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Baba Taher
Opinion
All tied up
Reflections on the Iran-USA ball game & ballistics
By Guive Mirfendereski
January 20, 2000
The Iranian
In Pasadena, that was no more, not at least on the politically-correct
superficies of faces tortured to be both Iranian and American. Colors blending.
Double-sided flags and hats. Two-timing hearts. Mixed couples. Mixed up
individuals. By all counts, the catharsis in Pasadena was a magnificent
display of complete obfuscation of identity. It was also a purgation of
sorts, allowing the Iranian-minded spectators to purge themselves of the
pity they feel for being Iranian in an environment perceived as hostile
to Iranians. There was also the purging of the fear that comes with standing
up to be counted as Iranian, feeling Iranian, shouting Iranian and affirming
Iran. This was all necessary therapy for a community besieged by two decades
of inner turmoil. Chances are that the game will not have any direct or
immediate effect on the course of Iran-U.S. relations; it will, however
influence, the way the Iranian community in America will see and deal with
itself >>>
GO TO FEATURE
Outlook
The red cardinal
January 19, 2000, (Sobh-e Emrooz) -- Political columnist Akbar Ganji
has written a scathing article on former president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani
ahead of the Majlis elections >>>
FULL TEXT IN PERSIAN
Thanks to Ali A. & Payman Arabshahi
Honk if you remember
Remember when the Americans were taken hostage in Iran? Remember all
the anti-Iran T-shirts and dart games and masks and...? Here's a bumper
sticker which you might have seen >>>
SEE IMAGE
Thanks to Ramin Tabib
More Letters
* Together
ASSAL BADRKHANI writes:
THEY CAME UNDER MANY DIFFERENT FLAGS, NEW AND OLD ["ROSY
SUNDAY"]. THEY CAME WITH MANY BELIEFS, SOME PRO-ISLAMIC, OTHERS
OPPOSING THE CURRENT REGIME. SEPARATELY, THEY COULD HAVE BEEN CONSIDERED
DIFFERENT IN SO MANY WAYS, BUT TOGETHER, THEY WORE RED, WHITE, AND GREEN,
AND TOGETHER, THEY CHEERED AS ONE.
FOR NINETY MINUTES, IRANIANS FROM ALL CORNERS OF THE WORLD GATHERED
TOGETHER AT THE ROSE BOWL IN PASADENA TO CHEER FOR THEIR SOCCER TEAM. NO
MATTER WHO THEY WERE, OR WHAT THEY BELIEVED IN, THEY DANCED TOGETHER, JUMPED
UP AND DOWN TOGETHER, AND APPLAUDED THEIR "BACHEHAA" TOGETHER.
SOME HAD BEEN SEPARATED FROM THEIR HOMELAND FOR OVER TWENTY YEARS, AND
IT WAS BEAUTIFUL AS THEY STOOD AND YELLED FOR THE SAME NOBLE CAUSE,"ALI
DAEI, ALI DAEI, AZIZI, AZIZI!" >>>
FULL TEXT
* More lessons on Christianity's origin
Arash Salardini
writes: Mr Tabib has been busy with his dictionary of late ["Too paranoid"].
He prides himself on his ignorance of the English language. However the
only thing he learns from my letter is the meaning of a word that most
aptly describes his predicament. He needs to pay more attention.
He opens with "Mr. Salardini I presume was so infuriated by me
lack of sensible respect for Persia and anything that proves our supremacy
that rushed to my condemnation without carefully reading the few words
I had put down." There are three problems with this statement:
1- There is a difference between fury and contempt and Mr Tabib is clearly
the target of my latter sentiment.
2- Whether Christmas is or is not of Persian origin is of little consequence
to our supremacy or otherwise, our national pride rests on much more than
cultural interchange. However humility does not dictate the denial of the
truth >>>
FULL TEXT
* Blind patriotism
Ramin Tabib writes:
It is interesting that the gentleman [Arash Salardini, "Lessons
in Christianity's origin"], who has never personally known me,
confesses to harboring "contempt" for me and accuses me of an
"inferiority complex." And yet he feels obligated by "the
etiquette of correspondence!"
I have touched a nerve, it appears, and it has propelled Mr. Salardini
to launch a search for the holy grail of proofs regarding a causal link
between Mithraism and Christmas.
I, as a "poorly educated man," would like to assure Mr. Salardini
that my years in the poorly educating system (!) of American universities
has taught me at least one thing: Dogmatism and blind patriotism is the
greatest peril that can fall upon a tribe, nation or group >>>
FULL TEXT
* Music: ZaZa sings love songs
What could be sweeter: A Valentine's Concert of ZaZa singing love songs
from around the world! PLACE: Book Passage (51 Tamal Vista Blvd., Corte
Madera, California). TIME: Saturday February 12 at 9:30-11:00 pm >>> DETAILS
HERE
SELL
TICKETS ONLINE AT YOUR SITE
Books & Music from Iran
Book store
Abdollah Nouri's
defense in court; the complete works of Forough Farrokhzad
and Akhavan Sales;
Reza Shah
during and after his downfall; the life and times of Amir Abbas Hoveyda; Rumi's Shams
Tabrizi >>>
GO HERE
Music store
Shadmehr Aghili:
Dehaati; Farhad:
Khaab Dar Bidaari; Heydazadeh:
Mesl-e Hichkas; Ahmad
Shamloo: Khoroos Zari >>>
GO HERE
THE IRANIAN
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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
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May not be duplicated or distributed in any form
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More
news
German businessman to leave Iran soon after
trial
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) - Almost a year after his death sentence for
having sex with an Iranian woman was overturned, a German businessman was
fined for insulting a police officer and allowed to leave Iran today. Helmut
Hofer was fined $6,670 by a Tehran judge who said the German businessman
could leave the country as soon as he paid. German diplomats paid the fine
>>> FULL TEXT
History of the Hofer affair
TEHRAN,
Jan 20 (AFP) - German businessman Helmut Hofer finally walked free Thursday
after a momentous two years, most of which he spent in Iranian jails. Following
our key dates in the history of the case >>> FULL TEXT
German government expresses relief
BERLIN,
Jan 20 (AFP) - The German government expressed relief Thursday at news of
the release of German businessman Helmut Hofer in Iran, opening the way
to improved relations between Tehran and Berlin >>> FULL TEXT
Iranian delegation arrives in Kabul
KABUL,
Jan 30 (AFP) A six-strong Iranian delegation arrived in Kabul Thursday to
hold trade talks with officials from the ruling Taliban and visit their
shut embassy building, Taliban official sources said. "The delegation
arrived Thursday," said Qari Fazl Rabi, an official of the Taliban
Bakhtar Information Agency >>> FULL TEXT
Iran hangs four, amputates fingers of seven
TEHRAN,
Jan 20 (AFP) - Iran amputated the fingers of seven robbers simultaneously
Wednesday and hanged four other men for murder, newspapers reported Thursday.
The seven thieves aged 18 to 53 had their fingers amputated simultaneously
>>> FULL TEXT
Swiss minister to visit Iran to assess
ties
BERN,
Jan 20 (AFP) - Swiss secretary of state for foreign affairs Franz von Daniken
will visit Iran January 21-23 to assess bilateral relations and the possibility
of deepening ties with Tehran, a ministry statement said Thursday >>>
FULL TEXT
Two die, more than 1,000 homes destroyed
in Iranian storm
TEHRAN,
Jan 20 (AFP) - Two people were killed and 1,100 houses destroyed when hot
winds of up to 120 kilometers (75 miles) an hour swept through the northern
Iranian province of Gilan, the official IRNA news agency reported Thursday
>>> FULL TEXT
Women
Tehran
(Hamshahri) -There are 124 women actors in Iran's movie industry -- or about
23 percent of the total. Here are some more interesting stats >>>
FULL TEXT IN PERSIAN
First director
Tehran
(Hamshahri) - In 1986 Pouran Derakhshandeh became the first woman to direct
a film after the revolution. Her latest film is "Eshq bedun-e marz".
Interview >>> FULL TEXT IN PERSIAN
First director
Tehran
(Christian Science Monitor) - "The Poet Game" [By Salar Abdoh]
is a spy-thriller with a twist: An Iranian secret agent works to prevent
terrorism in America. Sami is an Iranian counterintelligence agent sent
from Tehran to penetrate the New York "Mosque connection." >>>
FULL TEXT IN PERSIANs
Wrestling
Tehran (Hamshahri) - Younger wrestlers shine at the Takhti championships.
Are there other countries represented -- other than the U.S.? >>>
FULL TEXT IN PERSIAN
Still can't play
Tehran (Iran Sports Press) - Ali Karimi is not permitted to play
on the Persepolis team in the upcoming Asian Club Championships, said a
member of the Technical Committee of the Asian Football Confederation >>>
FULL TEXT
Esteqlal stadium
Tehran (Mosharekat) - Esteqlal is planning to build an exclusive
20,000-seat stadium near Tehran >>> FULL TEXT IN PERSIAN
BBC
Persian Service
For the latest news,
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Quote Unquote
No choice
As long as other countries in Iran's neighborhood either pursue or possess
the nuclear option, Iran has no choice but to play into the same "mutual
assured destruction" doctrine that ensured nuclear peace between the
U.S. and the Soviet Union and now with Russia.
-- Guive Mirfendereski
"All
tied up"
The Iranian
January 20, 2000
Photo of the Day
National
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(six photos)
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