Archive - Aug 22, 2009 - Article

How Ahmadinejad Stole an Election

The single most important step is to transfer election responsibilities from the Interior Ministry and the Guardian Council to a nonpartisan and independent national election commission. Iran should also create a nonpartisan elections court, composed of judges and lawyers. All the major political parties should have a veto on nominees so as to ensure that the judges are acceptable to all the parties. Second, the Election Commission should certify the candidates according to clear and fair criteria, and they should prevent any intimidation, and guarantee access to the entire electoral process by domestic and international election observers>>>

از هیچ جای هیچ رهبری نمی‌روید

رهبر جنبش سبز، آقای موسوی، هشت سال نخست‌وزیر ایران بود. در طول آن سال‌ها هزاران زندانی سیاسی شکنجه و اعدام شدند. دوره دوره‌ای ایدئولوژیک بود. مردم ایدئولوژیک بودند و ایشان هم. همه بودیم. می‌پذیریم. بسیاری از آنانی که اعدام شدند دست کمی از آقای موسوی آن دوره نداشتند و اگر به قدرت رسیده بودند هزاران موسوی و امثال وی را به جوخه‌های اعدام سپرده بودند. قصد من اینجا دفاع از یکی و محکوم کردن دیگری نیست. قصدم پرداختن به شخصیت سیاسی آقای موسوی‌ست. می‌پذیریم که او فرق کرده و "اصلاح" شده است. می‌پذیریم که دیگر آن فرد گذشته نیست. اما آیا این کافی‌ست؟>>>

How to Watch “Tehran has No More Pomegranates”

Reflecting on cities is as old as civilization itself. It all started with mythmaking 78 centuries ago as Sumerians speculated about the origins of Ur, Uruk, Kish and Lagash. They believed that their cities were built by Gods. One would think that if anyone knew who built those ziggurats and magnificent walls, they did. Archaic Greeks too insisted that the massive boulders of Mycenae were moved by the giant Cyclops. Masud Bakhshi also starts his tribute to Tehran with the myth that it was founded by a bandit tribe that lived underground and grew excellent pomegranates>>>

Coffee and Conversation

Mira called the other day and wanted to get together. We drove to Aroma Café on Tujunga – a sort of avant-garde hangout in Studio City where the brain of Hollywood converges. Mira had a story to tell and wanted me to give her my opinion. Those who have met me know only too well that I don’t mince words. Clearly Mira was ready for some candid talk. One big mug in each hand, she emerges from the shop gingerly making her way over to the table where I am perched on a rickety chair under the one and only maple tree. She sits across from me intent to lock eyes. I stare at this beauty who is gracefully gliding through her forties>>>