Tuesday
November 30, 1999
* Delplored life, glorified death
In response to Mehrdad's letter:
Some people may think of Khomeini as a true fundamentalist who was acting
on pure Islamic values without any regard to human rights or interanationally
respected democractic principles ["Lunch
with Khomeini"]. But, the fact is that Khomeini knew the power
of religion over the unedcuated masses, and he used that to the utmost
of his abilities.
Altough mainsream Islam is based on self sacrifice and obedience to
religious authorities, the barbaric manifestations of vengenace killing
(qasas) and many other facets of these extremely reactionary rules which
belong to 7th century desert bedoiuns has lost its validity in most of
the Islamic countries.
Khomeini was able to revive the most backward, ill conceived notions
of shite religion. He used ex- SAVAK agents , hooligans, and many of the
mollas that used to be on the payroll of SAVAK to crush the legitimate
political oppositions.
Most political opposition groups in Iran refrained from criticizing
the extremely backward reactionary teaching of Khomeini. They thought that
such a criticism may isolate them from the masses. Iranian history has
seen many dictators, and bullies, but no one has been as blood thirsty,
hateful, unashamedly hypocite as Khomeini.
To call Khomeini as a man who only acted upon his fundamentalist view
is a critical mistake; he delplored life, he glorified death. A man who
initially claimed he did not want to have any role in politics, established
one of the bloodiest and violent religious dictatorships in the world.
Engscience@aol.com
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* More thankful than Americans
In response to, "What are you thankful for?"
You should be thankful that you are living in the United States, and
not anywhere else in the world.; thankful for the freedom that you are
provided to breath freely; thankful for walking in the streets without
fear of paasdaars, thankful for being able to look at hundreds of beautiful
women of all ages; thankful that your daughter doesn't have to wear the
chador and can get an education and have a future; thankful that you can
publish your thoughts and ideas on the Internet without having to get permission
from anyone; thankful that you can turn on the TV and radio and hear music;
thankful that there is a huge bookstore in every neighborhood that you
can go and browse hundreds of thousands of subjects; thankful that you
can go to a bar and order a beer without fear; thankful for abundance in
stores; thankful for cheap food of the highest quality; thankful for security...
Actually, come to think of it, as immigrants we have more to be thankful
for than the natives. We were not born here, but we are extremely lucky
and blessed to find ourselves not only out of Iran, but in the U.S., land
of freedom and prosperity, like no other on earth.
B.
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Monday
November 29, 1999
* Predictable behavior
So far as procrastination is concerned, there has not been a more powerful
tool invented. I read your article ["The
search"] with some interest as I, like many other young products
of our time, have been coming to grips with assorted questions of identity.
Although your article read well, it sounded more like an introduction to
a thesis (a long-winded abstract perhaps) than a sharp inquisitive article.
You suggest a hypothesis, which although sounds trendy is hard to define
or justify, and then you fail to refer to it again...
... There is no specific handbook for being an Iranian or an exiled
Iranian. However what you have failed to grasp here is that there is a
pervasive pattern in each set which is easily defined based on various
parameters including socioeconomic background, education and alike. So
as you see, in most cases there is a predictable pattern of behavior which
is governed by the competing and dominant forces in an individual's life
... FULL
TEXT
Dariush Rafaei, PhD
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* Erotic Sufi tradition
In response to Rasool
Nafisi's letter:
There are a few specific themes that I wish to explore in Sufi mysticism.
The Prophet Mohammad was the starting point of Islamic mysticism; Rabi'a,
as the founder of the theme of Sufi love; al-Hallaj, whose writings are
the locus classicus of impassioned union; al-Ghazzali, as the clear-headed
systematizer and reconciler of mysticism with orthodoxy; Ibn al-Farid,
as the composer of what is perhaps the greatest erotic love poem in all
of Sufi literature; Ibn al-'Arabi, as the supreme philosopher of the erotic
in the Sufi tradition; and Rumi, as the exponent of love best-known to
the West ["Let's
not talk about sex"].
The earliest foundation of the theme of the erotic in Arabic poetry
predates Islam. Poetry was the primary form of literature, indeed, the
main form of artistic expression, of the jahiliyya period, circa 500-622
C.E. While there were a few different types of poetry, the qasida, or ode,
was the only finished type. The qasida tended to have a fairly invariant
structure: a nomad would stumble upon the remains of a desert camp and
sing of its desolation. His loneliness would inspire him to recall his
fondness for those who had once encamped there, and he would describe with
great nostalgia the strength of his affection for his beloved and not infrequently
would describe her in detail. This section of the poem is called the nasib,
"erotic prelude." ... FULL
TEXT
Dr Fereidoun Abbasi
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Wednesday
November 24, 1999
* Integrity
I wholeheartedly agree with K.
Magardie's letter rejecting the notion that Khomeini collaborated with
the SAVAK as portrayed in the article "Lunch
with Khomeini".
I know many things went wrong when the late ayatollah was Iran's leader
but it's totally irresponsible to label him a dishonest man. Overly orthodox,
ardently religious yes, but dishonest or dirty never.
Like it or not, millions of Muslims around the world revere Khomeini.
A large majority of Iranians, in spite of disagreements with him, still
acknowledge the man's integrity and modesty.
Mehrdad
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* Questioning false beliefs
The beauty of poetry is that you take what you want out of it. How one
interprets poetry has more to do with your own self, than what the poet
intended. So with that in mind, here is what I think.
I fully think it is a woman right to wear the hejab. And I understand
what rape is about. Rape is violence toward women. But Iraj
Mirza's poem is about questioning beliefs, the act of sex is a just
a small portion of the overall poem. And I didn't see the violence at all.
I think this
poem talks about a person believing in something (in this case the
chador) and taking it out of context. In a way, controlling herself in
a manner that is opposite of its nature. Iraj Mirza is arguing for the
opposite, putting the wisdom of nature and human desires above a short-sited
belief system.
What is interesting is that when your lady friend interprets the incident
in this poem as rape, it shows that she understands the poem and rape as
much as the woman in the poem understood the concept of the hejab. I guess,
"we have NOT come a long way" from that time after all!
Daryoush Mehrtash
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Tuesday
November 23, 1999
* Strange experience
You can not do this to us! I was sitting here in front of the computer
trying to get some work done and then I received The Iranian Times with
all th Abadan
photos. I could not work after looking at the pictures. I don't think
any person who lived there could!
The pictures were so different from the last time I visited Abadan about
nine years ago. At the time most places were unrecognizable because of
the war damage.
No matter how it looked, the earth and the sky were there and the connection
to the past was as present as it could be. I also went to 110
Braim. At the time they were working on the house. When we arrived
nobody was there and the door was open. So I walked inside.
The walls had just been painted white. The rooms were all empty. I stood
there in the small hallway next to the entrance door. It took me just a
few seconds before I could see all the things that used to be there: the
paintings, like the one of Persepolis and another one that was my favorite
but I can't remember the name.
Needless to say, it was a strange experience being there. Even talking
about it now, I can still feel it all.
Yassaman Mottaghipour
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* What am I?
Apropos of the census
brief in The Iranian Times, I wonder if the magazine can ask
a question that surely a lot of Iranians want to know the answer to --
what racial/ethnic category are we?
It seems to me that "Iranian" does not qualify because it
encompasses a number of races and ethnicities. If I am not Kurdish or Turkish
or Arab, what am I?
There's probably some professor somewhere who knows the answer, but
I don't.
Gelareh Asayesh
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Monday
November 22, 1999
* Near irreproacheable life
I would like to voice my strongest disappointment at the article "Lunch with
Khomeini". Given this is not the opinion of The Iranian,
but how such drivel could be printed in an otherwise excellent magazine,
astonishes me.
First of all, the supporters of the Shah's regime, ex-SAVAK types inclusive,
would just love it if it appeared as though the Islamists were in fact
collaborators. Certainly, a great many were on the payroll. But this sensationalist
attempt to brand Ayatollah Khomeini as an opportunist smacks of pure, unadulterated
fabrication of history... FULL
TEXT
K. Magardie (Ms)
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* Was even willing to convert
Living in a multicultural society, (Toronto, Canada), people interact
with many other people from different backgrounds. I had the lovely experience
of dating a wonderful Iranian girl for four years. It was the greatest
experience of my life.
Even though I am from a Jewish background my parents had no problems
with me dating her, unfortunately I could not say the same for her family...
Throughout our four-year relationship we shared many wonderful experiences
but the thing that always came up was how her parents felt. I tried everything
I could to change that. I was even going to do whatever was the appropriate
thing to do in her culture. I was even ready to convert if that would have
made anything easier for her. Nothing seemed to work ... FULL
TEXT
Michael Pearlstein
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Friday,
November 19, 1999
* Antipodean air!
To listen to Roozbeh find his way and Iran and the United States in
Chile is wildly exhilarating ["The
search"]. He writes beautifully, expansively, with heart, and
the person and place that he paints are full, multi-dimensional, unexpected,
interesting and irreducible.
The kind of people who change the world start off like Roozbeh, not
accepting anything at face value. I say, breathe in some more Antipodean
air! It does you - and us - great good.
Laleh Khalili
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* Essalat!
Kudos to Mr. Shirazi ["The
search"]! This is another great article on this topic. I'm just
waiting for the cynics to blast him with their negative peanut-gallery-type
commentary on their "essalat" and hisr socio-cultural bankruptcy!
Banafsheh Zand
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Thursday
November 18, 1999
* Nature of the beast
The Iranian Students"in the line of the Imam" were responsible
for imprisonment and murder of thousands of students and opposition group
members. Calling them democratic now, would be deceiving the people.
Two factions of the Islamic government are at each other's throats.
The Islamic goeverment is in crisis, and now is the best chance for the
people to voice their demands, but at the same time we should know the
true nature of the beast, and avoid depending on either factions.
Engscience
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* Whine fest
Ms Darznik,
I read some of your
articles in The Iranian. I usually do not read the social commentaries
on the site but my serendipitous and fortunate find provided ample interest
and amusement. Your frankness is disarming and contrasts strongly with
the attitudes of the older Iranians who are obsessed with keeping up appearances.
(I exclude my parents from this simplification because they have been ahead
of their time) ...
Your experience of being an outsider within a society of outsiders was
incomprehensible to me. How could such a mixed race as ours have such a
palpable discomfort with regards to differences. To call you half-anything
I think is rude. Iranian racial purity is a myth. Being Iranian is a state
of mind. An obsession, a pleasant mental disease akin to mania, a sweet
pain and a worthwhile challenge. I think in this day and age, when being
an Iranian is a serious disadvantage to one's career advancement, whosoever
thinks they are Iranian could not possibly be anything but genuine ...
The ashamed Iranians appall me. You talked about the man who refuses
to speak Persian. I know of someone who has the same attitude. First time
I met him, I recognized his name as being Iranian and greeted him pleasantly.
He said: "Sorry I do not speak Persian!" (To which my undiplomatic
response was " You do not speak much English either. A regular Hellen
Keller you are.") He recently rediscovered his Persian identity and
decided to ask all to no longer call him by his previous preference. He
has reverted to his real name now ... FULL
TEXT
Arash Salardini
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Wednesday
November 17, 1999
* Erotic literature not rare
In respect to your piece "Let's
not talk about sex," I like to say that portraiture of actual
sexuality in Persian literature is not rare: Sadi has a section on "hazliyat".
Obayd is well known, and Iraj Mirza's erotic poetry is excellent.
But this genre of artistic expression was not popular with Iranians
because of their sophisticated and sublime taste in poetry -- and maybe
sex. Peter Chelkowski, the Nezami scholar, has extensively discussed sexuality
in the works of Nezami. Chelkowski argues that portrayal of sexuality in
Nezami is unmatched in world literature...
Talking of Obayd, to my estimation, his references to acts of sex are
not just for the sake of talking about sex. In fact, you find tremendous
social consciousness in his works. His satire targets the hypocrisy and
absurdity of the people in power, religious authority in particular. His
works may be evaluated along the lines of Chaucer, and of course Obayd
is more fun and more poignant ... FULL
TEXT
Rasool Nafisi
Strayer University
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* Humiliating chadoris
I think Iraj
Mirza not only humiliated chadori women, but instead of looking at
women in general, chose an individual and judged others accordingly. Not
only that, it is obvious that he has absolutely no idea about the teachings
of the Quran or the Prophet or even most basic principles of Islam which
highlights the fact that the hejab saves lives and families.
The hejab is an important rule of Islam. But it means more than covering
the hair. There's the hejab of the body, mind and eye. If he had any idea
about Islam he would have known that the chador is only the hejab of the
hair and body. A mohajaba is a woman who also has the hejab of the mind
and eye to resist temptation. Unlike old times people are more open minded
about these things. They know that it is okay to show your face to a naamahram.
Therefore, chadors don't cover the face, but only the hair and the body.
This
poem ridicules mohajabas, even though we all know that the majority
of mohajabas are very civilized and educated . The world will not be complete
with women, but experience has shown us that no man would like other men
to have any feelings towards his woman. So the hejab makes life easier
for men too. No sensible human being should judge a group of people over
something that a single individual has done (if she really did it and if
it wasn't rape) and so this poem shows me that the poet is not a very sensible
man and does not know anything about religion.
Bushra Abbasi
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Tuesday
November 16, 1999
* Delighted
Just wanted to write to confirm Laleh Khalili's sentiments regarding
Chineh Internet cafe in Tehran ["Chai,
shirini & the Internet"]. I was recently in Iran for a month
and desparate to be able to check my email.
I was delighted to find that the opportunity existed to connect with
the rest of the world at Chineh, which is not far from where I live in
Kamranieh. The atmosphere is wonderful and the staff very friendly. I have
no doubt that in the future we will see more such places in Iran.
Peyman Adjamian
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* Bahai concern
Mr. Sohrabi wrote in The Iranian ["Cyrus
meets Lincoln"]: "As a United States Senator what I hope
to achieve for Americans of Iranians descent is straightforward: end the
demonizing and stereotyping of Iran and Iranians. In fact, my first act
as an elected official will be demand a public apology from Senator Barbara
Boxer (Democrat from California) for calling the Iranian nation 'terrorist'
in her interview with CNN last February."
I hope you also work with the governments foreign human rights committee
especially with regards to the situation of the Bahai community in Iran.
Recently, the UN Commission on Human Rights again expressed concern for
Iran's Bahais.
Fereidoun Abbasi
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Monday
November 15, 1999
* Reverse situation
Mr. Hosseini's essay ["Go
Big Red!"] brings back memories of my first days in U.S. What
a time and what a place ...man alive! Those of us who came to the U.S right
during the revolution must have had at least some similar experiences like
those of Mr. Hosseini's. Even where I was in California, the sentiments
ran as deep and as fast as they did in Nebraska.
As Westernized and as Americanized I have become in the past twenty
some odd years, I will never forget the feelings expressed to me and my
other Iranian friends by many (not all) American students. The students'
parents were much more understanding. Heck, some of them even empathized
with our situation. It was the students we saw every day though who cared
about their parents. Ugly days and some ugly memories.
Although, I have to admit that if the situation was reversed (Iranians
taken hostages in the U.S. by radical students after a revolution) Americans
in Iran would've forgotten the meaning of Iranian hospitality and ta'arof
faster than a NY minute!
Ali S.
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* How confused we were
As I read the story ["Go
Big Red!"] I remebered those days. I also witnessed different
views and situations. I remembered how confused, tender and sensetive we
were toward this historic event.
It also made me feel older, but am I not glad we passed through thoses
horrible times? The days when we were young and should have been proud
and a lot happier?
Sudabeh
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Friday,
November 12, 1999
* Think first
In
response to Mr. Beeler's letter
I read your letter on "Thinking small" and
I wonder is it Iranians who are thinking small or is it you that can not
see the big picture. The scenes and the stories that you see and you hear
from those who take actions against America in Iran or other countries
should not be a reason for people like you to make any judgement toward
a whole nation.
I am sure that you are not aware of the political situation that is
currently taking place in Iran because you would have known why or who
are those groups of people that are burning flags and yell "Death
to America". My suggestion to you is that next time, before you make
any decision with your educated mind, do a little research.
Should I call all Americans a bunch of racists when KKK members burn
crosses and show hatred toward other human beings just because of their
skin color?
Pejman Asgarpour
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* Shame on us
I read the article "Curzon's
last laugh" with sorrow and disgust. This is yet another example
of wanting to blame things on others. Poor us - they did this to us and
they did that. How much longer are we going to sit on our butts and blame
all of our shortcomings on others? What is that going to solve or accomplish?
First, shame on us for letting foreigners take advantage of us. Here,
the Ghajar dynasty is more to blame. Their fascination with sex and corruption
and pleasures let them lose sight of things, letting foreigners come and
take advantage of our poor country - the same country that was once powerful
and did unto them (remember Nader Shah and his multiple invasions of India)
what is being done to it!
Second, while we are sipping our tea and trying to find causes for our
miseries, the progressive world is advancing at a very fast paste. Iran
is at least 200 years behind in social standards of living, economy, technology,
education, etc. The gap is widening at an exponential rate and soon there
will be no hope of a decent future for our country and people.
You go ahead and dig into stuff hundreds or years old while others are
envisioning and planning for the upcomming century!
Bob Mani
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Thursday
November 11, 1999
* Say something POSITIVE
I have often wondered what explains this urge by the older generation
of Iranians to constantly bash Iran, emphasize the shortcomings while ignoring
the accomplishments, and impose their hang-ups, frustrations and psychological
baggage on the youth. Perhaps it is a good excuse to do nothing - if everything
about Iran is bad, everyone is corrupt and all the decks are stacked against
you, then there is no point in trying to accomplishing anything, right?
Perhaps it is a way of justifying one's own frustrations. Or perhaps the
answer is simply that "misery loves company."
How about having something POSITIVE to say about Iran and Iranians once
in a while then? ... FULL
TEXT
Lizzie Borden
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* Impressive
The poems of Khomeini ["The
soft side"] are impressive in nature and meaning. Are these really
his poems?
A. Parsa
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Wednesday
November 10, 1999
* Bravo
Thank you for giving us the occasion of reading this beautiful article
[about visiting the Shah's tomb, "By
the pale-green stone"]. Thank you to Mr. Kadivar for sharing his
wonderful trip with us. I wish the young post-Islamic generation would
read this little "trip to the past" especially those in Iran.
Bravo, and thanks again.
Bahram
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* So far in the past
It is like yesterday to many of us the day that the American embassy
was taken. I was studying in a small town in Kent, England when a friend
of mine who was a leftist sympathizer stormed to the cafeteria of the college
with a big smile and waving a clinched fist to announce that the U.S. embassy
had been stormed by a group of students!
There were many Iranian students everywhere in those days including
in Kent. Of course we looked with amazement at this friend and all had
a sneaky sense of triumph without fully understanding the full implication
of this act.
Today all those events seem so far in the past in our eyes and in the
eyes of Mr. Abdi, one of the hostage takers and Bruce Laingen one of the
hostages ["Time
to move on"]. In the political climate of Iran, it is very brave
of Abdi and others to offer their regret for this act.
As one commentator said yesterday in reply to the question "what
will happen if the American embassy opens tomorrow in Tehran?", the
reply was " a long line will be formed for visa applications to the
U.S.!" I think this sums up the true sentiment of the Iranian people.
Reza Mousoli
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Tuesday
November 9, 1999
* Becoming stronger
Termeh Rassi's piece ["The
plaid sofa"] was lovely -- direct and moving. She writes about
an experience that is defining for Iranians of this day and age -- the
experience of diaspora.
Through more of such writing, we can try to understand and come to terms
with our experience as Iranians; in the hopes of becoming a stronger, more
rooted community wherever our journeys have taken us.
Gelareh Asayesh
St. Petersburg, Florida
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* Tired of chants
In response to Mr. Beeler's letter
Take it easy. I too am an American who gets angry when I hear about
the flag burning and the death chants going on in Iran, but you got to
remember not all Iranians are like that, and many of them are getting tired
of marching to the drum of certain mollas well.
You are right in that hatred has a tendency to breed further hatred
but that is something we all have to work on. Thank goodness there exist
forums such as The Iranian where frustrations and differences of
opinion can be expressed. There are some discussion groups which won't
allow anything like this and that is unfortunate.
I firmly believe that as long as people are allowed to have dialogue,
openly and honestly, without fear of repercussions, a good majority will
come to appreciate and learn to co-exist with those who differ. And that
is what is needed most in this world right now.
Alex Bettesworth
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* Taking credit
I am writing in regards to your Persian web link of the day. Apparently
this "Payam"
guy is taking credit for my hard work.
No, he did not put up 1,000 Persian songs in RealAudio format. I did.
He simply linked to them. And by the way, it's not 1,000 songs, it's 800.
Ashkan Yekrangi
Webmaster of CyberIran
Editors note: The description for this web site has been corrected.
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Monday
November 8, 1999
* Easy to be ignorant
In response to Mr. Beeler's letter
... If someone wants to be ignorant, it is very easy to stereotype a
whole nation. My co-workers, patients, neighbors, and some of my best friends
are American. It would terribly undermine their intelligence if I were
to stereotype them as a bunch of rednecks who have beer bellies and burp
hotdogs all day.
Last but not least, I recommend you travel around the world a little
and not limit your world eye view to the media and its representation of
other countries ... FULL
TEXT
Roya Zarnegar
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* Shameful!
So many wonderful books have been written about Iran. Iran is a beautiful
country. Its people are gifted, civilized and charming, kind and hospitable.
Someone has written of James Buchan's book ["A
good place to die"] : "This must be one of the most perceptive
attempts to understand the Iranian psyche ever undertaken in an English
work of fiction".
As a foreign wife of an Iranian, I lived in Iran for many years. I find
this book quite shameful!
Margaret Habibi
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Friday,
November 5, 1999
* Haaloo
Vaghti in haaloo-haaye iraani ["Halloween
1999"] baraay-e jashn-e haaloohaa intor khod-baakhteh dar moghaabel-e
doorbin-e to zhest gereftand, aayaa delet nagereft beh khaater-e iraan
va farhang-e iraani?!
Maryam Kazemi
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* Frustration
This is in response to Isa Tanha. I am wondering where
and in which era does Mr. Tanha thinks he is living. Young people in America
have traditionally used Halloween ["Halloween
1999"] to make fun of older generations. Most masks and costumes
depict politicians and figures who have gained prominance in the preceding
year.
It is sad that our Americanized youth can't be more creative to mock
the more famous American figures. It would make it easier to be judged
and understood by their own fellow revelers. Instead they resort to making
fun of certain values that are sacred for Mr. Tanha.
These poor ignorant youth don't know any better but to attack the very
symbol that is being projected worldwide by The Iranian as well
as international media as the symbol of a corrupt society.
Mr. Tanha has failed to remember that during the reign of the "dictator",
most street-walkers never separated from their chadors while in public.
What are you trying to protect?
Look my dear friend, I really do share your frustration with the speed
our cultural values are being diluted in this day and age. But you can
not blame Iranian youth. I would rather criticize The Iranian for
glorifying it by posting the pictures in its site.
Moftaki Majjani
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Thursday
November 4, 1999
* Thinking small
I read some of the articles on your site. America is a great country
and I'll kick anyone's butt for trying to run over my country! I try to
have no hatred towards any man but when your people live in the past and
continue to burn our flags and shout out "Death to American"
it causes nothing but hatred towards your people from Americans.
We just look at Iran as a bunch of ignorant individuals who are jealous
of our country and our life styles and can't handle life as it is. They
are people that live in the past and have nothing to look forward too.
If they would open their eyes and look for a future of good living and
stop blaming the world for their past failures then maybe they would have
a life of opportunity and prosperity to look forward to.
As for the British, yes, we did have a revolution against them and yes,
we did win and break away from Britian but any and all of those hard feelings
have since vanished and are forgotten where as if it were Iran, they would
still be boo-hooing about it! I do feel sorry for the people in Iran because
they do have a real big problem of thinking small.
Duke Beeler
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* Mocking the chador
I am writing this letter in regard to your article ["Halloween
1999"]. Apparently, the pictures show some young people dressed
in different costumes at a Halloween party. From what I see in those distorted
pictures, some of the costumes also appear to depict the traditional Iranian
dress -- the chador (veil). If this is the case, I like to express my deepest
disappointment in the attitude of such young compatriots who humiliate
and demean a traditional dress worn by our mothers and great grandmothers
...
Those who wear chador BY CHOICE are not ignorant as some may think.
They know what they are doing. What kind of message are we implying by
mocking them? Such displays are as bad as those who force women to wear
the chador, and those who forcefully prevented them to follow their belief
... FULL
TEXT
Isa Tanha
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Wednesday
November 3, 1999
* Happiness in their eyes
I saw the Halloween photos ["Halloween
1999"]. They are a little bit spoiled but you can see the happiness
in their eyes; they makes me cry . I've been in Spain for more than three
years and it's like that I'm living in a glass bubble.
Mandana Asadi
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* Bii yoo tii fool
Your pictures ["Halloween
1999"] are so weird and bii yoo tii fool! And the most dangerous
thing is that some of them are so blasphemous. I'm afraid the hezbollah
might find another target!
Mehdi
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Tuesday
November 2, 1999
* When will we learn?
Last Saturday, October 30, we went to a concert in Burlingame, California.
The two entertainers, Ebi and Bijan Mortazavi were great, and put in a
lot of effort, love and dedication to please the audience. What I don't
understand is why don't the organizers choose a more appropriate venue?...
The other problem was that after half an hour, when Ebi got real hot
and into it, people started getting up, and before long you had all but
like 10 tables (out of maybe 150 tables) standing up, and blocking everyone
else, and sure enough a fight started. I heard a security person say "I
knew something was going to happen."
It is so ridicules that after being in this country for over 20 years
our people have not learned to do things the right way. I truly believe
Iranians are extremely humble, and then there are those few who take advantage
of that and just do things that are beneficial to themselves, and others
don't count. What a shame ... FULL
TEXT
Shirin Razavi
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* Francis Bacon
Pictures of Halloween Iranian style in Washington DC ["Halloween
1999"] were so much like Francis
Bacon's paintings. Very interesting visually.
Nargess Shahmanesh
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Monday
November 1, 1999
* Dubai ahead of us
The nostalgia
of 70's will always be with us. For the generation that grew up in Iran
in the 70's, Googoosh was the crystallization of an epoch, a landmark which
tells a lot about our society.
I have been living in Dubai for about three months now. I look round
and I feel very sad to see that the we as nation did not realize and appreciate
the country that we lived in 25 years ago.
There used to be very little in Dubai. But now it's a dynamic city,
cosmopolitan and free, In a way it reminds of Tehran of the 70's. We dived
into the unknown are are seeing the consequences.
Iran will find her place at the world stage once again. In the mean
time life must go on.
Reza Mousoli
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* Politically informative
I wanted to thank you immensely for the most politically informative
article you have contributed to The Iranian ["Democracy
or Theocracy"]. It is always a source of immeasurable pride to
know graduates of such prestigious schools such as yours, are working hard
to keep bright the flame of our knowledge, from our very distant past.
I very much enjoyed reading your article on Ferdowsi's conclusion of
the best form of rule, as compared to socrates.
Haleh Akhlaghi
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