Don't you think that education is better than sitting in fron of the TV and believing whatever they tell you?

Question

Hi people.I'm Iranian and I live in Iran.When I chat with people from other countries, I understand that they have totally wrong ideas about Iran.I just wrote this article to correct you.
The first thing they accuse our government of, is that they don't let you be free.Actually, Iranians would be some of the most free people in the world, since thousands of millions of strict rules in other countries, don't even excist in Iran.Our goverment tried to not to let western cultures influence ours, by prohibiting videos and sattelites, but in Iran every single house has one, so the government's agreed with having them.Currently, they don't provide high-speed internet, cos they think people may watch sextual and immoral films on the internet, however the highest speed in Iran at present is 128 k, but they're now thinking of providing 500 k speed.I know whatever our government says is for our own good.You know why? Let me give you an example:I suppose kissing in public is not forbiddon where you live, cos it's a part of your culture.But doing the same thing here is offensive.It's not that it's bad or something.You need to act according to your culture.People who don't, and have unreasonable behaviour that is considered immoral behaviour, are considered hooligans. Sattelite channels had a serious influence on people, now the way they wear clothes sounds like western countries, only there's scarves that don't don't seem to be worn because we're Muslems.People wear fashionable scarves to make themselves more attractive and most part of they hair is out.They do whatever they wish to, and some of the things they do, don't fit our culture at all, however it's now slighty normal in Iran, since people seem to have got used to such acts and behaviours.Most of the rules that seem not to be reasonable are abolished almost afer 1-2 years, because people really don't obey them.Whether those rules exist or not Iranians do whatever they wish to! You really need to pay a visit to Iran and you'll be surprised seeing that what you imagined before and how the real Iran is! It's wonderful, believe me.People, the Iran you knew, is related to at least 30 years ago, and now everything's so great.Even at that time Iran was not a bad country either, but many things have changed so far.
Some people think music is forbidden in Iran, but did you know that Iranian pop music has won the nobel prize in France?Iran's full of music nd they're all current pop music.The best you've ever heard, and in case you're curious to hear some, e-mail me and I'll send you some.
Oh, and some people think women don't have any rights in Iran! What would you tell me if I tell you that women are now overtaking Iran? They're treated very well, most of the times they're the winners in most cases: They get into the best universities, they get the best jobs, they've got rights that have made it difficult for men to marry them, because husbands seem to be under control of women and they have to buy them expensive things and treat them very well, otherwise women will have the right to divorce them, and then the husband'll have to pay them a great amount of money which most husbands cannot afford paying that amount of money! (so they can simply sit in the corner of prison! lol).Another rediculous thin: Your footage about stoning the women who have committed adultery.Have you ever asked yourself they relate to how many ears ago? 30-40 years ago? If this is true, then why don't you receive new footages EVERY DAY?How many footages do you have at all?1?2?or 3? Simple: because there's no such thing.First of all, what Quran says is just for whores who deliberitely commit that sin, not the ones who are raped by force.Second is that we know some women do that, but nowadays they don't seem to be under pressure and (let alone saying that they're stonned!!) that makes them dareful to do it over and over and it's not so pleasant I think.Is it? I don't think you could know our country better than ourselves! Oh, and don't you think that pre-martial sex is the same as adultery?!
Some people think, Iran's a desert! People Iran's a modern country with very beautiful nature and lots of historical places to visit.Please take a look at the following links and see if Iran looks like what you think or not!
This is a photo of Tehran: 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, hope you like them:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Hills_south_west_of_Sanandaj_near_the_village_of_Kilaneh.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Jhcfjuhfuvfjhyf.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Dariushhotel2.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Kish-island.gif
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Dariushhotel3.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran


See how the media are fooling people? None of the things you hear on the media about Iran are true.So, please don't worry about us, cos we're really free.Ok?

I thought it's better to clarify some political matters as well:
Some of the Americans I chatted with (not all of them), said here in the U.S it's said that president Ahmadinejad hates the U.S and Israel and wants to nuck them!! Now, this is so odd, their media is good at putting comments, it's easy to show a video or an image of our president or leader on the T.V screen or on the internet and say he says this, he says that.....
First of all you should know that Iranians don't hate anyone, if our government complains about some injustice that's now going on in the world, it's not bad.Is it? Nor do we hate Jews, nor do we hate Americans.They're both nice people.If they're media is fooling them, it's not their fault.If I were in thier shoes, I would hate Iran too regarding all the terrible lies they keep hearing about it nearly everyday.Who says we want to force the others to convert to Islam?Have you ever found a Muslem that knocks at your door and asks you to do so?Who says we call Americans athiests?That's so funny, Christians and Jews are both God believers.We've never disrespected them.I wonder why the media like putting words in our mouth and raising hatred.In Iran, religion would be the least important thing, it means that where you come from and what you're religion is, are not important for us at all.And I wonder why some Muslim countries think there's a problem between Shittes and Sunnies, it doesn't make sence in Iran.
I wonder Iran is a threat to whom? How is it possible for Iran to nuke somewhere while it doesn't have any nukes?!!!(The media have never been intelligent liars).Has Iran ever attacked anywhere?Wasn't that Iraq that attacked us with support from you-khow-who?
Some of them say he said: Israel should be wiped off the map! But have they told you the rest of it and that why he's said this at all? If you know a little literature, you know that it's a passive sentence.He's never said that IRAN wants to wipe Israel off the map! Iran is ready to defend itself, but it's not an offensive country and we've got a lot of defensive weapons not offensive ones, while most countries have nukes and are clearly threatening Iran to nuke us! Good isn't it? Some say he's said: Holocaust is a myth! Ok, he's said this, but is saying it a crime? If 6000 Jews were killed, that's so terrible, but those 300000 Shitte Moslems who were killed by Seddam aren't important at all! (and who gave him those biological weapons?You well know that) When Fox News simply says: America and Israel can destroy and kill all Iran's 690000000 population (I saw this with my own eyes on the Fox News web-site), it's OK and no one says they're treatening other countries to nuke them, But...
The only thing I know is that your body (sorry,just a few of you) is living at present time, but your brain seems to do some time traveling to the long past times and also some parts of the brain which may be responsible for accepting the truth seem to be completely off! (This doesn't include the intelligent ones of course)

Answer 1

I would like to agree with volleyball chick's answer in part. Most people in this world (not just the U.S. and Iran) fear what they do not understand.

Some of the fears that many of us here in the U.S. have are the way that women are treated. This is because of the video's that we have seen from the Taliban in Afghanistan. This is a typical stereotype. If a group of people, the Taliban in this case, beats their women for minor infractions of the Muslim law, then all countries beat their women for minor infractions of Muslim law.
Some Americans believe that Iran is a violent country because of the hostage situation that took place back in 1979. Most Americans know of the hostage situation, but don't know why it happened. They do not know of our influence in getting the Shaw of Iran into power of the person that was elected, I'm guessing, by the people back in 1952.
Some Americans (George Bush) has said that Iran wants to develope nuclear weapons, when the President of Iran has said countless times that he is only building nuclear power for peaceful purposes (electricity). The question has been raised, why would a county with billions of barrels of oil, want nuclear power for electricity? Well I read an article today on the health issues in Iran and read that about 20% of the heart related deaths were attributed to the poor air in Tehran. That poor air is smog and we have the same problem here in the U.S. but it isn't advertised or reported on as much. So nuclear power for electricity would possibly clean up the air and maybe make the city a little healthier, plus the fact you can sell the oil to many countries and provide for your country alot better than using it yourself.
I was in Kuwait during the first gulf war. The internet wasn't around or at least available for the general population back in 1990 so pictures of Kuwait was very limited. I pictured a large desert area with brown buildings and not much else, maybe a few trees near the water or around expensive houses. When I got there, I was quite surprised to find beautiful houses, shopping centers, paved roads, trees and parks. Yes there was sand but it wasn't at all what I thought it would be.
I saw a special on Iran by Ted Koppel if think it was last month. He was visiting Iran and doing a piece on it too show that it isn't a bad place and not all of the people hate Americans. Of course there are going to be a few that do not like us, but that is expected. It was a very interesting special, that showed women talking on cell phones with a scarf (I don't know what they call them, sorry) over their head, but their faces were clearly visible. I know that is not in keeping with traditional Muslim culture, but like you have said, things there have changed some.
Yes my government did supply Saddam Hussein with weapons and chemicals and other things that we regretted, and I hope that those in power will learn from those mistakes and think three or four times before we give any leader weapons or chemicals that could be used on us.
America is not perfect and neither is Iran, and I don't think that anybody has ever said that they were. I think America is one of the greatest countries in this world, but there are alot of improvements that could be made. I think Iran is a great country and would like to see more open communications between your country and mine. I firmly believe that communication is the key to fixing all problems and I am ashamed that the President of my country will not talk to the president of your country. Bush is a fool, and shall always be a fool. I hope that our next president will at least say hi, lets sit down and talk over coffee, but in the meantime all we can do as citizens of two different countries, is try and educate the people in our countries about the differences and similiarities and try to reach out to other countries and educate them.
Good luck my friend and best of health.

Answer 2

Okay. . . I didn't read all of your post because it is creeping up on midnight, and I have to be up in a few hours for work.

It is natural for humans to fear what they don't understand. I think that is what your country is a victim of. In part.

I also think that your leaders like to try and "flex their muscles" a little more than they should, and it looks a little like your country is run by crazy men. Now granted, the US IS run by crazy men, but it doesn't make it right.

I also think that a part of my "disapproval" of Iranian ways is the way women are treated in the Muslim culture. And correct me if I am wrong, but most of Iran is Muslim, right? It is just that whole "women are not second class citizens" thing for me.

Answer 3

I agree with the first person!!! I'm sure there are good people in Iran who would love to see a more democratic form of government in power over there. I also hope our kill-crazy president doesn't decide to bomb you all back to the Stone Age. That would be a tragedy beyond comprehension. Hopefully, someday soon, your country and ours can have better relations, but you have to get rid of that nutcase whose in charge! And we have to do the same here.

Answer 4

yes you're right. but you don't have to spend time correcting ignorant people because educated people are the ones that rule. & we all know what's right & wrong

Answer 5

You are one hundred percent correct!

Answer 6

you expect us to read all of this? give me a break!