THE PAST

Interesting......

Your criticism about the depth of historical ignorance in Iranian society is quite valid. I am not in any way defending this self defeating ignorance, but would like to add that a great deal of it has to do with the complexity and length of the history that spans a few millennia.

Iran is known as the "cross road" of history. People and tribes of various origins have migrated into Iranian plateau at various times and under various conditions. Some were gradual and peaceful migrations and others were hostile invasions. Hardly anyone has documented these events throughout the history, other than a handful of foreign historians with second hand knowledge of the events. History writing for educational purposes is a recent phenomena that started during Pahlavis. Much history has been lost, ignored and manipulated from the beginning of this process, at the turn of the last century. Some by Monarchy, but most appalling by the ruling Islamists . Worse yet, there is an ongoing foreign historical revision of Iranian history to justify the barbaric nature of today's theocracy in Iran. Who do we trust ?

Thanks ebi jaan

Thanks a lot for your contribution. I had know idea who was Dr
Rajabi before reading your comment. It's sometimes a default of mine :-) sometimes also a blessing, trying to be impartial. Alas, it makes me look some how " hypocrite" in another kind of judgement.

Anyway,
I really enjoyed this blog and wanted to be looked by all friends of
Iranian.com, and I appreciate your wonderful contribution as to
introduce this great Iranologist to us.

Good job.

Let's do our homework first!

Dr Rajabi is a well known Iranologist,whose books are a source for studying Persian Heritage.His attributions to academic studies of Iran are priceless.

//eskenas.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=40

//www.iranibook.com/shopping/shopdisplayproducts.asp?search=yes

//www.ferdosi.com/Book/BkGenSearchRes.asp?tbItem=Rajabi,%20Parviz&cbLang=0&rbItem=Author

 Dr. Parviz Rajabi. rejected Salimi Namin's. assertion attributing Takht-e. Jamshid to Russian:

//www.iran-daily.com/1385/2607/pdf/i12.pdf

Since his article originally was published in "Baran Foundation " web site;where Khatami is the chairman, he cannot be judged only by that & be attacked by poeple who know very little about him & his great contributions to Iran.

best wishes

Historic Amnesia

If we had a historic memory, we should have known better to have invited the Islamic rule back in 1979.

Abarmard

I liked what you had write. If you think this thread needs more details and example, why don't you continue on this ?

I invitedyou vividly to explore your ideas in this blog, or write your own blog and refer to this one as a base.

Never give up on your ideas.

Today many Iranians

Are in a dreamland as if we were some forward socially advanced European country that suddenly some (people?) decided that we were not worth it and it is what it is today!

In my previous writings in some early articles I tried hard to transfer this very idea and I have just given up. I have realized many Iranians live in a dreamland and some have a extremely short memory. That's why today based on the current affairs and news broadcasts from the west, many simply buy into what they preach regardless of thinking of Iran, historically and socially, realistically.

I am not amazed that we have ended up with the Islamic Republic, and believe that many people who are involved in the system are extremely similar in thought and behavior with the rest of the population. That's how IR gets its success story.

Let's not go too far, I am talking about our recent history, say fifty to hundred years back. We seem to be confused about that, and still blame vague imaginary boogieman for all our problems. That maybe, same as you have mentioned here, we would consider that a criticism towards our own culture and behavior if the truth is accepted.

This was an interesting point, yet very short. I would've liked more details and examples. 

BS

Mr. Parviz Rajabi,
I am sure that you don't care about Persia's real history, and it just feels good to see you so ignored, and frustrated.

This same site should be included in the ignorant list ....

Many pieces sent about old Avestan stories(Karnamak Ardashir Papkan..etc), Zorotustrian literatures,Liguistic essays, focal points of Old Iran history & ancient Iran Photo essays & drawings have been systematicly ignored. But if it,s old Iran with a twist  that suppress historical facts (the way Haj Aghas like it) then it,s ok...So it,s not only the average Joe but also the so called Iranian community sites too.

پرویز

پرویز خان..........

با نوشتن این مقاله آینه ای تمام قد جلوی تک تک ما گذاشتی‌ که خودمون رو اونجور که "هستیم" ببینیم، نه اونجور که "دلمون میخواد" به نظر بیایم.

تلخ ولی‌ واقعی.

ممنون

Dard-e Aashenaa vali Mozmen

We have had this problem for decades now. One major culprit  is our "intellectual" class who switches from one intellectual fashion to another, thinking it has solved the problem, but all it engages in is in disseminating another facile generalization that conjures up new demons to blame. It lives in its ivory tower of fantasies that it transmits to the general public who take up with these fantasies so gladly because they just want to feel good about themselves and blame someone else rather than themselves.

This mentality helps reproduce the same problem in successive generations.

good analyse

It is true what you have written. We could say it with a common proverb to Iranian : Giram Pedar to bood Fazel, Az Fazle Pedar to ra che Hassel!

Iranians retained so few from their heritage but all of them are so much proud of it !

Thank you Souri for

Thank you Souri for directing me to this article.  I agree it is an excellent observation Mr. Rajabi has made about this culture of, as I call it, irresponsible exercise of speech.  

The most important constituent of the freedom of speech is the burden of responsibility it carries with it, but we have always shied away from being burdened and prefer the easy route.  Not being informed about a subject is not an impediment to having a strong opinion and when strained we bluff our way out of it.  If that fails (which it often does because both side can bluff as easily and both know it) then Naaseza enters into conversation and finally tohmat takes over. 

Excellent thought provoking article.

Than you!   

motenaghez or motenaafer ?

I'd said the same thing, but reading it better, I believe the word is rather "motenaafer"?? That I don't know what it means...Thanks.

نامحرم با تاریخ

Dear Parviz, I am very thankful for your article. It's a good subject for everyone who feels he or she is an Iranian. I didn't understand the word
( متنافر )in the first line. It might be (متناقض ) as I think!!! Please correct me. Thank you.

Dear Mr. Rajabi

Amazing Analyse ! I am speechless. All you have said here is so true. It's like I am hearing my own mind, but clearly and loudly.

I was always thinking exactly the same way you described , but never could spot those thoughts so clearly.

Thank you for bringing my intuition to my eyes !!

Great article !

PS: the word "Motenagez" might be with "zein" and not "Ze"

Very True!

Good job!