Thank YOU

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Jahanshah Javid
by Jahanshah Javid
22-Apr-2008
 


The iranian.com benefit dinner/concert at the Luxor Restaurant (Chelokababi Nayeb) in South San Francisco Saturday (April 19) was out of this world... so much fun, so many friendly faces, so beautifully organized... jaatoon vaagha'n khaalee bood. [Photos by Faranak Ravon] Here's the speech i mumbled that night. i wrote it just before the event started... I did my best deegeh!

***

During the past week several people have asked me about tonight's event and how I feel about it. They all thought -- more or less -- that I was close to having a nervous breakdown. But, surprisingly, I've had almost no worries at all, not about this fundraiser at least. Everything -- from the smallest to the biggest task -- was carried out by a group of friends and all I did was listen to their deliberations in our weekly conference calls. I loved it! I didn't have to do a thing!

So let me first introduce to you all the wonderful people who made my life very easy for the past two months and made tonight happen: Please give them a nice round of applause. Lale Shahparaki Welsh and Amir Salamat from Beyond Persia, Maryam Majidy and Nazy Kaviani, and Bruce Bahmani and Wayne Willis.

I am very grateful for what you have done.

And thank you for the wonderful artists who donated their magnificent work for our silent auction. I'm truly very grateful. Those who know me are aware of what a soft spot I have for artists.

The rest of my talk is going to have the same theme: To say thanks and acknowledge all those who have had a part in making iranian.com what it is today.

First and foremost I should thank my parents Manoochehr Javid and Shirin Bakhtiar. My father was head of public relations at the Abadan oil refinery and my mother published the oil company newsletter in English. Both of them contributed articles to national newspapers, including Kayhan International.

Our house was always full of newspapers and magazines, Iranian and foreign. I used to cut and paste newspaper articles and pictures in a scrap book -- which is pretty much the same thing I do today. I take what people give me and publish them. Only difference is that this scrap book is not mine, it belongs to all of us. It's a reflection of who we are -- the good, the great, the awesome!

When I decided to start iranian.com in the summer of 1995, I bought 8 or 9 thousand dollars worth of computer equipment on my mother's credit card. And for the first ten years until her death, she sent me $500 every month even though she herself had very little to live on. She was my biggest supporter and one of the early believers in iranian.com. So mom, I know you're still around, thank you and I love you.

A close second, has been my dear sisters Iran and Soraya. I can't even add up how much they have spent on keeping me and iranian afloat. A whole lot. Thousands of dollars + unending love and support, even though I have not been a good brother to them. I'm barely there for the -- not even. Iran was very gracious to come all the way from Chihuahua, Mexico, to be with us tonight. Thank you Iran Joon! Love you! And i'll call you soon for more cash :o)

My sister Soraya and her husband Fathali could not be hear tonight but are represented by their lovely daughter, my sweet niece Shahrzad Ghahremani, who took time off from USC Film school to be here.

Meanwhile I have also had the love and support of my Pesar Ammeh Nersi Ramazan-nia and his lovely wife Bella Warda. They opened the door to their home when I had no where else to go. Their home is still my second home. Thank you azizaanam! Also a big hug and thank you to my uncle Bahram -- you may know him as Dr Bahram Javid, senior professor at Pacifica Dental College in San Francisco -- for his substantial financial backing in my time of need.

Next i would like to acknowledge my cousin Karim Ardalan (so far... iranian.com has been a family affair it seems!). He had just started MIS, Inc, one of the first Internet design companies in New Mexico. For the first year or so, I would email articles and photographs to Karim and he and his team would publish them for me. Slowly I learned enough html to do the work myself, but Karim's initial hard work and vision was really instrumental in the launching of iranian.com.

Also i would like to thank Anoosh Hosseini from Global Publishing Group who, I believe is here tonight with his lovely wife. Anoosh was the first to host the site on his server and actually register iranian.com for me. For some reason i didn't think it was that important at the time. That's how much of an idiot I am. If it wasn't for Anoosh, iranian.com would probably have been called something very different, BeyondAbadan.com, or... Thank you Anoosh for NOT listening to me and registering iranian.com anyway! Also I will never forget your kind generosity when you didn't charge me for carrying iranian.com because you knew I was in a bind. Thank you my friend.

I want to thank my good friend, my buddy, my loving aachaar faraanseh! Bruce Bahmani! (You may know him as the creative mind behind the Rostam/Shahnameh caroon books) I want to thank him not just for the wonderful presentation tonight but for far more importantly all the times I called in total panic because my Mac or some important software was not working. He was always there and he always had a solution. He has been one of the earliest, best and most prolific writers on iranian.com. I love him to death... my friend Bruce Bahmani... thank you!

And thank you my dear friend and tennis partner Shahrokh Mortazavi for buying the very first ad space in iranian.com and lending thousands more dollars for me to survive. I just hope you haven't come all the way from Seattle to collect your debt! Love you man! Thank you for being here!

And a special thanks to a man I have come to love and respect a great deal for the past couple of years. A true brother in every sense. Kayvan Alikhani brought together a group of Iranian and American investors in order to bring about the most important changes to iranian.com since its inception. Thanks to his initial vision and efforts, iranian.com has become a modern, lively and a lot more interactive site.

Kayvan and I, along with our business manager and partner Wayne Willis, as well as chief technical officer Foaad Khosmood are working hard to move the site in a direction that would strengthen the sense of community and the ability to express ourselves in a free environment. Their efforts and the input from our other partners, including Asieh Mansour and Farzad Khabiri and our newest partner Siamack Salari (who has come along with his charming wive Varinder, all the way from Belgium to be with us tonight) have all had a crucial role in putting the site on the right path.

But my biggest thanks goes to each and every one of you -- and the readers, writers and contributors of iranian.com. The internet is just a tool like any other. Yes it is the most powerful means of communication human kind has ever created. But we, all of us, embraced it with great enthusiasm, and for good reason.

The reason is we come from a country and a conservative culture where free speech has no real meaning. Iran, except for very brief period's in its long history, has never experienced freedom in any meaningful way. The internet has allowed us to break out of our shell and express ourselves in unprecedented ways. That's what iranian.com is: an outlet for all your aspirations without fear of any government or religion.

Thank you for being a part of this revolution -- a revolution of the heart and mind. You are the true instigators for change -- the non-violent kind, the most effective kind.

Now, at the end of my very boring speech, I would like to introduce to you a group of great musicians: Kiosk with Arash Sobhani, Babak Khiavchi, Anoosh Khazeni, Ardalan Payvar, and Hamed Nikpay with Farin Foroud, and mezo suprano Raeeka Shahabi-Yaghmaie... (just a couple of weeks ago she
had a great performance with the Oakland Symphony Orchastra)...

You have no idea how honored I am that these guys (and gals) -- among the very best musicians of this generation -- are playing here tonight.

Thank you for making this an unforgettable evening!

Enjoy... [Photos by Faranak Ravon]

Balatarin
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more from Jahanshah Javid
 
Anonymouse

Reza Lizard

by Anonymouse on Thu Apr 24, 2008 04:45 AM PDT

How are you doing? Did you get all our comments in your article? Please write another blog so we can talk to you.  You have a lot of friends in this website.


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reza lizard

thank you

by reza lizard on Wed Apr 23, 2008 04:01 PM PDT

hi jj jan i am reza let me thank you at first if you are willing me to be bold i coulen't think that my post would be poblished on this website because when i wrote other's articles they have strung vocabularies which mine doesn't have you made me happy by editing and poblishing it as i wrote once i know you from bbc persian radio a very beautiful full name jahanshah javid a very soft voice which i like so much and a historical story clinton and lewinsky story which you reported at that time although your website is blocked i found a way to access it and i have been following it for 3 monthes i am going to the U.S about 2 years later and iwish to meat you once is it anyway to hear your voice on the internet i i wish you the best of all goodbye and goodluck.


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Thankyou...

by Anonymous123 (not verified) on Wed Apr 23, 2008 02:57 PM PDT

for bringing the Iranian community together.


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default

While I was viewing the

by Anonymousdentist (not verified) on Wed Apr 23, 2008 02:14 PM PDT

While I was viewing the pictures and reading your Thankyou note; I remembered of an article which you wrote a while ago which is:
"Growing up", (I thought it will link)
and really Iranian.com and you and all of us have come a long way. Maybe 50 years from now; we will say IT ALL started with Iranian.com!!
Berkeley dentist


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JJ Jaan, Simply put....

by Nina (not verified) on Wed Apr 23, 2008 02:12 PM PDT

JJ Jaan,

Simply put.... THANKS+++!


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Thank you for your valued work

by Mehrdad Emadi (not verified) on Wed Apr 23, 2008 02:03 PM PDT

Dear Mr Javid, you have provided a forum for debate and airing of different ideas, artistic expressions and debate that has been succesful and well-recieved. This, without hard work and persistence would have been unlikely to achieve. I wish you and your partners greater success in your good efforts.

Be well

Mehrdad Emadi


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Midwesty

Jahanshah,

by Midwesty on Wed Apr 23, 2008 12:42 PM PDT

 Keep up the good work! Khasteh Nabashi.


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default

Awesome...

by awesome (not verified) on Wed Apr 23, 2008 11:09 AM PDT

It was a fabulous evening. It would be wonderful if other communities could host their own iranian.com evening.

It was a magnificent success.

Congratulations to all.


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Kaveh Nouraee

JJ...

by Kaveh Nouraee on Wed Apr 23, 2008 10:04 AM PDT

If anyone should be thanked, it is you, for all that you have created here. And I thank you.

Not that long ago, if someone were to say that Iranians would have a chance to speak freely in such a forum, I would have suggested therapy for them.

Thank you again for what you have done.


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Monda

WONDERFUL!

by Monda on Wed Apr 23, 2008 09:38 AM PDT

Your speech was great; the music; company; food...., what a night that was! 

I am so sorry I didn't make it as I had planned! Thanks to Khanom Ravan and others I did a bit of vassfolaish nessfolaish thingie.

Khoda Ghovvat JJ! (More power to you)

 

 


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Souri

All that other friends said already...and

by Souri on Wed Apr 23, 2008 09:08 AM PDT

JJ jan,

We are still waiting for that photo capturing !!

Yahh....very demanding people who love you anyway !!


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Orang Gholikhani

Thanks to you

by Orang Gholikhani on Wed Apr 23, 2008 08:48 AM PDT

Dear jj,

let me thank you to for all you have done for Iranian culture. I've loved to be there too but I'm too far. May be some day you will do something in Europe.

Regards.

Orang


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Excellent speech..

by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed Apr 23, 2008 05:17 AM PDT

Excellent speech, specially the part about you devoted mom is Very touching.

Thanks for all your efforts and scarifies for Iranian community.

By the way, following is an excellent video to watch regarding Persepolis. I am not sure if the video has been shown in this site. Persepolis video


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default

Where was my invitation?

by Sally from the night (not verified) on Wed Apr 23, 2008 04:40 AM PDT

Yours always

Sally


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Aref-Adib

iranian dot com-ee

by Aref-Adib on Wed Apr 23, 2008 05:48 AM PDT

I'm in my local library in North London right now. I've just spotted someone looking at the Iranian.com home page! Perhaps I should go and say" Ah, shoma ham iranian dot com-ee hastid?" Well done again and may the fish wiggle for many years to come.


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ramintork

JJ you are now a national treasure

by ramintork on Wed Apr 23, 2008 03:08 AM PDT

JJ,

I would like to Thank you for what you have given us and  congratulate you for your success.

You also have many friends across the water.

The 13 years has also been a testimony to your fairness and your genuine belief in freedom of speech.

You are now a national treasure.  


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Jahanshah, sorry i couldn't

by Anonymous* (not verified) on Wed Apr 23, 2008 02:10 AM PDT

Jahanshah,
sorry i couldn't be there but i echo and re-echo what everyone has said about your labor of love, and for being such a courageous proponent of transparency, honesty, introspection, and human (not political, not cultural, not national, but HUMAN) values!!

and thank you for pioneering a dialogue among civilized iranians!! (with occasional minor glitches) that iranian.com has become.

amir/moe/etc/etc


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Azarin Sadegh

Wow...such a nice speech!

by Azarin Sadegh on Wed Apr 23, 2008 12:16 AM PDT

Dear JJ,

I am very impressed with your speech...so heartfelt, so moving, and so long! Great job!

Since I couldn't attend the event, (even if I had bought my tickets) I would like to thank you, here and now, for being who you are. Without you, this beautiful cyber family would have never existed.

You really should be proud of yourself...Such an accomplishment! Creating a place to connect the Iranians, coming from any background, together. A place where we can talk, and laugh and cry and, of course fight...like a normal family!

Thank you JJ!

Azarin


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Niki Tehranchi

Merssi

by Niki Tehranchi on Tue Apr 22, 2008 09:22 PM PDT

Very moving speech,

 

Wishing you the best, as always.


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iPouya

Thank you

by iPouya on Tue Apr 22, 2008 08:19 PM PDT

JJ, I agree with you that Iranian.com has taught many of us that freedom of speech is not just a slogan, but a practice to be learned through experience. Thus, I want to thank you for that education.

Additionally, I want you to know that the site has been instrumental to many young Iranians, especially myself, in our journey to develop oyr identity and sense of community.


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faryarm

Jahanshah , Truly Happy..

by faryarm on Tue Apr 22, 2008 08:07 PM PDT

Dear Jahanshah, I distinctly remember 1995 and those early articles..you broke the unwritten rule and became the first to stand up and give voice to human rights in our country, in particular the plight of Bahais; your humorous approach in the article "Heechee Kam nadaaran" is a milestone in the history of modern Iranian journalism, and the internet, not to mention the unprecedented email response that came from non-Iranian Bahais, in gratitude for your courage and sincerity. May this noble-addiction- to-many continue to inform, stimulate and keep us glued to these pages.

Best wshes

Faryar


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abbas

I knew it from the very first month

by abbas on Tue Apr 22, 2008 07:59 PM PDT

Jahan jan,

13 years ago, when I sent you my congratulations for your few pages of Iranian.com, I knew that one day it will become what has become today and today I tell you that one day it will become even larger and more important but this time sooner.

I remmeber, there were days, that the cost of publication was so high with zero revenue and no money left to be spent that probably said to hell with it, why I am doing this? But you never gave up. This was the most important part. Of course those nights that you didn't sleep the whole night to update the publication for the next day, are not to be forgotten.

Good luck Jahan jaan, we are looking forward to even better and bigger iranian.com, brighter days and more successes for you.

Ghorbanat

Abbas

a.atrvash


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Mr. Javid

by citizen (not verified) on Tue Apr 22, 2008 07:19 PM PDT

You are a legend of an enormous talent and assiduous whom deserves tremendous recognition. I wish your nobility and awesome endeavor one day, in near future would be directed towards creation of a better life for Iranian people in Iran. God bless.


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IRANdokht

To help out

by IRANdokht on Tue Apr 22, 2008 07:04 PM PDT

I am sure a lot of the readers would like to help out too, and why not!! if we only take a minute and figure out how much we spend on one night out, on the monthly subscriptions of magazines or online services, on daily news and entertainment etc...  we can come up with a comfortable amount and pitch in.

God knows we spend enough time reading and enjoying this site...

just click here and be generous :0)

it's not right to make JJ do all the work! 

IRANdokht


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No Comment

I wish i was there : (

by No Comment on Tue Apr 22, 2008 07:00 PM PDT

I wish i was there : (


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ebi amirhosseini

you are appreciated!!

by ebi amirhosseini on Tue Apr 22, 2008 06:28 PM PDT

Dear Mr Javid

As I told you in my personal email sometimes ago,what you have done for our Iranian community , is beyond imagination. You created a cultural center on the net,that grew so fast & became so popular, that I guess nobody,even maybe you,yourself could have not guessed!. I strongly believe that there is only one reason for this success: your dedication & honesty!.

My dear unseen friend JJ,if I may call you!? keep up the good work! a lot of your fans including me,may not help you financially,but we support you all the way from the bottom of our hearts.

Aaghaa Paayandeh Baashi!!!


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IRANdokht

Thank you JJ

by IRANdokht on Tue Apr 22, 2008 06:06 PM PDT

Thank YOU for putting all your resources (and then some...) into this tool that brought us a free forum to voice our opinions and enjoy exchanging ideas, and to learn from each other and about ourselves.

All your friends and family obviously believed in you and your dream. Thanks for leading the path and dreaming up iranian.com, that has brought so many of us together.

That was a great speech! and by the way: you look really cute when being honored by such lovely crowd. I loved the pictures :0)

IRANdokht


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Mona 19

Great Speech, Mr Javid :)

by Mona 19 on Tue Apr 22, 2008 05:53 PM PDT

Dear Mr.Javid...

...I wish I was there to Thank you in person and shake your hand for all your hard works.

God bless your mom who believed in you and supported you ...I'm sure she was SO PROUD to have a son Like you :)...May she rest in Peace.

Khoda be shoma ghov vat bedeh, va tenetan salamat basheh ;))

With Lots of respect for you, Sir...and Thank YOU

Regards,Mona :)

 


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Ali P.

Congratulations!

by Ali P. on Tue Apr 22, 2008 05:54 PM PDT

Dear JJ:

 You are a pioneer.

 You had a dream and you went after it.

You, Sir,are  a hero.

 

Ali P.


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Anonymouse

Excellent speech!!!

by Anonymouse on Tue Apr 22, 2008 05:02 PM PDT

Really enjoyed reading it. 


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