Archive - Apr 28, 2010 - Article

Fault-Lines and Hem-Lines

Boobquake was rightly making a mockery of a comment made by a moronic cleric in the Islamic Republic. Brainquake’s - HEY EVERYBODY WE HAVE BRAINS! – project is further unpalatable because of its pandering to a challenge that women should not even be engaged in; we should not have to sell ourselves and our accomplishments, we should not have to sell our boobs or our brains; if after more than a century of struggle for our inalienable rights we are still shouting these banal and insipid statements as women - perhaps it is us and our movement that needs a shaking at the core, and not mother earth>>>

War propaganda, Obama style!

The challenge that the Obama administration faces is creating a second and third phase in their approach that could take away any kind of comparison with the war on Iraq. It would by then even be necessary to focus on other aspects of the Iranian government, other than their nuclear program, to create a more legitimate political narrative in support of a military intervention. Perhaps the Obama administration will use a different principle of Anne Morelli, namely the focus on the humanitarian need to a military intervention>>>

Iranian Diaspora Needs to Act

The Iranian Diaspora has so far led a very symbolic and largely ineffective role in what is happening in their country because of these self-imposed restraints. True, there were many protests in the few months after the June 12 election. However, thus far there are very few PACs, lobbying groups and such to work to promote the cause for Iran's democratization. Furthermore, few intellectuals are willing to openly come out and declare their support for the Green Movement And let's not underestimate the power of political involvement>>>

راههای طی شده (3)

در قرون 16 و 17 در اروپا پس از جنگها و قتل عامهای گسترده میان فرق گوناگون مسیحیت اصل تحمل مذهبی به کرسی نشست. یعنی همۀ طرفهای مبارزه دریافتند که هرچند دست تا مرفق به خون مخالفان آلوده داشته باشند قادر به حذف خشونت بار رقبا از میدان نخواهند بود و برای ختم نبرد بی پایان دینی به اصل "بیائید بپذیریم که عقائد یکدیگر را نمی پذیریم" گردن نهادند.2 این تحملِِِ ِ حد اقل، هر چند کشمکش بین ادیان را از جنگ گرم به جنگ سرد تبدیل کرد اما گامی معنا دار به سوی تفاهم در میان مذاهب به شمار می آید>>>

Back to the Torture (Part II)

"They pulled out my toenail
then clubbed me until I fell."
"I asked why am I in jail?
in answer, they fractured my head."
"In solidary confinement
for weeks I thought I was dead."
>>>