Letters
December 2004
December
3
December
4 | December
15 | December
16
How the hell did this happen?
In respose to Leila Farjami's "Fil-e
pelaastiki":
I came across your poem on Iranian.com. I was quite
intrigued. Thankfully, you have a site with your poetry published.
I admire your keen sense of obseravation of the Iranian Diaspora. I commend you
indeed. I have lived in Canada for the last 30 years. I can say fortunately the
city I live in Canada (Edmonton), is not a magnet for Iranians. It is too cold,
hence I do not see any of what you have described. However I travel to Vancouver
and Toronto a lot, and I do see what you mean.
What the hell is happening to the Iranians? They are trying to be more American
than the Americans. They are so proud of their assimilation ability. They are
so proud that they are Chameleons!!!
And you watch the TV channels with their "nejade aria" and am
ready to vomit.
How the hell did this happen? Is this the reaction to the Revolution? The
still mourning period of what was lost? A re-inactment of what Iran and its "beatiful
people class" would have been like if Pahlavi dynasty was in power?
What are they hanging on to? And what are they denying? They hang on to this
glorious pat, but have nothing to show for it. For God's sake even their skin
color is mostly dark and far from the Arian ideal of what the hair and the complection
of an Arian should be like. I forgot hair dye, and as mentioned blue contact
lenses and bleaching can overcome that.
It is so sad that this inferiority complex is so prevalent. You are right, you
do not see that among the Arabs. The Morracans in France have made an indelible
impression on the French culture. Morracan food, music, culture is a alive and
well and accepted in France. Morracans have not tried to be French.
The irony is that the Americans do not take notice of our restaurants, our cheesy
music videos that try so hard to be like the MTV stuff. We are not noticed. And
god forbid if someone call us Arab. We say we are "Persian" because
that sounds exotic and romantic. That is if we do not claim that we are Italian
or Spanish....and heaven forbid if some poor soul thinks that we are East Indian
or Pakistani. Then all hell breaks loose.
MN
Top
Is democracy what is rammed down our throats?
In response to Alidad Vassigh's, "pUNy":
After reading your commentary, analysis, or whatever name you
would choose to assign to it (actually i gotta good one for you: Report by
a Fact-finding
individual, very catchy ha?) I could not help but be amused by such ludicrous
assumptions that you seem to make about those who disfavored your candidate
and his
proposed strategies and policies. It is amazing the tendency you show to shoot yourself in the foot, and defeat
your own purpose when you apparantly claim respect everyone's right to express
an opinion, yet at the same time you maintain that one is not obliged to respect
every "silly" opinion. This must be one of your highest achievments
in the field of objective assessment in the political arena. why is it all
of a sudden vindictive and a sign of character assasination, when someone would
make an attempt to reveal a very small portion of what really occurs in our
governing system and how policies that are supposed to benefit us are created
and decided upon.
But it is totally a rational and well-justified act to gather
and round up bunch of innocent people for the crimes they have not committed,
without saying a word on what their fate will be? And if the latter is part
of a more extented battle of some unknown giant, why don't they at least
given their democratic right of a fair representation? Is democracy what is
rammed
down our throats, or is it what gives us the right to express our dissent
as it always has been.
The only crime that you are charging that spanish or swedish ladies with,
is excercizing of their rights as normal civilians, who have their eyes open
and are smart enough to search for the truth on their own and not just believe
whatever garbage they are fed as some lame form of rationalization, for horrendous
conducts. the same goes for hans blix, for exposing the facts and telling you
something you did not wish to hear at all.
Why would there ever be desire to resort to actions such as ramming a bus
to a police stations, if indeed there were no policies in effect to push the
civilians to the edge and would leave them no choice to make their voices and
wishes heard. Why this is so hard for you supposedly intellectuals hard to
comprehend, is well beyond me.
Would you like to even acknowledge at least, how those countries came into
possession of such technologies? Does it even matter to you? Maybe you should
do your homework on that, before you embark on a massive campagin of spreading
irrational and biased remarks.
Kyle Saghafi
Top
Sounds real
In response to Siamak Baniameri's, "The
bartender":
Baniamer's story of Iranians living here in Los Angeles sounds real. I do
not know if his real job
is
a bartender or not,
but for sure he knows what is going on in the Iranian community in Los Angeles.
I hope he put these stories together in book.
H. Jam
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Today's world is different
In response to Paul MacKinnon's letter, "Skipping
the Reformation":
Dear Paul,
Thanks for you comments. I agree with your points. If you review the
conclusion of my article, "The
art of separation", I said the same thing. Reforms in Islam
are needed as it
worked in Christianity. My point is that modernity, economic growth,
secularization, democracy were not all parts of Christianity, these were
imposed on the
church, of course not easily.
Reformation was a new interpretation of
Christianity imposed on Catholic church. What caused Reformation is a
disputed matter.
I included a long passage from Max Weber to clarify his point on Reformation.
He sees a kind of capitalist development as the pretext of Reformation.
Today's world is different. The presence of industrial capitalism
as well as the global agencies in a peaceful manner will help reformist
Muslims to interpret Islam differently and overcome the traditional and
fundamentalist Islam.
Regards,
Kazem Alamdari
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The answer
In response to Heresh Rezavandi's "We
never win":
You wrote: "Oh yeah, pleeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaassssssssssssse Someone tell
me what the deal is when you get a gorgeous Irooni girl with a damn ugly,
looser white guy? Is it because you have such a problem with your
Iranian identity and want to 'fit' into Western society by getting
a
non-Iranian boyfriend or husband?"
Dear Heresh, the answer to your question
is simple, go read your
article, listen to yourself talk and look in the mirror for at least
5 minutes, and then if you still didn't know why Iranian girls prefer
non-Iranian guys give me a call and I'll try to help you out with your
confusion! Anna S.
Top
Aimless hatred
Regarding responses to my article "G.I.
Farrokh":
Just as I had expected, I received a substantial number of hate mails from
a bunch of Iranian.com readers after I divulged my feelings about my country,
the United States of America, and the fact that I am an active duty member
of the United States Army.
One in particular, made sure that I knew he was pissed and proceeded to line
up and lob an exotic assortment of profanities at me. Amongst other things,
he called me a sell-out and, as he reminded me of the American death toll
in Iraq and asked me why I wasn‚t down range amongst the "occupiers," and
wished that the insurgents would "crawl up my ass," and said "Long
lives the insurgency!"
It was immediately obvious to me from his English that that he was another
American of Iranian heritage, or one who had to have been immersed in an
American environment for a good while.
It pained me, ...
no... fuck that,
I was outraged that an asshole like him who has enjoyed all the amenities
offered to him due the sovereignty of the USA, stands up to challenge me who has
sworn to defend his civil rights and to ensure his right to enjoy the
ability to excrete all the expressive diarrhea he wants!
Fuck that ingrate bitch!
And then also, was another one of liberal camp. One who seemed to be sold
to the idea that "If we play nice, the muzzies will play nice too." He
tried unsuccessfully to denigrate my whole concept and existence of being an
American soldier by no factual terms at all!
He went on for a stretch about "doing what a soldier thinks
is right," forgetting that soldiers do what they are ordered; not what
what they think they should do based on personal beliefs. Notwithstanding
the exemption of when some orders may be, by all commonsense
and conventional wisdom and applicable laws, unlawful!
All he managed to do was to spew aimless and unsubstantiated hatred and
convey to me his confusion and immaturity!
My advice to him for now is more manual self-gratification and deeper self
reflection, and of course research!
Let me say this to all who can understand my verbiage well, but who want
to still be a rebel without a cause :
First of all, I don‚t, and don‚t see why I should, owe anything
to a land that once was Iran.
The United States took me on when I was a kid, and despite all my aberrations
and fuck ups, still afforded me and my offspring a chance for a decent living.
Yes, I can not deny that corruption and corrupts do exist at any level of
the US society, or any fucking-where in the world for that matter.
But I am whole heartedly convinced that, by virtue of the constitution of
the United States, upon which my country stands, good will and the good citizens
of the US will always triumph, and I have promised to pay the ultimate price
to ensure that it will be so.
That may be the reason why, being the youngest, the United States is the
strongest nation in the world; and why so many like me will always volunteer
to make
sure it stays so! Farrokh B.
Top
What if you're deployed to Iran?
In respose to Farrokh B.'s "G.I.
Farrokh":
So, what was the reason for you joining the wonderful killing machine, we
all know as the US Army? The fact that you were so fucking (I take liberty
in using this word, since you and your "comrades" are so in love
with the word), incompetent to provide for your wife, whom you shouldn't
have had, or your child, which
you were and are too immature to have?
Or was it because your Dad wouldn't let you play with guns with the Shah's
army and that created a huge mental tumor that you had to get your rocks
off and join some army to have a gun and kill. Jesus, you listen to yourself? Or
was it because the US Constitution, which I'm sure you haven't read or if
so, do not understand it?
What is it GI? What?
You mean to tell me that 17 years ago there was absolutely no legitimate
job, where you could put in a days hard work and come home with your head
held high?
Instead you joined the Army where you make "easy" money, do a half
decent job, for the most part and are hated by billions of people across
the globe.
You picked one occupation where they pay you to kill. You will tell your
child that Daddy was too stupid or lazy to go look for a real job and joined
a toothless,
group of people to kill and destroy in the name of "freedom".
Well, you are to be commanded. You are the best of the best trying to defend
this country, while offending millions of others.
Just one question, Mr. Soldier, what if you're deployed to Iran? Will you
shoot anyone, hating America that comes in your cross hair of your beloved
gun? If
yes, will you still do it if that one is your cousin or old buddy from high
school?
Your Mother, whether it is your biological one or Iran, should be proud.
I, as an Iranian and an American, think you're a complete idiot and a fucking
moron.
I will stand in front of your lousy gun and bet that you'll miss. After all
you are a dumb American Soldier, kiss my hairy, Iranian ass.
H.B. (human being)
Top
Evrybody is Iranian
In respose to Arash Emamzadeh's "A
simple question":
Anyone who has been born in iran and has finished the elementary school in
iran and married to an iranian woman who also fits the same criterion is cosidered
iranian regardless of what citizenship that person has taken up later on in
life. This of course is a general principle with subtheme and variation as
it is to be adjusted with particular circumstances.
Being born in an iranian hospital in syria is still being considered
born in iran
Respectfully,
Abol (Mage) Hassan Danesh, Ph.D.
Top
What is wrong with us?
In respose to Amir N's "Persian
(traitors) gulf":
I totally agree with you Amir! What's wrong with most of us? What did the
mollahs do to us? They took a lot from us, but not all!
Even though at the time of the revolution I was not living in Iran, all
of my family did! They were all out fighting the Iraqis in different
capacities such as soldiers, nurses and doctor! Even my mom
who had lost his young Iranian boxing champion son during the revolution
was at war feeding the fighters! My mom did not allow me to go back, and
she said: "You can and must fight for Iran from abroad!" She did
not mean a destructive fight, she meant a constructive fight! The same kind
that many Americans of different descends are engaged in by helping
their ancestral lands and people, by being in positions of power!
Why are we forgetting our people and land? If we do not care for our ancestral
land, would we ever care for our adopted countries? Yes, As long as everything
is rosy, but as soon as things turns sour, we would pack up and go in search
of another pasture. However, if we love our motherland, we definitely could
love and care for our adopted land as well! Once a traitor to the mother land,
always a traitor to other lands! I have a lot of respect for Mr. Ala for not
forgetting our beloved motherland and putting up a constructive fight to preserve
anything that belongs to us, whether the name Persian or anything Iranian!
What is wrong with us? Nothing! The American, Israeli, and perhaps the Arab
governments' plan worked, and damn mollahs helped them to destroy Iran
and Iranians! After the revolution, they were afraid of Iran becoming another
Persian empire, so they colluded to stop and destroy our country by creating
and maintaining the war, followed by the economic sanctions! They made
sure that the revolution would fail and Iran destroyed, so other countries
in the region would not follow Iran as a good example to follow! The weaker
the Iran, the happier Israel, US and the Arab dictators! After all
the hardship that Iranians went (still going) through, a lot of people worked
only for their survivals! They felt betrayed by the mollahs and didn't
see any other alternatives. This resulted in having many (not all) exhausted
and hopeless people who would not care about names, culture and a lot
of great characteristics that makes us proud Persians/Iranians!
Amir, don't lose hope! There remains many good Iranians who would do anything
to save their beloved land, people, and yes, the Persian gulf and the Caspian
sea and her oil! We are not dead yet, and as long as we are alive and breath
Iran with every breath that we take in, we'll defeat our enemies in a battle
field or in the media! The mollahs are eventually would fade away, even
though the GB and US would like them to stay, since they like dictator buddies!
As long as we love Iran we'll be alright! Good things would come our way sooner
than later!
Long live our beloved motherland Iran and the Iranian people!
Gol-dust
Top
Skipping the Reformation
In respose to Kazem Alamdari's "The
art of separation":
I read with interest Kazem Alamdari's piece on the respective influences of
Islam and Christianity on the advancement of culture. Much of the historical
material he sets forth cannot be disputed, but I do believe that he ommitted
what has had arguably the greatest social and economic impact in the last
two millennia; the Protestant Reformation.
After the time of Constantine, the Roman church developed into a very powerful
and sophisticated political machine, whose attitude to temporal government
was essentially no different to the current administration in Iran. During
the Middle Ages, all secular powers in the West were subserviant to Rome. (It
is ammusing to note how paintings of that era depicting the Pope and the king
together always show the Pope as being a good six inches taller!) The dominance
of the clergy in secular affairs which stifles advancement in the East was
also the West's reality for the best part of a thousand years.
The question then is, How did the West manage to free itself from clerical
dominance? Mr Alamdri seems to suggest that the dominant strain of
Christianity was forced by naturally developing forces to change it's philosophical
place in society. This completely overlooks what was the greatest
upheaval the West has ever undergone, the Reformation which had it's beginnings
with the Waldenses and the Albigenses in the early thirteenth century,
and which finally broke the back of Rome's power in the time of Luther.
It is quite true that the rise of nationalism and economic individualism was
a reality that was confronting the status quo in the West, but these things
were not sufficient in themselves to force that necessary sepatation. Consider
Italy, Ireland, Spain, the Balkans, where the same social pressures were
present, but where the Reformation was either ignored or successfully suppressed by
Rome. These countries remained poor and technologically backward. In recent
years, the power of the church in those places has finally been
relingquished to the state, not because the church adapted itself, but
because their populations have become godless under the influence of secular
humanism.
With the motto, "Sola Scriptura" (The Scripture alone), the Reformers
in Europe were able to set the Bible in opposition to the authority of Rome,
showing among other things the rightness of a dualistic system in which the
church and temporal governmant are quite distinct, God-ordained authorities.
In other words, they were able to show from the founding document of their
religion that the system that had stifled Europe was a deviant system. There
was also the added bonus that the New Testment was perfectly harmonious
with developing capitalism, so that to this day people in the West still refer
to a "Protestant work-ethic".
I do not pretend to be an expert, but I submit that these are the only two
possibilities if the East is to undergo that same process of separation. Either:
a) a generation of fiery Reformers must arise from within Islam to show that
this present languishing state of things is a corruption of what God intended
(in which case an ocean of blood will probably be spilt as the price of freedom,
as it was in Europe) Is there sufficient scripural basis in Islam to accomplish
this? Or, b) The population of the East will simply become secularized to the
point where Islam is marjinalised. If Iran is any indicator of the way things
are headed, the latter would seem more likely. [Alamdari's reply]
Paul MacKinnon
Top
The train has left
In respose to Abjeez advice column "She
loves me, she loves me not":
First I'd like to say, when someone says I don't deserve you or you are better
off with someone else, they really mean it. They are simply putting it in a
more acceptable way. What they are saying is I am better off with someone else
and so are you. I don't deserve you simply means you are not my choice anymore,
expressed in a nice way.
When she argues with you why you don't stand up for yourself is first a feminine
need. They need a man who takes charge and can make decisions and act on
their own and in time. Secondly, in this case since she has been in the 50-50
zone
with you or now more towards 60-40 and rapidly dissipating, she is telling
you what she thinks is one of the reasons she has moved on or is about to
move on.
At this point in a relationship, where the female is not after you anymore
and the train is leaving, I would say it takes too much and generally won't
work if you try to stop the train, nevermind making it turn. As the abjeez
suggested, you have done your part now, she needs to decide to come back
to you on her own. So let her make her choice. And if it is not going to
be, don't
feel bad. Any love relationship is a blessing in itself that we were lucky
enough to enjoy even if short lived.
Dadash
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In your misinformed view
In respose to Persia Lover's "Bad
thoughts, bad words, bad deeds":
Dear Pretending Persian Lover,
It is surprising to read that you have selected the highly controversial, even
by 21st Century standards, subject of homosexuality to demonstrate your convoluted
view of religious intolerance by a faith, which is more than 3,000 year old.
It has been said, that Zoroastrianism is the father of all other religions, specially
Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. That is a discussion for another time. In his
infinite wisdom, the Prophet Zoroaster, who could not speak of the concepts of
safe sex, and dangers of horrible diseases such as AIDS, explained to his followers
that the unnatural sex was an act of the devil (Ahriman) and warned them to refrain
from it at all costs.
In today's society, it is inconceivable that one would drink from the
same cup used by another person, same religion or not. Drinking after strangers
from the far away lands and questionable hygiene is tantamount to inviting disastrous
health results, even in our highly mobile and informed world. Yet, in your view,
it was wrong for the followers of Zoroaster to refrain from drinking after the
primitive natives of Arabia, Africa, and other societies that existed at the
time of the wise Prophet.
You will be well advised to view the pictures of the Chinese, other Asian nations,
and Canadians of last year with their mask-covered faces trying to avoid the
effect of sneezing by the SARS infected population. Prophet Zoroaster could not
talk about viruses, infections, and fever. Instead, he told his followers about
the fiend (i.e. Virus) in our bodies which causes sickness predominant over humankind.
He also told his followers the fire (i.e. Fever) is the result of the virus seriously
infecting the sick body. They were instructed to, when exposed, to say prayers
and cleanse themselves by the germ killing fires at the temples. What an ingeniously
simple and effective idea in that simply magnificent world!
In your misinformed view, the Iranians who yearn for the pre-Islamic past and
the glory of the Persian Empire are wrong and should be made right by thinking
that the barbarous Arab invasion was for their own good! I recommend you read
the book titled "Pas Az Hezar-o Chehar Sad Sal" (After Fourteen
Hundred Years, What Every Iranian in the 21st Century Should Know About the Events
of the Past Fourteen Hundred Years of Islamic History in the Country) by Dr.
Shojaedin Shafa, before further attempts to help other Iranians in their fight
for a brighter future!
To insinuate that the Iranians of pre-Islamic era were somehow supportive of
the disastrous Arab invasion is utterly insensitive and misguided. "Among
all the myths during the last 1400 years, as related to the Arab invasion, that
have been fabricated, none is more baseless than the fiction that Arabs did not
face serious resistance from Iranians, and the new religion was warmly accepted
by the people who were disaffected by their religious and political leaders". "This
myth has been repeated and emphasized by the Islamic historians and by the religious
establishment of the past 1400 years to gradually become accepted as a historical
fact by many, as well as a large number of Iranians, who may not have full knowledge
of the events." 1
"In Tarikh-e Tabary it is indicated that in the span of thirty years
throughout the country there were continuous and multiple Iranian uprisings.
The following cities had two to five repeated uprisings with untold number of
casualties: Bokhara, Samarghand, Kharazm, Soghd, Faryab, Sarakhas, Marv, Kosh,
Bikand, Nishaboor, Toos, Gorgan, Ray, Hamadon, Ghazvin, Deenoor, Qom, Sirvan,
Halvan (Ghasre Shirin), Esfahan, Shooshtar, Estakhr, Darab-Gard, Shapoor, and
in many cases the entire states (Ostans) of Tabarestan, Gilan, Dilmestan, Azerbaijan,
Fars, Kerman, and
Sistan." 2
How dare you to talk about the cast system in the Sassanid Iran and believe that
the treatment of Iranians by the Arab invaders was more tangible and more humane? "In
spite of the financial windfall that they were receiving from Iranians, as stated
in Aghdolfarid: The conquering Arabs treated the Iranians with utmost humiliation.
They would not walk with them in the same line, and would not sit with them in
the same room for meals. In wars, would not allow them to ride horses, and forced
them to travel on foot. They would deny them the soldiers' rations
and armaments. They believed that only Arabs were true warriors and the Iranians
were created to perform menial jobs. They were forced to sweep the roads in front
of their masters, repair their residences, and sew their clothes." 3
"Tazians (Arabs) would slaughter the prisoners of wars and would sell
their wives and children as slaves. The slave markets of Koofeh and Baserh were
continuously
filled with such slaves throughout the rein of Omavian Dynasty."
"When the Prisoners of War were brought to Ghatibeh, the Arab commander,
he sat on his chair among his people and uttered this command: Kill one thousand
prisoners in front of me, one thousand on my right, one thousand on my left,
and one thousand behind me. The killings continued until the swords no longer
would cut. Molhab, the storyteller and eyewitness, says that my sword was taken
and used to behead more prisoners, and it worked so well that some of Ghatibeh
men became jealous
of the quality of my sword. One of them told the executioner to tilt the
sword slightly. He did, and the sword struck the victim's teeth and tore
through it" 4
You had better believe that our brave ancestors fought and fought and foughtÖ for
their freedom and dignity. They did yearn for return to their old religion and
when it did not happen, molded their blood-sucking conquerors in their own image
by running the empire as grand viziers and political leaders. We have come a
long way in our tortured history and should be rightly proud of our past. Our
duty is to regain that glory and rightful place among the civilized nations.
Khosro Nourollahi
1. Pages 399-400 "Pas Az Hezar-o Chehar Sad Sal"
2. Page 401
3. Page 417
4. Page 403-404
Top
Moderate your anger
In respose to Amir N's "Persian
(traitors) gulf":
I wrote NG a simple letter saying this act is in direct support of Arab nationalism
whose supporters are beheading westerners, so national geographic is inadvertently
supporting it.There are many in the West who under commerical pressure from
Arabic countries have dropped Persian Gulf. They are fuelling the divisions
in the Middle East.
In addition to British Airways, the biggest abuser is Worldscale Association
(they are on the internet) repsonsible for publishing the yearly freight rates
for the entire shipping world and its associated shipping brokers (you can
find the list on the Persian Gulf Task force site). Same goes for the US Navy,
Pentagon and CENTCOM. With regards to BA and Worldscale it's driven purely
by the profit motive.
I think targeting National Geographic so intensely may backfire, unfortunately
not all our compatriots are polite. I have seen them call National Geographic, "National
Jew-ographic" on Internet newsgroups (soc.culture.iranian) as well as
other unseemly language. This sort of approach and abuse is not at all helpful.
The answer is not to impose our nationalistism but to register our opposition
to western organisations supporting Arab Nationalism (knowingly or unknowingly).
I really could not care less about the name but supporting divisions in the
Middle East and Nationalist causes is very dangerous and must be opposed.
Aazar
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Blinded by racism
In respose to Amir N's "Persian
(traitors) gulf":
You are so blinded by racism that you neglected to mention the fact that the
iranian government raised OFFICIAL protests with national geographic over
its name change and went so far as to ban them from iran.
and what the HELL does the iran-iraq war or something that happened 1400
yrs ago have to do with iranians wishing to vacation in dubai (a MAJOR international
tourist destination) or wanting to visit the pyramids in egypt or archeological
treasures in jordan and lebanon?? what about the 200,000 iranians living and
making a good living in the UAE? would you call them traitors as well??
see the problem with scum like you is that you claim to be iranian nationalists and
yet you are NO different than people like Jean-Marie Le Pen or members
of the British National Party, or better yet, neo-nazis. your patriotism
is defined by your animosity and racism towards others. people like
you are fascists, because in effect you cannot separate nationalism from
racism.
yeah, i have a big problem with "Arabian Gulf" too, and many Arabic
customs I don't agree with. that doesn't mean i hate all arabs. nor
does it mean that i'm so presumptious and feeble-minded to call other iranians
who happen to go to arab countries "traitors".
so please, spare us your bullshit. keep your inflammatory views to yourself
because we don't need iranians like you misrepresenting us.
SD
Top
Tofu
In respose to Setareh Sabety's "The
anti-shah":
It is sad that Ms. Sabety cannot find herself an Iranian hero or heroine
among the many men and women who have lived and died for our country...
Zeh
sheer-e shotor khordano soussmar
Arab raa beh djaayee resseedeh ast kaar
Keh taajeh kiaani konad aarezou
Tofou bar to ey charkheh gardaan, tofou...
Azita Ardalan
Top
Mideast peace plan
Regarding the Persian Gulf & Arab-Israeli conflict:
I'm no expert on the matter but as far as I know the most ancient designation
of the Persian Gulf is "Sinus Persicus" which is the Latin word used
by the Romans and not the Greeks. So I am inclined to agree on the fact that
the National Geographic has truly blundered or is doing this on purpose to
call the Persian Gulf the Arabian Gulf.
But lets be honest on one point and
that is regarding the three Islands of the Persian Gulf that is the
small and larger Tumbs (or Tombs depends how you pronunce it) and Abu Moussa.
Now
isn't it strange that the IRI is deeply attached to Islands as part of Iran
knowing that they were taken back or conquered (depending of your point
of view) by the Shah of Iran in December 1971 that is nearly more than
a month after the Persepolis Celebrations of the Iranian monarchy. What a "Bilakh" the
Shah gave to the West, particularly the British and the Arabs with the
US benediction.
I still find it hard to understand why the IRI whose leaders have so often
been claiming to be anti Imperialist and so concerned by the plight of
the Palestinians choose to support the ONLY Imperialistic invasion EVER
undertook by their staunchest foe the former Shah of Iran. As for Abou Moussa
hasn't it come to anyones mind that "Moussa" means literally in
Arabic "Moses" the Jewish prophet. So by all logic both the Iranians
and Arabs should consider the Island of Abou Moussa as a property of the
State of Israel.
I suggest the Israelis to take advantage of this fact and
leave the Gaza strip and other occupied territories, establish peace
with the Palestinians and send any Israeli Zealot including Sharon to inner
exile to
Abou Moussa. We can on the otherhand send the Hamas leaders and Zealots
to the Tomb Islands. With some luck they will end up fighting eachother basically
outside middle eastern territory. What do you think of that as a new
solution
to end the Israeli-Arab conflict ? ;o)
Darius KADIVAR
Top
Aryan fixations
In respose to Tuff Wild Chick's" Iranian
guys suck":
Though your article was quite rude, you hit on a lot of truths on Iranian
males' sexual fixations. I must agree with you as Iranian males - most, though
not
all - are grease-balls, just like Arabs, Italians, Greeks, blacks, Mexicans,
etc.
Anyway, since you use bad words, I'll do the same and say that Iranian
women are also fixated - most, though not all - on having sex and going out
with niggers. I have seen such an incredible amount of this form of bestiality,
that it boggles the mind.
As greasy as Iranian men are, almost none of them
date only niggers, exclusively. On the other hand, Iranian women have a
large amount of nigger-lovers.
Iranian for Aryans
iranianforaryans.blogspot.com
Top
Americans are changing
In respose to J. Javid's "The
solution":
Thank you. It was a great little photo essay that I already sent to many
of my American friends. It is so hard for most my friends to understand why
the
conspiracy theory about everything and why doubt everything. They are an incredibly
trusting people, Americans are... although things are changing ever so slowly.
Sima Shahriar
Minnesota
Top
Uncle Napoleon regrets
In respose to J. Javid's "The
solution":
I enjoyed your essay on Iraj Pezeshkzad. About
ten years ago, I had the good fortune to have dinner with him in Chicago.
He sure is one to listen to!
He
didn't seem to appreciate the fame of Daie Jan Napoleon in those
days. He said he sometoimes even regrets having written that because now
it is unanimous
with his name! That many people only know him for that and don't bother to
read his more serious works.
All said and done, I gave him two copies of Uncle
Napoleon to autograph. One in Persian for me, the other in English
for my daughter!
Thank
you for the essay. ZK
Top
Effective and accessible
In respose to J. Javid's "The
solution":
Dear Mr. Javid,
Just wanted to commend you for your professional journalism
and creative
genres you use to reach people. This photo essay on Pezeshkzad, for example,
is a very effective and accessible way to pass on an important enlightening
message.
Bravo and keep up with the excellent work.
Nayereh Tohidi
Top
Mard-e bozorg
In respose to J. Javid's "The
solution":
Thanks for Pezeshkzad report. I know it takes time. che baa saligheh. damet
garm aziz.
mamnoon ke MARDE BOZORG ra khoob arzeh kardi.
Hadi Khorsandi
Top
Trashy truth
In respose to Tuff Wild Chick's" Iranian
guys suck":
YOUR ARTICLE "IRANIAN GUYS SUCK" WHILE HAS A MARGINAL TRUTH IN
IT, I CALL IT A PIECE OF MEDIA AND JOUNALISTIC TRASH, PARTICULARLY THE PICTURE.
YOU MIGHT AS WELL REGISTER YOUR WEBSITE AS PORN SITE.
Iraj Pourmirza
Top
Why settle?
In respose to Zariah Behesht's "Between
kabob and sumac":
I try hard not to waste my time reading articles written by "high powered
executives" that are truly disgrace to women genders. Why? Aren't the
high powered executives supposed to be smart, wise and most importantly have
self-respect and self esteem?
I read the article to see if there was anything new in the familiar plot
but I was disappointed. As a human being, I feel bad for anyone who is hurt
by someone else however, the beautiful Persian expression "khalaeyegh
anche layegh" which means people get what they deserve comes to my mind
every time.
The last week the site published several articles about "Irooni men" being
terrible. Here is a perfect example why some of them behave that way. Did it
occur to anyone that some of us women are to blame?
Why would any woman with an ounce of pride would settle for being the second
best? Perhaps because she really does not think she is worth more or deserves
better?
We are supposed to think this lady is very smart because she is on her way
to become a lawyer. Guess what? The real intelligent people can see right through
her writings. She is insecure, lacks confidence and feels she is better than
the other " sister" because the other one is just a teacher and she
can cook khoresh.
How stupid and ignorant that remark is? I have news for you.
One of my best friends is a housewife (she had her own business in Iran but
when she moved to the US she stayed home to raise kids and help her husband)
well this housewife has two daughters graduating from Law school (one in December
and one in May) and a son in college. She manages to help many Iranian causes
and generously gives to the poor in Iran so don't you ever dare put other women
down because you are trying to make yourself feel better.
Take a good look in the mirror because you are not so lucky after all. You
accepted his way of treating you so you got what you deserved. I bet there
is just another one of those Iranian brothers in the card next. You will fall
for him and tolerate his abusive behavior of "playing" two women.
I bet you my bottom dollar that your love, treats the "teacher" like
gold and uses women like you to boost his ego and do things with the teacher
may not be willing to do.
How do I know that? I have seen women like you since I was in college and
even now one of my best friends who is successful (but lacks confidence because
she grew up in a household that did not have much respect for women) is with
a man who dates women in the entertainment industry (good old Iranian boy).
I refuse to listen to any complains from her because I told her from the moment
I laid my eyes on that full of shit Iranian man that says all the right thing
and buys his way to everyone's heart (except for me of course).
Just like you, she justifies his behavior by saying things like "she
is uneducated and sings in the clubs in LA" or some other crap like that.
I simply cut her and say you deserve him.Unlike what you stated, it does not
make any sense because you are this person who thinks she is high and mighty
yet she lets men treat her like shit. Wake up and learn that men from any nationality
(or women for that matter) absolutely admire and respect a women who have pride
and dignity and demand to be treated as a human beings and would not settle
for anything less.
Your degree and how much money you make does not matter because let's face
it most Iranian women are educated and make money. That is only to be independent
and self sufficient and not to think they are a better human beings. You need
to learn a lot about being a person and by the way remember the Persian expression:
the fuller the tree, the more it bends. Simply put, it means the more you have
(looks, education, talent, wit, compassion, etc.) the more humble you should
be. It works like a charm every time.
Take my word for it.
Azam Nemati
Top
Good for America
In respose to Hossein Bagher Zadeh's "A
Christian Revolution":
You compare Bush to Khomeini? You compare the U.S election to the disgraceful
and radical Islamic revolution. And you think this election was won on the
basis of religion? No my friend... It was lost by John Kerry who spoke on
ten different sides of each issue. He lost because he had no convictions...
or at least
having the honesty and balls to tell the American people what those convictions
were. He said what ever would get him elected. In other words, as smart as
he may be, he displayed no character and consistency. And I don't
know about you. But even the so-called "spineless" Americans
value character and clear and resolute convictions (even if they disagree
with some of them).
And in regards to your comments about how poorly the American economy is
doing, I guess a socialist Iranian living in England must derive pleasure
out the current
economic problems of the capitalist U.S. This must surely satisfy most non-American's
who are envious of the high American standards of living. If I am wrong, then
why do immigrants flock by the millions to this country every year for jobs and
high living standards (and yes... .this includes Iranians). But please don't
be as stupid to even suggest that the faith of the U.S economy will be that
of the post-revolution Iran being run by the one of the most corrupt and brutal
regimes in the world. That comparison is just ludicrous and is made only by
the
extreme left, communists, and anarchist (ie: anti-capitalists).
Even with its share of problems, the U.S economy is still the envy of the
world and will be operating on all cylinders shortly. Just wait and watch
it happen.
And I seriously doubt that your friend John Kerry would have reduced the deficit,
increased jobs, fixed social security, and got us out of Iraq any way. The
democrats have the same if not a worse record in this area.
As far a fall of the Dollar is concerned, don't be so naïve to
think that it is necessarily a bad thing for the U.S. If anything it is bad
for where
you live. But, In fact the weakening of the dollar was promoted by the Bush
administration to boost U.S exports by making them cheaper overseas and decrease
the imports
by making them more expensive in the U.S. I.e.: He wants American not to buy
the now-expensive foreign products and spend their vacation dollars in Europe
but instead in the U.S. And conversely, he wants the Europeans to buy the now-cheap
U.S goods and spend their vacation Euros in Florida and Hawaii, not the south
of France. So, although the fall of the dollar has some negative consequences
as far as attracting foreign investments in the U.S financial markets, it does
wonders for trade here in the U.S. We do presently have one of the lowest unemployment
rates in the world (around 5%).
Your article really amuses me. An Iranian living in England analyzing the
presidential election in the U.S. Unless you are an American resident
and in the midst of it all over here, you should really keep your views and
assessments to yourself.
Americans are doing what they feel is good for America. Not what pleases European
and Arab countries or people like you.
B. Pezhman
Top
Hateful and
unreal
In respose to Setareh Sabety's "The
anti-shah":
It is hard to believe that you could come up with this article of yours supporting
Mr. Arafat. Mr. Arafat was so hateful and he poisoned people's minds and created
unsafe zone between Jews and Arabs. Please know that Israel always wanted to
share a peaceful land with Palestinians, but instead Mr. Arafat and his followers
never stopped terrorizing Israeli people. All we did was to defend our holy
land nothing else.
In some cases we had no choice to retaliate, all because they did not leave
us any choice. Please deeply review and study the real personalty of Mr. Arafat
and his terrorist group and see what they did to us too. Right now in Iran,
the hateful govt. of Iran has spent millions dollars of poor Iranian people
to develop long range missiles to target Israel. The poverty in Iran is unbelievable
but those fat Mullahs do not care and all they think is to spread hateful and
unreal words against the people of Israel.
Please be kind and pick a right sort to defend.
Menashe Amir
Top
Let go
In respose to Tuff Wild Chick's" Iranian
guys suck":
Just wanted to tell you that I was surfing the web
and came across iranian.com for the first time ever. I must say I was shocked
by the article and the little
image about Iranian men that you wrote.
Firstly, I understand your frustration of not finding a discent iranian guy
but I don't think it's a good idea to generalize like that. Just remember insult
to Iranian men like that can backfire and become an insult to you as an Iranian
woman.
A lot of men are the way you describe no matter where they're from.
As a woman my advice to you is to let go. If you think iranian men are like
that then stop dating them and go after other men. It's not good to obsess
over it. remember that if something happens to Iran as a country, iranian men
are the ones protecting it, so they're needed as human beings. describing men
just by their genital is just plain wrong especially now that Middle Eastern
and Muslim people are being discribminated against.
start dating other guys from other countries, you'll find that they are all
the same. there are good guys and dirty guys, obviously you've been hanging
out with the wrong ones.
I've seen a lot of great iranian guys and a lot of losers. same goes for
iranian women. there are a lot of iranian women who are as dirty as men.
Hope you find the man you're looking for soon.
Amber F
PS: I'm surprised that the site web master would publish such angry and insulting
article about Iranian men on the internet. so much self-hate...
Top
No mean feat
In respose to Paul Kriwaczek's "In
Search of Zarathustra": This is remarkably accurate writing for a non-scholarly book that reads almost
like a novel. This is no mean feat, given the complex issues dealt with, from
Zoroaster to Mani and the Cathars, the changing opinions in scholarly circles
about Zoroaster's place and date of birth, the influence of the Gathas on other
religions, and many more issues. And it succeeds in avoiding the trap of boring
didactism and self-righteous partiality. I am delighted that Jahanshah Javid
has done justice to it and hope that many Iranians and non-Iranians will learn
from it.
Fatema Soudavar Farmfanfarmaian
Top
Complaining about laws of nature
In respose to Tuff Wild Chick's" Iranian
guys suck":
I am wondering where you live? (perhaps LA?) Regardless, what you are saying
is mostly true. And I am saying that being an Iranian guy. Most Iranian guys
are shallow and want to get laid as quickly as possible and then will label
you as a "whore" and won't marry you (the key word being "Most").
But from my experience most Iranian women that I have come across in this country
(and I have lived here for 28 years) are game-playing bitches that are not
worth marrying. They do not make good mothers and wives. So, I think that it
is not only the Iranian men that are assholes. The entire Iranian community
as a whole is screwed up. This includes the single guys and girls and their
parents. This is what happens when you mix a Western culture with an Eastern
culture such as ours. Iranians that move to the U.S. have an uncanny ability
to pickup all the bad traits of Americans, retaining all of the bad traits
of being Iranian, while losing all its good traits. So, what is left is "garbage".
In
reading your article, in all fairness, while your side of the picture represents
a pretty accurate generalization of the Iranian single men in this country,
there is a reason for this behavior. And it goes as follows: Any single man,
be it Iranian or non-Iranian wants to get laid. So in that respect what you
have noticed isn't that Iranian guys are "assholes". From
your perspective all guys are "assholes" for that reason. But
if you think about it, since the dawn of civilization, that's the way
it has been: men want to screw women, and it is up to women to decide if and
when to give it up. And if you give it up way to early, you are labeled as
a being "easy" or a "whore". And no guy wants to
marry an "easy" woman. Like it or not that is the way it has been
as long as history has been documented. Indeed more so in some cultures than
others such as ours ... .but never the less it is universal. So, what you
are complaining about is a law of nature.
From an Iranian male perspective, I can tell you that I would be willing
to wait to have sex with an Iranian woman if I think she is "marriage-material".
By the way, I limit that waiting period to no more that one or two months if
I think there is potential. More than that, and you are playing games. At some
point you need to enter into the sexual part of the relationship to see if
you sexually compatible. The problem with the whole picture that you are disgusted
with is that some Iranian women do put out right away and some don't
put out at all ... and the one's that don't put out at all usually
can't sell themselves to their dates as being marriage material either.
So, if you are a guy, which one would you pick? Well ... if I can't
screw that non-marriage material girl who won't have sex with me, wouldn't
I pick the whore? At least, this way, I get some benefit out of the situation
(of course the benefit is sexual only).
But don't fool your self for a minute. Most Iranian guys do want to
get married and have a family. I don't think that in comparing to day's
dating and marriage market to our parents' generation, Iranian men have
changed much. It is more the change in the women that has upset the equation
that we had in our parents' generation. Guys are and have always been
after the same traits in a wife: good in bed, respectable in the community,
good wife, and good mother. So when they see a woman that for example cares
mostly about fashion, jewelry, or other expensive and useless shallow things
and thinks that she can have a super carrier, spending most of her time outside
of the house working, while the Mexican maid raises her children, they don't
want that type of woman as a wife. So they keep looking and in the mean time,
being that they are guys they would not say "No" to some one who
is willing to put out for them. By the way, the decent Iranian men that you are after, or men in general,
also don't consider marrying the type of girl that uses the word "fuck" seven
times in a one page article. Perhaps there were less crude ways to make your
point as a lady. And with a name "Tuff Wild Chick", what decent
Iranian guy want to marry any girl that is "Wild". And they don't
want to marry a "chick". They are looking for a "lady".
So while the point that you make are mostly valid, perhaps, when it comes to
your own experiences with guys, you should take a look the your own "package" and
figure out how guys perceive you. That is the other half of the equation.
Tuff Non-Wild Man.
Aka Babak
Top
Shallow & stupid
In respose to Tuff Wild Chick's" Iranian
guys suck":
AH! I'm offended! ... but hey, I'll go out with you
if you want an honest guy who can cuddle. But I must warn you that I am an
Iranian man and will cheat on you if deny my right to coitus! Get a life.
Your article was terribly cheesy and probably inspired by the same impulses
that
led to your involvement in various dysfunctional relationships. I confidently
claim every quality that you denied Iranian men in your stupid little rant.
You made no progress in trying to find a solution
to your problems since, as your article suggests, you're not even willing to
wonder if it's you who's
mistaken. I would guess that you're as shallow as the puddle of drool on
your
pillow. Don't attempt to categorize us in some bullshit, pseudo-psychological
article. If you are aware that not all Iranian men are like that, what
was your point in writing all of this? Surely you weren't trying to warn other
Iranian women against your own countrymen!? Just get a diary and keep your
trap shut.
With deepest love and warmest cuddles,
O'meed Entezari
Top
IRI is not pan-Arab
In respose to Amir N's "Persian
(traitors) gulf":
Dear Amir,
In your article you showed how ignorant
and naive you really are.
You claimed that the Islamic Republic of Iran has bowed to Arabs, and serves
Arab interests. If this was the case, then why is it that when the Islamic
Republic found out what the National Geographic did, they threw out all the
National Geographic journalists out of the country and banned the sale of the
magazine?
Why is it that they still haven't conceded even though National Geographic
gave a legitimate reason why they did this.
If the Islamic republic was serving "Arab interests", then why
is it that it was this regime that fought Saddam Hussein (the enemy of Iran
and Islam) for 8 years trying to destroy his "pan-Arab" movement,
while the wife of the Shah of Iran (Farah) met and SHOKE hands with Saddam
(lanat-ullah)
If Iran was serving "Arab interests", then why has it tried to
topple ever single Arab regime in the neighboring the past 25 years. Do you
remember the massive protests they caused in Saudi Arabia in 1988 where a lot
of Iranians were massacred by the Saudis during hajj? Did you protest against
this GENOCIDE and TERRORIST act of the Saudi regime killing your HAMVATAN?
Or did you stay silent?
What about when Iran fermented revolution in Iraq in 1981 and again in 1992
to try to overthrow the regimes in Iraq, Kuwait and Bahrain, all of which are
PAN-ARAB governments?
Since when has Iran served the ARAB cause? Don't mistake the cause of Islam
with the cause of Arabs. Most Arab leaders of the betrayers of Islam therefore
an enemy to Iran.
Get a clue. You are the traitor to Iran by living in the West and not working
within Iran (by any means possible) to help your hamvatan by ANY means possible.
Stop saying "What can my country (Iran) do for me?" and ask yourself "What
did I ever do to help my country"
Khodah negah-dar,
Dariush Abadi
Top
Pro-khatami, and pissed
In respose to Mahmoud's cartoon "Antar,
Mantar & Rahbar (1)" and "Antar,
Mantar & Rahbar (2)":
I am pro-Khatami and tell you stupid he is in 22,000,000
voters hearts and you are
in my rectum. Shut the fuck up, get lost.
Akbar
REPLY: Thanks for letting me know about your intolerance!
I
don't expect everybody to like my cartoons. Some like them, some don't. You
can disagree without using Fohsh-e Rakik! which shows weakness. Your elected
president likes to see his followers respect other opinions.
Follow him. -- Mahmoud
Top
Empty cream puffs
In respose to Leila Farjami's "Fil-e
pelaastiki":
Leila aziz,
Yes, these
empty cream puffs need to be reminded of their characteristics thru the
mirror of a good poem like this. After 25 years of having being exposed to
the decent components of this culture as well, you would think they would
decide to have some respect for themselves? I wish at least they were
cute... interesting.... novel... something!
Mohamad Navab Top
LA Iranians are unbearable
In respose to Leila Farjami's "Fil-e
pelaastiki":
H. A.
Top
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