VIEW

Thank You Soraya

I had a chance to glance at the comments.  Personally, I do not take people who do not use their real names seriously.  We had an e-mail about this matter before and there is no need to get into topic here.

Thank you Soraya for using your real name and taking time to tackle serious issues. 

It is a WRONG logic to assume if one does not attack IRI, therefore, she or he supports it. 

Looking back at Iraqis who lived in the U.S. and Western countries, they supported the U.S. attack and encouraged it.  Iraqis distortions were used to manipulate the intelligence to attack Iraq.

The Blackwater’s net profit before Iraq war was about $200,000 (in 2003), their net profit in 2006 was over 3 billion dollars.  I am NOT envy of the U.S. and the West such as France’s TOTAL for pocketing billion of dollars of our money.

One of my students who fought in the first Iraq war (Kuwait 1991), mentioned to me that the Iraqi oil comes to the U.S. without any counter and accountability.  He and others similar to him can purchase oil (petrol for their cars) less than a dollar a gallon in army basis whereas public is paying almost $3 per gallon.  I am NOT envy of the U.S. and the West. 

Iranian exiles, especially those who live in the U.S. and the Western countries, are no different than Cubans or Iraqis.  Cubans have been influential in maintaining a hostile relationship with Cuba.  Iranian exiles also are contributing to this hostility. 

Iran has been hurt more by Iranians (both inside and outside) than non-Iranians.

I am not sure how to handle people who do not use their real names, who use wrong logic, and wish foreign powers to change the regime in Iran for them.  I also feel bad that the US spends $75 million dollars on mostly Tehranjeles Iranians who think they can replace the present regime (waste of taxpayers’ money).

I am puzzled by the number of personal attacks and cheap shots at Soraya.  She is a courageous person who is using her real name.  Thank you.

Dr. Mohammad Ala is Professor of Business and a Board member of www.iran-heritage.org, www.iranalliance.org, and www.persiangulfonline.org

It would take me all night

It would take me all night to read through all the comments here... or to go back and read other posts by Soraya... but I'm thinking to myself... what in the world sounds even remotey pro IRI?  Listen people... I'm American and if anyone should be offended, it should be ME.  It's my country that she's talking about!  And you know what... she's absolutely right!  Don't think that all Americans are proud of every minute of our heritage... anymore so than any of you can be proud of every chapter of Persian history.  I love my country just as much as you love yours...but the racisim that was so virulent in our (not so) past ARE present today.  Alive and kicking, if you will.  It's disgusting.  It's dangerous.  It's heartbreaking.  And I totally agree that we need to clean up our own mess before deciding how to save the world.  But... and I'm asking politely... if you gentlemen (and I know you wish yourselves to be seen as such) would refrain from vulgarity.  Believe me... your opinions would count infinitely more if you respected the right of EVERYONE to have an opinion. After all... isn't that exactly what we are are fighting for????  So, children... please play nice!

Those foul Mouth Stooges............DK Head

It is not surprising that stooges of Pahlavi cabals and those kiss ass dim wits restore to insult and comical accusations. Their role model is Shaba Bemokh who on 28th of Mordad as witnessed by me  leading a caravan of shahr No prostitutes were screaming similar nit wit insults. Insults of this stooge and his caravan of prostitutes and murderous regime of Pahlavi could not stop Iranians. they kick him out of the country and celebrated his escape. I hope your stooges end not be as bad as murderous Pahlavi but Pahlavi cabals have to stand trial for their thievery and betreial  of Iranian people in a country called Democratic Republic of Iran through a peaceful process.

Shame on you.........DK heads

CORRECTIONS

My apology. You are correct, it is disgust, not discuss. English is my fourth language, I'm still learning. Thank you for correcting my mistake, why are you so hostile?

The truth is, a good portion

The truth is, a good portion of the Iranian population, such as Soraya and her supporters, are envy of the U.S, and the West in general. They would never admit it though, But we Iranians know that to be the case.(It is puzzling why they all ended up here but never thought about moving to North Korea or China or USSR which to them, are the true symbols of Utopian society!).By numbers and facts, not emotions and wish, the U.S,arguably, is the greatest country in the history with a combination of democracy and huge and unprecented economic, scientific, cultural, military,educational, technoligcal (to name a few) success. Iran could very well achive status such as the U.S. It has enourmus human potential and resources with great intelligent people and a tolerant culture.the 1st step in that path is to reclaim back our intellectual movement from these ultra leftists who have for the last 50-60 years hijacked the political and social debate in Iran and led the country to the disasterous condition it's in now. Enough is enough! It is remarkbale that these people find every excuse in the book to justify the demonic actions of the most brutal, inhumane and barbaric regime not only in the iranian history, but arguably one of the most evil the world has ever seen. With Iran having these individuals as its citizens, we deserve whatever happens to us. Lets reclaim back our country before someone else does it for us and gives it back to us in ashes. The world needs to know that we Iranians, are respectful of other people and cultures, and will, when free and have the choice, adopt the best that the world has to offer in order to better ourselves; for our own benefit. That is certainly not what people like Soraya are preaching for. They have already failed their test. See the results in China, north Korea, USSR, Eastern Europe, Cuba........ We would never let these ultra liberals or whatever they call themselves to take us down that path.

Dear Mandana, it's spelled "disgust"

"discuss" means to talk about. Doesn't really make you and your side sound very intelligent does it? Unfortunately, yours is one of the more articulate posts attacking Soraya.

So you think they are psycho too

Its really interesting, I don't know what it is, I work with
a Cuban and on his desk there is picture of him on a beach in Cuba. So one day I asked him, have you ever gone back to see
that beach, he said I will never go back as long as Fidel is alive.
The abuse that some of these guys give the author, is just beyond any civil behavior. It seems they are so consumed with
hatred that they cannot handle any unbiased opinion.

Human rights

Malice? You call actions taken to support human rights in our own country an act of Malice? Lady Soraya you discuss me, your article discuss me. I wish all your civil liberties to be taken from you, and for you and your family to live under the same tyranny that Iranians in the Islamic Republic live in.

BINGO - shahi ppl are psychos

They think they are so civilized. HA! Look at them. They never learned their lesson from the revolution.... you are as uncivilized & self-loathing as you were in the 70's. You're still aspiring to be French and British......Nobody likes anyof the phony colonels and savakis.

Thanks Soraya and look at examples of "alternatives" to Akhonds

Thanks Soraya for your thoughtful article. As you can see from some of the comments from "Tehranjeles" palaceiers, one can ponder what Iran would be like if it falls in the hands of these so called "alternatives" to Akhonds. The moment they find someone with whom they disagree, you can be certain of the labels that the person receives, and god forbid if that person is a journalist, he/she will be shot right on the spot. No wonder at this time Akhonds are considered the best alternative for Iran by most Iranians.
I feel bad for the $75M US Taxpayer monies that US government is wasting on these soles. These palace occupiers from Tehran geles and the rest are worth shit, let alone millions.

WOW

This woman is openly supporting the dictatorial IRI, and denouncing the US, while living in ultra-liberal California? Biting the hand that feeds her? If this is indeed true, she can go to hell as far as I'm concerned.

Look at her!

 //www.bbc.co.uk/persian/iran/story/2006/10/060908_mf_panel.shtml

She can not speak or write Farsi worth of shit!, she has had a very bad nose job, and she even had cheek implants!!!

 now , it turns out  she is pissed at Pahlavis becuase her father got demoted from the imperial army for being corrupted and her mother re-married she is the step daughter of Shojadeen Shafa, who has been very Pro-Pahlavi all his life!!!

Their Kodachrome memory

Its fascinating, people assume if Iran is bombed their
Kodachrome memory will magically be restored. They need to
look at genocide in Iraq. Any attack on Iran will cause the mullahs and the followers (basijis) become much stronger. Anyone who does not agree can look at the previous war. Iran will be reformed by real Iranians (those who do not think America is throwing bomb on Iraqis because she loves them).

Soraya Khanum,

Don't worry about these fascist fanatics who insult you for having the guts to speak publically while they themselves cowardly hide behind fake names.

I know you are a good and kind person in heart and while we have never met, I consider you my friend. Thank you for this article. Keep up the resistence to war.

Qumars

Yek Kalame Az Madar Aroos Sheneedeem

This antar (Soraya Sepahpour-Ulrich) like her favorite president has no understanding of practical politics. She uses every occasion to bash US and deny the achievement of progress in western democracies. The idiots like her are the reason that Iran has become a country of poverty and shame. If US is such bad country with Zionists running this and that, how come this ahmagh and her ilk do not go back to Paradise Iran or Paradise Gaza governed with the truest democracies! I recently found out that this khahr zeynab had many phone numbers under her name in California that leads me to believe she is a paid agent for Islamic Republic to spread mullah’s propaganda.
Since she cannot defend the indefensible acts of stupid mullahs who are determined to sink Iranians to the lowest level of poverty for their ugly and violent religion, she constantly talks about the ills of western democracies. This wh*re has a sick obsession with MKO and Reza Pahlavi as well because the regime in Iran sees them as their main enemies.

And where are you?

You complain about LA couch warmers but where are you? Certainly not in Iran, the country so free that Iranian.com is blocked. Not only that, but DSL is illegal in Iran too! Khak bar saret, to all akhoonds.

May Shah rest peacefully in

May Shah rest peacefully in Egypt and don't see the crimes, the inhumanity, the shame that these dirty mullahs have brought to Iran. I remember coming to Columbia university many years ago. You can see a picture of me near Alahazrat in another article that was published here. I remember the good old days. There were some joojeh confederacion that were lurking around. Alahazrat didn't say anything and told the Columbia president to let these kids in so they can ask their questions. Questions, question in those days. They asked their questions like normal students. Of course Alahazrat was a gentleman and everyone loved him. Not like this antar who is stinking ugly as sin. Anyway, after alahazrat finished his speech and answered all the students questions, he took a nap. Now you can't take a nap. There are so many protesting that no one can take a nap. Nap, nap of those days. One would nap in a comfortable quiet afternoon. Now there is smog and traffic in Columbia and no one can take a nap. The inhumanity!

Well said, thank you!

Soraya, As apparent from the barrage of angry responses from the usual band of LA couch-warmers, you’ve got another winner of a commentary on your hand. Congratulations and keep up the good work sister.

Sarhang Sepahpour

Yaadesh bekheyr yek rooz khedmate timsaar boodim, farmoodand ke yek Sarhang Sepahpour daashteem tooye nirooye havaee ke kheyli Shahdoost bood vali needoonam chetor shod ke yekmartabeh az kaar ofatad vali mesle inkeh khoob bolnad kardeh bood. Hala shayad in zanikeh ham dokhtare hamoon Sarhange baasheh? Dozdam oon dozadaye ghadeem

To Foad

 I am not sure if any Iranians is interested to hear what an "ARAB GOOZBACHEH" or a half breed (Maybe) has to say about Iran and Iranians? Anyone with me?

Muslim Apartheid State must come down by Iranians

Soraya, you exhibit all the signs of a petty and cruel dictator.

"The Islamic colonization of mind and body endures to this date and has been a millionth time more devastating to our nation than any Western colonization ever could inflict upon a nation."

"Iranian women are the second rate citizens in their own country."

You are ignoring how massively documented the human rights abuses of the Islamic Republic are.

"Even worse is true about the Islamic Republic, and nothing that Bollinger said is hidden to anyone in or out of Iran. For over a decade, a massive, grassroots, Reform Movement inside Iran has shaken the degenerate and corrupt foundation of the clerical rule to its foundations. Thousands have been killed, more have been imprisoned, many more forced into exile. Iranians in and out of their homeland, as well as anyone else slightly interested in their fate, have known these and some have fought valiantly to bring them to world attention."

"Iranians can not be Iranian in their own country."

Thanks But......

Dear Soraya (my mother's name sake);

I generally enjoy your writing and support it. This time however, in my opinion, it was more than a little bit one sided. I agree with your assessment of GW and CU president. One is incompetent and the other is not very smart and sold out to neocons and Zionists forces.

The side that you were not critical of was Ahmadinejad. He is a publicity hound and with very little to say or when he says something seems like he is putting his foot in his mouth. Ahmadinejad's gaffs are numerous. Starting with coming back of 12th imam to 12 year old student discovering the secret of nuclear reaction, to saying numerous times that nuclear enrichment process is complete, to the latest one that there is no homosexual in Iran (although I saw yesterday that his functionaries are saying he said there are not as many homosexual in Iran as they are the US) and on... and on. 

In short I feel it is equally bad to be stooge of Pahlavi cabals like DK, or treasonous Mojahedin or Mullahs. I hope one day through peaceful means Iran becomes Democratic Republic of Iran. Do you agree? Foad

Frau Ulrich

Your overt support for Antarinejad and the IRI is nauseating. Lee Bollinger said what so many know to be true. The fact that the words came from the mouth of an American in such a public forum rather than an Iranian is what you have an issue with.

What is ironic is that while you write in overwhelming praise and support for the IRI, and your avatar consists of a photograph of you that can be described as flirtatious, coquettish, kittenish, or just a feeble attempt to look like Lynda Carter (the actress who portrayed Wonder Woman on TV), if you were in Iran, you would be detained for wearing too much makeup, or looking too provocative. (Although the only thing you provoke is my contempt, but that's from your views and not from your photo).

Please do the rest of the civilized word a favor and take the next available flight back to Iran, so you may be among Ahmadinejad and the criminal regime you hold in such high regard.

Fishy Site

از برادر پاسدار, اقای جاوید, باید پرسید چه تبانی و هدفی در کار است؟
مشکل مردم بیش از بوش و پدرش سرطان اسلامی و حامیان ریشو/چادری
و قرتی/فکلی مانند ثریا است. این نوع مقاله و امثال ان تبلیغات, سبک دیگری،
برای بقای رژیم جمهوری اسلامیست.

A Crap-post

The piece is so worthless and the outhor is so petty that no one, for or contre, likes to sign his comment with the real name. No body puts his name with such a crap.
Is that not a shame to post such a pro-IRI crap?

Thank YOU Soraya

Thanks for your wonderful article. I hope we can all someday have the courage and insight to say what you say, and say it the way you do. You are a great Iranian woman. We are proud of you.

Mina

Behind Anti-Bush

This woman, who is a shame for all forcely veiled women under the Sharia, supports misogynous Mullahs and their petty new thug, Ahmadinajad.

While people in Iran have courage to call him “dictator”, this aberrant woman ignores the death and tortures of many thousands Iranians by this "dictator" and his masters.

While Islamic thugs of Mullahs are on the lurk for murder of innocents freedom-loving Iranians, to further destroy the country, to islamise the whole Iranian space, this traitor calls for the legitimacy of this anti-Iranian regime.

This woman is a part of lobbyist campaign which attempts to divert and confuse Iranians from their main inner enemy, the IRI.

Her “Anti-Bush” rhetoric is a show to justify her hideous anti-Iranian campaigne, her missions for the sake of Mullahs's survive in our country.

Thank you Mis Sepahpour-Ulrich

A great and right on the money analysis here. Wish more of us would put our hatred aside and look at the message. We won't get any where by insulting one another, unless the goal is to advocate even more anarchy and dictatorship which I am sure is the sole goal of IRI, Zionist and the noecons all together.

 Mehrdad

I don't understand why

I don't understand why everyone thinks she is defending the IRI? The rights she sees as vanishing in America isn't anything that you can find in Iran, anytime soon. Criticizing Bush administration doesn't equate to approving the IRI. It just so happens that the Bush administration is using Iran as public enemy number 1 to divert attention from everything else.

A voice of Iranian People

مرگ بر ج.ا و مزدوران ان در این سایت! مرگ بر دشمنان ازادی و دوستداران
نظام ضد ایرانی اسلامی که با شمشیر و سرنیزه بر مردم ما تحمیل شده!
مرگ بر هر خائنی که در هر شرایطی از این نظام جهل و توحش دفاع میکند!