 22, 2000
The Iranian
What I want to write about is quite pedestrian: the universality of
humanity as demonstrated by the absurdity and exhilaration of the game
of politics. Elections are a vivid tableau in which a society is distilled
and displayed; these particular elections so much more so...
What I want to say, based on this quick sketch of similarities, is simple.
We are so much alike, we the Americans, and we the Iranians. Our governmental
institutions may be vastly different; as our economies and our military
capabilities are; but as a people, here and there, we are the same. We
both play the politics of identity; religion and faith are so infinitely
important to us >>>
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Elections
The road to victory
It won't be smooth
By Rasool Nafisi
February 22, 2000
The Iranian
The unprecedented surge of political participation of Iranians in the
1997 presidential election, which brought Mohammad Khatami to power, halted
the gradual trend toward absolutism, at least temporarily. For the first
time Iranians experienced a relatively free election. Although, it must
be added that Iranians have tried their hand in 20 national elections so
far, and they seem to be determined to win over despotism through rational
rather than emotionally-charged political action...
So the reformists have won the majority of the Majlis. This stunning
victory will not bring full-fledged democracy to Iran, but it will halt
the advancement of the anti-democratic forces. What now? >>>
GO TO FEATURE
Novel
Conspiracy at Desert One
A novel
By Bernace Charles
The Iranian
Chapter Fifteen >>>
GO TO FEATURE
Outlook
The young seek a freer, less clerical Iran
Scott Peterson
The Christian Science Monitor
DIZIN, IRAN -- When young Alireza Mahfouzian stops mid-schuss and bends
his head to steal a kiss from his girlfriend, he quickly looks up - like
a child caught stealing sweets - to see if anyone is watching.
Holding hands in public is rare enough, because it risks rebuke from
watchful morality police. But open flirting in the Islamic Republic? Well,
that's nearly revolutionary >>>
FULL TEXT
Persian Golf
Tiger Woods should check this out >>>
GO HERE
More Letters
* Jumping the gun
Jafar D. writes:
It's true that recent events in Iran bring some sense of optimism, but
to say that "democracy has finally arrived", is in my humble
opinion premature and naive ["The
ballot box"].
While 1,500 students still are in prisons and the people who threw them
off the third floor of their dorms are running around free, while no one
has yet truly been implicated for the serial murders of 1998 with the exception
of some imaginary dude, Said Emami, while it was only weeks ago when we
had a German guy in prison for the crime of having sex with somebody, while
ancient allegations and rhetoric of CIA and FBI's relationships with Saeed
Emami and his wife can be publicly mentioned by government officials, while
those responsible for mass executions of thousands of Iranians and the
destruction of Iranian economy still walk around freely, it's hard to truly
speak about democracy.
Democracy's first rule, is a pluralistic government. Did anyone who
officially rejected the notion of Velayate Faghih participate in this election?
Did any party with the exception of those within the framework of Islamic
Republic participate in this election? does democracy in Iran mean working
within the frameworks of IRI? Isn't there anyone out there who could represent
thousands of Iranians who are not per se religious? >>>
FULL TEXT
* Ridle
James M. King, Jr. writes:
Having just finnished reading The Physician, I wholeheartedly
agree with Bruce Bahmani's review ["Adventures
in old Persia"]. I also would highly recommend this book to those
that have no fear for the truth. An ancient proverb states: "When
the truth is inconvenient, Ignorance is considered a licence to sack, pillage
& rape the community".
My recommendation of this book to a Jewish friend was framed as mystic
referrence to page 600. I told her that if a Jewish Rabbi were to first
read this page, then read the whole novel, a massive riddle would pop in
their face.
After I read the book, I went back to page 600. From the text, I visualized
a "Pet Octopus" named "Panda" -- dropped it into my
mind to go fishing. When "Panda" rattled my cage to come out,
I said: "OK Panda! Spit your ink out on the page! Let's see what you
have to say: "A Riddle, 3 by 3 ..." was the distillation from
this novel.
It should be understood that riddles have a very serious and profound
purpose: To reason, not only on the short terms of a generation, but also
on God's timeline. For we are their children! If you would like to recieve
a copy of this riddle please respond by email.
Film: San Jose film fest
As some of you might know San Jose Film Festival, Cinequest, is scheduled
for TH Feb 24 to SUN March 5th. They have couple of showing of an Iranian
film "Don". It is a movie by Abolfazl Jalili. Show times are:
2/27, 4:30pm and 3/1, 7:15pm at AMC Saratoga 14, 700 El Paseo de Saratoga,
San Jose, California. The complete film schedule is available in the METRO
weekly newspaper or >>>
GO TO
SELL
TICKETS ONLINE AT YOUR SITE
Books & Music from Iran
New books
* Collected articles on the Iranian President Khatami
* The best
of Shamlou's poetry * The best poems of Hooshang Ebtehaj,
aka H.A.
Sayeh * Novel based on the life of Molla
Sadra * Soovashoon
Simin Daneshvar >>>
GO HERE
New music albums
* Taherzadeh, Manochehr: Aakharin
barg * Eyvazi, Mohammad Reza. : Rangin
kamaan * Banan.: Shaakh-e
gol (2) * Ta'rif, Sadiq: Maah
baanoo * Lachini, Fariborz: Paaeez-e
talaaee ... >>>
GO HERE
THE IRANIAN
Bookstore
Music store
Video
NEW: Champions:
Iranian national soccer team
Three hours of interviews, trainings, matches, Biographies, and fans
of Iranian National Soccer Team, covering Iran's soccer history from 1978-2000.
Premium quality. Produced by: Alireza AmirGhasemi & Behrouz Deravi.
THE IRANIAN
Video Store
Copyright © Abadan Publishing Co. All Rights Reserved.
May not be duplicated or distributed in any form
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More
news
Triumphant reformers set out programme
for more open Iran
TEHRAN,
Feb 22 (AFP) - Hot on the heels of their landslide victory in parliamentary
elections, Iran's reformers Tuesday set out their programme for a more open
society, vowing to open up to the foreign media and even the long-hated
United States. Emboldened by their capture of parliament, long a bastion
of their conservative opponents, the reformers also pledged to end a five-year-old
ban on satellite dishes aimed at shutting out the foreign media >>>
FULL TEXT
Hardliner accepts defeat
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) - A top hard-line ideologue has accepted defeat
in Iran's parliamentary elections, saying in a report today that his camp
will have to reconsider its policies. An influential reformer, meanwhile,
has said talks with the United States would not be a ``sin.'' Talks with
the United States, a more liberal press and increased personal freedoms
are expected to be among the issues discussed in the next Parliament, or
Majlis, which will be seated in June >>> FULL TEXT
Post-election unrest leaves three more
dead, two wounded
TEHRAN,
Feb 22 (AFP) - Post-election unrest has left three more dead, including
one child, and two injured, across Iran, the evening daily newspaper Kayhan
said Tuesday. Two people were killed and two others injured in the first
incident when a coach hired by supporters of one candidate passed through
a village near the southern city of Lordeghan where the locals supported
a rival candidate, the paper said >>> FULL TEXT
New deputies are men and women in a hurry
TEHRAN,
Feb 22 (AFP) - Iran's new reformist deputies who will enter the next parliament
en masse following their sweeping election victory are men and women in
a hurry to change Iranian society, but not the fundamental principles of
the Islamic republic. The main reformist party, the Islamic Iran Participation
Front (IIPF) and its allies are set to hold three-quarters of the 290 seats
or more in the new assembly, having smashed the outgoing conservative majority
>>> FULL TEXT
U.S. discusses way to reward Iran
WASHINGTON -- The Clinton administration is weighing how to show
its pleasure at the resounding defeat in Iran's parliamentary elections
of candidates who demonized the United States. State Department spokesman
James Rubin called the preliminary results, which gave reformers more than
70% of decided seats, ''historic'' and a triumph for those advocating ''openness
and engagement with the rest of the world.'' >>> FULL TEXT
US weighs 'appropriate' responses to Iranian
election
WASHINGTON,
Feb 22 (AFP) - The United States said Tuesday it was weighing "appropriate"
responses to the overwhelming victory by reformers in Iran's parliamentary
election last week. But State Department spokesman James Rubin cautioned
that conciliatory steps would not come immediately as it would take time
before reformers could make their presence felt and affect policy >>>
FULL TEXT
Senate may sanction Iran suppliers
WASHINGTON (AP) - Brushing aside opposition from the administration,
the Senate is moving to compel the president to be more aggressive in tracking
Russia and other countries that supply weapons materiel to Iran. The bill,
taken up by the Senate Tuesday, also could restrict payments to Russia in
connection with the International Space Station. The bill is expected to
win the Senate's overwhelming approval when it votes Thursday, much as similar
legislation sailed through the House last September, 419-0 >>>
FULL TEXT
Oil pressured as output rise seen likely
LONDON,
Feb 22 (Reuters) - Oil prices drifted sideways on Tuesday as nervous dealers
weighed the prospect of OPEC capping a blistering year-long bull run by
raising output in April. Benchmark Brent crude was five cents off at $25.88
a barrel in quiet trade following a week that has seen it slide 10 percent
from a post-Gulf War peak of $28.78 hit on February 14 >>> FULL
TEXT
Iranian nominated for Oscar
February 2000 (British Iranian Business News) -- Director Mehdi
Norowzian's Killing Joe has been nominated for the Best Short Picture award
at the Oscars. He said he felt proud when he was informed that he has joined
a clutch of British talent at this year's ceremony, including American Beauty
director Sam Mendes >>> FULL TEXT
Choghazanbil
Tehran (Hamshahri) - Tourists will soon be able to visit the 3,000-year-old
ruins at Choghazanbil in Khuzestan Province at night: officials plan to
set up proper lighting >>> FULL TEXT IN PERSIAN
Film subjects
Tehran (Iran daily) - An interesting guide to the Iranian films
at the Fajr film festival: What were the main topics of the films? >>>
FULL TEXT IN PERSIAN
Money
Tehran (Asr-e Azadegan) - Fajr film festival entrants will try
to cash-in from the hype surrounding the festival for several weeks >>>
FULL TEXT IN PERSIAN
War!
Tehran
(Iran Varzeshi) - Next Sunday's match between Esteqlal and Perseplis has
added importance: it could determine the leaguge top team. Here's a review
>>> FULL TEXT IN PERSIAN
Defense
Tehran
(Iran Varzeshi) - Payan Rofat is a striker for Persepolis. He thinks Esteqlal's
defense has weakened. So what does he think about next Sunday's match? >>>
FULL TEXT IN PERSIAN
Mmmm
Tehran
(Iran Varzeshi) - The chief nutritionist of the Scotish national soccer
team has arrived in Tehran fpr an international sports conference >>>
FULL TEXT IN PERSIAN
BBC
Persian Service
For the latest news,
interviews and features on Iranian current affairs ... LISTEN HERE
Exchange rate
Updated February 16
Buying: 825-830 tomans per dollar
Selling: 835-842 tomans per dollar
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Business
news
The Web
Iran
Hammihan
Former Tehran mayor Gholam-Hossein Karbaschi has started
his own newspaper -- a month after getting out of prison.
Beyond Iran
Noir Alley
A stylish web homage to the world of film noir. The site's
focus is on the classic Hollywood movie genre which flourished from 1940-1959
More
web sites
Quote Unquote
Similar
Our societies [Iran and the U.S.] are also remarkably similar: seduced
by ecstatic spiritualism, somewhat superstitious, with a sometimes-contentious
coexistence between the vast number of ethnic groups that compose the nations.
We both have an inflated sense of our own superiority as a chosen with a
sense of mission, and we both believe that we are destined to affect the
universe around us, to lead it, to change it, to irrevocably shape it in
our own image.
-- Laleh Khalili
"So
alike"
The Iranian
February 22, 2000
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