JahanKhalili

The great cylinder

Yeah, its a nice little dildo for Iranian egos to get off on.

If they were actually interested in the cylinder itself, they'd have known what was in it; they'd have gone and read the translation. 

After his conquest

Who knows?

He needed a prize, and since there was no one bigger and more important than himself, he had one made for him. 

Iranians love an audience. Their main objection to these blogs is that it makes people think Iranians are idiots (which isn't far from the truth). They can't have that, of course. 

He might have even massacred those people he mentions in his cylinder, for all we know, but latter claimed it was "all good".

We have no way of verifying or corroborating any of it. 

What prompted the creation of the Cyrus cylinder?

Waders wonders.

We can only speculate, of course.

But knowing Iranians, Cyrus probably wanted to brag about himself and exagerate his achievements. 

Yes, of course

Most have you just try to dismiss what I showed you and not even deal with it. 

So, what's new? 

JK, Who created these cylinders for others to discover?

and what prompted the pre-Islamic Iranians to create these! 

As far as why Iranians this and that, this question is not particular to iranians alone although it is more relevant to us and non-westerners for the time being. 

We all ask these questions from ourselves at some point but many can wright it off as unimportant and take refuge from its hunting and degrading force,

in the after life pre-occupation and its limited instruction on how to deal with this world and others.

Its just simply is and easy pass thru enabled by out of context, and ambiguous religiously sanctioned promises of afterlife.

This apathy for making progress in this world is an acquired social ailment for many not a genetic disposition in Iranians. 

and although your un-constructive ways of expressing your perplexity and your fatal lack of knowledge in religion and its magnificent decisive influence in the direction of its masses, makes a reply unwarranted

yet many Iranians for the most part are genetically pitiful and fair minded when they deal with naive or humble souls and thus some reply.

So read on what sociopolitical role religion has played at least for the post industrial revolution period which concerns most of your bechins and leave the size of our nose alone unless you wish to alienate your two confused half even further! 

Baldrick know-it-all

you may consider this;

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACnqI1l4I9s

haha

Certainly, Rea

Little boy lost in the wilderness I am.

Its the only way to discover anything out there. 

Does compute

Because we are talking about a physical reality that our five senses tell us about.

Your God comparison doesn't compute, because God cannot be observed. 

JK< that is so cool!

I mean the quote about the pride and blame post. ;)

LOL!!!

As for the argument, that 

"If it was, the concept of race wouldn't have existed in all societies, throughout all points of history.

It wouldn't be universal."

does not compute! It's (one of ) the same argument used for the existence of god. Does not compute.

Read it all, dully, 1 to 8

Due respect, so far have not learnt anything. Except, there is a little boy lost in wilderness.

Taking Pride and Blame

I agree with that being unimportant.

"I remember once a fellow Jew remarking with satisfaction on the high percentage of Nobel Prize winners who were Jewish. I said, 'Does that make you feel superior?' 'Of course,' he said. 'What if I told you that sixty percent of the pornographers and eighty percent of the crooked Wall Street manipulators were Jewish? He was startled. 'Is that true?' 'I don't know. I made up the figures. But what if it were true? Would it make you feel inferior?' He had to think about that. It's much easier to find reasons to consider oneself superior than inferior. But one is just the mirror image of the other.'" -- Isaac Asimov

Race Not a Social Construct, Tiger Lily

If it was, the concept of race wouldn't have existed in all societies, throughout all points of history.

It wouldn't be universal.

But it is. 

Hia, JK. Nope, incorrect

That paper is rather desperate and  refers to specific visible phenotypes, which often skip generations etc.. Even in epi-genetics, the emphasis is on predominant diseases etc. within the human "race"/species.

In any case, I disagree with the whole lot of locational identity as the primary or basic concept in identity for many reasons. In a Global Village with immediate communication technology it's not conducive to anything to concentrate on such limited constructions. 

JK, my emphasis was on making good judgments. I have my own list of grievances with "Iranians", but I try not to judge an entire society, simply on that basis, although I'm well aware of predominant behavioral traits.

Btw, do I take any pride nor responsibility for the actions of Iranians past or present. very much as I'm not responsible for your opinions, as you say in your  blog heading. ;)

That doesn't mean that I don't appreciate them or not have a right to be abhorred...

P.S. You might be interested in this, that was posted last night:

//iranian.com/main/2011/nov/jahanbegloo-i...

BTW Mr. Ala

While you're skipping pork over here, adventerous Americans are over in Iran, sampling some Iranian wild pork, courtesy of the Islamic Republic!

Mmmm, mmmm!

//www.iranjasminsafarico.com/iran-wild-boar-hunting-safari.htm 

You Cannot Escape Judgement

Iranians who are masters of it, must finally be subjected to it themselves.

Cross Roads of the Conquerors

I agree with Tiger Lily's reference to Iran being like a four-way intersection for conquerors.

Conquest carries a price, and Iran has paid that price many times. 

Hi Tiger Lily

Race isn't a social construct.

Its genetic.

//www.world-science.net/exclusives/exclusives-nfrm/050128_race.htm

P.S. It was the Jews' fault

young Finkel and his cronies insisted on the phony translations and there you have it, before the Persians could even lift an eyebrow,  down in the history books of academia it was, as the gospel truth of a set of decrees for human rights, marketed by the Brits.

go blame them!

race is a social construct, apart from that,

I've told you before, that you cannot make good judgements about a society simply on the grounds of personal experience.

It's also plain silly to compare a newly emerged middle-class, especially after a revolution of a Third World country with a people, more or less established in their class system, who have their own differentiating traits from state to state, thousands of miles away.

Mohammad Ala. Iran has been the cross-road and the invaded of many 'civilizations' , hence your 'food' anecdote.

There must be loads of sociologypapers out there for both of you to study, as you show so much interest in the subject.

So Mr. Ala

I'm not only obliged to care about Iranians - who are my father's people.

I'm also obliged to care about my mother's.

Iranians don't get my exclusive loyalty. 

In fact

There is no political group in America itself that advocates for white Americans, enjoys the same legitimacy as non-white lobbies, and is allowed to lobby the US government on their behalf.

Respect Isn't a One Way Street

It has to be mutual.

If I see Iranians here bitching at white Americans over a conflict of group interests between them, I'll probably side with white Americans.

There is and was no one in Iran to represent the interest of Americans, and the Iranian government certainly would not allow any Americans there to lobby it on their behalf.

Iranians have no business trying to change the West or America to suit themselves.

I would much prefer that they express gratitude towards white America for the benefits that they've received from it.

None of you have experienced the conflict between Iran and the West as I have, and none of you can reach Westerners as well as I can, or understand them as well as I can. 

I believe you care...

Jahan jan;

A handful of white Americans who I know also do not eat bacon in the USA or other countries where we went to lecture or present papers.  Each person has his or her own reasons and I have mine.   I would love to eat your Mom’s cooking but I will skip the bacon.

Let us work together to improve Iranian community.  We need your help . . .  I believe you care otherwise you would not spend so much time here.  I appreciate your time and efforts to raise awareness and look forward to working together.

You did not “get” what I wrote about Iranians who discovered Iranian artifacts!!

So Mr. Ala

If I invited you over to eat my mom's cooking, and she fixed you some bacon, would you eat it?

I am willing to learn . . .

I travelled with American (white) colleagues to conferences and to other countries.  For example, in China, most Americans asked for Hamburger with fries or Pasta.  I ate whatever Chinese colleagues ate.

My life style, cars, etc. would demonstrate to you that I was not rich, but succeeded in America and even wrote a book that was used in many universities.  I used my own lecture notes for classes I taught and for most of the classes I did not require a textbook.

In your blogs, you show your bad side more than your good side… why?  Cannot we benefit from your wisdom to improve Iranian society?  I am willing to learn.

PS

I'm only half-Iranian.

Thankfully. 

Mr. Ala

Iranians benefit from the West. They study Western textbooks even in Iranian universities.

Whatever awards you won in competetion with Americans, you probably wouldn't have been able to win them without the Americans, their universities and their education.

As for food, Iranians eat American food while here. I don't know any American who lived in Iran who didn't eat Iranian food.

You're comparing yourself to the average American, instead of to Americans who do travel abroad.

The average Iranian doesn't travel abroad, either.

Nor are they so willing to try American food, in Iran.

I knew an Iranian family who threw away an American chocolate cake that their American neighbor had baked for them, because they considered it to be najes. 

Mr. Ala

If you know about archeological artifacts that were discovered by Iranians, please share that information.

JK, Wrong...

Jahan jan; you are wrong again.

Where I taught, there were 70 white American Phd's and 40 non-Americans.  The 80% of Outstanding Professor Awards were won by non-Americans.  I have twenty other Awards to demonstrate that I did compete and won the Awards.

I did most of my travelling in the USA using Amtrak bus or train and my station wagon which some nights I slept in it.  I was not well to do and I am now well to do now (LOL).

How about food?  Most Americans (white) are narrow minded about food and other matters.  I ate lunch with a faculty in one day and another day with a student every week when I taught.  I know what I am talking about.

Anyway, you are part of us, you are part of no good people, LOL.

Something you ignore, Mr. Ala

Despite your individual abilities or curiosities, the fact that you have to come here - or that so many Iranians have to - is evidence that Iran is lacking something.

There are many motivations for Iranians leaving Iran for abroad. One of them is the fact that there are more opportunities abroad for self-advancement than there are in Iran.

This does not reflect well on Iranians, of course.

But the fact that so many of them are here is not simply the result of their curiosity.

Also, what kind of curiosity are we talking about?

I met so many Iranians in Iran who only wanted to go abroad so that they could experience sexual freedom.

In fact, I'd say it is one of the most important reasons why the outside world - particularly the West - is attractive to Iranian men. 

That is the equivalent of an explorer or someone who is seeking knowledge for its own sake?

If so, there should be a new category of Nobel Prize - whoring, which Iranians would probably have a good chance at winning. 

I don't admire those people.

They want to come and fornicate with my mother's people - in other words, take advantage of them, while they are in the grip of the destruction of their culture and old ways and are succumbing to the corrupting effect of Hollywood and pornography?