Letters
January 18-21, 2000 / Dey 28-Bahman 1, 1378
Today
* Robin Wright:
- No food for thought
* Iran-U.S.:
- Soccer's healing power?
* Multicultural:
- Ethnic slurs
Previous
* Christian roots:
- More lessons on Christianity's origin
- Blind patriotism
* Multicultural:
- Who cares?
* Soccer photos:
- Together
- Jealous
- Very well done
- Wonderful moments
- Talking pictures
* Iranian of the
century:
- Swiss advice
email us
Friday,
January 21, 2000
* No food for thought
I don't know if you want to expand The Iranian Times at all.
How about a cooking/recipe column featuring ethnic Iranian cooking --
by Persian virgins, grandmothers and those who flunked academia. I, for
one, would find that far more appealing than what Robin Wright offers ["The
last great revolution"]. That kind of food for thought is best
offered in journalism schools and by one time poli-sci majors. And what
do they teach or learn as a poli-sci major? Give me ghalieh-mahi any day.
Bahman Djavid
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* Soccer's healing power?
I enjoyed reading Dr. Mirfendereski's reflections on the friendly soccer
game between Iranian and American teams and its implication for U.S.-Iran
relations ["All
tied up"]. He pretty much summarizes the nature of problems between
Iran and the United States. I agree with his views and find him very articulate
on the matter.
In his commentary, he also brings up the subject of the Iranian community
in the United States. He is of the opinion that though this game will not
do much for improving U.S.-Iran relations, it will influence the way the
Iranian community in the U.S. sees and deals with itself. I wonder how?
Does he imply that the therapeutic effects of this single game can heal
the wounds of the Iranian community in the U.S.? I wish he elaborated
on this matter and saved me from guessing.
Akbar Mahdi
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* Ethnic slurs
Alex Vaughn's reference to a "greaseball Mexican,"
was deeply offensive. Iranians may not be the "politest people in
the world," and such generalizations about cultures don't do anyone
justice ["Most
polite people in the world"]. But surely we can aspire to expressing
our views without resorting to ethnic slurs.
Gelareh Asayesh
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Thursday
January 20, 2000
* Together
THEY CAME UNDER MANY DIFFERENT FLAGS, NEW AND OLD ["ROSY
SUNDAY"]. THEY CAME WITH MANY BELIEFS, SOME PRO-ISLAMIC, OTHERS
OPPOSING THE CURRENT REGIME. SEPARATELY, THEY COULD HAVE BEEN CONSIDERED
DIFFERENT IN SO MANY WAYS, BUT TOGETHER, THEY WORE RED, WHITE, AND GREEN,
AND TOGETHER, THEY CHEERED AS ONE.
FOR NINETY MINUTES, IRANIANS FROM ALL CORNERS OF THE WORLD GATHERED
TOGETHER AT THE ROSE BOWL IN PASADENA TO CHEER FOR THEIR SOCCER TEAM. NO
MATTER WHO THEY WERE, OR WHAT THEY BELIEVED IN, THEY DANCED TOGETHER, JUMPED
UP AND DOWN TOGETHER, AND APPLAUDED THEIR "BACHEHAA" TOGETHER.
SOME HAD BEEN SEPARATED FROM THEIR HOMELAND FOR OVER TWENTY YEARS, AND
IT WAS BEAUTIFUL AS THEY STOOD AND YELLED FOR THE SAME NOBLE CAUSE,"ALI
DAEI, ALI DAEI, AZIZI, AZIZI!" >>>
FULL TEXT
ASSAL BADRKHANI
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* More lessons on Christianity's origin
Mr Tabib has been busy with his dictionary of late ["Too
paranoid"]. He prides himself on his ignorance of the English
language. However the only thing he learns from my letter is the meaning
of a word that most aptly describes his predicament. He needs to pay more
attention.
He opens with "Mr. Salardini I presume was so infuriated by me
lack of sensible respect for Persia and anything that proves our supremacy
that rushed to my condemnation without carefully reading the few words
I had put down." There are three problems with this statement:
1- There is a difference between fury and contempt and Mr Tabib is clearly
the target of my latter sentiment.
2- Whether Christmas is or is not of Persian origin is of little consequence
to our supremacy or otherwise, our national pride rests on much more than
cultural interchange. However humility does not dictate the denial of the
truth >>>
FULL TEXT
Arash Salardini
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* Blind patriotism
It is interesting that the gentleman [Arash Salardini, "Lessons in
Christianity's origin"], who has never personally known me, confesses
to harboring "contempt" for me and accuses me of an "inferiority
complex." And yet he feels obligated by "the etiquette of correspondence!"
I have touched a nerve, it appears, and it has propelled Mr. Salardini
to launch a search for the holy grail of proofs regarding a causal link
between Mithraism and Christmas.
I, as a "poorly educated man," would like to assure Mr. Salardini
that my years in the poorly educating system (!) of American universities
has taught me at least one thing: Dogmatism and blind patriotism is the
greatest peril that can fall upon a tribe, nation or group >>>
FULL TEXT
Ramin Tabib
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Wednesday
January 19, 2000
* Swiss advice
I'm puzzled about Mustafa Khan's anger for the result
of the poll concerning the Iranian
of the century. It seems you don't understand the word "poll".
A poll is the opinion of a large number of people and is set on the basis
of freedom of speach and expression.
I am a citizen of Switzerland and lived quite a long time in Iran (after
the revolution, notably). I have seen and experienced all the different
problems and upsets in your country but I have seen also the recent fruitful
developments towards a modern country. Of course those developments are
done only in very small steps but they are gradually increasing. Unfortunately
as long as such people like you will express such intolerant thouhgts,
all efforts will be in vain.
My country is a democracy since a very long time and it's still doing
very well. We learned to accept different opinions and to live with different
people. Unfortunately we also have more and more intolerant people affecting
the long lasting peace with their crazy and weird behavior.
Dear Mustafa, don't behave in the same extremist way as many people
do but try to give your constructive effort to build up your beautiful
country into a better future.
Peter Brunold
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* Jealous
Thank you very much for the pictures ["Rosy
Sunday"]. You have done a great job for us who couldn't be in
Pasadena. I am really jealous of the persons who had the honor of watching
the game at close quarters.\
I am very proud of our team -- "teameh-melliyeh-Iran" -- which
always gives me and other Iranians such incredible feelings of excitement,
joy and pride. Bache-haa moteshakerim!!! Bache-haa moteshakerim!!!
Manijeh Hajizadeh
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* Who cares?
Please spare us from these dopey articles ["Most
polite people in the world"]. Who cares if some grease-ball Mexican
likes an Iranian girl and what he thinks of us? Is that really improtant
now. Do we have to ask every ethnicity and nationality for approval on
our behavior or culture or anything?
Alex Vaughn
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Tuesday
January 18, 2000
* Very well done
Thank you for a job so very well done ["Rosy
Sunday"]! The football match between Iran and USA was not transmitted
here in Europe until it was over. Your photos brought tears of ecstasy
and agony. The themes were all good, and the pictures were all perfect.
Again, thank you.
K. Gorgin
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* Wonderful moments
Thanks for capturing such wonderful moments ["Rosy
Sunday"]! I enjoyed every one of the photos. Keep up the good
work!
Faranak Ravon
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* Talking pictures
The pictures are beautiful, exciting and talking ["Rosy
Sunday"]. I felt I was there and had a lot of fun looking at the
painted faces.
Sudabeh
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Monday
January 17, 2000
NONE
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