Letters
Jan 2-5, 2001 / Dey 13-16, 1379
Today
* Discrimination:
- Time to take responsibility
Previous
* Copyright:
- Have some ma'refat
* American culture:
- Drowing in this abyss
* Homosexuality:
- No homosexuality, please
* Siamack Baniameri:
- Just needs revenge
* Sadaf Kiani:
- Nowhere to turn to
* Iranians:
- Persian pride
* Chador:
- Woman with metal half-mask
* The Iranian:
- You like Iran to be like America
* Racism:
- We are not Negroes
- NOT the worst racists
- Romanticizing Iranianness
- Embrace all humankind
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Friday,
January 5, 2001
* Time to take responsibility
The other day, as I sat at my computer reading my emails, I came across
one forwarded by an Iranian friend to everyone in his address book. In
short the mail explained that a new Iranian-American organization ["Persian Watch
Cat"] had been formed in order to lobby against the so called
"discrimination" Iranians are subject to, specifically when traveling.
"It's barbaric that we must have our bags searched and our private
property scrutinized and fingerprints taken...why must they ask the occupation
of our parents?" The article read.
As I continued to read, I recalled a recent trip trip the UK where I
was taken aside and questioned for 20 minutes. And as I came upon the web
link where I too could vent my anger at the discrimination directed to
me.
Then it dawned on me. I suddenly realized that we have no one to blame
but ourselves. It was not a Farangi who held Americans hostage for 444
days. It was not an American who sponsored terrorism and may have been
responsible for the murder of innocent people >>>
FULL TEXT
Ali Noshirvani
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Thursday
January 4, 2001
* Have some ma'refat
My question concerns scanning Akbar Ganji's book ["The
red-robbed highness"], or any other book. Isn't that a violation
of copyright?
I think people can buy Ganji's book very easily through the internet,
and it would be to the benefit of this brave prisoner if you only published
some pages, or hell, some chapters of his book, rather than in its entirety.
I just think what you're doing is far from "ma'refat", for
which I know no American word.
Ataollah Togha
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* We are not Negroes
In reply to Dokhi Fassihian ["Thank
god for..."], did I say that I had a problem with Iranian men
copulating, dating, or marrying women outside our ethnicity ["Terrorize
women..."]? What if I were to tell you that many of my relatives
have married non-Iranian women? Who cares if some Iranian man marries a
foreign women?...
Iranians are Caucasians, akin to the Georgians, Armenians, Chechen,
Tajik, and Arab peoples. We are an ethnic and cultural group making up
the Iranian Nation! Just like the Jews, we are a group that can be defined
as a PEOPLE and if Iranians marry non-iranians then there will be no more
Iranians.This is a simple concept, even for an idiot like you >>> FULL
TEXT
Bahram
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* Drowing in this abyss
I've just read the note from Unlimited Madness ["You
like Iran to be like America"]. I don't want to judge about what
he/she is saying. But I can not deny shouting out loud "Hey....You
are just using American offensive phrases and words...".
I'm Iranian, too. And I live in Iran where I know people who don't know
the difference between "F_ck you" and "God Bless You"
and they shoot each other. I know teenage girls who have sex more than
10 times a day. There are men who don't think about America when they're
having sex with a girl the same age as their daughters. I know wives in
Iran who cheat and they haven't got MTV in their houses >>>
FULL TEXT
Shervin
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* No homosexuality, please
I preferably do not want to see the promotion of homosexuality in your
wonderful and educational publication ["News
& views"].
B.H.
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Wednesday
January 3, 2001
* NOT the worst racists
In response to Mr.
Bakhshandeh's email, condemning racism, it appears that he fails to
recognize the racism in his own writing. How has he come to the conclusion
that Iranians are the most racist people in the world? I am sure he must
have had negative experiences but has he gone all around the world and
somehow measured the "racist factor" of each country? (Something
that Mr. Neyshapuori claims to have done)
Iranians, like all people around the world have racists, and I am sure
we also have tolerant people. It's hard to believe that we are the most
racist people in the world. Just look at the history of the last century
and you will see that we are not even close to the top >>>
FULL TEXT
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* Just needs revenge
Another fiction/"Supposed to be real" story from someone who
doesn't even sound convincing and rational when we listen to his side of
story ["PMS"].
It sounds more like a "I wish it was real" tale by someone
who doesn't really know where the actual problem is and just needs revenge.
Faramarz Kaviani
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* Nowhere to turn to
I read your new piece ["Christmas-e
aan saal"]. I can understand the anxiety you described. I had
the same feeling once I came here to the U.S.
To be honest with you, it's really sad that we poor Iranians have nowhere
to turn to. I mean I see the Spanish, Greek, etc., going back to their
country during holidays with great ineterst and they talk about how beautiful
the life is over there.
But when it comes to us we either have got nothing to say or if there
is something nice, no one would believe it anyway!
Anyhow, Chrismas was nice (although I was at work later that evening!)
and so was New Year's Eve. Call me old fashioned but I preferred a "shab-e
yalda" next to my mum and dad and others eating "hendevaaneh"
and having "tokhmeh"!!! But that's just an illusion.
Arian
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* You like Iran to be like America
Don't EVER, EVER sent me your FUCKING newsletter again. Your kind are
a disgrace to all Iranians. Siding with the Americans with your bastard
sons and whore daughters.
You like Iran to be like America, don't you? Where people shoot each
other. Where daughters have sex when they are 14. Where wives cheat. Where
gays and lesbians are normal.
FUCK YOU.
Unlimited Madness
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Tuesday
January 2, 2001
* Woman with metal half-mask
I have a question that I have had trouble finding an answer to. Perhaps
you can help? Or direct me to someone versed in Islamic culture that can
help, as my Islamic knowledge is not very good.
About two months ago, I happened to be flying from Amsterdam to Minneapolis
and I noticed a group (I suspect a family) of Saudis on the same flight
as myself. If I remember correctly in glancing at their passports they
were Saudis, anyway...
There were a number of women who were all dressed in the long black
gown-like chador (although their faces were not covered completely.)
One of the women, however, sported a thin metal frame on her face --
at least it looked metal >>>
FULL TEXT
Aaron Chapman
Vancouver, Canada
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* Romanticizing Iranianness
Let me begin by saying that Iranians often talk very loosely, especially
those outside of Iran. Our emotions often overwhelm us, and some ways of
zealosuly emphasizing our identity is to vehemently distinguish ourselves
from our neighboring Arabs, to emphasize our "Aryaness", and
of course to object to romantic relationships with Blacks. Let's not make
any more of this than what it is - romantic images of our Iranianess that
help us identify with our nationality...
Such notions are not intrinsic to our culture and hopefully we will
not inherit them from Westerners. A united Iran, where the common denominator
of Iranianess is our diverse cultural/linguistic heritage, as opposed to
race, is a healthy Iran >>>
FULL TEXT
Bijan Arman Ali Pingili
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* Embrace all humankind
Regarding intolerance, first I think it is important, at least for the
sake of future generations, to realize that globalization is inevitable.
We are headed in that direction, at least as long as there exists places
like America. And let's not forget the original vision in creating this
'America', which was to embrace all peoples and create a melting pot from
which every individual is allowed an opportunity to freedom of expression
and prosperity...
I do believe at some point, whether or not one agrees, that we as a
people should evolve into more consciously mature persons and embrace all
humankind as a whole instead of seperating ourselves into categories, no
matter what our 'race' or 'religion'. The most auspicious personalities
in history have embodied compassion toward all mankind >>>
FULL TEXT
Lisa
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* Persian pride
Neveshteh aghaye baniameri ra ba lezat khandam ["Persian
warrior"]. Albateh agar yek roydad waghei bashad dar hade yek
komedideram ast.(va taasof avar) Ma iraniyan ejazeh darim keh beh meliyat
khod eftekhar konim va albateh in hagh ra baraye tamame melale dighar niz
ghayel bashim.
Nabayad farmosh konim keh ma nit manande sayere melal digar daraye eftekharat
va tabiatan nokate tariki dar tarikhe khod hastim. Man bedin natijeh residam
ke ma mitavanim dar eyne eftekhar beh nokat mosbat az nokate manfi dars
amokhteh va ghozashteh ra mashaale rahe ayandeh konim >>>
FULL TEXT
Satrap
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Monday
January 1, 2001
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