Sunday, October 30, 2005

Iran syndrome

The story is familiar. It is a mild October day in New England. One can paint the sky blue with many little white clouds and scarf the quality dreams and call it impressionism! After hours of fever... I can confidently say that I am sick. The little girl and I are burning and no amount of satellite dish or talking to my father can bring back my mother from death. Tomorrow is her birthday and it seems as if she never passed away. ... She would be 62 tomorrow (My dad insists that she would be 64! Anyway...)

Nothing can justify the unnecessary revolution and the ensuing mass murders of the Kurds, Political prisoners, Bahaies, etc. at the hand of the Islamic regime. The pathological liars whose deceitful and cruel belief system has condemned the Iranian nation to a life in misery and humiliation! And the growing number of people that blog under the banner of reformism gives me a toxic feel, as does the suffocating air in Tehran these days. The main difference between Khatamist charlatanism and Ahmadinejad's extremism should be sought not in ideology but in their honesty about the true nature of the regime.

Sheema Kalbasi

Friday, October 28, 2005

Iran: Lives Are Worth Nothing

Pro Rafsanjani blogers claim Ahmadinejad's latest comment will have severe consequences for Iran. This is while Rafsanjani said the exact same thing. In fact Rafsanjani said: Iran will bomb Israel and if Israel in return bomb Iran the loss will only be around one million Iranian lives!

Thursday, October 27, 2005

On his October 26th, 2005 post Hossein Derakhshan writes: "The referendum project is unrealistic in principle and turning it to an organized political movement doesn't help it either. Especially given its neo-conservative supporters who are also behind Reza Pahlavi." The referendum may or may not be realistic but what is bizarre is the misrepresentation of the Iranian regime by supporting (or blogging about,) the regime by presenting their case to the blogosphere-dermatologists around the world and believe a chemical face peeling a.k.a. a the reform movement from within the regime may actually change the Islamic legal system of the republic! ********* I am sick with fever and every delicious thing that accompanies the memories and this season at my home! So I decided to bake... bread with mushroom and broccoli... thinking... this may change my daughter's opinion of Broccoli. Seeing her reaction to this particular vegetable makes me wonder what has gone wrong between her and her babyhood's love affair with this green! Anyway ... not because of the Broccoli... but for other reasons... I came across this blogger... now I am posting this recipe for other moms to try... hoping to answer if only... to the cry of one human-mom! 1 bunch of broccoli, or broccoli crowns fresh ginger, according to taste 3 cloves garlic (unless you get gas, which broccoli tends to produce anyway) red pepper flakes olive oil water Skin broccoli, and put small pieces in the pot. Cover with ginger, garlic and red pepper flakes. Add just enough olive oil and water to make steam. Cover, and cook for five minutes, until you can put a fork in the broccoli. But don't overcook. (via Larry Bloom's blog)

Monday, October 24, 2005

To see Worlds in a grain of sand,
And a Heaven in a wild flower,
Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand,
And Eternity in an hour.
.

.

.
Some are born to sweet delight,
Some are born to endless night.
We are led to believe a lie
When we see not through the eye
Which was born in a night to perish in a night,
When the soul slept in beams of light.
God appears, and God is light
To those poor souls who dwell in night,
But does a human form display
To those who dwell in realms of day.

-William Blake, "Auguries of Innocence"

Sunday, October 23, 2005

The cleft of civilizations: when liberal West "Chalabifies" western-leaning liberal Iranians, while promoting bigots as indigenous liberals.

Friday, October 21, 2005

Day ten

It is Friday and my husband and I... have a lunch date at the panera bread.... I drive through the narrow driveway and park the silver car close to the restaurant. I still have 15 minutes before he appears and waves at me. I walk pass the golden-brown door and find us a table. My back is straight from the pain and my eyes randomly close on the people... who are walking in. I am thirty-two... Maman... and I hear a lady's voice laughing loud and clear. I am shaken. It is your laughter! I look around and my desire remains virgin. Tears spring to my eyes and awaken by the sudden urge to sniff and sniff... I search through the faces. My foot starts bouncing back and forth. If I was a smoker... this would be the time to light up one! Ten days to your birthday and I sit in a Panera Bread restaurant with a Cherry-vanilla pink ribbon bagel on my plate. I am waiting for my husband to help me fast forward my day... before I lean to the woman sitting next to me and ask if she can help me wipe the wrinkles of being motherless off my thirty two year old face.

You would be fasting! It is your Ramadan, mother!

Sheema Kalbasi

Tuesday, October 18, 2005


دکتر راتی ساکسینا شاعره هندی و محقق سانسکریت... مترجم تعدادی از اشعار انگلیسی ام به زبان هندی می باشد... وی سایت تازه اش را راه اندازی کرده...
اینجا


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A reader's response to my Sunday, October 16, 2005 "When the Iranian intellectuals have the microphone!":

Bush - Halliburton’s lips don't move when he speaks. I still cringe at the idea he invaded a Middle Eastern country using the word crusade. His reason for going into Iraq all proved false as anyone with any sense could see from his doctored "proofs". The when the other reasons didn't work he got all sensitive about the plight of the Iraqi people. As if he ever really cared about the plight of anyone who isn't rich. Now he has a quagmire, has had to downgrade the place we are really needed (Afghanistan) and has the forces so stretched he can't do much about Iran. Ironically, if democracy does succeed the succeed it will mainly be because of the secular climate caused the education policies of Sadaam's regime.

Blair - Bush's jailhouse bitch on the Iraq.

Chirac - it is sad to see a French politician throw tantrums in public because he isn't getting his share of the spoils.

---
Sheema (myself)--- now... I am sure you mean well!

Monday, October 17, 2005



و هر شام ...
در آرزوی
کاسه ای شیر برنج - و خواهری
بی نقص از نقش سنگی بر تن...
با کفشهای براق و دستانی کوچک-
با ناخنهایی جویده
به انتظار نشسته و مژگانم را
دانه دانه تک تک
م ی ی ک ن ن م!

----------------------
سه تا از اشعارم در فلش که توسط آقای احسان عابدی مدیریت می شود چاپ شده...




دختر کوچولو مرتب و آراسته هست و برخلاف مامان شلخته و بریز و بپاشش... صبح بعد از خواب باید حتما صورتش رو بشوره... موهاش رو خودش شونه کنه... پیراهن بپوشه... کفش پر زرق و برق پاش کنه و روی موهاش تاج بزنه... انگشتر و النگو دستش کنه... بعد بریم طبقه پایین که یک کم کارتون ببینه (عادت کارتون دیدنش عوض شده... به جای ساعت چهار صبح که باید افتان و خیزان می رفتم پایین... ساعت شش بیدارمون می کنه!) صبحانه بخوره...مسواک بزنه... اگر روز مدرسه باشه... لباسهاش رو عوض کنه... حاضر بشه که بره مدرسه و اگر روز کلاسهای تکواندو و باله باشه ... هم که باز هم شوفر-مانی در خدمت خانم کوچولو حاضره! و اما ... هالووین در راهه و دختر دوست داره سیندرلا باشه... و از اونجایی که من و پ همیشه... همه چی رو براش نمی خریم... دیدیم که دیگه بالاخره سه و سال و نیمش هست و باید یواش یواش یاد بگیره پولش رو جمع کنه... گفتیم هر روز یک سکه (همون یه قرون سابق خودمون) بهش می دیم (زحمت می کشیم!) که بندازه توی قلکش... و وقتی پولهاش رو جمع کرد... می ریم که لباس رو بخریم... و دیشب خوشحال با لباسی که خودش (مثلا) پولهاش رو جمع کرده ... خریده... روی زمین نشسته بود و عکس برگردونهاش رو تو کتاب سیندرلاش می گذاشت... که این عکس رو ازش گرفتم...

Sunday, October 16, 2005

When the Iranian intellectuals have the microphone!

The past week... we got two months supply of rain and my mood has dropped cold with the current weather but the good news is... I have managed to read the translation of an interview on Roozonline! The Ms. Barnes & Noble's "World History Section" a.k.a. Marjan Satrapi's comments... (unlike her Persepolis II)...has flopped her... in my hearty-bright-critical view point (bla.bla.bla.)... Lady Persepolis... pull off the blinders! You want to compare European murderers... from the twentieth century to the Mullas? Name Hitler, Stalin,Mussolini! What exactly Bush, Chirac and Blair and/or their governments have in common with the ruling regime and the Iranian Mullahcracy? I have been to all the four countries (Iran, France, UK and the U.S,)... and it's only in our birthplace of Iran... where people get executed for their religious belief, political views, men's rectum and women's virginity is examined, stoning... is a hot and spicy public reality show... and I have not even mentioned the jailed journalists and bloggers!

Thursday, October 13, 2005

With the news and views on the separation of the Iranian states as the new policy-old trick- old policy-new trick ... dealing with the Middle East problem... I say why not! do it in full speed! When we still are dreaming of having nuclear bombs and strawberry cup cakes... under the ruling regime in Iran... and our logic is why every one else has it and we don't... why shouldn't Kurdistan or any other state (in Iran...) ask for/demand their freedom and independence! (My apologies to my lovely dad who loves Iran and the Persian history dearly... and believes the separation of states–any state in Iran- will be like cutting off a body part! ...and says... why isn't Texas given back to its rightful owner: Mexico or it's about time the Brits give back the Northern Ireland to the Irish! ... or things in that regard!)
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These past two days/nights we had problems with the heater... and yesterday the house was freezing cold... so the three of us were walking with cooking gloves and heavy clothing... but when P and I went to bed... the one... next to me was a polar bear! Dressed as if he was surviving the Arctic weather!

Friday, October 07, 2005


" اگر چهار شاهد عادل بگن که مثلا زنی زنا کرده سنگسار کردنش مجازه و دیگرِ قوانین اسلامی. مثلا دست‌قطع کردن دزد و ....من دوست ندارم بحث مذهبی کنم اما با تموم احترامی که به طرفدارای تموم مذاهب می‌ذارم فکر می‌کنم هر مذهبی در زمان خودش خیلی کاربرد داشت. و به نفع طرفداراشونه که این قوانین رو طبق زمان آپدیت کنن. شما فکر کن خود پیغمبر الان زندگی می‌کرد یا هر کدوم از اماما. فکر می‌کنی همون‌جور لباس می‌پوشیدن؟ باور کن نه.سنگسار کردن و دست‌و‌پا قطع کردن و اعدام و کلا اعمال خشونت آمیز خاص اون زمان بود."
نظرات، انتقادات و پيشنهاد ها زیتون

این رو که توی نظر خواهی زیتون خوندم ... یاد حرف پدرم افتادم که می گن: اگر همه چیزباید مثل اون عهد و ایام باشه ... خوب این آخوندا چرا سوار بنز هستن و بقیه پیاده؟ ... اینها هم ملا عمرهای ایرانند که برای دختراش معلم رقص باله داشت و خونه اش استخر و بساط عیش و نوش و زنهای افغان در حال کتک و شلاق خوردن بودن... و فقر و فلاکت از سرو کولشون بالا می رفت... یادمه دوستان افغانی ام در پاکستان مجبور بودند از ترس "گروه اختناق" - حزب اسلامی گلبدین حکمت یار...که از اواسط سالهای هفتاد میلادی در پاکستان شروع به کار کردند- حتی در پاکستان/کشور همسایه باید با دامنهایشان... شلوار می پوشیدند ... زنها در صورت نداشتن...حجاب... اول به شوهرانشان تذکر داده می شد... بعد... اخطار... و جریمه نقدی (توسط آدمهای مجهول الهویه،) و در آخر به قتل می رسیدند...حالا که حرف افغانستان شد... دوستی دانمارکی که توی اداره ای مربوط به سازمان ملل در کابل کار می کنه...(کار می کرد) می گفت... وضع افغانها از زمان حکومت طالبانها خیلی بهتره... اینو قبلا از برادر دوست سویسی ام هم که در صلیب سرخ افغانستان، پاکستان و ایران کار کرده بود هم... شنیده بودم........................بازم ایران: وقتی ... مسیله بکارت در جامعه ای مهم باشه و زخم زبون به یه زن طلاق گرفته به مراتب جالبتر... تا پرداختن به موارد و مسایلی که محرک آدم کشی اند... اون جامعه از بنیاد احتیاج به روانکاوی و روان درمانی داره... و آدمهایی هم که تحت هر اسم و عنوانی ...سنگسار و اعدام و آدمکشی رو تشویق می کنند باید تحت درمان قرار بگیرند... چون نه فقط به خودشون بلکه به خاطر قدرتی که دارند (تحت لقای دین و سیاست و با تکیه به موریانه های سرباز) به تک تک افراد اون جامعه ضربه وارد می کنند... باز حرف سنگسار و این بدبختیهامون شد... اعصابم به هم می پیچه... متاسفانه من هرچی تو این مدت با مردم مواجه شدم... مشگلشون این بوده که وقتی ایران رفته بودن... دکمه های مانتوشون بسته نمی شده... مورد سنگسار و اعدامهای خیابانی چون به چشم این افراد نرسیده در نتیجه مشگلی نبوده! انگار تا وقتی خواهر و مادر من سنگسار نشده باشن و برادرم اعدام نشده باشه و تو زندانهای جمهوری اسلامی به من تجاوز نشده باشه ... تا وقتی من سر سفره ام نون دارم و دختر و پسر من حراج نشدن... و تو مدت سفرم به ایران کلفت و نوکرای قوم و خویشام زیرمو جمع کردن... همه چی خوبه! ایران مهد آسایشه! گفتم حراج ... یاد آرزو افتادم... دختری که مترجم خودش و پدرش و دو تا خواهر کوچیکش بودم تو اسلام آباد... از خانواده پولدار تهرانی... که باباش از روی فقر...اعتیاد -و مهاجرت به آمریکا که سالها بود انجام نشده بود- فروختش... آرزو... شاید از من که پونزده ساله بودم یکی دو سالی کوچیکتر بود...




When the renovation becomes a pain!

We signed a contract with Home Depot/ Re-Bath to renovate our bathrooms! After a year of hardship (it's been a pain working with Re-Bath!) and Re-Bath wasting away our time and holidays/vacations... we are still having the ongoing process of fixing the ceiling... it was damaged by the running water... from our bathtub that was a week old! ... even the alarm system and my beautiful Persian kelim... did not escape the poor job by the Re-Bath in this state! ... here are the painters working... behind the curtain of my frustration! We contacted our lawyer to see what we can do... and he said if we (the customers) call them (the re-bathians) and they come (they come... when they are lost driving to a different location... and coincidently end up at our doorsteps!) there isn't much we can do! 11000-12000 dollars for a cheap, poor job by the Re-Bath... a job... not even close to our satisfaction!

Thursday, October 06, 2005

Kobra Rahmanpour and Shahla Jahed are at risk of imminent execution... if you condemn the possible execution of death penalty against these two women... sign this.

Tuesday, October 04, 2005



I comprehend the awe Magdalene felt
when they pushed back the stone
to discover a miracle beyond understanding,
watching while the light dims with the hope
of this scene as more than voyeurism
in some unmarked scripture, watching until
you put away the moment as you disappear
into an evening where I never shall belong.

from the poem "A stone's throw from a glass house" by my friend Roger Humes
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When... taking my daughter to her ballet lessons... we (mom and daughter,) listened to U2's bloody Sunday... the little girl was humming... and words... once again... started... sinking in my blood and bones...

I can't believe the news today
Oh, I can't close my eyes
And make it go away
How long...
How long must we sing this song?
How long? How long...

and I thought to myself... for how long... are we the Iranians... going to remain the last minute nation... this being stuck in our great Cyrus' past... when most developing countries... are graduating into the next stages of industrial growth and political freedom... we are still executing Kurdish freedom fighters, our journalists and bloggers rotten in the prisons of the oppressive regime, and killing women is just another way of the governing body of men in the ruling regime... taking revenge/getting back at their moms!

... but as Mary H. Waldrip says: "It's important the people should know what you stand for. It's equally important that they know what you won't stand for"... and I don't stand the injustice!

Monday, October 03, 2005


دختر: کراس... اند... ا.. لاین می شه: تی
اینم می شه ایی... یک خط ... دو خط... سه خط
حالا می خوام خیلی خط بکشم... پنجده، پونزده، سیزده، چهارده، پنجده، پونزده، سیزده، بیست...سیزده، پنجده...پونزده...

مانی امروز کارا رفته بود توالت و داد می کشید... مل- ل-مم (منظور معلم)... تایم آوتش کرد*

بچه دیگه ای هم تایم آوت شد امروز؟
نه! هآشکی دیگه تایم آوت نشد!

(به اندازه سالهای عمرش... کودک به عنوان تنبیه روی صندلی می نشیند... که در اینجا -آمریکا- پزشک کودکان
این شیوه را توصیه می کند ...این ایالت که اینجوریه... مثلا اگر کودک3 ساله باشد به مدت 3 دقیقه روی صندلی می نشیند.)

Saturday, October 01, 2005

A recent article on roozonline attracted my attention! Oriana Fallaci the golden girl of Journalism is a hot and popular read in Iran! I think the first time I... read one of her interviews... it was when I... a 9 year old Iranian girl... climbed up the tall turquoise chair in my parents bedroom... to spy out one of the forbidden magazines (published in the previous regime... a magazine called Zane-rooz /Modern Woman.) Unfortunately... for Fallaci... her... I-am-the best European-human on the planet earth... takes over her courage... and dissolves her into a cappuccino foam! The way she has been describing the Muslims these past few years... is as if she has shut her eyes... and is now exploring the new wave of hatred in the western media!... Fallaci no longer is the courageous young woman I had read... but a bitter shallow-mind-aging woman* who needs to read the news of the child molestation in the Catholic churches and be reminded of the IRA militant/terrorist activities!

*I assume... Fallaci is a Catholic!

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"America's problem with us is not just about the nuclear issue. This is a war in which if take a step back today, tomorrow they will bring up the issue of human rights, and the day after they will bring up the issue of Hezbollah, and then democracy, and other matters."

Ali Larijani

... this guy's unique mind... leaves me speechless! He should be cautious of what he says (or he eats)... you never know... it may encourage the aliens to take him for their scientific experiments!