bahmani

Bahmani

I just read your bio and have some vague memory about your writing.  There are no Iranians including Ghaghaghaee's in my area, but there are many Germans (good ones).  I am going to share the below text from The Big Necessity:

"aiming a stream of urine at a toiler bowl sends a fine spray around the room.. which leaves a chemical deposit on anything surrounding the urinal.  It can also change the color of wallpaper.  There is a vogue among German men to sit down when they pee..."  This is what most Irani commentors in IC needs to learn.

I have tried German style and happy about that.  Unfortunately, my wife doesn't like the German style :)

A degree vs. a degree

well, do you think that

well, do you think that this obvious shortcoming in niac's policy to directly take on islamic republic is a simple oversight or there's something fudnamentally wrong with this organization's focus?  many people have been saying all along that most (if not all) of the concerns that niac has pushed are the same as islamic republic's (not that some of these sentiments are not shared by iranian americans): against sanctions, against military attack, persian/arabian gulf, recognition of norooz, defending iranian citizen accused of money laundering to iran, harrasing iranian citizens at the border,... 

oh yeah, they did one thing that islamic republic frowns on: "watch" and "document" human rights violation. that's why niac calls itself champion of human rights in iran.

RB

I am not sure IRI is giving hard time for just visiting Iran....... There are many who are not IRI supporters at all but have been traveling to Iran without going through what you are suggesting ....... I am not sure about high profile political activists they probably won't get through this easily but the majority who are not activists have been visiting Iran even those with political asylum cases ......  

at least this is what I am hearing ......

THANK YOU! Reality Bites

Seems like he message got to 1 out of 10. Or 90% of Iranians are too Stockholm Syndromed to realize who's really to blame.

Thanks for getting it.

the real Iranian Student Visa problem

If you think that Iran is goign to easily allow Iranians students (who are known for sheytooni) out of Iran once the US opens up the borders, you are in serious denial.

Iranian students are some of the brightest in the world, and if they can easily get into the US there would be a huge brain drain that Iran will react to by not allowing them to leave. This is obvious.

So again my point that if the US, allows Iranians students to come and go, don't think that Iran will not react to this.

oppression of students in Iran is very high on the security policies in Iran so when it becomes easy for Iranians students to come and go and do their political sheytooni, when they come home for christmas and summer vacation, there will be a reaction.

Unless you think and expect Iranian students to JUST come to the US to STUDY and not participate in any Facebook, twitter or green protest marches in DC and LA and NY and SF etc. If that is what you think then you are right.

Iranian students are only about the academics.

What Bahmani said here:

by bahmani on Mon Apr 04, 2011 01:04 PM PDT

While it is all too easy to point out ares for the US to improve, have you noticed that not one of the NIAC critiques is ever aimed directly at Iran?

Of course we all know why this is so, but for once I would like to see some outrage or objection to go both ways, not just towards the US.

The problems with Iran-US relations starts with Iran. ALL the violations against civil rights of human beings are there. The US is merely reacting (quite civilly if you ask me) to the outrageous acts all done under the ridiculous notion and claims by Iran of sovereignty.

I want NIAC to point one finger at Iran publicly, just like they point numerous fingers at what the US "ought to do".

=====================================================

Well put, thank you.

That is exactly one of my bug bears about groups like NIAC, i.e the fact that they either don't see or choose not to see that the difficulties of US/Iran relationship are a two way street.

In fact, the largest part of the problem over many bilateral issues, including the many difficulties over the movement of Iranians, student and non-students alike, between the two countries, lies with the IRI government. Yet groups like NIAC solely focus on what the US needs to do to fix these problems and do not direct a peep towards Iran! Nothing.

This issue cannot be solved by demanding what the US alone should or shouldn't do. It takes two to tango and as long as the IRI continues with its belligerent and intransigent policies the issue will not be solved

Heck, forget the US for a moment, the IRI makes it an absolute nightmare for many Iranians living outside Iran to visit their Iran itself, if it lets them visit at all. And that's not mentioning how IRI mistreats many of them, once they are in Iran, by confiscating their documents, requiring them to pay arbitrary and hefty fines, spend time in custody etc etc. That is the kind of regime we are talking about here.

Our rights here are fine...

If you have any problems, you can easily get a lawyer, and not one like Shirin Ebadi either, someone that will gladly sue the US for your rights.

what we need is for a group as bright, sharp, intelligent and passionate as NIAC to argue about the problems in Iran.

Because ALL of our problems here, start over there.

To me it seems you go to the source, not way off to the side...

NIAC complains about US ONLY

I want NIAC to complain to both sides. I love that they are so passionate about the problems they see in US policies. I want the same passion directed at Iranian policies which are just as culpable if not far more so.

I'm not against the U S visa correction....

What I am saying is that asking the US to fix policies without asking Iran to fix policies is pointless.

NIAC needs to direct it's critiques to BOTH IRAN AND THE US.

Assuming that fixing what's wrong with US foreign policy will have any effect on Iran, is a very ling shot. Especially if you say NOTHING to Iran about their policy failures!

NIAC is always one sided with ample suggestions and critique of US policy, BUT NEVER has anything to say about Iran?

I'm just calling them on that chicken-shittedness.

read it a third time then....

What I am saying is that complaining about Iran's human rights is useless if you don't complain directly to Iran.

What I want is for NIAC to become an opposition group and make the same demands and requests they make of the UN and US, of IRAN.

Simple enough? I find the constant onesidedness of their involvement to be quite cowardly and I don't even know what they are afraid of? If Iran has a list, I am sure you agree that NIAC has been on it for a long time.

So why chicken out? Go For it!

An alternative is rarely opposite

An alternative is not just to oppose visas or human rights.

What I am calling on NIAC to do, is once, just once, please. point the same finger of disapproval and suggestion at Iran.

I would like NIAC to ask the Iran interests section in the Pakistan embassy, to come and explain/defend Iran's human rights record.

I would like the same letters they send to the US congress and government and Obama and so on, to send those same letters and requests to the Iranian counterparts. And prove they did.

That's what opposition does. They oppose wrong. Complaining about it from the safety of the Us protected by the freedoms here, is the wrong thing to do. The problem is there, in Iran. Not here and against the US reaction to what happens in Iran. NIAC needs to complain loudly directly to Iran, publicly as well as make whisperings to US politicians.

US politicians CANNOT CARE ABOUT IRANIANS IN IRAN! It's not their job!!!!

I am calling for NIAC to complain ONCE to Iran!

While it is all too easy to point out ares for the US to improve, have you noticed that not one of the NIAC critiques is ever aimed directly at Iran?

Of course we all know why this is so, but for once I would like to see some outrage or objection to go both ways, not just towards the US.

The problems with Iran-US relations starts with Iran. ALL the violations against civil rights of human beings are there. The US is merely reacting (quite civilly if you ask me) to the outrageous acts all done under the ridiculous notion and claims by Iran of sovereignty.

I want NIAC to point one finger at Iran publicly, just like they point numerous fingers at what the US "ought to do"

Bahmani

you mentioned " While getting out of the US might become easier, getting back out of Iran might not be so simple."

I do not think so ........  I have even seen some people who got their citizenship through political asylum were able to go back to Iran and come back ........

Having said that one should be cautious and know that there is always a risk in it .......... I think each person knows his or her case  and should make a decision accordingly.

But depriving all from even visiting their family due to the restriction of their visa is ridiculous.

May be they want to keep the brilliant Iranian students here and this hardship on them will force them one way or another just stay  and choose this country as their permeant home  ..... In that case I should say that they have been successful .......

Bavafa

you also brought up a good point :

"Perhaps it would help understanding that NIAC (National Iranian AmericanCounsel) is an organization in U.S. to protect the Americans of Iranian origin against the laws that prejudice mainly in U.S. It is not a lobby in the Iranian system, thus can not influence that government, at least directly" 

Iranian-American need a united voice and a strong organization to support their rights here in the U.S. They owe it to themselves as well as to the future generation. So far NIAC has been showing good intentions and I have found them in the right track.

James

you pretty much said it all ;

"It seems the Iranian government is your ultimate excuse for you to not do anything."

basically the majority of poster here on IC are exactly 

' Doing Nothing " and not only that but also they try very hard to stop anyone who is actually " Doing Something" ........ 

I think Bahmani here has just been funny but nothing serious ....

However many as I said are truly against any action that NIAC is taking. They agendas (whatever those are) are not for Iranian-American as well as the Irnian students.  

NiAC action towards F1 holders is the best thing that could have happened to the Iranian students. Iranian students need this and they deserve it.

I do not see any reason that one be against it unless he is out of his right mind.

Well, I had to read this blog twice or more ...

Just to get a grasp of who the author is ranting about? Of course the attempt in adding a pinch of sense of humor has not helped his aim or me. But never mind the sense of humor here.

What I hoped to understand who was the target of ranting here… NIAC, US government or Iranian government?

Perhaps it would help understanding that NIAC (National Iranian American Counsel) is an organization in U.S. to protect the Americans of Iranian origin against the laws that prejudice mainly in U.S. It is not a lobby in the Iranian system, thus can not influence that government, at least directly. So, the sarcastic criticism wrapped in a rosy package about NIAC and their of push on the Iranian government is barking at the wrong tree here.

How about Mr. Bahmani other complaint, specifically about easing the single entry visa for the Iranian visitors/students. As Mr. Bahmani agrees, they already facing a possible 'seen jeen' by the Iranian authority if/when they return back home for a visit. But should we advocate a policy in U.S. to ease their situation and at least take some of the burden of difficulties in U.S. or should it be our motto to say… well these folks will be fucked any way… so a bit more shit in their plate will do them no harm and maybe even some good and prepare them for what is awaiting them in Tehran.

Mr. Bahmani… if you feel like just ranting… you don't really need to pick up on this or that.. just rant here while it is free at IC. As some are suggesting, JJ may soon start charging for undeserving rants.

Good day to you sir

Mehrdad

P.S. Just in case if you were interest in some name calling, if I may suggest… "Bivafa" or "Islamist Palestinian crop duster" have been favored by some here on IC.

The alternatives

The alternative (opposite action) would have been:

* to oppose admission of any Iranian F-1 students into the US and demand that once they leave the US for a visit, not to let them back in.

* to oppose any UN human rights monitors in Iran, and suggest that the names of the worst Iranian HR-offenders NOT be sanctioned (travel/bank). 

Your options, dear friend:

1. send NIAC your suggestions listed above and ask them to act on your behalf.  Or send them to any other Iranian-American organization of your choice that actually does something (?????)

2. suggest other priorities for NIAC - they will respond to your email and you can publish them right here.

3. ask NIAC not to send you any emails anymore

PS, some of us read NIAC's emails and respond to their actions, either via generation of electronic emails or direct email feedback to them (good/bad).

A call to inaction

You're saying the Iranian government sucks and therefore the US government shouldn't let Iranian students go home to see their parents, marry their long distance girlfriend, or go to their grandmother's funeral? That makes sense.

It seems the Iranian government is your ultimate excuse for you to not do anything.

I appreciate that NIAC successfully got the US to finally push for UN human rights monitor. And I'm very glad they are working to change the single entry visa policy.

What are you accomplishing by complaining about their work?  As someone else once said on this website, excuse us as we get things done while you mope.