July 5, 2003
want to support us, know more about us
I've been thinking recently about how could outside world give support to democracy in Iran, the best way. Blogger folks such as Jeff Jarvis, Pejman Yousefizadeh, Joe Katzman, Andrew Sullivan, etc. have increased efforts to make at least English speaking blogosphere care more about Iranian students who've been struggling for change for a long time, and I really appreciate their attemtion and support. But I believe we all can do much more than putting up an icon, saying that we support democracy in Iran. In fact, we first should know about what kind of place Iran is and how it differs from Iraq and other mid-east countries.
So I'd like to suggest a new approach to supporting democracy in Iran: "If you really want to support us, try to know more about us."
The new approach, which could launch a whole new campaign, is much more effective in that without enough insightful knowledge about a problem, no one can really provide any helpful solution. One has to know the socio-political situation in Iran in order to be able to help; and this is the first and essential step of any kind of support.
So let's think about how we can learn more about Iran and it's people. I'll be writing about some practical ideas tomorrow.
Posted by hoder at July 5, 2003 11:23 PMComments
Among the books: Persian Mirrors (Elaine Sciolino) and Persepolis (Marjane Satrapi), (although a friend would have recommended 1984 by George Orwell.) And the movie Under the Skin of the City. Offering them some yummy ghorme sabzi or shirini would help too:p!
- By: Shahrzad Gesse goo on July 18, 2003
- By: Shahrzad Gesse goo on July 18, 2003
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I think its a phenomenal idea. The world truly needs to know more about Iranians. I think one thing which disguishes us the most is the concept of Taroof (which is rooted from the arabic word which means to "make acquaintences") To extend the analogy further, why shouldn't Iranian taxi drivers symbolize the people themselves. I've come across taxi/poets, taxi/engineers, taxi/teachers and even taxi/mullahs. A practical explanation of how to engage with taxi drivers in Iran and the type of people they represent might be useful in informing people about Iranians...or I could just be fooling myself.
- By: Nema Milaninia on July 15, 2003
- By: Nema Milaninia on July 15, 2003
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1- Although not about Iran, but read "The Colonizers' Model of the World."
2- Get yourself invited to an Iranian's home!
3- Eat some Fesenjoon!!!
4- Visit the Caspian Coast
5- Find yourself a nice piece of Persian caligraphy, and get lost in its beauty.
(6- Find an Iranian boy/girlfriend!)
- By: Khodadad on July 10, 2003
- By: Khodadad on July 10, 2003
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Hi..I'm new to these blogs...I am in a class called mideast revolutions and nationalism and want to know more about what is going on in iran right now. What happened on this date that was important? Hope to here from you all.
Sincerly,
A texas friend
- By: Aaron on July 9, 2003
- By: Aaron on July 9, 2003
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I wish I could edit my post I have made some bad type o's there sorry folks.
- By: Babak on July 8, 2003
- By: Babak on July 8, 2003
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If you are looking for something with a little more fun than just being plain boring politic crap, here is my suggestion:
1- Food : you know and I know that everything goes through stomach.
2- Drinks : If you are thinking I am talking about ZAM ZAM shit you are deeply wrong my friends we talking straight up "ARAGH" which is something like vodka from hell.
3- Music : Oh yeah, we not just a bunch of "Camel Riders" we do have have our own music and in fact we developed the first ever notation for music 2000 years ago.
4- Places : There are more cities in Iran other than GHOM and TEHRAN. Some of them have beautiful natural places and some do have histiric sights and scenes.
5- People : Iranian is not a narrow minded stubborn son a b... terrorist, we have and had some of the most famous figures in human history and not a single of them was narrow minded.
It's not just my place to fill in the blanks this should be done in a web site or something like that so that everybody spits out the ideas.
- By: Babak on July 8, 2003
- By: Babak on July 8, 2003
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I have really appreciated individual Iranians, including those living now in Canada and the US, who have taken the time to reveal their ideas, feelings, and opinions to me/us through their weblogs. I am sad that at times these individuals have been criticized as not speaking for all Iranians. I don't think that was ever the point. What good is knowing about a "typical Iranian" if you don't know any Iranians individualy? I know that there really is no typical American or Canadian.
- By: Dave on July 7, 2003
- By: Dave on July 7, 2003
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Iranian flag with an eagle? I have never seen such a thing :-)
- By: Mishka on July 7, 2003
- By: Mishka on July 7, 2003
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I'd like to know more about one particular thing, if anyone can help me out, I would appreciate it.
Yesterday, in front of the Iranian embassy in Ottawa, there was a small protest against the 'Islamic republic regime'. They waved a flag with an eagle in the middle, and asked passers by to sign a petition.
Who are these people? Are they part of the MKO group (the MKO girl who burned herself to death was from Ottawa)?
- By: Ikram Saeed on July 6, 2003
- By: Ikram Saeed on July 6, 2003
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On The Third Hand has been posting about Freedom For Iranians for a lot of months, now, including a daily count-down to 9July/18Tir.
http://site-essential.com
- By: MommaBear on July 6, 2003
- By: MommaBear on July 6, 2003
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As an Iranian-American who has been born and raised completely in the US (my father emigrated just after the Revolution), and who wants to learn more about Iranian culture, one thing that I know I've been doing is reading some of the literature to come out of Iranian emigrés, and a few by some non-Iranians who have connections with Iran. There have been some really good books that have come out within the last few years, some books (most that I've read, some I haven't -- and forgive me, it doesn't want to format this list properly).
The Iranians by Sandra Mackey
Persian Mirrors by Elaine Scioliano
The House of Sand and Fog by Andre Dubus III
Searching for Hassan by Terrance Ward
Funny in Farsi Firoozeh Dumas
Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azaar Nafisi
Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi
In the Walled Gardens: A Novel by Anahita Firouz
Foreigner by Nahid Rachlin
and films as well:
The White Balloon
A Time for Drunken Horses
The Circle
Baran
Children of Heaven
- By: Cyrus J. Farivar on July 6, 2003
- By: Cyrus J. Farivar on July 6, 2003
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I'll look forward to seeing your suggestions. We want to help but the icons seemed kind of pointless to me also.
- By: Del Simmons on July 6, 2003
- By: Del Simmons on July 6, 2003
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