July 2004 >>> July
16+
July 14...............................To
top
* Saddam: Take action now
An estimated 100,000 Iranians
were affected by Saddam's chemical weapons, and the CIA concludes
that 20,000 Iranians were killed by these weapons of mass destruction.
Saddam's chemical warfare against Iran has been recognized
by both the UN and the US government, and in 1990, the UN established
Iraq as the aggressor in the Iraq-Iran war of 1980-88.
Amongst the
seven charges made against Hussein, including his short-lived
invasion of Kuwait, none included any of his crimes against Iran
and Iranian civilians throughout the bloody eight year Iran-Iraq
War.
Thus far, the US government has not commented on the subject,
even though the US 's involvement in the trial has been intimate.
Take
action now!
-- National Iranian-American Council
To top
* More than a
possibility
The art of Marmulak aside from the excellent
directing, the acting by its lead actor, the populist
humour in its script and whatever else I am leaving
out, is how it makes us laugh simultaneously at two
jokes. One line of laughter is the result of our
fascination with the extraordinary predicament this
thief, Reza Marmulak, who in many ways is an 'anybody'
or 'everybody', finds himself in, and all the sticky
spots he has to get himself out of. [See: Lizardmania]
The other is our
amazement at how in his impersonation of a Mullah in
all its aspects--making up sermons, giving anwers to
outlandish questions, seeming pious when he is far
from it in his thoughts, and so on--he does exactly
all the things people have been saying about Mullahs
for decades, longer even than their rule. This latter
depiction is what makes people laugh the hardest, as
satire often does, because they are shown that their
stereotype of mullahs as thieves is more than a
possibility.
Having said all this, none of it would be any good if
the writing, acting and directing had not be so
enormously tight.
-- Mandana Kamangar
July 12...............................To
top
* Who are we?
A dream of mine over a year ago has finally become a reality,
one I could not have imagined without all of your help. Here
is the link to the 2004 Iranian
American survey.
Add your information today and help Iranian-Americans build a
better future in America by showing how valuable we are.
Most of us know that we are possibly the most positive addition
to the American melting pot. We know that we have superior education,
better jobs, higher incomes, and stronger family values. And
much more!
Get out and make sure you tell everyone
you know! It is designed
to be especially harmless, simple, and obvious so that we
all ease into a
collective group think/action mode.
-- Bruce Bahmani
To top
* Neruda's birthday
Iranian great contemporary poet
Sohrab Sepehri says in one of his
beautiful poems that "poets are the inheritors of water,
wisdom and
light" (Sha-eran varese ab-o kherad-o roshani-and) and I believe
that
Pablo Neruda is one of the best example of Sepehri's commendation.
Today is Neruda's 100th birthday, and as my way of celebrating
his
birthday and his poetry, I share the following links (here and
here) that introduce him
and his poetry in English and Persian.
May he be as ever more present in life of Latin American peoples
and
rest of the world with his words of wisdom as he casts light on
the way
of people to reach the ideal society.
-- Nader Moavenian
To top
* Sean Connery: Cyrus the Great
The world's richest
head of state, The Sultan of Brunei, is believed to be part of
a group of wealthy
investors in talks with the UK-based production company Chayaha
which is behind the £50 million independent film Cyrus.
According
to the DailyTelegraph, Sean Connery and Angelina Jolie are
being considered to play the key roles of Cyrus The Great -
the ruler who lived from 580-529 BC and founded the first Achaemenian
empire in Persia - and his empress in the film. Hugh Jackman,
Jude Law or Ralph Fiennes are also considered for the role of younger
Cyrus.
Chayaha is co-owned by Marinah Embiricos, a member of the famous
Greek shipping family, and entrepenuer Nicola Savoretti who servers
as an important consultant for Geneva's Rothschild Bank. Ms Embiricos
was in Malaysia talking up the project and whilst she confirmed
that several wealthy individuals were backing the project, she
wasn't saying whom or if the Sultan was a part of it - only "he
is aware of the film".
In regards to the film itself, Ms Embiricos has some noble aims
with the subject matter - "We wanted to send out the message
that people should be tolerant of each other's religion. It was
a very spiritual time and we want to rekindle this. It is not that
I want to make movies - I want to make this particular film".
Both Sean Connery and Angelina Jolie are being courted to play
the key roles of Cyrus and his empress in the film but neither
has been locked yet. Chayaha had hoped to begin filming next
month but only around 80 per cent of the finance is in place
right now.
British director Alex Jovy hopes to start shooting in Tunisia,
or possibly Pakistan. Much of the cast & crew are expected
to be a part of the Commonwealth, thus allowing the film to be
classified as British for taxation purposes.
Unlike other rulers of the time, Cyrus promoted tolerance of
all religion and freed all his empire's slaves. His decrees currently
reside in the British Museum and are considered amongst the first
documents in recorded history to declare and promote human rights.
-- Darius Kadivar
July 10...............................To
top
* National costume
Iran's supreme leader proposes national costume
Reuters: Iranians should design a national costume of which they
can be proud but should not take their lead from the pages of
Western
fashion magazines, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's supreme leader,
was quoted as saying today.
Conservatives have recently launched
a crackdown on young women who flout Iran's strict Islamic dress
codes by wearing figure-hugging coats and allowing hair to spill
out from under their headscarves.
But Khamenei, who has the last word on all state matters, said
there was no need for panic. "The young people in this country
are pure believers and joyful and are very interested in Islam," he
was quoted as telling young people in the western city of Hamadan.
The Sharq daily said he returned to the idea of a national costume
which he floated years ago.
"Arabs, Indians, Indonesians and Africans have their own
costumes and they are proud of them," Khamenei said. "I
say sit down and design a national costume. But I am not saying
that it
should be something dating back to 500 years ago," he
added. "I
am saying if you want to cut your hair short, if you want to
change the way you put on make-up, if you want to change the
way you walk
- then do it."
"If fashion designers in Europe and America design a kind
of clothes for men and women in their fashion magazines, should
we copy them
in Tehran, Mashhad and Hamadan? That would be bad," he
said. "Cultural
mimicry is a big danger, but don't get me wrong, I am not
opposed to fashion, variety and innovation."
Khamenei, normally attired in black turban and long clerical
robes, said there was nothing wrong with coats and trousers
and that from
time to time he would wear a western-style raincoat. A
national costume would be of particular interest to hardline cleric
Ahmad Khatami, who expressed his fears on sartorial freedoms
to the
Hambastegi newspaper.
"
Some women appear in the streets half a millimetre from breaking
the Islamic dress code. It is a very dangerous trend," he
said.
To top
-- info@clubscorpio.com
To top
* Domestic abuse
I just recently read the most informative book! It is called Domestic
Abuse:Our Stories by M. Webb. I think that
this book in paticular needs to be brought to the attention of
as many people as possible. I hope that it will make people become
more aware of this growing problem in our society.
The author did
a wonderful job in letting us get into these houses that abuse
takes place in. From police officers abusing their partners to high
school boys abusing their girlfriends. Some of these women make
it out before it is too late, others don't.
Please read and review this book for yourself, I know that you
will agree with me.
-- Amanda Sullivan
To top
* Agha Ranjbar
I was deeply saddened when I read about Mohammad
Ranjbar passing
away. Agha Ranjbar was a center fullback... with a great skill
of tackling the ball when you thought you had the ball. And
of course, he was the captain of our Team-e-Melli for some
times, and later
became the head of the Iranian Football Federation.
Though not a Taji myself, I had the honor to be introduced
to Agha Ranjbar in my hometown of Abadan in the 1960s when still
in high school. My warmest TAS'LEE"YATs to his family, friends
and fans.
I can tell you that Agha Ranjbar was a cool Taji. And I had
the honor of knowing a few of them cool Tajis.
May God's blessings be upon your soul, Agha Ranjbar.
--
Issa, Las Vegas
To top
* Looking up
About a year ago, around this time,
me and my cousins decided to visit our family in California. It
was a while since we had
seen them, and the whole trip was really fun. I didn't get
to see my aunt and uncle a whole lot. Since they were busy with
work, they couldn't really come to New York every year.
Ever since I was little, I had an attachment to them that I'm
only beginning to realize. Somehow they were more important figures
to me than all my other aunts and uncles, and believe me, in
a Persian family, you have a lot of relatives. I never spent a
great
deal of time with them, but each time it was worthwhile and fun,
I would always remember it. This uncle I'm talking about
is Hamid Bakhsheshi, and his wife Afsaneh. [Empty
house]
Recently I've been talking to Hamid a lot. He's
more than a great uncle, and he's one of my closest friends.
He really listens to me in a way that no one in my family could.
We've got a complicated family (as if any Persian family isn't),
but sometimes it's so aggravating. Even though
he isn't related by blood, he understands it. And he understands me.
I can tell him anything, and I know I won't be judged or criticized.
I think it's because he's also grown up here since he was a teen,
but, it sure helps. I think we can relate more because of that.
Then to see
him write on your website, really makes me look up to him. It may
not be a big deal or anything to any of you, but he's inspired me in
a way. The distance will only make us closer, and I'll be seeing him
and Afsaneh soon this year.
I look up to both of them. Two independent people doing what
they want and living their lives. And might I add, very much in
love. I seem to be looking up to them
for a lot of things, and I really appreciate it.
- Shania Naderipour
July 8...............................To
top
* New bill, new nonsense
This is a new
bill introduced by State of California Senator Gill Cedillo [see
SB 1160],
which would make all Iranians -- except for Green Card holders
and those who are US Citizens -- ineligible to receive Drivers
Licenses
in California.
If this comes true, the impact would be devastating.
Effectively any H-1, B or any other non-immigrant visa holder,
who is here legally never-the-less, could not get a drivers
license. The illegals and 245i's obviously cannot get it.
Also,
even if
they take the state sponsorship of terrorism language out,
most Iranians cannot get it because they cannot get their ID
cards from a consulate, nor go to a clergy (you heard it right,
the
mullahs)
to get qualified.
The language is on page 12th of the Amended Bill, which includes
Iranians, since Iran is state sponsored of terrorism.
For an excellent article from our AIA member, Emily Bazar of Sacramento Bee click
on this
link.
We have been talking to Senator Gill Cedillo and his staff for
some time now, he personally made a promised to me that he will
meet with AIA in LA, sometime next week. We will keep you updated.
Just remember, we can never let our guards down. First NSEERS
(Special Registration) came, and Iranians landed in jail. Now,
State sponsored laws are in progress to ostracize Iranians. We
can only garner respect and a voice in the US, if we unite, fight
for our rights and educate others about who we are.
-- Babak Sotoodeh of the Alliance
of Iranian Americans
To top
* Ace band?
Back in January 2001 I offered this question: Where does the word
"aakband" come from? In Persian, aakband is referred
to a brand new product, usually a TV or stereo, or home appliances
such as
a refrigerator. The responses were not conclusive [see
here].
Then a few weeks ago I heard something very interesting. I was
at a party in Marine, north of San Frnacisco, and I brought up
the question (God knows why). One of my friends mentioned that
aakband
may be "Ace
Band" used
to wrap boxes. My friend
Faramarz's American girlfriend Faye added that Ace bandage is a
popular brand used for wounds.
Is there a connection? Is there (or was there) a band called Ace
used for wrapping boxes?
I don't know why I'm obssessed about this little word ... :o)
-- Jahanshah Javid
July 7...............................To
top
I believe I may have closed a door to the beginning of what may
have been an interesting story. I recently traveled Europe this
summer, as do many people in their early 20s. And one day in a
train station, I crossed paths with someone I genuinely desired
to meet, but I succumbed to my overbearing shyness.
I had been walking around confused in a busy train station when
I muttered something in Persian to my friend. Then I heard a voice
from behind me, also in Persian: "Look, here are some Persians."
I pretended not to hear this voice and instead walked away and,
like a little mouse hiding from a cat, I eyed the scene from a
distance. It was a group of young Persians, one of who had a UCSF
water bottle. "Hmmm ... San Francisco," I thought to
myself, "That's where I am moving in a few months ... "
Then I noticed a book in the same stranger's hand: a book on terrorism
entitled Deliver
Us From Evil by a Sean Hannity. I
would have loved to strike up a conversation at this moment about
San Francisco or world politics, but I just couldn't muster up
enough courage to speak. Not even when he disappeared and reappeared
thirty minutes later, that same character awaiting a train with
his friends in the same platform opposite me.
His train came and
I stuck my head in a traveler's book, as did he in his book of
politics. The only thing I could do was to lift my head as he
boarded the train to smile at him. Our eyes met, he smiled back
at me and
he boarded the train to go far, far away.
If you are the person I am looking for, please drop me an email
and open the door I closed. Hope to hear from you.
-- Persian Lady
* The greatest contender
Marlon Brando one of the greatest acres of our time passed at
the age of 80 last week in los angeles. when i heard the news i
was very sad. i didn't know exactly why? i always love his movies,
his unique style of approaching a character, his daring choices
in the movies he picked to play in,etc. however, i knew this wasn't
the reason i was sad. great artists are born and consequently they
die. a similar scenario is written -- or exists -- for all of us.
so it couldn't be it.
i read an article by someone today (i don't remember where, or
who wrote it) and realized the source of my sadness. it talked
about Brando the person. his contributions to the numerous causes
he was involved in, his fight to create a color blind hollywood,
his fight against injustices he believed existed in the world around
him (the miss treatment of native americans, apartheid, ...). the
article went on and talked about how hollywood portrayed him just
as a womaniser, hot tempered actor, a gorgeous man who brought
intensity to the screen. how he let himself go and get so fat,
etc.
in hollywood there is a popular belief that he didn't live up
to his potential. that very well might be, because he didn't play
in as many money-making movies as they wanted him to, he didn't
stay the thin and attractive man that he once was. but he stayed
true to his belief to be a better human being who cared about a
whole lot more that just hollywood and its movies. the sad thing
is that now people talk about his true legend a mentor to young
actors, a social activist, a great artist whose contributions to
the world of acting will forever resonate, both on the screen and
in real life. i would have loved to chat with him about what is
happening in his country today.
Marlon Brando was not a perfect man, he never claimed to be one
and we should not see him as such. but he was an artist, one of
the very few who fought for more than personal gains in life and
he believed in it. this aspect of his character was not followed
the way it should have been. now we can mourn his loss. there are
atists of the same caliber all over the world who are as controversial
and contributing as Brando. let's know them for everything they
are and celebrate them now. we have them in our country, we can
name them for ourselves and celebrate their genius and art. to
the memory of the greatest "contender". we miss him dearly.
-- Kourosh Taghavi
To top
* Women in Iran
I sometimes check out the Zanan magazine online and read it's
articles. They are mainly show how bad is the situation for women,
something that is not really surprising but this week's
article it was about self burning and broke my heart badly. Why
these poor women burn themselves to run a way from their problems?
In some cases they really can not find any solution to their problems
and all the problems comes from a chauvinist society. One women
burns herself because his husband beats him the other burn herself
because her husband is living her for another women. Why nobody
tries to at least educate these women about what really happens
to them after they burn themselves.
Maybe some liberal and pro
women like Ms. Ebadi can at least arrange some simple program
on TV or radio to educate these women and try
to convince them that by burning themselves they just hurt themselves
their husbands, fathers and brothers will just continue their
lives and in most cases won't even feel guilty.
When I compare how women are free and have rights in modern countries
like U.S I really want to cry for poor women in our country and
women in that region. I know some people will oppose that and
will say " No, women in Iran have all sorts of rights and this
and that" yes may be some rich, wealthy women from north
of Tehran or some few big cites in Iran go ski or get divorce
and
live freely that I am sure they should fight for it like hell
if the man does not want to divorce them but the rest are just
like
prisoners in a big prison!
The question is when this situation is going to end and who can
help to end it? I am sure there are women socities that fight
for women rights in Iran or other countries but they have lost
of obstacles
on their ways especially with current situation but at least
there should be ways to educate women to use their minimum
rights and
do not choose the worst and last way.
-- Topmermaid@yahoo.com
To top
* Last leg for peace
Poupeh Mahdavi-Nader will be one of the guests at this
year's "Colors of Asia" festival in Korea which
is sponsored by the International
Youth Hostel Federation and UNESCO. The festival
is from July 15-19, 2004. She is in China right now,
but will be flying to Korea on July 10th. If you wish
to support this last leg of her trip around the world
please visit her website, MahdaviNader.com.
She is still collecting money for her charity in Iran.
This brave Iranian Woman will be flying back home
to Iran on July 25th and will arrive in Mehrabad airport
at 3pm!
To top
* Camp limbo
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Daily Press Briefing
Thursday, July 1, 2004
BRIEFER: Adam Ereli, Deputy Spokesman
QUESTION: What is the status of the inhabitants of Camp Ashraf,
the MEK people who have, up till now, been guarded by U.S. officials,
and I presume still are?
MR. ERELI: I'm not aware that there's any change in that status.
What we have said previously about that situation remains the
case today, as far as I know. So I don't think there's really anything
new to say.
QUESTION: Well, the interim government told you to get them out
and the U.S. did nothing about it. They said they wanted them
out within a month, and that was months and months ago. So there
must
have been a decision to do nothing. That's a decision.
MR. ERELI: I think that's a little -- I think you're -- it's
a -- you're missing some points. What was -- what the interim government
-- or not the interim government -- the Iraq Governing Council,
certain members of the Iraq Governing Council said, was that
they
wished this matter to be disposed of. And what has been happening
as a result of that is that there have been discussions and efforts
underway to identify -- to go through the people in the areas
concerned, identify their involvement with certain activities in
the past,
and then determine where and how they should be handled.
It is not something that is -- it is not an issue, as you describe,
where the Iraqis said they want something and -- but nothing
is being done. It is a situation where cases are being reviewed,
information
is being gone through, and arrangements arrived at and discussed
about how to deal with those cases based on the information available.
It is not something that is just being sat on.
QUESTION: Okay. Have
you heard anything from the new Iraqi government though? Since
the handover, everybody's been pretty busy. But to
your knowledge, has there been any decision made by the new Iraqi
government as to what they want done with these people, or from
your discussions, which I presume are underway, they're satisfied
with the procedures?
MR. ERELI: I'm not aware of recent discussions with the interim
Iraqi government on this issue. As I said, I think the situation
is, for now, where it was before. But for the latest on what
the Iraqi government -- how the Iraqi government views the situation,
obviously, now that their government is stood up, I think they
should -- they could speak to it, if asked.
QUESTION: But people are still considered foreign terrorists,
members of a Foreign Terrorist Organization by the United States,
is that
correct, those that are members of the MEK?
MR. ERELI: The MEK is a Foreign Terrorist Organization and great
care is taken to deal with members accordingly.
QUESTION: Can I just follow up? I'm sorry if you said this in
the beginning of your answer and I just missed it. But whose actually
legal custody? Are they still in U.S. -- they're still in U.S.
custody; is that correct?
MR. ERELI: My understanding is that there has been no change
in the status from what it was before, but I would also refer
you
to the Department of Defense on that.
-- Forwarded by Reza
To top
* Underlying factors
I just wished to bring to your notice a book that although published
some 5 years ago in London, has recently gone through its second
print and more importantly made a huge impact in both conservative
and reformist circles.
The book, Mashruteh Irani (Iranian
Constituionalism), which includes arguably the best analysis
of the causes behind the rise
of Velayat-e faghih, is written by Dr Mashallah Ajoudani,
historian and literary scholar, formerly Professor of Literature
in the University
of Isfahan and currently the Director of Library for Iranian
Studies in London. It is an essential reading for all those
interested in the underlying factors that gave rise to
the Islamic fundamentalism.
BBC Persian has published a review this
book in its current pages >>> See
-- Parkhash
To top
* Notorious Al-gebra movement
At New York's Kennedy airport today an individual, later discovered
to be a public school teacher, was arrested trying to board a flight
while in possession of a ruler, a protractor, a set-square, a slide
rule, and a calculator. At a morning press conference, Attorney
general John Ashcroft said he believes the man is a member of the
notorious Al-gebra movement.
He is being charged by the FBI with carrying weapons of math
instruction. "Al-gebra is a fearsome cult," Ashcroft
said. "They desire average solutions by means and extremes,
and sometimes go off on tangents in a search of absolute value.
They use secret code names like 'x' and 'y'and refer to themselves
as 'unknowns', but we have determined they belong to a common denominator
of the axis of medieval with coordinates in every country. As the
Greek philanderer Isosceles used to say, 'there are 3 sides to
every triangle'.
When asked to comment on the arrest, President Bush said, "If
God had wanted us to have better weapons of math instruction, He
would have given us more fingers and toes."
-- Forwarded by Babak Khiavchi
