Archive - Sep 2008 - Article

مانيفست درماندگی؟

بخش هائی از گفتگوی آقای اکبر گنجی با راديو فردا براستی اسف برانگيز است. کسی که روزگاری به کنفرانس برلين آمده بود تا توضيح دهد که چرا اصلاح طلبی آيندهء ايران را رقم می زند، و بخاطر آن به زندان افتاد، و در زندان دست به مبارزه زد، اعتصاب غذا کرد، «خامنه ای بايد برود» را نوشت، «مانيفست جمهوری خواهی» را رقم زد، تبديل به يک قهرمان ملی شد، و آنگاه يک باره و غافلگير خلاصش کردند و پاسپورتش را به دستش دادند تا از کشور خارج شده و جايزهء های رنگارنگ حقوق بشر و دموکراسی خواهی و روزنامه نويسی را درو کند و شهروند افتخاری شهرهای استخواندار دنيا شود و با بزرگان عالم انديشه بنشيند و برخيزد، اکنون ـ دو سال و اندی از آن خروج، و در پی ده ها نامه و مقاله نگاری، اعتصاب غذا و سخنرانی ـ نتيجهء مطالعاتش را از ميکروفن راديو فردا، به مخاطبان نشسته در ايران، چنين گزارش می کند که: «آن چيزی که الان هست٬ صرفاً ادعا است ـ ادعای اين که اپوزيسيون وجود دارد. ولی واقعيت مطلب اين است که اپوزيسيونی که منتهی به عمل شود اصلاً وجود خارجی ندارد».>>>

Persia in Shakespeare

Shakespeare was interested in the travels of his countrymen. He dealt with or touched upon foreign trade and commerce in several of his plays. He must have read some books and pamphlets on the travels of the Sherleys in particular. In the autumn of 1601 a little book by William Parry was published in London. Parry had accompanied Sir Anthony from the beginning of his journey. On his return to England he wrote his book that was the first on the travels of the Sherleys to Persia. It is “an account of Sir Anthony’s journey from England to Italy and then to Antioch, Aleppo down the Euphrates to Babylon, across the Tigris River into Persian territory to Qazvin, the former capital thence to Isfahan the new capital, the seat of Shah Abbas, the Sophy...>>>

If I were a Shiite

The latest effort of Ayatollah Montazeri in defending the civil rights of the Bahais is yet more evidence of his historic bravery. The significance of his remarkable defense of the Bahai community and the civil rights of the Bahais is underscored even more when, even after his declaration, we still find only a handful of religious intellectuals who concur in supporting the civil rights of the Bahais. And the one or two who have found the courage to speak in support of the civil rights of the Bahai community have gained this courage after the brave pronouncement of Ayatollah Montazeri, as otherwise, most likely they would have continued with their deafening silence on this vital issue>>>

Perils of the Persian Gulf

As an academic of at least 40 years of research experience in geographical, historical, political and legal affairs of the Persian Gulf, I do not find it easy to see continued conspiracies against Iran, her territorial rights and integrity and the consequential threats to peace and security of that region without trying to voice out the concern of the people of Iran as well as that of other peace-loving people of the region. These concerns are provoked by racially inclined activities against Iran’s historical identity, her national dignity, and her territorial integrity along the line of former Baath party’s anti-Persian legacy >>>

Selling sex

In my usual travels abroad, one thing has become clear, I always had the most “fun” when I was travelling in former communist and current socialist nations like Poland, Czech Republic, and Cuba. I have difficulty explaining to you why my opposite sex in these countries seems to be more receptive to my approach and more likely to hold my hands and build bridges with me. However, I can re-iterate some possible answers that have crossed my conversations. Some friends suggest that it is perhaps the perception of someone from a rich nation like Canada that makes these people excited for my love. >>>

سوم تیر و ٢٨ مرداد

بر خلاف نظر نویسندگان موافق کودتا و مخالف مصدق، نمی بایستی اهمیت سیاسی ٢٨ مرداد را نفی کرد و کاهش داد، بلکه می بایستی در کنار یادآوری این کودتا، کودتاهای دیگری نیز که علیه مشروطیت روی داده است را مرتب یاد آور شد تا شاید این یادآوری ها چون سپری از آگاهی در پندار و گفتار و کردار جامعه مدنی از بروز کودتایی مشابه علیه دموکراسی آتی در ایران پیشگیری کند. در این زمینه، کودتای سوم تیر ١٢٨٧ محمد علی شاه قاجار علیه مشروطیت که توأم با توپ بستن مجلس بود، نمونه بارزی است. بررسی کودتای محمد علی شاه علیه مشروطیت از آنروی اهمیت دارد که دلایل آن شباهت ویژه ای با دلایلی دارد که منجر به کودتای علیه حکومت مشروطه مصدق شد. درپایه، محمد علی شاه و محمد رضا شاه محدودیت قانون اساسی مبنی بر تشریفاتی بودن مقام پادشاه را پذیرا نبودند و متوجه اهمیت بزرگ این مطلب نبودند که ((سلطنت ودیعه ایست که به موهبت الهی از طرف ملت بشخص پادشاه مفوض شده است)).>>>

Dah-e Shast

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OOBAAMAA

Bay Area Iranian American Democrats (BAIAD) held a special public event featuring Steve Westly, the former candidate for California governor and co-chair of Obama’s campaign as the keynote speaker. The eloquent MC, Lily Sarafan, started the event by welcoming everyone and introducing the agenda for the evening which included a roster of speakers and grassroots community organizers. The first speaker was Ira Ruskin, the California assemblyman from the 21st district who has led key efforts on environmental issues. Ira commended the Iranian American community for taking the lead in becoming one of the fastest politically active ethnic groups in America; according to him it took other immigrant minorities many generations to realize the value of activism and civic participation>>>

The End of the War on Terrorism

We are SO happy to announce that the Cold War is not over after all! The bad guys are still the Russians! Whew! It was a rough patch there, the breakup of the USSR, then the nice-guy premiers they had, old pal Gorbie, Yeltsin drunk but friendly, the oligarchs, it looked like the Russkies were just homeys with a heavy accent. What were we gonna do? Do you remember back twelve years, twenty, what was it? The fall of the Berlin Wall! Détente! Friendship! Mir! Drüg! Hoo boy, what was going to happen to all those unneeded defense dollars? Remember? Nobody knew, the talking heads, Ted Kennedy, the Repubs. For a while there Ronnie Reagan had a Star Wars thing going but then he went to Reykjavik and almost called off the arms race! That’s how close it was.>>>

Sandwiched in Tradition

“Two slices of limp bread with a bland filling, doth not a sandwich make”. Aristotle? Not quite. I hold my hand up to this statement. In a world where time is if the essence and gourmet meals are fast becoming ‘De Rigueur’…I ask you, is the humble sandwich still able to cut the mustard in the cut-throat world of delis and ready-to-eat Gastrodomes? My friends, alas I fear for its extinction. Long gone are the days of a simple sandwich with two slices of normal white bread, a humble yet fresh filling, simply sliced in half and eaten quietly in the tranquil confines of our own homes. These days a sandwich isn’t a sandwich anymore! >>>

Caught in troubles by a few

Translated from the Hebrew by Miriam Shlesinger, this bestselling semi-autobiographical novel, Let it be Morning* by famed 30-year old Israeli-Arab journalist Sayed Kashua, exhibits a haunting and highly-disturbing narrative, comprising a series of political events that revolve around one reporter's brooding introspection of modern day Israel. Rude awakenings promise to seal the character's changed identity permanently and without consent. It is the unnamed character's shock at seeing his township being rapidly stripped away of its familiar Arabic history and territorial links with Israel, that the reader must reluctantly come to terms with>>>

پنبه های فشرده در زمان

دستم را از پنجره ی قطار بیرون می آورم پنبه های زمان را به دست می گیرم فشارش می دهم . چکه های آب به آرامی بیرون می ریزد. کف دستم را باز می کنم در لابه لای شیارهای دستم آب جمع می شود. به داخل کوپه ام می روم _ به آرامی می نوشم . طعمش زبانم را بی حس می کند و روحم را نوازش! دفتر کاغدی ام را باز می کنم. مداد قهوه ای رنگ را از جیب کتم بیرون می آورم دست چپم را سایه بان چشمانم می کنم تا آفتاب سفید کاغذ را نورانی نکند _ چون می خواهم از تو بنویسم. چون می خواهم از نوشته ام نور تو بتابد نه نور خورشید!>>>

Elect is not from Electronic

I read the constitution
from end to end,
not as a lawyer
or looking to find
justification
for my own belief,
but for its simplicity
of passionate words
that strike a chord >>>

Teaching grandma

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Persian Gulf's "occupied territory"

Last month, Tehran announced it was building maritime offices on the Persian Gulf island of Abu Musa, reigniting the long-standing territorial dispute between Iran and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Since 1970, the disagreement over the island and the neighboring Greater and Lesser Tunbs has been mired in legal uncertainty and historical claims and counterclaims, hindering diplomatic relations between Iran and the Gulf Arab states. The recent diplomatic intensity surrounding the issue, however, including the UAE's August 21 formal protest to UN secretary-general Ban Ki-Moon, is a significant break from the past, and may be a forerunner to a future escalation>>>