LettersDecember 2005 Rumi is more Persian than Shakespeare is BritishOn William Dalrymple "That idiot at the Guardian": Mr. Dalrymple, your argument is not valid. I would challenge you to name ONE more artist who like Jalaledin e Rumi wrote in Persian while being from another country. His poems are experiences of the Iranian society, government, and religion. How can one be so absolutely clear about Iran and not be an Iranian? In a terminology that you might understand: If the British soccer team played with USSR soccer team, today that team would still be Britain Vs USSR and not Georgian/Armenian/Ukrainian, and so on. You wrote to a fellow Iranian :"A Persian National? The term would have had no meaning then...", how could you even say that? I absolutely disagree. The term Iranzamin (land of Iran)has been used for over 1200 years in Persian scripts, which clearly indicates the nationality of the country Iran or as the westerners would call it Persia (Fars or Pars, a province in Iran). I don't need to lecture you or make you agree with me, but even if you believe that Rumi was Turkish, he would have not been Turkish from Turkey but rather Azeri (Azerbaijan). Azeri people don't even like the term Turkish for their language and they take pride that they speak Azeri. So ask yourself the relationship between Balkh and Turkey in regard to Iran. Where is Turkey? Where is Balkh? And the geographical proximity would make Rumi a Turk more believable than Iranian (Persian)? If one believes that Rumi is Turkish from Turkey, then Zarathustra is also from Turkey and not Iranian. History (even your own Western history) proves otherwise. Even looking at the culture of Iran and writing of Rumi you can conclude that he was in fact Iranian and PERSIAN NATIONAL. Rumi is more Persian than Shakespeare is British. Unless you believe that all Turkish are originally from Balkh (as some also believe that Turks are originally Mongolian and their language is driven from Korean). I would like to go over this in more detail, but I don't think either you care nor I should. I just thought it is my duty to bring a little fact to your door step. Out of lineOn Azam Nemati's '"I love you" instead of "ghorboonet beram"': Hi Nahid Jon, I very much enjoyed reading your article, "Subtle differences", and in fact, sent it to a few of my American friends who are married to Iranians in order to help them understand the Iranian culture a little better. I, too, came to the US at the age of 17 in 1979 to go to college and have similar experiences to yours, except that I was always in constant contact with the Iranian community since my older brother had come a year before me and I befriended most of his Iranian friends after my arrival. I also found Azam Nemati's response to your article rude, irrational, and out of line. I don't understand how your article could have created so many negative feelings in her to the point of writing a very offensive poorly-written article filled with spelling and grammatical mistakes! Quite strange indeed! Keep up the good work, Your own war criminalsOn Meir Javedanfar's "Specific threats": Do you support the destruction of my country?On O h2O's "Your own war criminals": Thanks for your message. I have a couple of questions: What goes around, comes around!On Meir Javedanfar's "Specific threats": Let me answer your last question first since it may shed some light on the rest: Americans, Iranians and other individuals who have criticized Israel and/or its government policies have lost jobs, promotions, and other status that they might have had in a professional situation. At least they have been prosecuted for bogus charges, lost life's savings, etc. Therefore it is just wise to keep one's identity a secret. 2. No, Iran should not enter any wars for anyone, except for Iranians. When the war criminals in your government day after day threaten Iran with destruction, your best response is what your government has offered, threats of destruction. What goes around, comes around! Adore ur work!On Parima Shahin Moghaddam's "Self after self": wow wow WOW parima, i adore ur work! it's amazing! jj, thanx for bringing such great artists to light... i would had never known about this if it wasn't for iranian.com! thank u both for brightening my day. No disrespectOn photos "Mahasti Mahasti Mahasti... and more Mahasti": No disrespect but Mahasti is one fat bitch. "Goh" with "French perfume"On Kia Atri's "Divine mass psychology": Here are some attributes of Dr. Shariati and his legacy: 1) Shariati was an inciter and promoter of terrorism terrorists. Just listen to his speeches and read his books. I have and they are full of vengeance and belligerence. 2) Shariati was an architect who attempted to deign an intellectual facade for the fundamentally ill-conceived and ill-designed structure called Islam. An analogy, with all due respect, would be covering the smell of a pile of "Goh" with "French perfume!" 3) A typical Iranian bacheh akhoond/bacheh bazari of the late 50's and 60's, Shariati chose to take advantage of the free education and comfort of the time facilitated and provided by the system of the time and in return he became a critique of itrather than an improver of it! Have you ever asked the question as to what he did or how many lives he improved? Characteristically and amazingly, the majority of Iranians of that era (e.g., Bacheh Mojahedin, Bacheh Commies, Bacheh Akhoonds, Bacheh Bazaris, Bacheh intellecualls, and many others) suffered from this epidemic. 4) Shariati became the Emam Hossain of the so-called intellectual bacheh akhoonds as Dr. Mossadegh became the Emam Hossain of the intellectual bacheh commies. 5) Given the Mordehparasti nature of the Iranians, he will continue to serving the needs of a bunch of idiots for many years to come! Hope this shed some light on the true character of Shariati and his legacy. Happy whateverOn Mahnaz Zardoust-Ahari's "Jesus... where are your priorities?": First, I should mention that the word "Holiday" or "Happy Holidays" said in the past refer ed to the holiday season not because of many holidays but due to Christmas and New Year. I don't know where these other holidays came from but one very interesting thing to mention. I used to work in a Jewish hospital in Kansas City called Menorah Medical Center. For Christmas, we had a lunch party in the department and another one at a banquet center few nights later. The head of the department, a Jewish doctor, commenced the ceremony by saying, "Merry Christmas". The department gave presents to the employees and so did the hospital as "Christmas Gifts". There was never a mention of "Holidays", or any other specific celebration for any specific groups. I missed the day Hanukkah came aboard and became such important part of the season. Then Kwanzaa was invented and Ramadan wasn't far behind. I wonder if other ethnic groups who are falling sadly behind this stupid band wagon are going to join in soon. Maybe we'll have St. Patrick's day, Oktoberfest, St. Valentine's day, and Bastille day all on 25th of December. Jesus, Hallmark will go bankrupt. Iranian trailer trashOn Shana Yazdi's "My story": Dear Shana, While reading through the articles on Iranian.com which has become a nightly ritual, I and ran across your article. I was surprised that Iranian.com would publish your article which was rather out of place for the usual literary works found in the mentioned site. I try not to judge people as The Lord knows I have my own issues; and I am not going to lecture you about your life style either as that is a path you have chosen. Here is a suggestion, how about taking your memories and writing two separate articles; one very erotic (e.g. as our eyes met I felt a tingling in my stomach) and one in an X-rated version (e.g as his hand started to move up my thigh I became rather moist and felt the swelling of my clitoris). You should probably have your own site too! How about IranianTrailerTrashTalk.com. We do have something in common: I hate "love gloves" as well. Be safe and don't catch a disease. Sex maniac needs helpOn Shana Yazdi's "My story": 1- First of all, I am not against sexual relationship out of marriage. I believe that is an absolute personal choice so don't take my points or suggestions as I am an old fashioned or fanatic! 2- I think you are sick and need a psychologist's help. Most probably there has been something very wrong in your childhood. Some thing between your parents or you and them. A normal person raised in a decent family does not turn as a sex maniac as you are. 3- Have you ever dared to take HIV, SDT or HPV test? If you have not been positive for any of these tests, you are extremely lucky! I highly suggest you to take these tests very often at least once a month!! Iran is one of the worst places to get sexual diseases these days so be very careful with all those unprotected sexual relationship that you have! I truly hope that you have made up this story and it is not a true one!! Threatened by a story?In response to Dr. A.T.'s letter "This story is a fake!" regarding Mina Azadparast's "Darse ebrat": For the life of me, I can't comprehend what Dr. A.T. is so angry about! Dr. A.T., your email indicates that you are afraid. You are afraid because most likely you fit the description of the Iranian man that Mina Azadparast talks about in her letter. Otherwise, why would you be so intimidated and threatened by this story? She did not accuse all Iranian men nor all Iranian men outside of Iran. She is only describing what could happen when Iranian women are married off to some guy who basically pays their families for the union. Out of desperation these women leave their homes to enter abusive and even more desperate environments. Ms. Azadparast even goes on to clarify that there are some successful unions, but a lot of them are abusive. Why would you fault Mr. Javid for printing letters or stories like these? Mr. Javid has my respect for printing all types of stories without censorng anything. He doesn't deserve to be attacked by an ignorant and twisted individual such as yourself. I hope you are joking in your email, otherwise you are one chauvenist asshole or maybe a closeted homosexual with a lot of issues that he needs to address at his next Psychiatrist appointment. Girl captured in a boy's body?On Shana Yazdi's "My story": This story is disturbing in so many different levels to the point that I felt sick for hours after reading it. Even though I was disgusted with the story, I couldn't stop thinking about her and I tried to see if she got crazy because she got molested at a very young age or else, then I came up with this idea that maybe she thinks that she is a girl, maybe she is a girl captured in a boy body? That makes more sense, this kind of behavior is more expected from homosexual people than women. We (women) enjoy the emotional part of the intimacy on the other hand men usually enjoy the physical part of it. If the author is a really a woman, she really really really needs help, otherwise she will be killed from Aids or violence. God bless her and whomever put this story on the Iranian web site. NG Senseless beatingOn Azam Nemati's "Courage to come forward": Dear Azam, I read you letter and find what you do very worthy and courageous. But I am a little put off by your violent and threatening language. You write that you "would arrange for giving (a wife-beater) a beating he would never forget" and you would personally take part in beating him senseless. You also write "if a man ever dared to even threaten me (he) would not live to regret it." Do you not realize that this willingness to punish and beat others who have it coming, is certainly one of the attitudes wife-beaters have, and that you share this with them? Caution: Exchange rateQuick note: the government of Iran is now going after people whose parents send them money for their education abroad. They have interesting fuzzy arithmetic for collecting money. For example, if your parents send you $20,000 at the government exchange rate of 10 Tomans -- when the exchange rate was 40 Tomans -- they are requesting you to pay back the ENTIRE money at the current rate NOT the difference between the government rate and "black market rate" at the time when money was send! In other words, they will give your parents 200,000 Tomans back (what they paid) and they now request ~20,000,000 Tomans which is the current amount of what you pay if you want to get $20K. If they have put a collateral, they are going to be even worse off. Ahmadinejad and his friends are coming. So be careful about going back to that place as you may have a hard time leaving without paying your money back. A friend of mine spent a year in Iran trying to fix this. Pushing for a comfortable lifeOn Saeideh Mohajer's "Living artists": WELL SAID -- excellent article. Emasculated pilotsOn C-130 military plane crash that killed 128 people on December 6th, 2005: Iranian military pilots lack balls to take matters into their own hands even if thier lives are in danger. A loaded C-130 can land with only two of its four engines operating only if the pilot is not afraid of what ground control might write in their final incident report. A climbing C-130 aircraft is capable of landing even on dirt surfaces without going for the full approach. Cat Stevens fanOn Sepehr Haddad's "Wild world": Dear Sepehr, I am so happy to know that there are some Cat Stevens Fans around. I am also a musician and product of music in Tehran. My favorite song is "The Wind". I start my music with that song everywhere, and I don't care how many times I play it. please e mail me, God knows may be one day we will play together. I play acoustic Guitar, and play finger syle. hope to hear from you. Caring more about hitsOn Pejhman Rahimi's "Right to dignity and self respect": I agree with your comments to the Web manager of Iranian. com. I too have, on number occasions, pointed out to him that when it comes to publishing materials on his web site, he should stick to some acceptable standard. I think he cares more about the site getting hits at the expense of all other considerations. Neither informative nor helpfulOn Shahriar Zahedi's critique of Jalal Ale Ahmad and Laleh Khalili's response "Angry for a reason": The three protagonists of this debate are: an angry Ale-Ahmad, a zany Zahedi and a Khali-band Khalili (sorry for copying your now cliché style Laleh, as in beleaguered beautiful beirut or no dolls in damascus!!) >>> More December 23 -- December 21 -- December 5 -- >>> All past letters |