Archive - Aug 2007

Misguided rights

In the mid twentieth century, US-Iran relations prospered. Many Americans celebrated Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi as a model king. President Lyndon B. Johnson pronounced in 1964: "What is going on in Iran is about the best thing going on anywhere in the world". During the 1970's Iran's Shah propelled Iran into becoming a dynamic middle-east regional power. The Shah implemented broad economic and social reforms, including enhanced rights for women, and religious and ethnic minorities. Economic and educational reforms were adopted, initiatives to cleanse politics of social upheaval were systematized, and the civil service system was reformed.>>>

A swift change

Last Sunday, my good friend Bill invited me to be his guest at the final round of the LPGA Safeway Classic tournament. The ladies were in town, playing at what I've come to call Bill's 'alternate residence" or, if you prefer, hangout: Columbia-Edgewater CC. This annual event provides the Portland married male population a live opportunity to find out what our 39th president, Jimmy Carter, meant by 'committing adultery in the heart," for this bevy of talented golfers do an extraordinary job to help choreograph the stage for lust. But fear not, I won't get into the subject of lust, or a dissertation on why these LPGA girls really rock beyond the promotional PR. Nor is my subject the current top player in women's golf, Lorena Ochoa, the winner this time ˆ her third consecutive victory after the recent crowning as Lady Top Gun. >>>

Total control

The Islamic Republic of Iran has the dubious distinction of executing more children, those under the age of 18, than any other country in the world. Such is the plight of the Iranian people. Iran’s ruling Mullahs are clustered around major factions such as the conservatives, the moderates, and the so-called reformists. Yet, the differences among these factions are tactical rather than strategic. One and all share the same overarching goal of defeating the “Crusader-Zionists” by any and all methods possible, bringing about the “end of the world” Armageddon, and thereby creating the requisite conditions for the appearance of the Hidden Imam, the Mahdi, to assume his rule of the world. >>>

نقد نظر یا نقد شخص؟

می دانید که زندانیان سیاسی برخی اوقات برای فرار از شکنجه و فشار بازجویان اطلاعات سوخته ای را به نشانه همکاری خود در اختیار بازجویان می گذارند. چرا حال که به انگیزه شناسی و روانشناسی آقای میلانی در برخورد با پلیس سیاسی پرداخته اید، لااقل احتمال چنین عملی را از سوی ایشان نداده اید؟ شما آگاهید که بخاطر فشارهای وارده در نظام های سرکوبگر، مبارزان سیاسی به علت "انسان" بودن و در نتیجه دارا بودن حدود مختلفی در تحمل فشار و شکنجه های جسمی و روحی ممکن است در مراحلی برخلاف نظرات واقعی خویش مطالبی را بیان کنند، بنویسند یا آنکه برای رهایی از زندان ندامت نامه ای را نیز امضا کنند. >>>

Gholaam Flake

His name is not Gholaam but he is a flunky type at times (nookar sefat)ˆ servant of his needs for women. One of my Turkish friends calls him "amjugh parast"! It is not necessarily a bad  thing except when you combine it with "being flaky" which can cause trouble for everybody around him. What do I mean? Well when it comes to women who provide him with what he needs or when he knows a new woman and wants to get into her pants, he does everything! Absolutely everything! What a lover, a servant, a friend, a father may do. >>>

طالبان های اروپائی

هفته گذشته روزنامه نرکیس آله هاندا که در شهر اوره برو سوئد و در تیراژ حدود 100000 نسخه چاپ میشود عکس های مستهجنی از محمد پیامبر مسلمانان چاپ کرد که دقیقا نشانگر اهدافی خاص میباشد از آنجائیکه به افکار طرفداران عقیدتی با این مسئله برخورد و این نکته را میشکافند؛ در اینجا بدان پرداخته نمیشود . بلکه لازم است در رابطه با ادعای دروغین آزادی بیان برای چاپ چنین چیزهائی در سوئد و مخصوصا این نشریه که خود من با آن تجربه ای دارم پرداخته شود.>>>

Command of man broadens hope

This Iran never did, nor never shall,
Give way to the repression of black conqueror,
But when it first did help to restore itself.
Now these her braves are well nurtured again,
Come from every corners of world in intellect arms,
And we shall shock them: nought shall make us rue,
If Iran to itself do rest but true. >>>

Technically speaking, war is actually obsolete.

This isn’t a war, this is a transition team sent in by corporate during a disastrous merger! And the unwilling stock holders in this blunder are us! Recently the administration seems to be on a strange “come clean“ kick. President Bush has finally admitted that the execution of the war has not been “perfect”, and some “mistakes were made”. Almost chuckling. >>>

Laissez les bons temps rouler!

It was around this time 2 years ago, actually in June, when my good friend Fardad and I, went on a short hop business trip to New Orleans to attend a tradeshow. With all of the news surrounding the Big Easy since, and the somewhat uncertain road back to normal life and the living, I thought it might be a good time to make a travel recommendation to all of you. Suffice it to say, a visit to New Orleans is always in order, always a good idea. After you have been to this wonderful place, just once, you will understand a couple things. First, nothing but nothing will dissuade the indomitable character of New Orleans, not a pissant bitch-named-Katrina storm, not flooding, not un-maintained failing levees, not an inept FEMA, not even God. There is simply too much pure sensual spirit in New Orleans for that.>>>

If you look like a wuss, we have good news for you!

What are YOUR stereotypes of Iranian men? My own personal stereotype of an Iranian man would definitely differentiate between East Coast (holla!) and West Coast (wassup?). Also, undoubtedly, there's a big difference between the Iranian man of southern cali (clad in gold/platinum chains) and northern cali (with intellectual pretensions). >>>

Enduring endearment

Global communication and the urge to become one with the world has brought on drastic changes and bent a few rigid rules. Long gone are the days when we used different greeting for different people. Just three decades ago, you never said goodbye to your seniors with “Bye” or even the common term of ghorbanat – meaning may I be sacrificed for you! Instead, where I grew up, you had to say sayeh-toon-kam nasheh -- may your shadow never diminish. Or Marhamat-e-shoma-ziyad -- may your favors increase! The undertone was understood, yet such formal expressions often required additional gestures such as a bow, hand kissing, or simply standing up. I never understood why my father said taazeem arz meekonam when talking on the phone, and to this day can’t imagine the need to verbally bow to anyone. >>>

Me and the Campaign on Vozara Street

When Lyda left, we were all quiet... We were thinking about her ill-fated marriage and her silence in facing the separation... When we passed Haft Hoz Bookstore, we saw the members of the security forces surrounded by a crowd of people. Ehsan told me jokingly: "They are going to arrest you now." I was wearing no make up and I was distressed, my mind still occupied with Lyda’s black eye. So, I laughed. A chador-clad policewoman came charging towards me and said: "Come with me for a few moments." >>>