Monitoring a Human Crisis

Thanks to its active presence on the United Nations Human Rights Council, the Obama administration was able to work with Sweden and a broad coalition of cross-regional partners to ensure the Council took action on Iran. This groundwork paid off today as the HRC voted to establish an independent human rights monitor on Iran to address the ongoing human rights crisis. The need for a monitor is clear. Iran’s dismal human rights record has only been getting worse, with the Iranian government going on an “execution binge” and severe penalties for political dissent that have even landed 28 journalists and 9 bloggers in prison>>>

پیام اصلی اوباما

اگر آمریکا طرحی برای حمله نظامی به ایران داشته باشد، باید بتواند پیش از آن «خیرخواهانه» بودن حرکت خود را به مردم ایران بقبولاند. باید بتواند نشان دهد که آمریکا تنها با رژیم ایران خصومت دارد و با مردم ایران دوست است. باید تصویر آمریکای متجاوز را از ذهن مردم ایران بزداید و تصویر انسانی‌تری از آن به ایرانیان عرضه کند. باید با زبان و فرهنگ مردم ایران سخن بگوید و خود را با دردهای آنان آشنا نشان دهد. از قربانیان سرکوب رژیم نام ببرد، و از شاعران محبوب ایران نقل قول کن>>>

A Monument of Many Faces

Shahyad stands tall, proud and clad in white, as if she were the Bride of Iran. When conceptualized, she was to represent the grandeur of Iranian civilization and also provide a gateway welcoming visitors into the capital. Iranians, known for their obsessive hospitality, created an “arch of triumph,” or taq-e nosrat, located adjacent to the airport to greet every visitor. Like many historic Iranian monuments, the expansive grounds surrounding the tower were intended as a venue for celebrations, parades and other cultural events and activities>>>

چهار فصل

دلم می خواهد که تو بهار قشنگ شهر مرا ببینی. آی که چه لذت بخش است. به اندک زمانی شاخه های ترد باریک و خشکیده گره گره می شوند. این گره ها بزرگ می شوند چنانچه تو خیال می کنی هر شاخه تسبیح بلندی ست با دانه های گرد منفصل. و راستی که تسبیح اند. خوبتر که نگاه کنی و دل به دانه ها بدهی تسبیح آن جوانه های کوچک مچاله را می شنوی که آرام آرام سر از سجده کردگار برمی دارند و در رقص آرام سبکشان در شکفتن، شادی می پراکنند>>>

چهاروتیک

اندوه، مرگ و كینه
دستِ اهرمن پر است همیشه اما
با چهار دستِ خالی ما
عشق را تكخالِ دل بودیم >>>

پنجم فروردین

فرقی نمی کند که روز پنجم فروردین است
یا روز بیست و چهارم مارچ
سرزمین مادری که نیست
اینجا درختان شکوفه هم که می دهند
نمیدانند که نوروز با فدمهای با شکوهش
به آنها جلوه داده است >>>

The Empire’s Plan

The new imperial plan for the Middle East capitalizes on the willingness of the modern middle-classes of the region to enthusiastically serve the international class of super-rich. They would gladly cooperate if they get some semblance of political power and some of what they think they are entitled to: individual rights and freedoms, and some opportunities in the neo-liberal economic environment to fulfill their consumerist dreams>>>

Green is not dead

Hamid points out from the window of his flat. The 24-year-old student, Muslim, lover of classical Iranian music, turns into a witness when he recalls the events of 2009: "The whole road over there was occupied by the Basij, baring the protesters from escape." His apartment block is located in one of the calm sidelanes of Tehran's Azadi Street. This busy thoroughfare connects Azadi Square in the west of the city with the big Enqelab Square. "Azadi" means freedom in Persian and "enqelab" is the revolution>>>

فرشته ی افتاده از آسمان

اولین فرشته روی سقف افتاد. تا بلند بشوم، فرشته ی دوم در کنار رودخانه افتاد. سومی به روی درخت های باغچه افتاد و تا چهارمی به روی زمین بیافتد دوان دوان گرفتمش تا صدمه ای نبیند. فرشته ی چهارمی چشمان خیلی درشت زیبایی داشت. صورتش را دست زدم. آرایش نداشت. نه پودر سفید کننده و نه حتی ماتیک رنگی به لب هایش. با اینکه آرایش نکرده بود عجیب زیبا بود>>>

Mother and Child

One summer I worked at a summer school. It was a good job, because there were kids. There was also a young mother of one of the boys who had to stay in the class in the morning otherwise the boy would feel too terrible. The boy was five. His name was Benny. He was a great man when his mother stayed in the class. He never got in anybody's way and he could join in with what anybody was doing. He didn't draw any distinctions, between boys and girls, between the boys who played sports outside and the ones who looked for ants>>>

كشورم ايران

كشورم ايران است
زادگاه كورش و اردشير بابكان
روسيه از دوستان و
چين هم از خودمان
غرب جزء دشمنان است
>>>

Norooz Blues

...>>>

Reza Joon, man up or get out!

Pahlavi strikes me as a person who genuinely believes and respects personal freedoms. He displays a high degree of intelligence and great love for his country. He also seems to be an opportunistic politician who gets his moments in the spotlight as they come. He is not a risk-taker and does not seem to have the killer instinct that his grandfather had. And ultimately, he does not strike me as someone who can satisfy Iranians’ “Rostam Syndrome.” Maybe someday he will prove me wrong... but it’s highly unlikely>>>