Dec 9
David asked:


Some people may like this.You’re not gonna find this information anywhere else.I’m uncovering the secrets! (I’ve also provided evidence and have fixed the news link)
Special thanks to my American friend who helped me proofread my writing.
I believe that if you spend 5-10 minutes reading this essay, you will be better informed than if you listen to a lifetime’s worth of Major Media news. I’ve just turned 19 and I’m a university student studying English who just cannot sit back and let the lies fly unchallenged.
This article has two parts:
1. Cultural and general info
2. Political info.
Note: I’ve explained all the things that you always talk about, so read it all plz! (Anytime you like!) Specially the political part! Any answers before reading the whole thing will prove to be wrong.
****
Hi. I’m an Iranian who has spent his life in Iran.When I chat with people from other countries, I am shocked to see how totally wrong their ideas are about Iran. I wrote this article in an attempt to help correct those ideas.
The first thing America, and the West in general, accuses our government of is that we don’t allow personal freedoms. Actually, Iranians disobey laws they don’t like as much as anyone. But come on, there are only a few restrictions.It’s cool over here. People here do whatever they wish to! Many strict rules in other countries don’t even exist in Iran. Also, you should understand that what may seem so normal to you, may be a nightmare for us and vise versa. That’s why you don’t understand a few of Iran’s laws because some of them are based on our culture. You look at our country from “your own point of view”! In Iran every single house has a sattelite dish. Sattelite television has a serious influence on our people, and Iranians wear very fashionable clothing. Maybe it is a kind of imitation, but we still have our own unique Iranian style (I’m talking about public places, in our privacy there’s no difference). A visitor might wonder if this is a country or a fantasy pageant of beauty queens! Almost women wear half their their hair out, and make-up and fashionable clothing are everywhere.(I ignore a few fuddy-duddies though!) Iran is one of the super-consumers of cosmetics. You would be surprised to see the difference between what you imagine and what Iran really is!
In my view, everything is great, if you ignore unemployment, inflation and air pollution. They’re common problems around the world today! Also, you can’t compare Iran today with the Iran you remember. The Shah and the Iatollah Khomini are both some 30 years in the past! 70% of Iran’s population is a new generation (Under age 30) without the biases of the past and we’ve transformed everything.
Ever heard Iranian girls are terrific?I’ve collected some photos showing Iranian girls! Look! Poeple are like this!
http://www.salijoon.ir/bazigar/hedye%20tehrani/30nema4251159.JPG
http://www.30nema.com/images/gallery/30nema4252403.jpg
http://i10.tinypic.com/4clk3us.jpg
Americanised Iranian girl? Nope, everyone’s like that, but this one’s inside the car! Naughty girls do anything! http://tinypic.com/2d0nfao.jpg Enough proof?
Some people think women don’t have any rights in Iran. But in my view, women are overrunning the place. But that’s not a bad thing. They’re very respectful, and they’ve been the winners in so many cases: They get into the best universities because they’re very smart. And they get the best jobs because they can do so many of them better than men. They’ve got Islamic rights, and that has in some cases made it difficult for men to marry them, because husbands are supposed to buy them expensive things and treat them very well, otherwise women have the right to ask a great amount of money (called Mehr) according to the law, which most husbands cannot afford, so men will be imprisoned.The only thing that women are not allowed to do in Iran is getting into public football stadiums and that’s because such places are full of cheeky guys. They do anything from taking part in rallies to singing pop songs.Anything! I’ve put a sample here. I feel foolish for sitting here explaining ordinary things to you.

Another funny thing: Your footage about stoning the women who have committed adultery. Have you ever asked yourselves how many years ago that footage related to? Are they balck and white or colourful? But in one case (related to many years ago) the thing that had happened was ****** not adultery.We think being punished for corruption is good, as it deters people from doing that and the society will be far healthier than the countries in which commiting such things is considered to be normal! For your information, most of those footages are from Afghanistan which was ruled by freaks (Taliban). What exactly makes you think women are treated differently?The way they were/are treated in Saudi Arabia? Try to think of the racism in your country too. There’s no perfect country!
Iran, Iraq and Afghanistan are ——— SEPERATE COUNTRIES! ——— Even within Iran, 60% of us are Persian and 30% are Turkish! Iran is a normal country like any other in the world. The point is, there’s nothing mysterious about us! The Media are very good at creating really scary stuff: “IRAN BEHIND THE CLOSED DOORS!!!” “IRAN UNDERCOVER!!!” Some of that garbage would be enough to scare ME away! But in truth, Iranians are far more open-minded than you have been led to believe.
There are lots of Iranians today who are geniuses and scientists, and are all under age 25. For instance a 17 year old boy has invented 72 amazing inventions. Every year a special scientific compeition is held here and students assemble to show off hundreds of inventions. Iranian students and sportsmen win gold and silver medals in different competitions in the world all the time, in robotics, biology, maths, physics, sports, anything! Why don’t the Media talk about them? Please don’t summarize our nation and culture with the single word “nuclear”. Although we’re proud of this achievement because we believe that having nuclear energy means that a country is developed.Did you know that the countries having the highest number of scientists in the world are in this order? 1-India 2-Korea 3-Iran

A few months ago Iran uncovered the most effective anti-H.I.V medicine. I searched for news of that on the internet, but there was no single sign of it.Now, I found it among the English news: “The medicine is produced from herbs using nano technology” The link to read about it is: http://www.payvand.com/news/07/feb/1032.html
The Media are unjust. They never talk about facts!
Some interesting facts:
Iran is a pioneer in medicine and genetics, and Iranian surgeons have found lots of new methods for treating spinal defects, and many diseases (mainly the treatment for different types of cancer) and the best brain and heart surgeons are Iranian. The head of the Mars Mission in NASA is Iranian. One of the best designers of sports cars working in Germany is Iranian. Some of the best 3D animators are Iranian. Iran is one of the best countries in counter-engineering. Holds the second place in building dams and in loads of other things! It’s one of the top countries in bio-technology and nano-technology. The 4th highest tower in the world (Milad tower) is in Tehran (visit it at this link from wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Milad.jpg ). 51 of the top 100 universities in the Mid-East are in Iran, and they’re among the top universities of the world as well. The champion weight-lifter, a woman, and a song by one of the pop singers who/which won the nobel peace prize are Iranians. Lots of Iranians win nobel prizes specially in the field of medicine. Iranian girls are famous for being terrific. We have Persian rugs and Persian literature, many Persian poets, artists and scientists that are world famous. Iranian culture is now westernized and only a little of the ancient culture has survived. According to statistics Tehran is the cheapest capital city in the world (one Dollar =about 950 Tomans! For example you can buy windows vista for 1 Dollar here instead of 700 Dollars!!! or 3 supper pizzas for 10 Dollars!!!wow!) There are many other things. How many pages would you need to describe a country? Iran has nearly all the industries and technologies found in ‘developed’ countries. Oh, and we have four seasons! (Some people think it never snows here! We get a lot of snow and there are skating rinks! lol) The list is endless.

News: “Iranian scientists managed to make human teeth grow after you’ve lost them using basic cells” I’m gonna introduce Iran’s international news website to you (Press TV) which was established recently. It’s fully in English. In the “Sic / Tech” section you’ll always see Iran’s discoveries. The address is: http://www.presstv.ir/news.aspx Press TV news: Iranian scientists have registered more than 4800 inventions during the last Iranian calendar year of 1385 (April 21 2006-April 20, 2007). 4800 inventions in just one year!

Some charactristics of Iranians would be:
Negative: We are proud, greedy, hard-working (for ourselves), not punctual, impatient, and lazy at doing our duty well, crazy about luxuries and thus extravagant! Highly competitive and ambitious.
Positive: intelligent, a bit idealistic, well-dressed, formal, well-educated, warm and friendly, hospitable.

Some people think Iran is a desert! Well, it is, if you consider California, New Mexico, Utah, Arkansas, and Alabama a desert. We share the same latitude. Iran is a modern country with breathtakingly beautiful nature and lots of historic places to visit. Please take a look at the following links to see if Iran looks like what you think or not! This is a photo of Tehran (Awesome, Isn’t it?): http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/79/Tehran-2-1600.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tehran

If you like you can visit these too, hundreds of pretty photos from the cities, nature and historic places: (It’s like a free tour!)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Hills_south_west_of_Sanandaj_near_the_village_of_Kilaneh.jpg
http://www.pbase.com/k_amj/throughout_iran&page=all
http://www.pbase.com/k_amj/throughout_iran&page=2
http://www.pbase.com/k_amj/throughout_iran&page=3
http://www.bigsoccer.com:80/forum/showthread.php?t=199709&page=4
http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=199709&page=3
http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=199709&page=13
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran

Some people think music is forbidden in Iran. Did you know that Iranian music was chosen as the best pop in France in 2005? All Iranian songs are current pop / DJ music. I send Iranian music to my American and Canadian chat friends and they all say they’re some of the best songs they’ve ever heard.
Here’s a sample of the latest hits from two official Iranian music websites.You can just right click on the links below and choose “Save Target As” to download them.I guess you’ll fall for it! The translation of the songs is here: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=ArJe6s_u1UbLFRAAiKDGBZLsy6IX?qid=20070514105433AAysEsQ

1.(You know this: 2007) http://download.bia2music.com/Music/Irani/Top33/128/Neorin%20-%20To%20Ino%20Miduni.mp3
2.(Hold my hand: 2007) http://www.sarzaminmp3.com/Sarzaminmusic/Persian/128KB/Mansour%20-%20Beautiful/09_%20Dastamo%20Begir.mp3
3.(The wetness of your eyes: 2006) http://download.bia2music.com/Music/Irani/Top33/128/Ehsan%20Gheibi%20-%20Khisie%20Cheshmat.mp3
4.(I just want you: 2003) http://download.bia2music.com/Music/Irani/Mansour/Crazy/Delam%20Faghat%20Toro%20Mikhaad(www.Bia2Music.com).MP3
5.(The rain: 2007) http://download.bia2music.com/Music/Irani/Siavash%20Ghomayshi/Sunset%20to%20Sunrise/64/Siavash%20Ghomayshi%20-%20Sunset%20to%20Sunrise%20-%2005%20Baroon%20(www.Bia2Music.com).wma
6.(The window: 2005) http://www.sarzamin.org/Sarzaminmusic/Persian/128KB/Siavash%20Ghomayshi/03_%20Panjereh.mp3
7.(Keep me in your memory: 2005) http://www.sarzamin.org/Sarzaminmusic/Persian/128KB/Siavash%20Ghomayshi/07_%20Yaade%20Man%20Baash.mp3
8.(Farangis “A female name” 2007) http://download.bia2music.com/Music/Irani/Siavash%20Ghomayshi/Sunset%20to%20Sunrise/64/Siavash%20Ghomayshi%20-%20Sunset%20to%20Sunrise%20-%2001%20Farangis%20(www.Bia2Music.com).wma
9.(The distance: 2007) http://www.sarzaminsong.com/Sarzaminmusic/Persian/128KB/Siavash%20Ghomayshi%20-%20Sunset%20to%20Sunrise/03_%20Faseleh.mp3
10.(Sunrise: 2007) http://www.sarzaminsong.com/Sarzaminmusic/Persian/128KB/Siavash%20Ghomayshi%20-%20Sunset%20to%20Sunrise/04_%20Tolou.mp3
11.(Stop world:2006) http://www.sarzaminmusic.com/Sarzaminmusic/Persian/128KB/Reza%20Sadeghi%20-%20Vaysa%20Donya/01_%20Vaysa%20Donya.mp3
12.(You can’t: 2007) http://www.sarzaminmp3.com/Sarzaminmusic/Persian/128KB/Mansour%20-%20Beautiful/06_%20Nemitooni.mp3
13.(The wind’s kiss: 2005) http://www.sarzamin.org/Sarzaminmusic/Persian/128KB/Siavash%20Ghomayshi/01_%20Boosaye%20Baad.mp3
14.(Reveal your visage: 2004) http://www.sarzamin.org/Sarzaminmusic/Persian/128KB/Mohammad%20Esfahani/04_%20Talab.mp3
15.(What would have happened if : 2007) http://www.sarzaminmp3.com/Sarzaminmusic/Persian/128KB/Navid%20&%20Omid%20-%20Faryad/01_%20Chi%20Mishod.mp3

And so on and on!

It’s now 2007 and most people still think we are uneducated people living in deserts, riding camels and carrying around guns!
Let’s clarify some political issues as well: Some of the Americans think that president Ahmadinejad hates the U.S and Israel and wants to nuke them!! The Media are good at putting lying comments out there. I really don’t get the point why our politicians defame themselves by talking about things that have got nothing to do with us. For example does verbal defence of Palestinians cause them to have a better life? The thing is that they occasionally make some statements that the media would misuse it against Iran. For example they pick up some specific phrases of a long speech (without refering to the main points and reasons for that speech) and put so many bad comments on that. No sane person would take such nonsense at face value.

First of all, Iranians don’t **** anyone. If our government complains about some injustice going on in the world, it’s not bad, is it? (Although what we want from them is to shut up and not get us into trouble by talking about things that are none of our concern) We **** neither Jews nor Americans. I love Americans, otherwise why would I talk to them?! How would our guys dream of America, want to be like them as much as possible, and **** them at the same time?! SECRET: Iranians are the only people in the Mid-East that are pro-American! Being agaisnt the U.S policies is a different story!I’ve got to say that for Iran, Israel is not equal with Jews! Israel is a gov’t. Jews are faithful people! A few of them live here in our neighbourhood and they live just like the rest of Iranians. No difference. And two of Iran’s parliment members are Jews. Who says we want to force others to convert to Islam? Have you ever found a Muslim knocking at your door asking you to do so?
Christians and Jews are both God-believers and respectful to us. In Iran, religion is one of the least important factors. Where you come from and what your religion is are not important to us at all.
I wonder who Iran is really a threat to. Is it logical to say someone’s guilty because we THINK / PREDICT that he’s going to do something wrong? And they repeat the same “nuclear weapons” tosh over and over and brainwash people! Correction! It’s “nuclear energy”. Besides, how many “nuclear weapons” do they have themselves? Hundreds of thousands? Has Iran ever attacked any countries? No. Has it developed any nukes? No! That’s what nuclear agency says. Only Iran’s opponents are pulling Iran’s leg and what they say is of no credit. It’s just based on political conflicts. What we’re doing is legal. What they ask us to do (ignoring our international rights) is illegal. Iran is a peaceful country. Why? It’s the regional super-power and if she wanted, she could easily invade the countries in our neibourhood just like what Saddam did to our country, but as you see Iran has peaceful relations with all of them.
Some people say he said: Israel should be wiped off the map! (I wish he could just shut up!)But have they told you the rest of his speech and that why he’s said this at all? You know that it’s a passive sentence. He’s never said that IRAN wants to wipe Israel off the map! He wasn’t talking about destroying Israel at all. He was talking about relocating Israel, so that they could live seperate from Palestinians and they could both live in peace. They’ve only told you this phrase not the whole thing and it’s mistranslated intentionally. Iran has always defended itself, but it’s not an offensive country.

Some say he’s said: “The Holocaust is a myth!” Again, this is a single phrase taken from a long speech and there are totally logical reasons for saying so. If 6,000,000 Jews were killed, that’s terrible, but 300,000 Shiite Moslems killed by Saddam aren’t important at all? Over 650,000 Iraqi people are killed and that’s not important?! When Fox News simply says that America and Israel are capable of destroying and killing Iran’s population of 69,000,000 within two weeks, it’s OK and no one says they’re threatening other countries to nuke them (I saw this with my own eyes on the Fox News website) Millions of people killed in Afghanistan, Hiroshima & Nagasaki and the Vietnam war are not considered human beings at all! Now I think you’d get the point why he’s IRONICALLY said it’s a myth. Moreover, don’t you believe in freedom of speech/mind? I’d judge people by their ACTIONS rather than by what they say / their religion / race / culture and the colour of their skin!

Obviously, some countries are using Iran as a scapegoat to put the blame (for their own faults) on. And what country is better than Iran to be a scapegoat? The whole world believes that Iran isn’t a peaceful country.
This part is just for Americans who would still argue over unimportant things: Those of you who say why Iran says “Death to America”:
1. ‘America’ to us means the U.S govt, not the people. How do you expect Iranians to mean “American people” when our media admires Americans for marching and holding up “no war” placards?!
2. The new generation don’t say such things and if some of them occasionally march in the streets that’s because some of the stupid guys enjoy making noise and they mainly go out there to meet their girlfriends/boyfriends! Strange. Isn’t it?
3. Such mottos are not just said in Iran and as you know whatever you hear is a response to the U.S govt’s terrible actions which has made life for many people hell (You wouldn’t deny that attacking countries is a mistake. right?)
4. The U.S gov’t helped Saddam attack Iran and I hope you know which country gave Iraq biological weapons which killed lots of Iranians.
5. America hit an Iranian airplane over the Persian Gulf and killed 200 passengers for no reason.
6. America places sanctions on Iran, promotes a false image of Iran and Iranians, scares tourists away, and harms our economy, development and credit. To what purpose?

When you call Ahmadinejad a nutcase for what he’s said, what do you call Bush for his actions? I mean it’s a good idea to consider what Bush is doing to the world with his wrong decisions and lies. Bush is powerful and influencial, but Ahmadinejad is nothing.He’s even failed to control the inflation.
To those who are upset with American hostages taken for 444 days:
1. Firstly, It’s related to so many years ago and it’s almost a part of history, and don’t forget that when there’s a revolution, there’d be chaos and people may do things that they should not, moreover they’re all alive and healthy. Aren’t they?
2.The U.S has arrested Iranian diplomats in Iraq and had tortured the one who was freed. Poor British sailors were detained by the English gov’t just for saying that they were treated well in Iran and that Iranians were logical people (They said these when they were on England’s soil!) They were PREVENTED from releasing their memoirs by England! Now you decide who has the right to be upset with whom. How do you believe in their lies about politics when they hide both the most and the least important things from you considering the fact that politics is the world of lies in its nature?!!! Considering all this, you’d probably be able to GUESS what percentage of what they tell you about the Mid-East, Islam, Moslems and other things is true!!! lol Some answerers still confuse Iraq and Iran after reading all this! You are in Iraq not in Iran! They’re separate countries!
Isn’t it better for both countries to forget past conflicts and to have peaceful relations? Our two gov’ts are like 10 year old children playing a stupid, harsh, rhetorical game. (We **** them both!) They don’t care about hurting people’s feelings. They just try to make our two peoples enemies to achieve their own goals. We, as the people of these countries, MUST NOT allow these conflics into our hearts. You know something? All govt’s are hateful. I just said the above things because it sounds unfair when some Americans talk about the taking of the 444 hostages while I keep silence. Now, what do you think? I can’t wait to see both nations in peace. It’d be marvelous! They’ve started to have diplomatic talks! That’s great!
A lovely American told me: “Having had the wonderful opportunity to visit your country enabled me to see for myself how wonderful the Iranian people are and to learn about your history, your culture, your cuisine, music, films, dance, sacred sites, your medical accomplishments…all your beauty. I am so sorry my country’s government seems to delight in trying to bully Iran. Worst of all are the lies told. I know enough about your country to be able to discern when the propaganda machine here is operating. I just wish more Americans traveled and could see for themselves what I have seen. By the way, I traveled to Iran under the auspices of The Friendship Force, an organization started by Pres. Carter to promote peace through one-on-one friendship, a mission I take seriously. Thank you for your wonderful essay on Iran.”
BTW, make sure you visit the links I’ve put up for you.They’re all from trusted websites. There are some really nice stuff there! Absoulutely beautiful pictures (look at cities and nature) and “Americanised” music! lol
Thanks for your time
To Jester: Madam, I’m right now in Iran behind my PC! When I say I’ve spent my life in Iran I’m emphsising that I know Iran much more than you!
To scubasmart: Firstly, Iranians are not so religious people.Secondly everyone has the right to practice whatever religion they want.20′000 Jews and lots of Christians live here equally with us.The problem here is that some people are REALLY rich and no one askes them where the hell they have brought that much money! Such people travel to western countries and ship Ferrari cars to Iran that their totall pice in Iran is equal with 6 villas!
To Jester: I’m Turkish (non-Persian) and there’s no discrimination except that some stupid Persians (Mainly Tehranians) make fun of Turkish people because Turkish people behave morally and are a little different from stupid Persians.30% of Iranians are Turkish.There’s no Bahai over here, I’ve just heard that it was a fake religion invented by some stupid Iranians and practicers of it, emigrated to foriegn countries.Can you answer this? “Isn’t there any discrimination against black (negro) people in your country? There is and there’s always been.They were beaten and were not allowed to use some services.That is to say each country has its own problems.Instead of focusing to find flaws in other countries, focus on your own country just like us.Everyone should try to clean their own closet before worrying about others’ closet! We do it, you do the same! : )

Jodie

Nov 23
Is This Real World Or Exercise? asked:


Virginia Deane Abernethy, Ph.D., anthropologist, author, Population Politics
Ed Asner, actor, activist
Marshall Auerback, international portfolio strategist for David W. Tice & Associates, Inc.
Catherine Austin Fitts, Asst. Secretary of Housing in the first Bush administration
Keidi Obi Awadu, aka The Conscious Rasta, talk show host, LIBRadio
Michael Badnarik, Libertarian candidate for President
Byron Belitsos, publisher, Origin Press, author Planetary Democracy
Philip J. Berg, Esquire, former deputy attorney general, Pennsylvania
Medea Benjamin, activist, author, co-founder, Global Exchange and Code Pink
Dennis Bernstein, investigative reporter, radio host of KPFA’s Flashpoints
Steve Bhaerman aka Swami Beyondananda, author, political comedian
Brad Blanton, Ph.D., psychotherapist, author, Radical Honesty
Saniel Bonder, spiritual teacher and author, Great Relief
Dr. Robert Bowman, USAF Lt. Col. (Rtd.), founder, Institute for Space and Security Studies
John Buchanan, author, candidate for the Republican Party Presidential nomination, 2004
Gray Brechin, Ph.D., author, environmental historian, professor, UC Berkeley
Fred Burks, presidential interpreter for Bush, Clinton, Cheney, and Gore
Norma Carr-Rufino, Ph.D., author, professor of management, San Francisco State University
Angana Chatterji, Ph.D., scholar-activist and professor of anthropology
Paul Cienfuegos, co-founder, Democracy Unlimited of Humboldt County
David Cobb, attorney, national presidential candidate, US Green Party
John Cobb, Ph.D., theologian, co-author, For the Common Good
Ernest Callenbach, founder/editor, Film Quarterly, author, Ecotopia
Kevin Danaher, Ph.D., author, speaker, co-founder, Global Exchange
Stephen Dinan, author, Radical Spirit
Ronnie Dugger, journalist/author, co-founder, Alliance for Democracy
Daniel Ellsberg, author, Secrets: A Memoir of Vietnam and the Pentagon Papers
Jodie Evans, co-founder, Code Pink
Richard Falk, Professor Emeritus of International Law, Princeton University
Michael Franti, musician, filmmaker, human rights worker
Janeane Garofalo, actress, comedienne, talk show host, Air America Radio
Jim Garrison, Ph.D., president, State of the World Forum, author, America as Empire
Bruce Gagnon, Chair, Global Network Against Weapons & Nuclear Power in Space
Ric Giardina, author, consultant, speaker, former Director of Trademarks and Brands for Intel
John Gray, Ph.D., #1 bestselling author, Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus
Stan Goff, 25-year Army Special Ops veteran, author, Full Spectrum Disorder
Melvin Goodman, senior fellow, Center for International Policy, author, former Senior Analyst, CIA, professor, National War College
Morton Goulder, Deputy Secretary for Intelligence and Warning under Nixon, Ford, and Carter
David Ray Griffin, Ph.D., theologian, author, New Pearl Harbor
Doris “Granny D” Haddock, campaign finance crusader, NH Democratic candidate for Senate
Thom Hartmann, radio host; author, Unequal Protection
Richie Havens, singer, songwriter, performer, artist
Paul Hawken, bestselling author, environmentalist, entrepreneur, founder of Smith & Hawken
Randy Hayes, founder, Rainforest Action Network, US National Director, Direction Conservation
Richard Heinberg, author, The Party’s Over, core faculty, New College of California
Van Jones, executive director, Ella Baker Center for Human Rights
Rob Kall, editor, OpEdNews.com, president, Futurehealth, Inc.
Georgia Kelly, executive director, Praxis Peace Institute
Sean Kelly, Ph.D., author, professor of philosophy and religion, CA Institute of Integral Studies
John Joseph Kennedy, Democratic Write-in Presidential Candidate for 2004
Mimi Kennedy, actress, Dharma and Greg, progressive activist
Faiz Khan, M.D., Triage Emergency Physician on 9/11, Assistant Imam
David Korten, author, When Corporations Rule the World
Frances Moore Lapp?, author, Diet for a Small Planet; founder, Small Planet Institute
Scott M. Legere, 25 year radio broadcaster as Scott Ledger, Tampa FL
Rabbi Michael Lerner, editor, TIKKUN Magazine, author, Healing Israel/Palestine
Michael Levine, bestselling author of Deep Cover, journalist, 25-year veteran of the DEA
Joanna Macy, Ph.D., eco-philosopher, author
Enver Masud, founder, The Wisdom Fund, author, The Truth About Islam
John McCarthy, former Special Forces Captain, president, Veterans Equal Rights Protection Advocacy
Ray McGovern, former CIA analyst, co-founder, Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity
Cynthia McKinney, five-term Congresswoman from Georgia
Ralph Metzner, Ph.D., author, professor, co-founder, Green Earth Foundation
Mark Crispin Miller, media critic, author, professor, New York University
Joseph W. Montaperto, New York City Fire Department
Leuren Moret, geoscientist, radiation specialist, environmental commissioner
Ralph Nader, Independent candidate for President
Craig Neal, author, co-founder, The Heartland Institute, former publisher, Utne Reader
Jeff Norman, executive director, Tour of Duty
Jenna Orkin, Esquire, World Trade Center Environmental Organization
Kelly Patricia O’Meara, investigative journalist, public relations
Michael Parenti, Ph.D., author, Superpatriotism and The Terrorism Trap
Edward L. Peck, former US Ambassador and Chief of Mission to Iraq, former Deputy Director to the White House Task Force on Terrorism
Peter Phillips, Ph.D., professor, Sonoma State University, director, Project Censored
Henri Poole, Internet pioneer, board member, Free Software Foundation
Robert Rabbin, author, speaker, creator of TruthForPresident.org
Paul H. Ray, Ph.D., sociologist, author, The Cultural Creatives
John Renesch, business futurist, author, Getting to the Better Future
John Rensenbrink, professor emeritus, Bowdoin College, co-founder, US Green Party
John Robbins, author, founder, EarthSave International
William Rodriguez, 9/11 rescue effort hero, founder, Hispanic Victims Group
Neal Rogin, Emmy-award winning writer, performer, social observer
Allen Roland, Ph.D., psychotherapist, published author and peace activist
Rosemary Radford Ruether, professor of feminist theology, Graduate Theological Union
Michael Ruppert, publisher/editor, From The Wilderness, author, Crossing the Rubicon
Chris Sanders, founder, Sanders Research Associates
Karl W. B. Schwarz, President, CEO, Patmos Nanotechnologies, LLC
Peter Dale Scott, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus, author, Drugs, Oil, and War
Firefighter Kevin Shea, FDNY Hazmat Operations
Michelle Shocked, singer/songwriter, activist
Indira Singh, risk management and computer systems consultant
J. Michael Springmann, attorney, former Foreign Service Officer, US Department of State
Douglas Sturm, Ph.D., university professor emeritus, Bucknell University
Marjorie Hewit Suchocki, Ph.D., theologian, author
Chuck Turner, Boston City Council
James W. Walter Jr., venture investor, philanthropist, founder of Walden Three
Dan Whaley, E-commerce pioneer, founder of GetThere.com, acquired for $750M
Burns H. Weston, J.S.D., Professor of Law Emeritus, Director, Center for Human Rights, U-Iowa
Howard Zinn, professor, historian, author, A People’s History of the United States
Family Members

Joanne Barbara, wife of FDNY Asst. Chief of Dept. Gerard Barbara
Gayle Barker, sister of William A. Karnes, WTC
Michele Bergsohn, wife of Alvin Bergsohn, Cantor Fitzgerald
Derrill Bodley, father of Deora Bodley, passenger on Flight 93
Kathryn C. Bowden, sister of Thomas H. Bowden, Jr. WTC1, 104th floor
Janet Calia, wife of Dominick Calia, Cantor Fitzgerald, WTC1
Maggie Cashman, wife of William Joseph Cashman, United Flight 93
Lynne Castrianno Galante, sister of Leonard Castrianno, 1WTC, 105th floor
Elza Chapa-McGowan, daughter of Rosemary Chapa, Pentagon
Bruce De Cell, father-in-law of Mark Petrocelli North Tower, 92nd floor
Ralph D’Esposito, father of Michael D’Esposito, WTC, 96th floor
Loisanne Diehl, Surviving Spouse, Michael D. Diehl, WTC2, 90th floor
Adina D. Eisenberg, sister of Eric Eisenberg, WTC
Jonathan M. Fisher, son of Dr. Gerald Paul “Geep” Fisher, Pentagon
Michael J. Fox, brother of Jeffrey L. Fox, Tower 2, 89th floor
Laurel A. Gay, sister of Peter A. Gay, AA Flight 11
Irene Golinsky, wife of Col. Ronald F. Golinski USA RET, Pentagon
Lori, Jerry, and Beatrice Guadagno, sister and parents of Richard Guadagno, Flight 93
Kristen Hall, daughter of fallen firefighter Thomas Kuveikis 9/11
Kurt D. Horning, father of Matthew D. Horning, WTC Tower One, 95th floor
Jennifer W. Hunt, wife of William C. Hunt, Euro Brokers
John Keating, son of Barbara Keating, passenger on AA Flight 11
L. Russell Keene II, father of Russ Keene III, WTC2, 89th floor, KBW
Peter Kousoulis, sister died in WTC
Paul & Barbara Kirwin, parents of Glenn Davis Kirwin, Cantor Fitzgerald 105th floor
Barbara Krukowski-Rastelli, mother of William E. Krukowski, NYC firefighter
Laura and Ira Lassman, parents of Nicholas C. Lassman, died in WTC, Tower One
Johnny Lee, husband of Lorraine Greene
Alicia LeGuillow, mother of Nestor A. Cintron III
Francine Levine, sister of Adam K. Ruhalter, who died on 9/11
Bob McIlvaine, father of Robert McIlvaine, WTC, Merrill Lynch
Mary McWilliams, mother of FF Martin E. McWilliams- Engine 22
Daryl J. Meehan, brother of Colleen Ann Barkow, WTC 1, 105th floor
Elvira P. Murphy, wife of Patrick Murphy, WTC 1
Natalee Pecorelli, sister of Thomas Pecorelli of Flight 11
James L Perry, M.D and Patricia J. Perry, parents of John W. Perry, Esq., NYPD Officer 9/11
David Potorti, brother of James Potorti, North Tower, WTC, Marsh & McLennan
Terry Kay Rockefeller, sister of Laura Rockefeller, North Tower, WTC
Grissel Rodriguez-Valentin, wife of Benito Valentin, WTC1, 94th floor
Alissa Rosenberg-Torres, widow of Luis Eduardo Torres, post-9/11 mother, writer
Elaine Saber, mother of Scott Saber
Julie Scarpitta, mother of Michelle Scarpitta, WTC Building 2, 84th floor
Paula Shapiro, mother of Eric Eisenberg, WTC2
Elizabeth Turner, wife of Simon Turner, lost on 11th September 2001
Adele Welty, mother of Firefighter Timothy Welty, FDNY, Squad 288
Joan W. Winton, mother of David Winton, WTC, South Tower, 89th floor
David Yancey, husband of Vicki Yancey, American Airlines Flight 77
Nissa Youngren, daughter of Robert G. LeBlanc, flight 175
Late Signatories (starting toward 200…)

Rita M. Haley, President, National Organization for Women, New York Chapter
Immortal Technique, Harlem-based hip-hop artist with Viper Records, Revolutionary I&II
Bob Kirkconnell, served in the U.S. Air Force 27 years, reaching the rank of Master Sergeant
Dennis Kyne, former Army air medic, 18th Airborne Corps during Gulf War I, musician, author, “Support the Truth”
Paul Landis, author, “Stop Bush Now!”
Eric H. May, former Army military intelligence officer and media essayist
Charles Shaw, Editor, Newtopia Magazine, National Peace Action Coordinator, National Green Party
Peter Erlinder, professor, William Mitchell College of Law, past-President National Lawyers Guild
Daniel Robert Rezac, 2004 Vice-Presidential Write-In Candidate, former Aviator & Armor Officer, Army National Guard, B.S.B.A.
Joel Horwitz, lost beloved cousin in WTC 1
Jessica Murrow, lost husband Stephen Adams, Beverage Manager, Windows on the World, WTC 1
Ellen Mariani, lost husband Neil on Flight 175
Jean Hunt, disabled survivor of Pentagon attack
Ralph & Brigitte Sabbag, lost son Jason in WTC 2
FEEL FREE TO RESEARCH ANY NAME ON THE LIST I JUST POSTED!!!

Lois

Nov 23
David asked:


Special thanks to my American friend who helped me proofread my writing.It’s taken me almost a year to find some pieces of this information.
I believe that if you spend 5-10 minutes reading this essay, you will be better informed than if you listen to a lifetime’s worth of Major Media news. Please don’t assume that I’m a very old person. I’m just 18, and a university student studying English who just cannot sit back and let the lies fly unchallenged.
This article has two parts:
1. Cultural and general info
2. Political info.
If you wanna know the rest of of the story, read it from top to bottom.
Note:.I’ve explained all the things that you ALWAYS talk about, so read it all plz! Specially the political part! Any answers before reading the whole thing will prove to be wrong.
****
Hi. I’m an Iranian who has spent his life in Iran.When I chat with people from other countries, I am shocked to see how totally wrong their ideas are about Iran. I wrote this article in an attempt to help correct those ideas.
The first thing America, and the West in general, accuses our government of is that we don’t allow personal freedoms. Actually, Iranians disobey laws they don’t like as much as anyone. Many strict rules in other countries don’t even exist in Iran. Also, you should understand that what may seem so normal to you, may be a nightmare for us and vise versa. That’s why you don’t understand a few of Iran’s laws.In Iran every single house has a sattelite dish. Sattelite television has a serious influence on our people, and Iranians wear very fashionable clothing. Maybe it is a kind of imitation, but we still have our own unique Iranian style. A visitor might wonder if this is a country or a fantasy pageant of beauty queens! Almost half of women wear their hair out, and make-up and fashionable clothing are everywhere. Iran is one of the super-consumers of cosmetics. You would be surprised to see the difference between what you imagine and what Iran really is!
In my view, everything is great, if you ignore unemployment, inflation and air pollution. But I guess these are common problems around the world today, aren’t they? Also, you can’t compare Iran today with the Iran you remember. The Shah and the Iatollah Khomini are both some 30 years in the past!Nearly 65-70% of Iran’s population is a new generation without the biases of the past (The youth), and we’ve transformed everything.

Some people think women don’t have any rights in Iran. But in my view, women are overrunning the place. But that’s not a bad thing. They’re very respectful, and they’ve been the winners in so many cases: They get into the best universities because they’re very smart. And they get the best jobs because they can do so many of them better than men. (That’s why men can hardly find any good jobs because most jobs are already occupied by women!) They’ve got Islamic rights, and that has in some cases made it difficult for men to marry them, because husbands are supposed to buy them expensive things and treat them very well, otherwise women have the right to ask a great amount of money (called Mehr) according to the law, which most husbands cannot afford, so they (men) will be imprisoned.The only thing that women are not allowed to do in Iran is getting into public football stadiums and that’s because such places are full of cheeky guys. They do anything from taking part in rallies to singing pop songs.Anything! I’ve put a sample here. I feel foolish for sitting here explaining ordinary things to you.

Another funny thing: Your footage about stoning the women who have committed adultery. Have you ever asked yourselves how many years ago that footage related to? Are they balck and white or colourful? But in one case (related to many years ago) something terrible had happened which was just beyond the borders of adultery.We think being punished for corruption is good, as it deters people from doing that and the society will be far healthier than the countries in which commiting such things is considered to be normal! Iranians expect their gov’t not to be soft on criminals.And for your information, most of those footages are from Afghanistan which was ruled by freaks (Taliban). When you think of such things, try to think of the racism in your country too. There’s no perfect country!
I find it difficult to make you understand that Iran, Iraq and Afghanistan are ——— SEPERATE COUNTRIES! ——— Even within Iran, 60% of us are Persian and 30% are Turkish! I find it even more difficult to make you understand that Iran is a normal country like any other in the world. The point is, there’s nothing mysterious about us! The Media are very good at creating really scary stuff: “IRAN BEHIND THE CLOSED DOORS!!!” “IRAN UNDERCOVER!!!” Some of that garbage would be enough to scare ME away! But in truth, Iranians are far more open-minded than you have been led to believe.
There are lots of Iranians today who are geniuses and scientists, and are all under age 25. You don’t hear about their discoveries and inventions on TV. For instance a 17 year old boy has invented 72 amazing inventions and there are many KIDS like that. Iranian students and sportsmen win gold and silver medals in different competitions in the world all the time, in robotics, biology, maths, physics, sports, anything! Why don’t the Media talk about them? Please don’t summarize our nation and culture with the single word “nuclear”. Although we’re proud of this achievement because we believe that having nuclear energy means that a country is developed.Did you know that the countries having the highest number of scientists in the world are in this order? 1-India 2-Korea 3-Iran

A few months ago Iran uncovered the most effective anti-H.I.V medicine and it was signing treaties with other countries to export it. I searched for news of that on the internet, but there was no single sign of it. What did I find instead? “President Bush CLAIMS that bomb parts are imported from Iran into Iraq!” (The same old story!) The Media are unjust. They put CLAIMS on the headlines, but they never talk about facts!
Some interesting facts:
Iran is a pioneer in medicine and genetics, and Iranian surgeons have found lots of new methods for treating spinal defects, and many diseases (mainly the treatment for different types of cancer) and the best brain and heart surgeons are Iranian. The head of the Mars Mission in NASA is Iranian. One of the best designers of sports cars working in Germany is Iranian. Some of the best 3D animators are Iranian. Iran is one of the best countries in counter-engineering. Holds the second place in building dams and in loads of other things! It’s one of the top countries in bio-technology and nano-technology. The 4th highest tower in the world (Milad tower) is in Tehran (visit it at this link from wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Milad.jpg ). 51 of the top 100 universities in the Mid-East are in Iran, and they’re among the top universities of the world as well. The champion weight-lifter, a woman, and a song by one of the pop singers who/which won the nobel peace prize are Iranians. Lots of Iranians win nobel prizes specially in the field of medicine. Iranian girls are famous for being terrific. We have Persian rugs and Persian literature, many Persian poets and scientists that are very famous. Iranian culture is now westernized and only a little of the ancient culture has survived. According to statistics Tehran is the cheapest capital city in the world (for foriegners of course, not for us! Our rate is different: one Dollar =about 950 Tomans!) There are many other things. How many pages would you need to describe a country? Iran is an independant country unlike its neighbours. It has nearly all the industries and technologies found in ‘developed’ countries. The list is endless.

News: “Iranian scientists managed to make human teeth grow after you’ve lost them using basic cells” I’m gonna introduce Iran’s international news website to you (Press TV) which was established recently. It’s fully in English. You’ll find what they’re hiding from you! In the “Sic / Tech” section you’ll always see Iran’s discoveries. The address is: http://www.presstv.ir/news.aspx… Press TV news: Iranian scientists have registered more than 4800 inventions during the last Iranian calendar year of 1385 (April 21 2006-April 20, 2007). 4800 inventions in just one year!

Some charactristics of Iranians would be: intelligent, ambitious, a bit idealistic, well-dressed, formal, well-educated, warm and friendly, hospitable, and not so religious, (the majority of the young generation, that is, which leaves us unfortunately vulnerable to pseudoIslamic lies). We are also proud, greedy, hard-working (for ourselves), not punctual, impatient, and lazy at doing our duty well.

Some people think Iran is a desert! Well, it is, if you consider California, New Mexico, Utah, Arkansas, and Alabama a desert. We share the same latitude. Iran is a modern country with breathtakingly beautiful nature and lots of historic places to visit. Please take a look at the following links to see if Iran looks like what you think or not! This is a photo of Tehran (Awesome, Isn’t it?): http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/79/Tehran-2-1600.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tehran

If you like you can visit these too, hundreds of pretty photos from the cities, nature and historic places: (It’s like a free tour!)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Hills_south_west_of_Sanandaj_near_the_village_of_Kilaneh.jpg
http://www.pbase.com/k_amj/throughout_iran&page=all
http://www.pbase.com/k_amj/throughout_iran&page=2
http://www.pbase.com/k_amj/throughout_iran&page=3
http://www.bigsoccer.com:80/forum/showthread.php?t=199709&page=4
http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=199709&page=3
http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=199709&page=13
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran

Some people think music is forbidden in Iran. Did you know that Iranian music was chosen as the best pop in France in 2005? I guess not. All Iranian songs are current pop / DJ music. I send them to my American and Canadian chat friends and they all say they’re some of the best songs they’ve ever heard. What makes Iranian music killer, is a lot of Trance drums, incredible melody and lyrics!

Here’s a sample of the latest hits from two official Iranian music websites. (So catchy, Right?)You can just right click on the links below and choose “Save Target As” to download them. The translation of the songs is here: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=ArJe6s_u1UbLFRAAiKDGBZLsy6IX?qid=20070514105433AAysEsQ

1.(You know this: 2007) http://download.bia2music.com/Music/Irani/Top33/128/Neorin%20-%20To%20Ino%20Miduni.mp3
2.(Hold my hand: 2007) http://www.sarzaminmp3.com/Sarzaminmusic/Persian/128KB/Mansour%20-%20Beautiful/09_%20Dastamo%20Begir.mp3
3.(The wetness of your eyes: 2006) http://download.bia2music.com/Music/Irani/Top33/128/Ehsan%20Gheibi%20-%20Khisie%20Cheshmat.mp3
4.(I just want you: 2003) http://download.bia2music.com/Music/Irani/Mansour/Crazy/Delam%20Faghat%20Toro%20Mikhaad(www.Bia2Music.com).MP3
5.(The rain: 2007) http://download.bia2music.com/Music/Irani/Siavash%20Ghomayshi/Sunset%20to%20Sunrise/64/Siavash%20Ghomayshi%20-%20Sunset%20to%20Sunrise%20-%2005%20Baroon%20(www.Bia2Music.com).wma
6.(The window: 2005) http://www.sarzamin.org/Sarzaminmusic/Persian/128KB/Siavash%20Ghomayshi/03_%20Panjereh.mp3
7.(Keep me in your memory: 2005) http://www.sarzamin.org/Sarzaminmusic/Persian/128KB/Siavash%20Ghomayshi/07_%20Yaade%20Man%20Baash.mp3
8.(Farangis “A female name” 2007) http://download.bia2music.com/Music/Irani/Siavash%20Ghomayshi/Sunset%20to%20Sunrise/64/Siavash%20Ghomayshi%20-%20Sunset%20to%20Sunrise%20-%2001%20Farangis%20(www.Bia2Music.com).wma
9.(The distance: 2007) http://www.sarzaminsong.com/Sarzaminmusic/Persian/128KB/Siavash%20Ghomayshi%20-%20Sunset%20to%20Sunrise/03_%20Faseleh.mp3
10.(Sunrise: 2007) http://www.sarzaminsong.com/Sarzaminmusic/Persian/128KB/Siavash%20Ghomayshi%20-%20Sunset%20to%20Sunrise/04_%20Tolou.mp3
11.(Stop world:2006) http://www.sarzaminmusic.com/Sarzaminmusic/Persian/128KB/Reza%20Sadeghi%20-%20Vaysa%20Donya/01_%20Vaysa%20Donya.mp3
12.(You can’t: 2007) http://www.sarzaminmp3.com/Sarzaminmusic/Persian/128KB/Mansour%20-%20Beautiful/06_%20Nemitooni.mp3
13.(The wind’s kiss: 2005) http://www.sarzamin.org/Sarzaminmusic/Persian/128KB/Siavash%20Ghomayshi/01_%20Boosaye%20Baad.mp3
14.(Reveal your visage: 2004) http://www.sarzamin.org/Sarzaminmusic/Persian/128KB/Mohammad%20Esfahani/04_%20Talab.mp3
15.(What would have happened if : 2007) http://www.sarzaminmp3.com/Sarzaminmusic/Persian/128KB/Navid%20&%20Omid%20-%20Faryad/01_%20Chi%20Mishod.mp3

And so on and on!

It’s now 2007 and most people still think we are uneducated people living in deserts, riding camels and carrying around guns! See how the media are fooling people?
Let’s clarify some political issues as well: Some of the Americans I chatted with said in the U.S it’s said that president Ahmadinejad hates the U.S and Israel and wants to nuke them!! The Media are good at putting lying comments out there. It’s easy to show a video or an image of our president or leader on the TV screen or on the internet and say he says this, he says that…..I really don’t get the point why our politicians defame themselves by talking about things that have got nothing to do with us. For example does verbal defence of Palestinians cause them to have a better life? The thing is that they occasionally make some statements that the media would misuse it against Iran. For example they pick up some specific phrases of a long speech (without refering to the main points and reasons for that speech) and put so many bad comments on that. No sane person would take such nonsense at face value.

First of all, Iranians don’t **** anyone. If our government complains about some injustice going on in the world, it’s not bad, is it? (Although what we want from them is to shut up and not get us into trouble by talking about things that are none of our concern) We **** neither Jews nor Americans. I love Americans, otherwise why would I talk to them?! How would our guys dream of America, want to be like them as much as possible, and **** them at the same time?! I’ve got to say that for Iran, Israel is not equal with Jews! Israel is a gov’t. Jews are faithful people! A few of them live here in our neighbourhood and they live just like the rest of Iranians. No difference. And two of Iran’s parliment members are Jews. Who says we want to force others to convert to Islam? Have you ever found a Muslim knocking at your door asking you to do so? It’s so funny the way you imagine things and make yourselves believe in your own immaginations!
Christians and Jews are both God-believers and respectful to us. I wonder why the media like putting words in our mouth and raising hatred. In Iran, religion is one of the least important factors. Where you come from and what your religion is are not important to us at all. On the contrary, meeting different people would be very interesting for us!

I wonder who Iran is really a threat to. Is it logical to say someone’s guilty because we THINK / PREDICT that he’s going to do something wrong? And they repeat the same “nuclear weapons” tosh over and over and brainwash people! News headlines: “We won’t allow Iran to gain nuclear weapons”!!! Correction! It’s “nuclear energy”. Besides, how many “nuclear weapons” do they have themselves? Hundreds of thousands? Has Iran ever attacked any countries? No. Has it developed any nukes? No! That’s what nuclear agency says. Only Iran’s opponents are pulling Iran’s leg and what they say is of no credit. It’s just based on political conflicts. What we’re doing is legal. What they ask us to do (ignoring our international rights) is illegal. Iran is a peaceful country. Why? It’s the regional super-power and if she wanted, she could easily invade the countries in our neibourhood just like what Saddam did to our country, but as you see Iran has peaceful relations with all of them. It can set an example to some countries that just follow their interests (oil!). Interesting! the countries accusing Iran of different things have been, and are still accused of the same things!!! How logical!

Some people say he said: Israel should be wiped off the map! But have they told you the rest of his speech and that why he’s said this at all? You know that it’s a passive sentence. He’s never said that IRAN wants to wipe Israel off the map! He wasn’t talking about destroying Israel. He was talking about relocating Israel, so that they could live seperate from Palestinians and they could both live in peace. They’ve only told you this phrase not the whole thing and it’s mistranslated intentionally. Iran has always defended itself, but it’s not an offensive country.

Some say he’s said: “The Holocaust is a myth!” Again, this is a single phrase taken from a long speech and there are totally logical reasons for saying so. If 6,000,000 Jews were killed, that’s terrible, but 300,000 Shiite Moslems killed by Saddam aren’t important at all? Over 650,000 Iraqi people are killed and that’s not important?! When Fox News simply says that America and Israel are capable of destroying and killing Iran’s population of 69,000,000 within two weeks, it’s OK and no one says they’re threatening other countries to nuke them (I saw this with my own eyes on the Fox News website) Millions of people killed in Afghanistan, Hiroshima & Nagasaki and the Vietnam war are not considered human beings at all! Now I think you’d get the point why he’s IRONICALLY said it’s a myth. Moreover, don’t you believe in freedom of speech/mind? I’d judge people by their ACTIONS rather than by what they say / their religion / race / culture and the colour of their skin!

Obviously, some countries are using Iran as a scapegoat to put the blame (for their own faults) on. And what country is better than Iran to be a scapegoat? The whole world believes that Iran isn’t a peaceful country. I know Americans don’t like this either, but what can they do? They’re not responsible for controlling what the Media says. This part is just for Americans who would still argue over unimportant things: Those of you who say why Iran says “Death to America”:
1. ‘America’ to us means the U.S govt, not the people. How do you expect Iranians to mean “American people” when our media admires Americans for marching and holding up “no war” placards?!
2. The new generation don’t say such things and if some of them occasionally march in the streets that’s because some of the stupid guys enjoy making noise and they mainly go out there to meet their girlfriends/boyfriends! Strange. Isn’t it?
3. Such mottos are not just said in Iran and as you know whatever you hear is a response to the U.S govt’s terrible actions which has made life for many people hell (You wouldn’t deny that attacking countries is a mistake. right?)
5. The U.S gov’t helped Saddam attack Iran and I hope you know which country gave Iraq biological weapons which killed lots of Iranians.
6. America hit an Iranian airplane over the Persian Gulf and killed 200 passengers for no reason.
7. America places sanctions on Iran, promotes a false image of Iran and Iranians, scares tourists away, and harms our economy, development and credit. To what purpose?

When you call Ahmadinejad a nutcase for what he’s said, what do you call Bush for his actions? I mean it’s a good idea to consider what Bush is doing to the world with his wrong decisoins and lies. Bush is powerful and influencial, but Ahmadinejad is nothing.
To those who are upset with American hostages taken for 444 days:
1. Firstly, It’s related to so many years ago and it’s almost a part of history, and don’t forget that when there’s a revolution, there’d be chaos and people may do things that they should not, moreover they’re all alive and healthy. Aren’t they?
2.The U.S has arrested Iranian diplomats in Iraq and had tortured the one who was freed. Poor British sailors were detained by the English gov’t just for saying that they were treated well in Iran and that Iranians were logical people (They said these when they were on England’s soil!) They were PREVENTED from releasing their memoirs by England! Now you decide who has the right to be upset with whom. How do you believe in their lies about politics when they hide both the most and the least important things from you considering the fact that politics is the world of lies in its nature?!!! Considering all this, you’d probably be able to GUESS what percentage of what they tell you about the Mid-East, Islam, Moslems and other things is true!!! lol

Isn’t it better for both countries to forget past conflicts and to have peaceful relations? Our two gov’ts are like 10 year old children playing a stupid, harsh, rhetorical game. They don’t care about hurting people’s feelings. They just try to make our two peoples enemies to achieve their own goals. We, as the people of these countries, MUST NOT allow these conflics into our hearts. You know something? All govt’s are hateful. I just said the above things because it sounds unfair when some Americans talk about the taking of the 444 hostages while I keep silence. I hope you agree on this one! Now, what do you think? I can’t wait to see both nations in peace. It’d be marvelous! They’ve started to have diplomatic talks! (Naughty children!) That’s great!
Thanks for your time
wow! Henry! what do you mean by I’m not in Iran?! I’m sorry I’m not telling jokes!
Oh I’ve misunderstood you! But we choose our president.Don’t we?Isn’t that democrocy?Although I belive that there should be laws that enables people to put a prez aside whenever they want if he’s incapable.Can you do so? If so, why is that Bush has been in office for 7-8 years? I don’t think of it as real democrocy.It’s more like a lable.

Joan

Sep 8
Aisha J asked:


The colonised mindset: The enemy within the African communities. SendMeYourNews
Jul 23, 2006 07:12 PDT

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—– Original Message —–
From: Cheryl Sanchez mailto:sanchez-@hotmail.com
To: sendmey-@earthlink.net
Sent: Sunday, July 23, 2006 8:48 AM

The colonised mindset: The enemy within the African communities.

The writer is going to put forward an argument that unless the
slave/colonial mindset is recognised as the active enemy, within the African
communities world-wide, attempts to understand the social and economic
problems will be useless. This mindset has been affecting the
individual/family /organisations/community and nations alike. From an early
age, adults have been referring to people as having “being colonial or slave
minded” in a most benign way. It as if having this mindset is like having a
flue. You treat the symptoms and eventually, it should go away, if the
immune system is acute and alert. In reality, it is the most virulent
psychological condition prevalent amongst African communities. The damage is
too enormous to consider in this essay. It has and is still destroying from
individuals to revolutions to states eg Patrice Lumumba-Congo, Thomas
Sankara-Bukina Faso, Walter Rodney-Guyana, Cabral, Malcolm X and Bantu S
Biko to name a few. When foreign money, the lust for power and the colonial
mindset met-destruction is sure to follow. Mineral rich DRC remains the most
tragic example today. Also Angola before the timely death of Savimbi, ”
Washington’s kept man”. Failure to confront and systematically deal with
this enemy is equivalent to failure to live and or thrive.

HISTORY

The disastrous effects of slavery and colonialism on the physical aspect of
the Africans in the Americas, the Caribbean and on mainland Africa have been
well documented by a host of European and African-American historians
including Basil D Davidson, Walter Rodney and Professor Jeffries. Few
writers have focused on the debilitating effects of the mindset on the
emotions and the psychology as Carter G Woodson( 1875-1950)was probably a
pioneer when he addressed this condition in his book – The Mis-Education of
the Negro. Later, Dr Na’im Akbar painstakingly outlined the psychological
effects in his book- Chains and Images of psychological slavery. Professor
Joy Leary recently attempted to put the psychological trauma concept in the
public domain during a recent lecture tour in London but, few Africans
wanted to even contemplate this concept as an explanation for some of their
behaviour towards each other.
It is of paramount importance to understand the disastrous reality of the
sate accurately described by Woodson and take action to treat it.
“When you control a man’s thinking you do not have to worry about his
actions. You do not have to tell him not to stand there or go yonder. He or
she will find his “proper place” and will stay in it. You do not need to
send him to the back door. He will go without being told. In fact, if there
is no back door, he will cut one for his special benefit. His education
makes it necessary”. Woodson showed a lot of foresight in his early
detection of the destructive side of the slave/colonial mindset. It is a
pity that, most Pastors and self-appointed “community” leaders do not
recommend this book to the many families who come through their doors. They
do not even bothered with a plan of action to treat this mindset.

Examples

This mindset certainly has a blindfolding effect eg African girls aspiring
to be like their “blonde Barbie dolls”. African men dream of marrying “a
Barbie doll” type of woman as soon as they arrive in Europe and or
UK/USA/Canada, so as not to have “too black” children. Michael Jackson’s
obsession with his costly body- altering project. It also causes US
Africans/Afrikans to focus on the body, material gadgets, short cuts. The
physical environment of the homes is often out of balance with the people
who inhabit the space. Their homes always have a blonde type Jesus on the
walls but no other famous Africans like Bantu Biko, Thomas Sankara etc. The
African educationalist and parents both on the mainland, Caribbean and the
Americas have avoided including or making the early and middle years
curricula more relevant to our developmental needs. This opportunity to
change our course of history is missed again and again.

At organisational level, colonise minded but the super qualified committee
members are often afraid to put decolonisation strategy and or
Pan-Africanism into the constitution of their organisation. This also
affects the type of name or identity they take on. Eg the NAACP-The National
Association for the Advancement of “Coloured” people. One would have thought
that aparthedist South-Africa racial policies would have caused this
organisation to re-think it’s chosen but, they not change from NAACP to
NAAAP. One could only guess when you start your organisation with white
liberals/ or jews in leadership roles, the de-colonisation agenda never
became a priority for this organisation. The OAS/AU is no different. It has
been in existence for over 50 years and still cannot bring itself to be
known as a Pan-Africanist organisation thus, it remains a toothless
nationalistic organisation.

Even when organisations put Pan-Africanism at the forefront eg PAC in
South-African, the de-colonisation process and project, which is necessary
for health and longevity of the organisation is not a priority either. Well
meaning or naïve activists continue to take a gamble by hoping against hope
that, a few committed and reliable people could suddenly change 400 years of
psychological damage facing the African worldwide. Things could have been
different if, the PAC was able to capture the interest and support of the
majority of the 24 million native South-Africans and their rands, to keep
the movement financially buoyant and turn it into a political powerful force
in South-African society.

The mindset nutures self-hating , self- destruction and confidence lowering
. This is evident in the practice of self- harming through bleaching the
skin, straigthening the hair and looking to Europe and European institutions
as saviours. It also makes killing each other almost acceptable. The eminent
African-American Bobby E Wright (1984) explained in his book “we have never
been trained to kill Europeans” but, we seem to be able kill each other
(black on black) violence instinctively. It also makes us have a warped and
unrealistic view of our reality. It may cause some, like Dr Kenneth B Clarke
to say,” race is irrelevant”. Even African-America Dr Alvin Poussant, who
used his qualification avoid addressing the current colonisation condition.
He used his stint in Ebony Magazine to deal with the a few middles class
anxieties. What a shame!

The Slave/Colonial mindset-the Trojan Horse

The Europeans understand how important the psychological warfare project is
to their continued hold on Africa, which is why they got their missionaries
to influences chiefs and other leaders in Africa, to send their young
children to their missionary schools. At these missionary/faith-based
schools, young children were indoctrinated on a grand scale. These young
children come from cultures where, almost all adults are feared and or
certainly not questioned, made the work of the European teachers easier.
This is why it should not alarm us or surprise us that, Mobutu, Savimbi and
their cronies behaved in the way they did to their own people and their own
resources. The mindset, the lust for power and foreign money-from the USA
mainly kept them destroying their respective countries, in the name of
capitalism and the other G6 powers.

The USA officials who paid Savimbi through Mobutu millions and millions of
American tax-payers money to literally destroy a revolution and 2 countries,
have never been brought to justice. If both of these colonial minded
individuals did not die, they would be still destroying the country and
squandering their resources for self-aggrandisement, with Washington’s
approval. The foreign powers/handlers knew millions of people were being
tortured, kill, maimed, punished and starved of food and other life
necessities, in their interest. Whilst all this was happening in full view
of other Africans, many of them in the Caribbean and continued going to the
states” to make it”. Meanwhile Africans affected by these individuals and
American money and foreign policy, eventually started heading for the UK and
the USA seeking “refuge”.

It should not surprise us at the way the Europeans view certain individuals.
The American state had to get rid of Malcolm X by any means necessary. The
Belgian/USA/UK governments saw Patrice Lumumba as an uncompromising
character when it came to his understanding of independence. France could
not stomach an independent minded Thomas Sankara who wanted to transform
Bukina Faso in the interest of it’s people. The apartheid South-Africa did
not dare allow Bantu Stephen Biko to live-he was too clear about his
position and his understanding of the social/economic/political situation.
He wanted all or nothing. Walter Rodney exposed the hypocrisy of Europe’s
role in Africa-it became a real annoyance in European academic circles. The
under-development was the strategy and the means to achieving this outcome
was to nurture their own “loyal Africans”. Off course the “loyal Africans”
are another name for the colonial minded.

Rich men and women often have their “kept women” Well, so to rich Europe has
their “kept men”. France has Francoise Compoare of Bukina Faso. The USA has
theirs in the form of Paul Kagame. Spain/USA has Obiang Nguema of Equatorial
Guinea- Africa third largest producer of oil. Shell and the UK and other oil
companies operating in Nigeria have been keeping the Hausa dominated army
and government since 1970. The CIA/USA/France had army man Hissen Habre- a
man who was less than friendly to USA’s imagined enemy Gadaffi. Chadian
named him, “Africa’s Pinochet”. USA supported the Duvalier family for 30
years and off course Savimbi in Angola. See William Blum(2001) Rogue State.
Chapter 17.
The Consequences

If African thinkers and educationalists alike continue to neglect the
content of early and middle years curricula, they would be fighting a losing
battle against the slave/colonial mindset, capitalism, fashion and
mass-media. The same way, one cannot expect to put new wine in an old
wineskin so to, one cannot expect the slave/colonial minded to suddenly
change his or her learnt behaviour. This behaviour has been around for the
last 350 years. It might have started as, a means of coping in strange and
often hostile societies in the Caribbean and America in the late 17th
century. Joy Leary would argue African communities must admit the existence
of post traumatic syndrome before, the treatment could be sought. No
admission means that, this major debilitating psychological condition would
linger and fester away.

Off course when a few like, Thiongo’o(1938-) changed his behaviour in his
adulthood, by going back to his Gikuyu name and writing in his own language
rather than English only, is inspirational to rest who remain in this
regressive state of mind. He used his book-Decolonising the mind: the
politics of language in African literature(1986) as a platform to encourage
African challenged about their attitude towards Africa and or NJAC. Ngugi wa
writers to write in their own language to make their books more meaningful
to Africans on the continent. It is not only about writing in one’s own
language although, that is a positive start. It is about having a core
teaching curricula that could be used world-wide. Even if people write in
their own indigenous language but continue to see Europe as the solution to
their problems-the colonised mind remains untouched. The writer applauds the
work of Haki Madibuti and Dr Karenga and Molefi Asante. The African need
more people like the above, if we are to be taken seriously.

Why are members of NJAC( National Joint Action committee) and their 36 year
old organisation in Trinidad, still viewed as not worthy of support from the
majority of African-Trinidadians? The slave/colonial mindset, which makes
people ridicule members for re-claiming their African heritage via taking on
African names. One can often hear African-Trinidadians and other Africans
born abroad saying in a most offensive voice, “I am not African” when asked
about their identity. Thai is the colonial mindset expressing their
ignorance.

What do we begin?

The logical place for decolonisation to begin is in the home, with parents
taking the lead. The early years 0-11 is the crucial time to inculcate the
Afrocentric values. It means that, we have to be prepared to build our own
nurseries and create our own culturally inclusive and sensitive curricula.
The parents must be re-educated. It is almost pointless waiting until a
child becomes an adult, when he may or may not be exposed to Pan-Africanism.
All the research available would agree that, the pre-natal and early years
are the most important educating years. Ideally, the decolonisation ideals
should be embedded in the early years curricula, The Community leaders and
families should make attempts to discuss post trauma syndrome and it’s
effects openly and proactively put into place some short term and long term
remedies.

3 African American writers who wrote the The Black Parenting Book did not
pursue the de-colonisation project in their book either. There are 17
chapters in this book yet, Pan-Africanism and or the issue of the
slave/colonial mindset were not addressed in a very active way. There
chapters on Family Traditions and Spirituality without making mention of the
importance of Kwanzaa. There was a chapter on ” Black and Proud” not African
and proud. There should have a chapter on how and why Africans came to self
hate and **** all things African. Where did it all begin? The book tackled
particular parenting approach, which was used by African American parents
but, they did not attempt to give the psychological or economic reasons why
most African parents worldwide use the authoritarian model rather than the
authoritative model.

Authoritarian- powerful, assertive/aggressive (verbally or physically adult
leads or makes all the decisions, which are imposed on child. May be highly
critical. Parents may be likely to use shouting and hitting. Parents may
even talk about “I want you to fear me”.
Authoritative- Parents use reciprocity and a democratic style, which allows
child to lead but establishes safe limits and boundaries. Parents are likely
to use encouragement, provide choices and highlight consequences and
positive feedback and use time-out and put penalities in place, as part of
their disciplining package.

It might have been helpful to explain why some African parents use the
former than the latter? It would have been more useful to write the book in
some African languages and use a work -book with exercises to involve all
members of the family. This book could be described as the product of a well
meaning qualified but, obviously apolitical professionals. The writers
tackled all the symptoms but never ventured near the core causes. They
missed an opportunity to focus on the link between the type of the society,
which produces such parents focusing on a post-colonial/slave/capitalist,
racist society such as the USA.

Conclusion.

The Decolonisation project and treating post trauma syndrome are as
necessary to Africans, as oxygen and water are to humankind existence.
Neither can be avoided any longer due to it being “too sensitive” an issue.
The message to all the Pan-Africanists/Humanist individuals, families and
organisations , which are always short of committed, reliable and discipline
foot soldiers is this, put some of your efforts and money into the 0-11
years olds and an African Parenting project, based on an Afrocentric model
and treatment for psychological trauma and other self-harming behaviour. If
any individual/family or organisation is interested ion the guture well
being of Africans- the aforementioned approaches are vital. Otherwise, a
plethora of colonial minded and dishonest Pastors from diverse Christian
sects, the mass-media, fashion, cars and short term attractions and whatever
other European cultural left-overs would grab the minds of the majority of
Africans.

The slave/colonial mind is dangerous to Pan-Africanist and African humanist
alike. Those African “kept men” or Europe’s trojan horses will continue the
pauperization policies of a very rich continent. They will repeat policies
and slogans without even analysing them. They will like the major obstacle
to progress, changes, self-empowerment and unification of African peoples.
Instead of enabling and building capacities and re-skilling people, they
will disable, de-skill and pauperize people. The colonial minded knows
nothing else. The Europeans using their white skins as authority continue to
pamper and encourage their “kept men” to the detriment of the majority of
Africans, who continue to suffer and to be killed with the weapons made in
the USA/UK/Israel and other European countries.

References:

Akbar Na’im(1992) Chain and Images of psychological slavery- Winston-Derek,
Nashville, TN
Blumm W (2003) Rogue State: Chapter 17. Zed Books London UK
Brittain V (1998) Death and Dignity: Angola’s Civil War. Chapter 2. Pluto
Books. London UK
Woodson C.G (1937) The Mis-education of the negro. Africa World Press NJ USA
Wright B.E (1984) The psychopathic racial personality and other essays.
Third World Press Chicago, Ilinois USA

Boyce

Jun 7
Slick1 asked:


I was watching an interview and the lady said, would he do a trip to Spain to meet Juan Carlos of Spain and he said she i will, infect i plan to visit all of south America if elected?? WTF

Julius