The Iranian Times
Monday, May 18, 1998 - Ordibehesht 28, 1377,
No. 481
Letters
The
Iranian Letters section
* Cyrus, Reagan, Bush
* Pragmatic name
* A name proves nothing
* Need to wake up
* Mojahedin deserve it
* You never know
* Cyrus, Reagan, Bush
Cyrus cylinder: "...My great army entered Babylon peacefully..."
["U.N.
chief awarded Cyrus cylinder"]. Sounds a lot like Ronald Reagan
when he invaded Grenada, or George Bush when he invaded Panama. This cylinder
should be considered the magna carta of public relations campaigns we see
today.
Shahram Mostarshed
smostars@compuserve.com
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* Pragmatic name
I disagree with the author of "Why
change a name" in his assumption that Iranians change their names
mainly to hide their identities and ethnic backgrounds and other spurious
reasons. To be fair, one has to say that there are many different motives.
I feel that if prejudice gets in the way of an Iranian getting on in life
(especially in the job market) then a dose of "pragmatism" is
not a bad thing.
I live in England and have British citizenship. I Have, on several occasions,
been asked whether I would mind working for a "Jewish" company.
Presumably, I would not have drawn so much attention to my religion and
ethnic background if I had not had such an obviously Iranian name (or should
I say Middle Eastern, as my family name contains two words both of which
are Arabic).
It would also be unfair to assume that it is only Iranians who change
their names. Other Middle Eastern communities as well as the large Indian-Pakistani
community in Britain and other parts of Europe have as many prejudices
attached to their names as we do. I have known of an Indian who could not
get a job as a lawyer with his real name on his CV (Khan) so he simply
changed the spelling to "Cohen" and had enormous success in getting
interviews.
Iranians have been good at surviving in hostile environments for centuries.
If changing the spelling or pronunciation of our names leads to better
jobs and better prospects, then I think a clever Iranian will do what is
necessary to achieve his/her aims. We do not have to parade our "Iranianess"
in the work place where the only thing that ultimately matters is our intelligence
and ambition to do well.
Name not attached for professional reasons
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* A name proves nothing
I haven't change my name and I won't ["Why
change a name"]. I like my name. But there are so many people
who don't. They didn't choose their own name, someone else did. Why do
they have to suffer their whole life for that? u say it is a culture identity...what
culture..what identity? does my name prove anything. Does it say that I
am a good, beautiful or goodhearted woman? It doesn't.
Mahshid
mahshid.r@sigtuna.mail.telia.com
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* Need to wake up
[Regarding "United
People's Assembly"] I think we should all think more about becoming
global citizens. What good is nationalism when those in charge do not have
the people's interests in mind? Prosperity of the few at the expense of
the many should not be the model by which we live. It is model of greed
and, as the author so succinctly notes, it won't work. The Sassanian dynasty
showed this a long time ago; the U.S. government is showing this now. We
all need to wake up to the reality at hand, instead of blindly going along
with the proganda being dispensed in "news," entertainment, and
advertising. As a sidenote, I had no idea Khodaa meant self-awakening.
What a powerful concept. Once glimpsed, there is no turning back.
Alex Bettesworth
Alex_B@pacbell.net
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* Mojahedin deserve it
[Letter to the editor, Washington Times:] Not all Iranian-Americans
agree with the sentiments in recent letters to the editor supporting the
People's Mojahedin (April 24 and 28). One of the letters, for example,
acknowledges "flaws" of the Mojahedin. Let's consider some of
those flaws: ... full
text
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* You never know
On the occasion of reading Mr. Tabib' amusing article ["Hot
Implications of U.S.-Iran Relations"], I concluded that he has
not visited Iran recently. Just about all the things he has mentioned are
already a reality, albeit all underground!
But I especially enjoyed his conclusion about the rightists and the
leftists: don't worry however, we are a nation that are good with rejecting
things -- ideas and people -- just for the hell of it and just to be in
opposition. Historically we have said ''no'' to Amir Kabir, Nasseredin
Shah, Mashroutiat, Russia, Britain, Reza Shah's dictatorship, Mossadegh,
Mohammad Reza Shah, a weird mix of eastern/western political ideas, as
well as a weird mix of caricatures of eastern/western political ideas,
religions... all within the last 130 years!
So, it would not surprise me if Mr. Tabibi's ''casino'' project is implemented
on either the campus of Tehran University or next to Imam Reza's shrine
in Mashad. You never know these days: Fereydoun Farrokhzad may also come
back to life and be the entertainment minister... or the head of the judiciary!
Azerifinco
Azerifinco@aol.com
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