Letters

Write for The Iranian Editorial policy

Tuesday
May 22, 2001

Hell of a lot more, elsewhere

Few months ago I got introduced to The Iranian site by one of my relatives who once awhile writes really cool articles for it. I have found the site really amusing and entertaining and since then I got hooked on it.

I am one of those Iranians who have done a pretty good job to preserve her culture after living here for about 17 years or so. Unlike some Iranians who are always so proud of their heritage and brag about their culture and yet maintain to marry non Iranians and speak English at home to their kids, I have married an Iranian guy and cook ghormeh sabzi for dinner often.

I usually mind my own business. My philosophy in life is if they step on your tale step on theirs. However, all these recent commotion about couple of articles titled "Baharam" and "Dariush" have given me the urge to want to interfere and address those people who were so extremely opposed to those stories.

I don't understand how is it that we come here, we live here we deviate from our culture by doing so about 960 degrees and still have a problem with a little bit of adult material in some article. I just don't get it. Don't you people have cable in your homes? Or do you turn off the TV in the middle of a prime time show when Victoria's Secret commercials or some perfume ad comes on? Or do you make your wives and kids close their eyes?

And what about the internet? What are your kids and relatives exposed to on the net every day? If you are letting your 16-year-old daughter to explore the world on her own then, I've got news for you: she is exposed to a hell of lot more than what is written in "Baharam" everywhere else, and frankly what are you doing letting your 16-year-old daughter browse the net on her own; aren't you supposed to be supervising her? Well if you are supervising your children you would have seen that on top of both those stories it is written loud and clear that you should not to read this if you are under 18.

Give me a break, when are we going to accept that we are exposed to this culture since we chose to live here and this is not Iran and this is not 200 years ago. Move on. The funniest thing is those people who read "Baharam" and found it very provocative and offensive and then went back and read the "Dariush" story!

By now if you haven't figured it out, let me tell you something: these stories may contain offensive material so just don't read them. If you are worried about your adult friends or family members that you introduced them to this site, don't worry they can handle a story that talks a little bit about sex.

I and others browse through The Iranian and find some articles not interesting. We just don't read the whole thing. So please pay attention to the warning signs and stop reading if it offends you. I frankly hope the editor of this page won't stop publishing Nooneh's stories because I read and enjoy them very much. For the rest of you, just grow up people.

M. Farokhnia

Comment for The Iranian letters section