Is my what I say about Iran insulting?If not, why some people get upset?

Question

I think reading this in 5-7 minutes would be better than listening to the news in a lifteime.Plz don't think I'm a very old person.Just 18.A university student studying English who just cannot sit back and hope.
My question is: what percentage of what I say is acceptable to you?
This article has three parts: 1.Cultural and general info 2.music and 3.political, so plz read it from the top to the bottom.
Hi.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 liberal people in the world (liberal meaning not obeying laws that they don't like).Thousands of millions of 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. Sattelite channels had a serious influence on people, they wear very fashionable clothes.Maybe it's a kind of immitation, but still it's got an unique Iranian style. People wear fashionable scarves to make themselves more attractive and most part of their hair is out, also it's a part of our culture.Iran is one of the super-consumers of cosmics! People do whatever they wish to and some of the things they do, don't fit our culture at all, however it's normal in Iran.You really need to pay a visit to Iran and you'll be surprised seeing the difference between what you imagined before and how the real Iran is! It's wonderful.The Iran you know, is related to at least 30 years ago.At present, everything's so great if you don't take unemployment and air pollution into account.So many things have changed so far.I can't even compare Iran with 5 years ago, let alone comparing it with 30 years ago!!!! After all, nearly 65-70% of Iran's population is considered the new generation (The youth) and they've transformed everything.

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 buy them expensive things and treat them very well, otherwise women will have the right to ask them a great amount of money which most husbands cannot afford. (so, they can simply sit in the corner of prison! lol).The only thing that women are not allowed to do in Iran is getting into public football stadiums and that's just because IN IRAN, such places are usually full of cheeky guys who would cheek girls.I don't think girls would go there, even if they're allowed to do so.As far as I know, not many girls in Iran are interested in football!

Another funny thing: Your footage about stoning the women who have committed adultery.Have you ever asked yourself they relate to how many years ago?Just for your information, those are from Afghanistan which was once ruled by those freaks (Taliban).I find it difficult to make you understand that Iran, Iraq and Afghanistan are SEPERATE COUNTRIES! and that we're Persian and some Turkish not Arab! And I find it even more difficult to make you understand that Iran is a normal country like any other countries in the world.There's nothing mysterious about it!(The media is very good at making scary titles: BEHIND THE CLOSED DOORS!!! IRAN UNDERCOVER!!! This would be enough to scare people away! Iranians are much more educated, intelligent and open-minded than what you think!!! I'm sure you don't know that there are lots and lots of Iranian geniouses and scientists that are all under 25.You don't hear about their discoveries and inventions on TV. A small example is this 17 year old boy who's invented 72 amazing inventions.You don't know that Iranian students and sportsmen are winning gold and silver medals in different compotitions in the world all the time such as robotics, biology, maths, physics, sports, anything! Why don't the media talk about them?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 weeks ago Iran uncovered the most effective anti-H.I.V medicine and now it's signing treaties with other countries to export it.I digged the news on the internet, but there was no single sign of that.What I found instead? "President Bush CLAIMS that bomb parts are imported from Iran into Iraq!" The media are injustice.They'd put CLAIMS on the headlines, but they would never talk about facts! Some interesting facts:
Iran is the pionier in medicine and genetics and Iranian surgens have found lots of new methods for treating spinal defects and many other diseases (mainly the treatment for different types of cancer) and the the best brain and heart surgens are Iranian surgens.The head of Mars Mission in NASA is Iranian.One of the best designer 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.The 4th highest tower (Milad tower) in the world is in Tehran (which you can visit in the second link).The champion weight-lifter is Iranian.The woman, and a song by one of the pop singers who/which won the nobel peace prize are Iranians. And as you all know, Iranian girls are famous for being terrific.Persian rug and Persian literature, many Persian poets and scientists that are so famous.Persian culture is now westernised and only a little has survived! According to statistics Tehran is the cheapest capital city in the world for foriegners with Dollars of course not for us! (Cos our rate is different: one Dollar=about 950 Tomans!) Who do you think is building Dubi?Arabs?No my friends, Iranian architectures, engineers and traders funding them, cos they don't think building the same things in Iran would be beneficial for them, Since the media scare tourists away from Iran.There are many other things.And also, Iran is a very independant country.It has nearly all the developed industries and technologies and doesn't need other countries to survive! That's why the unfair U.N sanctions don't bother us! The list is endless.
Some charactristics of Iranians would be: Proud, greedy, hard-working, intelligent, ambitious, not realistic, not so religious, not so generous, not punctual, impatient, well-dressed, formal, well-educated, warm and friendly and hospitable.

Some people think, Iran's a desert! 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! (Surely it doesn't!)
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


Some people think music is forbidden in Iran.Did you know that Iranian pop music has won the prize in France in 2005? All Iranian songs are current pop /Trance/ DJ music.I send them to my American and Canadian chat friends and they all admit that it's the best music they've ever heard.They specially love the beat.
You can just right click on the links below and choose "Save Target As" to download them.You'll love Iranian style.It's nothing like what you expect! You can read the translations in here: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AuU3bcYBNN27yv44GHQIAqwAAAAA?qid=20070303111508AAXhVyi
(I just want you: pop&Trance 2003) http://download.bia2music.com/Music/Irani/Mansour/Crazy/Delam%20Faghat%20Toro%20Mikhaad(www.Bia2Music.com).MP3
(The window: pop&Trance: 2005) http://www.sarzamin.org/Sarzaminmusic/Persian/128KB/Siavash%20Ghomayshi/03_%20Panjereh.mp3
(Stop world:pop 2006) http://www.sarzaminmusic.com/Sarzaminmusic/Persian/128KB/Reza%20Sadeghi%20-%20Vaysa%20Donya/01_%20Vaysa%20Donya.mp3
(Hold my hand:pop 2007) http://www.sarzaminmp3.com/Sarzaminmusic/Persian/128KB/Mansour%20-%20Beautiful/09_%20Dastamo%20Begir.mp3
(The wind's kiss:pop&Trance 2005) http://www.sarzamin.org/Sarzaminmusic/Persian/128KB/Siavash%20Ghomayshi/01_%20Boosaye%20Baad.mp3
(Keep me in your memory:pop 2005) http://www.sarzamin.org/Sarzaminmusic/Persian/128KB/Siavash%20Ghomayshi/07_%20Yaade%20Man%20Baash.mp3
(Reveal your visage:pop 2004) http://www.sarzamin.org/Sarzaminmusic/Persian/128KB/Mohammad%20Esfahani/04_%20Talab.mp3
(It's beautiful:pop 2007) http://www.sarzaminmp3.com/Sarzaminmusic/Persian/128KB/Mansour%20-%20Beautiful/02_%20Ghashangeh.mp3
(My bride: DJ 2006) http://www.sarzaminmusic.com/Sarzaminmusic/Persian/128KB/Mohsen%20Chavoshi%20-%20Im%20Sorry/01_%20Arouse%20Man.mp3


It's now 2007 and people still think we are uneducated people living in deserts, riding camels and carrying around guns!!!!
See how the media are fooling people? None of the things you hear on the media about Iran are true.If you think I've been admiring Iran too much, that's because you'd do the same thing if you were looked down nearly everyday for some false reasons.

I think it's better to 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 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.....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 agaisnt Iran. like picking up some specific sensitive phrases from among a long speech (without reffering to the main points and reasons for that speech) and putting so many bad comments on that.No sane person would take it serious.

First of all, Iranians don't hate anyone.If our government complains about some injustice going on in the world, it's not bad.Is it? We hate neither Jews nor Americans.They're both nice people.If their media are fooling them, it's not their fault.If I were in their shoes, I would hate Iran too regarding all the terrible lies they keep hearing about it nearly everyday.Although ordinary Iranians don't care about world affairs, I've got to say that for us Israel is not equal to Jews! Israel is a govt.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 the others to convert to Islam?Have you ever found a Muslem knocking at your door asking you to do so?That's so funny. 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 would be the least important thing. It means that where you come from and what your religion is, are not important to us at all.And I wonder why some Muslem countries think there's a problem between Shiites and Sunnies. It doesn't make sense in Iran.

I wonder Iran is a threat to whom? Which logical rule admits that it's logical to say a country is guilty because we THINK / PREDICT that she's going to do something wrong?!!!! Has Iran ever attacked any countries?There's no proof on that.That's even what nuclear agency says.Only Iran's oppositions are pulling Iran's leg.What we're doing is legal.What they ask us to do (ignoring our international rights) is illegal and nonsense.Iran is a peaceful country.Why? It's the regional super-power and if she wanted, she could invade the countries in our neibourhood just as what Seddam did to our country, but as you see Iran has peaceful relationships with all of them.It could be a good example to some countries that just follow their interests.What is interesting is that the countries which accuse Iran of different things have been, and are still accused of the same things!!! This could be a modern and innovative form of philosophy and logic!

Some 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? 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! And he wasn't talking about destroying Israel.He was talking about relocating Israel, so that they could live seperate from Palestinians and they both could live in peace.They've only told you this phrase not the rest of it and it's mistranslated deliberitely.Iran's always defended itself, but it's not an offensive country.While some countries which have nukes are clearly threatening Iran to nuke her! Good, isn't it?

Some say he's said: Holocaust is a myth! again this is a single phrase from among a long speech and there are totally logical reasons for saying so.If 6000000 Jews were killed, that's so terrible, but those 300000 Shiite Moslems killed by Saddam aren't important at all! Over 650000 Iraqi people are killed and it's not important! When Fox News simply says: America and Israel are capable of destroying and killing all Iran's 69000000 population 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 & Nakazaki and 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 mith.Moreover, don't you believe in freedom of speech/mind?

Obviousely, some countries are using Iran as a victim to put the blame (their own faults) on Iran.And which country is better than Iran to be a victim?They've made the whole world believe that Iran isn't a peaceful country and represent false image of Iranians by making insulting movies like "300" .
I know Americans don't like these either, but what can they do?They can't control what the media says.I hope someday the media would end all this instead of playing a negative role in the world.

Thanks.

Answer 1

I feel your pain brother. Its sad what the media has done to the middle eastern culture. I learned quite a bit reading your post and I thank you for writing it. Its kinda pathetic they made the movie "300" right when America is trying to start a war with Iran over false claims (Iraq anyone?) Its also pathetic that America is the ONLY country in the history of this planet that has used a Nuclear bomb, TWICE. They killed over 150,000 in 1 second for each bomb. Innocent people, little boys & girls, pregnant women, laboring husbands, all because of a decision of the Japanese army. Not the innocent civilians. I just pray that America doesn't go to war with Iran, and put our soldiers lives at risk. Our soldiers who are just trying to make some money for school/family, and are willing to fight for a JUST CAUSE, and not for some false claims of a madman and his staff of some 30-odd people. It so sad to see these young people getting their arms and legs blown off, and being away from they're husbands & wives for so long, that their spouses at home cheat on them. This isn't a game, these are real human beings like me and you, and we can only pray for them and for peace. People blame religion for war and bloodshed, they should blame politics.

Answer 2

Not a bad read, and I am glad to see that the younger Iranians, at least, are less hateful than the last couple of generations have been. As a matter of fact, you seem to be quite open and generous and want us to see a better side of your country. I, for one, hope that what you say is true.

On the other side of the coin, your country's history is what has brought it's reputation to where it is. At 18, you are too young to remember the Iranians taking American hostages. That was your government that did that, and we still remember. I am not naive enough to believe that our government is without fault, as a matter of fact, Gitmo is currently full of "detainees" that some would consider hostages.

I agree completely that the media is irresponsible in its reporting. ALL media represents a point of view, and they will make certain that they support their view, and the facts be damned. Or they will select only those facts that they like and ignore others.

Thanks for taking the time to write that out. I hope that your attitude is shared by your generation and that the over the next couple of decades our countries can find a way to work together for our mutual benefit.

Answer 3

I am absolutely amazed at how differently you portray Iran than the common perception we generally have.

For example, I would never have guessed that two of Iran's parliment members are Jews. This is the most surprising thing. We have this idea that all Palestinians, Arabs, and Persians are rabidly anti-Semitic.

What you are up against in trying to improve Iran's image is your President, who is seen as a crackpot (sorry). Also, see the website below. This is the image most Americans have of Muslims. Maybe you'd like to post a shorter question, and mention how many non-violent, respectful Muslims there are in the world, and especially in your country.

Thanks for the education!

Answer 4

Hi just read what you have wrote and it has given me hope that all is not lost in the world. you sound like a young man with a wise head and I hope that people like you can one day come to power in your country to bring together all the people of the world
All life is special no matter where we come from or what our colors it is time the world remembered this and I hope in the future with people like you around my grand-kids will have a peace full world around them
good look to you for the future and may your god be with you

Answer 5

hi i read your story,i dont think your country is backward , i dont like your president but i dont like ours either even though i voted for him but at the time there wasnt much better.i guess i dont know about your country only what i see on tv,you say you are free but dont women still have to cover there face?why?arent they equal?there are things i would like to know . do you own a gun?do you hunt or fish? do you own a car? can you own a business ? or your own home?have you ever been to other countrys? can you travel where ever you want to in the world?or does your government stop you? im still young 43 i guess since your only 18 thats not young but i would like to talk more about our differences maybe we can learn about each others culture

Answer 6

It insults our intelligence the way you spin and lie past the fact that the Iranian president and the mullahs are hell-bent on creating nuclear weapons, and are hell-bent on a confrontation with America and Israel. And when the Iranian president is on YouTube shouting "Death to Israel", "Death to America" and holds the position that Israel should be wiped off the map, those are threats that we will not take lightly.

You sound like a paid propagandist. Call yourself Youssef al-Goebbels.

Answer 7

No. You just keep posting the same thing over and over again.

As for not liking Israel. Your leader/president even said it should be wiped off the map. As for a movie. Get over it. It is a MOVIE. If you watch a western do you think we are all riding horses and shoot people???? Grow up.

Answer 8

I like the Iran....it is a peaceful nation that features great culture, good people, and peaceful intentions.

Answer 9

Why do u care about other people say? i don't know what u said about Iran but u shouldn't listen to everybody.

Answer 10

an eyewitness (the head of column in pespolis):
i saw that DARUS the great telling his son "XERAXES the great"
always worship ahuramazda (god) and be monotheist' but dont force other nations to accept to your belief.
dont insult to their opinions and their belief and respect to what they consider it as holy....
always try to build more habitable cities and provide and improve facilities for people's happy life.
"NEVER DESTRYOY CITIES......"
I ALSO saw ALEXANDER set fire to perspolis and stole the treasures and.................