Sic Semper Tyrannis

Admin- Can you please respond to Fesenjoon's concerns?

I think he's owed an explanation after putting a tremendous amount of effort in writing well thought out blogs for this site that generated a lot of hits.   

.......

Hi AO,

   I flagged my post...hopefully it will be removed! I can't delete the post 'cause someone has replied to my post!

Yes, he is a talented writer.....I visited his last blog and participated when he was still around!

I think he needs to send his e-mail to JJ and his management team and keeps the communication going. 

I think Admin and IC Users need to have an open discussion

This place is not consistent in the way it Moderates and blocks people . Many good people are intimidated by regualrs on the site and Admin does nothing about it. What happens is that the people who get unfair Moderation become bitter and cannot hold their resentment of Admin any longer in their comments. And then you get them acting crazy and Admin ends up blocking those at the receiving end of Abuse. I was not going to say this, but so many people wrote to me about this and left the site , that I took away my contact button. Admin need to realise they must treat people in the same way. There should not be a class system on IC where some are allowed to feel they can intimidate.  We can all post examples of harassment for you if you are interested, and these are allowed to stay as comments for some, but others get blocked for the same. Personal likes and dislikes should not determine how severe we treat people in Moderation, this is not Facebook Friends appreciation society. Or so I did not think so when I joined. This is glaringly obvious to many people, please do not shoot the messenger Admin. There are too many people who now feel this way, wee see the comments. You will keep getting blogs asking why someone has been blocked and not another, and the same points come up again and again.

Yolanda

I will pass on the message.  BTW, I disagree with him about not being a talented writer.  He is a gifted writer, the likes of which are very few and far in between on IC.  

.......

Hi! AO,

    Please tell Fesenjoon that I am very sorry that I wrote the wrong stuff!

I will delete my post if it is possible!

I hope he is happy!

Fesenjoon's Position - Admin(s) Please Respond

Fesenjoon sent me an email setting forth his position on this issue.  I will share below portions of that email, as he has authorized me to do so.  I believe that the admin(s) owe him and others a response.  Fesenjoon spent a great amount of time putting together well articulated blogs for this site.  He generated thousands of hits for the site.  The least that the admin(s) can do is to respond to his concerns.  I hope that the admin(s) don't delete this comment for use of profane language, as Fesenjoon is trying to express his thoughts through them and he does not use those words in an offensive manner:

The reason I was banned, as far as I can tell, is because of my last few posts, in which I openly used foul language to attack Iran's state ideology, Islam and their followers. Remember that one post about "Hazrat Ali fucking a 9 year old"? Someone (possibly JohnnyBoy or someone similar) probably lodged a full blown complaint against me, and the admins (seeing the language I used constantly) didnt hesitate to kick me out. Its their call, and it's their website, but I can now call THEM out for using "nothing is sacred" as their website's motto. They should say, "Nothing is sacred, except for the things that we hold sacred". The very fact that JJ or whoever has banned me, simply shows that their motto is just another empty sho'ar, and that there really isnt any difference between Vezarat-e Ershad and their website. The same ilk. Both will filter voices, if they find the voices to be against people's sacred beliefs. JJ is basically proving to be a part of the "towheen be Islam" crowd that goes around calling for the heads of the Danish artist or the British author. So what if I'm anti-Islam or anti-Iran? Do u respect diversity of opinion or not?

Please tell Rea, Souri, Yolanda et al that I never claimed to be a writer. Tell them to please stop comparing me to others. I'm not a talented writer. Never was.

My beef is with IC admins. They claim "nothing is sacred", and yet ban people for vulgar attacks on belief systems. I never initiated any attack on any user directly. And if I did, I can apologize to anyone who thinks otherwise. But I wont apologize for using a KEEREE language in refering to religion and Iran's fucked up politics and their followers. They want to have a G rated website? Fine. They want to be FCC compliant? Fine. They dont want to receive threatening emails from muslims or daftar.org? Fine. They want to think Iranians are the best thing since Apple Pie? Fine. It's their website. Free country.

But JJ (or whoever banned me): Either you caved in under pressure and failed to protect my freedom of speech, or you just aint up to your claim about "Nothing is Sacred". For crying out loud, people can legally burn the American flag in this country. I guess we havent really learned why such a thing is allowed.

AO

Obviously there was a lot of ground work done prior to IR. I am well aware of the work of "intellectuals" who promoted Islam. From Golesorkhi to Shariati. They made Islam look like a bouqet of flowers. The made it look nice and loving.

Add to it the fact that Shah destroyed all independent civil institutions. So there was little left but Islam for people to turn to. Now we may discuss the basis of IR until the cows come hem and maybe we should. However your points are not gospel.

Here are some other statistics to consider. In USA a full 50% of Iranian Muslims have left Islam. Why? If what you say is true why are we so eager to leave Islam. This as opposed to other Muslims who hold on to Islam for dear life. You may say we are a small non-representative group. But we are not small; there are millions of us. A full 10% of Iranian population is outside Iran. We don't just step across the border and suddenly go from devout Muslim to the other side.

What I see is that your statements are true of 32 years ago. They are no longer valid. These years of IR have taught us lessons. These lessons include the dangers of theocracy and Islam in particular. We are not the same people who brought IR 32 years ago.

I do not think Fesenjoon and his approach are helpful. But as I said before I did not ban him. Spreading hate and half truths does nothing to help. Making inaccurate claims about "majority" of Iranians and suggesting we grovel at the feet of some racist is not helpful. Obviously not all Iranians agree with you and Fesenjoon. You are welcome to your approach; I will take mine. I will keep making my argument against Fesenjoon's stereotyping.

VPK-This is where you and many others go wrong

Iranian people made a terrible mistake 31 years ago. They or rather we are paying for it. Should we pay more because of the actions of IRR? I see no reason for that.

The IR didn't just happen 31 years ago.  The IR is a creature of our collective culture.  A culture that has many fatal flaws on many different levels.  The IR is not separate and distinct from the Iranian culture.  It thrives on the Iranian culture, or at the very least, it has a symbiotic relationship with it.  Trust me, if the essence of IR's doctrine was not an inseparable part of the fabric of our culture, it would have collapsed a long time ago.  

The problem is that many people have conditioned themselves to separate the two entities without putting much thought into the subject.  It's a not so subtle form of passing the buck.  For that reason, we need people like Fesenjoon to shock the reality back into our heads so that we see the true reasons why the our country is the only theocracy in the 21st century.  And if in the process a few feelings are hurt, so be it.   

Shepesh and AM

While it's true that people on this site don't get blocked for their political views, when a blog is written about their banishment from the site, it's inevitable that a discussion about the person's views will come about.  That's what you're seeing here.

Escape

I assume you are talking to me right? I have a right to my opinion and it is not up to you to shut me up. You may not shut me up even if you wanted to. The only one able to do so is the admin.

I have made it clear that I disapprove of Fesenjoon's generalization. I do not have to justify anything because I feel perfectly at peace. 

I am sure there are people in Iran who chant lots of things. There are also many people who don't. So what? The point is to judge people as individuals not based on national origin. We have crazy people right here in America. We have them in Iran too they are IRR and MKO. 

I think America should let people in based on who they are. I would say:

• No Hizbollahi
• No MKO

But normal people should of course be allowed. The assumption should be innocent unless proven guilty. That is the American system and I like it.

PS,

Now here we go again with your personal attacks on me!  Do me a favor and leave the "F" word out of the discussion. It does not promote a healthy discussion,.

I agree with Shepesh

People do not get blocked for political views. We have a large range of views. All the people I have seen blocked have been due to personal attacks. Still I am not for blocking people but the reason are definitely not political views.

Marhoum Kharmagas, now you have to try harder than this

to make me upset. This was lame. But don't take this as a challenge. Just as food for thought.

AM jan

Did not know you communicated with me - sorry I will check out and reply to you personally.

Shepesh jan

Would you mind explaining then, how what I shared with you did not qualify as a 'personal attack'? And if it did, how it is that you can still say people get blocked for personal attacks?

Thanks

More of my opinion to a certain commentor here

  You can keep your one more things and the NIAC to yourself as far as I'm concerned.And your 5 more comments before that.You know what? You got a BIG MOUTH.But I don't want to shut you up,I want you to think.You're the one who couldn't take Fesenjoon and keep taunting him.Now this is your attempt to justify and overtake the situation.Well I don't like your direction.Especially when I just heard last night while watching coverage of Egypt,that they were chanting 'Death to America' in Iran again.I was like -Still? Again? You know what? F- them! I don't give a crap how much propaganda they have been fed or believed.Do you think America should import them? I don't! You going to try to force us all to accept enemies? Don't like it? taunt me,I don't care.At least Fesenjoon was able to deal with the REALITY that there are people from Iran that hate America and American's know it.You can't.

People do not get blocked for political views

but for personal attacks in the comment section. You keep discussing his political views, but this site allows all political views. We have even had blogs with cartoons of Ahmadinejad being raped by a chimpanzee and prophets being defaced. We have even had profanities on blog headings and inside blogs which seem to be acceptable. It is not about the content of the blog but the comment section attacking other readers and harassing them, or embedding videos.

Vildemose, you cracked me up with the meatballs

how did Fesenjoon lead us to meatballs?  Is this because some Iranian restuarants make Fesenjoon with meatballs?
No seriously, I may have to go back and read the thread since I don't
remember how discussion of bringing back Fesenjoon led us to discuss
meatballs.

vildemose Jan

I assure you I have not been co-opted by NIAC in any form. I have said many times and will say again: I have my issues with them. I do not give them 100% support. I have made my position clear in my blog and will not tie up space here by repeating them. Things to me are not black and white. There is a lot of in-between.  I have also suggested a one year trial. That is what I am doing. In fact I am constantly revising my position on things. 

//iranian.com/main/blog/veiled-prophet-kh...

I hope this helps,

Thank you

VPK

Dear Anahid

My problem with his blogs are that they over reach. He claims "Majority" of Iranians ...

That is just wrong.  Now if he said we was doing comdey then fine. But he is not. He claims to be writing "fact". I know a lot of Iranians as I think you also do. How many Iranians act the way he said? Most the ones I know do not act as he says.

Again he is not doing art he claims to be stating facts. Arts is a totally different matter. In art you get to make exaggeration; be offensive or whatever you want. But it is with the understanding that it is art. 

Are the blogs funny? Maybe; depending on your sense of humor. I don't find them that great. The more I read the less I liked them. Believe me I tried to like them! It just did not do it for me. However I did not ask to have him banned. You know I am not for banning people.

I know I am in a minority at least on this blog but so be it. I can handle it.

I just hope I made my position as clear as possible.

But this blog is not about

But this blog is not about green card holding "Iranian - American" Swedish meatballs.  

Well done. You are correct about NIAC. I think couple of our bloggers have been co-opted by NIAC through private manuverings.

Dear VPK, let's see if DM does explain what he meant

Dear VPK, additionally, Now that AO has shared couple of Fesenjoon' s blogs on this thread, I see that I actually like his blogs. His style is like some comedians who go on a rant.

Sometimes, a peron has to say the extreme in an art work in order for it to have any effect. Imagine a poet writing a poem and saying, there is a woman that sometimes, I kind of think that I like her. Not too many people will care for that but what if he wrote that he is madly in love with the woman, then the readers would like it better. Also, it is not a lie as long as that feeling was there even for a short time.

I see Fesenjoon in the same light too. Many of his extreme criticism of some Iranians are valid but an Iranian may not act all the time like that or be defined solely by those acts. However, Fesenjoon by pointing them out in his blogs is just bringing attention to some behavior of some Iranians that he sees as counterproductive. I don't see any harm in this. Why can't an Iranian or any one for that matter be able to criticize Iranians?

Dear Anahid

I too would like to know the answer to your question regarding "madam object".  Let us see if the person will respond.

AO

You and I agree on about 90 % of issues. I have voiced my own doubts on NIAC more than once. When I see an Iranian person woman or man executed it is like someone sticks a knife in my heart.

We just disagree on Fesenjoon. I did get very passionate about it. I don't want to see Iranians held responsible for IRR actions. Do you see what I say? It is like holding a victim responsible for actions of the criminal.

Iranian people made a terrible mistake 31 years ago. They or rather we are paying for it. Should we pay more because of the actions of IRR? I see no reason for that. Fesenjoon has a chip on his shoulders. Something happened to him; I don't know what. But it must have been potent. He is trying to take it out on all Iranian and it is not fair. That is all. Iranian students should not have to pay for this.

Personally I support Israel. That "Professor" will not have any problems with me over Israel. But why should Iranian students have to support Israel? It is a personal choice. It is none of a professor's business.

I had a fine Jewish adviser for my thesis. He never brought up Israel. If he had It would have been inappropriate. 

Once again: I did not ban Fesenjoon. But I did not appreciate his blogs. He was anti-Iranian in my opinion. You are welcome to yours. If they want to bring him back it is fine with me. I rather have the hate overt.

That's right VPK

All I can do is write blogs.  I don't have the "connections" necessary to get on a boat from Sweden at the "invitation" of suspicious characters with even more suspect ties to the IR, arrive in the U.S., and all of the sudden become the head of a well funded organization called the "National Iranian American Council." Then immediately start exchanging emails with the IR's ambassador to the UN-who miraculously knows me and trusts me--and try to get him meetings with members of congress while I exchange other emails and get other instructions from dubious characters inside Iran.  In that sense, yeah, all I can do is write blogs.

But this blog is not about green card holding "Iranian - American" Swedish meatballs.  

Listen AO

The Stanford guy is not retired. MM already pointed out he has a lot of power. NIAC did a great service for us all. If that is "blowing smoke" then more power to NIAC. You sir have done nothing for Iranians other than write blogs. NIAC did something.

I take NIAC over a group of self righteous people any day. They may make mistakes but at least try. It beats sitting on the high horse and doing nothing. Or worse actively siding with anti-Iranian racists like the good professor and "Fesenjoon". What a "great" guy.

A few more "great" guys like these and we don't need any enemies.

Makes you wonder

When such people take power in iran and see dreams and aspiration realized!!! In reality what disaster will be awaiting our country and its people.

Khoda rahm kone:)

Samsam & DM

Samsam Jaan:  very funny bro.  Fesenjoon is a great guy.  Take your brother's word for it.  Here, read this blog of his, where he describes the exact ommatti bunch that you describe here:

 //iranian.com/main/blog/fesenjoon/i-am-iranian-american-i-am-hypocrite

DM:  No sweat dude.  I don't know about OI, but I can speak for myself when I say that these grandiose statements don't bother me at all. Plus, our friend here is contradicting himself all over the place.  I'm just too tired (and frankly, don't care enough) to point it all out.  

Self Respect

Self respect does not mean blowing smoke up each other's rear ends and pretending that the only thing that is wrong with our society, community and culture is a retired Stanford professor who writes a stupid email.  There is another term for that.  It's called delusion.  

Indeed we deserve Fesenjoon.  We deserve people like him who live in the real world and talk about real problems, as opposed to those who think that Iranians' feces "don't stink" and the whole world is conspiring it to take our God bestowed grandeur away from us.  

Wake up from your slumber.  As OI pointed out, we are the ONLY nation in the 21st century that is being ruled by a theocracy.  That should tell you something. 

DM, who did you call "madam object. Queen"

DM, in one comment, you asked where the madam objectivity queen is? Who did you mean?

One more thing

Just to be clear:

• I am not upset at IC or the admin. They are just enforcing their rules.
• I will continue to post blogs but engaging in discussion with many of the regulars is a waste of time. Therefore I am done with that.
• Regarding my kind remark on Fesenjoon's blog: I was trying to be nice. I thought that I could get some common ground with Fesenjoon by showing respect. I was wrong. It did not work and I give up not just on him but a number of others.

PS,

This is not about politics. My politics are very much in line with AO and OnlyIran. It is about  self respect. Something sorely missing among some of the diaspora.