Confessions of a Secret Agent

There are two secrets whose sanctity I always honor


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Confessions of a Secret Agent
by Rosie T.
22-Dec-2007
 

When I first began "blogging" here (or more accurately, "threading") about two months ago, I had to defend my right to speak, because I was not an Iranian. It was hard, and sometimes painful, to hold my ground. But I knew I had finally arrived when I began to be accused of being a secret agent of various governments and organizations. I was “in”, I was accepted, I was one of the family. I met this victory with an odd mixture of satisfaction, frustration, and occasional despair.

Recently these accusations have been popping up left and right, and I mean literally left and right, because I am now apparently both a Hezbolaahi and a Zionist agent. I reply to these claims patiently, but still they multiply like mushrooms after a rainstorm. So today I posted a lengthy reply to one of these posts—lengthy even by my standards--intending to convert it into a blog. And thinking, well, from now on I’ll just refer my accusers to that blog. But then I thought, why bother? After all, the reply I wrote today to accusations leveled at me under the December 20 Iranian of the Day entry entitled “Brilliant Physicist.,” is really good enough. I can just refer them to that. And anyway anyone can track all my posts on my blogspace. So I decided to translate a poem instead.

It is a Chilean poem I've long known as a song, and heard again yesterday in a cafe near my home in the East Village. It was written by progressive activist Violeta Parra in 1965. It is called “Gracias a la vida.” It is very well-known.

The nation of Chile has known major CIA interventions, dictatorships, tortures, gross exploitation of its natural resources, economic disaster, and depredations upon its indigenous peoples. But it has also known great strides in democracy and autonomy, and it has given us this song.

I confess. I am a secret agent. There are two secrets whose sanctity I always honor: the mystery of the unfolding of the human heart and that of the ultimate fate of the soul. And I divulge the name of my agency: My agency is myself, my autonomy, and truth as best I can understand it.

And I understand the sovereign agency of nations to be based on this same individual agency. An agency whose coming has long been announced in the timeless works of the two great Eniightenments, the secular and the spiritual ones. And yet whose fruition remains a dream, as long as these Enlightenments remain severed from each other.

But their union is whispered in every human breath, and also by the wind.

Forthwith, Violeta Parra.

Gracias a la vida
(Thank You, Life)

Thank you life for giving me so much.
It has given me two stars which, whenever I open them,
distinguish perfectly between black and white,
and in the high sky its starry depths
and among the crowds the man I love.

Thank you life for giving me so much.
It has given me my hearing, which, in all its breadth,
records day and night crickets and canaries;
hammers, turbines, dogs' barks, rainstorms,
and the gentle voice of my beloved.

Thank you life for giving me so much
It has given me sound and taught me my "abc's",
along with it the words which t I think and proclaim:
mother, friend, brother and light illuminating
the route of the soul of the one I now love.

Thank you life for giving me so much,
it has given me the progress of my tired feet;
with them I walked through cities and puddles,
beaches and deserts, mountains and plains,
and your house, your street and your patio too.

Thank you life for giving me so much.
It has given me my heart which shakes its very frame
when I look at the fruit of the human mind;
when I look at good so far removed from evil,
when I look into the depths of your clear eyes.

Thank you life for giving me so much,
It has given me laughter and it has given me weeping.
Thus I distinguish joy from affliction,
the two materials which shape my song,
and the song of all of you which is the same song,
and the song of everyone, which is my very own song
.

Thank you life for giving me so much.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=WyOJ-A5iv5I

****

Happy Holidays.

Salaam, Iraanrikaa

And don’t forget, paranoia will destroy ya! :D

Robin Jayne Goldsmith

New York City, December 20, 2007


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I am an Iranian, Rosie...

by Ali G (not verified) on

alo Rosie,

wot is yous banging on about?: (what are you talking about?)

i is Checkin out ur last comment and a bit of erbal remedy (was smoking a cig.) mi crew told me (I heard)and i fink (think), you gotta dig to get jiggy wiv Mr. biggy & chill, Aight...

i fink i will be (I feel like), you doesn't belief that I am an IRANIAN, innit ? (Isn't it?)

Pas majbooram meekoni, ye shearam man barat be farsi beneveesam:

Kolangi az Asemaan oftado nashkast, vagar man koja o beevafaee"
Khosehet oomad khooshgeleh? beyteh baadisho to baagh bayad shenid... ;0

(bargardim be karaktere asleem baba)

Until next time, keep it real...
me is headin westside, gimme a shout

da most bestest,

Ali G


Rosie T.

Actually Teach / Ali G., Bruno

by Rosie T. on

To Teach:  I'm not really sure Shalomster IS Iranian.  His English is far too colloquial, he sounds like he was born and raised in the States.  And he hasn't said one word of Persian, has he?  Even Iranicans who don't speak Persian pepper their posts here with Persian words. 

It's funny you chose that particular quote from Hafez, because it has a very special meaning for me.  It's actually where I got the name Rosie from, but it was because of the PERSON who taught me the poem.  He used to call me "Khanome Gol" and I called him "Golestaan." He was a very important person in my life... 

 

*****

To Ali G/Bruno:  I know Ali G!  I've seen his stuff before!  He's REALLY funny!  ARE you he or are you just an avid fan?

I see BRUNO knows Shalomster very very well...yes I do, as a matter of fact, I do have a message for the Austrian gay community. We went there together, to the Vernichtungslagern.  I remember it well...

Tell them they're my hamsafars.


Rosie T.

Koroush and I have an understanding, Colon Cancer/Shalomster...

by Rosie T. on

Koroush is fine.  He's fine. 

As for Shalomster, Colon Cancer just explained himself to you more adequately than I myself had expressed, so I will let his explanation stand and am re-editing my own just to tell you that you've had your say and you've outlived your usefulness on this thread and from now on I'm flagging you and you will be very promptly deleted.  Trust me on that one.

It's time for the Vernichtunglager for you on this thread.

Translation:  Extermination camp.


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To Shalomster

by Colon_Cancer (not verified) on

Since you don’t know, hate is allowed for me because I am a disease, but you are a human being who is inflicted with a disease called hatred. Check with your doctor and change your way. Think about it.


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Come to think of it...

by Teach (not verified) on

I like to believe that such a venomous person is not iranian, certainly not by deed; maybe is someone with more of a personal traumatization. The decedents of such great men like Sa'adi, Hafez, and Rumi simply cannot be so venomous. Here's a poem from Hafez:
.
Biyaa taa gol bar afshaaneemo may dar saghar andazeem,
Falak raa sakht beshkaafeemo tarhi no dar andazeem.

.
(Poor) Translation:
Come, let's pile up all the [beautiful] flowers and pour the wine, [then]
Rip the universe apart and rebuild it afresh.
.


Sasha

Translator to Sasha.........:o)

by Sasha on

 Muchas gracias. Muy amable. (Thank you very much. Very kind of you).  No, "haiga" and "son" are not typos rather they are verbs that are conjugated. It is why you will probably not find its meaning in a Spanish/English dictionary. I will need to write later and give you a good explanation of their meaning and conjugation. :o)

Es tiempo que Sasha se vaya a dormir. (It is time that Sasha goes to sleep.)

solh

 


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Here's a song for you and your fellow JAPs ...

by Shalomster (not verified) on

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nVZD1ap91s

Of course you JAPs always come across the river and make sure you get the taste of non-J's before your marriage time comes. And that's when you have no choice but to be with a J-boy :)


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Colon-Cancer boy ... check yourself before you rag on others

by Shalomster (not verified) on

"You fucking asshole, you better give a fuck soon because I am one of Rosie’s fans and I am telling you I hate hateful people like you, and I am going to inflict you with so much pain that for the rest of your short life you will br sorry you said a hateful word to her or anyone else. You piece of shit. You better check with your doctor right away.

Kouroush Sassanian, you better keep your mouth, and ass shut or you’ll be next."

The above sounds pretty unhateful and calm to me! Bunch of phony fucks. Inflicting pain ... wow, at least I called her (or him!) names and made fun or his/her writing and other stuff ... but explicitly threatening physical harm is a different thing, colon boy. You should be careful and shouldn't threaten physical harm on anyone. Hopefully you'll understand that. This is hillarious.


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Rosie ... looks like your fan isn't following your advice!

by Shalomster (not verified) on

Your "Colon_cancer" fan just keep talking about hatred, hating the ones that hate. I love extremism met with extremism. And that's exactly what I tried to and was successful in showing. You are an extremely phony person, with writing these extreme BS about shit that you prob only half believe in. GEH! Oh yes, and thanks for letting everyone know that the 2nd paragraph in my post was in English. You are the greatest Rosiestein! You know everything and you assume no one else does. Who da fuck could've guessed that the second paragraph in my post was in English?!? GEH.


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what does...

by Translator to Sasha (not verified) on

What does "haiga", and "son" mean and I'll translate. Are they typo errors?


Rosie T.

Baraayeh "Deltang""

by Rosie T. on

Merci baraayeh tozih dar bareh mardhaaye iraani, Aqlab marmuzand va tozih hamisheh komak mikoneh.  Haalam va kaaram khuband,.. To, cheraa deltangi? Ghamzadegi. gaahi tajrobeh baraaye jaaneh, vali deltangi nist, .   :D  Saale noh mubarak.  Saale aayandeh sai mikonam, pishraft baa faarsim konam.  Qol mideham..

 Oh god I hope I didn't just make a total fool of myself.  I haven't tried to speak Persian for two years!  Couldn't go near it...Heartbreak Hotel... 


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Wow for some comments ...

by Teach (not verified) on

I am simply speechless. I don't know what to say except that I am sorry for us -- the collective us, all of us. I find no explanation or rationale to understand the venom. Here is a beautiful persian poem that can help us understand this situation:
.
Neeshe aghrab nah az rahe keen ast,
eghtezaye tabiatash eenast.

.
Translation:
Scorpion's bite is not due to its animosity,
Rather, it is due to [demand on] its nature.
.
Apparently, world travel, living in western democracies, and (maybe) even education has no impact whatsoever on some. Here is another beautiful persian poem that can further explain the situation:
.
Khare eesa garash be makkeh barand,
Cho beyayad hanooz khar baashad.
.

Translation:
If Christ's donkey is [blessed by] visiting Mecca,
Upon return, he is still the same donkey.
.
It indeed takes great courage to cleanse self of bigotry, and apparently not too many people have that courage. It is indeed depressing.
Merry Christmas!


Sasha

Rosie T. es triste............

by Sasha on

 Es triste que haiga personas con tanto odio en sus almas. Lo bueno es que tu reconoces como son. Que es necesario no aceptar su odio en tu vida. Yo creo que realmente has hecho una gran diferencia en este sitio de red. Es importante seguir adelante sin  importar que malos comentarios haga alguien.

Te deseo lo mejor siempre. :o)

solh

Translation:

It is sad that there are people with so much hate in their souls. The good thing is that you recognize how they are. That it is necessary to not accept their hate in your life. I believe that you have really made a great difference on this website. It is important to continue on ahead without it mattering what bad comments someone  makes.

 

I wish you the best always. :o)


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biya

by Kouroush Sassanian (not verified) on

touam toshanbeh bia perov . . .ghosl yadeh nareh


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To Shalosster: You better give a fuck soon

by Colon_Cancer (not verified) on

You fucking asshole, you better give a fuck soon because I am one of Rosie’s fans and I am telling you I hate hateful people like you, and I am going to inflict you with so much pain that for the rest of your short life you will br sorry you said a hateful word to her or anyone else. You piece of shit. You better check with your doctor right away.

Kouroush Sassanian, you better keep your mouth, and ass shut or you’ll be next.


Rosie T.

Translation of Shalomster:'s first paragraph: :Shut Your Mouth"

by Rosie T. on

"Can't you find anything else to do?  Get out.  You can't even understand YOURSELF.  And I also thin kthat you should get married TODAY.  You just can't find anyone.  Get the hell out."

Paragraph two follows in his post below in English. 

 And it's funny too because I learned German so I could live in Germany and heal these wounds...go figure....

 

This is EVERYTHING I've been trying to say all along.FIND COMMON GROUND. Learn to get along with people who are different from you or you will be like Shalomster. It may be a difference of DEGREE but you will be like him. We're always in DANGER of this.  The insight of Zoroastrianism was that the human soul REALLY has to FIGHT these dark forces.  They exist in ALL of us. Thank you Shalomster for your contribution to this thread. 

Shalomster...I've already found someone.  I'm very happy, really.  Does your hate make you happy?


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Schliess Dein Mund.

by Shalomster (not verified) on

Kannst du etwas anderes machen? Geh. Du kannst nicht DICH verstehen. Und auch, Ich glaube dass du mochtest HEUTE verheiraten! Du kannst niemand finden. Geh, geh raus.

You're nothing but a phony. And I don't give a fuck what religion you and your schnase have, I do know that you are a phony. You certainly have created some fans here for yourself. Just go away with your fishy eyes and your nasty schnase and no titties and that ugly uni-brow of yours. You are all the same.


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Use Babelfish for xlation: //babelfish.yahoo.com/

by ManNaManam (not verified) on

.


Sasha

Translator.....:o)...........Rosie T.

by Sasha on

 

Dear Translator,

You are so funny. I just saw your latest translations of  the Spanish. I was laughing so much. I had not laughed this much in a long time.

You need to realize that you cannot translate word for word all of the time. I know you meant well. Gracias! Seppas!, Merci!, Thank you!

solh

 

Rosie T: I shall be more careful with the punctuation, as it will make it more difficult for others to translate correctly. :o)

 


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Yes; LostIdentity,

by ManNaManam (not verified) on

Yes; LostIdentity, ManNaManam and Toranj. Names are irrelavant. Behind our Internet curtain what matters is our words. I don't mean to mae political points but rather reflect upon facts as I perceive them.


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Tekmology...:0)

by Ali G (not verified) on

you wrote: "Brilliant Physicist", the Dec. 20 Iranian of the Day, which is accessible on the home page
me answer:
//www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjKMhtyI3L8


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Eveel fest...

by Bruno (not verified) on

Vir heere at Eveel fest... It's gonna be crazy, we gonna see scheisse, vir gonna see blood, vir gonna see SHPOOKEN... :0

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=wU8nhHYlQ-I


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Entschuldigung Rosie bitteschon.... :)

by Bruno (not verified) on

have you ever Shppoonked from it, Rosie?
and do you have message for Austria's gay community?


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To Rosie T.

by Translator (not verified) on

I see that I made a big mistake trying to translate for your blog.


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RespeK, westside

by Ali G (not verified) on

Yo Translatore, Translate this:

becus the uk jus wen along wid it knowin it waz all bullshit fool...bangin shizzle, ight

i didnt know she wuz my cuzzin but there was this game that if u got locked in the closet u had do to bone em, is that ok, or is that insects!!

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vEx2RwJHLA&feature...


Rosie T.

TO MODERATORS: REPEAT: NO DELETIONS.

by Rosie T. on

None. Thanks. Robin


Rosie T.

To shalomster:

by Rosie T. on

I refer you once again, as stated at the beginning of the above article,  to my long post under "Brilliant Physicist", the Dec. 20 Iranian of the Day, which is accessible on the home page in the box at the right. I can't copy URL addresses for some reason on this computer. There you will find a very detailed explanation of my history and stance vis a vis both Neocons and Zionism.  If you are not willing to even bother to go and read it, and still feel yourself justified in saying the things you just said, then you are REALLY lost...

 You can also look at my long post about "What gives" under Rashidian's recent article on Justice where I CLEARLY articulate what I called "where I stand".  I stand on the pacifist left, which in view of the attrocities of the past century perpetrated by the "hard" left, can only be viewed as an antidote the excesses of the right, to help people find the true middle which they seem to naturally gravitate toward. That middle, realistically, in the 21st century, will entail mixed economies so the old lines and dichotomies no longer really apply. They're dying, like newsprint is dying as we dialogue here electronically--they're dying and that is fine by me.

In my world, the one I imagine, Q and Rashidian and JJ and Jamshid and Korush Sassanian and Sasha and Manam and I all co-exist very happily together. And there's even a place for you with your virulent toxic anti-Semitism directed willy nilly toward someone who has REPEATEDLY stated that she is in favor of a one-state solution (a la Said) implemented through Truth and Reconciliation Commissions (a la South Africa).  That's why I've requested the moderators NOT delete ANYTHING on this thread.  Not even yours, which is utterly reprehensible.  Yep, in my democracy, there's EVEN a place for you...You're spewing venom at me because I'm an easy target.  But it isn't ME, it isn't Robin Jayne Goldsmith, you're spewing into your own mirror.  So I don't take it personally.  But I do find it tragic.

Stop. Stop now. Breathe.  Rest.  Stop being afraid. Hatred comes from fear.  Stop.


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Translator, you are so funny...

by Reza San Diego (not verified) on

Very Good job Translator... :-)
Can you also translate from German, French, Italian & Portuguese ?
Mekham taklifaye eydeto kamel kooni va hesabi maghsh benevisee... Damet Garm...


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Translation_2

by Translator (not verified) on

Por supuesto! Reza de San Diego :o)
by Sasha on Sat Dec 22, 2007 11:35 PM PST
Paz es necesaria en Irán. Gracias, muy amable. Muy buena selección de música. ¿Has oido de Bossa Nova?
¿Solo que quieras escribir la traducción en español?
“Peace is necessary for Iran. Thank you very kindly. Very good selection of music. Have you heard of Bossa Nova?
Do you want to write only the Spanish translation?”

Nova ! :-)
by Reza San Diego (not verified) on Sat Dec 22, 2007 11:42 PM PST
Khob deegheh, baa ejazeh, zahmato kam mekonam... Khosh gozashat... :) Shab bekhair
Oh well, with permision, we won’t bother anymore…it passed fine (had fun)… :) good night

Perdona mi, en este momento, estoy un poco cansado por pensar y escribir en espanol
Forgive me, at this moment, I am a bit tired to think and write in Spanish

Gracias por la traducción en inglés. Muy amable de tu parte.
Feliz dias de fiestas. Prospero año nuevo.
Thanks for the translation into English. Very kind of you.
Happy days of festivities. Prosperous new year.

Rosie Kojaaee Dokhtar?
by Deltang (not verified) on Sun Dec 23, 2007 09:46 AM PST
Modati azat khabari nabood. Haalet khoubeh? Sare haali. Mizooni? Kayfi? Kaara kaasebit chetore?
Khosh baashi! Saale notam mobaarak baasheh!
Sasha jooni, to ham hamintor. Saalet Mobaarak.

“Rosie where are you girl?
There was no news of you for a while. How are you? Are you well? Are you well adjusted? Are you enjoying yourself? How is work and business?
Have a good time! Happy new year!
Dear Sasha, you also. Happy New Year.”

Rosie, Dar zemn:
by Deltang (not verified) on Sun Dec 23, 2007 09:52 AM PST
Goush be in iroonihaye heez nadeh. Oona mikhaan to raa majboor konan aksetaa enteshaar bedi taa to raa baa oon cheshmaye heezeshon deed bezanaand.
“Don’t listen to the dirty Iranians. They want to force you to publish your pictures so they watch you with their dirty eyes.”

Sasha!
by Reza San Diego (not verified) on Sun Dec 23, 2007 09:55 AM PST
Buenos dias Sasha,
Gracias por todo, muey amable a tu parte tambien... :)
Feliz Navidad y ano nuevo...
PS. Eres tu una mojer o un hombre? Quantos anos tu tienes? :)

“Good days Sasha,
Thank you for all your kindness too... :)
Merry Christmas and new year ...
PS. are you a woman or a man? Quantos anos you have? :)

Reza de San Diego.......ha ha ha..........:o)
by Sasha on Sun Dec 23, 2007 11:32 AM PST
Buenos dias Reza,
De nada, fue mi placer. ha ha ha
No puedo creer que piensas que quizas sea hombre. Casi me caigo de mi silla de risa. :o)
“Good days Reza,
De nada, fue mi placer. ha ha ha
In all, it was my pleasure.
I can not believe you think that maybe I am a men. I almost fell down from my chair laughing.”


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And one more thing ...

by Shalomster (not verified) on

What is going on with everyone saying Happy Holidays???????? What happened to Christmas???? I see those jew candles next to Christmas trees everywhere. Only 2% of the American population is Jewish (probably more but that's what's printed). And we suddenly don't say Merry Christmas just so we don't make others angry?????? What is this world coming to? All this freedom of religion, freedom of speech, etc has led to .... LESS freedom of religion and speech. We all have to watch what we say all the time. This has become s phony country, which makes it scary. People watching what they say all the time ... not much will it take to light up their fuse. Its CHRISTMAS! So please, don't feel bad for saying MERRY CHRISTMAS! Don't feel bad about saying you disagree with someone with a different skin color or eyes or whatever. MERRY CHRISTMAS!


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