Ali Mostofi - Iranian Astrologer and Current Affairs Commentator.

Marjane Satrapi for President

Bahrami. Marjane Satrapi will never run for Iranian Presidency, she knows very well that she would not get elected and it is a dumb idea! She however is in the position of power and prestige with the power of her pen to impact and influence others that most of us ordinary folk don’t have.

As usual along with serious issues and questions, as you may have noticed, there are irrelevant comments, satire, and editorials. People can have a diverse but relevant discussion about what Iranians in cage and bondage should expect from their “social” heroes and icons, most of us understand likes of Amanpour, Strapi. Farhadi are not political persons. But as one in the power position question remains if they ought to use that hammer to expose and be a role model and if so how? People whether we admit or not look up to these celebrities and does not matter if they are poets and writers, sport figures, recognized scientists, film directors, or participants in Miss Universe!

I agree with you that Amanpour as a professional journalist has done her “share” and that is commendable, but because she has done “more” than almost nothing of some others does it mean she ought to be off the hook?  The point is those who have real impact and can effectively be instrumental in changing a situation must decide on the trade-off between personal gain (fame and fortune etc.) and public benefit of the power position that they enjoy. A case in point: Iranian had their “woman” Noble Peace prize laureate, and Burmese had Aung San Suu Kyi !

When spolied brats lament

reminds me of:

"A happy childhood has spoiled many a promising life."

Robertson Davies

Double checking

B: thank you for taking the time to write a long comment. To cut a long story short, you accept this lot as legitimate government of Iran. Just want to double check.

@alimostofi
FB: astrologer.alimostofi

Typical Brit! Where have You Been?

Have you been under a rock?

Amanpour has been front and center on Iran after she got this mouthpiece job after a decade of solid reporting from some of the most harrowing warzones in the world. That is where she was.

Where were you? A bit of tea and cucumber sandwiches off Piccadilly?

At every chance, Amanpour has gone to Iran and is one of the ONLY reporters to actually visit and report from Iran's nuclear research facilities, as well as interview just about every major Iranian official in history.

In addition, were Amanpour to use her position and offer a biased anti Iran rant as you no doubt dream of, she would not have her position for long. Because as Journalism 101 dictates, a reporter must report the news and provide an UNBIASED report of what happens. NOT offer an unsolicited opinion. As desperately as one may be needed by you.

SO, when Amanpour reports the "Iranian Government..." that is a legal fact she is reporting. Because as much as you and I like it or not, or hate it or despise it, the current legal government of Iran is referred to as "The Iranian Government". That's what people like you (and me) abdicating our responsibility as a free Iranians costs, unfortunately.

Don't put the responsibility for turning Iran's clock back to when you fondly remember Iran and the good old days at British School, on Amanpour. I went to Iranzamin. I stopped lamenting about Voy Iran Chi Shod! in 1980 a year after I arrived in the US and realized what a big mistake I had made by abandoning Iran in leaving it.

Thank god for this site, so I can pay regular and routine penance for that.

It is up to traitors like me and you who chose the easy way out, ran from the fight for our country, and left it without (much) objection in the dirty hands of scurrilous mollahs who have buggered it like nobody's business.

Shame on us!

Amanpour is doing her part reporting the news. And when necessary offers a reasonably sound rather harsh opinion on Iran.

But semi-demanding and asking her to use her position as a senior reporter at CNN, is about as useful as asking Marjane Satrapi to run for Iranian President.

They are both in the "film business".

To read more bahmani posts visit: //bozkuhi.blogspot.com/

JD jan

How many times I told you not to use that "stuff". You are beating Mr Mostofi in his own game.  I knew Badr and Sheikh better than you know yourself. If they had an ounce of "savaad" (which they did not) it was because of that "father and son". And if you know a couple of words in English it was thanks to that "moalemeh".

So don't waste Mr Mostofi's precious time - he has to meditate - and don't make me laugh as right now I feel like "Jeesh daram."

"...as dellusional as I do get."

Your words Mr Mostofi, not mine.

Sigh...

Best genes for the job

JD: That comment was a bit off subject and you really need to keep the conversation English, for the sake my Persian being extremely elementary (even though I had private lessons at my aunt's school Safinia), and the ordinary folks at CNN who can't read Persian.

As far as your comment about my heritage, I will let you know, that my great uncles, in as much as they went to Cambridge and other top notch places, did not have the social or political and above all the true grit, to keep their home from becoming Saadabad Palace. They accepted a meagre sum of money from Reza Shah and moved out.

The matters of the state have to be run by the best chromosones available. And yes people do become complacent and degenerate. Such is life.

@alimostofi
FB: astrologer.alimostofi

I stand corrected.

M: Quite right it is in Georgia, but it was around this time in 1987 when it became famous for broadcasting news of a girl stuck down a well in Texas. I suppose that got stuck in my brain, as dellusional as I do get.

@alimostofi
FB: astrologer.alimostofi

انگلستان

آقای مستوفی، ایکاش شما هم مثل ما مجاز بودی که در آن سالهای کودکی بمدارس مردمی بروی و ناخواسته آلوده مشتی تشریفات صد من یکخروار ساخت انگلستان نشوی، مانند کراوات زدن در زنگ ورزش و بسیاری دیگر. ولی میدانم تصمیم از بالا میامد و بعنوان یک کودک شما حق انتخاب نداشتید. خود من هم جند سالی معلمه انگلیس الاصل داشتم و میدانم چه کشیدی. ولی یک مطلب را برایت بگویم و آن اینستکه مرحوم دکتر ابوالقاسم بدر و دوست صمیمی اش دکتر علی محمد شیخ هردو از ایرانیان وطنپرست بودند و هردو ضد جنایات انگلیس در ایران تا آخرین روز حیاتشان بودند و با افتخار از این دنیا رفتند.  خواستم از این موضوع آگاه باشید که هردو ایشان رضا شاه را یک پفیوز لات بی پدر مادر بیسواد میخواندند، نه بخاطر آنکه هردو از خاندان قاجار بودند بلکه بخاطر آنکه  زمانی که انگستان رضا شاه را سرکار گماشت،  صد ها ایرانی لایق و با سواد آماده خدمت بکشورشان بودن که بزور از رده خارج شدند و عاقبت کار ما ملت به اینجا کشید و کار ترکیه به آنجا. در مورد خانم امان پور هم باید به او گفت:  مرا بخیر تو امید نیست شر مرسان.  شاد باشی 

Ali khan

* correction : CNN IS IN GEORGIA NOT TEXAS.

And As an ABC News Anchorwomen she has to say what is an American media's point of view;Garbage.

Otherwise she'll be joining millions of unemployed Americans!

Maziar

Separation of culture and politics.

Z: Cultural matters such as heritage, geography, art, cannot be subjected to the democratic process.

In fact culturally, Iranians are completely united. We all love Iran. It is politics that divides us.

@alimostofi
FB: astrologer.alimostofi

Social and Political

AM. You are not alone, keep shouting we all hope Iran can be and ought to be saved.

On the other point I do believe Social is Political, how can we separate aspects of our social, cultural, and political life? All is in one big chamber completely mixed and infused together.   

Something to shout about.

Z: Many thanks for taking the time to make your contribution. The only thought that immediately comes to mind, is that the world thinks only in political terms. The concepts of cultural or social responsibility have disappeared.

As I have written before, the United States has become too easy to flee to. Iran is being abandoned. It will truely reflect on our generation, in years to come, when people will ask some very hard questions.

We are not doing enough. I shout but I am just one person with a BIG mouth. We need a lot more. I will keep shouting.

@alimostofi
FB: astrologer.alimostofi

Amanpour, Farhadi and Social Responsibility

I am not sure if you or other reader will argue that there is no connection, they are two different people and very different environment for each. The two I am referring to are Christiane Amanpour and Asghar Farhadi recipient of an Oscar earlier this year. At that time there was very few comments about the “Social Responsibility” of an (Iranian) artist, almost all comments , reviews and everything else was  socked with light to heavy scent of nationalism and national pride praised the accomplishment of Asghar Farhadi  and quite obviously “justified” his totally indifferent attitude toward the “real” conditions in Iran and suffering of his fellow citizens.

I recall posting something here and reminding people that having the opportunity of having more than 100 million people all at once on TV and listening to what you have to say does not come that often and to so many. The Director and his crew had a once in a lifetime opportunity to bring real Iran and her real people into the world stage and having an impact that thousands of websites and blogs can never have. The Director however decided to play it safe and just read a watered down IRR approved prepared text.  He is the only one who needs to explain and answer questions and it is his call not me, although I do not agree with him to be the cause of lost golden opportunity.

Christian Amanpour well deserves all the attributes that you have mentioned.  You however basically expecting from her the same thing that I expected from Mr. Farhaady by referring in general to media, their agents and reporter’s Social Responsibility. Particularly in this case that the “iconic figure” is an Iranian well in the position of power and prestige.  I am sure, knowing something about people and why they do what they do, there may be comments regarding her “Jewishness” and her alleged support for Israel and the rest (mostly perhaps through her  love and marriage!!) right here by other readers.  I am satisfied with my own conclusion that defenders of a socially irresponsible (my opinion) film director could easily jump the fence and attach Amanpour for at least some of the same reasons that Farhadi could easily be accused of—he got  a free pass.   This is the manifestation of the sad state of value free, unbiased and objective discourse among us all and can we say hypocrisy?

Safety

It could be becuase of safety issues who knows. she is not the best reporter to report on Iran because has reletives there and I am quite sure she is concern about their safety. 

Alsothese islamic goons have  spread all over U.S and Europe like a disease, so any time you say some thing you could be taking a deadly risk.