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TRAVELERS Photo essay: Abyaneh
He never gave up There was only 24 hours left in Saddam's life. His American captors told him that they are going to let him meet with two of his half brothers so that he can discuss his wishes with them. At this point Saddam had no doubt that his life is over. Upon arrival of his half brothers into his cell Saddam ordered two Canada Dry drinks for his guests which were immediately delivered by the prison guards. Saddam always thought that if he ordered Coke or Pepsi he would be boosting the US economy and ordering Canadian products he thought shows his defiance to the Americans and his allegiance to the British! Among Saddam's personal belonging that he kept in a shoebox under his prison bed were these items that he gave to his half brothers on his last day of life >>>
Unmasking the dictator
Internal assassinations among leftist opposition groups
I mean look at Reza Aslan as a great example of a theologian turned political pundit (truly a great guy, aside from our differences on religion, his being nice I mean seriously). One day he is sitting next to me in a class called "The Theology of Marriage" and he can barely speak five words of Persian/Farsi to me (let's not get our collective panties in a bunch on the Persian vs. Farsi argument)... and the next thing I know a few years later (who is counting but around ten) he's in Turkey (the country, not the bird that was on my Thanksgiving table) as an expert on the Middle East! He's standing next to Anderson Cooper, commenting on Iran's nuclear policy... and exchanging notes with General Marks on American military strategy in Iraq on satellite! >>>
As you probably know, Muslim women activists in Iran have initiated the Campaign for One Million Signatures demanding an end to discriminatory laws against women without questioning the Islamic legal foundation. We secular feminist activists in Iran are not signing this useless petition. We want to let you know that those who are part of this campaign are different Islamic or pseudo-Islamic groups that politically flirt with each other. They are a blend of fundamentalist and reformist Muslim women activists who are misleading the secular youth. We believe that they are confused and confusing and don’t know what they are doing. Sometimes, these people appear to be more into show business than into women's movement, which is a political movement and not a charity or a cultural pass-time. Iranian women across the country are more intelligent and more aware than these Muslim activists who seem to be rather seeking fame >>>
Even though I am an Iranian who grew up with this guy's Qadessiyeh madness and witnessed the destruction of my generation at his and mullah's hands, I cannot say I am happy about this. Exactly for this reason : the way it was handled. If this changes anything, it is certainly not for the better. His victims will never get their "day in court". All indications are that it was not even close to a fair trial by international standards. First I thought he will go down in history as simply another mad tyrant bloodthirsty thug like Stalin, Hitler, and Pol Pot. But today, it is clear to me he will go down in history as something more: all of the above, *as well as* supported and enabled by other powers, and brought down by those same powers when he outlived his usefulness, IN A WAY WHICH HAD JUST AS MUCH DISREGARD FOR HIS PEOPLE/VICTIMS AS HE HIMSELF DID. Not unlike Noriega or even Bin Laden himself >>>
A world without Saddam This morning when I checked upon the latest news, Aneesh Raman, the CNN correspondent in Baghdad broke the long-awaited news "Saddam Hussein was executed a few minutes ago ..." Although I knew the death of the old dictator was imminent, I could hardly digest it and had to sit down and take a deep breath. I was experiencing the first few minutes of my life without Saddam. A predator who attacked my country and killed and maimed hundreds of thousands of my compatriots and affected the lives of millions in one or another way. He inflicted pain on the residents of four completely destroyed provinces and displaced millions who had to move to other cities. My heart jumped when I thought about millions of parents, siblings, wives, husbands and children who have to carry the burden of the loss of their dear ones to their graves >>>
TRAVELERS Photo essay: Chahar Mahal and Bakhtiari
Is a nuclear-armed Iran more of an intolerable threat than was a nuclear-armed Stalin or Mao, both of whom America outlasted without war? So Winston Churchill is widely quoted. Those words, however, were spoken in 1954, decades after Churchill's voice had been the most bellicose for war in 1914 and 1939, the wars that bled and broke his beloved empire. Yet, Churchill's quote frames well the main question on the mind of Washington, D.C.: Will President Bush effect the nuclear castration of Iran before he leaves office, or has he already excluded the war option? One school contends that the White House has stared down the gun barrel at the prospect of war with Iran and backed away. Another school argues thus: If Tehran survives the Bush era without dismantling its nuclear program, Bush will be a failed president >>>
A taste nothing will compare to
Just one more time call the eastern wind to bring his breeze to us
Sooratam lak shodeh
Islamic Republic of Iran firmly believes that the days of weapons of mass murder have long passed We are here, because we did not accept that unlawful demand – which as many of you already know, would not have been their last. At the same time, we were prepared to go to any length to alley their so-called proliferation concerns, in spite of the fact that we all know they are no more than unfounded and self-serving sheer excuses. Indeed, old-hand proliferators and suppliers of chemical weapons and nuclear-weapon technology can hardly have proliferation concerns. The sponsors tell you that they do not trust our “intentions.” But the problem is that their “intention-o-meter” has a rather abysmal record of chronic malfunction >>>
The IRI’s nuclear programme is not an issue of national pride We can share the argument from any side that no nation can be arbitrarily prevented from nuclear technology. However, we should know that what makes difference here is no doubt that the Islamic regime needs this technology to build weapons to pursue its aggressive policy both inside and outside the country. IRI’s repeated allegation of a civil nuclear-programme is nothing but a flagrant lie, a tactical lie (Doroogh-e-maslehati) permitted and often used by Mullahs for survival of their illegitimate regime. All countries can achieve this technology within the terms of the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons. If that is, indeed, what the international community desires, as I believe seems likely, then those countries possessing nuclear arms should be forced to immediately eliminate their arsenals >>> Contemporary Iranian American art One of the complaints I’d always heard about Iranians is that while they’d gladly spend $5,000 on the latest Italian handbag, they’d balk at spending anywhere near that amount on art. And while it makes me squirm, it’s true in part: we Iranians love our name brand fashions at any cost, we’d rather drive an Old BMW rather than a new Toyota, we bootleg CD’s we love almost as homage to the artists we’re stealing from, and I’ve seen my share of fake “Louis” at parties ladies! Yet we come by it honestly >>>
True Iranians have remained friends of the Jews by both belief as well as deeds Is there anyone left in the world that does not know the president of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, hates the Jews? Just as he welcomed representatives of an extremist branch of Orthodox Judaism to his conference denying the Holocaust, we are reminded that the Nazis, whenever possible, used leaders in the Jewish community to facilitate the deportation of Jews to the death camps. This devout man of Allah, Ahmadinejad, known affectionately by Iranians as "The Monkey" for his non-stop silly and embarrassing antics should be given a fair hearing, never mind the fact that he would not even think of doing the same for others. What makes The Monkey more than a laughing stock is what he represents and the power he wields at arousing millions of his co-Islamofascists against the "undesirables" of the world >>>
ART Paintings
If Iranians wish to claim their past glory, they owe it to future generations to defend their country today Veiling our ineptitude in the legacy of Cyrus the Great, cowardice abound, we abandon Iran in her moment of need and justify our action on the basis of the Islamic regime’s despotism. How cynical that under the watchful contribution of Cyrus to the world, the replica on which he inscribed free worship for his subjects, considered to be the world’s first universal declaration of human rights kept at the United Nations, Iran’s enemies had the audacity to degrade her children under the name of universal law; A law upheld by Iran and violated by UN members. And how sad it is that while claiming to be proud of our history, those who humiliated us were applauded by inspiring leaders >>>
Only those people with enough financial and political backing get their justice and the rest are forgotten There were several crimes of genocide carried by other countries both during World War II, and during the years before and after it. There are also many war crimes and crimes against humanity that are happening right now as we correspond and most of them are going unnoticed or even get covered up by the West just because it does not serve their interest to bring these events into light. However there was one major difference between the victims of holocaust and the victims of other war crimes (Including U.S nuclear attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki) The victims and survivors of holocaust and their descendants had money and had tones of it. That was how and why they could have their voice heard and get justice. But the rest of victims did not and that is why they were forgotten. I know I must come across as a horrible person. But I am afraid this is the fact of life >>>
Sorry, at the time of print no verifiable source was available From time to time we hear about how a festival that the western world celebrates today actually originated in Persia. Problem is nobody gives us any information as where do they get such information from. Not giving the source document where the information was extracted can put a shadow of doubt over the validity of information. Here is one: Christmas celebration was actually a Persian thing! OK, I am a believer but could you tell me who the historian was that recorded this fact? Or did this dawn on you after eating a lot of "addas polo ba noon sangak?" Here is my list of other Persian festivities copied or stolen by the western countries >>>
I see but a sliver between the dark clouds
On the path to the climax
I hate that bad news under your skin HOME Photo essay: Adelaide, Australia
In the arena with Omid Djalili If you believe in post-mortem reincarnations, then you would agree that there is certainly something of a Peter Ustinov in Omid Djalili. Or is it the contrary? They both seem to share this rare combination of wit and quick tongue humor disguised within a cosmopolitan envelope. Interestingly Ustinov, very much like Djalili today, was first noticed for his supporting roles be it as a blind beggar in the Egyptian, or the mad, yet funny villainous Emperor Nero in another memorable Epic “Quo Vadis?” before achieving international Stardom and critical success with his Oscar winning performance as the colorful Roman Slave dealer Batiatus in Spartacus followed by his other popular on screen personifications such as in the title role of Belgian Detective Hercule Poirot in Agatha Christie’s crime film adaptations >>>
Ostad Zolfonoun’s judicious stewardship of classical Iranian music is worthy of our recognition and appreciation What is so spectacular about a man and his music, a musician and his instrument? And what does that say about our cultural heritage and sense of identity as a music loving people? Despite the alluring power of pop culture, classical Iranian music is enjoying a renaissance among Iranian natives and Diasporas alike and that provided the right impetus for a discussion with the adroit Mahmoud Zolfonoun. Confident, authentic and resolute, he is a man of small stature, yet towering presence & large vision – a living legend and master musician hailing from Iran and presently living in Northern California. >>>
You cannot rely on the results of illegitimate election
Stop another war What is or should be frightening to every world citizen, is the sheer disregard by this cabal of neo-conservatives for the catastrophic consequences of implementing such dangerous policies. Oblivious to the mess created in Iraq and Afghanistan, they continue to use the very same tactics pushing for a far more serious confrontation with Iran. This latest bogus resolution pushed and coerced by the United States and passed by the UNSC is eerily reminiscent of what got us into the Iraq fiasco. Unfortunately the time is not on our side and the world can not afford to idly stand by and allow this to happen. Those outraged by the Iraqi deception must now stand up and repeatedly make it known, over the deafening megaphones of the war-mongers, that: 1) Iran is not in breach of any international conventions or agreements >>>
Email interview with Saied Ghaffari, software company founder "We launched our first application called, "It's About Time" Products to learn iPhoto - quite possibly the best way for new users to learn the basics of iPhoto interactively. iPhoto is a Macintosh application that allows you to do a lot of great things with your photos. Before our product, you had to buy a 395 page book to learn how to use iPhoto. Our research shows that most people just want to learn the basics - how to import their photos, organize them, edit using crop, and share via email. We also found that people prefer learning by watching someone and then trying it themselves. So, that's exactly what we created and designed for beginners..." >>> POLL CHRISTMAS Photo essay: Wining & dining
In the past few years there have been so many lessons to be learnt from the Middle East, obvious to any clear mind, and all these lessons have been the outcome of wrong American interference. What Israel does to the neighbourhood is Israel's burden, and although it may cause global outrage or other conflicts, the more important issue is that Americans with their more authoritative and masculine approach that go beyond Israel's immediate borders cause much greater problems. The wrong policies have been toward Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, and Palestine, ie everywhere Americans have done anything or have decided anything about, regarding the Middle East. None of the affairs have been fruitful. I don't necessarily blame America. I always thought America was and is a far better bully than any other possibilities out there, such as Russia, China, or powerful European countries. Nevertheless... >>>
Couple of weeks ago I attended a gathering put together by a local Iranian American civic organization. The gathering had many purposes with one of them being to create more awareness about our ancient Shabe Yalda celebration. Well, in the spirit of my last article where I suggested that Iranians need to be Better Keepers of our culture is why in the weeks following the event I was curious to see in fact in my circle of friends and family there are many good keepers or not. So very casually I observed how they celebrated Shabe Yalda vs. how those same non-Christian IA's devoted their time, energy, and money in celebrating Christmas. As you probably can guess, Christmas or I should say Xmas won hands down in all categories -- at least in my small sample >>>
On issue of genocide awareness that fittingly have been conveyed here on Iranain.com, this is what I need to address. If I do not, instead I continue vomit various unsightly bits and pieces of green and yellow liquidity every time I deeply ponder about it. So, here we go. The “conference” of Holocaust in Tehran was another blow to broken spirit of Iranians. There were countless Iranians disgusted with this assault and took it as another blow to their values in honoring life of mankind. Regardless of location of genocide, Iranians boldly denounce any atrocious forces desiring to validate such inhumane act whether in the past, present, or in the future >>> POLL
And three other poems
Allow yourself to spin with the rhythm of life
Khasteh keh misham dare komodamo baaz mikonam
The green blood of faith flows in my veins
Under that willow tree of Imagination
It's Christmas and overindulgence is the going pose CHRISTMAS Christmas in London
Napoleon mon amour, Part 13: “It was great. Jaat khaali,” I answered with a smile that deliberately revealed too much I like telling Napoleon about my escapades away from him. Largely because they work erotically. And this last one was with a woman which meant that he would not only not mind but actually reward me for it. In a big way! When he picked me up he had not a clue what I had done at the party. He thought I had spent another weekend thinking about him, waiting for his call. But noooooooooooo. Pas moi. The ever pro-active, post-feminist, single mom with a mighty pen! We went to our usual restaurant in the hill behind our residence and had a great lunch of Truchia which is a blette (a locally grown spinach-like herb) omelet and rose wine. When we came back to his place and settled on the couch he asked me, “So how was the party aroosak?” Now, anyone who knows me knows that I am the furthest thing from an aroosak (which means doll, like Jack Nicholson used in that movie about the old playboy!). Not only do I not remotely resemble one now, but I did not even when I was a little girl >>>
Statement on UN sanctions against Iran The Campaign Against Sanctions and Military Intervention in Iran (CASMII) is gravely concerned about the latest development in the United Nations Security Council. The imposition of sanctions by the Council is ill-advised and destructive to peaceful dialogue. This action not only robs Iranians of their inalienable rights enjoyed by every other nation, it also exposes the irresponsible way in which the international body is being used as a tool to satisfy militant warmongers in US and the West... This is an insult to the institution of the UN and the idea of international diplomacy in general. Peace-seeking people everywhere should recognize this for what it is: a manufactured crisis leading to a military strike and a first step toward a new and even more devastating war in the Middle East >>>
No to Imperialist war and sanctions. No to the theocratic regime in Iran. After months of discussion and prevarications, the United Nations Security Council finally imposed sanctions against Iran on Saturday the 23rd of Dec 2006. Inside Iran no one is any doubt that Iranian workers and the poor will pay the price of these sanctions as the Islamic regime uses the excuse of ‘new economic conditions’ to sack tens of thousands of workers, to stop paying the wages of thousands of public sector workers, to increase repression , while continuing its nuclear program. Events in the last weeks of 2006 have shown once more the perilous nature of both positions. The recommendations of the Iraq Study Group have not altered the threat of military aggression and now sanctions against Iran are a reality, the US/UK governments have not given up plans for ‘Regime Change’ from above >>> ART Paintings, drawings and monoprints
My first Christmas ever was celebrated in the morning of a summer in Shiraz in the 70’s. Watching too much American movies on TV showing them how they celebrate Christmas with nicely decorated, huge pine trees and all of the beautifully wrapped boxes under the tree made me think that Christmas is something special we did not or even could not have. When my mother bought Christmas presents for her Armenian friends she always took me with her. I always hoped that the sales person would wrap the gifts as nicely as the ones I had seen in the movies. But he never wrapped them like that >>>
In 2006, the world media saturated the airwaves with images of ugly Iranians, which included the president, the supreme leader, members of Majlis, heads of the revolutionary guards, malnutritioned Iranian opposition groups and everybody else who had moles growing on their foreheads. This prompted expats to shower the internet with their own "beautiful Iranian people" images. It's a cry for help. My idea for this year's Iranian of the year goes something like this: fuck all the beautiful people. That's right folks, fuck Tehran's snowy mountains, jungles of Mazandaran, high-rise towers, shopping malls, Esfahan's historic monuments, beautiful conceded Iranian broadcasters, actors, directors, athletes, models and billionaires. Fuck them all >>>
President Bush cannot find soldiers who are willing to die for his crusade. American soldiers with a few exceptions are about principles. While they are willing to defend their soil, they are not willing to go to the four corners of the world to fight the neo-conservative agenda and die in order to fulfill the agenda of the Project for the New American Century. They have woken up to the ugly truth. As such, there is a shortage of enlisted men to fight the next war – Iran. Battleships heading towards Iran, resolution sent to the United Nations Security Council, this White House is short of soldiers willing to die a futile death. But even instituting the draft will have its complications. The United States Armed Forces prohibits homosexuals or bisexuals from serving in the armed forces >>> Multilateral policies are being adopted that will effect the Nation of Iran in particular and the entire Mideast and possibly far beyond in general for many years to come The intractable problem of what to do with the Islamic Republic of Iran's dogged attempts in pursuing its destabilizing nuclear ambitions tops the agenda of many, mostly democratic, governments. While negotiations for an acceptable wording of a sanction instrument progressed at a snail's pace, hampered by attempts to water it down to next to nothing, the outline of a robust multifaceted US response is emerging. The first front in the US response is being commanded by the Treasury Department in the form of friendly advice to international financial institutions who know better than to forgo such advice. The treasury is asking of them to curtail and eventually cut off any and all relationship and services that they have been providing the IRI' myriad of foundations, institutions, front companies, officials, agents, intermediaries and international gofers >>>
When was the last time you got up in the morning and the first thing that you asked yourself was whether the Earth is flat or not, or wondered if you were a chimpanzee millions of years ago? Like it or not, we have put our faith in science and accept what they tell us without questioning it in our daily lives. But, should we wonder about scientific findings? Absolutely. For example if you want to say, I don’t believe black holes suck in matter like a sink hole, but I think they shoot it out like a nozzle, go ahead, who cares? There is uncertainty there. But don’t go out there and say that man has not landed on the moon or the Earth is flat, because you will be ridiculed and laughed out of town >>>
Iran’s women’s rights movement and the One Million Signatures campaign Today, there is an unyielding atmosphere prevailing in Iran, the Middle East and the international arena -- an atmosphere of militarism, violence and repression. An atmosphere that strengthens the spirit of militarism, perpetuates the cycle of violence, and produces violent and militant images of men and women, strengthening in turn the brutal culture of patriarchy and victimization of women and children. In spite of it, Middle Eastern women and activists have not surrendered to this atmosphere of fear. They have not wavered in their determination to seek novel, more effective and efficient methods to improve their legal and social status through a process of trial and error. These efforts surely will impact their societies and status of men as well as women positively >>> TRAVELERS Photo essay: Narin Fort in Maybod, Yazd Province
Student movement sees the light at end of tunnel
I make it easy on you. It was me by the window.
They have Jesus, we have Emam Zaman (though, the chances of seeing a Martian riding a mule is much greater than either one of them returning); they have Bush, we have Ahmadinejad; they have "Jingle Bells", and we have "Anjaza Anjaza", our revolutionary song. What is the inter-relationship? Well, It was brought to my attention today (by my mother of all people) that the early revolutionary song, which later evolved into the "jingles" for the IRI nightly newscast, shares the same tune as "jingle bells". Just try humming the tune: jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way... and now try: anja-za, anja-za, anja-za vahdah... >>>
Like winter longing for a moment of spring
A few thoughts about adaptations It is the first day of winter and of course the talk among the Iranian community is the commemoration of the Shab-e Yalda, as if it is the birth of spring! According to Wikipedia and other internet entries, the word yalda apparently is of Syriac/Babylonian origin and means birth, of light and longer daylight. I think that is probably a meaning based in the metaphoric significance of the occasion. The word probably means “long” as the night is the longest night of the calendar. Query: Is Yalda the basis for the toponym Yalta? The word yalda is not Persian, but the name of the month of Day that begins with Yalda is. There is some indication that Light, it being the embodiment of divinity, makes this a godly season, if not in Persian lexicon then in other languages where the word dei and deus refers to god. There are a many concept that we grow up considering as quintessentially Iranian and then find out much to our surprise that it is really of some other origin >>>
To go with the flow is my way of contributing to the world peace Running from store to store, with just a few shopping days left, the music blasting throughout the stores adds to my anxiety and I am convinced that some jingles were composed by someone who didn’t enjoy this holiday. They sound sad, fail to enhance the spiritual aspect of the season, and promote commercialism, thus taking away some of the sanctity one may associate with this time of the year. While shops in general only care about sales, nowadays they make no secret of their religious divisions. In the old days, the colorful decorations of this entire season signified Christmas, but now the Jewish shops display their own strands of lights amid blue and silver glitter. Churches put lights on a cross, synagogues light up their menorah and despite the stores blasting Peace On Earth, the division is hard to miss. Belonging to neither group, I simply enjoy the sights and sing along with whatever is playing >>> ARTIST Photo essay: Reza Abedini introduces his graphic style at Amsterdam Art University SNOW Photo essay: Albuquerque, New Mexico
U.S. military attack on Iran thwarted, thanks to Iranian opposition
The Holocaust is a fact. Discussing it will not diminish its gravity. So why are Western governments trying to put a muzzle on people wanting to discuss it? Iranians abroad are ashamed these days. This is a new shame involving the Holocaust conference held by the Iranian foreign ministry. It replaces the past year's shame over the way Ahmadinejad dresses and how he looks. The shame before that was the Iranian support for the Hezbollah Shiite movement in Lebanon. There have always been reasons for shame among the Iranians abroad ever since the revolution of 1979. The reaction to this felt shame has been two sorts of denial. One is the outright denial. Here I'm talking about those who are chelokabab eating, doogh drinking by day and Italian by night >>>
The Holocaust was neither the beginning nor the end of humans killing other humans because they didn't like them People, people, people... Take it easy, please! Everyone is so upset at this stupid gathering of non-intellects that we are forgetting ethnic cleansing, genocides, and war crimes that are fresh out of the oven... I will take away nothing from the atrocities that took place in those concentration camps. I make no light of the matter that people died in matters that no human being should have. But do we really need to shed this much light on this crazy gathering and give it the weight it doesn't deserve? We have books, museums, annual memorials, and Lord knows many Hollywood movies dedicated to the Holocaust, but do we really need to have jail term for anyone who denies it? >>> WINE Photo essay: Francis Ford Coppola's winery, Napa Valley, California ART Paintings
It really bothers me when I see them humiliated before the world with such a scandalous event taking place in their midst A number of people have recently expressed their disgust and revulsion toward the Holocaust Revisionist Conference held in Tehran. With perhaps the exception of a few nutcases living in the mountains of rural Idaho, I think one would be hard pressed to find many people who would challenge the veracity of the mountains of evidence that verify the historical fact of what we have come to know as the Holocaust. Our illustrious president, Ahgaye Mamoon ImaWeinerJob, has taken great pride in the fact that many of the participant-scholars attending conference are foreigners. The truth is that these so-called intellectuals, who've been feted to V.I.P. treatment as guests of the Islamic Republic, constitute a veritable Who's Who of Losers, Weirdos, Outcasts, Freaks, and Psychos >>>
Happy Yalda or Yuletide Iranian Cosmologists, Astronomers, Astrologers, were responsible for creating observatories, and following the change in the amount of light every day. They created a calendar that connected the change in daylight to the seasons. Astrologically they created what is called the Horoscope. In present day Iran the calendar is an Astrological calendar. It has withstood the test of time, and the people of Iran have four celebrations to commemorate the interplay of Light and Darkness. The Yin Yang of time, to make it clear to the Chinese folk who buy all |
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