Misc

I liked that

I liked that interview.....freedom of speech....

Dear DK

Hooman did not sell himslef to mullahs because HE IS A MULLAH (on both sides of his parental heritage).

billybob & Anonymousfob "Anonymous" Coconuts Heads ...

Well this one is just for your empty braincells ...

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=5c-D35DRPbY&NR=1

LOL

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHFXG3r_0B8&feature=related

It may compensate for your lack of sense of Humor ! Not surprising for that is the case of most IRI apologists who slandered Azar Nafisi for being a neo con and now recognize what  an insightful and truly patriotic Iranian she really is.

So Bow to Your Sovereign !

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=796bHaAtlkE

So Should this IRI Apologist Hooman Majd Until his Treacherous Back Breaks for betraying King and Country  and selling himself to the Mullah's

LOOOOOOOOOooooooooooooL

Darius Kadivar

This man is arguably the most immature person on Iranian.com. He thinks he's so uppity but I have yet to hear him make a single rational or objective statement. It seems that his fascination with Robin Hood has overcome his brain cells.

to Azarin Sadegh

I like your comment.

Azarin - I beg your pardon?

I think I could do a better job of schooling Mr. Rose than Azar, Hooman and VALI! I have been doing similar discussions at Jomeh Nahar for the past 30 years therefore I am a scholar too. You do not understand this?

I was surprised...

I was surprised by a few comments regarding the “people” in this discussion...especially that they came from contributors who seem not being familiar at all with the work of the participants in this debate.

Azar Nafisi (Her two memoirs are Reading Lolita in Tehran and Things I’ve been silent about, so we can call her a memoirist) and Hooman Majd (His book The Ayatollah Begs to Differ is more a memoir/travelogue and political analysis) are two of the most well-known Iranian authors in the American media. Mr. Nasr (a politician) is the only Iranian adviser to President Obama (and even if I didn’t know him before this nomination, still I feel proud by his achievement and I am happy that we do have a voice in Washington DC.).

So we can say that the participants in this debate represent the most successful Iranian-Americans in the international community.

Now I wonder why there are so many Iranians – who haven’t done better than these personalities - keep belittling them, ignoring them or misinterpreting them? Is it out of ignorance or jealousy? I’m not sure.

It is so unfortunate that as a community instead of supporting each other, and feeling proud because of their achievements, we look for imperfections or even worse we try to backstab their success.

This behavior, as the measure of the level of growth of a community, could also be one of the main reasons why we are where we are (which is in Diaspora)!

Thanks,

Azarin

thank you Farhad

i enjoyed the clip alot.  and i did not make the connection between Ms. Nafisi and "Reading Lolita in Tehran"!!!  i thoroughly enjoyed the book.. can't wait to check the new one out.

Nobody is perfect

But I was glad to see three attractive, intelligent, informed Iranians on a well respected program. They presented a very decent image of Iranians. We need more of them in public view.

Thank you Farhad S. for posting this clip.

It certainly is an intresting forum!

I do believe they all spoke  very well and presented themselves cultured. They didnot attack each others characters or cut each other off and or get emotional.

I think they were all informed like most of us here, we read news and follow up stuff and talk home with our families, we even know the price of meat and so on.

I think Ms. Nafisi talked as a woman and her observations were mostly focused on the women`s right and also now a days culture of Iran. I think she undestood it very well when she said "iranian people are far more evolved culturaly than the rulling elite, and that they need to adapt or they will fall behind" and also I like couple of thing that Mr, hooman said about Iran and that she wants to be the lion that once was. it is true that the Neibouring countries including TURKEY need to know that Iran`s place and respect her.

I found Mr. Nasr a bit bias, I amnot sure, I could be wrong. I think he is a bit "shahdoost" and he reffered alot to: whatever the IRI has today was founded or ground work was done before the revolution" I amnot sure if that statement is entirely true.

If anyone can correct me I would be glad to hear from you.

to Darius Kadivar

what's up with these irrelevant youtube clips. it is a shame really some one in your age is so immature. do you have wife and kids?

To Anonymous Everyday: qaht ul Rajal

That's just it! I call it qaht ul rajal!

In the last few years specially after Bush's famous speech naming Iran part of axis of evil, focusing world's attention on Iran/mullahs, anybody who writes a book, article, or whatever on Iran, his/her book automatically gets to the top of the list of New York Times, Economist, GQ, Esquire, this or that, ALL supposedly providing valuable information and fresh persepctives on Iran.

Come on people even Robin Wright, Elaine Sciolino, and Barbara Slavin have been called Iran experts.

Well if one finds him intelligent, highly personable, with great looks, and fantastic lineage, then the only thing to do is to find out if he is gay or not. If not and if married, it doesn't matter; I am sure he can ask his relative Khatami to perform a sigheh mahramiyat for you guys.

Why not listen

Its interesting, Iran is going through some changes, it has endured and educated its rulers in the past. As much as changes has been painful and things always look nicer in rear view mirror, Iran will be fine and just have faith that she will be OK. The worst things for Iran is the foreign threats, war will not be good for anyone.

Publicist

You forgot to mention his book made it to the Economist's Best Books of 2008 list. For those who have missed it, Majd provides a very unusual perspective into the Iranian culture and psyche. He is extremely intelligent and an acute observer. His book comes highly recommended, not only for the Americans, but for the tisish-mamany Iranians. A great reminder that Iran is not just north Tehran.

By the way, I agree with the ladies here, he is HOT!!!
An extra piece of trivia: He is the late Shusha Guppy's nephew. Intelligence, highly personable, great looks, fantastic lineage,... what else do you want.

Entertainer, spokesperson (?!), writer, journalist ...

Nowadays, you write a couple of articles here and there and automatically become an Iran expert:

//www.hoomanmajd.com/Hooman/Biography.html

incredibly humble, balanced

incredibly humble, balanced and frankly more updated on the real Iran issues than most of us over here!

He looks like a used car salesman! I saw no humility either in his demeanor nor his inspid regurgitation of Islamic republic's talking points. Nothing original or insightful. Most of his comments were non-sequitur. No one with an ounce of Analytic brain will take this guy seriously.

He epitomizes also the Islamists severe deficiencies in logical debating skills; in other words, like mullahs he engaged in a monolgue not a dialogue.

He is updated? Yes, it does seem that he has a direct access to the mullahs especially Khatami. He probably is commissioned by the mullahs to lobby for the IRI.

As a woman, I find his looks sleazy.

The intent

Dear ID, I totally agree with you and with Girle Irooni also. Whether these people were born in Iran or not does not make a huge difference in the fact that they are conducting a debate from the American POV -- a fair and civilized one I might add. The same debate could've taken place among natural born Americans of the similar schools of thoughts. Turning this into a good and evil battle is only the product of a feeble, emotionally skewed mind!

Parthian

In my last trip to Iran four months ago, I was having a conversation with a prominent family attorney in Iran.

She said something that goes much in line with what you are saying about Ms. Nafisi and Ms. Ebadi. She said, this time around it is going to be Women in Iran who will bring fundamental political and social CHANGE in Iran.

She could very well be right,  men screwed up in the last one anyhow. 

capt_ayhab [-YT]

Girle Irooni You Are ABSOLUTELY RIGHT I'm jealous ;0))

Of Mr. Hooman's ( RatCatta aka The Black Knight) Payroll ... and Well trimmed Beard.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNcALf0j1q8

But I have a Bigger Blade ! ;0)))

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5zXRs1_CzY

Metaphorically Of Course ... LOL

DK aka The Court Jestor aka The Black Fox !

Thanks! well said Girle

Thanks! well said Girle Irooni!

Dear Ajam

What they said in "us" and "them" terms was valuable and left no room for argument, I think this method actually works best to undo the others' effort to demonize Iranians .

I'd rather hear these peaceful and balanced views from Iranian-Americans than people who claim to be patriotic Iranians and advocate military attacks on the country or make fun of anyone who speaks of a peaceful dialogue.

IRANdokht

Ok Folks Here is to YOUR Khatami ;0))

Tribute to Your "Khoda Biamorz" ( to quote Hooman in another of his Bright inspirational moments speaking of Khatami) of the Day ...

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMRtUDtyqHQ&feature=related

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=clmtpfF9U00&feature=related

LOL

Ball the Move Forward???????????

Agha Vali it is [ to move the ball forward] and not [ball the move forward].

And Agha Vali it is [satellite] that India lunched and not [SPACE CRAFT].... [Public] and not [publicS]

They talk as though they have been living in Iran. Give me a break dudes and dudet. At least Hooman Nafisi can deliver a concise sentence.

capt_ayhab [-YT]

Good post nonetheless

American "pundits"

These people are American citizens talking about Iran as a foreign nation. Their main objective is how to serve American interests best only with different aproaches. Even throughout the interview they use "us" and "them" when referring to Americans and Iranians respectively. Only a naive mind would expect otherwise!

It smells like jealousy!

It's fascinating how we Iranians interpret a simple gracious intellectual conversation between 4 people like a contest between three old foes. For Gods sake, this is just a "round table" and nobody is trying to send a rocket into space!
It's just a simple rational conversation. That's all.
And to those of you who attack Hooman-e Majd with your irrelevant comments, you are all just envious of his good looks (specially his exuberant hair). Otherwise any logical viewer can tell that this guy is incredibly humble, balanced and frankly more updated on the real Iran issues than most of us over here!

I'm proud of these people

Azar Nafisi is a classy and educated lady. We should all be proud of her.

Vali Nasr is a beacon of hope. Having him as a close adviser to President Obama gives me a lot of hope and optimism.

Hooman Majd seems like a bright and educated guy. But I just can't place him (politically). He seems to be trying to have it both ways; kind of like a great majority of Iranian-Americans who try to be critical of the Mullahs (verbally) but also don't want to give up their annual trips back to Iran!

Hooman Majd vaghtesh shodeh Khalvat Kohny ;0)

Baleh deegeh ... ;0)

BYE BYE IRI Apologists ...

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLzBGEduHrY&feature=related

Its Time for a New Season in the Chapters of Iranzamin :

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=NslozezriWA&NR=1

La Vengeance est un Plat Qui se Mange Froid !

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=LbkbCSjdNk4

LOL

Good Old Days wont be here again

Mr. Nasr was a politician. He said a lot but most of it was common knowledge. Ms Nafisi was trying to portray herself as an intellectual. In her opinion Islam means poetry of Rumi and Hafez and “jaame-mey.” The only realist among the three was Mr. Majd. Perhaps for the reason that he’s the only one among the three who travels to Iran frequently and he doesn’t want to create problems for himself at the border. The interesting part was the fact that after 30 years of I.R. all of them had realized that regime change is a thing of the past. They were rooting for Khatami since they think Khatami is the voice of modernism in Iran. His presidency might open the door for opponents of the regime to travel to Iran unhindered. They might even let Ms Nafisi to go back to Iran and promote her books! They failed to realize the fact that a society always moves forward. Khatami phenomena was a thing of the past. People might reject  Ahmadinejad for his failed economic policies but that's the only reason that they might reject him. It’s not because of his rhetoric about Israel or Holocaust etc. It's not because of the human rights situation. Holocaust and human rights etc. are issues for intelectuals to discuss. They have nothing to do with the lives of ordinary people. It would be very unlikely that the Iranian population would go back to the failed policies of Khatami. The same principle applies to Reza Pahlavi and all those who still dream of the good old day under the Pahlavis. That's just a dream.

.

.

Hooman Majd Dahanesh Service Shod ;0))

Hee Hee,

It Seems someone disturbed your plans Hooman ...

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXvBAks6PJY

Ha, Ha, It is Indeed the TIME TO CHOOSE  :

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hYedVEHEXc

For Hooman YOUR Hezbeh Baad Won't Fool Anyone and certainly Not Iranians ...

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HpvAJTAk5Y

Hooman is very smart

Hooman is the best.
The other two are
Ok.