The Lotus

to be driven away by the excesses of one place

only to be enslaved by those of another? are we sheep? or are we going to rely on our own senses, wherever we are?

actually

anonynous somebody else, we who live in the west ARE part of the west, whether we like it or not. We are part of this society. Oghdeh develops when you live in the west, but keep comparing it to your homeland, and inevtiably see how much more advanced the west is compared to your country. At that time, instead of assilimating yourself into the society and moving on, you develop this sense of jealousy that, in time, turns into an oghdeh, which in turn, causes you to write a comment on Iranian.com wishing that the despots, dictators and human rights abusers in China become the masters of the universe.

US slaughter of Afghan children

According to Reuters:

Ninety-three children and 25 adult women are among a list of 140 names of Afghans who villagers say were killed in a battle and U.S. air strikes last week, causing a crisis between Washington and its Afghan allies...The youngest was listed as 8-day-old baby Sayed Musa, son of Sayed Adam. Fifty-three victims were girls under the age of 18, and 40 were boys. Only 22 were men 18 or older...The Afghan government has endorsed the list, and Karzai went on U.S. television to call for an end to all U.S. air strikes, only to be rebuffed by Washington. Afghan officials say the issue helps insurgents by turning the public against foreign forces...Karzai told CNN last week that Washington needs to rely on other tactics besides air strikes when it is facing Taliban fighters in villages where civilians might be present. "The air strikes are not acceptable," Karzai said. "Terrorism is not in Afghan villages, not in Afghan homes. And you cannot defeat terrorists by air strikes." But White House National Security Advisor James Jones said on Sunday that U.S. forces need air power to protect themselves: "We can't fight with one hand tied behind our back."

//www.reuters.com/article/GCA-Afghanistan-Pak...

actually....

That's not the word that describes the anti-western as you call it. Oghdeh is when people think that the westerners are always right and sees himself and his kind as inferior being.
Oghdeh is what doesn't allow you to speak up against the ones you see as superior! as a matter of fact it's called oghdeh khod-koochak-bini

One word to describe the anti-western bunch:

"OGHDEH"!!!!!!!

Bijan

Not only have you (in addition to many others) recognized the inherent hypocrisy and double standards, I would also like to add that the People's Republic of China, being the staunch Communist state that it is, cannot have a "middle class", as was stated earlier.

Those Chinese banks that are financially sound are that way because of their heavy investments in both the United States and the United Kingdom. They are probably the single largest creditor to which the U.S. is currently indebted.

Even the so-called "private sector" of the Chinese economy, which has been allowed to operates in a quasi "free-market" fashion on a limited basis, operates under extremely tight state controls. In essence there is no true "middle class". Either one is a member of the privileged class, or one is not. The very nature and design of the Chinese government is to have the people serve the state.

But I'm sure you already knew all of that.

Peculiar how this form of social, political and economic oppression in a communist dictatorship is lauded, while a federal republic and parliamentary democracy are viewed as the "imperialists".

the answer is in the text

can u find it?

Question

as to meaning and relevance of chosen image to topic of blog.

Just curious.

Bijan

once again, your judgement runs wild before you have had time to think. i attached no value judgement to the 'change that is coming'. i just pointed out that it is going to happen. it is the reality of our times. that people like you would read it as 'anti-western' or even 'hateful' is an indication of your own paranoia.

if you want the bigger picture: there is a change sweeping the globe. it has been running for decades since decolonization took off after WWII. we are seeing the result of this change taking shape. it's an ongoing organic process without a clear 'end point'. for example, it is not necessarily the end of 'imperialism'.

the relevance to this topic is: is obama's efforts at change a part of that bigger picture? it is a way of digging deeper into the issue at hand despite that irrelevant comments below.

you may, of course, as usual, try and turn it into a personal 'campaign' issue. but then you would.

Ms. Parsi,

I am a little slow in catching up but finally had a chance to follow your recent exchanges. Please follow your own advice and take a few Valiums before responding because you are a digging the hole you are in deeper and deeper. With your post about supremecy of asian banks over American and Britain which seemed you may have reached your wildest orgasm in posting it, you clearly have shown your attitude towards the west.

To you, atrocity of the IRI is tolerable for Iranian people (Not you, because you live in the west), and it only take time for things to improve. But, when it come to western systems of government, they are rotten imperialist in core and there is no hope. How can you get offended by being called prejudiced? Can’t you see the double standard that everyone is talking about?

I don’t write this in defense of Obama, It is you sense of hypocrisy that is sickening.

 Peace

the change that is coming

"China owns several of the world’s largest banks, all well capitalised. It has a large reservoir of big companies and up-and-coming ones that will be going public on the Hong Kong and Shanghai exchanges. It has a rapidly growing middle class with enormous savings ...Its growth rate is still above 6 per cent (compared with negative rates in the US and UK) and it will emerge from the financial crisis far stronger than
either America or Britain."

financial times

We'll see, sweetheart.

We will see.

PC, KN

you are on my ignore list.

KN

i'm not your shrink. take your boring problems elsewhere

NP

Once again you have proven that the problem lies not with others but solely with you.

By naming Craig, AF, and myself along with others with whom you disagree, you have shown that you believe everyone else is wrong and you're right.

If it were just one or two people with whom you have taken issue, it could conceivably be written off as some kind of personality conflict. But this is obviously part of a deeper issue for which you simply refuse to accept your share of responsibility.

AF and I don't see eye to eye on a host of matters. Neither do Craig and I. Captain Ayhab/YT, KouroshS, Ostaad, and others are some of the people with whom I've disagreed, sometimes very strongly. Hell, even Q, whose comments at one time I described as disgusting, can carry on a more constructive dialogue than you. But I don't hate any of them, the way you hate those who don't capitulate to you fully. I don't even hate you. Just the things you have to say.

You started off by saying you "made an effort". Big deal. Is AF supposed to bow at your feet in gratitude? Are any of us supposed to express our deep appreciation for the valuable time you have taken to anoint us with your philosophical viewpoints on social, political, and economic issues?

I bore you? I seriously doubt it. Otherwise, you wouldn't respond, not even with a pitiful "yawn", or by posting a response to Mehrnaz about me as though I don't even exist, fawning over each other with mutual admiration for your equally mutual hatred of me. You read every syllable I write and it burns you. And I want it to burn deep. Your time is no more valuable than anyone else's around here. So, if you think you're wasting it, waste it elsewhere.

I know you're probably not used to hearing this, but, it's not about you.

No sweetheart

it is you who sounds like she is screaming as you type.

sometimes i wonder if you have a drinking problem because you cannot keep a focus and always fall back on 'why you hate america?' in every discussion.

it's as if your mission on this site is to fly the flag and little else. and you read me wrong, there is a certain prism you are wearing that distorts your reading of my core message.

i think you look for little else other than something that 'must' be 'anti-american' to get you going. the rest of the topic - the greater questions posed - are of little consequence, and then we end up arguing about the same thing on every debate no matter what the topic.

good luck to ya american wife.

PC!

not nice! 

NP... was that a follow up comment to your other comment responding to mine?  you remembered another little nicety and just HAD to come back with it?   as far as changing... i'm quite certain that YOU have shown me nothing i need to change.  :-)

now.  i'm done with this. PC is right.  this is juvenile TO THE MAX.

no NP, that's just the point

you DON'T make an effort.  YOU use words like hate and racist like most people say "how do you do".  you accuse people of being "something" when they disagree with you... case in point... you call me condescending and ignorant.  ignorant?  how is disagreeing with you "ignorant"?  you continue to weaken your position by the CONTINUED name-calling.

you continue to try to paint everyone else who disagrees with you as the ones who see hate and enemies.  my dear.  please look back at your posts and re-read them.  the first time someone disagrees with you... out come the claws.  and when someone points that out to you... S C R A T C H. 

sorry.  but you sound like a bitter woman sometimes.  just my opinion.  i've said nothing disrespectful.  as far as being arrogant, that's just another fall-back insult for people who have nothing constructive to say.  i apologize for nothing. 

good luck to YOU, my dear.

AF

you haven't changed much since last year. that's a shame.

another silly little cheerleader chant!

i can see you now with your pom poms...LOLOL

write this down somewhere so you don't forget. 

"repeat".  :-)

KN

yawn

AF

i'm sorry. i made an effort with u but it's not leading anywhere. good luck to u, kaveh, craig and other wonderful people who only see hate and enemies in opposing views. people who tinge their 'dialogue' with others with language like 'enemy', 'fool', 'evil', 'disgusting', 'back off', 'lack of humanity' etc. just fyi, it makes you sound condescending and ignorant at the same time. if you can't see the hate coming from someone saying I have blind hatred for western culture; if you actually believe that i have so much 'hate' in me, then i am wasting my time with you.

Fish

Obama's 8 year administration?

My dear, you are seeing double again, aren't you? LOL

Sing it with me......"1-2-3-4....then Obama's out the door"  :-)

Sorry....had to do it. Couldn't resist.

Paranoia? LOL

Very funny, especially coming from someone like you who doesn't post under your true name.

This hole that you are digging for yourself must be exhausting you. Would you like for me to hold your shovel for a little while so you can get some rest?

say what?

"that we are watching with diminishing hope and increasing
disappointment so far"

again, i'd like to ask who this "we" is that you use so decisively?  it sure isn't me and most people i know.  most people i know feel EXTREMELY positive and optimistic about our future.  i exclude kaveh from MY "we" because he is a rabid republican and is going to remain grim faced through-out obama's 8 year administration... :-))

and i remind you too that most americans don't give a rat's ass about what europe thinks.  :-)) 

his language might be a little strong but niloufar... you DO react pretty defensively when someone disagrees with you.  as far mehrnaz... i don't think it's a secret to anyone that she is just plain mean.  talk about a snake in the grass!

you're both just as quilty of trashing someone who disagrees with you.  don't expect everyone else to rise above the standards that you both clearly have set.  and please don't start with the he-said, she-said or he-did-it-first nonsense.   one doesn't make the other right. 

"your reference to 'blind hatred for western culture' is blind and full of hate."

niloufar!!!  what in the world are you thinking when you write stuff like that?  full of hate?  YOU DO HAVE an obsession with the US and your dislike of it and americans is CLEARLY obvious in every post you write!  this is NOT rocket science.  and now you are trying to claim that Bijan... my god... one of the most civil people on iranian.com... is full of hate?  please.  and i say this with the greatest sincerity... please back off.  you are doing nothing but providing opportunites for people to attack your common sense. 

and while i disagree with you on most issues, i feel it quite unpleasant to see such animosity among human beings.  HUMAN BEINGS for gods sake.  you, who claim such passion for poor pals, are displaying quite the lack of humanity.

we all are.  i'm with YT.  what is up with us???????

sure u have every right

to expose your own paranoia. go ahead.

No Niloufar

I have every right to expose you for the two faced hypocrite you are.

As for who imposes the lines, that's none of your damn business, unless you are so self-centered, arrogant and full of yourself that you think society should follow the standards that YOU impose. I'm not asking you to live up to my standards. But I won't lower myself to yours.

You and your impotent boycott of products and services that you linked to Israel was where you were nailed, because you were and still are using those products and services in order to spread your messages of hate and elitism. But when you were called out on it you either feigned ignorance or avoided answering altogether.

You were also exposed for your silence when Israeli civilians are killed in terrorist attacks, while screaming bloody murder when the casualties are Palestinian. You had plenty of opportunity to respond to the issue, yet you chose to turn it into something personal. Very well. Neither one of us invented the game, but if you think you can beat me at it, think again.

As I have told you before, I couldn't care less what you think of me. The opinion of someone who has demonstrated  that they place a greater value on the lives of one group of people over the lives of others cannot possibly be worthwhile to begin with.

It's obvious that you aren't accustomed to having someone question you or speak out against you, and that you are ill-equipped to handle any criticisms of your points of view. Someone like Mehrnaz offers you a compliment or a gesture of support and you're eating it up like candy, while you chafe at anyone who differs with you. THAT is the truth. All anyone has to do is read maybe three or four of your posts to see for themselves, but that's entirely up to them to do so if they wish, not me. If you can't admit to this aspect of your "character", that's your problem. But I'll be damned if I'm going to let you try and turn it into mine.

The same invitation that was extended to Mehrnaz goes for you as well.

Mehrnaz jan

this bore is really weird. thinks his sense of 'intelligence' and 'truth' actually gives him the right to insult others personally when they cross his self-imposed lines. Hmmm. reminds me of the basijis. never mind, less said the better.

Mehrnaz

Whether it is you or Niloufar, or anyone else, the rules are simple. Don't insult my intelligence and don't lie.

You chose to ignore those fundamental prerequisites. So has Niloufar, who holds the rest of the world to one set of standards while she holds herself to none at all. She hates my guts, and she should, because I "got her number". The only thing she can say to me in response now is that I "bore her".

Contrary to your assertion, you haven't engaged me civilly or politely. That's perfectly fine with me, as it is thankfully highly unlikely that you and I will ever meet face-to-face. Intellectually, you have demonstrated that you have absolutely nothing to offer beyond a box full of tired, lame excuses in your feeble attempt to justify and rationalize your views of certain people, just like your new cyber friend.

If what I've said about you is so patently false, then I urge you to retain the services of an attorney and sue me for defamation of character. Otherwise, get rid of the idea that you are anyone in any position to tell me to "hold my tongue", learn the proper spelling of my last name and boro betamarg.

Bijan

i said 

"Yes it's only 100 days and patience is needed. But surely we must admit
that we are watching with diminishing hope and increasing
disappointment so far."

i hope that speaks for itself if you can understand the spirit behind it.  your reference to 'blind hatred for western culture' is blind and full of hate.