Good Work Saman

Good work Saman. And you who call this stupid, well , Saman may be is a kid but has a function brain than you, that call yourself "Zereshk", and really I have to say to you one thig: zereshkkkkk.
Saman keep your sprite up, you're the future.

chill pill

If saman's cartoon was so bad why is it still up there for all of you to make so many comments? He tickled something you don't like and you're still reacting ot it. He scored on you and you don't like it. Most people would ignore it and not even comment but you're still burning. Hasoods! take a chill pill and blow one out of your back side instead of being a hater!!! Losers never have anything to say but to make weak comments. You know who you are.

simply stupid

Saman's cartoons always have poor taste. A reflection of a kid who is bored and hates being Iranian. (I mean, look at everything he draws. The kid hates himself). And connecting NIAC to I.R.I is plain stupid.

The Real Humor

Is when mullah suppoerters preach for TOLERANCE, UNDERSTANDING, FAIRNESS, LIBERAL THNKING, ...........

Girls and Boys - in case you have not noticed - we have a serious problem in Iran.  It's called the ISlamic Republic.  It has devastated our country setting Iran up for the final devastation.   You want to look the other way - fine, just don't play preacher to the rest of us.

To the good people of NIAC

You guys are doing a great job for those who care about Iran and Iranians. I wish you all the success in what you're trying to achieve. Please be assured that there are many decent Iranians in the US who appreciate your hard work. Please don't get discouraged by a bunch of $70M club members and agents of Zionists.

To Mehdi, Saman and JJ on the semiotics of Intolerance

I believe all three of you have some common ground. But you may be missing one important point on what constitutes intolerance or satire that is the relative potency and worth of signals being communicated.

Saman is only half-right that this piece of satire should be "tolerated" but the lack of such toleration is not a sign of backwardness of Iranians. Let me as the question that actually came up (but was completely whitewashed by the Western media) when the Mohammad Cartoons surfaced:

If Mohammad Cartoons are OK? Why isn't a conference on the Holocaust OK?

I ask Saman if he is willing to make a satirical piece about the Holocaust or about say, the Khorramshahr invasion glorifying Saddam Hussein? Will JJ publish such a piece under the banner of "tolerance" ?

What about a piece showing Barak Obama as a Monkey, isn't that Satire? Would you draw/publish such a cartoon?

So please, let's not reduce this to a simple formula of "tolerance." Think about the consequences of what you are saying.

Most people know the answer to my questions above is no. None of those examples are OK. People couch their answers in terms of "good taste" or "appropriateness" but the reality is that the signs embedded in those pieces are hurtful to a group of people, no matter how much of a "good sport" some of them are.

By contrast making fun of George Bush as a mad "cow boy" or Tony Blair as a "lapdog" is a lot more "OK" because the persons and groups being targeted have such high power status that they can afford to be tolerant of pointed criticism. They are not in danger of serious abuse and the messages don't hit home like it would if making fun of Holocaust or Mohammad Cartoons.

The political atmosphere allows enough security to justify such satire. Jews making fun of themselves on American TV, for example, is not threatening to their status on TV. But making fun of muslims or black people because of their race/religion is threatening to these groups perceisely because they are under siege in today's America by western Media. Similrly the issue of Holocaust is too dramatic and too painful to Israelis and the majority of the Western citizens who had to go through world war II only a generation ago.

This is why they were not amused by Tehran's holocaust cartoon conference, but they saw nothing wrong with the Mohammad cartoons. This is also why they were hypocrites.

The right thing to do is to be tolerant of both sides. Saman made it clear this was satire in the actual cartoon and in his comment. But still, I'm willing to bet some part of NIAC was uncomfortable with it.

NIAC has been under siege from people calling them various forms of "Mullah lovers," after all.

NIAC an agent of the Islamic Republic of Iran?

The cartoon was so funny that I laughed so much that I urinated in my pants.

To all the anti-Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) people I ask several questions.

1. Do you live in Iran or outside Iran?
If you live outside Iran, go to the next question.
2. Iranian opposition to the IRI outside Iran has proven to be a failure after 29 years of the existence of the IRI.
3. Inside Iran opposition to the IRI regime has absolutely no power. So most young Iranians opposed to the IRI are turning to capitalism and ignoring politics. So what is the use of being opposed to the IRI. Democracy is the rule of the majority. If the majority vote is bearded men and Chadori women then why complain about the IRI? The IRI are democratically elected via IRI rules and regulations.
4. Even if NIAC is an agent of the IRI as far as political position, don't they have the right according to the US Constitution to "freedom of expression,speech and press". If you don't believe so, aren't you a lover of Stalin and Hitler?
5. What does Iran have to do with the US, Europe, Canada or the rest of the world? Nothing really. Foreign Oil in America is imported from Latin America.
6. Even if Iran gains nuclear technology or even a nuclear weapon, their use of such a weapon would lead to the IRI's destruction and the collateral damage destruction of IRI allies such as Lebanese Hizb'Allah, Syria's Bashar Assad, Palestinian Hamas,Islamic Jihad,PLO and Arab Israeli's opposed to the Israeli policies.
7. Overall, the joke is just a joke. Let us behave civilized and try to find a peaceful solution to the problems of the Middle East.
8. Iran's future will never be a Moanrchist or MKO future. Those Iranian futures are dead and gone. The last hope is real American Republic Democracy with a President and social freedoms like Amsterdam. One can only hope for that for a good country like Iran.

Very funny

Great job Saman!
I loved the cartoon, but I loved your avatar picture even better!
Some of the comments in this blog could have this title:"kaaseh daaghtar az Aash". Even NIAC people are laughing with you..:)
Azarin
PS: Omid hast jan, I think the competition is getting much tougher for you!

Saman: A test

I will believe that you had no ulterior motives in doing this if you just openly here say something "slightly" critical of Israel. This test will prove that you just meant this as a joke and in good spirit and that you just didn't know any better. Don't make me turn this against your "exclusive club" ;) Are you still laughing? ;)

Tolerance?

When it comes to "funny" attacks on a decent organization, we see avid supporters of the "violent regime change in Iran at the cost of a devastating war taking the lives of millions," all of a sudden asking for "tolerance." Very interesting. Why is it then that when the subject of talk with the IRI comes up the same people claim that the IRI is un-reformable and the whole country must be bombed? Hmmmm. I don't think I will be tolerant this time. No, thanks, I will stay intolerant!

To Take it Easy !

Well said my friend.

Democracy of Hypocrisy

I don’t want to make this into a McDonald’s commercial but “I’m lovin’ it” to see how much some of you anti and pro NIAC folks have in common. It’s sad for NIAC but very eye opening to the rest of us who don’t go Taliban over a cartoon!

I wonder if this much anger has ever been displayed on any Scandinavian site over a cartoon? Oh yeah, it has and they were called middle-eastern fundamentalists. How ironic?  :O)

So here’s what I have to offer after all the dreadfulness. I’d like to leave 2 options on the table for those of you who’re losing your lid over a 12 minute cartoon:

1. Put a fatwa on my head for using Photoshop to manipulate a picture.
2. Put your money where your mouth is and donate a few $ by clicking here:  //www.niacouncil.org/

Last I checked with NIAC (4PM Thursday) … none donations were made.

No wonder the other thing that someone else (not you or me) was responsible for is now called the Arab Gulf!

Yes indeed

Mr/Ms "take it easy",

You took the words right out of my mouth. Explained it beautifully. We seriously need to work on tolerance. Me included :o)

A clash of cultures?

This is a clear example of a cultural clash between eastern and western ways of expressing a critical point of view and sense of humor. Middle Easter's "in general" are a very passionate group of people. They react fanatically about their ideals and values, sometimes to a point where they can literally take a person's life (in the case of the famous Danish Cartoonist) just to show their disagreement with a simple social critic.
A satirist's job is to shed light on different angles of a subject and make people think, talk or just have a simple laugh about it (just what Saman has done in this matter). Yet in the heart of a "democratic society", we Iranians once again prove that we have a very long way to go in our way towards tolerance and free speech.
The bright side of this issue however, is that the people in this photo seem to have grasped Saman's sense of humor and are laughing loud about it!

Loved it !!

Don't care what the original intend was - I loved the cartoon.

 To babak and the rest of NIAC staff - think Plan B - look for decent jobs and careers.

Best wishes

Where does your funding come form so called satirical saman

Well Saman Jan,
By know its clear the NAIC funding comes as a grass roots movement.
I wonder who your masters are? Does not sound like they are Iranian anyways.

As far as Satire is concerned-- well dont give up the day job just yet.

Salamat Bashi.

The point is

even if they are associated with the IRI, they still can not incur as much damage to Iran as Mujahedin and Iranian Student Association did during the 70's when they joined the British forces of spies against integrity of Iran. You see what I mean?

The question we have to ask ourselves is what have you done to Dr. Yazdi? He is free and walking every day in Park-Saaii in Tehran and flirts with girls! Is that how we treat those who sold out our country?

That is why it really does not matter what this group is or is not...

Long live resistance movements of people of Disneyland at Epcot Center....

Wow

I just wanted to hop on here again and say that we at NIAC took the satirical cartoon in stride but we are very moved by the passionate defense of so many of you on here. It is your support that keeps us going and energetic in the face of trenchant opposition.

A few continue to ask us where we get our revenues - a very legitimate question that has been answered over and over. If you visit our website, on the right side is a "NIAC FACTBOOK" that explains all FAQs and then some. we also publish our IRS tax returns on our site and even a graphical analysis of our funding is available at the bottom of the front page.

link:

//www.niacouncil.org/index.php?option=com_con...

Babak Talebi

Director of Community Relations, NIAC

www.niacouncil.org

"Promoting Iranian-American Participation in American Civic Life"

I Got It

Hi Saman, I got the message you're trying to send. What I didn't get is who's actually accused NIAC for being associated with the IRI?! If, as you mentioned, the comatose-Shahis in LA have made any accusations, we just have to ignore them as usual!

One general comment: NIAC's main budget comes from the concerned Iranian-American citizens that want their social/political rights preserved and their Iranian image (in this country!) improved.

Disclaimer: I am not associated with NIAC nor have I made any personal contributions but I've been following their efforts since NIAC's conception.

alleged connection with IRI

1. i think: Am I Iranian, so I posess only Iranian Identity Papers. others are not Iranians. The first group does and must have Connections with the Islamic Republic of Iran. The connection IS alleged. Because the Republic of Iranians is interessted only in this kind of connections. See Russia, see china see so many europian coutries, see the non aleind countries. All these have alleged connection to that Republic. And see government of the united states and you will realize that Iranians do not want any connection to rubbers and liars and Godless poeple.
2. sitting and standing postures are in fact priceless
such as in a cartoon?

Satire

Definition of 'Satire' from Merriam-Webster:

1 : a literary work holding up human vices and follies to ridicule or scorn

2 : trenchant wit, irony, or sarcasm used to expose and discredit vice or folly

Look it up people, before your brains explode!

Saman jan, it's good to have you back after a long break, always enjoyed your cartoons. Although I would not be surprised if you took another long sabbatical after the ignorant reactions on this thread. For a culture that is supposed to be known for a sophiosticated sense of humor, I can't believe people would take your cartoon literally.

In that case

...I take back everything I said :O)

Apologies accepted, Saman,

With the "warning" below the photo, I bet many of those who laughed got the joke, but they decided to laugh, anyway. Just look at the whole thing as a psychological warfare.

Whatever your intention, the photo could also be seen as ridiculing NIAC.

Hope you'll have better luck with your next work.

Sounds like someone is green with envy

Yeah this is Hilarious! Not smart enough to influence legislation, battle congress and be the voice of moderation&reason, so u scribble on a picture,now that takes real talent! u know what they say: "those who can do, those who can't pout and paint cartoons!"

From Saman: If you don't get it ... you don't get it!

This was an attempt to ridicule how baseless it is to accuse NIAC with its relation to IRI. If you didn't get it ... then I'm afraid you and I need to work on our sense of humor!!! cheers to all ;O)

How is NIAC financed?

Does anyone know how this organization is financed? How do NIAC memebers make their earnings?

My Two Cents ;0)

Elvis Presley - Suspicious Mind

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTYg2Q-vDJ0&feature=related

Were caught in a trap
I cant walk out
Because I love you too much baby

Why cant you see
What youre doing to me
When you dont believe a word I say?

We cant go on together
With suspicious minds
And we cant build our dreams
On suspicious minds

So, if an old friend I know
Drops by to say hello
Would I still see suspicion in your eyes?

Here we go again
Asking where Ive been
You cant see these tears are real
Im crying

We cant go on together
With suspicious minds
And be cant build our dreams
On suspicious minds

Oh let our love survive
Or dry the tears from your eyes
Lets dont let a good thing die

When honey, you know
Ive never lied to you
Mmm yeah, yeah

This is done in such poor

This is done in such poor taste and is really defamatory. Saman joon, it seems you too suffer from Iranian accusatory complex (without proof).

Not Funny

Making baseless accusations and belltling our own kind has been part of our culture for centuries.

Instead of providing cosntructive feedback and encouraging groups and intellectuals such as NIAC we rather take the arrogant and ignorant approach by spreading baseless lies and rumors based on our emotions.

It is unfortunate and upsetting that even in the west we have not learned to discuss and argue or make criticism in a civilized fashion.

I don't think Mr. Trita Parsi a Zarasotrian will defend the barbaric savage rulers of IRI.

priceless!

I am sorry, I don’t want to take a position against, or for,  NIAC. I don’t know about their alleged connection with IRI, but they appear to be decent people.

BUT

Their sitting and standing postures, and facial expressions are priceless!