Letters
July 17-21, 2000 / Tir 27-31, 1379
Today
* The Iranian:
- Not very pleasant
* Media:
- Iran not armpit of universe
* Women:
- Useless fashion
Previous
* Homosexuality:
- Gay rights not discussed
* The Iranian:
- More respect
* Media:
- Not without my...
* Shamlou:
- What is happening to us?
- Immortal Shamlou
* Diaspora:
- Not new
* History:
- Herbalist Hashishin
* dAyi Hamid:
- Witty gems
- I like your work. A lot
* Iranians:
- I assure you
* Iran-U.S.:
- I only wished
- Not fair
email us
Thursday
July 27, 2000
* Not very pleasant
It wasn't very pleasant to see a man's
foot holding down a chicken. They say that the way a country treats
its animals reflects on the way it treats its people. Example - China!!
- human rights issues?
I was disappointed to see this picture as I respect the Persian culture
and have many Persian friends for the last 20 years.
I don't understand the meaning of the picture or to what use it can
have?
Laurie K.
Independent Sr. Director & New Consultant Trainer
The Pampered Chef
Go to top
* Iran not armpit of universe
Dear Kelley,
I'm glad
you wrote and I'm sorry that you were exposed to the harshness of "Not
Without My Daughter"!
I saw the movie with my (then) girlfriend, Susan, back when it first
came out! We didn't know what type of message or image it contained about
Iran but I literally held my head down and ran out of the theater.
Susan and I got married in 1996 and she (who is a blonde native of Texas,
USA) went to Iran with me for a visit in the Summer of 1997. Susan loved
her treatment in Iran by my family and everyone else who came in contact
with her, but she can comment to you directly about that.
We now have an adorable 7 month old baby boy who proudly carries the
"Iranian-American" ethnic designation and we fully intend to
make sure that he learns the Persian language, visits Iran and stays in
touch with his father's cultural roots! >>>
FULL TEXT
Ben Bagheri
Go to top
* Useless fashion
I looked at Farhad's
fashion designs. It's nice but where do you think you could wear these
clothes?
Sherry Sadigh
Go to top
Wednesday
July 26, 2000
* Gay rights not discussed
Thanks for publishing the article [from
Rah-e Kargar] written by Mr. Babak Moshtagh on homosexual rights
in Iran. Homosexuality is a topic that is not discussed much in the Iranian
community. We need more education and discussion on this issue.
Homan LA
Iranian gay and lesbian rights group
Go to top
* More respect
Please consider changing the front-page
photo of The Iranian (the foot and the chicken) with something
that represents our culture better. I was commented by some Americans on
this. Please represent our culture with more respect.
Arthur Aunch
Go to top
* Witty gems
How could I have missed all his witty gems until this morning? I thoroughly
enjoyed his spot-on observations and relished the delivery: damet garm,
dAyi Hamid.
However, I notice that his last missive is dated September 1999. Where
is he now? Maybe the "Two
Stripes" were not a false alarm after all and he is in some supermarket,
contemplating the benefits of Pampers versus Own Brand of nappies, and
wishing those stretch marks would just disappear. Or, have I simply missed
his latest?
By the way, I saw this quote in the paper yesterday: "Do not follow
where the path may lead; go instead where there is no path and leave a
trail." (Ralph Waldo Emerson) Interpret it as you wish!
Narguess Farzad
Go to top
Tuesday
July 25, 2000
* What is happening to us?
It's a sad day today (July 24, 2000). It is enough to take a look at
any on-line newspaper to find out why. The headlines say: Ahmad
Shamlou died, Bakhtegan
lake in Fars province dried out.
These are just non-political news which are supposd to help reduce the
pressures of every day life.
It seems that our country is loosing everything at the same time, Freedom
left us long time ago and now our natural and cultural resources are going
too. What is happening to us?
Neda X
Go to top
* I only wished
Excellent opening article about the Sherman sanction proposal ["Dumb
and dumber"]. I only wished more Iranian and Iraninan-Americans
were aware of the efforts you have been putting forth to increase our lobbying
force.
Professor Bijan Saadatmand
Go to top
* Not without my...
My name is Kelly. I'm a 15 year old female from New Jersey. I was watching
a movie called Not Without My Daughter tonight and it seriously
made me cry! It's based on a true stroy which made it even worse.
I suggest that you watch this movie. It's about a American women who
is married to a Iranian man. They have a daughter named Matop and the father
finally convinces his wife and daughter to go to Iran for a visit. But
he lies. It's not a visit. It's to stay!
They suffer in Iran for nearly a year after being beaten and all. They
re-unite (without the husband) in America on Feb. 9th 1986, after a long
suffering journey home. Anyone who has information on Betty and Matop or
even their email addresses (I wish to talk to them!) or anything please
write to me.
Kelly
Go to top
Monday
July 24, 2000
* Immortal Shamlou
The news is that Shamlou is dead, like any other human who has or will
ever be on the face of this earth. The truth is that Shamlou was just born
into immortality and joined the ranks of Hafez, Rumi, and Saadi ["Shamlu"].
Kiumarss Nasseri
Go to top
* Not new
The piece on the IRI's attempts to lure expatriates back to the motherland
for whatever service or investment is not new to the Iranian society ["Come
back (and be quiet)"].
Only back in the early 1970's the Pahlavi kingship sought also to prevent
the flight of brains or brain drain (faraar-e maghzhaa) and it courted
the notable Iranians living abroad. One such person who was rumoured to
have been coaxed to return to the motherland was Professor Reza, who upon
return lingered about for the longest of time until the regime was sufficiently
embarased to post him abroad as the Iranian representative to UNESCO>>>
FULL TEXT
Guive Mirfendereski
Go to top
* Herbalist Hashishin
I read the article: "Separating
the killers from the heroes" (by Guy Dinmore, Financial Times,
July 15, 2000). Just a short note: The common and popular understanding
as presented by Mr. Guy Dinmore in his article, is that the Ismailis with
the leadership of Hassan Sabbah were known as "Hashashin" due
to their useage of Hashish.
From what I have read it seems that this religious community were trying
to live their life away from the atrocities as imposed by the Arab Caliphs
in Iran, hence their living in a mountaintop community, in seclusion.
The word Hashashin at the time meant: the "Herbalists". Herbal
medicine has ancient roots in Iran and it is known that in this community
the cultivation of different herbs for medicinal purposes was practiced
(including Hashish, amongst all the other herbs). Herbal medicine is used
to this day in Iran alongside modern medicine.
Kaveh Tashakori
Go to top
Friday,
July 21, 2000
* Not fair
The new sanctions proposed by Congressman Sherman are not fair ["Dumb
and dumber", "Due
process"]! It is a depressing scene when we have the November
Elections in front of us. Who are we to vote for? It seems like the members
of both parties (Democrats and Republicans) are competing with each other
on punishing Iranians! It is not fair!
Why should 70 million people be punished for the decision of a minority
(hardliners) in Iran? Hardliners in Iran are losing their credibility and
their influence not because of sanctions against Iran but because of the
reform movement's non-violent, civilized approach towards starting political
chang in Iran.
Mr. Sherman's approach toward implimentation of political change in
Iran is similar to Iranian hardliners' methods, meaning harsh punishment
toward opponents. His action will result in the weakening of Iranian reform
movement, worsening of social economic conditions in Iran and starting
new anti-Iranian sentiments in the U.S.
I always thought Democrats were more progressive than Republicans! how
can I defend a party that initiates such actions? Mr. Sherman, as a Democrat
and a congressman, should look after the interests of all Iranian-American
and not just Jewish ones.
Tafreshi
Go to top
* I assure you
I assure you that this is not typical Iranian male behavior ["Typical Iranian male behavior?"]. You answered your
own question when you said he is "a very immature young man who happens
to be Iranian."
Zara Houshmand
(A very mature Iranian-American woman)
Go to top
* I like your work. A lot
So this chic that I consider way more "irooni" than myself
has attached two links. The first was about learning to love Iranian men
["Loving
an Iranian man"], and the second was for your article about Iranian
women ["Loving
an Iranian girl"]. I clicked on the first one first (duh! logically),
and I almost trashed the email after reading most of the article, but for
some odd reason, I clicked your link. It was well worth it >>>
FULL TEXT
Amelia Adhami
Go to top
Copyright © Abadan Publishing Co. All Rights Reserved.
May not be duplicated or distributed in any form
