Archive - Oct 2011 - Article

The Enemies Of Happiness

In the first years of war nothing looked like any of the images we’d seen in the movies. Tehran’s trees didn’t grow burnt leaves, or dead dangling legs. The mountains of the north, bordering the city, didn’t vanish behind fuming hurricanes of smoke. The black flock of planes didn’t drop bombs over the shelters where women and children screamed and hopeless men held their heads high to die with dignity or patriotism. An expanding mushroom cloud didn’t rise in the horizon to give us incurable diseases>>>

The blue lake of tears (6)

"My dear Princess,” said Mother Simorq, “a huge dreadful-looking frog has stopped at the garden gates, asking permission to enter the Castle. I suppose he is your friend, the Frog-Prince?” “Oh my! I’m sure he is. What can I do now? What does he want?” “No matter what his demands, this is a great opportunity for you to welcome your Shadow-Prince,” said Mother Simorq, fixing her reassuring gaze on Nisha. “Nothing but good will come out of this meeting.”>>>

اوهام

اوهام فرمانبردار
ساقه خراشید درخت
فصل فصل بی تاریخ وزید
دل خواه خندید تن زجر
زمین می چرخیدم رازنبودم فرمان ستاره رقص >>>

Who's the Terrorist?

Instead of the MEK T-list status, NIAC should focus on the IRI's far numerous, and far more than interesting accomplishments. Anything else just helps the IRI skirt the real issue, and would actually be considered treason, if we were actually a free people. I'm no fan of the MEK. Any group that follows a deviant ruthless leader, claims to be unified and selfless, is doomed to fail. But let us not for one second forget, or worse deny, that the far bigger threat>>>

The Jeweller of Isfahan

I discovered Jean Chardin’s name by coincidence in a dictionary of biographies. I learned that just like Tavernier in 1665, but barely at twenty one years of age, Chardin also went as far as India in search of rare diamonds. I was immediately intrigued all the more that this young ambitious man had written many books on Persia with great detail and accuracy. After reading one of his books I was puzzled. I needed to know how a young French Protestant Jeweller was able to become an expert on Persia and publish a first book in 1670>>>

مسافرِ ایرانی در کافه لختی‌ها

یکی از روزهای هفته گذشته بود که دوستی تلفن زد و گفت: "یکی از دوست‌هایم که اقای دکتری است تازه از ایران امده و از من خواسته است او را به کافه لختی‌ها ببرم. تو بیا و ما را ببر..." با وجود سردرد و سرماخوردگی درخواستش را رد نکردم. این اواخر طرح فیلم مستندی را برای تلویزیون ملی کانادا فرستاده بودم که در آن ادعا کرده بودم مهاجران میانسال و مسن تورونتو، مشتریان پروپاقرص روسپیان شهر هستند. این طرح البته رد شد>>>

سیاه مثل اعماق ونکوور خودم

آبژکت کردن گاهی بدنها را ترسناک می کند. مگر تجربه نکرده ای که بدنت چطور بین بعضی ها به خصوص مردان سفید انگلوساکسن ونکووری ترسناک شده؟ بدن یک زن خاور میانه ای ابژکت ترست است. ترسی بزرگ. ترس اینکه این بدن نصف شبها از خواب بیدار شود و نماز بخواند. ترس اینکه چند بار در روز رو به کعبه دولا راست شود>>>

Chivalry in the virtual age

His heart in his mouth,
leaden legs, crossed arms
he faces the studded door.

Clouds of plaster,
exhaled by the poor ceiling,
redden with every butt
as they reach the floor>>>