CULTURE

Zigourat

Let me be perfectly blunt with you -

I think never in history gas there been a government taking so much orders from other countries.    If for one second you think any major decesion on Iran has been made by an Iranian in the last 28 years - you are sadly mistaking.   Wake up buddy - why do you think our lowest of the IQ pools are ruling the country ?  Yes - there are a lot of good that has happened to us Iranians (Education Wise) - but that is despite IRI - and at the cost of seeing moralities compromised and souls lost.   

Thanx for bringing the above ou of me. 

no thank u

Massoud jan,

i'm not neither pro shah nor pro khomeyni, but what i can say is that i'm happy that iran is not saudi arabia,  or Egypt or jordania : puppets in the hand of america. ok we did a revolution and now our goverment is not the best and women; journalists, bloggers,... don't live in the free country but our people are now hundred times more informed that americans i think in our day is not a proud to consider ourself a friend of US ruled by this crazy bush.

Interesting Debates

Thanx

Interesting Debates - Just the Way I Wanted !!

First and foremost -

As several others pointed out - the point of the article was not to glorify westernization of Iranb and Iranians - I was just pointing out the easy transition of adjusting to America.    In fact, I personaly find my enlightenment in Hafez, Khayam, Molana & Erfan, than anything the west has to offer.   I consider the western transcendentalism a first step towards our Erfan - which simple the attempt to bypass religion to get to god !!  but that is a whol;e different discussion.   

Mr. Malekansari MD!! - you appear to be a migit for this discussion buddy - please stay with the topic.   And your attempt to get an edge with your MD title (which I hope is at least real - along with your name - since no Iranian writes Fariborz as farbors) is too pedestrian.  All you need here on this forum is "Vision" and "Logic". 

Finally - The world is more and more becoming like a global village in which there must be room for all - as long as people can agree to live by some basic rules.   Mankind has made several attempts to lay this foundation out - last time was introduction of the 20 articles of "Human Rights" through which the United Nations was formed.   Now - Look and see which countries have had hard times to adjust to this foundation which calls for Equal rights for all genders !!, religions !!, races,.........  Our country Iran which was one of the first signees of the Human Rights articles started heading the other way in 1978 !!!    

Iran Loves Russia.

TODAY, Russia is Iran’s friend.

Iran will never forget its friends.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgg6Ab24SGk

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=xazMJtUXCbg&feature...

Long live Iran.

REPLY : THE DAYS AS IRAN & US WERE PRETTY CLOSE

Yes they were close. Too close. The Question is: who had to pay for that - to my opinion most ugly closness to strangers in the History of Iranians - I mean the ones who live i8n IRI, have founded it and will prevent thier country getting close to any one in the same manner and under the same conditions - and of the Iranian nation. If Iran had to experience that the country got devided by Russia and Britain, so every iranian know: they are occupeyers. But up 1952/53 the american imperialism conquered over that nation and played the roll of a friend. saying a word against Yunkees was a political opposition with serious punishments. The ones who had in those days may dream about the aera. It is thier natural right. And the natural right for IRI is that what it can try to achieve and what it has achieved in Science, in Technics in Education in healchcare in social aids for every body. And the great satan stays stil on his rear feets barking and grunting and now please acknowledge the followoing:
'Bush loser of battle against Iran'
George W. Bush, the servant of american imperialism known as great satan
Russia's first shipment of nuclear fuel to Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant - which is full paid just to help the russians to be able to buy Foodproducts in IRI and further to help them to be able to pay for cars from IRI - and highlights the US defeat in a long battle, analysts say.

The delivery came amid a US intelligence report which confirmed the peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear program and left Washington no choice but to concede that it could no longer keep prodding Russia to delay shipping the fuel.

“If the Russians are willing to do that, which I support, then the Iranians do not need to learn how to enrich, If the Iranians accept that uranium for a civilian nuclear power plant, then there's no need for them to learn how to enrich” claimed US president George Bush amidst fake supports.

Political analysts say the US failed in its attempts to impede the Tehran-Moscow nuclear deal by waging a psychological warfare.

"The Bush administration took pains not to criticize the Russian move publicly," an article published in the New York Times newspaper on Tuesday read.

Observers added that Washington appeared to be putting the best spin on a decision it had long opposed.

Bush's comments were an attempt to 'make lemonade out of this lemon'; Los Angeles Times quoted Robert J. Einhorn, a former top weapons proliferation official as saying.

The Bushehr power plant which is constructed by Russia's Atomstroyexport would be ready technically to operate in the upcoming months.
It seems most unlikely that the Iranian Nation, I mean those 30 Million "fanatic Mullahs" who constructed the new design for thier country 1978/79 and founded the Isalam,ic republic of Iran, would ever like to get close to any stranger in the way it was pushed to the closness it stand to devils and satans. Allone thier Religion do not advise the nation to such closnesses. Greeting

Dear ".", nobody says that

Dear ".", nobody says that watching Gilligan Island was a sign of progress, or even good for technological advancement of Iran (although the "professor" was mighty innovative by powering the radio with coconut shells and lemon juice!).

The point was the comfortable transition and adjustment for Iranians coming to US. People were better adjusted in the '70s when they came to US than now. Just look at the multitudes of the maladjusted Iranian immigrants on this site and else where. They are suffering because of the increasing gap between the two countries and culture. What would be wrong if they had an easier adjustment to life outside of Iran ?

Then come comes the conspiracy part: "… the regime and the western influence actually wanted us to feel and act that way, so they could manipulate the younger generation easily."

Manipulate them for what ? send them to war with Iraq ? make Islamic fanatics ? or suicide bombers ?

Or, manipulate them so the regime could send more students to US for education and partying on government scholarships. And, maybe go back to Iran after graduation and work on multibillion dollar Industrial projects that American, Europeans and Japanese were building ?

Most everything that Shah's regime did was toward social and economic improvement of the society, although sometimes repressively, but now we know why. Regime's plan was to spend the oil money to build these complexes that would create jobs for the coming population boom. There was more opportunity for the average person than ever before in the history of Iran to make a good living, or leave the country for better opportunities abroad. The regime had established a good reputation so people could travel abroad as proud Iranians. Just holding an Iranian passport would wave you through the airport customs and security of most (free) Industrialized countries. Try that today.

With Respect,

عجب

بابآ خوش به حالت نکنه شناسنآمه روهم تو نآف نیویورک برات گرفتن
اگه بورو چشم ابی هم باشی که دیگه زدی تو خال
آی اخ نادرست دگر چکار کردی

Well said. Couldn't agree

Well said. Couldn't agree more.

It takes more than Gilligan's Island!

If having the chance of watching Gilligan's Island, Bewitched, etc. in Farsi was a sign of progress, yes we Iranians were probably one of the most advanced nations in the world back then. If imitation of the western way of life by a narrow percentage of population in the northern Tehran was an indication of forwardness for the entire nation, yes we were the most developed country. But apparently that was not good enough for the whole country, and that's why we (or better say they) had a revolution. And please don't tell me that the revolution was a creation of the British and the nonsense like that.
.
I myself belong to the same generation as yours. I came to the US in the early 70's and remember how proud I was to know everything already about the American culture from the music to movies and Hollywood stars to fashion, etc. Just like you, I was delighted for getting dissolved and accepted in this society so easily. Now at my middle age, I realize how we were naive and "gharb zadeh" at that time. In fact, the regime and the western influence actually wanted us to feel and act that way, so they could manipulate the younger generation easily.
.
My friend, a nation cannot make progress simply by having the opportunity of watching the latest movies and listening to nice music. Please don't get me wrong. I'm not against these necessities, but they are not everything. A nation becomes great through independence, cultural, scientific and economic advances, and, of course, with a free and democratic socio-political system. In the past, we hardly had any of these. At present, we don't have them either. However, as much as I disagree with many things happening in Iran today, I should give credit to whomever for some advances taking place in the science and technology in Iran. So, in that sense, Iran has not gone backward. As a matter of fact, the country has made impressive progress despite all the international pressure. But this is not enough! Iran has a long way to go in other directions. And it all depends on the will of the people, not a few at the top of the government, and not the external force.
.
Respectfully,
.

masoudA, great article. Mrs

masoudA, great article. Mrs Critical, great observation.

Gilani, you are right....

Gilani , you are absolutely right and it is amazing how over inflated is the Iranians' opinions of themselves !!!!
Why they think they are god's gift on earth is beyond me!!!
Also they keep on talking about the USA's coup in Iran 54 years ago while forgetting that it was the USA that gave us back Azarbaijan and the Kurdish part run by Ghazi Mohammad from Stalin's grasps.
I don't want to defend America's actions as I don't agree with most of it but they were not Iran's worst enemy. For that you would have had to look at the Russians and the Imperilaist Britain.
Their actions partitioned Iran over centuries and the Russian army was responsible for countless number of deaths in Iran.
Now why is it so difficult for Iranians to see this?????

100% reply to Gilani

Gilanijan, During the time of marhoom Shah, Iran had a large and rapidly growing middle class. Instead of politicizing and relying on this growing section of population and creating a solid democratic foundation for the country, Shah and the losers around him put their faith on foreign hands. “The donkeys” then took the power… it seems to me that those losers were donkeier than your donkeys!

I 100% agree with MasoudA.

I 100% agree with MasoudA. I ‘d like to add that the vast majority of Iranian elite never understood United States. During Reza Shah Era, an Iranian gets a driving ticket in NY, Reza Shah decides to break up relationship with US. Mossadegh could not control his regime, we blame CIA. We held hostage American diplomats, and we think that it was not so bad for them. Right now, a bunch of illiterate donkeys in Tehran claim that they can mess USA up, forgetting that US can smoke our country from top to bottom.
I wish we had intellectuals who could examine the sick Iranian psyche, and let us know that we are not the masters of the universe, people of significance, or worthy of favor, and frankly have contributed zilch to anything modern and progressive in the past 1400 years.

Thank you massoudA, I was

Thank you massoudA, I was taken back to the comfort and security of the good old days for a few moments. All of this is, again, credited to the Shah's regime that paved the way for such smooth transition for people wanting to come to US (and not as political or economic refugees of today). I recall watching some of the TV series as means of continuity, or staying connected in our trips to US. Watching the same episodes in US and then, the Farsi dubbed version, in Iran bridged the separation quite effectively for kids like me. Even though, one could argue about the content of these shows, as my parents did, and call them a waste of time. But, that helped us to relate to the same TV generation in the US and to their cultural idiosyncrasies, quite effectively. When came to US in late 70's, we felt right at home and despite all the criticism of American TV watching back then, we grew up ok.

I had also had the misfortune of witnessing the events of '79 and it became obvious that our way of life was no longer possible. The central aim of the Islamic revolution was to disconnect our society from West for Islamist's pleasure, and we all saw how it was done. What is annoying is to see the same Islamists out here in the West beating their chest in the same vulgar and uncivil manner decrying everything western, and expecting submission to their barbaric Islam.

sharing your revelations!

"...which has taken us back centuries"
massoudjan, thanks for sharing you memories with us. It seems you got carried away and also shared your neocon revelations and hallucinations with us in your last paragraph as well!

RE: Kourosh_Hakhamaneshi

I accept the argument. I don't believe that IRI is the ideal regime. But this is a fact, this chaleh is giving us a better understanding about our shortcomings that exist in our culture and religion, so we could learn and modify it. The old chaleh was something non Iranian with absolutely no base in the general culture. Not necessarly bad, I mean I rather have Shah than IRI, but not now and not anymore. Now, we need to learn from this and enhance our Iran. IRI has much more possibilites that many give credit to it. Under the Shah we experience a great social freedom with no political freedom and under IRI we have no social freedom and limited political freedom. I don't think it will last like this for too long...Yet Revolution is not an option, to me. Also all the oppositions scare me more than IRI.

"Daryush"

Please read what "Rostam Dastan" has written. I couldn't have said it better myself.

MasoudA: IRI is Iran

Iranian society is much more Iranian today that you could imagine. You think Iranian society was the Norther Tehran, well that still exists. You don't know much about Iran and I am not going to lecture you. I just would say that, nostalgic
feelings will not serve our country well; realities are not always based on
individual childhood memories!

Loool at Some of the responses

First of all - there is no Iran today - What we do have is an Islamic Republic.   A republic that rules by terror.    We have a theocracy - can you relate to that ?   a theocracy - A house built on sand.  

Also,

In college, we did not lose our Persian identity.   I do admitt some were becoming far too westernized too fast for my liking - but Hafez, Molana, Shamlou, Ferdosi, ......... Shahr Gheseh tapes or even Pezeshk Zad's Daei Jaan Napoleon Book were going around like hot cakes.   As for westernalization of our kids - some of it was needed and good - and it far far far better than re-Arabification of Iranians, which is what we have today.    

Finaly,

I am not saying every Iranian in America experienced what I did.  It may have been a matter of time and place, the right area at the right era - but during my college days in America - I did not feel like a foreign student.   One more thing - In America, You will be treated as a foreigner if you feel like one !! and you will not be respected by upper classes in America, if you lose your identity.   Americans strive for culture, and certainly appreciate people who have something to add to theirs, far more than those who just immitate them. 

To All Who Didn't Like The Shah

which perhaps included "Me". Let's Admit It: We came out of the "Chaleh" of The Shah's Regime, and Fell Directly In To The "Chah" Of The "Islamic Republic".

Back in the days when Iran was US' bitch, aah

You mean to say back in the day when Iran was US' bitch? Never again man. We are IRAN, the greatest and most powerful nation, shukhi begiri khodeto gerefti.
Iran will win this US aggression and US will beg Iran to be her friend. This time on Iran's term. Watch!

half the truth

I actually share your fond memories of Iran and I do not want to bore you with the fact that it did not include all, in fact there is much more poverty and inflation is just too cruel
for Iranians. The thing that made the Tehran, Polytechnic and Alborzi students protest, is what motivates them today. They
protested injustice and for freedom. In fact Khomeini was Shah's crown prince and the idiot thought he could please Khomeini by jailing Hoveida and left the country with some soil
(that they should have used for his brain) while Khomeini was executing his generals. The revolution in Iran was/is a protest to be free and Shah was too idiot to get it.

Mixing with american kids is not honar!!!!!

what is your point? That it's good to be westernised and being accepted by americans? You should see the youth in Iran. They're so bright that I don't think any western kid can cope with them. They know so much more about the whole universe than us we knew about Gilligan Island and Bewithched.

I don't know what you mean by "taken us back centuries", most of the kids there have the most recent style cellphones, they have their internet, they play music, do wonders with computer work and much more, and I don't think knowing about Yankees or mixing well in american style parties would make any difference in their lives.

There was a time I also belived IN USA but

no more.
not after Iraq.
Not after all the killing and rape...

I grow up ...

" ... see how wicked ,perverted immoral, corrupt, evil AMeirca has become.
Another example I heard on the news today :
95% of child pornography online is sold to/in the U.S.
This nation is sodom and Gomorrah x100 “, by JPOST reader

//www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/...

Now, I only remember watching

//www.bbc.co.uk/cult/classic/prisoner/