Jahanshah Rashidian

R: Valid

Islam is not a treaty among groups or countries like NATO or any similar pact. This analogy is terminologically baseless. Islam is like any religion a set of beliefs based on traditions and culture of Early Arabia. It was imposed on many nations, including ours.  Of course some religions like Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucius, Judaism or even nature religions in some African tribes reflect their direct cultures and are the outcome of their daily needs. Through them, people understand their human conditions because religion suggests a supreme being(s), a pathway to an ideal life here and after. 

All these positive or naive aspects of religion cannot objectively, and in our case, politically explain our needs in Iran. It is clear that Islam has strong roots in our grassroots because it has never been intellectually challenged. It has been a social character formation in our post Islamic history. It proposes a wishful aim of human existence and conditions many daily attitudes of people who need spiritual support, it is consciously or not a starting point of individual attitudes. Therefore, as secular but democrat, I oppose to Islamophobia or any anti-Muslims- discrimination, as it shows up in the West.

Saying all that, Islam as a religion is an idididual choice and must be resoected, as long as remains in this individual domain.  I just reject Political Islam in any form and reform.

I share the idea with, among others, many modern Muslims that Islam must not govern. As you and many modern Muslims confess, it is incompatible to democracy and Human Rights.    

I think Islam can be used by the West as well--see the western relations with some dictatorial and corrupt Islamic regimes or terrorist groups.

But let's not divert from the main point which may only serve Islamists to mish mash the issue: political Islam must be rejected in any conditions, this is the main issue. 

"Like NATO, Islam plays a

"Like NATO, Islam plays a role of informal alliance between people of the region. And I believe, this alliance will be formalized in the future. It is precisely because of this role, Islam is under attack."

Really??? Buying Arab mercenaries (Hamas terrorists, Hizballah terrorist, syrian terrorists) is called "informal alliance"? You poor soul suffer from delusional dream of grandeur if you think one billion Sunnis across the globe are ever going to accept Shia leadership of the Islamic Ummah...dream on. Obviosly, you haven't been around Sunni arabs/Iraqis. The backlash against Shia and especially the Islamic Republic for forming alliance with the US in Iraq in killing thousands of Sunni Iraqis and Iraqi/Palestinians and Sunni Lebanese is yet to come and haunt the IR for many years...good luck dreaming of "infomral alliance"...

Mr. Rashidian, an MKO stooge!

This fellow is an MKO stooge. What do you expect him to say other than to rehash the garbage called "MKO strategy"? He is a member of separatist kurds, has killed or caused to kill iranian citizens, and does anything to make a buck from CIA.

Mr. Rashidian Anon2 makes a very valid point. Please respod

Islam as an extension of cultural traditions and especially, as a unifying force has an important role to play in as far as dealing with external threat is concerned.

Like NATO, Islam plays a role of informal alliance between people of the region. And I believe, this alliance will be formalized in the future. It is precisely because of this role, Islam is under attack.

However, as the external threats vanish, the role Islam plays in this regard will diminish.

As far as I am concerned, Islam as a religion should be limited to Mosques and homes and should stay out of public life. I believe, in time, it will be so.

Islam and democracy are not mutually exclusive as some would like us to believe.

Peace, however, is a precondition for any progress and full democratic Iran.

"The kind of Middle East we all want to see", Condoleezza Rice

As long as US view Middle East as an asset to be possessed, there will be threat of war.
Unfortunately, as long as there is a threat of war (and continued sanctions),
Iran will have a difficult road ahead to establish a democratic government.

Poem

The poet is Mowlavi or Mowlana Jalaladin Rumi. I think it comes from the Divan e Shams e Tabriz.

And thank you Xerexes for posting this beautiful poem.

Di sheikh ba cheragh hami gasht gerde shahr. "kaz div o dad maloolam, ensaanam arezoost". Goftim yaaft mi nashavad, gashteim maa. Goft: ank yaaft mi nashavad, aanam arezoost.

Rough translation: The drvish was holding a lantern and searching the town. He said I am fed up with "div o dad" (evil) and looking for humanity. We said you won't find it, we have looked. He said: I wish for that you can not find.

Apologies for poor translation and not having Farsi type.

REPLY : THE (P)FARSI POEM........

who is the Poet? in a time where every body act just only emotional, one needs something against Anxiety. This poem is one. Greeting

same as you a gay man

//hajiagha.tripod.com

may they right and why we have so many gay here or lesbian

Brief Explanations

I post this brief clarification regarding some questions .

I am against any military intervention because it takes many innocent lives and damages our infrastructures. However if it happens, a common front with any side is excluded.

Sanctions on the basic economic needs like food and medicine are inhuman, therefore rejected. Instead, I accept sanctions on military and related goods which only serve the IRI’s repressive organs. Also, I suggest that the international judicial authorities issue summons against IRI’s seniors for their crimes against humanity— hideous crimes which are not mentioned by IRI’s supporters.

Oil is rather a IRI’s source of repression and corruption, it is not dedicated  to improve our national economy- see the increasing and official rate of poverty, unemployment … from one side and the rate of wealthy and corrupt Mullahs, parasitic institutions and Islamic foundations,… from the other side.  Sanction on oil paralyses the regime.

Islam, as religion, is not the problem, but as an ideology of a totalitarian regime, it merits to be analysed and criticised.

In the meanwhile, an increasing number of ex-Mulims in Iran, especially among the youth and active population, is a logical backslash of population to Islam, this fact is also ignored by our pro-IRI.

A possible solution to the dilemma?

Going back to the original post (OP) by Jahanshah Rashidian (JR), note that he concludes his writing by saying: “We pay a heavy price for this nonsensical bullshit (NB), under the banner of Islamic morality -- that is being imposed on the Iranian society”.

In trying to find a solution on how to get 90% of the Iranians in Iran to stop believing/buying into the NB of mullahs (as quoted by JR) ,  Xerexs asks: “please tell us what would you suggest we do? Maybe if you investigate the options then you won't be so quick to accuse others. Enlighten me please”.

 OK.  Here is a suggestion. Let’s learn from Khomeini, and how he got his message through distribution of cassette tapes through the masjeds before the fire incident in Ahvaaz.  Why don’t we publish and distribute 60 million copies of the following book (which is written in Farsi), for free , at every door step of the 60 million Iranians in every town and village in Iran? The book is written by Shoja-e-din Shafa.  It was published in Europe in 2007.  It is entitled “Human rights and Ghaanoon-e Tokhmi” .  It is currently banned in Iran, but you can get a copy at:   //shopping.ketab.com/addprod.asp?id=17583&cat=1&all=Shafa&pgs=3

Believe me, I do not get any royalties, nor do I even know the author, the publisher, nor the distributor.  But I just finished reading the book.  It would enlighten any layman Persian about the Mullah’s NB.  

Who knows -- Since 90% of the current Iranian population is receptive to any NB that sounds like a savior, maybe they’d read it and get “enlightened”.

anonymous-2: Your

anonymous-2: Your malignantly narcissitic comments are nothing but projections. Practice what you preach, you arrogant, morally degenerate scum of ther earth who supports and advocates an evil regime and their cronies like Khatami... You've bought into your own reformist carp and you're deeply soaked in it when you can't see the impossibility of what you're suggesting (shared regional security), which btw is nothing but reciting the official line of the Islamic Republic. Your IRI is going down even with a Democratic President....And those who really care about IRan also know the reformers are just as corrupt and perhaps more treasonous than the hardliners since they've colluded with the West.

To: Jamshid as I said many believe they know it all!

First the question was not addressed to you, nor did I inquire that you respond; the reason why I specifically addressed the Subject to: Mr. Rashidian.

Second: You neither grasped nor understood what I said; demonstrating that the subject matter was way over your head.

Third: To be an effective communicator; the critical elements are; (1) to observe and make sure you understand the topic of the discussion ; (2) have in depth knowledge of the subject, (3) listen intensely to what the other party is saying; (4) fully digest the information;and finally (5) ponder on the subject before you jump up in making half ass remarks.

You flunked in all categories.

Jamshid: this anonymous 2

Jamshid: this anonymous 2 sounds a lot like Abbas Milani who advocates the reformers (created and organized by the US democratic left) in the US. And they think they are holier than thou for deceiving and giving false hope to poor Iranian sheeple.

To: Jamshid -- But you didn't say anything!

Except "period." You don't say anything other than nobody should talk about reform. You don't even say why. What is there for me to reply to?

Re: Mehdi

I do not reply to ignorant hypocrites who attack "me" instead of my arguments. That is an old and tired method.

Re: Anonymous-2

Here are some quotes from Anonymous-2:

Quote: "Iran today is a country in transition, a state that oscillates between the promises of democratic modernity and retrogressive tradition. As a theocratic state struggling to conceive a governing order that accommodates both its religious convictions and its republican claims..."

Quote: "...Promise of democratic modernity..."?? Who are you trying to decieve? The only promise the IRI is giving its people is the promise of suppressing any attempt towards a democracy and a religious base dictatorship until the appearance of emam mehdi.

Quote: "despite all of the setbacks of Muhammad Khatami’s reform movement, the one enduring legacy of his electoral triumphs in 1997 to 2001 has been to make it impossible for Iran to become a rigid authoritarian state."

Khatami's REFORM MOVEMENT? Are you so naive, or do you take us for a bunch of naives? THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS REFORM IN THE IRI. It is only a periodic show to defuse the pressure and fool simpeltons like yourself. Thrity years has passed and the IRI is only getting more brutal.

"Legacy" of Khatami's "electoral" "triumphs"?? Oh my god! Just pay attention to these words and ask yourself what kind of a pathetic soul could come up with them to describe a "do zaari" mollah like khatami.

"... to make it impossible for Iran to become a rigid authoritarian state..." ey mardake ahmagh! Iran already IS a rigid authoritarian state!

A mullah can be reformed only by rejecting the concept of "velaayate faghih" and accepting the separation of religion from government, and removal of mullahs from government posts. Does khatami adher to any of these? The IRI by its very ideology and nature is unreformable. Period.

"... The call for representation and the rule of law..." Rule of law? Are you serious? RULE OF LAW? That is the one thing that does not exist in IRI.

Quote: "The only way that Iran will change is by integrating Iran into the global economy and regional security dialogue and foster links that allows cooperation between Iran and the West."

Really? Did you just discover that yesterday? Well... Duh! We already knew this. Unfortunately, that is wishful thinking with the IRI. It will never happend as long as they are in power.

You talk about Iran's complexities and you are the first who knows nothing about it. You remind me of those so called "roshanfekrs" of the 70s who were just talks and nothing else.

Jamshid, now you are being funny

You completely ignore Xerxes's great comment about the three categories he explained about and don't even bother to tell us which one of those three ways of progress you choose - well two for you since you clearly do not believe in the reform path. You claim dialogue and discussion is futile yet you give no reason why you feel this way. You claim IRI "must go." I don't think either me or Xerxes disagreed with that anywhere but it seem you believe in that simply because of what we two happen to agree on in terms of which path to take. You seem to simply consider anybody pro-reform as an "agent of IRI" or at best someone who is ignorant. It is very revealing that you even clearly say that nobody should have a discussion or dialogue about this. Obviously you have already decided on behalf of everyone. I guess that's your version of the democracy you plan to bring to that country. Democracy means what Jamshid says and nobody should even discuss it! Very funny. It seems that Xerxes's arguments has made you upset and you seem unable to see how he could be right. So you just turn on the emotion - you get mad! Nobody is supposed to say anything that Jamshid doesn't like - expecially if what they say makes sense! That's just unacceptable! Very interesting. I think people should be looking forward in strong anticipation for the kind of democracy and modernization you will bring to Iran :-)

The West does not care

The West does not care whether Iranians are muslims, Xians, or atheists. Their government is a threat to the stability of the world order and has declared war against the West and "arrogant Powers". Iranians want to change the world order then they have to pay the consequences. It's nothing personal and fruition of democracy in Iran has little to do with anything here.

Rashidian ... Up until this

Rashidian ... Up until this point I have had no qualms accepting many of the arguments you have presented (although I must say I have not read all of them)but this time around you are really taking it too far and are actually behaving exactly like the ones you have been criticizing all along!!
-- you are quoting in such a manner as if you actually believe this is exactly what the religion is saying!
Rethink your argument and presentation!
You are misleading the average person.
Misleading people is quite unforgivable ...as has been done, and we are suffering immensely as a result of it.
I am not pro anyone. I just think democracy should prevail and 'TRUTH' must be told.

To: Mr. Rashidian

Dear Mr. Rashidian:

I have read a lot of your articles and unlike what you advocate that you are not pro or anti anything but a pragmatic individual; your articles demonstrate inconsistencies on your position, which you may wish to clarify.

You seem to have a deep hatred toward Islam, promote an oxymoron, meaningless terminology “ Islamofasicism”; and are a proponent of an interventionist policy for regime change in Iran.

Furthermore, unlike what you advocate that you are against sanctions that would hurt the Iranian people, but a proponent of sanctions that would only hurt the regime; some of your articles demonstrate exactly the opposite (Oil Sanctions on Iran By Jahanshah Rashidian Published Thursday, October 25, 2007 //www.iran-press-service.com/ips/articles-200... )

“As the United States announced Thursday new sanctions against three Iranian banks and also on the mighty and powerful Revolutionary Guards, Mr. Jahanshah Rashidian, an Iranian political activist and commentator suggested the international community considering boycotting Iranian oil, the biggest source of income of the Iranian theocracy.”

I wonder how you could make such a statement when over 80% of Iran’s revenues are derived from oil? It seems very amateurish to believe that sanctions on Iran’s oil will not have a direct and negative impact on the Iranian people. This was the same tactic that the British used in 1951 under the Premiership of Dr. Mohammad Mussadeq by boycotting and sanctioning Iranian oil for exports thereby reducing Iran’s oil revenues from $400MM in 1950 to less than $2 million within a two year time frame; totally crippling the Iranian economy.

This strategy is nothing more than what Iran encountered in the 1950’s. It opened the door to U.S. intervention in the economic and political affairs of Iran whose results thirty years later led to the Revolution of 1979.

Furthermore, in every article you write, you go out of your way to slander Islam, and mind you without having a scholarly knowledge about the religion. I wonder if you take note that over 90% of the Iranian people are Muslims and have an ardent belief in their religion. Do you think by insulting their religion you or anyone else is going to win their “hearts and mind”? Or do you have a different agenda, and are attempting to influence a different audience?

You live in Germany, but seem to believe that you understand the complex dynamics, contradictions, and interplay of Iran’s complex political system which has enabled it to withstand the threats, sanctions, and containment policies of various U.S. Administrations.

When was the last time that you went to Iran and how long did you live there? A two or three week, or even a month or so visit, will not give you or anyone else for that matter a deep understanding of Iran, unless one has been living there and has become part of the social fabric.

The problem with many of us living outside of Iran is that we seem to believe we know it all. Today’s Iran is very different from the Iran we knew.

We have absolutely no deep understanding of the complexities of either the political dynamics nor a real understanding of the Iranian people, their psychology, their beliefs, their wants, and dislikes; what to them constitutes an ideal society, political regime, or even how they may define “democracy” that fits within their culture and customs. To sit outside of Iran and come up with our own assessment of how Iran should change and through what forces that change has to come about is not only very naïve, it is dangerous and delusional on our part.

Unfortunately, many of us seem to portray the same lack of knowledge, cultural, social, and religious understanding that the Bush Administration exemplified, when they believed it would be a cake walk by invading Iraq and removing a dictator. Six years later they have turned a country into chaos, anarchy, a hub for militants and extremists, destruction, and death of millions of people, with no democracy in sight.

Iran today is a country in transition, a state that oscillates between the promises of democratic modernity and retrogressive tradition. As a theocratic state struggling to conceive a governing order that accommodates both its religious convictions and its republican claims. Contrary to the presumption in Washington that the Islamic Republic is a fragile state about to collapse if America exerted determined pressures, the regime with all of its contradictions and power struggles is likely to endure. The reality of Iran today is that its internal struggle is not a simple conflict between the mullahs and the people. The flexibility and decentralization of Iran’s Islamic order ensures that it will perpetuate its ruling elite and retain its ardent supporters.

Another significant issue to bear in mind is that despite all of the setbacks of Muhammad Khatami’s reform movement, the one enduring legacy of his electoral triumphs in 1997 to 2001 has been to make it impossible for Iran to become a rigid authoritarian state. The call for representation and the rule of law, for accountability and equality, have transformed the average Iranian from a passive observer of cleric politics into an active agent of change. The resilience of the forces of progress stems from their diversity: Clerical reformers, disillusioned youth, a burdened middle class, women seeking emancipation, and intellectuals yearning for freedom of thought have come together in their demand for a government responsive to its citizenry. Despite the apparent consolidation of conservative power and the election of Ahmadinejad in 2005, Iran will change. In the long run, Iran’s sophisticated and youthful populace can be neither appeased by cosmetic concessions nor silenced by threats of coercion.

However, Iran’s democratic transition must come on its own terms, and at its own pace. An American president castigating Iran as part of an “axis of evil” , or denigrating its political process by proclaiming its elections as fraud even before they take place, only provides ammunition to hard-liners decrying Iran’s democrats as unwitting agents of Western machination.

Before stepping into the convoluted fray of Iranian politics, it would be wise to have a better appreciation of Iran’s complexities and contradictions.

A policy of containment, isolation, Islam bashing and periodic call for regime change is unlikely to bring about a democratic change, and in fact will do the opposite.

The only way that Iran will change is by integrating Iran into the global economy and regional security dialogue and foster links that allows cooperation between Iran and the West. Such a policy will undermine the hard-liners who require American belligerence and international isolation to consolidate their power. Subtle and effective diplomacy will not only create incentives for Iran to play a responsible role in the region, but also slowly compel its leadership to transcend the ideological traps that have alienated it from large sections of its population.

Mehrdad va Jamshid- You will learn once you advance

نگفتمت مرو آنجا كه آشنات منم
در اين سراب فنا چشمه حيات منم
و گر به خشم روي صد هزار سال ز من

به عاقبت به من آيي كه منتهات منم

نگفتمت كه به نقش جهان مشو راضي

كه نقش بند سراپرده ي رضات منم

نگفتمت كه منم بحر و تو يكي ماهي

مرو به خشك كه درياي با صفات منم

نگفتمت كه تو را ره زنند و سرد كنند

كه آتش و طبش و گرمي هوات منم

نگفتمت كه صفتهاي زشت بر تو نهند

كه گم كني كه سرچشمه حيات منم

نگفتمت كه مگو كار بنده از چه جهت

نظام گيرد خلاق بي جهات منم

اگر چراغ دلي دانك راه خانه كجاست

وگر خدا صفتي دانك كدخدات منم

RE:mehrdad12

lol, waay mordam, Ok mehrdad12 you also have a vast political vocabulary and seem to know the answer. point well taken. lol
Feel free to enlighten the people about your plans to free eyeran.

RE:jamshid

OK, now please tell us what would you suggest we do? Maybe if you investigate the options then you won't be so quick to accuse others. Enlighten me please. Read my comment once more, either choose one of the options or create another set. The balls are in your court, enlighten us.

XerXes

What XerXes fails to tell you is that he was raised by mullahs. bache mullah! And we know what they do to bacheh mollahs in madraseh!

IRI is illegitimate. Period.

The likes of Mehdi, XerXers's and others' attempts to "create" a "dialog and discussion" about the IRI are only futile attempts to create a resemblence of legitimacy for this corrupt and unpopular regime. They do this knowingly or very much unknowingly, prolonging the life of this miserable regime.

This divert attention and energy from focusing on removing this regime, to endless and useless debates on whether or not this regime is this or that. We should not allow this.

The IRI is a corrupt, illegitimate, unpopular and barbaric regime. Period. Its bankrupt ideology is based on backwarded, fascistic and immoral beliefs. Period. There is nothing to be discussed here or argued on this topic. The IRI must go. Its end is inevitable, as the will of the people will eventually become focused and cohesive, at which time, the IRI's existence will end.

When that day come, when Iran would finally lift itself into a better time, when the true extends of the IRI corruption and crimes are revealed, when the identity and stories of all those whom the IRI had raped becomes available to the public, at that time, the likes of Xerxers, Mehdi and a few others should go back and take a look at their "contributions" to this regime, and keep their heads low in shame.

Re: Anti-AGhazadeh -- I LOVE your comments

Laughing my head off. No matter how much logic Xerxes uses Anti-AGhazadeh's response is the same! Even when Xerxes told him what the limits of Anti-AGhazadeh's vocabulary is, he still used the same list of words to respond! That is priceless! :-)

Dear Rashidian

Dear Rashidian,
I am sureprised you are not getting a "raise" from the "management" of "$75M Club".

Asghar Koongoshad

Ashoora in streets of New

Ashoora in streets of New York City:

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=ez0LUmgCl5I

Future Jihad: Terrorist

Future Jihad: Terrorist Strategies against the West

//www.amazon.com/Future-Jihad-Terrorist-Strat...

RE: Anti-AGhazadeh I am scared

Thanks for warning me. I am scared of you since you are the voice of intelligence and I can't compete with you. Khoda be shoma aghli beresune va pooli beh maa.

Xerexes: Why are you so

Xerexes: Why are you so scared? You're not even a good at demogaugery 101...pathetic that you're trying to sell "hope for reform" as the solution. Hope is not method to get justice and fight thieving and tyrannical regimes that you obviously are so fond of. You're an Islamofascist aghazadeh and I have better things to do than to debate a morally bankrupt and fascist aghazadeh...get a life instead of spewing your inanities on every thread.