Archive - Apr 2008 - Article

يک مرتد و هزار مفتی

نوانديشی های آقای سروش نه بر ضد يا در رد تشيع امامی که در جهت تقويت مبانی آن است. با اين همه، بنظر می رسد که در حوزهء انديشهء تشيع امامی عارف و عامی، هر دو، حقی برای اين سرباز فداکار دين، و نوانديشی که اغلب نوانديشان ديگر امامی خود را به او منتسب می دارند، قائل نيست که در مورد دين خود بيانديشد و راهی برای انسانی تر کردن آن بيابد. يعنی، در واقع، اين «خودی بودن» اوست که کار دست آقای سروش داده. مثلاً، آيت الله سبحانی همهء دردش آن است که: «او (يعنی سروش)، با آن چهره نوراني و بيان شيرين، روزگاري مدرس نهج‌البلاغه بود. خطبهء‌‌ همام را به نحو دلپذيري تفسير مي‌كرد، چه شد كه از اين گروه اين همه فاصله گرفت؟>>>

دريا از آن من

ساحل فقط جای تماشا بود
و لم دادن سبکباران
اما در انفجار بزرگ
در سفر  پيدايش؛
از توآموختم بر موج برقصم
و جز بر پرواز و صبح آرام نگيرم

>>>

Looking down on others

If I go around saying all Iranians are terrorists, I should not be surprised when Iranians respond by saying all Americans are backward, cultureless, ignorant rednecks. Stereotyping is a vicious cycle that feeds on itself. When the members of any two groups of people start seeing themselves as vastly different from one another it begins to impair their powers of perception, they gradually begin to see the other, through the blurring lens of intolerance, as inferior, and they fail to remember that we were all born with ten fingers and toes and that we all bleed red when we’re cut. Weren’t we all innocent at one point in our lives before we learned how to hate, for hating is surely a learned skill?>>>

Do Politicians Dream of Electric Sheep?

Okay, I like the Dutch as much as the next person, or actually I like them more than most people I know. I like their language, despite all the “ch” sounds (that is KH, a hard, laryngeal sound not dissimilar to one cleaning one’s throat), I like their country, and I like their penchant for the provocative and the controversial. Recently, I dragged my girlfriend through the streets of Amsterdam during a five hour stop-over in Schipol on my way from Athens to Los Angeles. She hated it, and it was cold, and all the stores were closed (we got there at 9am), but I loved it. I even want to live there, if possible, but apparently I will not be really welcome, looking at the way Mr. Wilders is warning his fellow Netherlanders. Why?>>>

Close Up

The ever growing pool of exceptional talents offers a great opportunity to bridge the Iranian film community at large working both within the Diaspora or in Iran with that of Hollywood and the independent film society across North America. Iranian American Producer Siamak Ghahremani has filled in this necessary gap by founding the Noor Film Festival (NFF) which will be holding its 2nd annual this weekend in Hollywood. A glittering event and much welcomed initiative that acknowledges contemporary film and acting achievements while paving the way for future aspiring talents. I had the opportunity to talk to Mr. Ghahremani and learn more about his Noor Film Festival. >>>

My American Mother

My American mother says,
`In the next circle of life
I want to become
A tall, shade tree.` >>>

گناه

گرچه مترجمان بسیاری هم سعی داشته اند تا شعر فروغ را به زبان انگلیسی برگردانند و گاه ترجمه های غنی از ایشان خوانده ام اما بی شک شعله ولپی با حس شاعرانه و ممتاز خود یکی از زیباترین ترجمه های اشعار فروغ را در گلچین گناه برای خوانندگان به ارمغان آورده است. شعله با انتخاب و ترجمه این اشعار در عین حال به آگاه کردن مردم به وجود سانسور در ایران پرداخته است. بسیاری در جهان در مورد نقض حقوق بشر و استبداد حاکم بر ایران می دانند. با این وجود وظیفه هنرمند آن است که باز به افشای ستم بپردازد و توجه هر چه بیشتر جهانیان را به آن جلب کند. شعله با داشتن نامی آشنا در جامعه ادبی انگلیسی زبان به این مهم پرداخته است. وی در این تلاش یکی ازموفقترین ترجمه ها از شعر فروغ را ارائه داده است.>>>

Winning the War on Terrorism

Thus far, the so called war on terrorism has not produced the ideal outcome the Bush Administration had hoped for. Administration officials believe that any back down such as the partial withdrawal of US troops out of Iraq may be construed as defeat and will embolden the extremists. Therefore, the US has to continue for as long as necessary at whatever cost. In his speech in 9/07, Bush stated that further terrorist attacks are invited by the perception of weakness; a show of force is needed to minimize such attacks. I believe such argument is fallacious at best. The terrorists do not attack the US because they think the US is weak or strong. On the contrary this mentality may provoke more attacks. >>>

Our New Day Begins

The most noteworthy aspect of the “election game” of the 8th parliament of the Islamic Republic of Iran, was the endeavor of those persons and groups who were active players , to appear as if each possessed an optimal plan. Among those laying claim to power, each faction sought to use any means, including character assassination, in order to present their choices as the most effective. But in fact neither the option of participation, nor that of boycott could be considered intelligent and true options for the Iranian society, and the promoters of none of these options, even should those backing participation win some of the coveted seats , had an effective program for the day after the elections.>>>

خاطرات شاطر علی

شاطر علی از قدیم و ندیم به دو چیز وابسته و دلبند بوده. چیز اول واضح و آشکاره! کسی که شاطر علی گذری و دست دوّم هم که بشناسه، میدونه وابستگی اولش چیچیه! همونه دیگه...سیاهی! تریاک! نعشه جات! افیون! دلبستگی دوم شاطر مرغ و خروس بوده! تا ما یادمون هست شاطر علی تو حیاط خلوت یا رو پشت بومش قفس مرغ و خروس براه بوده. بذار این جوری بهت بگم، آخرین باری که شاطر علی از دکون تخم مرغ خریده ملا علی مشهدیه هنوز روضه ده تومنی میخونده! بگذریم، منظورم اینه که این شاطر سی سال مرغ و خروس باز بوده! و خوب البته همزمانش تریاکی هم بوده! >>>

Hate vs Hate

A new film entitled Fitna, the Arabic word for ‘dissension’, by Geert Wilders, a rightwing Dutch parliamentarian, shouldn't be suppressed and should be made widely available for all to see. Not because it has anything valuable or insightful to offer in the debates and discussions surrounding Islam, modernity or the convulsions wracking much of the Middle East. Quite the contrary, it must be seen so that it can be openly criticized and shown up for the insipid propaganda video it is. To suppress the film in the name of political correctness has been a gross miscalculation, which has only gone to underscore the seductive mystery its creators have cleverly cultivated>>>

Bring back America's better half

The U.S. is a global power, and it can remain powerful basically through fair mutual relationships with other nations. While we influence many events in the world, our economic prosperity is also partially rooted in other nations, and in the age of globalization American interests ultimately cannot be protected by militarization of foreign policy. In global relations, America has helped the people of some nations to achieve better lives, but at the same time it has also recognized and supported some of the most brutal regimes in the world. In recent years, because of abuses at Guantanamo and Abu Ghraib, the U.S. has lost much of its credibility as an advocate of human rights and democracy>>>

پتياره

با بلوغ همه چيز حتي بوي بدن آدم تغيير مي كند و تازه خيلي علامت ها ، اتفاق ها براي آدم معني دار تر مي شود و ديگر شنيدن خيلي از ديالوگ ها و برخوردهاي اجتماعي يا ديدن نگاه ها اشاره ها ، بي معني و عجيب نمي شود. بلوغ آدم را وارد لانه ي مورچه ها مي كند و مي گويد كه مدام بايد به دنبال شيريني رفت و به دستش آورد و شايد اگر شد براي بعدها ذخيره اش كرد. در عوض اعصاب آدم از چيزهاي جديدي خرد مي شود كه قبلا پشيزي ارزش نداشت. احساس هاي دوگانه اي در مقابل خيلي ها به آدم دست مي دهد. ناموس ، پرستيدني مي شود اما با دوست دختر خيلي چيزها را مي شود گفت و خيلي كارها را مي شود كرد. >>>