:: Nostalgic Notes ::

:: Thursday, May 29, 2003 ::

I have not enough free time so I cannot write a new post and make my nostalgic notes updated. I assign all my free time to learn new words and idioms, review grammatical points and practice how to write pure and correct. For instance, I stay at work much less and leave there at 4:30 PM to come back home and prepare myself for IELTS or TEFOL exam, which is the most important one in my life; even more important than entrance exam of Bachelor degree or Master degree. Meanwhile these days I am completely far away of news, logs, artistic websites and articles and so I have nothing to share with my kind visitors except my concerns about exam!!
Anyway, I rarely come online but when I did a few minutes ago and checked headlines about Iran and Iranians, I saw a report that shocked me. A terrible account about hunger strike of an Iranian refugee named Abbas Milani, who wants to persuade British immigration officials not to deport him and other refugees from Iran and Afghanistan. He is under a horrid situation regarding his hunger strike and sewing up his lips, eyes and ears. I hope British officials who have been trying to keep and boost their relations with this theocratic government since a few years ago and sometimes under the worst situations will not deport him.
Note: For more information please take a look at HUNGER STRIKER FIGHTS ON and Abbas to stay in UK.
:: Ahmadreza 8:49 PM [+] ::
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It occurred what I was afraid of. I received a formal letter from immigration officials last Thursday. First I thought it would be an invitation for interview after about two years, but I was completely at fault. I got confused after reading the letter because I understood that:
First, I must take part in an IELTS exam and submit the result to the immigration section up to four months from the date of letter (April 28th). They need it to know who much my statement about my English abilities is right and exact.
Second, I must get 70 points of 100 to be qualified, according to the new act.
I received the letter on May 22nd and so I have lost one month. Meanwhile I'm not ready to take part in IELTS exam because I have been preparing myself for TOEFL since three or four months ago. On the other hand, it's enough three months for TOEFL but not for IELTS.
:: Ahmadreza 4:44 PM [+] ::
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I wrote a note about Marjane Satrapi and her book titled Persepolis two weeks ago. It is clear that Mrs. Satrapi's story is an old and repetitive one, especially for those who know something about Iran and 1979 Islamic Revolution, but she tells this story in a different way and it is what makes her prosperous and successful. This part of The New York Times report titled Tempering Rage by Drawing Comics confirms whether my idea is right.
"That puff of rebellion will smell familiar to fans of "Persepolis," Ms. Satrapi's memoir in comic form, published in an American edition last month by Pantheon. Her story has sold more than 120,000 copies in France and has been translated from French into six languages; it recently won the Fernando Buesa Blanco Peace Prize in Spain. The American edition combines the first two volumes of this four-part series, which uses woodcutlike drawings with touches of classical Persian art to set Ms. Satrapi's childhood against the backdrop of Iran's 1979 Islamic revolution and its eight-year war with Iraq."
:: Ahmadreza 8:41 PM [+] ::
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When I checked out Kargah this morning, I saw Yalda Moaiery photo essay, a collection which presents an imagination of Iranian youth who live in north of capital city of Iran, Tehran. I can't understand why these types of photo essays are very attractive for young photographer. These superficial photos are absolutely hot for common visitors but they don't add a valuable point to a professional photographer's resume. On the other hand, I believe photographer's thought and concept of her or his photos is what makes her or him prosperous and distinct. I think it proves my idea a glimpse at Steve McCurry masterpieces.
:: Ahmadreza 11:59 AM [+] ::
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Cannes Film Festival 2003 commenced last Wednesday in France. Iran has a few movies in different sections of festival but it seems at five in the afternoon is the most important one. The last film of Samira Makhmalbaf, 23 year old daughter of acclaimed director Mohesn Makhmalbaf, is about a young Afghan girl in post Taliban era; A young girl, named Noqreh, who wants to become the first female president of her country. The primary concept is Afghan women rights and Samira tries to show their terrible situation through emphasizing great difference between Noqreh's dream and current social and cultural condition of Afghanistan. It's natural making such a movie by Samira because she believes that Talibani ideas are still alive in Afghan society and so there is a great difference between men and women, according to the BBC report.
Note: For more information read Afghan Women Make Progress in Movie at ABC NEWS.
:: Ahmadreza 12:32 PM [+] ::
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Sometimes it seems so difficult keeping Nostalgic Notes updated. Anyway, Iran has returned to the top of headlines since a few days ago. USA officials, especially secretary of state and defense secretary, repeatedly declared in their press conferences that Iran had a hidden plan to produce nuclear bomb. Now they believe Iran have another program to produce biological and chemical weapons. I can neither confirm nor deny these allegations because it is not clear political atmosphere in Iran and official reports are not apparent, dependable and true.
Meanwhile I can't believe American Diplomats statements. If their source was a reliable group or organization, I would believe. Unfortunately the source is National Council of Resistance of Iran, according to the FOX NEWS report. This opposition group of current theocratic government, called Mojahedin e Khalgh in Iran, supports a blend of Islamic concepts and Marxism and has been known as a terrorist group since six years ago. As I know the group and its leaders, there is no difference between them and hardliners. I believe there is no difference between Supreme Leader, Ali Khamanei, and head of National Council of Resistance of Iran, Masoud Rajavi. Both of them don't undergo any opinions and thoughts except themselves.
:: Ahmadreza 12:54 PM [+] ::
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Prince Reza Pahlavi lives in Virginia State of America. The son of King Mohammad Reza, King of Iran who left his home one year before 1979 Islamic Revolution and died in 1980 in Egypt, tries to promote his ties with American officials. It seems he wants to play a key role in Bush administration plan for changing government in Iran. I don't know whether he is able to completely persuade those neo conservationists taking part in the plan but I think Iranians and especially youth don't like to experience monarchy once again. On the other hand, majority of Iranian people prefer a government based on general elections and so they don't support Reza Pahlavi and monarchists.
Note: For more information read John Stanton's article titled Iran' Reza Pahlavi and Guy Dinmore and Najmeh Bozorgmehr's one titled Iranian monarchist exiles seek pact with US.
:: Ahmadreza 5:53 PM [+] ::
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Iran's judiciary sentenced 15 nationalist activists to prison terms ranged between 4 to 11 years. Ezzatollah Sahabi, who is the most famous of these activists and has stayed 14 years in jail before Islamic Revolution in 1979, received an 11 year old sentence.
I knew him a few years ago, when I was a young student of Industrial Engineering field at Sharif University of Technology. He published a monthly magazine, named Iran e Farda, in spite of hardliners oppositions. As far as I know he is a moderate politician who denounces any military actions or revolution. He believes and supports establishing a Liberal government regarding religious concepts believed by Iranians. Although he and his colleagues like Taqi Rahmani and Hoda Saber, received 11 and 10 year old sentence respectively, support a quiet evolution and are involved in democratic activities, but hardliners never undergo their presence in political scene of Iran. I think that the press freedom watchdog, Reporters Without Borders, know this fact, its reaction completely shows it.
"The Iranian regime has again shown to what degree any peaceful protest or criticism is unwelcome.''
:: Ahmadreza 2:52 PM [+] ::
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We will not see the Iraqi cleric again on TV programs next to the hardliners when supreme leader holds religious gatherings because he, Baqir Hakim, finally returned to his home after about 23 years. I don't know whether he will able to play a key role in Iraq and launch a theocratic government, regarding US oppositions and concerns. Even if he doesn't want to do it, I think Iraqi society will suffer more tensions because he and his followers boost a terrible interpretation of Islam which could be dangerous for establishing a free society in Iraq and USA wishes too.
:: Ahmadreza 12:19 PM [+] ::
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"Walter Max Ulyate Sisulu was born on 18 May 1912. His mother became pregnant by a white man who abandoned her when the baby was born. Sisulu was thus a "Coloured" and his lighter skin set him apart from his peers. His anger at his lost white father, and at other family members for their deferential attitudes to whites, lent a bitter personal edge to his youthful radicalism. These circumstances led him to feel a strong loyalty to his brother Africans and their tribal traditions."
And one of those who made South Africa free of dogmatic thoughts died at 90 on May 5th. I have never heard his name before I read this report but now I know him, a brave man who stayed in jail for more than 25 years just to make a free world, and I can't respect him and what they did in South Africa.
:: Ahmadreza 11:12 PM [+] ::
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Joy Press book review at The Village Voice is about Persepolis and Reading Lolita in Tehran written by Marjane Satrapi and Azar Nafisi respectively, two Iranian immigrants who have left Iran a few years ago. It is apparent what they show as an imagination of Iran is related to early years of Islamic Republic era. For example below paragraph of Persepolis exactly illustrates the atmosphere of Iranian society at that time.
"Overnight, her teachers switch from worshiping the shah to enforcing Islamic regulations, and neighbors suddenly become pious."Last year she was wearing a miniskirt, showing off her beefy thighs to the whole neighborhood," her mom says of the woman next door. "And now Madame is wearing a chador.""
Nevertheless I believe current condition of this society is evidently different. Now more than 80 percent of people think and live like others in the world and so I think these autobiographies are not appropriate means to understand current situation of the most important country in the middle east.
:: Ahmadreza 10:28 AM [+] ::
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Poupeh Mahdavi Nader, an Iranian sportswoman, started a solitary journey around the world in April, 2003. I don't know her but I think she is a pioneer girl, active and absolutely different. Most of Iranian girls and boys are not able to do the same because this journey needs a great concentration and self-confidence.
:: Ahmadreza 1:46 PM [+] ::
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Sian Motalebi, Iranian journalist and founder of one the most popular Persian blogs, is still in jail after about two weeks. Farnaz Ghazizadeh, young journalist and sina's wife, has wanted all not to say more about this case. It seems they want to resolve this problem in silence.
:: Ahmadreza 9:43 PM [+] ::
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Meridian International Center and Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art hold together a unique exhibition of Iranian new art titled a breeze from gardens of Persia in 10 states of America. This wonderful exhibition commenced on the 27th of April, 2001 in Washington and then held in New York, Illinois, California, Georgia, Texas and Vermont. According to the schedule, the exhibition will hold in Miami and Texas (once again) after current exhibition held in Daytona Beach, FL.
I believe these types of cultural activities are absolutely beneficial to decrease anti Iranian emotions in USA and other western countries. In this way, they understand there are a great difference between Iranian astute and creative people and Islamic Government, which runs the most adverse interpretation of Islam.
:: Ahmadreza 7:14 PM [+] ::
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