n.zanincanadai
15-Dec-2008 (50 comments)
poem from Mahmoud Darwish >>>

1955

Two years after the coup

Two years after the coup

Photo essay: Shah and Soraya in Miami Beach, Flroida

by KA
15-Dec-2008 (31 comments)

>>>

Mumbai Attacks

smhb

The Monster in the Mirror

The Guardian / Arundhati Roy
recommended by smhb
15-Dec-2008 (one comment)
>>>
Darius Kadivar
15-Dec-2008 (3 comments)
An Excellent and Realistic Approach on the possibilities of Traveling through Time is illustrated in this Fascinating BBC documentary >>>

Iran's grip on America's future

kishbeach

Video: Iran, an empire by proxy

The Commonwealth Club of California / Robert Bear
recommended by kishbeach
15-Dec-2008 (2 comments)
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ONE TRIBE

Kill the Black Dog

“Religion’s anything that teach good. Anything teach bad is not religion even when people say it’s religion.”

15-Dec-2008 (2 comments)
The unrelenting August rain pounded the cabin roof of an Alaskan Chilkat Valley campground. Sitting by the crackling fire and looking through a large window, I could see soaring snow-capped mountains and thousands of bald eagles feasting on the abundant Chilkat River’s salmon. The remoteness of the unspoiled wilderness made me feel as if I had arrived at the end of the world. About several dozen people had come to this camp for a week of rest and restoration that included informal talks and workshops. It was a recess time. One of the participants, a very elderly Tlinget Indian man and I sat together enjoying the magnificent display of nature>>>

NOBEL

Self-desired loneliness

Le Clezio and the myth of the reclusive artist

15-Dec-2008 (4 comments)
I was reading a piece in Persian about J.M.G. Le Clezio, the winner of this year’s Nobel Literature Prize. If you allow me to go to a tangent at the beginning of an essay; it never fails to surprise, and delight me, to see how active Iranians, the ones living in Iran, are in pursuing international and global issues of art, literature, and basically what helps us continue to be human. Considering the information blockade which prevails there, it is quite striking to read pieces in so many journals which show a deep understanding of issues beyond the borders of Iran, and even beyond the immediate concerns of Iranians. I have it from several sources, one particularly reliable, that Iran alone publishes more translated literature than its neighbouring Arab countries together. >>>

USA

Who are Iranian-Americans?

Surveys and the Iranian community

15-Dec-2008 (3 comments)
It seems that one of the trendiest things to do in the Iranian community nowadays, (other than avoiding any sort of action at all costs) is the perennial community Survey. Recently the Public Affairs Alliance of Iranian Americans (PAAIA) in Washington, DC, the latest organization with the usual need to serve, announced the results of yet another survey, this time a Zogby phone survey! This implied secret-sauce of information and revelation of who we are, that will somehow explain our superiority, and cure all our ills, inspires and invites and begs deserved criticism. Just ask me how I know!>>>
Cy of Persia
15-Dec-2008 (34 comments)
I was really impressed with Bush’s nimble agility and his timely ducking to avoid the incoming shoes >>>

RELATIVISM

 توجيه تفکر ضد خردمداری

تضاد تئوری «نسبيت فرهنگي» با حقوق بشر

15-Dec-2008 (one comment)
مهم ترين قدمی که امسال در بزرگداشت حقوق بشر برداشته شده، از سوی دو تن از فعالين حقوق بشر بود که به شکل مخالفتی علنی با نقض حقوق بشر به بهانه ی تئوری «نسبيت فرهنگی» صورت گرفت. اين دو فعال حقوق بشر، خانم شيرين عبادی و آقای وول سويينکا، برندگان جايزه ی صلح نوبل از دو کشور ايران و نيجريه، بودند؛ دو کشوری که هر دو بر اساس شريعت اسلامی اداره می شوند. در اين اعتراض، خانم شيرين عبادی، بعنوان يک حقوقدان، ساختار «شورای حقوق بشر» را از يکسو، و «نقض حقوق بشر« در کشورهای اسلامی را، از سوی ديگر، به پرسش گرفت؛ و آقای وول سويينکا، نويسنده ی انساندوست نيجريه ای نيز رسماً عليه ديدگاه «نسبيت فرهنگی» ايستاده و «وحشی گری» هایی را که کشورهاي مسلمان زير پوشش سنت و توجيه آن بوسيله ی اين تئوری انجام می دهند سخت مورد انتقاد قرار داد. >>>

CULTURE

پرونده تئاتر شهر در تهران

راستی قرار است اسلام امروز بر سر فرهنگ های باستانی چه بلایی بیاورد؟

15-Dec-2008 (3 comments)
فرهنگ زدایی شاخ و دم ندارد. به همین سادگی آب می بندند به پاسارگاد! از زیر چهارباغ مترو رد می کنند و در کنار بیستون بایست حتماً یک اتوبان بسازند تا تمام علائم گذشته و تمدن پیشین محو شود. به همین سادگی! تصورش را بکنید که یک کشور هفتاد و چند میلیونی فقط چند سالن تئاترش فعال باشد! و تازه فعال ترین سالن در معرض انواع و اقسام تهدیدهاست. می خواهند از زیرش مترو رد کنند! در سی سال گذشته، در هر گوشه پارک دانشجو مسجدی ساخته اند و از یاد نبریم که تمام نمایشهایی که در این سالن اجرا می شود از زیر دست و نظر و خودکامگی های صاف چی های ارشادی و ممیزی های گوناگون گذشته است. >>>
asghar62
15-Dec-2008 (one comment)
A school only for rich people? >>>
DW Duke
15-Dec-2008 (45 comments)
It is unfortunate that the western world has such a negative image of people of the Muslim faith >>>
Faramarz_Fateh
15-Dec-2008 (10 comments)
Phil Knight, Chairman and CEO of Nike, in an unprecedented move, signed the now famous Iraqi shoe thrower to be the next spokesman for Nike's new line of multi purpose shoes. >>>