Writing by Rezareza on Friday, 30 of November , 2007 at 7:05 pm
You know what’s wrong with us Iranians? We easily judge everyone based on the way they look. If someone has a beard they are Hezbollahi. If someone wears tight jeans and jell in his hair he is “soosool.” Don’t get me started on what we label individuals based on just a few comments we have heard them make. If one makes a comment slightly resonating a social thought we label him/her as a communist. “Agha taraf comonisteh!” Everyone is either a communist, a royalist, a Hezbollahi, a mojahid…and the list goes on.
About 3 weeks a go I decided to grow a beard. Not because of any specific reasons. I honestly though it might be fun. After a week or two my beard was getting pretty full. But as my look was changing the attitude of my co-workers around me was changing too. All of a sudden I felt like everyone is more reserved and uncomfortable around me. I didn’t know what the reason was until one of my co-workers approached me and said, “Hey man…sooo…you decided to grow a beard?” I responded “yes!” His response really surprised me. “So when are you gunna shave it, because you kind of remind me of a Hezbollahi” I didn’t know what to say. What do you say? All of a sudden I felt like I have to explain myself and present my co-workers with facts and reasons about why I am not a Hezbollahi and how my political beliefs haven’t changed.
Iranians talk about change. We talk about how democracy is the way that the country should be headed and how Iranians are finally ready for a true democracy, if only “they” (oonha) would let us. Now you probably ask who is “they”? Well it’s different for everyone. “They” could be the current ruling clerics in Iran, the Americans, the British… and this list goes on too. We never mention, for a true democracy to take place our thoughts have to change. Our viewpoints have to change. We can not judge people based on what they look like or what they wear or if they have a beard or not.
Afshin Molavi in his book “Persian Pilgrimages” which I strongly recommend to everyone, has a chapter entitled “Politics of Personal Appearance”. In this chapter he explains how one can easily be judged based on his appearance in Iran. He talks about a boy who because of acne problems decides to grow a beard, but he eventually gets shunned by all his friends who thought he became very conservative. So he decides to shave his bread and live with his bad skin rather than to put up with his friend’s judgments. Molavi explains this phenomenon very well. “in an authoritarian government that interferes in the personal lives of its citizens, as does the Islamic Republic, clothes become an important symbol of politics.” But we can not continue to think that way. We cannot judge a book by its cover. If the Islamic Republic forces our women to wear Hejab, we can not force our men to shave the beards or adapt a western type of clothing to make a political statement. Ones politics should be judged by his actions, not by the length of his beard.
Sohrab Sepehri has a very famous poem that I believe sums up my point;
من نمي دانم
كه چرا مي گويند: اسب حيوان نجيبي است ، كبوتر زيباست
و چرا در قفس هيچكسي كركس نيست
گل شبدر چه كم از لاله قرمز دارد چشم ها را بايد شست، جور ديگر بايد ديد
I don’t know
why some say that the horse is a noble animal, the pigeon is beautiful
and why no vulture dwells in any person’s cage
I wonder why the clover is inferior to a red tulip
Eyes have to be washed, things have to be looked at differently.
Writing by Andrew on Wednesday, 21 of November , 2007 at 2:49 pm
The media establishment often refer to so called “moderate” Arab regimes such as Egypt and Saudi Arabia. But what does “moderate” actually mean here? The truth is that there’s nothing remotely “moderate” about these governments that oppress and torture their people. They are only “moderate” in the sense that they are not openly hostile towards Israel.
Take the Egyptian President, Hosni Mubarak. He imprisons his political opponents, tortures his citizens, and cheats in national elections. In the last election he won with 88.9% of the vote. For this he is bestowed the honor of being a “moderate” Arab leader. Yes, this is how the establishment makes moral judgements.
Saudi Arabia is another good example. In that country women can’t even drive cars. In contrast, women in Iran drive cars and are allowed to shop, vote, and hold jobs. There’s still a lot of inequality, but it’s not nearly as bad as in Saudi Arabia. In fact, a Saudi Arabian girl was recently sentenced to two hundred lashes. The crime? She was raped.
But you’d never hear about that in the media. Instead we are told that Iranians are an oppressed people who need to be “liberated.” Iranians aren’t “moderate” enough, while Saudi Arabians are. Nothing could be farther from the truth. The truth, however, takes the backseat before we start the next war.
Writing by parastoo_karimi on Monday, 19 of November , 2007 at 6:33 pm
Sallam’s to all! Firstly I would just like to welcome you all to my first post! =)! Well the title of my first post is what’s it like to be an Iranian/Persian? Firstly, the question should be asked can we still call ourselves Persian. After all the country doesn’t exist anymore! But then again as man has said Persian sounds friendlier and they prefer it! The question is what do you Iranians/Persians think? I would also just like to add this post has been inspired by this article: CHECK IT OUT! Why do you identity with this whole Persian thing? Is it because its fashionable? For example now a day’s you see lots of people wearing the Farahvar! But do you actually know what it means? Or is it worn because once again its a ‘fashion’ statement? Personally I used to wear my farahvar because of what it meant ‘good words, good thoughts, good deeds’ but all of a sudden SO many people started wearing it and had no idea what it meant so to me it lost the prestige because no longer did it have that beautiful meaning…. The whole Persian thing has become a fad, is that because its seen as ‘friendlier; because its associated with an empire and an Aryan race! But then again I know some of you will know this but do others known that Iran actually stands for ‘
Land of Aryans. You see while this generation associated with being Persian during the time of the Shah he preferred to be called an Iranian because to him being Persian associated with the past conquerers.. In a sense I’m playing the role of devils advocate! But I do have another question, what does it mean to be an Iranian now a days? Is it the whole cliche blond hair and excessive make up? Or is it the beautiful culture and traditions?! But then again adding to that do the traditions still remain or are they lost to past generations?! This will be addressed in another post. I’m supposed to keep the posts short and sweet and I’m not too sure whether this is too long or to short! Hopefully it was an okay first post and please answer the questions asked! Hopefully an interesting debate will arise and also I’m genuinely interested in your answers which will be addressed in another post! Thank you very much for reading my very first post! Dastet’toon dard nakone!
Representatives of the United States were silent during the first debate on the draft, but this country’s position is well known. Two other initiatives against the death penalty in the 1990s failed in the General Assembly amid opposition from the U.S. and others. Dozens of countries impose capital punishment, but just six — China, Iran, Iraq, the U.S., Pakistan and Sudan — account for 90% of the executions. Seldom has this nation kept less distinguished company.
Of course, the U.S. already has a moratorium of sorts on the death penalty. The three dozen states that impose capital punishment — sadly including California — are awaiting a decision by the Supreme Court in a Kentucky case challenging that state’s lethal-injection procedures on the grounds that they violate the constitutional ban on cruel and unusual punishment. But the delay is only temporary; even if the court forbids the standard method of lethal injection, there are plenty of other drugs and procedures that could be used.
That leaves us to ponder why even “progressive” states like ours continue to tolerate an outdated practice that most developed nations long ago abandoned as ineffective and inhumane. Capital punishment is a relic of an unenlightened past. The United States, or at least California, should join the list of responsible countries that have done away with it.
Writing by persiancowboy on Friday, 16 of November , 2007 at 1:34 am
Here is my reading of Bijan Taraghi’s poem Poshte Panjare or “Behind the Window.” Sina Najmai played the Sitar.
This is a video from the 2007 Annual Persian Performing Arts Show (University of Texas at Austin)
Writing by persiancowboy on Wednesday, 7 of November , 2007 at 3:41 pm
Corporate censorship has taken over the Presidential race. Mike Gravel was excluded unfairly from the MSNBC Debate at Drexel University the other week. Why? GE owns MSNBC and NBC. Last minute, they claimed he did not raise enough money. Just as they did it to Ralph Nader in 2000 and 2004. Apparently you won’t be a credible candidate until you accept some GE and other stupid PACT money. I’m not sure if Gravel is the best candidate for president, however the debates will be lame without him. Mike Gravel has been one of the most outspoken anti-war candidates talking about the possible war with Iran. Now CNN is also eliminating Mike Gravel from their upcoming debate.
The fact is, Mike angered powerful people when he confronted Senator Clinton over Iran during last month’s debate. Up to that moment the Clinton juggernaut was rolling over everyone. Now Mikes paying the price for speaking truth to power. CNN says Mike must meet three criteria:
* Form a federal exploratory committee and officially declare his candidacy. (He did.)
* Poll at 1% or above. (He does.)
* Raise at least $1 million in individual contributions since January 1, 2007. (He has not.)
Once again, MONEY decides who gets to participate in America’s political debates.
But is this the only reason why Mike is being excluded? And why isn’t the Democratic National Committee standing up for him and our party’s tradition of fighting for the underdog? These debates are sanctioned by the Democratic Party, and this is a terrible reflection on the national party. I sent a letter to GE which owns NBC the other week and this is the bullshit response I got from Gary Sheffer, their Executive Director of Communications & Public Affairs:
NBC has offered Sen. Gravel many opportunities to get his message across, in both interviews and debates. However, with the election season approaching and more candidates vying for an opportunity to join the debates, NBC News felt it necessary to set minimum criteria for participation in the debate — including measuring the amount of time the candidates spent campaigning, as well as poll-standing and financial resources. These are similar to guidelines used by non-partisan organizations that manage the presidential and vice-presidential debates, and leaders and activists from both parties believe these requirements are fair. Unfortunately, Sen. Gravel did not meet these minimum requirements.
NBC News has a long history of editorial strength and independence and made this decision based on the abovementioned criteria.
Gary Sheffer
GE
Executive Director, Communications & Public Affairs
T 203 373 3476
www.ge.com/news
3135 Easton Turnpike
Fairfield, CT 06828 USA
General Electric Company
Since I’m not a US Citizen it is a crime for me to donate money to political candidates. So if you got a few bucks you can go to Gravel’s site. If he get a little more money, he might be included in the debates. http://gravel2008.us/
Writing by Rezareza on Wednesday, 7 of November , 2007 at 12:45 pm
An appellate court in Tehran has confirmed a five-year jail sentence against jailed union leader Mansour Osanloo on security charges, Radio Farda reported.
The court also upheld a two-year prison sentence against another senior member of Osanlu’s union, Ebrahim Madadi, for acting against Iran’s national security.
Osanlu, the head of the Syndicate Workers of the Tehran Bus Company, has been incarcerated at Tehran’s Evin prison since mid-July, when he pulled from a bus, beaten, and abducted. Madadi was detained along with four other union members in August after they visited Osanlu’s home.
Writing by persiancowboy on Wednesday, 7 of November , 2007 at 10:50 am
Whoever believes that water boarding is not torture (ex. Gonzo and Mukasey) should read Evan Wallach’s report for the Columbia Journal of Transnational Law. How do we know it is torture? Well because United States has tried and convicted people for water boarding on several occasions.
The United States tried a significant number of Class B and C war criminals before national tribunals. Among them were several conducted at Yokohama, Japan and one in the Philippines which elicited compelling descriptions of water torture from its victims, and which resulted in severe punishment for its perpetrators.
Code Pink’s has a good video of public demonstration of water boarding on youtube. Below is a demonstration for Sen. Diane Feinstein.
Can you write well and debate intelligently? If so, then Eyeranians.com needs you. By becoming an Eyeranian editor, you will receive posting ability under your own chosen username.
To become a Eyeranians.com editor, simply send an email to persiancowboy (at) gmail.com. Please, no radicals or fundamentalists.
An appellate court in Tehran has confirmed a five-year jail sentence against jailed union leader Mansour Osanloo on security charges, Radio Farda reported.