Letters
Tasteless valid pointOctober 15, in reply to poll about Hajiagha's cartoons: I know that nothing is sacred in your ideal website, and I love Iranian.com. However, this "Hajiagha" is portraying a very awful image of Iranians in my city, Toronto. As an internationalist woman who uses very bad language, I have to admit that I do not mind his sense of humor and his R-rated language. Nevertheless, I believe that he is showing a very sad reality very badly. His point is valid, yet the means of expressing the point are tasteless. The Iranian community in Toronto is a lot different from the older generations of Iranian immigrants who came to the United States some 20-25 years ago. Iranian immigrants in Toronto are not directly forced to be exiled. They have migrated to Toronto in the past 5-10 years in hope of a different life from that of Iran. These Iranian-Canadians are very good representatives of the people who are currently residing in Iran. In fact many of them still have economic, political, and social ties to Iran and the IRI. It is only natural that they will bend over for the IRI officials in Ottawa. Of course, it is not as extreme as portrayed by "Hajiagha"; however, they are still very much haunted by their past and the IRI. As a fairly new immigrant who is also an activist, I have to admit that I myself will not cross certain imaginary red lines for fear of prosecution should I ever visit Iran. This is a sad reality that many of Iranians who have lived in Iran after the revolution face: this fear burden that they carry with themselves after they migrate to another world. Ba Mihr,
No principlesOctober 15, in reply to poll about Hajiagha's cartoons: Does Iranian.com have any policy regarding "political correctness" (insults, foul language, baseless accusations, generalizations... etc) in publishing articles, stories or cartoons? Some of the writers and cartoonists (and even sometimes yourself) do not respect the most basic commun sense principles of posting in a public online magazines.For example the cartoonist Hossein Hajiagha not only uses extremely inapropriate language in his cartoons addressing thousands of viewers but he also uses this language to consistantly insult the Iranian community in Canada, calling them everything from "goosfand" to "traitor" and some extremely vulgar name callings. His cartoons are extremely offensive to the Iranians in Canada, they are nothing but garbage filled with profanity, foul language and violence. May I advise you to reconsider publishing his cartoons and keep your magazine classy.
Nokar YazdiOctober 15, in reply to poll about "Ahura Yazdi": Dear Sirs: My great-grandfather was from Yusefabad in Tehran. A gentleman by the surname "Yazdi" was his butler. The surname "Yazdi" is from the Iranian "nokar class". The funny thing is that some Iranians believed this clown was legitimate. Ahura Yazdi is a peasant. He has nothing to say. Reza Pahlavi's grandfather was an illiterate from the Mazandaran province. What Iran needs are intelligent people. These people who have immigrated to the United States should stop trying to bullshit their way into Iranian politics. Iranians in Iran believe people on the Satellite Television stations are a bunch of clowns. Jacob Cohen
Chaep wealthy IraniansOctober 15, in reply to Siamack Baniameri's "The bartender": The writer of the story knows the life of upper-class Iranians living here in Los Angeles, although he himself is just a middle class person. He depicts the chaep and rusty values of wealthy Iranians quite well. His style of writing is sharp and promotes the reader to think about what he is reading. At the same time strong sense of humor wont let the reader to click to something else. I hope the writer of this story continues to write stories like this that show part of phony Iranian lives of so called successful Iranians here in Las Angeles.
We've had a lot of great mullahsRegarding Zeeba Tehrani's photo essay "Nothing personal": Dear Zeeba Tehrani, You gave an example of a mullah that had done bad. That still doesn't prove that ALL mullahs are bad, or that we should hate all of them. For example, you brought up Ayatollah Taleqani. What did he do that was bad? He spoke of a parliament that even monarchists and communists could be in. He even said that the Gaurdian Council should be consisted of those people, for "it is our school of though". We have had a lot of great Alims (Akhunds/Mullahs), and bad ones too. They are people. They can be bad people under the cloth (the Munafiqheen) or be good people under the cloth (the true Muslimeen). Therefore just because that Mullah had committed a SIN (yes its a sin), doesn't mean all Mullahs are bad. Just look at the major Ayatollah-Uzma (Grand Ayatollahs) in Iran. ALL of them are against the IRI. Everyone from Ayatollah-Uzma Sane'i, Taheri, Montazeri, etc. Even Ayatollah-Uzma Sistani rejects Iran's model for Iraq because he knows what has happened. So don't go judging all Mullahs because of some bad apples. It is Allah (God) that is the ultimate Judge, not us mere humans who are full of sins ourselves. Who are we to judge the mullahs when many of us have also committed many crimes, wither we are doctors, teachers, or public servants.
Very nice place
My name is Ghobad and I live in Central Canada
with my wife and two young children, in the province of Saskatchewan. I really
enjoyed looking at those photos. They were really good. The part that I liked
the most was your comments on some of those pictures. I visit iranian.com once
in a while just to see some photos, mostly the photos that have been taken
in Iran. But this time I was curious to see something different which was the
beautiful sites in San Francisco. I apologize
for my long comment. I did not mean to drag it long and bore you to death.
Good luck
in your future photo essay project.
Iran is as American as apple pieRegarding the poll "Confrontation with Iran": The likelihood of an American attack on Iran after the November elections in the United States is very unlikely. The Bush administration has in its first term tried to open up to the Tehran government. A lot of US dollars entered Iran after the BAM earthquake. Colin Powell has said numerous times that the American government communicates with Tehran through the US interests section of the Swiss embassy in Tehran. The US government since the Iranian Revolution has had direct secret talks with the Iranian government. After the release of the US hostages the Carter administration returned assets to Iranian government. During the Reagan/Bush era the US government armed Iran against Iraq in what became known as the Iran-Contra Affair. During the Clinton era sanctions on Iranian pistachio nuts and Iranian Rugs were lifted. And during Bush Jr. Bam received lots of US dollars. Face it, Americans love the mullahs. And the mullahs love Americans. In Iran, in the holy city of Mashad, Coca Cola is bottled. Coca Cola is the most American name brand. Iran today is as American as apple pie. And the mullahs and the American government are truly friends. Kerry, who is the democratic nominee has said he will hold direct talks with Tehran if he is elected. In the end, it is my belief that America will never attack Iran. As a matter of fact it seems that the Americans are looking to the Tehran government as an ally and a mediator in middle east affairs. Mohammad
Mecca
Be there when the bombs fallRegarding Rostam Irani's "Yale vs. chelokabab": This is dangerous and over simplistic thinking Dr
Irani. "Disciplinable" meaning
compliant, meaning letting the USA dominate your culture and your resources.
The countries who have not been able to sustain democracy are the ones where
the USA has actively undermined their leadership because it sought a path of
nationalism not in the economic interests of the US. Why do the majority
of the unstable nations which the USA has labelled as rogue states happen to
be ones with resources that the USA wants?
Ten million bucks for what?Regarding Nima Kasraie's "Up, up, and away!": While a new Iranian prophet of demagogy, Ahoura Yazdi, was born in our homes on our tv screens to our utter disbelief and embarrassment, astonishingly, another Iranian at the same time and in the same country was spending 10 million dollars for a spacecraft to reach 100km of altitude. Does those two events have anything in common or are at least remotely related? I would have liked to say no, not at all. But how can I ignore these facts : - A quarter of century has passed since the Islamic Revolution in Iran, and there is no single institute whatsoever founded by us "wealthy educatied" Iranians (those are the two achievements Iranian immigrants in US try to brag about as a superior immigrant community) dedicated to study and analyse the econimical, psychological and sociological effects of such an upheaval in the daily lives of our compatriots, men, women and children in Iran.Even Pakistanis have such an organization, and surprisingly, one of the recipients of their grants is a fellow Iranian! If you don't believe me check here. On the contrary, once I was attending an annual conference of Center for Iranian Research and Analysis (CIRA); the organizers were worried about if they could ever find a single Iranian sposnser in the years to come! -A quarter of century has passed and no generous multi-millionaire businessman or in the case of our Spacecraft promoters, businesswoman, has ever funded a research grant, an academic scholarship, or a community project to examine the socio-cultural problems of Iranians living abroad. Even the death of a royal princess, Leila Pahlavi, by commiting suicide at the age of 31 wasn't alarming enough to open our minds to the numerous troubles and challenged of the immigrant community. -A quarter of century has passed and Iranian TVs are still run by our fellow megalomaniac expatriates promoting the same kind of demagogy and populism that we all tried to escape from. Ahoura and his garbage is just the tip of the ice (or shall I say the shit?).Once I was thinking to work for one of those tvs.When I asked the owner about his vision and goal in running a Persian television station, I was shocked to hear his words, "I want to see a day that all Iranian stars sing or act only for ME and on MY tv, nowhere else." So much for pluralism and democracy in that tv! So what is the connection? Let me help you if you still don't see any connections between the emergence of a new Hakha movement and the 10 million dollar prize to promote space trips . You have the option to read it in two ways: Pessimistically or Optimistically. Either we the "perfect role models for Iranians"a re afflicted with such a wide spread apathy and blindness towards the real issues of other Iranians that we can't see any cause worth donating money than the promotion of space travels. In this case, I 'd have to say that your millions doesn't worth a Rial! Or we have decided to get rid of the symbols of our decadance and ignorance, at least in the US, by sending Ahoura and all fellow Hakhaees in our SpaceShipOne to the outer space for good. If that is the case, then long live Ansari Prize! Whichever is true, you be the judge. Khashayar Beigi
Bigger is betterRegarding Bahram Saghari 's "The art of buying watermelon!": Some time ago, a friend showed me the simplest and yet most logical and effective way of picking the best watermelon out of a pile. It's so simple and yet logical that it will make you go DUH! Since the watermelons in the same pile are often of the same type and most likely picked in the same farm, then a safe technique to predict the condition of their insides is to accept that the biggest watermelon in that batch is the one has had the longest time to grow and ripen! So, it's the most delicious and sweetest. This technique will work 90+ percent of the times and will make you an expert, without having to do silly things like tap, shake or smell the watermelon! Regards,
Ansari Axed-PrizeRegarding Nima Kasraie's "Up, up, and away!": Something is bothering me about this event.Why the hell didn't any of the national news agencies say anything about Anousheh Ansari? All I have heard exclusively was about Paul Allen the investor, Rutan the designer and Bronson the British investor. I have not seen a single report about the founder and initiator of this magnificent adventure (who after all pays the prize money) on any of the major broadcast companies (ABC, NBC, and CBS). Nothing on local channels either. I wonder if she requested that not to be mentioned. I am puzzled. May be she is Iranian? (I hope not).
Iran: hope to all the oppressedRegarding "The faces of silence" on the arrest of Iranian Internet writers: Dear Jahanshah Javid, Don't forget that we compare Iran quickly with the West, that has had 250 years history of "civil society" and has played around with democracy. Even in America they don't have it right, for they are silencing their own critics in their own way (Corporations own the media, web blogs are only popular amongst the intellectuals). If we compare Iran with 25 years ago, during the reign of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, Iran didn't even have an independent media. The Shah would close down his own state controlled media for being "too critical of the Shah-han-Shah Aryanmehr". So it is hypocritical that we put down this government. The monarchy had 2,500 years to show itself. An Islamic government hadn't existed in practice ever (not even under the Safavids), and we haven't even given them 25 years and wish to see them fail. Before 25 years ago, we were looked good upon by Western countries, only because they were exploiting us. Now 25 years after the revolution, we are the hope to all the oppressed people in the world as an example. Thousands of African-Americans converted to Islam after the Islamic Revolution in Iran. Think about that. We might not have that "image", but now our language and heritage is being spread everywhere. To learn Shi'a Islam, you must learn Persian (Farsi) first. Did you know that? I know you live in the Bay Area, as do I. There are Indians, African-Americans, and even White people who fluently speak farsi with their spouces. In most cases both spouces are non-Iranian, yet they speak fluent Farsi with each other and their kids. I know you live around Berkeley. If you were to come to the Friday sermons (Namaz Jumeh) in Berkeley, the person who leads the khutbah, he is African American. Yet, when he gives his speeches, he remembers the words in farsi, but cannot remember them in English. These people have a great love for Iran and Iranians. And this love is not because Iran is trying to be like the West, or because they want to exploit Iran. It is because Iran has given them new meaning. Iran has become the gaurdian of the Shi'as of the World, and all the oppressed who seek freedom at least outwardly from the oppressors of the world. I know those slogans worked in 1979, and many Iranians think they are just slogans. But it has a spiritual meaning for a lot of people, that cannot be understood from a material perspective. You have millions and millions of people across the world following Iran, even loving Iran more than they love their own home country. Such a love did not exist before 1979. Iran has become such a character, that when the Pentagon did "war-games" to find a scenario it could attack it, they couldn't find one without putting the WHOLE world in chaos. That is the new power of Iran. And yet we want to extinguish that light. Probably because we are jealous, or want something that we think exists but doesn't. Democracy, Freedom, and Progress are things we must struggle for. Not things we can establish. If we get rid of the so-called "akhunds", their will be other corrupt people to replace them. Just as the good Ulama (clergy) were sidelined and the bad ones came to power, in a non-religious system the good politicians are always weak and quiet, and the greedy ones are the ones that push themselves in power. It's life. If we think we can have better by keep overthrowing systems, we are only handing our country to the enemies who want to see us weaken ourselves over and over again. Khodah Negah-dar,
Crude crescendo of ugly rhetoric
Dear Mr Radmehrian, I dont usually have time to respond to articles I read on the internet, but I too was outraged by this very issue of the threat to Europe by Iran's alleged WMD and it was most satisfying to read your wise words against this piece of negligent journalism. What is so alarming is the crude crescendo of ugly rhetoric towards Iran which slowly poisons the collective psyche in preparation for some sort of punishment. The pattern is formulaic, we have already witnessed it with Iraq. I think the problem is even amongst intelligent and often intellectual journalists they simply have no experience of the region. I have visited Iran on a number of occassions. Only by being there and getting to know Iranians who I have great respect for have many of the myths and rumours perpetuated by sensational and lazy headlines and self seeking politicians been dispelled. While I acknowledge the political situation in Iran is deeply complex (I dont necessarily agree that all mullahs are sleazy!) this simply reflects the complex nature of the rich and ancient culture which is incomprehensible to us in the west. There is a most interesting book recently published by Pluto Press. Bad News From Israel, by Greg Philo and Mike Berry. It focusses on the distorted reporting of UK media on the Palestinian crisis. It is equally relevant to those in the Middle East who do not serve our interests. I will now write and complaint to the BBC!!! Yours sincerely,
(Rich) Iranian-AmericansRegarding the Iranian American Survey results: I think you guys are on drugs. This survey says more than 1/3 of iranians make $100K+ and more than 1/2 make $75K+. That seems way out of whack. This survey is as far from reality as possible. Did you even ask "does this make common sense?" And BTW, did you guys take any precaution so that Iranians from other parts of the world do not participate. Anyway, it was a good chuckle especially with the result that of every 100 Iranian in the US, 86 hold bachelor degrees and above! 56 hold graduate degress. Wow, we rule! Not! Let's all congratualte ourselves and try really hard so that by next survey 110% of IA's have graduate degrees; then we can set the survey world on fire.
Yale vs. chelokabobRegarding Ramin Ahmadi's "Kerry’s Iran": I admire your desire for Iran's peaceful transformation from dictatorship to democracy. I think it is every Iranian's desire for Iran to acquire freedom and democracy on its own terms and conditions! Instead of looking for symptoms, let's look for root cause of this impotence. That is, our inability in acquiring freedom and democracy. As we used to prove mathematical theorems we need to state our assumptions first. A democratic system is a self-regulating system that requires participation by all the components of that system. Acquiring and sustaining democracy requires a critical mass of citizens who are informed, dedicated, law-abiding, hard-working, reliable, loyal, patriotic, and vigilant!? One underlying foundation for these attributes is discipline. Every single country in the world that enjoys freedom and democracy today was either invaded and occupied by USA or assisted by USA!? For example, Germany, Italy, South Korea, Japan, etc. etc fall in those categories. Of course, except South Korea, these countries had had social, economical, technological infrastructures prior to US invading them. But, one common denominator that these countries were blessed with was that their populations were "disciplinable." Disciplinable is defined as the capability of being compliant or improved by instruction and training. Now all those countries that I enumerated for you are democratic, successful, peaceful, productive, and progressive members of the civilized world. After more 50 years of occupation, America is finally pulling its troops out of these nations. On the other hand, there are countries that have rejected freedom and democracy offered by US. For example, Iranians had ample opportunity to assimilate both during the reign of the late Shah of Iran or ever since they have migrated to America. The Saudis and the rest of the Arab countries around the Persian Gulf have refused democracy as well. They have not become democratic because they are "IN/UNdisciplinable!" If you are indisciplinable, you can not obtain the attributes required for triumphing democracy!? For every Iranian associate Professor at Yale and Harvard, there are thousands of Iranians of "chelokabob" type who don't want to be disciplined! Can you identify any group or sub-group of Iranians who are disciplined? The late Reza Shah was partially successful in disciplining Iranians. In retrospect, he should have fully implemented his disciplinary plans and actions. But, hindsight is always 20/20! Hence, a practical solution for Iran transforming from the current state into one of democratic one is through US invasion and sustained occupation for the long haul! Therefore, it is imperative that Iranians vote for George W. Bush! Regards,
A new administration might be betterThis is my reaction to Ramin Ahmadi's excellent piece, "Kerry’s Iran". Ahmadi is a friend and a clear-headed thinker. When he proposes that Iran and Iranians would benefit from a Kerry administration he is not wide off the mark. Ramin is rooting for a genuine democracy, paid and fought for by no one other than Iranians themselves. The question inherent in his fine piece of an article is that, do you want America, under a gong-ho administration, to actually deliver democracy to Iran on a silver platter, or do you prefer it came from Iranians themselves, under the watch of a calm and collected umbrella of the international community? My only concern is that Ramin might be preaching to the wrong congregation. I wish my fellow Iranian-Americans could see the clarity of his reasoning. Like most other immigrant communities, we seem to have our single hottest issue that overrides all others, even if there is little evidence that the present administration can advance that issue. Political winds of change are sweeping the Middle East. Iran is in the middle of the greatest transformation in its recent history. The most important policy on Iran is not an invasion by the U.S., as some hope and pray for. The most important work to be done is narrowing the gap between Europe, Russia and the United States regarding their respective position on Iran. A new administration, particularly one that is not so impatient, might be better suited to approach the Europeans and the Russians, to give them a chance to unite against the Islamic Republic. Polarization within the international community and disunity within the opposition is what is keeping the regime in power; we might just need an administration that can help bridge the differences and show the mullahs that their time is truly up.
Rubbing Kerry-stal ballsRegarding Ramin Ahmadi's "Kerry’s Iran": Undisciplined indeed!
More than two decades of western education and our good Dr Ahmadi cannot
present a consistent
line
of
thinking
in a short article as in Kerry's Iran. Let's examine the evidence: Again Doctor Ahamdi has the answer:
Destroying Iranian women's image -- globallyRegarding Schahram's "Maylee nah Melli": Why do you allow pictures like this to be broadcast
over the internet. Do you understand their rights? You are destroying the
Iranian
women's image
globally.
It is like using the women as a sex symbol for US advertising.
I will never forgetRegarding Hamid Bakhsheshi's "Aziz Abad", I am a 66-year-old woman living here in Texas for 29 years with my American husband. Your story about spending some time in Iran brought tears to my eyes. I spent lots and lots of nights under the beautiful sky of the Iranian countryside specially in Khorasan in Torbat and like you I will never forget those nights and days. Thank you for bringing back such memories for me, Loved it. Mamoon. US will do nothing about IranThe most striking thing in Mr. Bamdad's analysis of covert Iranian-American diplomacy since the revolution [The ketchup surprise] This the conclusion he ultimately draws from it: that the US will do nothing about Iran, regardless of who wins the election. Ahmad Rashid's book on the Taliban drew an unsettling picture of covert diplomacy and commerical contacts between the US and Taliban-run Afghanistan prior to 9/11. But, there is no doubt that the policy of the US towards that regime changed (oil and gas interests or no). In the case of Iran in the early 1950's, both the Truman and the Eisenhower Administrations considered covert action against Mosaddeq while being unsympathetic to UK's colonial attitude, but it was Ike who let the hammer fall out of concern for a communist take-over in Iran. Would Truman have done the same eventually? We can't know, but, it resisted this option until the end of its tenure. The point is that circumstances can change US policy and so can a change of administration (reacting to similar circumstances). It may be less a question of strategy than tactics. Kerry promises a different set of tactics regarding Iran's nuclear program and support for Hezbollah and Al-Qaeda -- tactics that focus on international diplomacy and sanctions over sabre-rattlling (or sabre using!). Personally, I prefer that to Bush's clumsy efforts to realize a neo-con fantasy of a "Pax Americana" imposed on the Middle East. Even a mere difference in tactics represents a huge difference for Americans and Iranians this election cycle. The lesson is not that there is "no difference" among members of the American poltiical elite, but rather, that subtle differences in attitudes and prevailing circumstances can make a huge difference -- especially to countries on the receiving end of US foreign policy. The differences may be harder to discern given the rhetorical tightrope the candidates have to walk to woo "undecideds," but they are there.
Nothing but a camel jockeyIn reply to Siamack Baniameri's "The bartender": I bet this Baniameri made this shit up and anyone who pisses in a glass is nothing but a camel jockey and for you guys to accept an article like this is shocking to me. Get a life. October 13 | October 21 | October 22 | |