I have received many private and public messages from readers in reply to my blog titled “9/11 & Me: When I Became a Sand Nigger…” and have reviewed them all diligently. Sorting through all the advice, concerns, and different interpretations, my heart was filled with the warmth of belonging to a greater community of Iranians who has persevered through many adversaries. I was touched by your words and moved by your outrage and indignation.
In the last 29 years since the establishment of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Iranian women have proved their resilience and displayed such a fighting spirit unseen and unheard of in the Middle East. While women in Saudi Arabia and Afghanistan have been subjugated by Islamic rulers or subdued by social barriers, their dreams and aspirations are crushed for generations. On the contrary, Iranian women have been Chadored, veiled, locked up, kicked around and beaten but still stand erect.
Our legal rights have been reduced by the moronic but divine laws of Islamic Sharia, and our worth has been equated with half a man or a generous offering of two mules. We still stand erect. The sanctity of our bedrooms have been violated by men who freely practice their Islamic right to acquire and enjoy Seeghah (the act of buying a temporary wife for the duration of the contract), and our homes have been overrun by Havoohes (second, third and fourth wives). But we still stand erect.
Iranian women have worked both within and against the Islamic system to improve their social standing and have challenged the mullahs head on. Today, there are more women in Iran’s institutions of higher education than before, and we have broken social barriers to become lawyers, judges, and representatives. Our fervor for freedom and equality seethes under the surface and boils over to burn the mullahs and their strangle hold over our lives. We stand erect.
Don’t despair, Hamshahri. I am a shir zan-e Irani, the heir to Mandana, the pallbearer to Negan, the blood line of Queen of Persia, Ester of Babylon. I stand erect.
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Darius:
by LalehGillani on Thu Sep 18, 2008 09:50 AM PDTLook for me amongst the crowd. You will hear the roar of Iranian women leading the charge, chanting the demise of mullahs. Azad Baad Iran.
My take on this
by saraV (not verified) on Thu Sep 18, 2008 08:58 AM PDTWe need not to worry about this lady. Just read the last paragraph of her last blog where she tells her son why America was attacked on 9/11. If calling a group of people sand nigger deserves an attack like that, I pity her husband and father in law. I wonder what she did to them. Yes. She might not have divorced the pitiful creature but there are worse things you can do to your husband. If you know what I mean, ladies!! :)
THEN JOIN US LALEH JAN ! ;0)
by Darius Kadivar on Thu Sep 18, 2008 04:37 AM PDTDO YOUR DUTY EVERYONE BE IT FOR YOURSELVES AND WHATS LEFT OF YOUR PRIDE: HELP NAZANIN REGARDLESS OF IF YOU ARE REPUBLICAN, MONARCHIST,COMMUNIST, ANARCHIST, MKO, REFORMIST, GAY, MACHO, JEW, BAHA'I, RELIGIOUS OR SECULAR !
DO WHAT YOUR PARENTS DID NOT DARE TO DO! STAND UP FOR YOUR FELLOW IRANIANS AND LETS SHOW THE WORLD WHAT WE ARE MADE OF !
United Nations Headquarters -- before entering the opening of the General Assembly. The rally will run from 12-2pm on September 23rd at Dag Hammarskjold Plaza (47th St. & 2nd Ave.)
NOT JUST IN NY: IN EVERY TOWN IN FRONT OF EVERY IRANIAN EMBASSY, DURING MEHREGHAN PARADE ! ALL THE TIME TILL THE ELECTIONS. ALSO HELP SCE FINANCIALLY IF POSSIBLE.
BE CREATIVE FOR ITS NOW OR NEVER !
VIVE L'IRAN LIBRE ET DEMOCRATIQUE
NO TO WAR BUT ALSO NO TO CHILD EXECUTIONS:
STOP CHILD EXECUTIONS MR. PRESIDENT AHMADINEJAD!
//www.stopchildexecutions.com/
Wha..?
by toofantheoncesogreat (not verified) on Thu Sep 18, 2008 04:17 AM PDTI lost the connection here.. how did this become an anti IRI and Islam issue when your white husband calls you quote "sand nigger" in a huge family dinner..
Dear Laleh
by Anonymous - For Sure (not verified) on Wed Sep 17, 2008 04:39 PM PDTI want to share this with you:
I read your previous blog; if that was a true account, I have to say that you are at the very least in an 'abusive' relationship.
Now having said that, let me say this: this blog is an impressive blog. Nevertheless, I can not quite fathom where you are at with 'YOURSELF'. The statements that you make in this blog 'Do Not' jive with what you said in your previous blog.
You Can Not Be 'TRUE' to yourself having both of these blogs within you at the same time. By that I mean, you are in some form of denial, one way or another.
I hope that you take this as some form of positive feedback. My intent is not to offend you. Nevertheless, I can not be a True friend unless I let you know how I truly see things: Good; Bad; Pretty; and, Ugly.
Re-read some of the comments that others have left for you in your previous blog. You'll see what I am saying.
My hopes are that you understand what I am saying here - Best !-!-
Dear Laleh from Gillan,
by Not Logged In (not verified) on Wed Sep 17, 2008 04:14 PM PDTYou can write, there is no doubt about it, however you are falling into writing propaganda and slogans already, so if this is the way you want to proceed with your writing I’d like to see some substantive solutions for the plight of the Iranians. I don’t care about slogans.
Once again, I’ve liked your writings so far.
One problem with the readers
by 11 (not verified) on Wed Sep 17, 2008 04:14 PM PDTOne problem with the readers of these two blogs is that they can not simply convince themselves, that story is over. This is a new blog. There is no part 2 for that story...
...and don't tell me if it isn't a made up story, you wouldn't call for womaen's erect, when yourself are already half-bent.
I don't understand this.
by Confused Ziba (not verified) on Wed Sep 17, 2008 02:16 PM PDTI don't understand this. Why are we all automatically assuming that Lalleh rolled over and played dead after her husband and father in law said those things to her? We simply don't know what happened afterwards. So please get off her back!
Fake and Unnecessary Bravado
by Iranian Mother (not verified) on Wed Sep 17, 2008 01:55 PM PDTSo, was your last story true or not?
If it was true, cut out this "erect" business, and as a good Iranian woman and mother, go seek some counseling for yourself and your child/ren and get some legal advice, too.
If it wasn't true, you should have started your new article with that fact instead of telling us how you were touched by all the outrage and concern.
It is hard to be inspired by someone who is not facing her own realities with honesty and courage, Laleh Khanoom. Let other Iranian women find their way while you find yours out of some very seriously abusive conditions succumbing to which makes us pity you, not follow you.
Sorry for the tough love.
Laleh:
by Parvin (not verified) on Wed Sep 17, 2008 01:06 PM PDTBoth of your most recent blog entries are inspiring and thought provoking. How can we ever become free of foreign powers if we don’t respect the rights of others to think and believe freely? We need a few Founding Fathers and Mothers of our own.
Laleh, well done!