Iranian of the Day

Soosan Khanoom

We are not talking about calling people names and being abusive. As a supporter of good manners and online discussion etiquette, you get no argument from me on that score.

We are talking about the right to criticise people, even if we might not necessarily have as much academic qualification or knowledge as them.

This is what pas-e-bareh said

"..We can not tear down Shirin Ebadi's, Abbas Kiarostami's, Reza Aslan's, etc. and expect to have an enlightened society. If for no other reason, we shouldn't do it because most of us are not as good a lawyer as Shrin Ebadi, not as good a Muslim scholar as Reza Aslan, nor as good a filmmaker as Abbas Kiarostami...."

In other words, don't be negative towards Aslan if you're not as good as good a Muslim scholar as he is! Do you find this line of argument reasonable?

To me it's the kind of dictat autocratic regimes like the IRI use to repress dissent and criticism.

RB

It is wise to sometimes agree to disagree with experts in any field but is it wise to accuse them and bash them entirely? Only fools can do that ....... 

Just take your time and read some of the comments here ....... i hope you see then that what we are talking about ...

Pas-epardeh, regarding this comment of yours

by pas-e-pardeh on Fri Mar 11, 2011 07:02 PM PST

....we can not continue to tear down accomplished people who come from us just because they are not exact replicas of ourselves.  We can not tear down Shirin Ebadi's, Abbas Kiarostami's, Reza Aslan's, etc. and expect to have an enlightened society. If for no other reason, we shouldn't do it because most of us are not as good a lawyer as Shrin Ebadi, not as good a Muslim scholar as Reza Aslan, nor as good a filmmaker as Abbas Kiarostami.  Let the experts say what they want.  The days of one sentence or one person changing destinies are over.. .."

===============================================

With all due respect, I think I'd find it hard to disagree more with a comment.

So, now we can't criticise certain people because, supposedly, we are not as good as they are in some discipline? So, by logical extension we should not criticise politicians, or critique artistic work or hold doctors accountable for medical malpractice or lawyers exploiting clients, or even express our views on sports people's performances because we are not as good as they are? Where did you come up with this drivel?

A crucial element of free and progressive societies, indeed those societies whose destinies should not be in the hands of one person (as you say), is the right of ALL its citizens, regardless of their status in life, social background and whether they are experts in one field or another, to express their views including the right to criticise anyone.

It is the stand point that puts certain people on pedestals and declares them above/beyond criticism, because of their supposed expertise or knowledge in whatever field, as propagated by you, that leads to "one person changing destinies" in a society.

Well said Paseh Pardeh

 it is very rare to hear voices of logic and wisdom here in IC .......  

But yours in this thread is Remarkable

Thank you  

great sense of humor

this fellow"reza aslan" has .

Good question, ComraidsConcubine

The short answer is, I don't know.

Having said that, there are some personal characteristics of Aslan that unquestionably help make him media-friendly. He is well-dressed, clean shaven, fairly articulate, not a bad looking guy and as a whole looks a like Wall Street trader complete with the corporate American accent. In short, he sounds and looks nothing like your narrow-minded, scruffy looking, bearded fundamentalist.

On the top of that, he has got himself a PHD, works in academic circles and has published a few essays and articles on Islam all of which help his supposed credibility as an "expert" on the subject. He also works hard (but imo doesn't always succeed) in injecting a degree of dry humour and sarcasm when spewing his views, which are not exactly short on half-truths and distortions.

There are a lot of academic IRI supporting types working in various US educational institutions currently. But few are able to combine the attributes that I described above like Aslan can. Like I said, you gotta give the guy credit in creating this media niche for himself. The Islamists must really love him and you can see why.

Reality-Bites

 How do they do that? It's like that thickie Dabashi. Why is he on the media circuit circus?  Is there an Islamist Max Clifford?

Reza Aslan

The media-friendly and media-savvy face of the defenders of the Islamic Republic and apologist for Islamic extremism.

But you've gotta give the guy credit, he certainly manages to get himself plenty of publicity and invites to various shows like this.

Pas-e-pardeh II

Which in the end means we should listen to non-experts.  Is this the future you want?  

Yes, that is what I want. If Aslan is the expert then I rather listen to the janitor. This filth has made a mockery of "expert". Not everyone with a Ph.D. is an expert. Haven't you heard: Molla shodan che asan; Adam shodan che moshkel. Well he is a Molla alright not not adam.

Dear Pas o Pardeh

Why should AQslan not be disrespected? Remember the IC motto: Nothing is Sacred.

Aslan does not even claim to be Iranian. He just goes on Colbert and says he is a Muslim. Then makes up lies that Colbert has to corret over and over. He is definitely to be disrespected. 

Aslan is so arrogant he say that *he* should be asked. Because he is the expert since he has got a Ph.D. Thus dismissing the others who may not have a Ph.D. He leaves out his bias that undoes anything his education may bring to the table.

I grant you one thing: Ebadi is a far more respectable person than Aslan. I have done more research on Ebadi. She is walking a tightrope. In order to save some Iranian lives she has to make a deal with the devil. Sort of like the people who worked within Nazi Germany to save people. They had to kiss up to the Nazi but their hearts and intentions was good. That is why I give Ebadi some respect. Aslan gets none of that. 

I have  no use for Ph.D in Hajiology which is what Aslan has. At least EBadi does some good and has a REAL degree. As for Kiarostami I have never criticized him.

Anyway how do you know I don't have a Ph.D? My education is in theoretical Physics and related stuff. What we call a real science, Not a pile of mumbo jumbo about which hand to use to wipe my bottom.

VPK says:

• Aslan - totally useless Islamic apologist. Worthless degree. Not even a real Iranian.
• Ebadi - done a lot of good but to do so had to make a deal with the devil. I am not sure what she really believes. But at least she has saved a lof of people. I do not worship her. But she is a real Iranian and as I said has tried.
• Kiarostami - He is an artist working in a difficut situation. Gets his due respect.. No question about him being Iranian.

Mola Nasredeen,

Mola Nasredeen: "Please go to the following thread for your answer:"

Not a single one of the three links you provided objectively demonstrate how exactly Peter King has (supposedly) performed a "witch-hunt of American Muslims," as you claim he has.

So, once again, if we are to believe the assertion that a "witch-hunt of American Muslims" is being performed by Peter King, then how exactly, in objective terms, has that alleged witch-hunt been performed?

Please give specific examples....otherwise it is simply your subjective perception-and nothing more-that an alleged "witch-hunt of American Muslims" is being performed by Peter King.

Was any Muslim forced or coerced to testify at King's hearing against their will, for example?  Or, for instance, have there been any discriminatory laws been passed against Muslims as a result of King's hearing?

And, as a reference, a general definition of the phrase "witch-hunt" is "An attempt to find and publicly punish a group of people perceived as a threat, usually on ideological or political grounds." (Source: wiktionary.org)  And, that is the definition I am using in this discussion.

I like Colber ...

but I wish he was more familiar with the Iranian affairs and could distinguish between IRI enablers (his guest in this case) in the west and true secular Iranians.  

Source: Wikipedia

"A lot of scholars, myself included, believe the future of Islam, especially Islamic democracy, rests in the Shia world. It's Iran and Iraq where the most exciting experiments are being carried out." If Mr. Aslan believes that Iran is experimenting with democracy, then I doubt he either knows what democracy is or has he any idea what the regime in Iran is about.

Snake in the Grass

Reza Aslan makes me want to puke, with his monkey eyes.  He is the extreme made over version of Ahmadinejad. 

Only liars get nervous when they are asked a question.  Notice his face expressions? He knows he is a crook and a representative of evil, so he sits there and rationalizes his bull sh***t.  

He is full of it and his PhD is worthless; he can siphon it down the toilett, or better he can siphon it down the 'Emam Zaman' deep well in qum.

Bas****rd

...

...

DEar Veiled Prophet

You said,

"If your idea of respectable is Aslan then we have a lot of disagreement." 

Aslan may or may not be my idea of respectable.  But, he is certainly a good example of someone who should not be disrespected.  Do you see the difference?

 It is OK to be subjective, like most of us are.  But, there is a point in evolution of a modern society when you reach something called "inter-subjectivity".  In short, it means subjective people tolerate other subjective people within the frameworks of scholarship, or politics, journalism or whatever else social arena.

Point is, we can not continue to tear down accomplished people who come from us just because they are not exact replicas of ourselves.  We can not tear down Shirin Ebadi's, Abbas Kiarostami's, Reza Aslan's, etc. and expect to have an enlightened society. If for no other reason, we shouldn't do it because most of us are not as good a lawyer as Shrin Ebadi, not as good a Muslim scholar as Reza Aslan, nor as good a filmmaker as Abbas Kiarostami.  Let the experts say what they want.  The days of one sentence or one person changing destinies are over.  Live and let live.

Otherwise, you'll be lead by intellects like this:

"Enough
by *** on Fri Mar 11, 2011 12:05 PM PST

of these so called experts! They don't know jack about any thing."

Which in the end means we should listen to non-experts.  Is this the future you want?  

Shotor: God Bless Israel!

God Bless Rednecks too!

I

wonder why

nobody invited

Reza Pahlavi to speak about this subject?

Maybe his contract with Fox Republican TV wouldn't let him.

Or maybe his mommy dearest didn't let him.

I just made the same analysis

  But not quite so clearly

Reza Aslan the Good, the Bad or the Ugly Muslim?

The so called reformers (or non -radical followers ) of Islam , as
Reza Aslan is claiming to be, are misguided at best and deceptive
at worst. Their efforts should not be welcomed. Whatever their
intention, whether genuine or malicious, they are pulling wool over the
eyes of non-Muslims and as the result giving legitimacy to a very
dangerous cult.

The good Muslims are those who follow the Quran and the examples set
by Muhammad and become terrorists.Examples are Osama Ben Ladan,
Khomeini, 911 hijackers and all the Muslim terrorists that explode
themselves around the world every day

The bad Muslims are those wishy-washy Muslims who don’t practice
Islam completely, don’t read the Quran, don’t pray and rarely, if ever,
go to mosque. Their knowledge of Islam is deficient even though their
faith may not be necessarily weak. However, because of their lack of
understanding of Islam they don’t harbor ill feelings towards
non-Muslims, although they are often suspicious of them and they strive
to improve their lives and live like others.Many Iranians are in this
group. They may on occasions listen to music, dance or even drink, but
they may fast during Ramazan.

Many of these bad Muslims will admit that they are
not good Muslims and hope that eventually they will summon enough faith
to become good Muslims. These are the majority.

The ugly Muslims are those who know the truth about Islam but lie
about it. They try their best to portray Islam in a good light. They
even agree with you that the good Muslims are bad, and claim that Islam
has been hijacked by the good Muslims. I am afraid Mr. Aslan is part of this group. He has written his Phd Thesis and other books about "Radical" Islam (the good Muslims), he should know about the darkest parts of this barbaric cult. He can not claim ignorance and not knowing.

Only truth can set him (and other Muslims) free. By sugarcoating Islam you cannot change
its nature. You can purify filthy water and drink it. You can even
purify urine into drinking water. But can you purify gasoline enough to
make it drinkable? The essence of Islam is evil. It is not a
contaminated good faith. You cannot reform it enough to make it a humane
faith. Can you reform Nazism? This whole notion is misguided.

Reforming Islam, just like reforming IRI is Impossible.

not gonna watch this either

 anymore yadda yadda about fairytales and witchhunts and I'm gonna become Chinese:

 //www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9mUR3b_IQw

.........

In 2009, I liked both Aslan and Karim Sadjadpour.....they were all over the TV......I visited his FB and followed him on twitter for a while.....I saw a photo of Aslan with Khatami, the former president on fb........now I like Sadjadpour way more than Aslan!

....

Do you like him?

............

Zionist groupies, Iranian hating Iranians on this Iranian website are in tears again when they see someone like Aslan, handsome, articulate and educated is featured on a popular, progressive TV show.

*******************

Nobody on this thread said Aslan is not handsome, inarticulate or uneducated!

Responses

• I am no fan of Islam but all terrorists are not Muslims. So let us not make statements that are wrong.
• USA will never ban all religious symbols. However it may ban full burka. In fact all forms of hijab that cover the whole face may be banned. Head scarfs on the other hand will not fit the ban criteria. I just don't see how we could ban scarfs.

Not all Muslims are terrorists but all terrorists are Muslims!

That's the crux of the matter!

Muslims are quick to get violent and belligerent when somebody draws a cartoon of Muhammad the pedophile but when their fellow Muslims commit terrorist acts for some unknown reason they become dumb, deaf, blind, and mute!?

Mehrdad jan

I totally agree that King and his Commission are all about politcal point scoring and scaremongering. Despite my disdain towards Islam as a religion I do not want to give the impression that I am for a witch hunt. In order to stop radical Muslims and extremism in all its forms having a commission is not the answer. The correct approach would be to adopt the French system and impose by force, if necessary, secularism in all institutions: the banning of all religious artefacts and symbols in public offices and places whether it be the hijab, cross, crucifix or the star of David.

However, I doubt if this could ever happen. There are just as many Christian Evangelicals, Jewish lobbyists who hold immense power and lobby on special interests in Washington. I believe that so long as you live in any country you should show allegience to the country you are living in and your religion should be left in the privacy of your own home. Despite a few unpleasant instances this has worked in France and in Turkey and its is about time every 'civilised' country adopts it. 

Weather

Since Mola is obsessed with weather in Israel here.

//www.israelweather.co.il/english/

But Mola you need to be more percise. Do you mean Tel Aviv; Judea; Samaria or where? It may be raining in Judea while sunny in Samaria. Be percise if you want to get a reliable weather report.

Simorgh jaan, I feel the

Simorgh jaan, I feel the same way as you do about any one who chooses any of the Abrahamic religion.

However your discussion here seem to be about religion, Islam in particular. As I said I am not religious, so I am not going to defend Islam but I like to defend freedom to choose which this clip is some what related to.

It seems Islam/Muslim bashing is popular these days but we ought to be careful that despite the feel-good-rant, are we on the right path? America still has the disgrace of Japanese-American treatment in its history. I like NOT to add yet another disgraceful act, specially that is all design with politics and no substance, much like Vildmose says.

VPK,

You are certainly entitled to how you feel about Muslim and I can hardly blame you, but for me that is not the right path. Some people cringe when they see a Jewish person, I think that is just as wrong.

Mehrdad

Mola

it's raining in Tel Aviv

Is it? You seem to show more interest in Israel than I do! For those of us who are Iranian we have more important things to worry about than Palestinians or Muslims. Iranians come first. Sorry.