Archive - Oct 2007 - Article

Fine flicks

No ‘best’ lists can ever satisfy everyone. But Bernardo Bertolucci (The Last Emperor, Last Tango in Paris) forewords this best selection - where he muses about his discovery of ‘Kamerasutra’: the magic and sensuality of the moving camera! Moreover, it is 150 films, not the traditional 100. Perhaps that additional 50 allowed the inclusion of some Asian gems like Ozu’s ‘I Was Born, But…’; Guney’s ‘Yol’; Kiarostami’s ‘Close-Up’ (though many would have preferred Kiarostami’s sublime ‘Through The Olive Trees’); and Tian Z’s ‘Horse Thief’ >>>

The escape route

Iran's recent deal with the IAEA provides the best path out from diplomatic deadlock. Washington, however, seems set to miss another opportunity. Following intense negotiations, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) announced in late August a new work plan reached with Iran, aimed at resolving all outstanding issues in Iran's nuclear file by the end of the year. The agreement was branded as "a significant step forward" by the Agency's Director General, Dr Mohamed El-Baradei. It was also hailed as a move in the right direction by most of the 118 nations of the Non-Aligned Movement who have consistently recognised Iran's right to a nuclear energy program>>>

Point of emulation

Given the high office Ahmadinejad holds, he has free access to Ayatollah Mesbah Yazdi and frequently seeks solace and guidance from him on religious as well as matters of the state. Furthermore, Yazdi often times serves the role of father figure, confidant, as well as therapist for Ahmadinejad. Recently, petrified by a vision, Yazdi rushed to Ahmadinejad for interpretation of the meaning of his vision and the course of action he should take. Below is a digest of what transpired between PAM and AMY.>>>

Cutting the rope

There are a few courageous campaigners who oppose the death penalty in Iran but the campaign to see capital punishment ended is hampered by the lack of freedom of speech in the country. Since the death penalty is a government policy, it is hard for individuals to speak out. This lack of debate causes many people to be ignorant of the truth behind the death penalty, including its lack of value as a deterrent to violent crime or its imposition against those persons innocent of any crime who have been wrongly convicted, to name just two examples. >>>

به بهانه اشاعه فرهنگ ایرانی!

جالب این است که این مراسم باز هم تحت عنوان اشاعه فرهنگ ایرانی برگزار میشود این جشنها و گردهمائی ها هم میتوانست موثر واقع شود اگر اشاعه بخش فرهنگ خردگرایانه ، انسانی ایرانیان در کنار رقص های زیبا با لباسهای مختلف و غذاها جلوه گر میشد. اما متاسفانه در این مراسم قسمت های با ارزش فرهنگ ما که تاکید بر همدلی انسانها ی مستقل از ملیت اشان دارد به نمایش گذاشته نمیشود.>>>

"Marg bar dictator"

...>>>

Give diplomacy a chance

We, the undersigned, represent the views of a diverse grouping of Iranian expatriates in the United States, the UK and elsewhere in the West. Some of us have vastly different views regarding the current government in Iran; we are individually members of many different political parties; we do not all agree on how best to reach stability in the Middle East. But we all feel a connection with both our homes in the West and the finest core values of the societies in which we are living, and with the country of Iran and its cultural traditions, whether we came by these ties by birth, heritage or friendship.>>>

The burden on children

I really wish that all the children of Iran and the rest of the world could at least celebrate a day of pure happiness. It would have been so joyful to see that for once, even if it lasts only for one day, all the children of the world were to live beyond the disputes caused by adults, who are making this world an intolerable world for human beings. Till when do the children of the world have to pay for the hatred that has conquered many of adults’ minds, hearts and bodies? Till when do children have to pay for countries’ poor economic situations? Till when do they have to die with HIV and other diseases? Till when do they have to face bloodshed and brutality of this world before even they get to experience a handful of some of the smallest joys of this life?>>>

Vacancy

Cheecks were red apples,
Smiles were on lips,
Big and rich, indeed
Eyes were by thousands
Upon a thousand;
Sheen of reverence
Pouring our of them.

>>>

گلابی های رسیده

بهش گفتم وقتی من هیجده سالم بود، عاشق زن چهل ساله شدی. وقتی چهل سالم بود عاشق زن شانزده ساله شدی. و تمام مدت مثل گربه پشت در اتاق می نشستم گوش می کردم. گوش می کردم به صدای خنده اش، گوش می کردم به گفتگوی تلفنی اش، گوش می کردم به راز و نیازهای عاشقانه اش که هر روز به یکی دل می بست. اگر یک نفر بود آدم می توانست عادت کند. ولی یک نفر که نبود. از همان روز اول زن دوست بود. یکی را دوست داشت چون پوستش سفید بود – مثل هلو بود. یکی دیگر سیاه و با نمک بود. یکی دیگر موهای گندمی داشت. اون یکی لوند و تو دل برو بود، و من حسودیم می شد. >>>

Have it your way

This may seem odd, but we must compare Iranians to others in the region, or other places relatively similar, and not to America or other developed-world countries. One thing is amazing, that I have been writing critical about Iran almost all the time and I even mentioned it clearly that I see myself as an Azerbaijani making a clear distinction between my own background and some others within Iran BUT then almost NO-ONE, commented or wrote that I WAS NOT an IRANIAN. >>>

طرفدارانِ دوآتشه

آخرین تکواندوکار تیم ایران هم از مسابقه حذف شد. با دلسردی مشغول جمع کردن وساﺋلم از زیر صندلی بودم که فریاد "ایران، ایران" واضحتر از همهمه های گنگ حاکم بر سالن به گوشم رسید. این تشویق نابهنگام و غیرمترقبه گویا خیلی از ایرانیهای دیگر حاضر در سالن مسابقه را نیز متعجب کرده بود. همه نگاهها به گروهی از طرفداران که مشغول نواختن طبل و سرودن شعار بودند دوخته شده بود. >>>

The real story

Journalist Reese Erlich grew up in Los Angeles just south of UCLA. As a child he used to walk up Westwood Boulevard toward Westwood village, past a stockbroker's office and the Crest movie theater. At the time there was no Tehrangeles. The Westwood legal offices I visited last year to fix my Iranian passport mess used to house the ultra-right-wing John Birch Society. As an aborigine of sorts, Erlich has no grievances against the Iranians who have colonized the Westwood of his childhood. On the contrary, he seems to delight in the cultural upgrade. >>>

No time to waste

This situation calls for a prompt action and a pragmatic solution without getting into many details through endless talks that has not accomplished anything for our nation other than wasting time! Iranian elite need to participate actively in deciding about Interim leadership of a national movement as soon as possible by emphasizing on uniting factors and elements which are shared by as many as possible without insisting or expecting everyone to agree. Those who expect to apply rules of democracy on a resistance movement like an established democracy are asking for impossible and are part of the problem rather than solution!>>>

Wind Brings, Wind Takes

Do not torment me, oh wind
With your restless remembrance
Of menacing soft whispers

It is not fair to make be wander
Dancing in fantasies and illusions
On the faint melody of mercy

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