Ghosts or Heroes?

When did we decide to give up our heroes, and take on their ghosts?

Ghosts or Heroes?
by bahmani
17-Dec-2010
 

A recent email floated by, you know, the kind of email that presumes to be one of our "intellectual moments" and slyly asks you to consider an exercise, one of those annoying peace-nik ideas you can't seem to refuse to try.

This one challenged me and the rest on the bcc, to instead of the obvious slamming, to come up with 5 good things to say about, in this case Ahmadinejad.

As merely an altruistic exercise in forgiveness, or some sort of capitulating pious in-giving, or whatever. Instead of taking on this seemingly harmless and well intentioned challenge however, I found myself instead infuriated.

"Is this now what we have become?" I asked myself in earnest anger, an outright boghz in my throat.

I put away the laptop and decided to walk around the concept for a few days. Could I really put aside all the anger, pent up and postulated as an opposer, to this new manipulated and aberrated concept that has been posed as Iran?

So I thought about it for a couple of days, and this popped out, not surprisingly after I listened to a Pink Floyd song, "Wish You Were Here".

As I listened to the words, I realized that No, I would not, I could not postulate a forgiveness to what my Iran has become. What we have become.
When did we stop being warriors and fight for right against wrong, in a valiant glorious war of ideals, and trade all of that in to become mere prisoners in a cage?

When did we decide to give up our heroes, and take on their ghosts?

"Did they get you to trade
Your heroes for ghosts? Hot ashes for trees?
Hot air for a cool breeze?
And cold comfort for change?
Did you exchange
A walk on part in the war,
For a lead role in a cage?"

Seriously, we are really going to have to reconsider all this ridiculous shit at some point…

Share/Save/Bookmark

more from bahmani
 
divaneh

Dear Anonymouse

by divaneh on

The last thing that I would like to do is to defend AN, but I still would rate them differently. I don’t think there is any government who only does wrong things and credit needs to be given when it is due. That would possibly let us to get much better in living together as a nation. I can argue each case and explain what influenced my judgement but I think this is more than enough for AN for now.


Anonymouse

Divaneh jaan please rate your "five" choices!

by Anonymouse on

First of all it is a shame that we have a hard time admitting to 5 "good things" whereas imagine if we could admit to 50 or 500 good things.

Still here's how I'd rate your choices or dismiss couple of them.  How'd you rate them on a scale of 1 to 10?

1. He enjoys a fair popularity in the Middle East and some Muslim countries. I don't know if that matches his unpopularity in Iran and the West.

Rating = 2. Which Middle East countries? Certainly not Israel and of the remaining Arab countries in which Sunni dominated country does he enjoy support?  This is like saying George W Bussh enjoyed a fair popularity in the American continent and some European and western countries. 

2. He has taken difficult decisions such as removal of subsidies and introduction of VAT. Transfer of some of the estate departments to other cities as one of the measures to reduce the population in Tehran would be another courageous move.

Rating = 1.  In a country where 80% of the economy is based on oil and the Government receives 100% of the oil revenue, does it need to receive taxes on the remaining 20% of the economy?  In a free and a normal economy I'd agree but not in the case of Iran with current sharing of revenues. 

3. He has shown courage by endorsing pre Islamic Iran in the face of clear disapproval by some centres of power in the country.

Rating = 2.  He has only said couple of things on couple of occasions about Cyrus at the cylinder unveiling.  BTW, whatever happened to the cyliner? 

4. He is good in building alliances.

Rating = 2.  Are you refering to the alliances like Turkey and Brazil in their nuke one-sided negotiations with themselves?!  Would he be able to keep the same alliances if Turkey and Brazil vote for a more conservative Government in their countries?  The main alliances which is causing havoc in Iran and international isolations and sanctions are not only in place but strengthened. 

5. He gives satirists a good deal of materials.

Rating = A perfect 10! 

Everything is sacred


Nader Vanaki

fussygorilla is none other than

by Nader Vanaki on

Sargooz Pirouz posting under a different name.  The psychological profile is evident in his writings. A lost American-Iranian deprived of attention and identity in a complex Californian-Iranian community!  You won't hear from him once he is married.


bahmani

REPLY TO: Fussygorilla

by bahmani on

As hard as it is for me not smile while replying to anyone with a name like fussygorilla who professes to support A, I'll take a shot at it.

Since you are of the same genus, (ie. monkey family) of course Gorillas will tend to support Chimpanzees. That is your nature, and your right, and outside of Iran you are free to choose that point of view, and I can even respect it, if as well argued as divaneh has tried (see above).

However if this entire conversation is illegal in your Iran, and if us having it is not allowed under the constitution of Iran, and if you, me and divaneh arguing this on a corner of a street in Tehran, is not allowed, then you lose. For that is not an Iran I want to consider. And as a free Iranian, unlike yourself, I can actually do that if I want.

As an Iranian who supports A, you don't have that right, but follow your leaders wishes anyway, and keep your mouth shut, the free expression of your ideas and opinions to yourself, and keep real real quiet. Because in the Iran you obviously want and prefer, you have to support censorship and suppress freedom, including your own.

So many of you supporters, come here to this site to do your dirty talking then go back and pretend to be good little pious bitches, of a system that you think is about to reward you somehow for your feigned loyalty. And that is certainly one way to live.

If you believe in the system then follow the plan man, and censor yourself! Since you feel compelled to express yourself here, on this free forum, you obviously value the freedom to speak, a freedom that precisely the system you are actually trying to defend now, denies even suckup supporters like you.

Enjoy your Iran. Personally, (and without the slightest consideration for your opinion) I think it sucks. Really sucks.


divaneh

I try my hand

by divaneh on

Despite my dislike for AN and his gang, I can think of a few positive things about him. At the end of the day, I dont believe in pure evil or pure angel. It's just the proportion of wrong and right in a person or a system that can tip it one way or another. Here is my list.

1. He enjoys a fair popularity in the Middle East and some Muslim countries. I don't know if that matches his unpopularity in Iran and the West.

2. He has taken difficult decisions such as removal of subsidies and introduction of VAT. Transfer of some of the estate departments to other cities as one of the measures to reduce the population in Tehran would be another courageous move.

3. He has shown courage by endorsing pre Islamic Iran in the face of clear disapproval by some centres of power in the country.

4. He is good in building alliances.

5. He gives satirists a good deal of materials.

I think I have put my foot in it again.


Darius Kadivar

Excellent Observation Bruce

by Darius Kadivar on

And Should I add the following quote:

"A Country that Loses it's Poetic Vision is a Country that faces death" -Saul Bellow.  

 

Sooner or Later We Need To Restore the Spirit of Chivalry ...

The Legend of Prince Valiant Intro 


Related Blog:

KNIGHTHOOD: Re-Enactment of The Sassanian Cavalry (Short Film) 


fussygorilla

Mr. Bahmani

by fussygorilla on

you have obviously fallen into the trap of the Western anti-Iranian trash bin.  ahmadi does not need "forgiveness" or anything else for that matter.  Iranians IN IRAN (not expat brainwashed ones like your ilk) in the millions support Ahmadi and his policies.  Get off your horse and come to your senses.