Letters
March 5-9, 2001 / Esfand 15-19, 1379
Today
* Afghan:
- Women more important than statues
* Persia:
- Ferdosi was not a Nazi
- Iran >>> Persia >>>
Iran
Previous
* Petition:
- BE HEARD!
* Music:
- Weeping and moaning
* Home:
- I know this feeling
* Noruz:
- Official Noruz recognition
* Reza Pahlavi:
- How? When? Where?
- Rezadoust
- Vatanforoush
- Not funny
* Tajikistan:
- Amr-e bozorg-e farhangi
- Fantastic collection
* Lost:
- Father: Reza Nemati
* Reza Pahlavi:
- No liberator
* Freedom:
- Eminem: Artistic expression
- Get Eminen
* Iran:
- Did you visit the same country?
- Really got on my nerves
- What if god forbid...
- In France too
* Persia:
- Always Iran
* Model:
- Oy vey!
* Revolution:
- At last
- We all lost
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Thursday
March 8, 2001
* Women more important than statues
Are they doing more for Buddha statues than women? ["Savage
bastards"]
The permanent oppression exercised against women by Afghan integrists
has never had such a mediatic and diplomatic treatment.
Today, March 8th is Rooz-e Zan and the entire planet is provoked by
distruction of Afghan statues. For Colin Powell "It's horrible, a
tragedy, a crime against humanity." For European Union; "It's
a crime." Indian authorities talk about medieval babarity. And Mohammad
Khatami says it's "Inhumane".
Have they ever had the same reaction about Afghan women? Destruction
of these statues is regrettable fpr sure. It is a loss for cultural heritage.
But does anybody care for Human treated worse than statues?
Maryam Shabani
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* Ferdosi was not a Nazi
With reference to Mr. Motamedi's article regarding Iran and Persia ["Bring
back Persia"], tt seems that there is a general misunderstanding
regarding the name of our country. The name of our country has alway been
Iran. Persia is the name used by the British and other Europeans before
Reza Shah came to power.
In the Shahnameh there are hundreds of other reference to "Iran"
and none to "Persia" or even "Paars". And we all know
that Ferdosi lived about 1000 years before Reza Shah so he could not have
been a Nazi >>>
FULL TEXT
Babak Babakan
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* Iran >>> Persia >>> Iran
I just want to make one thing clear. From what I have read or heard,
since I was a kid, I do not think that in the Persian/Parsi or Farsi language
there has ever been a dichotomy between Persia and Iran, for Iranians at
least ["Bring
back Persia"].
An interesting anecdote is that 15 to 20 years ago, when I would visit
the Louvre Museum and ask to see the section on Iran, they would tell me
there is no section on Iran, but there is a section on Persia. Recenetly
I visited the Louvre and asked to see the section on Persia, and they told
me, "You mean Iran." >>>
FULL TEXT
Darius Kadivar
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Wednesday
March 7, 2001
* Did you visit the same country?
Having recently spent a few weeks back in Iran after a two-year absence,
I was saddened to read Eli's account ["Not
going back"] of her holiday in Iran. I wonder if she even went
to the same country as I did. I am sorry Eli, but yours was not an objective
and fair assessment of Iran. The account of your trip is full of stereotypical
Iran hating nonsense. I can assure you I would not judge American people
to be crazy like those on the Jerry Springer show or gun-crazy idiots like
the 15-year-old San Diego school-boy >>>
FULL TEXT
Farhad Nikkhah
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* Really got on my nerves
I would like to express my opinion regarding an article that I read
today on your website that kind of upset me ["Not
going back"]. My name is Niloufar and I am a young Iranian. when
I read the article written by an American woman who recently traveled to
Iran, I couldn't help getting very frustrated. She had a lot of good points
about the poverty, religion, freedom and the fact that people are not treated
equally. However There were some stuff in there that made me extremely
angry and upset >>>
FULL TEXT
Niloufar
San Francisco
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* What if god forbid...
I think your idea is a wonderful one ["Let's
go"]. However I wanted to know a couple things. Will there be
any older chaperones? If not who is your contact there if god forbid you
get into any problems with the Komite? Or if not the Komiteh, the Basij?
I am writing this email out of concern. I am a 26-year-old female who
was raised in Iran. I think it is an excellent idea what you have put together
and I would like to send my niece and nephew, but although they are 18
and 19, who will be responsible for them?>>>
FULL TEXT
S. Nasehi
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* BE HEARD!
A word of advice to Setareh Sabety ["No
ordinary congressman"], don't think that your views don't matter
simply because your representative in Congress or senator are not the people
you would have elected.
Ironically, one of the most responsive senators that I have ever dealt
with was Jesse Helms. There is a man with a machine to handle constituents'
concerns and yet he is, I am sure, to most Democrats, the epitome of an
"ultra-Republican".
Never forget (and don't let them forget it either): Your representatives
work for YOU >>>
FULL TEXT
Bradley J. Hernlem, Ph.D.
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* Weeping and moaning
This is my two cents regarding the review of the recent concert of Mohammad
Reza Shajarian by Yari Ostovany ["Shajarians
carry the night"]. Yari praises Shajarian for his masterful
adaptation of Mehdi Akhavan Saless's poem "Zemestan". Contrary
to Yari Ostovany, I think this adaptation of Zemestan has completely missed
the boat >>>
FULL TEXT
Mansour Fahimi
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* I know this feeling
Recent letters rave about "The
mirror and the book".
My curiosity is peaked.
I start to read.
A tingly sensation takes over me.
I know this feeling.
I recognize it.
I am familiar with the symptoms that will soon follow.
A lump, the size of a Persian lime in my throat >>>
FULL TEXT
S. Bahar
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Tuesday
March 6, 2001
* Official Noruz recognition
The City Council of the City of Mission Viejo, California, will adopt
a proclamation in their meeting of Monday 3/19/01 to recognize "March
20th" as the "Nowrooz - Iranian Year." I urge all the Iranians
who hear this news to show up in the Mission Viejo City Council meeting
on Monday 3/19/01 at 6:00pm to express their support and appreciation >>>
FULL TEXT
Hamid Bahadori
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* How? When? Where?
It is so sweet that poor little Reza Pahlavi has a friend who loves
him so! Meanwhile the rest of us have to worry about paying the bills.
I resent anybody trying to tell me that Reza Pahlavi has sacrificed his
youth for pursuing democracy in Iran. How? When? Where? Or do we count
the worrying that we all do for Iran as sacrifice? >>>
FULL TEXT
Setareh Sabety
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* Rezadoust
Once again the voice of emotional and "god-he-is-such-a-nice-guy
only-if-you-get-to-meet-him" oversimplicity has come thru in the form
of an article by Mr. or Ms. Mihandoust ["My
friend"].
While Mr. Pahlavi may not wear Rolex watches or prefer the smallest
room in the condo, Mihandoust completely misses the point. This is not
a personal "thing" with Mr. Pahlavi. His tastes, personal choices
and humility, if truly so, while quite admirable, are not why people have
an issue with him as a political figure. If all that matters is that Reza
Pahlavi is your friend and an eloquent razor-sharp, humble, sweetheart
with a plan, then the more appropriate name for Mihandoust would be Rezadous
>>>
FULL TEXT
Aref Erfani
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* Vatanforoush
I read the article ["Citizen
Pahlavi"] and I tell if you are Iranian, you are nothing but vatanforosh.
If you are an Iranian, mention three things the Shah did wrong. If you
want to point out that he killed too many communists or fucking religious
people, obviously he did not kill enough >>>
FULL TEXT
Korosh
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* Not funny
I read Karim Azari's not-so-funny piece about the chelokababi ["Shah
Hassan..."]. What was his point? That the server didn't understand
his comments because of his broken English? Or is he telling us about the
lack of political energy late at night at a chelokababi? Or are you trying
to redicule Reza Pahlavi? Or are you just trying not to be funny?
Behrooz Jalayer
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* Amr-e bozorg-e farhangi
Dorood bar Mehdi khaan-e gol-e taajikdoost -- javaan-e honarmand o ensaan-e
vaagheie ["Paradise
divided"]. aashnaa kardan iraani-haa, aanham Iraani-haaye khaarej
az keshvar, baa taajikistan-e aziz yek amr-e bozorg-e farhangist. Omidvaaram
dar tamaam-e kaarhaayeh farhangi-ensaani hamisheh pirooz baashi
Zari Jazayeri
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* Fantastic collection
Thank you very much for giving us the fantastic collection of photos
of Tajikistan and Uzbekistan by Mr. Mehdi Jami ["Paradise
divided"]. It was very refreshing to see this collection.
H. Hakimi
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Monday
March 5, 2001
* No liberator
I am sympathetic toward Mr. Reza Pahlavi, as I am toward all unemployed
persons. However, finding a job with no work experience in his forty years
as a prince, as implied in the article, is rather difficult, especially
in today's economic environment.
My suggestion to Mr. Pahlavi and his handful of allies, who are trying
to test the waters for sailing back and sending a trial balloon via satellite
messages to Iran, is to get in touch with reality and get out of the daydreaming
state. The majority of the Iranian people, disillusioned as they are with
the present regime, will never consider another Shah as their liberator
>>>
FULL TEXT
Fereidoon Matin
Pleasant Hill, California
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* Eminem: Artistic expression
I liked your article and I like Eminem ["Here
& there"]. In response to my best friend's comment who said
she hopes her daughter will never be exposed to anyone like Eminem, I said
this: I know what you mean about his lyrics, but no matter what, he is
very talented and his choice of words are just an artistic expression.
His words are not any worse than the high action pact movies that are out
there that everyone loves, it's only in a form of music >>>
FULL TEXT
Iran Javid Fulton
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* Father: Reza Nemati
Could anybody help me trace my father REZA NEMATI? He was on board the
Zaal in barrow in furness England between 1969-1971 and left for Portsmouth,
England. I have not heard anything since we heard the Zaal sunk in the
Persian Gulf but we don"t know for sure. PLEASE HELP.
Michael Jones
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* Always Iran
So, "Even without documented proof of this story, it is difficult
to think of another reasonable explanation" for the name change from
Persia to Iran? PLEASE! Try this one: The name of the country is Iran,
and has always been Iran, as far as Iranians are concerned.
Reza Shah was therefore simply telling foreign missions to refer to
the country by the same name that its inhabitants called it, for centuries.
In fact, there is no word for "Persian" in the Farsi language.
Even the ancient Hakhamaneshi kings you glorify so much referred to
the country as Iran. Now, shall we move on to more relevant things?
John Mohammadi
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Friday,
March 2, 2001
* Get Eminen
After reading the short piece about how Eminem
wins awards for his freedom of speech and the Iranian journalist gets punished
["Here
& there"], I thought, "Hang on
a minute. This could be turned into something positive."
As crazy as it may seem, Eminem is the most powerful
man on earth, opinion wise. As soon as he says one word the world suddenly
takes notice. So why don't we as a community ask of him to write about
all the abuse that's going on in Iran? After all it's not like he would
be censored or get killed over it.
He could potentially bring the eyes of the world
onto our country and encourage the seed of change into faster growth.
Of course there is no telling whether he would
accept the challenge but wouldn't it be interesting to hear what he has
to say about the mollas' after the way he humiliated half the music industry
and the American President?
Shirin
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* At last
At last a well thought-out discussion of the revolution that does not
blame any number of conspiracies and Western powers ["Surprise"].
The eternal truth of the world is unexpected results.
Mark Cooper
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* We all lost
I was about 10-years old when the revolution happened. Even at that
age I was in middle of everything ["Surprise"].
I almost died twice in 24 Esfand Square and Maydan Shahyad area. I remember
that no one back then knew the reasoning behind it all, but the revolution
became an entertainment center for the people, especially young people.
A good source of excitement like no other they knew.
I am saddened for losing the Rahimis ["The
general's widow"] as well as the ones who were killed by the government
like the Farrokhzads, and our war heroes, and the 17-year-old Mojahedin
Khalghs & Cheerekhaa, Basijis and many many more. All these people
died for what they believed in & none of them really won. We all lost
because THEY WERE ALL IRANIANS >>>
FULL TEXT
Eliot Salehi
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* In France too
I would like to draw your attention to the following regarding Behrooz
Parsa's article, "I'm
the Shah here": I read the article with great attention, and I
believe every word he said. I would't go as far as to say the generals
were gods everywhere in Iran but such power abuse must have been common
in a totally bureacratic country Iran had become... I personally had a
similar experience but in a democratic country, the country that claims
to be the country of human rights >>>
FULL TEXT
Darius Kadivar
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