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| December 2, 2002 See this month's letters by subject Page 1 Page 2 * The world has become too small Eric, [Only a matter of time] I have read your article and there is very little mention of any culpability on the part of the US government for the dangerous state of the world today. The fact that we have the biggest war chest, the biggest military industrial complex, and the biggest nuclear arsenal does not give me comfort at all. It means that the USA is the most dangerous country in the world especially with the current administration which acts unilaterally in all things and flaunts international law and won't even sign on to the World Court which the former US administration sponsored the creation of. As far as I am concerned the USA has not had any moral authority since the end of World War II. What it did in Viet Nam was a travesty. The US contributed to the destruction of Afghanistan by arming it to death and helping to organize the Taliban and the Al Qaida through the Pakistani secret police with the sole interest of stopping Russian expansion not saving Afghanistan. The only reason that there is so much interest in a stable Afghanistan now is because of the future pipeline that will be run through it from Uzbekistan where Unocal has a contract to extract from the largest natural gas deposit in the world with enough gas to meet the needs of the US economy for the next 500 years. And by the way Uzbekistan has the most repressive regime in Central Asia. It is very convenient at this point in time after the CIA has mucked with the sovereignty of almost every third world country on earth to say that those people have to get rid of their own tyrants. Where the HELL was the US in the wake of the Iranian Revolution in what they call the Iranian Spring before the damn Ayatollahs and Mullahs took over? The Tudeh and the Mojahedeen did all the fighting not the damn mullahs and these two groups were given no mandate by the mullahs, in fact the Tudeh had to go back under ground and the Mujahedin were exhiled to Iraq. The techniques of the mullahs are no more brutal that what the Shah's Savak did to dissenters; the only difference is that the Shah was the puppet of the USA and these priests are not. The US government and military industrial complex does not want democracy for third world countries, it wants vassal states where it can have a free hand at the oil resources. Your article makes it sound as if any country which has oil resources does not own them but owes them to the industrial nations and if they refuse to cooperate then they are targeted for destruction. How many nations has the USA bombed since the end of WWII compared to the track record of other nations? It is not Iranians alone who must change their ways and their government; it is the USA which also must change its mentality. Just because we have the biggest economic belly doesn't mean the world owes us a living or that we have the divine right to all its resources. Americans consume more energy per capita and food per capita than any other nation on earth and our cultural point of view and cultural icons and consumer values are imposed on the rest of the world through media owned by the very corporations who are the sole beneficiaries of globalization. Globalization is not improving the quality of life. NAFTA for example has only created job losses and lowered our standard of living and not raised Mexicos. And anyone who tries to resist globalization is labeled a dissident. The War on Terrorism has become the War on Dissent which is why Communist China of Tienamin Square infamy was so eager to jump on the band wagon looking for a way to legitimize their tyranny. As much as you may love Iran and Iranians, you need an attitude adjustment yourself. With love like yours who needs enemies? What you are in effect saying is that Iranians must put in a government compatible with US policies or we will bomb the hell out of them. Well wake up and smell the coffee...the world has become too small a fish bowl for the US to continue getting away with tactics which merely are designed to give us the upper hand no matter what we preach about fairness and democracy.... If the USA were really concerned with promoting democracy abroad then there would be democracy abroad, and there wouldn't be entire populations of nations living in poverty for whom religious fundamentalism or terrorism have so great an appeal... Cheers, Brian Appleton To top * Americans who understand Thank God that there are some Americans like you who understand what is going on! [Naked imperial policy] Sincerely, Brian Appleton To top * Reminder that life is too precious Darius Kadivar's movie review and article [More than real] was a soothing and fun memory trip to my childhood when with family members we would go to watch those exciting movies in Tehran. The huge posters in front and entrance of the cinemas and smell of roasted watermelon seeds and sandwiches and the air-conditioned often aromatic environement inside the theatre was a guarantee of fun and entertainment. All part of good memories of life. Darius' article "More than real" was a walk on the memory lane during a lunch break at work. Seeing the selected images and faces of Iranians-favored actors Cornel Wilde and Tony Curtis and Susan Cabot (whom I always mistaken with Jane Simons) was a reminder that life is too precious and memories are treasures chests that have to be opened once in a while and touched closely.... Thanks Darius Best, Farrokh A. Ashtiani To top * Well-said, well-thought, write more Congratulation on your command of English [The dying days of a bad lie]. Well-said and well-thought. I hope your prediction comes true. Write more. By the way who are you and where do live? If you live in Iran I must command you for your bravery. Michael To top * Let's play a Raj Kapoor song to celebrate! Oh, that article "How Persian Drive was saved" really hit the spot! Mandir Drive no more. To associate the name Persian with Islam is as false as if one think of the American Indians to be originally from Punjab valley and Kashmir! The unity that Iranian showed in the above case was that of a civilized nation showing their unity. This was a test tube experiment on what we can do if we stand together and united, no matter if it's a small issue such as renaming a street or far larger and vital issues such as our destiny as a nation, culture and a world heritage. This was indeed a first. Next time we all attend such meeting if need be. Now let's play a Raj Kapoor song to celebrate! Farrokh A. Ashtiani To top * No place in today's world Iraj Mirza's Poem on Hijab was an approach by rightist- centralist- intellectual- poet capitalizing on the hot and controversial issues of then at the time of Reza Shah. The style that Iraj Mirza uses is typical humor and sarcasm of that era with the pseudo-intellectualism inherited and copied from few French-educated elites whom went also out of their ways to bring so many useless French words into Farsi as our generation did by injecting English words into Iran's language today. We need to remember that then women were far more subservient to men than today's Iran and Iraj Mirza's tone of admonishment is a reflection of that culture. Although it should not be classified as "rape" as was suggested, I think it should be interpreted that Iraj Mirza was substantially deprived and under-sexed (figuratively speaking) at the time of his composition of that poem as he had to go through so much persuasion to bring a perhaps innocent women home only to take advantage of her in the name of women's freedom. I think the tone of the poem has no place in today's world, regardless of how dismal the women's rights are in today's Iran and other Islamic countries (many disagree). All things considered we should never look at that painting as a justification for removal of chador. If indeed we are to have a free society we should always leave that choice to women to decide. To remove the chador by force as Reza Shah did and force the Hejab as Agha did are both as wrong and insulting as is what that painting is depicting. Reza shah should have not removed Hejab by force. He should have first "educated" the women why they may be better off without chador and if he had done it properly, Khomeini could have never put that black cloth on the head of the Iranian women by force again. Next time if history gets an opportunity to insult our women one way or another we should hope that first it would make all Iranian men to dress up like Hajee Firooz for a decade or two to better understand how it feels to be forced to dress up in one way or another. It is not up to men to decide what women should wear, nor should one religion impose its preferred attire on all women of a country. Leave people to dress up adequately in accordance to their tastes but with certain guidelines that is understood by all cultures equally. If a man can not control his hormones when he sees a strand of woman's hair then he should be first educated and if that did not help then have him castrated and hang him from his extremities (please laugh). Equally if a woman wants to expose herself beyond the accepted norm of a civilized society, she may be inadvertently inviting unsolicited signals from men, who will end up castrated anyway! Eventually we will have a society that all men and women sing songs in a high "C" note for some weird reason! Please place a leaf on that painting. Thanks, Farrokh A. Ashtiani To top * Firouzeh joon, beh shoharet begoo... ba arze salam va khaste nabashid, azizan lotfan khodetoon ra moarefi konid shayad shohare man shomaro beshnase chon shoharam to teame footbal bazi mikarde. lotfan baram mail bezanid ta be shoharam begham. merci azizan, Firouzeh az Florida REPLY: Bandeh Jahanshah Javid dar team football kelaase sevom raahnamaaee madreseye babak dar Abadan (1974) darvaazebaane reserve boodam. To top * What bussiness did she have going to a stranger's house? I think what Iraj Mirza is trying to say [poem about the hejab] is that a woman is chast when she acts like it, not when she looks like it. In other words, a well rounded, respected woman, even if she is not covered in chador, is viewed with respect by men, while a completely covered woman who gives into a man's temptations, does not get anymore respect than she deserves merely because she is wearing a chador. And I don't think the girl was raped. What bussiness did she have going to a stranger's house to begin with?????? Golriz Farshi To top * Not that far from the tales which inspired them Dear Keri, [My only disappointment] Thank you for your points, indeed "The Thief of Bagdad" with Douglas Fairbanks is a milestone in American film History, and I do make an allusion to this remarkable film which was also a technical breakthrough in the field of spacial effects. I did however make a reference to that film in a previous article on the Korda remake. As a matter of fact I intend to write an article on the original Fairbanks version in the future. True many of these films were often extravagant depictions of the oriental tales, but with time they add a certain charm which is not that far finally from the tales which inspired them. These films often reduced the philosophical approach of these tales to the most spectacular aspects that could catch the eye, but isn't that after all the role of motion pictures? The legend of King Arthur, The legend of Robin Hood, Biblical epics like the Ten Commandments (both the 1923 and 1956 versions) or Samson and Dalila, Duma's Three Muskateers or Sabatini's Scaramouche have all been adapted to the silver screen with more or less success. Yet they all serve as great introductions to the real stories and have participated greatly in drawing interest on the original works or sources that inspired them as much as perpetuating these universally appealing legends. Now that cinema is a century old, I believe that the same will be done with the movies that have inspired other motion picture adaptations such as "The Thief of Bagdad". Thanks again for your insightful comments, Keri. Darius Kadivar To top * New round of xenophobia I feel somewhat odd writing in iranian.com about baseball and the San Francisco Giants, but have felt compelled to do so in the wake of Siamak Vossoughi's wonderful, poignant commentary of November 25th entitled "The Giants". I can only explain this by giving the readers my own personal history as a lifelong fan of this most frustrating team. At age 7 in October of 1962, living on an American Air Force reservation in California, my older brother and I died a thousand deaths when the Giants lost that Series in the 9th inning of the 7th and deciding game, 1-0 to the Yankees. Iranian readers unacquainted with American baseball or too youthful to remember the specifics of that year may be reminded that the last out of that Series occurred when Willie McCovey hit a screaming line drive off of Ralph Terry into the glove of second baseman Bobby Richardson for the final out, with Willie Mays and Matty Alou subsequently stranded on second and third base respectively, with what would have been the tying and winning runs. In the years that followed during my youth, there would be other baseball tragedies with the Giants. They would lose the 1965 and 1966 pennants to the Dodgers at the wire; the 1969 Western Division championship to the Braves by 3 games; the 1971 National League championship series to Pittsburgh when Gaylord Perry failed to hold a 5 run lead in what proved to be the deciding game; the 1978 Western Division championship to the Dodgers in another late season fade; the 1987 National League championship series to St. Louis after a protracted struggle; the 1989 World Series in 4 straight after an earthquake in San Francisco; and now the 2002 World Series after failing to hold a 5 run lead in the 7th inning of what should have been the deciding 6th game. Before the 6th game of this year's Series, I told a very close friend here in Philadelphia that after 40 years of enduring heartbreak after heartbreak, it seemed almost surreal that the Giants were within a hair of clinching their first World Championship since moving to San Francisco. Somehow it seemed that their victory in the Fall Classic would stave off the apocalyptic thoughts I have had about the larger world scene in the last several years. When the roof caved in on them during that Saturday night in Anaheim in the final innings of game 6, it seemed a microcosm of the dark times that may yet be coming in all of our lives. Similarly, I was frankly depressed tonight in reading Siamak Vossoughi's account of what befell his cousin, Farhad, as a Giant fan unlucky enough to be an Iranian (or a Middle Easterner of any type) in the increasingly sick atmosphere in America since September 11th. Somehow perhaps Felix Rodriguez' surrender of a 3 run homer in the 7th inning of game 6, followed by Bonds' outfield problems in the 8th inning of that game, are a precursor of cataclysms yet future, both for the United States and the entire world. I pray not. And I also pray specifically that the relationship between Iran and the United States can be restored to full health in this dark time. But I must confess that the specter of air bombardments and troop movements, the death of untold numbers of innocent civilians on all sides, the impending threat of more terrorism globally, and the rise of increasingly oppressive measures by world governments -- including the American government -- make me less than sanguine about the prospects for the reign of decency and peace in the midst of hatred, violence, petroleum-fueled world conflicts, and the onset of a new strain of the nationalistic virus which has created the genesis of a new round of jingoism and xenophobia. So tonight in retiring to bed and closing my eyes, I will remember the seemingly idyllic Iran I visited as a teenager, the America of another time and place, and this year's World Series -- pretending in my nocturnal dreams that it ended after the 6th inning of the 6th game with the Giants' clinching the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow after 40 years, 5-0. Mark Dankof MarkDankof.com To top * Mostafa Karimi To a wondrful friend who sat next to me from the age of 6 years onwards in the same school. We both came to the UK in 1976/77. He went to the USA a few years leater. Your name is MOSTAFA KARIMI. Remember BORHAN primery school! I dont know where you are now, Ihope you are well and still as tall as you were. Your long lost friend AHMAD PARVINMEHR To top * Noting but the truth One of the best. [Iraj Mirza's poem about the hejab] is noting but the truth. Daris Godarzi To top * Ghomeyshi: Please reply PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHICH SITE HAS MR. SIAVASH GHOMEYSHI'S SONG LYRICS? PLEASE REPLY ME AND DON'T IGNORE THIS EMAIL. THANKS A LOT, NADIA To top * Art for women's conference in London The Iranian Women's Study Foundation (IWSF) is holding its Fourteenth International Conference in London in June 2003. Apart from the academic and educational program, there is an arts event that runs alongside the main conference. Our job at the arts committee is to track down artists to exhibit or perform at the conference. What we are seeking are Iranian artists (painters, sculptors, photographers, playwrights, poets, actors, dancers, video artists, instillation artists, etc) based in the UK. Those wishing to submit an oral paper, stage a cultural programme, or exhibit their artwork should contact us at the address bellow. However, as this is a non-profit organisation, we are unable to offer any payment to artists wishing to present their work. Deadline for submission of abstracts is 20th December 2002, and all applicants will be contacted by the end of January 2003. To submit your work or for queries please contact us at: Email: iwsf2003uk@yahoo.co.uk Address: PO Box 37625, London, NW7 1WD, United Kingdom Telephone & Fax: + (0) 20 834 94 311 We look forward to hearing from you. The IWSF arts committee PS. Please note that IWSF is a non-profit and non-political organisation. It was set up in 1990 to promote research on different aspects of life for Iranian women both in Iran and outside the country. For more information visit the website at //www.iwsf.org To top * IranAlmanac: Fast and easy info We are very concerned about the abundance of meager and distorted information in the public domain about Iran and the important developments therein. This situation made the job of learning and researching on Iran very difficult, so as you might know we designed the website, www.iranalmanac.com. The purpose of this website is to help scholars around the world have access to the information on Iran, fast and easy. So far in the IranAlmanac section we have gathered important information on Iran, and the Who's Who section is a biographical bank of Iranian personalities with more than 2200 personalities at your fingertips. All the information will be updated every week. This website is designed and managed by one of the G2K members and for its continuation it relies on the rest of the colleagues. That means, this website is fully independent and it needs your support. Sincerely Yours, F.Behnam To top * Buried in life's hardships Dear Atieh, I saw your photos of Afghan children [No time to play]. The photos are very touching, not because the children are Afghan, but the fact that they speak of a childhood lost and buried in life's hardships. Thank you and I look forward to seeing more of your work, Leila Farjami To top * As good as the environment that shapes us I would like to admit that I found Moe's postulates quite intriguing [Soil searching]. I do neither agree nor refute them. It is an opinion expressed free from the standpoint of psychosocial- and psychohistorical - considerations. I wish to bring another avenue that may lead to a deeper understanding of a question, that why Iran is Iran and why America is America? In order to answer this question one needs to understand the underlying historical motivations between the two groups and understand the emotional origin of the social and political behavior of both. The history of Iran is a history replete with the stories of tyrants and despots. But it is not a history entirely made up by them. There is the question of Mazdak movement. 2000 years ago, before Marx printed Das Kapital, there was a socialist movement on the rise in Iran. What had been the emotional and cognitive matrix then that differs from now? Changing the people does sound a tad similar to a Nitzchian or Nazi prescription for a desirable world. There might not be anything wrong with these people...We are as good as the environment that shapes our world views. With Best Regards Nader Naghshineh To top * Very grateful Mr. Kadivar is one of the people I truly appreciate because of his contributions to Iranian.com regarding the movies about Iran. [More than real] As a real movie buff an also a person forever in search of finding books, movies and in general anything referencing Iran, Mr. Kadivar has made my task a lot easier and for that I am very grateful. Reading his articles is like watching a very informative yet entertaining documentary. Thanks to him I have taken on the task of sending numerous e-mails to 20th Century fox to see what we can do to get them to release the movie "The Lion of the Spartan". I could not bid for the one copy on e-Bay because it was closed for bidding but I have not given up yet. I have sent e-mails to everyone in the movie industry that I know. I have no doubt that most readers appreciate his in-depth analysis of the movies and the fact that he provides the site's addresses to purchase from is really helpful. I have seen most of the movies he has referenced ("The Thief of Bagdad" is one of my favorite and I never get bored watching it over again) and his background information is accurate. Thanks for informing me about Arabian nights and Songs Of Sheherzad which I had seen in a movie magazine and was wondering about whether to order them or not. By the way, I have the Arabian Nights (I hate the name) in my office and read passages at lunch time. It is quite enchanting and entertaining. I love it because the story teller is a brilliant Iranian woman! Keep up the good work because many of us appreciate and enjoy your articles. Azam Nemati To top * Savage and truly unjust Mrs. Fariba Amini's, photo essay on the Forouhars is truly sad and poignant. [It happened on Hedayat Street] They truly appeared as a couple who were concerned by the predicament of their fellow compatriots. Even if I do not share nor shared their political adherance back in 79, one has to admit that they were a particularily courageous and patriotic couple. What happened to them was not only a savage act of barbarism but truly unjust. May they rest in peace and not be forgotten. Darius Kadivar To top * Sad, how we are ridiculed I really enjoyed the compilation of movies in [More than real] very much. I have always been angered and saddened at the Hollywoodization of ancient myths and stories, (e.g Disney's Hercules, Alladin, Mulan) and the cultural misrepresentations customized to be more enjoyable for the western viewer, especially regarding the Middle East. I have heard comedians like Robin Williams and Jay Leno do mid-east character impressions with a completely East-Indian accent, either because it is more familiar and instantly gratifying, or they didnt even bother to do any research to see what an Arabic or Iranian accent speaking in English sounds like, although recently some Saturday Night Live sketches on Saddam are getting a little bit closer to proper impersonations. It just saddens me to see how we are ridiculed and type cast as terrorists by people who do not have the faintest idea where our countries are located on the world map, let alone bother to study our culture. Thanks Darius! Babak Khiavchi To top * My only disappointment Hi Darius! So good to hear from you again. And many thanks for sending me a copy of your well-written article [More than real] about the many film treatments of the "1001 Nights" tale. It was extremely well-researched and also serves to correct many of the glaring inaccuracies in these films that have painted a false picture of the East to us Westerners down through the years. BRAVO! In fact, the article was so good, I have no critique' to give, for I could really find no fault with it. My only disappointment was, of course, that you did not mention Fairbanks' original version, which is an important milestone in Hollywood. The look and fantastic feel of Fairbanks "The Thief of Bagdad" influenced every film version of the story made after it, right up to the present day. Sadly, because it is a silent film and was made so long ago, most modern audiences do not realize the original source of inspiration - just as they think Errol Flynn created the "Robin Hood" film character, and Gene Kelly was the original D'Artagnan! As the curator of the Douglas Fairbanks Museum, I'm obviously biased on this subject, so please forgive me if I harp on it too much! But since it is our mission to help educate the public about the influential work of Douglas Fairbanks, I always want to point people back to the original source of some of their favorite films. And in the case of action/romance/fantasy epics, all roads lead to Fairbanks! Again, so many thanks for sending me a copy of your excellent article, and please do keep in touch. I have enjoyed getting to know you via email, and hope that our friendship will continue for many years to come. Best Regards, Keri Leigh Curator The Douglas Fairbanks Museum To top * Most beautiful piece EVER I read your story [Map in the cat]. It was one of the most beautiful pieces that I have ever read about Iran. Thank you, Sima To top * Women pilots just as safe (wheew!) Well-researched article for aviation history in Iran, by Abbas Atrvash. [Against the wind] Flying is a mental activity, which requires multi-tasking ability with no muscle strength requirements. Therefore, it is considered as a gender-neutral profession. However, like many other occupations, has been dominated by males for many years and left the female in a minority. Recent interest in flying, among women, has changed the industry's appearance. And it should be noted that safety related statistics indicates that women commanding the flying machines have been as safe as their counterparts. Amir Kasravi To top * Secularislam.org Iranians have been victims of Islam, and what it stands for. In fact all Moslems are victims. Read more on www.secularislam.org. D Nafar To top * Towards the overthrow of Taliban-like regime Dear editor salams and Ramadan greetings, On Friday, November 22nd, was significant for a small but vital battle called the Battle of Badr, where 1400 years ago a band of under-armed but committed reformists numbering approximately 300 defeated a superior force of established reactionary thugs numbering about 3000... and the rest is history. The message to the brothers and sisters in Iran clamoring for justice, accountability, honesty, and freedom is clear: stay the course, do not waiver, do not be intimidated. In our role as citizens of democratic and free societies, particularly those of us residing in the United States of America, there is one thing that we can and should do to support the movement for change in Iran and level the playing field: we should solicit a firm commitment from our neighbors, co-citizens, and governments for direct armed intervention unambiguously geared towards the overthrow of any Taliban-like reactionary thug regime which might be thinking of unleashing elements like Basijis, Hezbollaahis, Paasdars, Laats, Chaagookeshes (and any other assorted and variegated Jaahel groups) at students and citizens seeking change. The existing presence of American troops in large numbers in the region, along with the no-nonsense mentality of the existing leadership in the White House make this a very logical, compelling, and realistic proposition. Va salam, Hamid Boroumand To top * Wenn do we want to learn? Hi, sorry for my bad english. I am living in Germany and my English is not uptodate enough. Thank you very much for printing Pogreba's article "My husband claims she was the perfect wife". Even if I am not agree with some of her points, i appreciated your magazine more than ever for publishing that. I found some negative readere's letter about that article and really wonder how narrow-minded sometimes we are! Even some people claimed that Pogreba is a rasist! !! Lord, she is married with an iranian guy! She took time and wrote an article for an iranian magazin. How could she be a rasist. I didn't find any insulting or bad words in her article at all. Let just 10 Iranian married woman write an article about her-in-lows. I promise you that the article of Pogreba would be the winner of the most harmless! Yes even goodness of one could razz other. My very kind neighbor for example: I asked her if that well-educated lady from turkey could water my plants when I am in a business trip. As I came back, I found that she did not only water my plants but also checked my whole flat for dirty dresses and washed and ironed them!! She bought me a new trash can, etc...and she wanted to be my best freind!!! Well I treated her as most of you except nice and didn't show her how angry and disappointed I was. That was the last time I asked her for watering my plants. But what if she was my mother-in-low??? Many weeks in my flat and practiced every day the same goodnesses??? Well I can just tell you guy: please open your eyes and look how western cultures deal with the subject "CRITIC". Critic is an essesial part of democracy. That is the way the things changes, the people starts to see stuff from different points of view. We always claim that we have in Iran a dictatorship, no freedom, etc.. We believe we are very democrat and require more speech freedom for every body. Isn't it? Is speaking about our culture an exception??? How could we critisize the lack of freedom in Iran, however each of us has a sort of dictator in his own mind!!! Believe me that critisizing, making jokes, publishing satire, etc doesn't weak our culture. That happens every day in west. Wenn do we want to learn it??? Regards, Ariane To top * Tanhaa raah: Esraeel Zereshk! [Audio: Zabooneh roozeh] Mesleh eenkeh dar zaman bacheghi oon haj-aghaye raeess madreseh kAreh khodesho kardeh. Pedareh shoma cheh joor rooznamenegaari boodan keh bacheyeh panj saleh-ash ra dar madresehye eslaami sabteh nam kardeh boodan. Tanha tareeghi keh een tor khorafaat az sareh shoma kharej misheh eeneh keh esraeel nasleh harchi mosalmooneh ra az zamin vardareh. Elahi amin ya rabal alameen, Moftaki To top * Looking for Samira You have probaly heard about the world social forum, held in our home town, porto alegre in south Brazil. Since last year, it is happening in paralel the cultural forum, the cultural and visual arts actors forum, with contributions from Robert Guedigian, Ken Loach, Etore Scola among others. This year, specially because there's a new social environment and a closer east/west colaboration, I'm in charge to make a contact with Samira Makhmalbaf and discuss her interess, opinion and possible participation/film exibitions, etc... Check out at //www.forumsocialmundial.org.br/ This is, probaly the most free and open space for all kinds of ideas exchange. We need your help to get any information leading to a contact with her, it can be in english, spanish, german, italian and french, and, of course portuguese, sorry, persian is to difficult for me. Please, anything you need to know and how to participate or make contacts, just write us. PS: You can difuse to the Iranian people, universities and organisations, personally I'm probably going to Iran before the forum. Thank you again, Al Siedler, Paris To top * It's the worst thing since... You're recently getting into the habit of choosing tasteless stuff as your cover story, but this "Self-portrait" thing is a definite slipshod! It's the worst thing you've ever chosen after that nasty VENUS. Bahareh Vali To top * Not without my dignity First ... I'd like to thank y'all for the wonderful site! Second I just thought I'll share this link with y'all: //www.helsinki-hs.net/news.asp?id=20021119IE20 I saw the documentary today and it was great! OK, keep up the GREAT GREAT WORK! Ali Charmi To top * Thousands of "martyrs"? Hah! This is the sad truth, I guess, when you describe what happened and remind us of all of those who helped bring about what has become the nightmare for all Iranians for almost 24 years! [High on freedom] When you write of Khomeini standing in Beheshteh Sahra amongst "thousands" who died during the revolution, I must laugh bitterly. Those graves were of people who died of old age, natural deaths because of diseases, car accidents etc. and there may have been some who were killed during the demonstrations. If there were hundreds that is still not excusable, but then again in retrospect they themselves would have been amongst the future ruthless killers and vigilantes who destroyed and plundered and terrorized. The "thousand graves due to the revolution" were dug by Khomeini's henchmen after they started killing scores of Iranian citizens whom they felt may some day stand up to them, who they found guilty without proper trials just because they had served in the previous government or the Shah, such as generals and cabinet ministers, and with time political activists with amongst them many students. This is the sad legacy of the blind and dumb population of those days, who forgot who they were as well as leaving behind their roots and their culture; they gave themselves body and soul to a man who did not care for Iran and Iranians, who only had vengeance and hate on his mind. What a disaster and how very shameful ! S. Samii To top * We and our mother like see him again My borother's name is Mohammad Saeed Izadi. We do not have any news about him for nearly 12 years. He was in England and the last time he called it was in 1368 (1999). If anybody knows him please help us. He was from Kermanshah and went to U.S. in 1357 (1979) and studied Electorics in a Texas university. We and our mother like see him again Thank you, Mohammad Izadi To top * Palestinians are getting killed, and you sell pictures of bras? I am shocked, speechless. What is this? I could not imagine someone would actually do these things, before I see the photos by Mrs. Marjaneh Zahed- Khorassani- Kindersley called "Self-portrait". What is more shocking is that, she knows some people are going to buy them. Are they? Really? So she put a price tag on every photo! 300 dollars!? 500 dollars!? It is unbelievable! Not the price! No! Sometimes we spend more than this on useless things. But to waste time on "producing" meaninglessness and, nothing, or to pay for a picture of a bra to hang it on wall, in such a world that they kill a Palestinian child in front of his mother, in a world that they issued death sentence for someone who has expressed his opinions, in a world that they set free the father that has tormented his two month old baby, in such a world, it is just saddening. It tells the truth as well: to change, to be better, and to be improved takes effort, it is painful, but we are avoiding pain and as a result, avoiding being better, by laziness. We do not want to see the truth. Thanks, Ayene To top * Jewish peacenik An Iranian American friend of mine in the US sent me the website iranian.com, which I have enjoyed and been enlightened by. I'm a Jewish peacenik in relation to the Arab/Israeli conflict, wanting everyone to go beyond the idea of Moslem/Jew hostilities to an understanding that it is really a war over land. When the state of Israel was created, a state of Palestine should have been created simultaneously. Alas, it was not, much to our grief. I am interested in knowing if there are any Jews left in Iran now? Perhaps an impossibility. Thank you, BW To top * Sadegh Nojooki Baa arze dorod va salaam, Man Akbar as Esfahan khaahaane ettelaati dar morede aaghaaye Sadegh Nojooki hastam. aayaa shomaa mitavaanid be man komak konid? Tashkkor Akbar To top * I do not desire to open your website Please stop sending me email . I do not desire to open your website. Espesialy your joke abour Reza Pahlavi in Iran was very unfunny [Not without my mom]. Also, how could you let peaple like Mr Baniameri write those rubbish "Quit whining" about fellow Iranins? That was very unfunny too. Nina Tahmasebi To top * Mossadegh: Man of the Year I am looking for an old issue of Time magazine, January 1952, when Dr. Mossadegh became the Man of the Year. Whoever has this issue and wants to sell, I'm a buyer. Morvarid Behmanesh To top * Rasht: Sara (Shirin) Attar-Seyyedi My name is Shadi Rahbar and I am looking for a lost friend of mine, Sara (Shirin) Attar-Seyyedi. We attended Toheed and Bent-Al-Hoda high schools in Rasht. I was told that she has moved to U.S. with her family recently. Please send me an email if you have any news of her. Shadi Rahbar Thanks To top * Great music I really like this website because I always can find out what's new about Iran and Iranian singers. It's great to have you. Thanx a bunch!!!! Panir To top * How come adults cannot figure it out? A baby is always a blessing and a miracle whether you choose to keep the baby or give it for adoption [My wife's pregnant, too soon?]. Children call us to be better persons and bring us closer to the ideal life that God would have for us -- which we often cannot see because we are so busy with our own plans. Small children know that killing a baby is wrong. How come adults cannot figure it out? Catherine To top * Baby is not the end of the world I would like to bring this to the attention of this couple [My wife's pregnant, too soon?] that if the lady is considering abortion just because she needs to go to school and take care of her career, she should consider the fact that she dosn't have to be a full time mom as she believes. She may still need to work or go to school at least part time. The birth of a baby is not the end of the world and she cannot expect herself to stay with the baby 24 hours a day. It'll be too boring. School or work will give her more focus on life and also the strength to enjoy her baby more. I don't know her life circimestances but if she may be able to use a baby sitter or a relative to take care of the baby for a couple of hours a day, she will still be able to go to school, and enjoy it even more. On the other hand, how does she know when she will be able to finish school? How does she know what will happen tomorrow? Our plans may never happen the way we want them to. Many things may happen on our path in life, that may postpone our plans. Fortunately, what is happening to her is a pregnancy, not God forbid, some bad accident. Of course I am not tellling her what to do, I just want her to consider this facts, also. Beny Levi To top * Great if we could do something traditional A fellow worker who is a Persian has invited the complete section to a party. Is there a traditional custom that the guest brings or does something for the host of the party. If it is a gift what would be the nature of the gift. There are a number of reasons for the party but I think it is mainly to host his work comrades. It would be great if we could do something traditional for him and his family. Regards, Don Stazic To top * We submit to anti-Islamic bullshit About "How Persian Drive was saved", The whole story was a good story, except the fact that shows the insecurity that Iranians, especially Californian-Iranians , show about their religion. This insecurity and lack of confidence is used by assholes, such as Hindus. Even if the "Persian" was an Islamic name, Hindus had no right to demand for a name change. Even if the name of street was "Islam", for instance, the Iranian community should have acted in the same manner. Those fucking Hindus must learn that they should forget about their stupid ethnic and religious hatred that have cost thousands of lives in India. In other words, when they come to the US, they should become more civilized and less fucking rude. This also shows the difference between East and West Coast. I live in New York and radio stations and even sometimes TV stations congratulate Muslim Eid and many schools and many professional groups observe Muslim holidays. On the contrary, the Muslim community in California, especially Iranians, are so weakened by their own insecurity that a bunch of cow-worshippers dare to ask to change an "Islamic" name. This would not happen in New York. This insecurity of Iranians, which has been my biggest pain, has a long history. It is the main reason why majority of Iranian-Americans and Iranians abroad in general would submit to any stupid anti Islamic explanation, even if it is 100% bullshit. PLEASE DO NOT PUT MY EMAIL ADDRESS. Sign the comment by "Hassan". To top * Dominic, Desiree and Dariush I am looking for a childhood friend of mine from Iran. They are two sisters and a brother by the names of Dominic, Desiree and Dariush. I would be very grateful for any information you may have on them as i am desperately looking for them to reunite my long lost friendship. I thank you in advance. Mitra To top * Thanks: Persian Drive Thanks to the participants, wishing you all success. [How Persian Drive was saved] Yours Truly, Bagher R. Harand Scarsdale, NY To top * How about Divaneh Drive? Behrouz Bahmani's story about how his Bay Area community saved the name of a certain 'Persian Drive' from being changed to 'Mandir Drive' -- at the behest of a Hindu body -- was charming. [How Persian Drive was saved] What disturbed me though was the Iranians' apparent readiness to counter the claim that "Persian" was an Islamic name, as if Islam were as muck-tinged a word as most Americans might think. Are we to rejoice that the name of our country is now officially stamped 'non-Islamic' by the Yanks? Should we now purge all road, town and city names of Arabic influence? Alhambra and Madrid in Spain and London's Trafalgar Square? Should we extend this anti-Muslim tide to figures and revert to Roman numerals? Let's say the street was named "Salaam Drive", after the Arabic greeting that is pegged in daily Farsi usage. Would this have weakened our case? Would it not have been worthier to tell the Indian lobby: "You have Namaste TV and Deepak Chopra, leave our little drive alone?" Had the local authority been wiser it might have appeased both groups by plucking a Farsi word from modern Hindi to name the road, such as "divaneh". Peyvand Khorsandi To top * Chera?  Hossein Haji Agha To top * What the heck did you name the cat? Reza, [Map in the cat] What the heck did you name the cat? You didn't tell us. Otherwise, a very nice story. I liked it. Steve Boergadine To top * I am calling from Pakistan Hello, I am calling from Pakistan. We are looking for the address or phone number of the company manufacturing ZAMZAM Cola. Can you help please? Thanks, Siddiqui To top * Frankly, I agree. Islam is bad I come before in the name of God. please read all that i have to say. i love all people, of any race, sex, or religion, yet i am pure christian, and very true to my faith. it has been revealed to me in recent times truths about islam. many who are its followers are very good people. they work very hard, and help people, and stand out in society to represent islam. it is because of those people that i am writing to you today. islam governments are sentencing people to death, or cross amputation, etc... for various crimes, one of which is insulting islam. by you executing a journalist or anyone else for insulting islam, you are saying that they are right. and frankly, i agree. islam is bad. it teaches you to live like animals, treat your family as property, there are no virgins waiting for you. are you scared now? Masdf Dsfer * Hire me: Software Engineer with H1B1 Visa Dear Sir/Madam, I live in Santa Clara city. I came to US about 8 months ago with an "H1B1 Visa", since I was supposed to be working as a Software Engineer for a company that had sponsored me for that purpose. However due to the recent economic situation, the company was no longer able to hire me. However my H1B1 Visa is still valid and is transferable. I looked for a job in my position alot but I wasn't successful. I thought that the Islamic Cultural Center of Northern California can help me in this case. I am alone here and I really need your help. I am looking forward to hearing from you soon. Sincerely, Afshaneh To top * Indians know a tramp when they see it How would like your mother or sister doing what Angylina does for a living and she is a whore saling her body for aliving can some one arrest her by turning her in to the police. She is an illegal immrigrant coming to the states doing illegal activity and should be charged with exploit herself nude. She also wants to be in Indian films in Calcutta and be with Mira Nair films doing Kama hot films with Naveen Andrews, who has a crush on her. She wants to be in the Indian modeling company in Delhi and she has the rude attitude of a Turk. I think she is representing Iran as a porn country and people suggest she should be in Indian films with adult topics, because she should get spiced up for a real punishment coming her way. Indians know a tramp when they see it and treat it badly by critizing her on national TV. But she is from a conservative country and representing Iran as its ok to be a nudist and whore she is. But her ego is so wrong. Men falling in love with an internet tramp is unhealty and she has got a lot of nerve to be from Iran with her undecent behavior. Porn is illgal in the U.S. and she should be caught. Angylina should be with that muscle man and they don't look normal . As a hindustani thaught they look freaky and Angylina is a druggie spaced out woman. Iranians that behave airheaded like her should be in prison in Iran. Hans266900@aol.com To top * Don't forget the Indian bloodline I think you should promote Indian classical songs, such as Ghazals and other poetry from the north Indian atmosphere. I think more folk songs and classical music of parsi Zorasterian music . Iran is an Indo-european country and should not forget the Indian heritage one has. Iran has ruled India during the Cyrus, Darius, and Mughal empires . So put forth the songs from these kingdoms and don't forget the Indian bloodline. Indian films are booming with hot songs and music. I think the north Indian songs are cool and popular in Moslem Pakistan. Indian models have Iranian names and I feel the Indian movies are popular in Arabia. Did you know Hafez wrote the ghazals, and some mention about a Bengali woman? Hans266900@aol.com To top * Dr. Shahriar Vaziritabar Does anyone know a person called "Dr. Shahriar Vaziritabar" and any contact info? If positive, please let me know ASAP. Thank you very much nastaran namazi To top More December 2, 2002 letters >>> Page 2
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