THE IRANIAN
Letters
April 1998
Letters Section main
index
April Fools Iranians Iran-U.S. Identity Iran Photos |
Persian Gulf Iranica Conspiracies Noruz Music Poetry Survey The Iranian |
Googooshgate
There was quite a wide range of reactions to this year's April Fools article on Googoosh and President Clinton. To see them all, click here.
From a Qashqaie
Since I've got no one left, and have no connection with any Qashqaies, I have almost forgotten how to speak in Qashqaie. When I found your article on the internet ["At home with my tribe, the Qashqaies"], I couldn't stop crying for an hour. My father's name was Ebrahim Farssemadan. All of the Qashqaies (Nasser Khan, Khossroo Khan, Homa Beebee,....) knew him.
Hashemn Farhang
Coorosh.Aryaii@gte.net
Thank you on Eblis
Thank you for your comprehensive treatment of this fascinating subject ["Eblis: Refusing to bow to Adam"]. in the Christian tradition this type of discussion would fall within the purview of theodicy -- the explanation of the existence of evil in the world. A good treatment of that subject is Russell's book on satan in Western traditions.
Come home
Iran has changed a lot. And even that is different from what you really think. Of course, there may be some problems here and you may be more comfortable somewhere else.But we must know that we are all Iranian and our love is Iran. So try to come back to make Iran great, powerful, and developed. Anyway I wish a very wonderful 1377 to all of you and your families.
Kaveh Bashti
Shiraz
bashtik@pearl.sums.ac.ir
Modern poetry
Popped in your web site to check on the poets: Parvin Etesami and Nima Yushij. Can't seem to find enough about them anywhere on the net, and most books at the library are in Farsi. As far as Iranian literature goes, looks like the Sufi poets rein supreme and modern poetry is still struggling to be noticed! *sigh*
Mariam Ispahani
mariam@skypoint.com
How not what
I just wanted to thank you for running articles and pictures about Noruz, Chaharshanbeh soori and Sizdah Bedar. I have found a lot of stuff on the Web about these holidays, but your articles were the best for showing how people celebrate as opposed to what.
Maureen S. O'Brien
mobrien@dnaco.net
Ostad Golgolab?
If you have available any information on the biography of Ostad Golgolab, who composed the poem of "ay Iran". Ostad Golgolab was acctually a Botanist who I believe introduced many persian botanical xpressions such as golbarg, kasbarg, parcham, etc.
Peter Vanderaa
fjahromi@csu.edu.au
Lily Afshar: Uncommon master
I read the good review that you had for Lily Afshar and her classical guitar performances. I was hoping you would document a personal interview with her too. But I did NOT see one. Guitar is an uncommon instrument among women in general, let alone mastery of it for an Iranian woman at International level. Talking to many friends and family members we thought It would be real interesting to see what motivated her and get to know her a little bit better rather than counting her awards.
Shahram Sadri
shah.sadri@amd.com
Editor: See Shahram Sadri later interview with Afshar in The Iranian
Overly friendly, backstabbing
I find myself married to an Iranian doctor who came to the U.S. in 1973. He is a very kind man. However, I find the "family thing" a bit too much. Iranian people, in general, are on the surface overly hospital and friendly (kissing, food giving, thank yous, hellos, etc). However, underneath they are power hungry, money hungry, backstabbing, critical, and extremely superficial. I much prefer to be stabbed in my front rather than kissed on the cheek and stabbed once my back is turned. I think Iranians give way too much attention to surface appearances rather than trying to be genuine people. I'm tired of the criticism of Iranians while they enjoy my country (U.S.). By the way, I love [Iranian] food and am a great cook. (see two replies below)
There are good Iranians too
Dear C. Mohammadi,
I don't know who you are or where you live but what a letter ["Overly friendly, backstabbing "]! While I don't share your sentiments exactly, I understand where you are coming from. My first personal experience with an Iranian left a bitter taste in my mouth because of the betrayal of friendship I experienced. It wasn't until a few months later that I discovered how much lying, manipulating, exploiting, and deception had also occurred... And like you, I still want to be with these people, for in Iranians, because of all that they have experienced, I see a race of people caught between extremes: the best of the best is there as well as the best of the worst. But because you don't hear much of the latter, when you experience it, it comes as quite a shock... full text
Alex Bettesworth
Alex_B@pacbell.net
No understanding
To C. Mohammadi: I read your message in The Iranian Times . Are you sure that you are not the same lady who wrote "Not Without My Daughter"?!I just hope that you are not still married to the Iranian doctor that you talked about, because I cannot understand how he could be married to a woman who has no understanding of Persian culture.
I am a 25-year-old Iranian born to an Iranian father and a German mother who grew up in "Your Country!" and loves Iranian culture with all its idiosyncracies, and shortcomings. I just hope that you will not have any children, because with your frame of mind I hate to see them grow up hating their father's culture... full text
Lili Ansari,DDS
liliansari@hotmail.com
We are the same
Being American, I know very little about the Iranian people that I encounter . It is easy to asume that I, being who I am would fall into the "Great Satan" sense of the Iranian people, i.e. that because of the actions of my government and the visions given the American people by the news media, that we, as two peoples are destined to be enemies. I hope that this is not true, that we, as human beings are as much the same as we are different. That WE can live together and learn from each other
The article "UrgeTo Describe A Kiss" tells me that we are very much the same. I'm glad the writer chose to write for us, the human race, rather than the CIA. I'll check your web-site now and then because I cherish the freedom we have here in the USA. The freedom to read and learn from all people of the world is not worth having if it is not used.
Mike White
mawnow@email.msn.com
I'll give you identity crisis...
You think you have an identity crisis ["Who am I"]? I am an UK citizen, but born in the former Yugoslavia. My father was of Iranian origin, but all the records were destroyed as they came to Yugoslavia during the Second World War, and the names were changed ( since they were academics and my father became a Communist-he had to) etc.
I am a practicing Muslim and with very passionate feeling for Iranian culture and people as well as language (which I try to re-learn now). I would like to have an Iranian passport since my desire is to go and live in Iran at some point (I am completing my Ph.D. right now and teaching at the university) but I don't want to do it through marriage etc.
I look Persian, I feel Persian and I am of Persian blood. But I can't prove it. I would even pay for the privilege, I don't mind. I hope that this is strange enough to make your "crisis" less tragic!
Angie
filman@globalnet.co.uk
Iranian-Americans survey: Thank you
A few weeks ago you received a survey from me and a HUGE number of you chose to respond both via email and regular mail. I just wanted to write you and thank you for responding. I never anticipated the quantity of responses I received, and I was moved not only by your generosity in taking time out of your busy schedules to respond, but also by your "good luck" wishes and incredibly wonderful suggestions.
Originally, the paper was only going to be for a graduate school class, but the amazing poetry of your words and the sheer power of your thoughts and emotions have compelled me to actually write something that is worthy of your responses.
A number of you have requested the final paper. I will be sure to either send the paper to you personally, or perhaps ask the wonderful Mr. Javid to post it on the Iranian web page. Those of you who actually sent an envelope will certainly receive a personal copy as soon as the paper has been completed.
A great number of you also graciously made a number of suggestions for improvement of the survey. I agree with the majority of your suggestions, but would also like to let you know that the survey was never intended to be an "objective" statistical study of Iranians, as the sampling itself was fundamentally flawed; rather, I wanted to access what one of you termed "goals, dreams, etc." I wanted to hear your own words, your language, how you feel, think, and dream about your "homeland" and about the United States.
Additionally, some of you voiced your concern about the privacy of your responses. Please rest assured that your responses will ABSOLUTELY remain with me and will not be even given to my professor.
Finally, I am humbled by and grateful for all your kindness, your brilliance, your patience, and your generosity.
Thank you.
Laleh Khalili
LalehK@aol.com
Not all conspiracies
I thank you for taking the time to put up what must be a rare and full analysis of the Persian mind and how it views politics ["Conspiracy Theories and the Persian mind"]. I have single mindedly , in my college, attempted to educate my countrymen that not everything in our history, and also our present, can be explained via conspiracy theories. This is a tough task and one that I eventually abandoned. I hope that more Persians find your page and enjoy a rare and insightful analysis of the Persian mind.
Library patron
University of California, San Diego
Love her sooo much
Just wanted to thank you for putting Googoosh on the net. I love her soooooooo much. She brings back such sweet memories of my childhood since I moved here from Iran when I was 12 years old (in 1978). Thank you, thank you, thank you!!
(I'm Armenian, even though my name doesn't sound it and it was my given name at birth :-)
Hoover Zariani
netra@glendale.cc.ca.us
Touched in Turkey
I am Solmaz Kamuran, a Turkish writer. I write for Turkiye.Net on the Internet. Just by chance I saw the poem by little Solmaz Sharif ["My Father's Shoes"]. I can't express how I am influnced by the philosophy and sentimental expression of her poem. Thanks a lot for the feeling that reached over these long distances.
Solmaz Kamuran
solmaz@turkiye.net
Benz/BMW curse
I just read your article ["Roo keh neest! The nerve"], and indeed you are right! I live in Berkeley, and we (my brother, his wife, and I) went to San Francisco to eat chelokabab and then go dancing (an Iranian DJ whose name I can't remember) on 3rd and Market, and possibly Faramarz Asef at the H Regency.
The host and waiters at this restaurant were bowing like we were masters (totally unnecessary) and when we were looking for the dancing place, half a block before the place, I saw a parking lot full of expensive and shiny cars (90% of which were Mercedes and BMWs) and I immediately said: "We're here!!" and sure enough, around the corner, was the dancing place, with Iranians wearing black dresses and suits, totally like a fashion-show. After examining the place for a few seconds from the car, we decided to head for home.
When you mentioned the fact that Iranians who drive Mercedes and BMWs, thinking that they are the only ones driving those in the world, are also very demanding and selfish (not your exact words) I felt the need to say a few words of my own. The painful part is that this is the kind of mentality that has brought us to this situation; towel-head illiterate bastards ruling our dear country.
Hamid T.
hamid@sj.bigger.net
No more Faith No More
I enjoyed the photos in "Faith No More?"I must add that there is no more of "Faith No More," the American Rock band; the group's members parted away last week. So change the *is* to *was* in your intro. Okay, I won't be picky anymore. :-)
Mehran Azhar
mazhar@students.uwf.edu
Love & hate
Hey d00d, that site you got up ["The Iranian"]...it's kEWl....It's been, like, so extremely useful...my family hates it and loves it..and I just love it....it's awesome.
Siroos Khosravi
ckhosra1@san.rr.com
National Geographic: "No plan to change Persian Gulf"
April 29, 1998
To: Mr. Ali Akbar Merrikh
Email: merikh@menet.emu.edu.tr
From: Patrick J. McGeehan
National Geographic Society
We appreciate your comments concerning the name of the Persian Gulf.
I believe that there has been a great misunderstanding concerning my previous email, which was written in response to specific questions from an individual reader. The information I sent him was subsequently forwarded to you and to many others. My email addressed the gentleman's questions point by point and it appears that many people who have since read my message did not see it in its original context.
My original message was explicit in stating that the National Geographic Society uses the term "Persian Gulf." (Please see a map on our Website) I also clearly stated that the National Geographic Society does not initiate name changes. In fact, it has neither the power nor the desire to do so.
The branch of the U.S. Government that keeps track of place names is the U.S. Board on Geographic Names. It, too, uses the name "Persian Gulf," as I clearly stated in my previous message. (The USBGN has no affiliation with the National Geographic Society. We use the place-name information that they provide. The USBGN generally adopts the names used by foreign government or governments, or follows U.S. State Department policy.)
In responding to the gentleman I detailed the extremely rare instances in which the USBGN might initiate a change to a place name in its records. I provided this background information simply because I thought it would interest him. The information also illustrates an important point: Given that the USBGN changes place names only when a general consensus in the geographic and political communities express a strong preference for a specific new name or when a new name clearly predominates in popular usage, it is extremely obvious that such a change would be virtually impossible in the case of the Persian Gulf.
Once again: The National Geographic Society uses the term "Persian Gulf" and has no plans to do otherwise.
Yours truly,
Patrick J. McGeehan
Research Correspondence
Reply to: pmcgeeha@ngs.org
Related links
* Letters Section main
index
* Cover stories
* Who's
who
* Bookstore
|
|