Benam Chi

alimostofi
by alimostofi
28-Sep-2009
 

Last night I was invited to a lovely dinner at a relative's flat in London. The grace and taste of the environment, automatically made me not only feel at home, but I felt Iranian.

The art of Iranian hospitality, and it is Iranian, as opposed to English or French, makes you wonder what it is that is Iranian. In fact that taste of culture is what made us think, how united we were, and how disunited we can be in a religious or political environments.

This "ghormeh sabzi" philosophy of mine, means that culture is over and above politics, and religion. We are Iranian above Islam and democracy. It is as simple as that. No matter what we vote, and which way we pray, we are Iranian first.

And so it is rediculous that we should not use this unity to put Iran first. No one but an Iranian can appreciate that. That taste takes a lot of years to develop, and it will never disappear, as it is the oldest in the world.

We know that we have this unity and we must use it against any principle that wants to be more important, be it democracy or Islam.

Balatarin
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more from alimostofi
 
Anonymouse

Here's a link to buy some, don't let the website discourage you!

by Anonymouse on Tue Sep 29, 2009 08:23 AM PDT


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Abarmard

Anonymouse

by Abarmard on Tue Sep 29, 2009 08:12 AM PDT

sure, send me one.


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Anonymouse

The hat is your logo?! Maybe u can upgrade to an "Afghan" one?!

by Anonymouse on Tue Sep 29, 2009 07:12 AM PDT

Everything is sacred.


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Anonymouse

Democracy,religions,culture,etc,are whatever you want them to be

by Anonymouse on Tue Sep 29, 2009 07:08 AM PDT

Everything is sacred.


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Abarmard

Anonymouse

by Abarmard on Tue Sep 29, 2009 07:07 AM PDT

The hat is still around, just got tired of wearing it :)


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alimostofi

Anonymouse

by alimostofi on Tue Sep 29, 2009 07:01 AM PDT

None of the things you said would arise, if politicians did not challenge culture with democracy, and theocrats did not challenge culture with religion, by saying that their politics and their religion, came first, and was over and above Iranian culture.

They started this whole bickering process.  So I am just setting it all in perspective.  In fact you are right.  One is Iranian and all those things.  But one is not all those things and Iranian.  So you cannot pretend to be a fanatical moslem and forget Iran, which is what the twelvers have done.  Or be a communist and forget Iran, by being and extreme democrat or liberal.

Iranians fell for democracy, which got manipulated to remove the national anthem and the name of the country.

 

 

Ali Mostofi

//www.alimostofi.com

 


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Anonymouse

Ali you felt Iranian and then you kicked Islam & Democracy?

by Anonymouse on Tue Sep 29, 2009 06:20 AM PDT

That is what I meant when I said we're first humans.  We see so many times that being Iranian is being advertised as so much more that trumps everything and in the process everything else gets diluted or rejected and we've seen it on all sides, whether in power or not.

So being or feeling is very good and unique and we should be proud of it.  More power to unity too.  But I don't think we need to sacrifice everything else, such as not respecting people's religion or races or other stuff.  Of course you can but why should we and who are the ones who do it?  I don't think you can call for unity and then keep others at arm's length.

You can't tell an Iranian Muslim that he is Iranian "first".  Again you can, but what would be his response? Probably something along the line of I'm both or if he wants to play a child's game, he'd say; I know what I am but what are you?! 

Everything is sacred.


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Anonymouse

Abarmard jaan, what is this?! what happened to your 'Mao' hat?!

by Anonymouse on Tue Sep 29, 2009 06:13 AM PDT

Everything is sacred.


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alimostofi

Abarmand, war is bad and the

by alimostofi on Mon Sep 28, 2009 02:40 PM PDT

Abarmand, war is bad and the Iranian ancient history books like Avesta teach us that even though other religious and political principles don't.

We in Iran have our own philosophies. Most of it has disappeared no thanks to Salman Parsi who burnt all of them. What we do have left remains in the Avesta.

Ali Mostofi

//www.alimostofi.com

 


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alimostofi

What I am saying, is that I

by alimostofi on Mon Sep 28, 2009 02:43 PM PDT

What I am saying, is that I felt more Iranian in the gathering and united than "human".

On second thoughts Anonymouse, I would feel human per se as you said, if I were on another planet. That's the sort of feeling you get when you watch Stargate.

Ali Mostofi

//www.alimostofi.com

 


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Anonymouse

We are Iranians "first" is meaningless. We are humans "first".

by Anonymouse on Mon Sep 28, 2009 08:53 AM PDT

Everything is sacred.


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Abarmard

True

by Abarmard on Mon Sep 28, 2009 08:53 AM PDT

Dear alimostofi, Consider this:

Iran is the largest circle that holds smaller circles such as religion, politics, ethnicities, culture, etc. within it. We all agree that we are Iranian as the bigger circle, yet many of us have different views as what is best for the country, as anywhere else. Those differences in tastes are the dividing factor. However as you know, many times when there is a war, the entire population puts their tastes aside and supports their largest circle.


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