PARADE

WOW !!!!!!!!!!!!!

 What a discovery!!!!!!! 

 "Almost every iranian is muslim by choice. it doesn't match your fantasy but that's life."

REALY ??????????

I'm speechless........:-)

Islam

Listen all I am saying is study Islam in a language you understand.
First Persians are Muslim by name only. They have no idea what Islam is. It is like a cult to them. They changed it around to some kind of Persian version of Islam. I put money down you never have studied that Quran of yours. It is more to Quran than HamdoSureh and AllahOAkbar!!! Do you know the religion you are defending so much thinks of your Mom as 1/3 or 1/4 of any man!!! Come on that doesn't bother you?....
And would you let your 9 year old to marry some bearded dude? Doesn't that disgust you?
Now let's talk about racism... Arabs don't even consider the beautiful Persian language even a language...That is another reason they call us "Ajam" or mute....And I assume you are a "Shieh" Moslem. They think Shieh is Shi*!. Yes they are disgusted with the Persian version of Islam. They are even trying to destroy The Persian Gulf's name. It is ILLEGAL in their countries to call it that.
You have to put your country first not some Mullah made religion. After 30 years it doesn't bother you one narrow minded mullah(Vali Faghih) has destroyed your country.-actually 2 of them, I try to not remember the 1st one Khomayny! -
And what is this UN business you talk about so much?...They would have accepted picture of Satan on the flag if the Islamic government gave it out.
For Free Iran VIVA PERSIA JAVID IRAN

zz that is the Iranian flag

you can spew all the nonsense you want and give yourself nervous breakdown. it won't change anything.

that is the flag of Iran in the UN.
that is the flag of Iran for team melli.
that is the flag for farsi language in websites and computer programs.

That's life. Almost every iranian is muslim by choice. it doesn't match your fantasy but that's life. put aside your ugly racial hatred and learn to deal with it.

Iranian Flag

The real Iranian flag is not the dirt you represent. With that dirty Arabic symbol dirtying it up. I don't know why some Persians are so blind to the history of Islam in Iran. Have you ever read that Quran of yours in a language that you understand? Killing Non-Believers, Stoning, Raping, Marrying 9-year-olds like a piece of property, Disrespecting women and talking about them like they are nothing, and a couple of stupid BS stories{which are copied from the Bible and Torah} basically are the things that the book represents.

Do you know why Persians called "AJAM" by the people that you love so much??! After spread of religion of peace with power of SWORD to Persia they cut off their tongues. And in Arabic "AJAM" means "MUTE". I bet you love that because that is what that creepy flag represents.
Just completely mute and stupafied society of Islamic laws
P.S. Read some of the discussions over "Iran Helicopter Industries" over here at Iranian.com

let me guess, you must be the guy on pic#24 ?

you are right about legal facts and international regulations !
what you are missing is ,parade has gotten permission
from NYS due to PersianParade Organization's request ,since every organization can have their logo or flag they were able to use it at the parade(the flag was not meant to be used as iranian flag by law)that is illegal since it goes under misleading public offence and is subject to fine and even do time or both ,
i also saw people with azerbaijan's flag and I.R.IRAN flag as its shown in 24th picture !
ALSO ABOUT OBAMA , READ THIS POEM FROM HADI KHORSANDI ! i hope it does not have copyright stuff ,

مش حسن با دو عدد گاو ز صحرا آمد

با زنش گفت به شادی که اوباما آمد!

پلوئی دم بکن و پوست بکن بادمجان
که به جانم هوس مرغ و مسما آمد

همسرش گفت که این سمت نیامد، دیدم!
به گمانم که در اطراف یو.اس.آ. آمد

تازه با رأی من و تو که نیامد سر کار
روی آرای همان مردم آنجا آمد

چه کند فرق برای من و تو، بیچاره؟
درد ما را مگر او بهر مداوا آمد

گاومان شیر فزونتر بدهد از فردا؟
بابت ذوق زیادی که اوباما آمد

یا که گاو نرمان هم پس از این شیر دهد؟
روی شوقی که طرف با هی و هورا آمد؟

کو برنجت که پلو خواستی از بهر ناهار؟
مرغ بریان مگر از عالم رؤیا آمد

آنچنان ذوقزده آمده ای، پنداری
که پسرخاله ات از قریۀ بالا آمد

رفع تبعیض نژادی خبری شیرین بود
که به صبحانۀ ما مثل مربا آمد

لیکن این مرد سیاهی که دلت را برده
نه سیاهی است که در قصه و انشا آمد

این سیاهیست که با پول سفیدان جهان
پی افزایش سرمایه به سودا آمد

«آن سیه چُرده که شیرینی عالم با اوست»*
فرصتش ده که ببینی پی یغما آمد

همچنان در به همان پاشنه خواهد چرخید
این یکی از پی نو کردن لولا آمد

چشم پر ماتم افغان و عراقی روشن
بوش تازه نفسی تازه به دنیا آمد

به طرفدار محمد مگرش رحم آید
اینکه با همرهی امت موسا آمد

همسر مشدی حسن گفت «اوبامازدگی»
میکروبش از نفس خاتمی ما آمد

نظر مشدی حسن چون ز اوباما برگشت
با دوتا گاو خودش جانب صحرا برگشت!

The Real Iranian Flag was not represented in this Parade

Americans for a Democratic Republic in Iran.

The people who were the organizers of the Iranian Parade in New york should follow International law.

The 2009 Iranian flag is present at the United Nations.

Please refer to the following site:

//www.un.int/iran/

It has been over 30 years since the Iranian Revolution.  

No government in Iran has lasted as long continuously as the present government in Tehran.

President Obama has wished Ayat'Allah Seyed Ali Khamenei a happy Iranian New Year.

It is high time for Iranians everywhere and anywhere to back direct talks and stand behind the true Iranian flag.

The Iranian flag that helped fight Saddam during the 8 year Iran-Iraq War.

It was this present day Iranian flag that ended a dictatorship that was imposed on the freedom loving Iranian people in 1925.

In 1941 Reza Khan, a dictator was removed by the British.  It must be said it was the British that installed Reza Khan.  It was the Czarist Russians that trained Reza Khan as a Cossak Colonel.  The foreigners installed him and removed him.

From 1941 ro 1953 Mohammad Reza Pahlavi was imposed on the Iranian masses.  During that time, Mohammad Reza did nothing for Iran.  Mohammad Reza married an Egyptian princess named Fowzia.  Fowzia later divorced the Shah.  The Shah remarried to Soraya Esfandiari.  Soraya divorced the Shah because the Shah was a bi-sexual.  The Shah had sexual relations with his male ministers Alam and Ernest Perron.  

In 1953, the Shah was run out of the country.  In a CIA plan the Shah was re-installed in late 1953.

The Shah then ruled with an Iron fist from 1953 to January 16, 1979.

The Shah's secret police SAVAK killed people right and left.

Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch all documented the Shah's attrocities.

On February 11, 1979 the Iranian masses accepted the Revolution and abolished the Iranian monarchy forever.

In 2009 president Hussein Obama has wished Ayat'Allah Khamenei a happy Iranian New Year.

Let us all move on.  it is high time all Iranians move on and ask for direct talks with the Iranian government.

True True Cheshm Sevom! And more!

The old Haji, named Firuz or Firooz, is the troubadour who ushers in the new year with his song, dance and merriment.

Haji Firooz symbolizes the rebirth of the Sumerian god of sacrifice, Domuzi, who was killed at the end of each year and reborn at the beginning of the New Year.

Haji Firooz isn't black all over! JUST HIS FACE!

Ba Derood

First and foremost history gets remixed by the victors. "History is told by those who have hung heroes!"

Our history is muddled because people tend to regurgitate the hearsay not the facts or evidence. If we were to delve further into the text and culture of our people the miseducation of society as a whole would cease to perpetuate itself.

The term Hajji Firooz shouldn't be used in our Persian/Zoroastrian holiday anyways. Hajji signifies his muslimness. Just like those who mix up our calendar year with the Arabic one? What does our Norooz of 5000 plus years have to do with the 1300 years of another culture? Whatever.

For the sake of his misnomer, Hajji Firooz's FACE only his FACE is black from the SOOT aka SMOKE that rises off the fire of enlightenment. He's literally seen the light up close and has been enlightened. That is why he is joyous and celebratory. The blackness is not a racial indicator.

In ancient times this aspect of NoRooz was so prominent that the mayors of towns were literally displaced by the most victorious person in carrying out the commands of Ahura Mazda and his six holy immortals. This victorious (piruz) khwaja or lord was given the rule of the realm for the period. As a part of his duties, Khwaja Piruz saw to it that all the people of the realm were provided with the amenities and joy that were due them. In time, especially after the fall of Iran to the Arabs who would not relinquish rule to defeated foes, the office of Khwaja Piruz deteriorated into its Arabized form, Hajji Firooz. Only the duty of stimulating laughter and providing a good time has remained of what must have been a complex set of social affairs.

"The truth is out there ...if you dare."

Haji Firooz isn't black all over! JUST HIS FACE!

Ba Derood

First and foremost history gets remixed by the victors. "History is told by those who have hung heroes!"

Our history is muddled because people tend to regurgitate the hearsay not the facts or evidence. If we were to delve further into the text and culture of our people the miseducation of society as a whole would cease to perpetuate itself.

The term Hajji Firooz shouldn't be used in our Persian/Zoroastrian holiday anyways. Hajji signifies his muslimness. Just like those who mix up our calendar year with the Arabic one? What does our Norooz of 5000 plus years have to do with the 1300 years of another culture? Whatever.

For the sake of his misnomer, Hajji Firooz's FACE only his FACE is black from the SOOT aka SMOKE that rises off the fire of enlightenment. He's literally seen the light up close and has been enlightened. That is why he is joyous and celebratory. The blackness is not a racial indicator.

In ancient times this aspect of NoRooz was so prominent that the mayors of towns were literally displaced by the most victorious person in carrying out the commands of Ahura Mazda and his six holy immortals. This victorious (piruz) khwaja or lord was given the rule of the realm for the period. As a part of his duties, Khwaja Piruz saw to it that all the people of the realm were provided with the amenities and joy that were due them. In time, especially after the fall of Iran to the Arabs who would not relinquish rule to defeated foes, the office of Khwaja Piruz deteriorated into its Arabized form, Hajji Firooz. Only the duty of stimulating laughter and providing a good time has remained of what must have been a complex set of social affairs.

"The truth is out there ...if you dare."

Patriotic duty & brass

As a fine patriot keep repeating that racism is in the eye of the beholder.

I rest my case. 

It takes brass..

Just because someone else is controling the MIC, you are proposing for your race to ban or alter a beloved character of it's culture? And isn't it enough for you to see the impressonable Mehrban's alike buy into the propeganda and label Hajee firooz as a slave?

Rest assured I got it the moement you wrote your first post and I found it to be my patriotic duty (to both of my beloved lands) to spend whatever time that's needed to respond. You may not get it now, but the beauty of life is that sooner or later it will force you to assert some brass, unless you surrender and let it run you over completely.

By the way I noticed 3 more african americans participating on Javid's latest photos from NY. One looks like he is "shaking it" just a few short feet away from Hajee Firooz (damesh garm) himeslf.

"Racism is in the eye of the

"Racism is in the eye of the beholder ..." The authors of these recent cartoons said the same thing:

//www.journalstandard.com/archive/x1658746053...

//www.flickr.com/photos/bpryde/2951038774/

You either get it or you don't. Has nothing to do with anything else.

For Mehrban

This debate is becoming juvenile. (no pot shot, just an overvation) Here is why:

//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:About

Please note: "Wikipedia is written collaboratively by volunteers from all around the world; anyone can edit it" Therefore, just because a search on your source site doesn't recognize Haji Firooz, then it doesn't mean he didn't exist or since he is black he must have been a slave. Racism is in the eye of the beholder so please give people the benefit of the doubt.

Anonymous... I've made my

Anonymous... I've made my points and wasn't referencing you in particular but if you felt that way so be it. You either get it or you don't.

Rudolph has a clear history

As per Wikipedia, 

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is a character created in a story and song by the same name. The story was created by Robert L. May in 1939 as part of his employment with Montgomery Ward.

The story is owned by The Rudolph Company, L.P. and has been sold in numerous forms including a popular song, a television special (done in stop motion animation), and a feature film. Character Arts, LLC[1] manages the licensing for the Rudolph Company, L.P.

The song (first recorded in 1949 by Gene Autry) tells the tale of Santa Claus's ninth and lead reindeer who possesses an unusually red-colored nose that gives off its own light, powerful enough to illuminate the team's path through inclement weather.

Don't take it personal...

After it was mentioned in an earlier post, I do in fact recall scripts that played out during live theater (back in early 70's) about how hajee firooz turned black! Do you also require evidence about Rudolph the red nose raindeer or Santa Clause?

Norooz, the comment on writing fication to Mehrban was a compliment and not a pot shot. And you are still venting instead of making an intellectual contribution.

Becoming consumed with or altering one's tradition to accomodate to a bully is the solution for the paranoid or the weak. (it's an observation not a pot shot) Racism is often in the eyes of the beholder and if you are willing to alter your roots as a matter of accomodatiing to someone elses ignorance, then you are the product of the media's propeganda and indirect abusive views toward Iran, and Iranian's by association. (this is a fact not a pot shot)

Souri, I think streets full of car greese and homeless urine is no place for our new year celebration. A Parade is just another parade, which is more of the same. It's ultimate purpose will be to further prop up Macy's Thanksgiving and Passadina's grandios annual affairs. Iranians are too clever and too creative to not come up with a more original and unique venue.

Haji Firouz is not a symbol

Of racism.
In reality it was the celebration for the servants and freed slaves that this figure came to being. However in today world it's not proper to continue this symbol in this way. We can just forget the paint part while having the core in place.

Mehraban

Some people are just set that way, tying sky and nylon and feel satisfied and happy by just taking pot shots at others.

Persian Party in New York

Thesis:Iranians had never been racist.
Prove: Zal was borned with white hairs. His father gave him to simorgh. Because he thought zal is not from a healthy race, not from his race.The wises of the clan blamed him. because they noticed the racistical thoughts behind the action. So the father asked simrorgh to bring his son back. later on zal falls in love with rudabe, a afghan girl. Against his father was against marriage. he argued Rudabe is not from their own race. again was he blamed by the wises. so he agreed and zal could marry his beloved rudabe.
All this story can be read in Shahname. Every body can be convinced that racism was known and hated by iranians thousand years ago. today it is the same. I politely make the remark: haji firuz has nothing to do with such interpretations. better one does something positiv and profitable than truncate everything which comes from Islamic Republic of Iran. Dividing the human beeings in 4 different races is originaly an imperialistik idea. And human beeings exist only in two different skin cotours. not 4. White and black. Both are beutiful.

The Anonymous

Thanks for your wise comment. As for your last sentence:

"With that said, I still think a street parade devalues our aide."

It seems that many of the people here don't know how that parade goes. It is on Madison Ave, in Manhattan, where all stores and business are closed on Sunday. This area of Manhattan is a real desert on Sunday.

Plus, the car traffic is closed cause of the parade. The only people who are there to watch are mostly Iranian (%98), and the %2 non-Iranian are, those friends of the Iranian who are already familiar with the Iranian culture and tradition. So, there is a very very little (almost zero) risk of shocking the public.

There's also another famous parade in Manhattan, Easter Parade, which usually happens the second Sunday after the Persian parade. This one is mostly for the New yorker with a great presentation of different hats......On that day, again, there are only people who are familiar and interested to that tradition, who participate and watch.

New york city is a fascinating city and peopel over there are used to see all and everything, Nothing shock them. Especially nothing about other's culture and tradition.

Dear Annonymous and Maziar

You keep repeating this thing about the fire with no evidence. I am relying on the lyrics of what most representatives of this figure sing as far as I know none of them mention just having made a fire.

"There is nothing remotely there" ??? Who are you kidding?

Also, if getting beaten up is the only standard which compels us to examine our cultural icons then it says a lot about us. 

توضیح محکمه پسند و مستند در مورد حاجی فیروز

is available by the cultur-exploration-sorces in the Islamic Republic of Iran. One may ask just by the nearest iranian officials in abroad. Also per eMail.
According to ANNONUMOUS: As long as the true identification of the blogger is unknown, so is every one annonymous no matter how She/he is named.
I think: better let the political assesments aside. Then one is capable to enjoy the spring, the beginn of the new year and may also help with a few hundred tumans those who awaken the spring feelings of the mass. Some of these individuals are: AMU NOWRUZ & HAJI FIRUZ.
In jame jam 1 and jame jam 2 they show a lot of cultural happenings including dances and songs of haji Firuz. Greeting

Come on....

Norooz --- If you follow and review the previous posts more carefully you'll find good reasons and arguments in favor of sticking with the tradition. I can't tell if you are responding to the argument or venting your frustration over the issue. Flying fists are common to suburbs and too miniscule to deter someone with conviction not to mention a little street smarts. Conflicts in big cities are dealt with in much more violent manner than fists, but unless you are a victim of a robbery gone bad, it takes some doing for things to escalate to that level. Also, your comparison to guys in chaps walking in Iran is not a fair comparison because we are here and contributing to the melting pot of diversity and its anything goes culture. Iran never blasts such claim.

Mehrban --- I am a pesareh arab and there is nothing remotely there to resemble your description, comparison and affiliation of Hajee Firooz with slavery. Please don't confuse employement with slavery. Also, Hajee firooz's face is black because he was working on building the fire. (aren't you following the thread??) He was not taken from the south or forced to dance and make others laugh against his will. You have a strong (and potentially destructive) imagination and if you are not one already, you should consider becoming a fiction writer.

And did I see a photo of an african american women celebrating along with the rest of the eyeranians?

Why should the media's degration of Iran make us gun shy to stick to protecting our tradition in its true form or take steps to healing past scars of our western society. With that said, I still think a street parade devalues our aide.

Haji Firouz in NY

Whoever think, Haji Firouz on the street of NYC could look odd, has never been there on a Persian parade and doesn't know what he/she is talking about.

none pc (politcal correctnes) for noo rooz fun..

as of today tuesday, he (haji firooz)was not attacked or beaten by no new yorker except some smart a.. persians,,

and they been parading for some 20+ years now.

The more I think about it

Haji Firooz is in reference to a slave that had to sing and dance in a majority white country of Iran.  He does say repeatedly,

Arbab khodam salam alykom, most his other verses start with Arbab too. we all know what Arbab means and in what contexts it has been used in Iran.

He also has a speach peculiarity in many occasions he does not have the same accent or the proper pronunciation of words which may indicates that he may be of a foreign origin.     

In addition, he does say at times, inja beshkanam in gheleh dareh, onja beshkanam on gheleh dareh.  These verses could speak of his frustration with his lack of control of his own actions (okay that may be a stretch but should be considered.) You know, I actually do not see a substantive difference between a Minstrel show (as ilustrated by Hamid E) and a blackened face Haji Firooz.

If we have (not- knowingly) done something and found it funny at others' expense what is wrong with looking at it again and test its validity and if at the end we find it offensive and racist which I am beginning to be certain that this one even in its Iranian roots is, then we should change. What is wrong with that? 

Delete

Pls delete double post.

Whoever thought it was a

Whoever thought it was a good idea to take a white man, dress him in red and paint his face black, and have him bounce around in the middle of new york city was a real jack ass. Haji Firooz rules and we all love the guy but for god's sake in the middle of new york? Come one people, exercise some discretion. Bring him to your grocery stores and Iranian Norooz concerts but keep him away from place where he can get beaten up.

"... but we are not giving

"... but we are not giving the African Amnerican communty enough credit here. They are smart and forgiving."

Yes of course they and American people in general are very forgiving. Remember Borat? What would an Iranian in Iran do if Borat had decided to make his documentary in Iran instead of America? Would we have been equally forgiving?

Just because they are forgiving does not mean we have to be so lazy and inconsiderate to do whatever we want. Of course we CAN do it as we can see from these photos. But what is the point? Do you want the focus to be on a seemingly negative aspect of our culture as it glaryingly clashes with the prevailing culture? This is not just about black America. Do you want to "explain" Haji Firooz? What do (White Anglo Saxon People) WASPs have anything to do here? We can insult people because we are not WASPs? Or is it just to throw in the word WASP?

How would we feel (not Iranians outside Iran) if someone goes in the streets of Tehran and start cursing Muhammad, Hassan and Hossein and drags few half naked leather spandex wearing sex crazed S&M maniacs in dog leashes? I know SOME men may cheer them on but what about others in the same streets?

We are always ready to stab wildly because of our freaking "culture" with total disregard to what "our culture" really means. News flash; "our culure" is jack squat if it is imposing on others. It is irrelevant. Some latin American's cultures (countries name are witheld now) is to do animal abuse and set bull's horns on fire and parade them in streets. Should they parade "their culture" in the streets of New York?

There are those who honestly don't know and are presented here with explanation. Of those people, some think about it and say yes it is offensive and we don't have to be so selfish.

Others will tie sky and nylon and make this a defense about so called "culture". Those people will stay the same no matter what, just to argue and I really don't care.

Perhaps in one of these Norooz parades somewhere in America one of these days they'll be confronted with an equally ignorant and impatient American (just like themselves) and it'll be explained to them by fists, instead of explanations and dialogue. I won't care then either. If I hear in the news that some blackfaced Iranian was beaten on the occasion of Norooz I'll know why and I hope ya'll know too ;-)

happy for ever

haji firooz has nothing to to do with black or slavery; come on guys are you trying to give NAACP another venue to bark at you every friday night at your door step for compensation and reprimendation of anglo's mistakes ?