Life

مجاهدین انقلاب چه می‌گویند؟

جنبش سبز به استناد نیروهای شرکت کننده در آن و شعارها و خواست‌هایی که مطرح کرده و ترکیب افرادی که در چند هفته گذشته به دلیل شرکت در آن از سوی عوامل وابسته به حاکمیت مورد ضرب و شتم قرار گرفته و مجروح و کشته یا زندانی شده‌اند، یک جنبش ملی است که هیچ حد و مرز ایدئولوژیک و سیاسی را به رسمیت نمی‌شناسد. شعار «ما همه با هم هستیم» بیان کننده خصوصیت فراگیر و ملی آن است. کسانی که با مرزبندی‌های سیاسی یا ایدئولوژیک در مقام محدود کردن جنبش در قالب‌های محدود مورد نظر خود بوده‌اند در برابر کشته‌ها یا مجروحان یا زندانیانی که در قالب فکری و سیاسی آنان نمی‌اندیشیده‌اند چه پاسخی دارند؟ آیا اینان می‌پندارند که اگر کسی خواهان آزادی انتخاب است باید این آزادی را فقط در چهارچوب یک نظام مشخص بطلبد؟ >>>

The God Gene

Throughout the history of humankind no phenomenon has been more enduring, appealing, alluring, misrepresented, and misused than religion. Archeological discoveries show that religion, albeit in its primitive form, has been with us even prior to recorded history. Religion has continued to exist despite flourishing scientific discoveries and the increasing popularity of secular governments around the globe. However, its mystical power has diminished in recent centuries as the mysteries of the universe have been unlocked one after another by science. Nonetheless, there is no way that we can divest ourselves of something that has dominated every aspect of our lives for thousands of years, and doing so is neither feasible nor desirable>>>

آب در هاون کوبیدن

در ایران معاصر اعتراف گیری تاریخچه ای دیرپا دارد و در رژیم سابق و فعلی به وفور مورد استفاده قرار گرفته است. پرویز نیکخواه، کورش لاشائی، رضا براهنی، غلامحسین ساعدی، و پرویز قلیچ حانی از معروفترین قربانیان پروژهء اعتراف گیری در رژیم پهلوی به شمارمیروند. پرویز نیکخواه در دادگاه به عنوان یکی از عوامل طرح ترور محمدرضا شاه در سال ۱۳۴۴ به ده سال زندان محکوم شد و مدت شش سال در مقابل فشارهای ساواک ایستادگی کرد ولی به یکباره مقاومتش در هم شکست و در ششمین سال زندان به جرم خود اعتراف کرده و شروع به همکاری با رژیم شاه کرد. پس از آن بود که از کسوت یک قهرمان خارج شده و حتی بین همفکرانش در گروه های چپ نیز به عنصری منفور و خائن بدل گشت>>>

Becoming a Mind Reader

What I’m about to reveal to you is not that difficult. As a matter of fact, it’s very easy. The truth is you already know how to do this. Here’s how it works. What I’m going to show you is – you observe yourself doing it and be more conscious when others do it. There are three things I’m going to talk to you today – The Eyes, The Hips, and The Skin. All three of them give you unconscious signals when someone communicating with you. Remember, when somebody is communicating, they are communicating more than the word that they are communicating. There’s body language, tone of voice and many other things.>>>

Images of Camp Ashraf

The disturbing images of Iranians being threatened and beaten and killed has become all too common these days on all the online media. When I see baton-wielding men in uniform beating civilians, wherever they are from, I am disheartened. When I see that the victims are from my own country, I see in their faces my sister, my mother, my aunts and uncles and grandparents, and I am sickened. On July 28, 2009, Iraqi forces stormed Camp Ashraf, the compound of the Mujahideen Khalq Organization since 1986. Seven members of the organization were killed, and the number of those injured is still unclear, but likely very high. Dozens of members have been taken into custody for questioning. The headquarters that houses some 3400 Iranian men, women, and children, had been under the protection of the U.S. government>>>

Scent of a woman

My grandmother had a big nose. In some ways, she was a big nose that happened to have a body attached to it. Her nose was far bigger than Shruti Haasan’s nose. The actress’s former nose, that is. Even with surgery – and then more surgery – my grandmother’s nose would be bigger than Ms Haasan’s former nose. “I had a medical condition that restricted free breathing,” the 23-year-old told this paper the other week. “Now, post the surgery, I can finally sleep in peace and it has also enhanced my vocal skills. The said condition is called a deviated septum – the reason Ranbir Kapoor's parents are reportedly nudging him to go under the knife. The actor, however, is refusing to budge (or, at least, his nose is). According to bloggers, he's happy with his “crooked” piece and doesn’t need a “straight” one>>>

Confession of an Islamic Republic supporter

First they came for monarchists
and I did not speak because I was not a monarchist

Then they came for Kurds
and I did not speak because I was not a Kurd

Then they came for the left
and I did not speak because I was not a leftist >>>

Ever so dearer to us

Dear Mr Abtahi, In such circumstances, even if you have actually made the confessions that the lying, outrageous and preposterous news agencies have attributed to you, they would not reduce your value in the least. You were not a nameless, opportunist who would join a group for a short while, motivated by greed and ambition, in the run-up to the elections, only to make such confessions after a few hours of interrogation and threats, and add something to them to gain favors. You are a well-known personality and your weblog alone proves that you have been, and still are, one of Iran’s thoughtful and prestigious politicians; one who has withstood several weeks of continuous pressure, so crushing that we may not even be able to imagine it>>>

Starving for Justice

I was among those who participated in the 3-day hunger strike in front of the United Nations July 22-24 in support of the Iranian people’s struggle for justice and liberty. I must admit I had doubts such action would have sufficient impact on the Islamic Republic’s attitude or behavior to make it worth the sacrifice. I found out fast I was placing emphasis on the wrong players, the Islamic Republic’s leadership instead of the Iranian people. It was an amazing gathering, full of emotions and compassion, love and determination, young and old alike, men and women, strong and weak taking part>>>

These Hands

Shhhhh…
she whispered through the crack in the wall
Listen!
Do you hear me?
I am still here!
I am still here!
Do you hear?
She stretched her hands outside…
Less than 5 minutes >>>

Fereydoon and Zahak

Skeptipedia Iranica describes Fereydoonism as the expatriate urge to commandeer an uprising once it has already been started in his country of birth. Characteristic of this condition is the false sense in the expatriate that he/she represents the authentic native, having escaped the cumulative cultural and political mutations affecting those who stayed behind. The nomenclature has its origin in the story of Fereydoon and Zahak. Still unborn, Fereydoon was being hunted by Zahak, the Arab usurper of the Iranian throne. Zahak started the chase after he had a dream that someone named Fereydoon was going to bash his head in with a cow-headed mace, then flay him head to foot and chain him to Mount Damavand.>>>

So, can you take some criticism?

And as a polisci and communications major, it was also very cool to see Iranian American experts – not a decade older myself – on the air, explaining to Joe the Plumber and his Neanderthal clan as well as the more enlightened population in my beloved America the run down in Iran. Two of them are Trita Parsi and Karim Sadjadpour. I had never seen them on the same stage before, so it was pretty cool that they both were on PBS Newshour a few weeks ago. It was an awesome opportunity to compare their styles and analysis. I am a fan of both of them, so if they read this, I hope they don’t take this the wrong>>>

یار هنرستانی

دوران دوران آپولو 11 بود و مسابقات بوکس محمد علی کلی روی صفحه سیاه و سفید تلویزیون مبله بلر. دوران رفتن به هنرستان شرکت نفت و عشق کارمند شدن و رویاهای دور و دراز نوجوانی. فصل راز و نیاز از راه دور با سوفیالورن بود و حسرت خوردن به مارچلو ماسترویانی و آلن دلون روی پرده سینما کارون اهواز. سالهای خرید قسطی «پیکان جوانان» و کشیدن سیگار وینستون پشت دو لیوان آبجوی مجیدیه. دورانی که اعلیحضرت هنوز دست توی جیب های جلیقه اش نکرده بود و لوله های نفت از گناوه به دل دریا فرو میرفت و از جزیره خارگ سر درمیآورد و نفتکشها، ایران را جزیره آرامش می دیدند. به عقل جن هم نمی رسید که عاقبت «دندانه هر قصری پندی دهدت نو نو». توی همین سالها بود که با اسماعیل فصیح آشنا شدم. مردی که سالهای بعد رمان نویس معروفی شد>>>