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October 24, 2003 * Has Lech been drinking again? I woke up this morning to the great news of Shirin Ebadi having won the Nobel Peace Prize, what a great day for Iran and Iranians! I was so impressed that many of the other nominees, and also international figures such as Jimmy Carter and Nelson Mandela have congratulated her for winning a prize that she so rightly deserved. Even Former Czech President Vaclav Havel (a nominee for the prize) sent his congratulations through his secretary, Jakub Hladik, who said "he judges that she certainly deserves it." Even though speculation this year had centered on Havel and Pope John Paul II to win it, in Poland, Solidarity founder Lech Walesa, the 1983 Peace Prize winner, expressed disappointment that John Paul didn't receive the award. He said, "I bear nothing against this lady, but if anyone among the living deserves it then it is the holy father," Walesa told TVN24. I just wanted to add what an idiot Lech Walesa is by making such a statement. John Paul winning the Nobel Peace Prize? Has Lech been drinking again? John Paul did nothing to condemn or put an end to child molestation committed by his fellow clergymen, and in some cases his Vatican tried to keep these allegations quiet by either dismissing them outright, trying to pay hush money, or just changing the location where the child molester preached. In my opinion, it would have been a disgrace if the Pope had won it. Nothing against this man, Lech but thank God the Nobel Peace Prize Committee has a mind of its own. Congratulations to Shirin Ebadi, no matter what Walesa thinks. * Behind ideological walls Dear Mr. Keyvan Kavyany, [Kheyraat-e javaaez] If the Nobel Peace committee would have been bestowed the Peace Prize to Stalin, Mao, Fidel Castro, Pol Pot, Saddam Hossein or Kia-Noori Would you have come out with those kinds of comments? You may say whatever you want about the ills of SARMAYEH DRAY, but you communists proved to be much worse, which is not needed to indicate its complete failure. When are you communists and ultra leftits going to come out of your self-made unworkable ideological walls? When are you going to open your eyes & grasp the reality of life? Why do you insist to on destroying everything? As if you have not done enough already. People like you destroyed our beloved land under the pretext of making it better! What have you achieved is despicable. You should swallow your ultra leftist false pride & keep quiet, at least for once. H. Hakimi, * Human rights road map Dear Ms. Shirin Ebadi, On behalf of the Iranian Federated Women's Club (IFWC), the children of Payvand Cultural and Arts School, as well as many other local Iranian organizations in California, we send our best wishes and acknowledgements for the life-changing accomplishments and footprints you have left in the history of Iran and Humanity in general. Ms. Ebadi, you have served as a voice for all those voices who have been abandoned and drowned out by society, and you have made an incredible difference in the lives which you serve, as well as in the lives who are inspired by your courageous perseverance, integrity, and dedication to improving Human Rights in Iran. At our cultural and arts school in California, we learn each week about Iranian men and women who are outstanding in their accomplishments, service and contributions to our community, so that we may have role models to learn from and be inspired by. We are so fortunate and appreciative of your global presence and Iranian heroism, as the first Iranian Muslim woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize. We are very proud and moved by your profound gifts of raising the bar of the Human Rights Movement, as we believe your accomplishments are shifting the Iranian consciousness to play a bigger and more sincere role in making a difference for Humanity. We are looking forward to building creative
and positive ways to be a part of this roadmap you have successfully
established. Sincerely, Iranian Federated Women's Club * Hope she always smiles Ebadi could win anyone's heart with her smile [Reason
to smile]. She is absolutely
a wonderful choice for human rights prize. Hope she always smiles! * 2,500 years after Cyrus Cyrus the Great is credited for writing the first charter of human rights in history. After more than 2,500 years, one of Cyrus's decedents is acknowledged for her tireless fights to preserve these rights, especially for women, in Iran, the land where Cyrus's charter was written. Ironic, isn't it? Kudos to the Noble Prize Committee for their wise selection of Mrs. Ebadi in light of her years of intellectual struggle against the barbaric regime of mullahs in Iran. This recognition will most definitely give her an international stature that will hopefully shield her from the wrath of the intolerant tyrants of Tehran. The world community's recognition and support for Iranian dissidents such as Mrs. Ebadi is the best and most effective avenue to foster change in Iran, and promote democracy in the land where human rights were first conceived. Hamid Bahadori * Another Western created hero Dear Mr. Javid, * Progress, like politics, makes strange bedfellows Great article [The outsider]. It does strike me that even liberals might appreciate the fact that other Muslim Nobel winners (Peace: Arafat, Sadat; Lit: Mahfuz) are doing things that Western leaders and/or intellegentsia like at the time they win. It is as though the merits of what they are doing (working for peace, writing cool books that happen to annoy fundamentalist Muslims) are undermined at home by a Western pat on the back. It is truly sad to me that "human rights" are often dismissed as cultural imperialism. That being said, it turns out that diplomats from Arab and Muslim countries were very active is developing and (keeping alive at times) the UN's efforts at creating a global human rights policy (this based on the research of Susan Waltz and UM-Ann Arbor on UN archives) --even when their own governments did not enjoy a great human rights record. I guess progress, like politics, makes strange bedfellows (and perhaps it has too). Well, in hope of better days. * They are so confused You are absolutely right [The outsider]. They [IRI] are so confused and don't know how to react to this. Thanks for a nice peice as always. * Honor beyond political convictions Dear Jahanshah, Your editorial on Shirin Ebadi was excellent [The outsider]. The news has covered all the Press in France and last night the TV covered her triumphant return to Iran. Last night the French TV interviewed Empress Farah for the release of her biography in French. She expressed also her pride to see a compatriot and gender recieve this prestigious reward. She had also made a brief comment on KRSI television in Los Angeles. Ebadi's victory and struggle should honor Iranians beyond their political convictions for it is an honor to see one of our compatriots efforts acknowledged with the distinguished Nobel Prize for Peace unjustly belittled by Mr. Khatami and his clan. * I am an optimist again Salam Jahanshah, [The outsider] A great article and you took the words right out of my mouth (and not to say I am taking credit for what you said). I was in Iran this past summer (sent you the link to my photos already) and was witness to some of the bloody violence between the youth and the vigilante thugs. I had lost all hope in a peaceful future and always said that this movement will fail without a leader loved by the masses. Well, Shirin Ebadi has now become that person and has filled a vacuum which people like Reza Pahlavi, Masoud Rajavi, Abol Hassan Bani Sadr, Hossein Khomeini (Khomeini's grand son) and etc have so far failed to fill. I was, myself, filled with excitement the moment the MSNBC news update popped in my Inbox. In article I wrote in 1998, I expressed hope and optimism for Iran following Khatami's election victory. This was eventually turned into pessimism due to Khatami's totall failure, intentional or not, to bring about real reforms. Now, I am an optimist again. Let's hope that fate does not betray us again. Shab khosh rafigh * They can not stand her Dear Javid, [The outsider] What you said is exactly what I feel about this courageous woman and the filthy Islamic Republic. Trust me days of the mullahs numbered as well as the so called reformists. What Ebadi stands for is what neither the mullahs nor the reformists want to see, an Iran free of religious dogma and rules. They can not stand her because she believes in equal rights for everyone in Iran, including the Bahais. Also, the fact that she is a product of last regime's educational and social system irritates both the mullahs and the reformists. By removing her head scarf she also reminded the dogmatic mullahs of another Iranian woman who did the same thing 150 years ago, I am referring here to Tahirih -- and we all know what happened to her. Let's hope Shirin's fate will be different. * Lost hope long ago Dear Jahanshah, [The outsider] They should give you a Nobel Prize for finally coming out and state what has been obvious to many folks out there that "Sag'e zard is brother of Shoghal." As many people in Afghanistan lost hope on both Mullah Omar and Osama Bin Laden, the people in Iran had lost hope on Khatami and Khamenei and their thugs long time ago. You just didn't want to hear it. Now, the problem is how Mrs. Ebadi and her constituencies are going to disarm a million or so criminal barbaric thugs? Will there be a need for a military confrontation? * Reverberations in Egypt I just wanted to say great piece. [The outsider] I think you really grasped the multiple issues surrounding Ebadi's Nobel Prize. It's amazing how you can even feel the reverberations here in Egypt (i.e. almost everyone of my professor in human rights have thanked me so far, as an Iranian, and almost every woman right's NGO I know based in Cairo is claiming victory). So once again, keep up the great work. * Haz kardam You've nailed it Jahanshah. [The outsider] Bah bah, beh tavaaneh bee-nehaayat haz kardam. * Waiting Dear Jahanshah, [The outsider] It took some time for you to come out of being nasty child. I liked your article on Shirin Ebadi very much, therefore you are worthy
of receiving another small contribution from me. Are you yet residing at the same address as last year? A day will come that you will confess and regret all the nasty things you did for so long when you were young, inexperienced, full of utopian emotions. I am waiting for that good day, since it will open up the pent ups of so many others such as yourself. You and them, for once and all, will get rid of your bothering guilty inner self. H |
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