“We need history for life and action, not as a convenient way to avoid life and action, or to excuse a selfish life and cowardly or base deeds.”
-- Nietzsche, The Use and Abuse of History.
A couple of mornings ago, when I read the news and saw a clip from Aljazeera about the fall of the wall in Rafah, I asked myself, what other choice does one have but to explode the wall in order to be able to buy bread and fuel for survival? What else can one do when the “international community” chooses to stay silent about one of the most hideous crimes in history? What else can one do when the hypocritical harbingers of democracy turn a deaf ear and a blind eye to the violences of the inhumane State of Israel?
What else can one do when the messengers of “change” who raise millions of dollars for their presidential campaign (No, not just McCain, but the much loved Obama) write letters to the UN Security Council, urging it not to pass any resolution to lift the wall without understanding “Israel’s right to respond”? I guess a democratic election does not count unless it is approved by “us” who spend millions on our election campaigns and penalize others with hunger and death for not choosing a “democratic” government!
But it is not just the US politicians who are complicit with the State of Israel’s violence against the Palestinians. Sadly, those of us who read and contribute to Iranian.com and are often so opinionated on every matter and feel so compelled to write about everything that happens in the world, have been complicit with this violence by being silent about the recent Palestinian situation.
To escape this deadly silence, I decided to write about the events around me which have to do with Palestine, stating and not stating Palestine anywhere, and being in a “Palestine state of mind.” Some times the fall of walls by those under siege is what it takes to break out of the writers’ block suffered by those of us sitting in our comfortable homes far from the reality of war, agonizing silently.
A couple of weeks ago, I saw ReOrient, a festival of short plays about the Middle East in San Francisco. I was disappointed not only by the low turn out of Iranians in this event, but to see that there is barely any report or critique of it on Iranian.com. I may be mistaken, but I have a feeling that this lack may have to do with the fact that the plays are not about Iran.
Am I wrong to think that most of the Iranian immigrants only support event that have to do with the commemoration of a “homeland” left behind? That most Iranian-Americans do not give a damn about coalition building with other immigrant communities, especially with Arabs? That while our claims of “universal human rights” abound, we choose to stay silent when it comes to Palestine, as if Palestine is not “our” issue?
ReOrient is not just about Iran. In fact, two of the five plays are about Palestine, one being a monologue performed as a standup comedy. There is a line which highly resonates and is repeated in this monologue, written by Yussef El Guindi, directed by Arlene Hood, and brilliantly performed by the very talented Sara Razavi. She (the Palestinian) says, “Among the drama of nations, if nations were types of dramas, Palestine would be a monologue… A lone voice… you hear it in the distance; you hear its wails; you wish it well… you wish it would stop… you wish it would go away … when you know it won’t shut up or go away, you begin to tune it out… you tune out this monologue.”
Unfortunately, I think many of us have tuned Palestine out and frankly the Arab-hating sentiments that have filled our national imaginations do not let us see the pain and hear the voices of Palestinians who are being killed violently by the Israeli tanks or die softly behind the Israeli walls. We refuse to notice as we go on with our comfortable lives, pretending that Palestine does not exist.
Another ReOrient play, based on Simin Behbahani’s poem, “I Sell Souls” is not necessarily about Palestine, but certainly speaks to the silence surrounding it. Before writing a few words about this play, allow me to issue a preemptive disclaimer for those who may leave loving comments: I swear to you, I am not an Arab, an Arab-parast or any derivative thereof. Nor am I an IRI spy or a ReOrient agent! If anything, I am not sure if Golden Thread would approve of my appropriation of their plays here, as I may be jeopardizing their “centralist” position and pissing off the few rich Iranians who may some day support Iranian theater for the sake of its prestige. So, don’t blame ReOrient or the Golden Thread for my pro-Palestinian position. Believe me, if it were up to me, I would call it “DeOrient” to do away with the “Orient” all together and I would question the geopolitical discourses that -- as Edward Said argues -- have imagined the Orient to construct a civilized European self. But that is another discussion.
Despite my placement of the drill on the poppy seed (matteh roo khashkhaash gozaashtan) about the name of this festival, I strongly believe that ReOrient is a must-see, especially when there aren’t many plays about the Middle East that challenge stereotypical images of this vast geographical designation.
It is true that the funding for artistic, journalistic, academic, and non-academic knowledge production about the “Middle East” and Islam has seen a surge since September 11. But it is also true that many of these productions repeat the stereotypical representations of the “Middle East” and are complicit with the discourses that reproduce it as un-free, violent, and in need of liberation.
ReOrient challenges these stereotypes and provides a much more nuanced image of the “Middle East” than many plays which seem to find their way to the stage at this historical moment (hence, the need to support it as I doubt that it would be fundable by mainstream funding sources).
While one or two plays in the festival are unnecessarily long, the ones that are written, directed, and performed well certainly make it worth seeing. (In case you are wondering: other plays in the ReOrient deal with the 2006 bombing of Lebanon, the post 9/11 surveillance in the United States, and the Arab/Jew dichotomy in Israel.)
Back to “I Sell Souls”… Torange Yeghiazarian’s abstract play which is based on Simin Behbahani’s poem, “I Sell Souls” is not only aesthetically beautiful (the music, poetry, performance and images are at times breath-taking), but it leaves the audience thinking and wondering about the relationship between one’s body, one’s soul, and the luxuries of life. What is the price that one pays to indulge oneself in worldly pleasures while shutting one’s eyes and lips in order to refuse to see and speak of injustices and violences in this world? How does one console oneself when one sells one’s soul?
A question that comes to mind after seeing this unique play is the gendering of the characters (body, soul, and soul dealer) and its relationship to selling out. Why is the feminine body (Lynne Soffer) less resistant to the temptation to indulge in pleasures offered by a man in a suite who signifies material pleasures and luxury (Garth Petal) than the masculine soul (Julian Lopez-Morillas)?
What would it mean if the roles were reversed? Is there a dichotomy between the body and the soul and if so what artistic choices result in the gendering of the characters? What is the connection between the soul and soil in the background image, and at what moment does the dance of the light and water shift to the earthly walk on the soil? This play surely leaves the audience with plenty to think about.
In a scene, as the body rests upon the soul and the soul-buyer rests with satisfaction on the body which seemingly shelters her soul, we hear: Silence… Silence… Silence… This silence feels eerily familiar when it comes to Palestine these days. One wonders if the silence towards the siege in Palestine has something to do with the selling of souls.
Or perhaps one can wonder, as the Monologist tells us, if the stateless Palestine has become a state of mind that everyone has experienced at some point: when one talks and no one listens. That is when one could say, “I feel like I am in a Palestine state of mind.” But this state of mind could also connote something more positive: when under siege, one breaks all barriers and continues to survive against all odds. And hopefully, that is when one could say, “I feel like I am Palestine.”
To end on an uplifting note, here is a video from DAM, a Palestinian rap group.
Person | About | Day |
---|---|---|
نسرین ستوده: زندانی روز | Dec 04 | |
Saeed Malekpour: Prisoner of the day | Lawyer says death sentence suspended | Dec 03 |
Majid Tavakoli: Prisoner of the day | Iterview with mother | Dec 02 |
احسان نراقی: جامعه شناس و نویسنده ۱۳۰۵-۱۳۹۱ | Dec 02 | |
Nasrin Sotoudeh: Prisoner of the day | 46 days on hunger strike | Dec 01 |
Nasrin Sotoudeh: Graffiti | In Barcelona | Nov 30 |
گوهر عشقی: مادر ستار بهشتی | Nov 30 | |
Abdollah Momeni: Prisoner of the day | Activist denied leave and family visits for 1.5 years | Nov 30 |
محمد کلالی: یکی از حمله کنندگان به سفارت ایران در برلین | Nov 29 | |
Habibollah Golparipour: Prisoner of the day | Kurdish Activist on Death Row | Nov 28 |
Mind your own business.
by Anonymous until iran is free (not verified) on Tue Jan 29, 2008 02:51 PM PSTThe persian proverb says: Agar tou bil zani, avval yek bil baraaye khodat bezan.
Or this one: Cheraaghi keh beh khaaneh ravaast, beh masjed haraam ast.
If you can do something about anything, fix your own house first.
Palestinians have 350 million super rich arab brothers that can take care of them quite well if they wish in more than one way.
That poor persian little 8-year old girl who needs to skip school to sell faale-hafez for 50 tomans (5 cents) on the streets of iranian cities deserves "iranians' attention" far more.
That teenage iranian girl who has to sell her body to make the ends meet deserves "iranians' attention" far more.
It is an insult to view desperate iranians inside iran as second-class citizens to palestinians, or hostage to the never-ending palestinian issue, unless you are an islamo-arab-parast or non-iranian.
It is a crime to steal wealth from the weakest and most tender children of iran (as IRI does) to ship to iraq, lebanon, or palestine.
It is immoral to divert attention from daily atrocities of IRI towards iranians to focus on a matter that has nothing to do with those robbed-to-the-bone desperate and hungry iranians.
No matter how much you and IRI scream, the conflict won't be solved until both sides get tired of their mutual atrocities and "they" decide to live with each other. I, the desperate iranian whose country has been occupied by islamic murderers for the past 30 years, am in no position to care about the stupidity and mutual brutality of some 10 million people who WANT to be at each other's throat.
You will not be respected or heard by anyone, US or europe, until you show that you deserve respect and can make something out of the humiliating condition of iran first. If you think that you can change US by screaming about palestinians, think again; first apply the same logic to IRI leaders who are iranians' prime enemies.
RE: Concerned
by Bored iranian dude (not verified) on Tue Jan 29, 2008 02:22 PM PSTOh is this about you being demonized on TV? I thought you were concerned for the poor palestinians.
If wou want TV to stop demonizing you, here is what you should do: Wake up everyday and ask your-self, how can I change Iran and help the people there fighting for their rights under a fascist regime. Then, after jotting down your ideas, go and actually do them instead of reading and writing about Palestinians. Leave the palestinian issue for the rich sheiks, dont worrie, they have the money and the weapons weapons. And one day, when enough iranians do such a thing, change our country into a secular country that trades, talks and holds peace with all countries (Including Israel), stops funding militant political groups like HAMAS and HEZBOLLAH, stops stoning, amputating, kidnapping and locking away its citizens, TRUST ME, the world would stop hurting.. your feelings.. and our country.
This is the core point that many iranians ignore, Hamas and Hezbollah are political factions that IF they would once rule their people, they would use the IRI as a rolemodel.. now how great is that huh?
Iran declared war on Israel and the Israeli lobby by supporting these barbarians, thats why they (Israel and world jewry) are doing one hell of an effective job (which iranian expatriats should learn from) creating IranoPhobia. So let me ask you, which planet do you live in?
To: Concerned
by Mehdi on Tue Jan 29, 2008 02:19 PM PSTI think you are blaming way too much on "Israel Lobby." You make it seem like they are higher than God. And if so, I guess it means that they have a right to be or something. Not all the problems of the US or Middle East are because of Israel Lobby. I think they both had problems before Israel Lobby existed. If the Middle East or the world is such a victim, you have to then ask yourself how did they become such victims? Your exageration is just too much!
On What Planet Do You Live?
by Concerned (not verified) on Tue Jan 29, 2008 01:57 PM PST1. Palestinian Issue effects our lives as people from Middle East who have migrated to the United States.
2. We are suffering here because of what Israel has done to Palestinians. We are under constant barrage of misrepresentation by the Israeli lobby who control the two houses of congress, white house, the media, Hollywood, etc.
3. Look at the movies they make about us, the tv shows, cartoons, news stories, etc, etc. Open your eyes and look.
4. If the Palestinian issue gets solved one day, and they achieve their rights, then there would be less demonizing of Middle Eastern in this country and it means less demonization of you and me.
5. Why they demonize us? Because they think we will be intimidated and would be afraid to speak up. And if we do speak up nobody would listen.
6. This issue has to be resolved in order we could live like the rest of immigrants in USA with dignity and free from being demonized and humiliated daily by the media (that is controlled, guess, by who)
7. If the Palestinian issue is solved we don't have to continue or start new wars in the Middle East and sacrifice our lives and money.
Bleh wrong country
by Bored iranian dude (not verified) on Tue Jan 29, 2008 01:47 PM PSTI mean Libya supported us.
To: Anonymous Observer
by Mehdi on Tue Jan 29, 2008 01:42 PM PSTAll I wanted to point out is that "not our issue" is not a very good answer. The arguments you make about the Jewish people during WWII can easily turn into an argument. No matter what palestinians did, "not my issue" is still not a good answer. Otherwise i am sure some will argue that whatever happened to the jewish people those days must also have been something they brought on themselves! You see how that's not valid?
RE: Anonymous observer
by Bored iranian dude (not verified) on Tue Jan 29, 2008 01:25 PM PSTOne thing I forgot, Syria was with us, Lebanon was with us, and lets not forget that ISRAEL was with us!
RE: Annonymos Observer
by Bored iranian dude (not verified) on Tue Jan 29, 2008 01:19 PM PSTThank you baradar! I agree 100%! Moronic iranians are willing to fight against the entire world, submit their own people into poverty, war and death, just so that they can help the poooor palestinians while their arab compatriots get richer and richer and create serious economic competation for Iran so that our top minds have to go get work in canada, the US and EU and propel their civilizations into more prosperity. WHY WONT SAUDI ARABIA SEND MONEY TO HAMAS? WHY WONT QUATAR SEND MONEY AND ROCKETS TO HEZBOLLAH? WHY WONT THE U.A.E TELL THE US, ISRAEL AND NOW EVEN FRENCH(!!!) TO PISS OFF? WHY WONT EGYPT EVEN LET THEIR "BROTHERS" GATHER BREAD FROM THEIR MARKETS AS THEY BEAT THE STARVED ONES BACK WITH BATONS TO PLEASE THE WEST? WHY WONT THE ARABS JOIN IRAN IN A SECURITY PACT? WHY WONT THE ARAB LEADERS USE THEIR OIL TO BOYCOTT THE WEST TO SUBMIT IN THE PALESTINIAN ISSUE? AND HERE IS WHERE YOU PERSIAN "PALESTINE LOVERS" HYPOCRISY HITS ITS LOWEST POINT: IF THEIR OWN PEOPLE (ARABS IN OTHER COUNTRIES) DONT NOT GIVE A FUCK AND GROW RICH TRADING WITH THE PALESTINIAN ENEMIES, WHY SHOULD WE? THE SUBLIME MESSAGE HERE FROM THE ARABS IS: "IRANIANS ARE LESS WORTH THAN AMERICANS AND ISRAELIS. WHEN IRANIANS FIGHT US, WE WIL FIGHT, WHEN THE US AND ISRAEL PISSES ON US, WE WILL TURN AROUND, GIVE ASS AND TRADE WITH THEM" Im ashamed over you guys. Want to help innocent people? There are tons of charities to chose from, but dont come here and tell me that the people who fought against us in a war like dogs for the French, English and the US without as much as giving an appology to us later (yes the palestinians and the arabs) has something to do with us. It has nothing to do with us. Stay out of this conlict, have some historic dignity, wether we interfere or not, they will kill each other for the next 50/1000 years! Iranian blood and money is not worth it. Sounds cynical? Yes, its a cynical hard world, you either fight and stay alive, or you play dumb and fool hearted, and have your civilization vaporized, and thats what happening now because of too many iranian hypocrites talking and writing to much POPULISTIC BIASED CRAP like this BS article above instead of fixing their own country first.
To Mehdi 2
by Anonymous Observer (not verified) on Tue Jan 29, 2008 12:59 PM PSTAlso, the Jews of Europe in WWII did not have a dozen rich, some denssley populted, countries around them who based their nationalism on Jewish identity (such as Arabs do based on Arab identity) who called all Jews their brethren. That's the situation with the Palestinians. Plus, didn't these Arab countries (especially in the ones in the Persian Gulf) send thousands of fighters to Afghanistan to fight on behalf of their Muslim brethren there? Why don't they do the same for the Palistinians?
To Mehdi
by Anonymous Observer (not verified) on Tue Jan 29, 2008 12:50 PM PSTYou're missing the central point of my argument: that Palistinians engaged in an open act of armed agression against the Iranian nation when that suited their purposes (when Saddam was giving them a safe haven, money and weapons). The Jews of Europe had not engaged in any hostile acts against anyone when they were being persecuted.
To: Anonymous Observer
by Mehdi on Tue Jan 29, 2008 12:44 PM PSTYour comments reminds me of when the Jewish people were being persecuted in Europe and people of other faiths didn't do anything because it wasn't their issue. Are you sure you want that to be your argument?
Anonymously dead
by Anonymous Observer (not verified) on Tue Jan 29, 2008 12:05 PM PSTI didn't say that anyone should be treated like an animal or should die. I'm merely saying that this is not our fight. It's an Arab issue and they should come together, like they did against Iran, and deal with the issue. If if Palistinians are suffering, that still does not make it our issue. People are suffering all over the world, but we don't go around being the standard bearer on thier issues, why do we have to it for Palistinians, especially in light of their previous hostility toward us?
Islamists Republic supporters treated as cuckolds
by Fred (not verified) on Tue Jan 29, 2008 11:19 AM PSTIslamist Republic supporters love and material support to Palestinian terrorists like Hamas is a fact, never mind in return they treat them as cuckolds and take side with enemies of Iran every chance they get, go figure. And those who think Palestinian/Israeli issue is the root of all problems in the region if not the world, they need to read the history of the incessant infighting amongst the brother Arabs prior to the reconstitution of modern state of Israel few months short of sixty years ago.
To: Zion
by Mehdi on Tue Jan 29, 2008 11:07 AM PSTI think we have to realize that there are people in this world who profit from wars and bloodshed. They may appear to be Israili or they may appear to be "Palestinian" or Iranian or American. But the fact is such people have no allegience to any nation - they work for themselves only. Greed is the only nation they have. So of course they go around and poke people with their propaganda in order to get something going so that their business expands. I was quite surprised to find out not long ago that a survey was done in that area and it was found that more than 70% of Palestinians and more than 70% of Israilis want peace and do not want to fight. Yet we see bloodshed still goes on. Apparently some individual decide for the rest of people that war must go on! Something very curious.
To: Concerned
by Mehdi on Tue Jan 29, 2008 11:00 AM PSTWell, I am sure Israel is no heaven but it seems to me that even if all you say is correct, it is still a viable solution. Keep in mind especially that with time a lot of these issues will have no choice but to go away. Discrimination is not unique to Israel. you can see it everywhere to some degree. Even when you walk the streets of beverly Hills you see some Jewish people having more money and resoures than some Muslims. Also if you walk south a little you see some Jewish people having less money and resources than some Muslims. But I think if the whole place became known as israel, it would immediately improve conditions for people and in the long run a lot of issues you are talking about would go away. Isn't that a much better solution than constant bloodshed with no end in sight? Probably no solution is perfect. We have to look at what is practical and overal viable. Don't you thinnk?
Anonymous Observer You are right
by Anonymously dead (not verified) on Tue Jan 29, 2008 10:52 AM PSTit was Arafat. This means that Palestinians deserve to die and be treated like animals. Thanks for the clarification.
Why Palestinian Issue is Our (Iranian American) Issue
by Concerned (not verified) on Tue Jan 29, 2008 10:48 AM PSTWar with Iraq was started partly by the Israeli Lobby. The result has been:
1. More than 3800 American soldiers died. Close to 70,000 American service men and women are wounded and maimed. Hunderd of thousands of Iraqi men, women and children lost their lives.
2. More than $1000,000,000,000 has been spend on this senseless war, this money could have been used to save our health care system, our roads, our bridges, our schools, our housing crisis, etc. At leat another $1000,000,000,000 is needed to end this war.
3. The same Israeli Lobby is trying to start a war between USA and Iran.
4. More than a billion Moslem in the world have turned against us (meaning Americans)because of our biased policy towards Palestinians.
5. Terrorists are using the Palestinian Cause to attack us and hurt us because of our unconditional support of Israel.
6. Our rights as Americans of Middle Eastern origin are ignored. Racial profiling is going on.
The fact is an aggressor has occupied somebody else's home, street, town and country and we as Americans are paying for it with our lives, money, prestige and future.
This is the reason why the Palestinian issue must be resolved (not some obsecure emotional reason).
It has nothing to do with being anti semite.
We are saying lets resolve this problem. Let the Palestinians join the rest of the Israelis and live in the same country with the same rights or let them have their own country. Lets solve this problem for once and all. United States is the lone super power of the world and must not pay for the wrong doings of Israel.
How Easily We Forget!!!
by Anonymous Observer (not verified) on Tue Jan 29, 2008 10:41 AM PSTTo all you bleeding hearts who cry for the plight of Palestinians, please remember a few things. Wasn't it Arafat who was in Baghdad every month during the Iran-Iraq war kissing Saddam's shoulders and affirming his support for his Arab Brethren in their Second Qadesieyh against Iranians?
I used to live in a Persian Gulf Arab country during that time, and I distinctly remember news footage on TV showing Palestinian fighters getting off planes in Baghdad airport with machine guns slung across their shoulders, and holding a picture of Arafat in one hand and Saddam in the other and chanting that they were going to the battlefield to help their Iraqi brothers.
The Palestinian issue is an Arab issue. Why should we involve ourselves? Just like all Arabs banded together against Iran during its war with Iraq (I know that Syria was with Iran) Kuwait giving Iraq money and an entire island, all the other Gulf states gicing money and use of airports, etc., Jordan and Egypt provided soldiers, weapons, money and use of facilities…and the list goes on. If they were so united against Iran, why can’t they do the same for their other Arab brethren, the Palestinians and find them a solution.
We don’t have a dog in this fight people!!! Stop involving us in it by being a Kaseyeh as Ash Daghtar!!!!
Israel is an apartheid state
by Q on Tue Jan 29, 2008 10:35 AM PSTno two ways about it. Every action is laden with biggotry, racism and embedded orientalism brewed in Europe and America. There are good people in Israel, but their government is corrupt and violent to the bone. Israel has a colonial legacy that it has not come to terms with.
Suffering people all over the world relate to it for this reason.
Mehdi\'\'s solution, why it will never work.
by Zion on Tue Jan 29, 2008 10:30 AM PSTMehdi, you have a good point there. Why not really? The answer is, it is not really about Palestinians\' conditions, it is about throwing Jews in the sea. There was no discernible palestinian identity before 1967. The actual land that was supposed to be given to Arabs of palestine ( a European word used for the region, Arabs called it usually as A-sham) was Trans-Jordan, later kingdom of Jordan. \"Palestine\", A-Shsham, has already been turned into modern nation states of Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and Israel, including the territories left, the ones are called \"palestinian territories\" today, before 1967 Egypt had a claim on Gaza and Jordan on West Bank, Hehe). It is somehow only Israel the uncomparably most humane, democratic, modern and civilized that is singled out as an \"occupier\". This is all a sham. It is about Jews having independence amid islamic and arab lands, and that is unforgivable. Jews are at best second hand Dhimmis, how DARE they ask for an independent state to live in equality with every one else.
And HOW DARE you Iranians forget about this legendary \"PALESTINIANS\"? HOW DARE YOU THINK ABOUT YOUR OWN VICTIMS AND PROBLEMS AND SUFFERINGS? You too are a bunch of magi mavaalis. You HAVE to be led by the noose around your necks by the Left and Islam whenever they cry \"Palestine\".
That is what all this is about. How dare you be free and independent? How dare you disobey the masters of manipulation and propaganda!
Mehdi It's The Best Solutoin But Guess What ....
by Concerned (not verified) on Tue Jan 29, 2008 10:04 AM PSTMy friend your solution has been proposed many many times by many people.
But first let me correct you about the situation of Palestinians who are living inside Israel (Israli Palestinians)
1. Their land is still being confiscated.
2. They are moved from location to location.
3. They lack basic services such as schools, hospital, that is available to Israeli jews.
4. They are discriminated agaist.
5. They are under constant threat by jewish fanatics to be deported to another country.
6. Israel just dropped the charges against police men who killed 11 of them during a demosnstration a few years back (read BBC's report on this subject)
7. The goverment of Israel spends a fraction of what it spends on jewish neighborhood.
8. They can vote but their vote has not changed anything as far as their situation is concerned.
These are just some of the facts. Go to Google and doe a search, it's all there, available but nobody talks about it here.
But guess what Israel is not going to let the rest of Palestinians to become citizens of Israel because it wants to keep the country a jewish country.
This is the problem, Israel wants to eat the cake and eat it too.
Take as much land as it wants without giving any rights to Palestinains who are not citizens, like the old time colonial power.
Now if any body critize Israel for this inhumane policy they scream "Anti Semite".
Aghelan Dannand.
The Real Faribors Maleknasri
by Concerned Person (not verified) on Tue Jan 29, 2008 09:53 AM PSTFor the past few months, I have been reading various comments about Faribors Maleknasri, MD – most of them negative- and I just wanted to set the record straight about this poor man- because I know his background.
It all started one night when my weekly liaison with Faribors’s mother, Mahin Maleknasri (also know as “Mahin Bolandeh”) was wrapping up. I had known her last name for some time and was curious about her possible relation to Faribors. So, as we got done with our business, and I rolled off of Mahin’s firm, luscious and naked body, I lit up a Cuban cigar, and took the bold step of asking her about any children that she may have had. I had known Mahin for a number of years, but in order not to complicate our business relationship, I had never asked her about whether or not she has ever had any children. So I asked her if she knew anyone by the name of Faribors. Suddenly, there was silence. Mahin got out of the bed and began to get dressed. Noticing the sadness on her face, I said nothing more. I paid her the usual amount (fifty Tomans – she’s pretty cheap – considering all the things that she does for you. Perhaps she’s trying to stay competitive in light of her age) and tried to at least appear sympathetic. Mahin then stopped, turned around, and asked me: do you really want to know? I said yes…and she began to explain…..
Mahin is from Garmsar. Her parents were poor dahatis. They moved to Tehran when she was eight years old. Having no money to take care of their other ten children, Mahin’s parents sold her at the age of nine for cash as a wife to the neighborhood Mullah in Lalehzar were the family resided (Mahin has no qualms about her childhood marriage as she is a devout Muslim and knows that nine years is old enough for a girl to get married). After years of being the Haj Agha’s “wife”, the Mullah traded her to another Haj Agha at the age of thirteen. Something happened, though, at the second Haj Agha’s house, because Mahin noticed that she was pregnant. Upon noticing that she was pregnant, the Haji kicked her out of the house. She tried to go back home to her parents…but only to be turned away and called a whore….
Mahin gave birth in a back alley to a baby boy that she named Faribors….Also, in order not to incur the wrath of the Haj Agha (who by this time had become a powerful government minister after the revolution) she concealed Faribors’s father’s identity and gave him her last name, Maleknasri. As she was lying in a pool of blood in the corner of the alley holding the newly born Faribors, she was seen by a woman who was passing by. She was wearing a black chador. The woman approached Mahin, and seeing her in that situation, she took her home with her. However, “home” was a clandestine brothel in South Tehran, and the woman was Soghra Chakmeieh, the “Madam”. Having no other place to go, Mahin stayed at Soghra’s house and began to work there as a full time prostitute. Soghra was kind enough to allow Mahin to raise Faribors in her room at the brothel. But Mahin always thought that a whorehouse was no place to raise a child, especially a boy. I mean, she didn’t want him to grow up seeing her mom being pounded day and night by strangers!
Mahin had a regular Afghani client by the name of Hossein. He was a construction worker in Tehran (Mahin likes Afghani men as she says that they are “better endowed” than Iranian men, especially more than the ones who call themselves “Seyyed”. She says that seyyeds’ penises are about the size of a lima bean. Maybe it’s their Arab genes, but who knows. As an Iranian male, I am kind of offended by the generalization about Iranian men, but hey, she’s the expert). Having noticed Mahin and Faribors’s plight, Hoseein offered to take Faribors back to Herat, and to raise him as his own child. Desperate for a way out for Faribors, Mahin agreed and Hossein took Faribors (who was eight years old at the time) to Herat with him. But instead of raising him as his own child, Hossein sold Faribors to a warlord name Gol Agha as a dancing boy. I didn’t know that such things existed, but I did some research, and dancing boys do exist in Afghanistan. Here’s a link to an article on the subject:
//www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSISL1848...
Having not heard back from Hoseein or Faribors, Mahin traveled to Heart four years later. She asked around, and found the home in which Faribors lived. One day, she bribed the guard at the door and walked into Gol Agha’s main audience room, where she saw Faribors, dressed in a colorful dress and wearing full makeup, dancing for Gol Agha. She burst in tears and grabbed her son. She begged Gol Agha, and paid him a few hundred dollars, and Gol Agha agreed to let Faribors go. Mahin brought Faribors, who was suffering from a severe case of anal bleeding, back to Tehran. Soghra’s house was now closed, and Mahin was working out of her own apartment. She still wanted a better future for Faribors, though, and she decided to approach Haj Agha, Faribors’s father, who was now leading the Friday prayers. She went to the prayers several times, but could not get pass the guards. Hopeless and disappointed, she began to walk back home after she made her last attempt. As she was walking the street, she noticed a group of Zeinab Sisters beating up a group of young girls whose maantos lengths were above the knees. Mahin straightened up her chador and wearily walked by them. As she was walking by, she heard one of the Zeinab sisters calling her name. She turned around and recognized the Zeinab sister, it was Soghra Chakmeieh. Soghra was kind enough to stop what she was doing (beating the young girls – she actually handed the baton to a colleague who continued the beating) and ask Mahin about how she was doing. Soghra even offered Mahin a job with the Zeinab Sisters, stating that most of the sisters were Mahin’s former co-workers at the brothel. But Mahin couldn’t do the job as she couldn’t swing a baton due a bad shoulder. Mahin did explain her situation to Soghra, who through her connections, arranged for a meeting with Haj Agha.
Mahin and Faribors both went to see Haj Agha. Upon seeing Faribors and how much he looked like him, Haj Agha felt really bad about what had happened to his son. So, he agreed to pay for Faribors’s education and pulled some strings to put him in medical school after Faribors graduated high school. In order to show his appreciation for his mother’s efforts, Faribors became a specialist in Venereal Diseases, so that he could be most useful to his mother and her ongoing work related medical problems, and that’s what he does today in Tehran. Mahin says that she has tried to convince Faribors to get married for a few years, but he refuses. She says that he still goes over to Herat once every couple of months to visit Gol Agha, though. But strangely, the anal bleeding comes back every time that Faribors returns from Herat.
Sorry for this long comment, but having seen all the negative comments about Faribors, I just wanted everyone to know what this young man has gone through in his life.
what is palestine?
by dariushagaha (not verified) on Tue Jan 29, 2008 09:47 AM PSTWho gives a shit? fuck em. They were the one who helped the Islamic bastards to kill our brave generals and soldiers. Why bother?
I feel ignored - anybody has any response to my comment?
by Mehdi on Tue Jan 29, 2008 09:28 AM PSTI think palestinians should just ask Israel to extend its borders to
cover all of what is now considered Palestine. Face it, that way,
pretty much all of their problems will go away. They will be living in
one of the best countries, if not THE best country in Middle East. In a
couple of generations, the notion of "Jewish State" will go away
anyway. Israel is more a western style democracy than a "Jewish State"
- if there is such a thing. The notion of "Jewish State" is more for
show anyway. From what I hear, Muslims have a much better life in
Israel than anywhere else in the Middle East. Again, from what I heard,
you could be a Sheite or Sunni or whatever and live in harmony with
each other protected by law - something that doesn't happen in the
"Arab" world. So why bother? Let the bastards take care of all your
needs. Let them build hospitals, schools and malls. Why not enjoy the
beautiful Israeli girls (and boys for you ladies)? I don't see why they
don't just do that? Why be stuck up about the name of a place? Who
cares what the place is called. In a couple of decades or so borders
will be meaningless anyway. What do you think?
To All those Who Read My Comments
by Kouroush Sassanian (not verified) on Tue Jan 29, 2008 09:06 AM PSTI want to make sure that you fully understand what my background is:
I was devoted to Mammad Reza Shah Pahlavi. Also, I am a Zartoshti, and when I was growing up, I grew up among the Jewish people.
Consequently, I developed strong negative feelings towards Islam.
Please remeber that when you are reading my comments in this blog. Thanks
P.S. I also use multiple names throughout this site. Names such as Ahmad Bahai, Anonymouspb, Anonymous2008, babakoohi, Kos Sher, and most recently, Nader Vanaki, and Kafka.
I'll keep you posted of new ones if I use them.
Faribors Maleknasri, M.D., S.O.B., R.N., L.P.N., P.T.S.D.
by Anonymous0000 (not verified) on Tue Jan 29, 2008 08:38 AM PSTShut the f..ck up village idiot "Faribors".
To Faribors Maleknasri M.D.
by Anonymous2008 (not verified) on Tue Jan 29, 2008 06:54 AM PSTWhy are you trying to prove to all of us that you are an idiot of the first degree? What are you saying? Please shut up.
REPLY : PALESTINA, REX CINEMA and other COMMENTS
by Faribors Maleknasri M.D. (not verified) on Tue Jan 29, 2008 05:53 AM PSTThe Iranian Nation - to that honorable nation count up to my opinion only the ones who have founded thier ISLAMIC REPUBLIC of IRAN, are living there and are willing to protect what they have achieved on self-confidence and self- sufficiency during the last 30 years - threw the Palestina-occupeing Regim out of Iran soon after ithad installed the Islamic governmental Regim. The Embassy Building recieved the occupeid Palestine. So have Iranians not forgotten Palestine. Actuall is Iran speaking with the new political Partner Egypt in order to find ways how the Palestinians could be helped. And hier there are more news about Palstine. Please acknowledge: Iran urges unity among Palestinians. No nation on the World nows better which Power the nationa Unity can develop. without absolut Unity would had been the Revolution 1978/79 impossible.
Iran's Jordanian embassy stresses unity among Palestinians
Iran's Embassy in Jordan has stressed unity among the Islamic nations as well as the Palestinian people to counter the Zionist regime.
In a statement issued on the occasion of the International Quds Day - that is the last Freiday in Fasting-Month Ramadan - the Iranian embassy in Amman said that the Islamic Republic of Iran stresses the importance of resolving differences and reinforcing unity among the Palestinian people.
Puting the Differences aside could even help the Iranians in the Diaspora to better understand the international political Changes and Developments.
It called on all regional governments and nations to help the Palestinian people restore their rights, liberate the Holy Quds, prepare the grounds for the return of the Palestinan refugees to their homeland and establish a Palestinian state.
It stated that differences among the Palestinians would only be in the interest of the Zionist regime and other enemies of the oppressed Palestinian people.
"Although the Zionist regime violates international regulations and norms, the US does everything in its power and puts pressure on regional countries to establish ties with the Zionists to the detriment of the Palestinian people," the statement said.
never the less one can say that the Impact and the Influence of the Islamic revolution in Iran and its mighty Effct on the Worl-Politics is by no means negligible. The rich, mighty Country with the resolut nation, determind and prepared to go any length Iran helps and guides whereever necessary. Greeting
I see..
by Bored iranian dude (not verified) on Tue Jan 29, 2008 04:16 AM PSTSo how about the Russians killing the chechens? The chinese supporting the killing of the burmese? Africans killing each other? Why focus so much on israel`? We have no moral ground as iranians to start talking about human rights in other countries and conflicts when our own country is ruled by a religious fundamentalist dictatorship which kills you if your gay, have had sex before marriage, for being raped, for wanting your salary on time and on and on.. Stop obsessing over foreign conflicts, fix our own country first. If iranians had just a fraction of love Israelis have for their own nation, we wouldnt have been in this mess. Israel and Palestine(Palestinians) are at war, war is the creator of nations. All countries are shaped and formed after wars. Israel supported us during our war with the Arabs, what are we doing in return? Israel is our natural ally in the region, will allways be, because wether iranians like it or not, the arabs will never like us, never trust us and always see us as a threat. Read what their leaders say. Watch the 80`s videos when palestinians where cheering Saddam when he was killing us with Chem bombs. In donja, donjaye gorghast. Ya gorg bash bokhor va bebar, ya boz bash khordeh beshoh.
Where is Rosie?
by Anonymous 1974B (not verified) on Mon Jan 28, 2008 10:44 PM PSTGuys, watch,
Rosie will come here and say that her Uncle was in Irgun, blah, blah blah..... Zionists this and Palestinians that. Same left handed socialist garbage.