Comments on: Iran in the Real World http://isgreaterthan.net/2009/02/iran-in-the-real-world/ Literary-minded culture blog Sun, 25 Sep 2011 06:38:40 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc By: PB http://isgreaterthan.net/2009/02/iran-in-the-real-world/comment-page-1/#comment-6749 PB Wed, 27 May 2009 06:26:04 +0000 http://isgreaterthan.net/?p=8874#comment-6749 I do not have vast knowledge on the topic of Iran/U.S. relations, but I really enjoyed this article. Surely our problems would not be solved solely by talking, but I think it is a very good start. I find what the visiting group did to be extremely interesting and this article highlights a big issue...Americans do not fully grasp the lifestyle lived in Iran. Getting to know one another would definitely help everyone. I do not have vast knowledge on the topic of Iran/U.S. relations, but I really enjoyed this article. Surely our problems would not be solved solely by talking, but I think it is a very good start. I find what the visiting group did to be extremely interesting and this article highlights a big issue…Americans do not fully grasp the lifestyle lived in Iran. Getting to know one another would definitely help everyone.

]]> By: Alison http://isgreaterthan.net/2009/02/iran-in-the-real-world/comment-page-1/#comment-5984 Alison Fri, 08 May 2009 18:34:01 +0000 http://isgreaterthan.net/?p=8874#comment-5984 I really don't know much about this topic, but the article is outstanding. Well written and extremely informative. Michelle Stoffel is my hero I really don’t know much about this topic, but the article is outstanding. Well written and extremely informative. Michelle Stoffel is my hero

]]> By: Fhar Miess http://isgreaterthan.net/2009/02/iran-in-the-real-world/comment-page-1/#comment-3958 Fhar Miess Sun, 08 Mar 2009 20:06:10 +0000 http://isgreaterthan.net/?p=8874#comment-3958 On the occasion of International Womens' Day, a little history of the emancipatory struggle in Iran: http://de.stopthebomb.net/en/start/germany/march-3-1979-in-iran.html On the occasion of International Womens’ Day, a little history of the emancipatory struggle in Iran:

http://de.stopthebomb.net/en/start/germany/march-3-1979-in-iran.html

]]> By: Michelle http://isgreaterthan.net/2009/02/iran-in-the-real-world/comment-page-1/#comment-3936 Michelle Sat, 07 Mar 2009 22:42:41 +0000 http://isgreaterthan.net/?p=8874#comment-3936 Thanks for the comments everyone! The Dept. of State has a blog (who knew?) and after Sec. Clinton's trip to the Middle East, she asked this question: How best can women's rights be expanded internationally? Check it out here: http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/q_womens_rights/ and feel free to comment! Thanks for the comments everyone!

The Dept. of State has a blog (who knew?) and after Sec. Clinton’s trip to the Middle East, she asked this question:

How best can women’s rights be expanded internationally?

Check it out here: http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/q_womens_rights/ and feel free to comment!

]]> By: Laura http://isgreaterthan.net/2009/02/iran-in-the-real-world/comment-page-1/#comment-3777 Laura Mon, 02 Mar 2009 04:05:36 +0000 http://isgreaterthan.net/?p=8874#comment-3777 It's a step in the right direction to have thoughtful and open-minded US citizens representing our country abroad. I'm glad to hear of programs such as this. A good read; thank you! It’s a step in the right direction to have thoughtful and open-minded US citizens representing our country abroad. I’m glad to hear of programs such as this. A good read; thank you!

]]> By: Kelsey http://isgreaterthan.net/2009/02/iran-in-the-real-world/comment-page-1/#comment-3714 Kelsey Fri, 27 Feb 2009 00:45:18 +0000 http://isgreaterthan.net/?p=8874#comment-3714 I do not have vast knowledge on the topic of Iran/U.S. relations, but I really enjoyed this article. Surely our problems would not be solved solely by talking, but I think it is a very good start. I find what the visiting group did to be extremely interesting and this article highlights a big issue...Americans do not fully grasp the lifestyle lived in Iran. Getting to know one another would definitely help everyone. I do not have vast knowledge on the topic of Iran/U.S. relations, but I really enjoyed this article. Surely our problems would not be solved solely by talking, but I think it is a very good start. I find what the visiting group did to be extremely interesting and this article highlights a big issue…Americans do not fully grasp the lifestyle lived in Iran. Getting to know one another would definitely help everyone.

]]> By: Rae Abileah http://isgreaterthan.net/2009/02/iran-in-the-real-world/comment-page-1/#comment-3689 Rae Abileah Wed, 25 Feb 2009 23:33:07 +0000 http://isgreaterthan.net/?p=8874#comment-3689 Thank you Michelle for this excellent article about our interfaith peace delegation to Iran! And thanks to Fhar who commented making the distinction between jihad and hajj -- a very important clarification of terms. I also agree that the situation of foreign relations between the US and Iran needs more than dialogue, but talking is an important place to start towards fostering friendship, not fear. Major changes in US military occupation in the region also must be made (namely a full troop withdrawal from Iraq, real assistance - not armed soldiers - in Afghanistan, humanitarian aid to Gaza, an end to the illegal use of US weapons by Israel in the occupied territories, and the list goes on...) A US military intervention in Iran will only foster fundamentalism and violence, not democracy or justice. The time is ripe for talks. Thank you Michelle for this excellent article about our interfaith peace delegation to Iran!

And thanks to Fhar who commented making the distinction between jihad and hajj — a very important clarification of terms.

I also agree that the situation of foreign relations between the US and Iran needs more than dialogue, but talking is an important place to start towards fostering friendship, not fear. Major changes in US military occupation in the region also must be made (namely a full troop withdrawal from Iraq, real assistance – not armed soldiers – in Afghanistan, humanitarian aid to Gaza, an end to the illegal use of US weapons by Israel in the occupied territories, and the list goes on…)

A US military intervention in Iran will only foster fundamentalism and violence, not democracy or justice.

The time is ripe for talks.

]]> By: Ruby Sinreich http://isgreaterthan.net/2009/02/iran-in-the-real-world/comment-page-1/#comment-3671 Ruby Sinreich Wed, 25 Feb 2009 03:08:01 +0000 http://isgreaterthan.net/?p=8874#comment-3671 Thank you for this lovely article! Folks can learn more about the delegation you describe at the Fellowship of Reconciliation blog: http://FORpeace.net/tag/december-2008-iran-delegation. And more pictures are at http://www.flickr.com/groups/FORiran. We have another delegation traveling in Iran right now, and their updates are being posted at http://forpeace.net/tag/february-2009-iran-delegation. Thank you for this lovely article! Folks can learn more about the delegation you describe at the Fellowship of Reconciliation blog: http://FORpeace.net/tag/december-2008-iran-delegation. And more pictures are at http://www.flickr.com/groups/FORiran.

We have another delegation traveling in Iran right now, and their updates are being posted at http://forpeace.net/tag/february-2009-iran-delegation.

]]> By: Fhar Miess http://isgreaterthan.net/2009/02/iran-in-the-real-world/comment-page-1/#comment-3660 Fhar Miess Tue, 24 Feb 2009 20:52:07 +0000 http://isgreaterthan.net/?p=8874#comment-3660 Uhh, no, <i>jihad</i> does NOT mean a "spiritual pilgrimage". That word is <i>hajj</i>. <i>Jihad</i> simply means struggle or battle. The <i>hajj</i> can be performed as part of the "Greater Jihad" (the <i>jihad</i> of the soul), but they are by no means the same thing. If you're going to go around correcting skewed media usages of the term, you should at least know what the correct (or at least native) usage is. can mean either violent or non-violent struggle, but it always has a religious denotation or connotation and it has nothing at all—unlike its Occidental twin, "crusade"—to do with pilgrimage. Secular groups, armed or not, use a different term: <i>nidaal</i>. But this only <i>begins</i> to express the problems I have with this piece. The situation calls for more than just talking and listening and dialogue, although that won't hurt. What it calls for is for the US to end its relationship with Israel, "special" or otherwise, and stop funding and arming their fascist Zionist policies. It might also help if the US military weren't occupying countries along most of Iran's borders. Uhh, no, jihad does NOT mean a “spiritual pilgrimage”. That word is hajj. Jihad simply means struggle or battle. The hajj can be performed as part of the “Greater Jihad” (the jihad of the soul), but they are by no means the same thing. If you’re going to go around correcting skewed media usages of the term, you should at least know what the correct (or at least native) usage is. can mean either violent or non-violent struggle, but it always has a religious denotation or connotation and it has nothing at all—unlike its Occidental twin, “crusade”—to do with pilgrimage. Secular groups, armed or not, use a different term: nidaal.
But this only begins to express the problems I have with this piece. The situation calls for more than just talking and listening and dialogue, although that won’t hurt. What it calls for is for the US to end its relationship with Israel, “special” or otherwise, and stop funding and arming their fascist Zionist policies. It might also help if the US military weren’t occupying countries along most of Iran’s borders.

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