Friday,
Nov 27, 1998
* Iranians exceptionally diverse
I commend Alex
Bettesworth for his attempted insight into the psyche of the Iranian,
however, it is virtually impossible to classify Iranians into a personality
category and apply adjectives to them, be they positive or negative. Our
country and people are exceptionally diverse, and made even more so by
the fact that a new generation of Iranians has grown up all over the world
and integrated the Iranian culture with that of another. Some chose to
integrate the negative aspects of their new culture, be that the American
culture or that of another, with the negative aspects of the Iranian culture.
If that is the case, they have chosen the worst of both worlds and suffer
for it.
Mr. Bettesworth should understand that there are cultural ties that
bind Iranians together, but an individual's level of ambition, integrity,
loyalty and sincerity towards others, is not necessarily a "cultural
phenomenon."
Massi Behbahani
Massi.Behbahani@Teligent.com
(Back to top)
* Treated like a queen
I want to respond to C.
Mohamadi about Iranians being "backstabbing." I am an American
women with an Iranian boyfriend. I feel that your comment was unnecessary
and unfounded about all Iranians. Not only did you make yourself look bad
but also other American women. You do not deserve to be married to an Iranian
man. All Iranians are not the same just like all Americans are mot the
same either.
I am very happy with my relationship with my boyfriend. Not only do
I love him but also his family. I have been treated like a queen by all
members and I have never felt so much love. Maybe you should take a look
in the mirror and try to find the real reasons.
Skhanoom@aol.com
(Back to top)
Wednesday
Nov 25, 1998
* Relative freedoms not enough
In response to Mr
K. Sani's letter I would like to say the following: If our dream is
to restore " the nice and rather free days of the first year of the
revolution," then I believe that we are destined to fail. In fact
those days were not very nice. Although Iran enjoyed some relative freedoms
at the time, let's not forget the kangaroo courts, executions, and false
and unfounded accusations.
In a democracy, all people should enjoy freedom. If only some factions
exploit the situation, that system would not be democratic. A democracy
will either include all, left, right, center, religious, non-religious,
monarchist and anti-monarchist, communist or capitalist or none at all.
A democracy entitles people to be protected in a court of law. A democracy
believes in human dignity for all.
Our so-called democracy in 1979-80 failed to have any of those characterisitcs.
Reza.Khalili
Reza.Khalili@kenonic.com
(Back to top)
Tuesday
November 24, 1998
* Realistic reflection
Despite the explicit, and at times offensive, language, Iraj
Mirza realistically reflects the psyche of many Iranian men and women:
that hijab serves to divorce a woman from assertiveness and choice.
SMiss18754@aol.com
(Back to top)
Monday
Nov 23, 1998
* Better alive than dead
Like all patriots, the character in Ali Khalili's piece "Farewell cherry
tree" would have wanted to go to the front and defend his country.
Instead, his parents preferred to send him out of Iran than to see him
despatched to the front. That must have pleased God because God does not
wish children to pay for the lunacy of adults, a lesson God made very clear
in the story of Abraham. Ali's character now cries out for help, because
he is ridden with guilt and all Aroosi-e-Khooban
delivers in his criticism of Ali Khalili is more pain because Khooban too
is gripped by guilt and its associated rage, even though his/her own credentials
in the matter is less than clear.
No wonder after some 2,500 years of statehood, the Iranian nation numbers
only a meager 60 million; that is so perhaps in part because of the Iranian's
insatiable appetite to die and then wanting to kill those who did not.
There is death to this and death to that; there is the swearing on one's
own life. There is the desire to be a martyr and make others martyrs too.
When it comes to the character in Ali Khalili's piece, I, for one, am very
pleased to see that the Iraqis did not claim one more Iranian and that
someone thought that him being alive is better than him being dead.
To oblige Khooban's exhortation, the term "patriot" means
"a person who loves and loyally or zealously supports his own country."
Nothing here about getting one's child or oneself deliberately killed.
In contrast, consider Khooban's apparent synonym for patriot -- chauvinist
-- whose distinguishing traits include being militant, unreasoning and
boastful, fanatical and jingoistic. Of the two, the former contains the
promise of life, the latter is doomed to perdition; here Khooban is not
necessarily "az ma behtaroon," simply abnormally fatalistic.
If there is an Iran and an Iranian nation left it is because of those who
lived on, including Khooban and the character in Ali Kalili's story.
Guive Mirfendereski
Guive@aol.com
(Back to top)
Friday,
Nov 20, 1998
* Stop blaming others
I think Khodadad ["Minorities:
Not an Iranian problem"] is living in some dream world or fails
to see his own country from a broader perspective. For one thing, racism
is an issue facing all scoieties. Bias is something that we human beings
inherit almost naturally. Secondly, I would like to ask Mr. Khodadad to
describe these commonly used Persian words for me : "Arabe Mooshkhor,"
"Armani Najes," "Turke Khar," "Yaroo Lor-e Lor-e,"
"Yahoodi Khassis," and "ajnabi."
How about our literature? What do you think of Ferdowsi's poetry: "Arab
ra be jaei reseed kar, ke taje kiani konad arezoo?" And How about
Anooshiravan Daadgar sending his troops to Yemen with specific orders of
killing all those who have curley hair(referring to black people). And
how about my relative who forced his son divorce his Black wife in the
U.S.? And how about my other relative who has ex-communicated his son,
who married a Bahai?
I have met many Afghanis outside Iran who spent some time in Iran. Most
don't have any good memories from Iran. In fact, most cannot stand Iranians
for the treatment they received. Are all of the above American problems
transferred down to this? Or Anooshiravan and Ferdowsi were both part of
the Zionist plot and World Arrogance? Accept the realities and stop blaming
others.
Jafar Dehghan
jafar_d@hotmail.com
(Back to top)
* Insightful contributions
From time to time, I read your articles [Massud
Alemi's index of articles] in The Iranian. The variety in styles you
have mastered is fascinating. Thank you for your interesting and insightful
contributions.
Saba Ghadrboland
(Back to top)
Thursday
Nov 19, 1998
* Love will re-emerge, in time
The language you use in "Marrying
an Iranian woman" is truly beautiful; "love floating in a
nation that has been so unfortunate, nothing but a divine gift." And
in the case of "the empty smiles" of the West, so tragically
real.
However, I felt incredibly sad reading your article. I felt sad because
much of what you mentioned is so true. On the one hand the warmth and the
love you felt when you went to Iran is alive. I've only been back once
since migrating to the West 13 years ago, but felt a similar overwhelming
feeling of warmth, from family and friends. At times (quoting you) "gently
suffocating" affection. But there was also al ot of hidden agendas
and I felt that much of it was purely for surface effect.
There must be a million ways of analyzing or explaining this. In many
ways Iran has become a hard nation, its inhabitants sharp, tough, often
ruthless (zebr-o-zerang) ... they are survivors. All this is completely
essential (or natural) given our recent history. In this new world, the
love you talk about, the innocent love is still part of the soul of Iran,
but it has changed shape, hiding behind a mask. Through time, when the
country is relaxed politically and economically, maybe the old love will
re-emerge.
Nargess Shahmanesh
n_shahmanesh@imeche.org.uk
(Back to top)
* Mohammad can't become a "real" American
I read "How
to become an American." It's truly clever and thought-provoking.
As an Iranian who grew up in the U.S. and joined the military to constantly
prove my love for America, I've learned that no matter how long you live
in this country or how much you have done for it -- as long as people know
you were born in Iran and your real name is Mohammad -- you will never
be a "real" American.
God bless Iran and Iranians
Ocmike1@aol.com
(Back to top)
Wednesday
Nov 18, 1998
* Give Americans the respect we have earned
I agree with the author of the article "How
to become an American" that each and every person from a particular
country shouldn't be judged by the actions of the people of his/her country
of origins. I am an American veteran of Desert Shield/Storm and also lived
in Saudi Arabia when the U.S. Embassy in Tehran was stormed. To say the
least, Iran as a whole has not been on the top of my well-liked places
list. It is hard to meet someone, though, from somewhere that you perceive
has done a grevious wrong to your country and not be a bit biased. We almost
always judge first, and then figure out the truth later. Unless the person
has had a lot of inter- social experiences as I have had. He spoke of reading
a Tom Clancy book, 'Executive Orders.' I read Tom Clancy a lot and love
his books. But I also realize that they are only fiction, and a plot has
to have a bad guy in it. Been that way since the dawn of time. People,
even those in Iran I'm sure, like a good guy and a bad guy and love it
when the good guy wins. Even if it is a scenario that is relatively impossible.
And if Iran could do that action against the U.S., the Great Satan, it
would not be out of the realm of possibilities that the government would
support it.
I think what I'm trying to say is, that many countries have accomplished
some pretty heinous crimes, but their expatriates shouldn't be held responsible.
Should I hold all Japanese today responsible for the bombing of Pearl Harbor?
That was totally unprovoked and at a time of day to ensure we couldn't
respond very well at all. Were our people in the Embassy in Tehran asking
to be held hostage and their lives threatened? But was the author at fault
for it, since he was born there only? These are criminal actions, to say
the very least. But the U.S. has accomplished similar things in its history,
especially to the Native Americans. We have been worse to them than can
be imagined. Only a few other countries have treated their people worse
(Germany and Russia come to mind). But the world judges all Americans in
the same way, as a people to be hated, yet they want to come here. We have
stood up for what is right more times than not. We are not always right
in our actions, but generally the world is better off with the U.S. than
without it.
When I was in Saudi Arabia for Desert Shield/Storm, I saw what the other
Middle Eastern countries were doing. I was heartened to see countries like
Syria supporting the cause of liberating Kuwait. Granted, the US was not
there to just free Kuwait, but Americans did die in the liberation effort.
That can only be seen as a noble act. What did the other Middle Eastern
countries do to help Kuwait be freed? What did Iran do? Supported the Iraqi
Air Force. I would not be proud of myself at all for that if I was an Iranian
citizen. How can Iran's actions be sanctioned? I am not against any Iranian
citizen who is not supportive of those actions. I hope that most of the
citizens would not be supportive of it.
I consider Andrew Jackson, the president featured on one of our dollar
bills, one of our worst leaders of all time, but I am still proud to be
an American. But we have a serious responsibility, too. We must think first,
then act second, and take responsibility for those actions. We have a duty
to be knowledgeable of the world, since we are a global country. We have
a duty to try to understand other peoples, and understand they have a right
to their own cultures. And those cultures are just as valid as ours is.
These are just some of our responsiblities. On the other hand, we have
a right to be respected by other peoples for our sacrifices that we have
made for the rest of the world. Or would everyone else like it if Hitler
and Tojo had gotten their own ways? Give Americans the respect we have
earned. If we don't return it, then give some more, maybe we'll learn by
example. And if Iran ever needs my help to defend herself, just let her
ask for it and it will be there.
Christopher Peck
TSgt. USAFR
CEPeck@aol.com
(Back to top)
Tuesday
November 17, 1998
* Nothing patrotic about capturing Karbala
In response to Aroosi-e-Khooban's
response to my article "Farewell
cherry tree," I have the following to say: The Iran-Iraq war for
the most part was a pointless war that should and could have ended much
earlier. Patriotism does not mean mindlessly following the directions of
a leader for no obvious reason. There is nothing patrotic about capturing
Karbala. Nor is there anything patriotic about capturing Qods.
At some point a person has to question whether they are doing something
right or not. Grabbing a gun, shooting down a couple of Iraqis and in the
process getting killed because some fanatic wants to capture Karbala and
spread his revolution is not patriotic.
We have been down this road way too long. The intention of my article
was to show another set of damages that a nonesense war inflicted upon
our nation. My point is that in the future, before we create more enemies
like the Talebans or whomever, we should spend a few minutes thinking about
the consequences.
A million people were killed and twice as many left Iran during the
war and the exodus still continues because of a senseless war that destroyed
our land. Most of that could have been prevented had Iran accepted the
ceasefire with Iraq earlier. Acting upon feelings is not good, and those
who participated in the latter end of the war which benefited none but
the weapons manufacturers and the two governments which solidifed their
status through it, committed a rather blind act.
We are still suffering the consequences of that war. After so long,
it's not a bad idea to look back, realize what it was all about.
Ali Khalili
a_khalili@hotmail.com
(Back to top)
Monday
Nov 16, 1998
* Don't forget the real "boys"
Ali Khalili's "Farewell
cherry tree" is a tale only too well known to most of us Iranian
expatriates. I too suffered mildly in a London high school as an Iranian
while the war went on back home.
But let us not forget the real "boys," the men of Iran's armed
forces: conscripts, volunteer forces or otherwise; the army, navy and the
air force, who defended our land at a very critical juncture in our history,
sometimes with bare fists and often with weaponry much inferior to that
of the foe. An enemy that had the financial backing of the Arab petro-dollars
and the political and technical blessings of all the great powers. The
men who liberated Khormashahar and Khuzestan against all odds, the elite
forces that captured Faw and endured aerial bombardment beyond imagination
and suffered from Iraqi chemical and nerve agents, one of whom, I was honored
to visit in a London hospital, whose body was covered with large blisters
and ould not speak of the untold stories as a result of sever breathing
problems.
Let us also not forget the many pilots and air force personnel who should
be credited least of all for keeping this force operational during the
war despite international sanctions, and managed to mount a brilliant response
to Iraq's ever growing air power. Politics aside, let us remember Hossain
Fahmideh, the 13 year old, and his likes, who lost their lives while desperately
attempting to stop the march of Iraqi tanks and heavy armor into our cities.
It was Veterans Day in the U.S. the other day: let us at least learn
from our American hosts, and honor these men of great integrity who fell
in great numbers amid superior Iraqi fir power and defended Iran inch by
inch to the last man. Let us also remember the thousands of the war disabled,
men with physical and mental scars resulting from the ugly scenes of the
war, who under tremendous economic hardships have difficulty making ends
meet in today's Iran. And let us build our very own Tomb of the Unknown
Solider in our hearts, for there are many of them, with their families
still waiting by the door to welcome them home.
Whatever the causes of war and its prolongation, we have to stop ignoring
and ridiculing these men for the sake of political correctness and start
honoring them and give them credit where credit has long been overdue:
for staying behind, for risking their lives, and fighting for the homeland
and their beliefs. Thank God, and many thanks to these brave souls, Iran's
map is in exactly the same shape and size that I remember from my primary
school times.
Khashayar Lessan
lessa002@tc.umn.edu
(Back to top)
* Not another Shah, but...
I just read one of your letters called "Another
Shahanshah? No thank you," and I must express my shame in being
Iranian and my outrage of how closed-minded some people can be. I am no
Shah lover, or molla lover for that matter. I personally believe in a free
society. I am sure this person's bad experience with the SAVAK has left
him/her with terrible memories and of course for people like him/her they
blame the Shah's regime.
But we all know that Iranians in general have to blame everything on
someone else. They are never at fault. In every society/government there
is always one category of people who benefit more than the rest. I was
very little when I left Tehran back in 1976 for England where I have been
ever since and I remember the way Iran was. But let's face it even the
United Kingdom is not what it used to be during that time.
True. Iran had it's SAVAK, censorship and political prisoners during
the Shah's time but what does Iran have now? A bunch who call themselves
mollas and God's representatives, whose only contribution to Iran has been
making people poorer than poor. Men have been forced to take 2nd jobs to
become either pimps or drug dealers, women are forced to take a 2nd job
as prostitutes, children are all suffering from malnutrition.
Llife expectancy in Tehran has dropped to 50 in the last few years due
to so much stress, whereby during the Shah's time as you put it was 65
and people lived in a very moderate way but not desperate like now. During
my visit to Iran last year, on behalf of the U.N., I watched in horror
the suffering each family had to endure in Tehran.
As for political prisoners, well let me tell you something else after
visiting Evin prison. Most of the prisoners did not belong in those filthy
disgusting cells whereby instead of four people there were 12 in one room
with four beds! All imprisoned because of their beliefs and for being brave
enough to stand up to their government.
And as for censorship goes, well come on now. About 80% of everything
is censored in Iran so what are you talking about! Just go and look around
Beheshteh Zahra, look at all those young men who died for our bloody Islamic
Revolution not for protecting Iran but for helping the mollas stay in power
longer. Where is the justice in all this?
I don't think Iran needs another Shah, I agree. But the Islamic Revolution
of Iran also does not belong in Iran, it belongs to ... well I will leave
that to your own imagination.
S. Mahlouji
smahloo@hotmail.com
(Back to top)
Friday,
Nov 13, 1998
* Aviation history
Very interesed to read your aviation history ["Balloons
to Boeings"], especially the earliest years. The early aircraft
you describe were probably Dominie (not Domino). These were twin-engined
aeroplanes made in England by the de Havilland Aircraft Company. We still
have two of these aeroplanes flying in New Zealand as museum pieces.
Peter Lewis
p.lewis-m.caisley@xtra.co.nz
(Back to top)
* Blind patriotism
I think Mr. Khalili ["Farewell
cherry tree"] has brought up an interesting point in Iranian history,
the Iran-Iraq war. Also, through his story and the response from "Aroosie Khooban,"
we now have hit an important point.
My opinion on Iran-Iraq war was that it was one of the most unpatriotic
wars ever, if there is ever such a thing as a patriotic war. I personally
object to wars and don't think I have the capability of grabbing a gun
and shooting down people who have suddenly become my enemies. Every person
killed at every front, is a humanbeing with loved ones and dependents.
Every person killed is a tragedy which we tend to glorify with words such
as martyrdom and dying for one's nation.
What made the Iran-Iraq war worse, were the two governments behind them.
This war benefited no one but the two governments eventually. This war
was a war between the Sardare Qadesieh and spreader of Islamic Revolution
and as such, people should not have wasted their lives for two dictators.
The story that Mr. Khalili described only goes on to show the magnitude
of the tragedy, the IRI has called, "sacred defense." Not only
we lost thousands of our youngsters to a meaningless war, but we also lost
thousands of others, who did not want to be part of this show, to foreign
lands.
As a last note, I would like to differentiate between the words patriotism
and blind patriotism. They are much like love and blind love. You can build
a relationship around love but not blind love. Same goes with countries.
If those people, who ran over minefields so Khomeini could attain his dream
of Karbala, would stand back and question the logic of going to Karbala
and Qods, then maybe our nation would not be in the deep economic crisis
that it is today.
Jafar Dehghan
jafar_d@hotmail.com
(Back to top)
Thursday
Nov 12, 1998
* What the heck is a "Rahbar"?
Many of you may have already received the first "Iran
Report" from Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty by A. William Samii
in Prague at samiia@rferl.org. However
what I cannot understand is why they insist in using Persian words, while
they are reporting in English. If it is aimed at an Iranian audience, then
why not write in Persian using the English alphabet? And if it is aimed
for all, then why use words such as "Rahbar"? ... none of my
foreign friends understood who the hell was a Rahbar...
Part of the report reads: " The president and the Rahbar..."
Of course, we can all understand the president. But none of my foreign
friends understood who the hell was a Rahbar. Obviously "rabhbar"
is a leader in English, and if the correct term was used, the capital R
was not required making it look like part of the name. The same goes for
their Farsi service. I wonder if they have a Francaise and Espanole service
as well. Maybe this would be a good way of turning English into Persian.
As the slogan goes in Iran "Farsi ra paas bedaarim", maybe someone
needs to say: " Englishi ra ham paas bedaarim"... :-)
A.P.
(Back to top)
* Guy de-you-know-who
Regarding Guive Mirfendereski's "Giving
Batul a chance":
Guy de-somebody? It's Guy de Maupassant, who wrote "The Necklace"!!
Figaretti@aol.com
(Back to top)
Wednesday
Nov 11, 1998
* Deep Dish
Did you know that one of two of the biggest producers of electronic
music are Iranian? The Maryland-based "Deep Dish" is the creation
of Ali Shiraznia and Shahram Tayebi. Together they have been producing
their own brand of house music (dark, at times trancey) for over five years,
and have quickly grown to become the most sought-after producers in the
world, cutting up remixes for the likes of "Everything But the Girl"
and Janet Jackson. As DJs they circle the globe and are literally worshipped
like heroes in the UK, by far their biggest fan base, and by now their
home away from home.
This past week they played here in New York for the CMJ music festival,
and by Sunday they could be heard in the UK at the Notting Hill Festival.
Their latest release, on Deconstruction/UK, is called "Junk Science,"
and incorporates many Persian elements, denoting Ali and Shahram's special
attachment to Iran (unusual for expats who have been living Stateside ince
they were young and could have become completely americanized and ignorant
of their origin, like so many). One of the cuts from the album is called
"Persepolis," and ends with an entrancing playing of the tar
by a Iranian artist.
Ali Naderzad
ali@dewline.com
(Back to top)
Tuesday
November 10, 1998
* Sufis were great frauds
The discussion is anecdotal rather than philosophical [Iranica article:
"Refusing
to bow to Adam"]. The material is tendentious; its goal is to
show that evil exists within God; the Sufis who are cited are merely dualist
Manicheans disguised as Muslims; they are no more profound than Jehovah's
Witnesses.
The premise is actually rather simple minded; it intrigues because it
entails a fatal contradiction of good and evil within the Principle, a
contradiction which cannot be resolved. It can however, be avoided altogether.
One doesn't have to take the bait.
The correct answer to the problem is actually much more mystical and
it is the philosophically and logically correct doctrine that evil is an
absence of good, or an absence of reality. If evil had a positive existence
its essence would be absolute contradiction. Fortunately for us it doesn't.
It also means that the great Sufis were great frauds and/or great con-men.
something which is corroborated by our everyday experience today.
Dostoevsky fascinates until one realizes that his writing is merely
a game, a soap opera, which consists of mixing opposites into one impossibility.
Try to resolve the idea of Stavrogin, the mixture of Cross of Salvation
and horned devil into one apparent unity and you have a deep, deep mystery;
dismiss it as fantasy and you are free.
glasse@banet.net
(Back to top)
Monday
Nov 9, 1998
* Tarof is a virus
I really enjoyed the article "War,
Iranian style." I don't agree with Reebaha.
Tarof goes on all over Iran.
My family is from Azarbaijan and I was raised in Tehran (I don't know
if I would be considered bacheh Tehroon or not!) and my husband's
family is from Shiraz . I have not seen much difference regarding tarof.
This is an epidemic; it's a virus that has spread all over.
I think Mr. Taghavi should have mentioned the "eating war"
and the struggle to avoid eating a pastry or something that is not good
for you or something that you simply don't want to eat. He could have also
mentioned the "Khoda hafezi war" which is just as important and
takes long enough to be able to make quite a few moves on the enemy.
Simin Habibian
shabib@erols.com
(Back to top)
* Minorities: Not an Iranian problem
The fact is, in Iran, we have never had the problem of race prior to
this. In your article ["Forgiving
Salm and Tur"], you point to Persian Iranians several times, and
then talk about "Indo-Europeans" and what they are. Well, do
you know, or do you not know what they are? How excatly do you define this
unusual being called a Persian Iranian? Is he a fictional being or is he
real? You refer to "ethnic minorities" of Iran, Kurds, Baluchs,
Turks, Qashqayis. Have you ever studied them? How are they ethnic minorities?
Do they have different physical characteristics? Or is their blood of a
different color than your given Persian Iranian?... FULL
TEXT
Khodadad Rezakhani
khodadad21@yahoo.com
(Back to top)
Friday,
Nov 6, 1998
* Don't we have any good points?
As an American who is married to an Iranian for the past 20 years I
was quite offended by this article ["How
to become an American"]. If I as an American wrote an article
in which I stereotyped a certain ethnic group, I would be labeled as a
racist. Is it fair, therefore, that an Iranian who came to this country
most likely in search of a better life, would write such an article as
this?
I have learned that all cultures have their good points and bad points,
and America is one of the few countries in the world in which an Iranian
can still be an Iranian, an Italian can still be an Italian, a German can
still be a German, etc. While living in Germany for the past 10 years,
an "auslander" (literally out of land) will always be an "auslander."
When a foreigner immigrates to Germany, he is expected to cleanse himself
of his total identity and adapt totally to the German system. This is not
something that I see happening in America.
While I agree with the author's right to freedom of speech, I do feel
that he could have been a bit kinder in his choice of words and at least
had something positive to say about the country he chose to immigrate to.
I do not own a big car, have no pets, have only two credit cards and always
pay off my balances immediately with no interest charged. If I wrote an
article entitled "How to become an Iranian" I'm sure I could
also come up with many generalizations that many Iranian-Americans would
not be too happy with.
An American
ARD9118321@aol.com
(Back to top)
Thursday
Nov 5, 1998
* Laughed and cried
I enjoyed your "War,
Iranian style" strory very much! As an American with many Persian
friends, I never understood the ritual until I read your story. I laughed
till I cried and now am fully able to participate in the war game. Very
good work indeed!
Disney Fan
DsnyFan361@aol.com
(Back to top)
* Ta'rof is a Tehrani thing
This ta'rof business is used a lot by Tehranis ["War,
Iranian style"]. I grew up in Khuzestan, although we are known
for khoongarmi and mehman-navazi, this ta'rof business was
not an issue at the same level as Tehranis. Don't get me wrong but not
every Iranian is from Tehran, although it seems that way with a lot of
Iranians overseas. Suddenly everyone is bache Tehroon -- but it's
not true! So I suggest your byline should say, "By A Tehrani."
Reebaha
reebaha@reemail.ericsson.se
(Back to top)
Wednesday
Nov 4, 1998
* Don't share you excitement
In regards your article titled "Practice
makes perfect": I too saw the show. I watched how ignorantly the
defendant and his employees remarked that "[they had] not gotten over
the hostage 'thing'." I saw the pity that the defense counselor felt
for the grieved Iranian girl, losing her job because of discrimination.
And the jury's decision for the defendant went not unnoticed.
But I don't share your excitement at Hollywood's approval of Iranians.
You missed the plane, train, and cab ride to this point. Hollywood has
forgiven the Iranians for all the bad things we did, and now we can kiss
and make up. I'm not so ready to jump on the bandwagon of international
makeup sex for the sake of makeup.
What America gets to watch on the boob-tube is either Iranians, fist
in the air, cursing to let loose the dogs of war onto the imperial pigs,
or a blue-eyed, soft spoken Iranian girl making right out of wrong - with
the help of her American, lawyer friend. Hers is not Martin Luther King's
civil disobedience or Stokely Carmichael's 'Black Power'. This one is like
the 80's yuppie retorts using judicial laws to punish moral crimes: I don't
like what you think of me, so I'm gonna change it by making you pay.
Of course, you would not see a show about an Iranian Rosa Parks, protesting
her discharge by joining a competing dry-cleaning or starting her own laundry
business (did I miss the bus on that analogy?), because that would not
reap Godzilla ratings for primetime, or for that matter, make a good show
about bad lawyers.
Ali Safarnejad
alisaf@aplcenMP.apl.jhu.edu
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Tuesday
November 3, 1998
* Honest account
I read your pieces called "The
education of Mahdiyeh." I am a Baha'i living in the U.S., and
I appreciate your honest account of Baha'is situation in Iran.
I. Shakeri
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* Vague
After reading your feature story ["The
education of Mahdiyeh"], I was left with a vague feeling. What
did all this have to do with 155 years of continuing persecution, prejudice,
slaughter in the name of God and his religion?
Sepehr Sohrab
ssohrab@mail.fm
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Monday
Nov 2, 1998
* Good amount of shamelessness
In reply to Ali Khalili's "Farewell
cherry tree":
The reason why you don't see any trace of things similar to what you
have written in your article throughout the internet is probably because
it takes a good amount of shamelessness to talk about the pain you and
people like you went through, once one remembers the pain of a nation who
was sacrificing its best children, while you fled from the country to save
your lives.
I find it quite oxymoronic when you mention patriotism among the reasons
why you were unhappy when leaving Iran; please make sure to look up the
word "patriot" in your dictionary. Nobody had forced you to leave;
you left to save your life, which happens to be not a bit worthier than
the lives of true patriots who died for saving their country.
aroosi_e_khooban@hotmail.co
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