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Opinion
Lost opportunities
Limits of U.S. support for constitutionalism in Iran
By Charles Kurzman
April 19, 2000
The Iranian
At the beginning of the 20th century, the Iranian pro-democracy movement
looked to the United States for cooperation. The U.S. Congress laughed
at the constitutionalists' appeal. Are we witnessing a repeat of this scenario
in the early 21st century? I'd like to make four brief points about the
limits of U.S. support for Iranian democracy in the early 20th century,
then suggest how the U.S. government might avoid a repeat of this sad history
>>>
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Novel
Conspiracy at Desert One
A novel
By Bernace Charles
The Iranian
Chapter Sixty-Three & Sixty-Four >>>
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Outlook
Digital Revolution in Iran
By HOMAYOON HARIRI with VIVIENNE WALT
The New York Times
April 29, 2000
I was working on my computer science graduate project in Tehran when
the Islamic revolution broke out in Iran in 1979. It was so exciting; it's
hard to describe the feeling. I was 28. Everyone took part in the revolution,
hand in hand. There was no difference between religious people and those
who had their own ideas. We just hoped for a better country.
I grew up in Tehran and got my electrical engineering degree from Shiraz
University. If I hadn't gone into computers, I would have become a heart
surgeon or maybe a university professor. But during my military training,
for about 18 months I was working in an army computer center, and I really
liked it. >>>
FULL TEXT
Thanks to Reza
Karioke?
Pease let me know if there is any Persian karioke in the form of laser
disk available in the market.
Javad Shokouhbin
More Letters
* Just so you know
Maziar Shirazi writes:
In response to Liane
Neshat's letter, I agree with you on the fact that the Albright thing
is no big deal ["Albright
in Tehran"]. Don't make an issue out of everything, right? But
the fact is that the Iranian government is far worse than anything China
could ever be. I hate the fact that people are ignoring the fact that my
people are being oppressed by a bunch of faceless, retarded sub-scum for
whatever reason.
What is oppressive about the government? How about the fact that religious
and political apartheid is in full effect? That Zoroastrians cannot walk
outside in the rain because they are "impure" and will pollute
Muslim Iranis? That a man cannot speak of true democracy without getting
threatened, beaten, tortured, and all too often killed by Hezbollah and
other groups? That one women is half a man and cannot talk to a stranger
in public?
As the family member of men and women who have been and are victims
of this so-called government, I feel a need to let you know what is really
going on. Didn't mean to make an issue of a comment, but just so you know
a tiny piece of what is real yet oblivious to the people in this country,
who have in ways helped bring it about.
* Since when?
Kimia Izad writes:
As an avid reader of fiction and literature I think I'm forced to make
a response to Mr. Farhad
Bani's letter regarding the Iranian writer Salar Abdoh's recent intellectual
thriller, The
Poet Game.
While Mr. Bani concedes that Salar Abdoh's entry into the world of fiction
in the West is something to be applauded and that his writing ability is
something to make all Iranians proud, he seems to have trouble, however,
with the writer's portrayal of fellow Iranians.
My question is: since when does a novelist have an obligation to portray
anyone, including his or her own compatriots in a positive light? If this
was so, germany's Gunter Grass would probably have never written a single
novel and never won the Nobel Prize.
First and foremost Salar Abdoh is a novelist, and a pretty damn good
one at that. I say this even though I'm only half way through the novel,
The
Poet Game. I saw a review of it in The New York Times and
my curiosity was aroused. I didn't buy this book either to have the writer
be my teacher or get didactic on me. I wanted to read a good story written
by a professional, and that, I feel, is exactly what I got.
And besides all that, anyone who reads this book will right away notice
that the writer has created a sensitive and thoughtful protagonist who
just happens to be Iranian. Where exactly is the mean portrayal in that?
* Aryan dreams
Hafez Ameli
writes: Regarding Fereydoun Hoveyda's "Mystery
Report", Reza Shah was infected with Hitler's Aryan dreams. Hitler
had promised Reza Shah to bring back the Arian glory of ancient Persia,
with Reza Shah at the helm. Who knows, had Hitler conquered Moscow prior
to the winter of his defeat, this email would have probably been in German.
Rest assures, Reza Shah was in full control of his government and ministers.
He clearly hated the Russians as well as the British for exploiting Iran.
It was no coincidence that upon his abdication he had requested to be
exiled to Argentina, the Nazi haven. Only mid way through the journey the
British officers aboard the ship had informed him that the ship was going
to South Africa.
Art: Iranian cultural program at Asian
Art Museum, San Francisco
The Asian Art Museum in San Francisco will present two cultural programs
that offer unique insight into Iranian culture and Iranian American experiences.
On Saturday April 29, local Iranian American authors will read selections
from the recently published anthology, A World Between: Poems, Short Stories
and Essays by Iranian-Americans, and on Sunday, April 30, the critically-acclaimed
Iranian film, Gabbeh (The Carpet) will be screened >>>
DETAILS HERE
Books & Music from Iran
Check our fourteen new books from Iran including an authoritative history
of the Achamenid empire, writings by leading reformists, Forough Farrokhzad's
complete works, exquisite books of classical poetry with miniatures, Manichaean
psalms and more! >>>
GO HERE
New music albums
* Taherzadeh, Manochehr: Aakharin
barg * Eyvazi, Mohammad Reza. : Rangin
kamaan * Banan.: Shaakh-e
gol (2) * Ta'rif, Sadiq: Maah
baanoo * Lachini, Fariborz: Paaeez-e
talaaee ... >>>
GO HERE
THE IRANIAN
Bookstore
Music store
Video
NEW: Champions:
Iranian national soccer team
Three hours of interviews, trainings, matches, Biographies, and fans
of Iranian National Soccer Team, covering Iran's soccer history from 1978-2000.
Premium quality. Produced by: Alireza AmirGhasemi & Behrouz Deravi.
THE IRANIAN
Video Store
Translation of today's poem by Zara Houshmand:
My restless, seething cries he stopped: "I want you to be still."
My silence then he answered, "Come cry your fill."
Again I swelled with sound, again he said, "Be silent."
Mute I rested till, once more,
"Come let me hear your heart's flute." -- Rumi
Copyright © Abadan Publishing Co. All Rights Reserved.
May not be duplicated or distributed in any form
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More
news
Khazali urges reformers' deaths
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) - A hard-line cleric urged his followers to kill
pro-reform writers and activists whom he says are undermining Iran's revolutionary
principles, a newspaper reported today. ``It is an obligation to launch
jihad (holy war) once every year, just as it is an obligation to fast one
month a year. If the enemy does not attack you, you should attack them,''
said Khazali, a former member of the hard-line Guardians Council and a senior
cleric at the holy city of Qom >>> FULL TEXT
Tehran merchants stage closure in backing
for Ayatollah Khamenei
TEHRAN,
April 19 (AFP) - Tehran's powerful conservative bazaar merchants are to
shut their shops Thursday in a show of support for supreme leader Ayatollah
Ali Khamenei, who last week rejected "US-style reform" in Iran,
their association said Wednesday. Some 140 members of the conservative majority
in the outgoing parliament signed a similar petition of support, and called
for reformist politicians who attended a recent conference in Berlin on
Iran to be tried >>> FULL TEXT
Iranian television shows embarrassing images
for reformists
TEHRAN, April 19 (AFP) - Iran's conservative-run television dealt
a blow to the country's reformists late Tuesday by showing aides of President
Mohammad Khatami attacking the Islamic regime at a Berlin conference. A
commentator apologised to viewers for showing "anti-Islamic" scenes,
including a woman dancing with bare arms, and shots of members of the banned
armed opposition group the People's Mujahadeen >>> FULL TEXT
Guardian Council delays second round of
elections
TEHRAN,
April 19 (AFP) - Conservative authorities in Iran have declined to set a
date for a second round of parliamentary elections, a full two months after
the landslide win for reformists in the first round, the official IRNA news
agency reported Wednesday. The Council of Guardians, which is responsible
for verifying all election results turned down a proposal by the interior
ministry to hold the vote on April 28, IRNA said >>> FULL TEXT
Internet to be freed up in Iran
TEHRAN,
April 19 (AFP) - Iran is preparing to open up access to the Internet to
everyone in the country, Iranian state radio reported Wednesday. "Steps
have been taken so that the entire population can use Internet services
around the country," the radio quoted a telecommunications ministry
official as saying >>> FULL TEXT
Iran hit by unprecedented drought
TEHRAN,
April 19 (AFP) - Iran is facing an unprecedented drought threatening crops
and livestock in a number of provinces, television reported Wednesday. The
"disaster" reported in 15 of the country' 28 provinces was discussed
at an emergency meeting, bringing together the ministers of the interior,
agriculture and energy, Abdolvahed Mussavi-Lari, Issa Kalantari and Hossein
Bitaraf respectively >>> FULL TEXT
Iranian films invade Cannes
Tehran
(Asr-e Azadegan) - For the first time Iranian films will be shown in every
category at the Cannes film festival. In the past, only the U.S. had been
able to do so >>> FULL TEXT IN PERSIAN
Independent producers at Cannes
Tehran
(Asr-e Azadegan) - For the first time independent Iranian film companies
will have their own booth at the Cannes film festival >>> FULL
TEXT IN PERSIAN
Elton John's flame burns bright in Tehran
TEHRAN,
April 19 (AFP) - British songwriter Elton John is enjoying an unexpected
success here, with young Iranians snapping up a book of his songs and poems,
forcing a second edition. "Candle in the Wind, Elton John songs"
contains the texts, in English and Farsi, of 81 of his best known works,
and has already sold 10,000 copies >>> FULL TEXT
Ceremony for Sohrab
Tehran
(Asr-e Azadegan) - Ceremonies will be held in Kashan to mark the 20th anniversary
of Sohrab Sepehri's death (Why not celebrate his birthday?) >>>
FULL TEXT IN PERSIAN
Taekwondo team gets big welcome back home
Iran Sports Press - With video clip: The Iranian Taekwondo team,
winners of the Taekwondo World Cup 2000, arrived to a joyous welcome in
Tehran on Wednesday. Local dignitaries and fans welcomed the players upon
arrival from France >>> FULL TEXT
Azizi: Bad boy
Iran Sports Press - According to the San Jose Earthquakes, Major
League Soccer's Disciplinary Committee has suspended Khodadad Azizi for
three games and fined him $7,500 >>> FULL TEXT
Abedzadeh's teleConference with Galaxy
Iran Sports Press - With audio clip: In a teleconference organized
by the Los Angeles Galaxy Football Club on April 14 in which Iran Sports
Press participated, Persepolis' team captain and veteran keeper, Ahmadreza
Abedzadeh, discussed the upcoming visit by Persepolis to Los Angeles >>>
FULL TEXT
BBC
Serial killings
Following reports in Iranian papers that evidence relating
to the cases of serial politcal killings in Iran has been lost and a number
of those arrested have been released, the Commity for the Victims of the
serial killings has issued a statement. Behrouz Parsa spoke to Nasser Zarafshan,
member of the commity and lawyer representing some of the victims.
>>> LISTEN HERE
BBC Persian
Service
Exchange rate
Updated April 19
Buying: 825-837 tomans per dollar
Selling: 840 tomans per dollar
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Business
news
The Web
Iran
London
Kayhan
This is the weekly Kayhan published in London (the rival
to the original Kayhan in Iran). You can access only a few commentaries...
but maybe more features will become available online soon.
Beyond Iran
Lookitsa.com
Can you say nephelococcygia? No, no, it's not what you think
-- it's the simple, dreamy art of cloud-watching. Here's a gallery of photographs
that celebrate sky-gazing as practiced in childhood.
More
web sites
Quote Unquote
Kill them
They (reformists) insult Islamic sanctities. They attend a conference
to say nonsense. Kill them wherever you find them. This is God's unchangeable
tradition.
-- Ayatollah Abolqasem Khazali
AP
April 19, 2000
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