Which can send us out on the web or to the bookshelf to find more information, possibly causing us to learn that we just may have been wrong, or that we don't know as much as we thought we did. One thing I've learned here is that I'm the most ignorant person in the world. I'm always searching and reading up on topics to learn some small thing.
Let me add my welcome to that of all the rest, Pag. American progressives and American conservatives are a dime a dozen here, but someone from Iran ... of whatever political persuasion -- is like gold dust. We all could learn a lot from you. Not the sort of things we could learn from doing 'internet-research', or even by reading books on Iran, as useful as those are. (I've read a few, and still quote from Iran Awakening by that remarkably brave woman, Shiran Ebadi -- lawyers have a bad reputation in America, but if we had more like her ...) Rather, we would like to know the state of popular opinion in Iran ... obviously the country is bitterly and deeply divided, over fundamentals, and Americans will absolutely understand that. But what we don't get much information on is what the Iranian-on-the-street is thinking. You mention possibly emigrating to America -- well, we're as divided as you are in Iran, except here, it's all out in the open, every day. Plus we all, or many of us, have guns. Perhaps this restrains us a bit. But if you do come, you will be very welcome. No one from Iran can replace that brilliant Iranian-American we lost a few years ago, Miriam Mirzakhani -- the first woman to win the Fields Medal (the Nobel Prize of Mathematics), but your talents will still be appreciated. However ... the regime can't last in its present form forever. When Iran does undergo a deep democratic political transformation, it's going to be very exciting to be an Iranian. Probably a lot of exiles will return home, and take part in the new dawn. And the rest of the world will cheer you on, not least because it will mean one of the most ancient civilization of our race, with a rich culture, taking its rightful role as one of the leading nations of humanity. Maybe it will be Iranian scientists and engineers who find the key to preventing cancer, or how to design a battery which can hold enough charge to drive a heavy vehicle for a thousand kilometers without recharging. In the meantime, on this forum, I think what most of us, Left and Right, would like to know is: what are ordinary Iranians thinking?
Thanks I've met a lot of french people 2 years ago as I was climbing a mountain in Iran . You are Considerate people.
Thanks Doug sorry it took this long to get back to you. Some usual problems with the connection. Turns out the "Prists" don't like the people to gallivant around the world in the web and see what is happening abroad. I remember when she won the nobel peace prize every media in the world was talking about her but the media inaide Iran didn't say her name not even once. It's very sad that the world lost someone like her. She was a potential Euler or Gauss. She was that brilliant. As you know Iran's economy is in a mess nowadays with this currency freefall and all. Intersting satatistics from 41 years ago when these "Prists" came to power until this day Iran's currency has 2000 times decrease in it's value. I can't describe it as a disaster because it's far from a disaster so please help me with the right vocabulary here if there is any. That's what will happen to a mighty country like Iran when the ones in power don't understand a thing about economics. Tell you sth I was excited to be an Iraninan from when I had 5 or 6 years old. It's very nice that you know about our culture. In the last 3000 years Iran was a superpower for almost 2500 years and was THE superpower in the world for about 1000 years of it. From position prespective Iran's position is very strategic. Connecting europe to indian ocean connecting asia to europe. From resources prespective Iran is 3rd in oil and 2nd in gas (1st on some estimations). Iran has so many ore deposits like copper, iron , zinc, aluminium etc. Fifty years ago when SHAH went to one of copper mines to see it for himself. He said that the income from this mine alone is more than enough to cover county's annual budget. IMAGINE the wealth. From agriculture prespective Iran is self sufficient in many major products like wheat and some products are exclusive to Iran like saffron and pistachio. From human resources prespective about 95 percent of the country are educated more than half of them college educated. Not to mention many many iranian experts in exile. The only problem we have and that's a big one is these "Prists" with their WIRD clothings and beard. And that the world knows Iran from the context that these "Prists" defined. As an Iranian sometimes I have some problems due to that. Once I was talking to someone on this forum and the moment I said I'm from Iran he said "I have no problem with you being iranian" why anyone have a problem with my nationality. It's because of these "Prists". I think we are in Iran's renaissance era. From the moment these "Prists" took the power, they tried to vanish iranian culture and portray it as islamic as they can. Over these 41 years of islamic government the people turned away from religion piece by piece. I don't really see many people that have any religion at all. I can say more than 80 percent don't do any kind of religious activities. About 10 percent of population that are rationed by the government attend to their rallies and do stupid things like buring other country's flags chanting death to them and attacking embassies which defies any law inside and abroad. It's now years that I haven't been encountered with anyone who advocate for these "Prists". 9 out of 10 women in the streets do not wear hejab. They alterd it very cleverly they wear scarf but you can see all their hair hands feet. I spoke to some americans here that had some really harsh view about iranian ( killing them killing their babies and all) but I can assure you if you just come here once your mind will blow out. People are living their life they don't care about religion don't care about these "Prists". I mean we are persian people with persian language they even changed our flag and wrote some arabic word on it (allah) which country in which universe does that?
Re: Most educated Americans do not believe our pro Israel MSM and are aware of Iran's rich culture and friendly people(1) Thanks for a very informative comment. I hope you are enjoying this forum and doing well. Best wishes, "Ten Reasons Why Iranians are the Kindest People in the World (to Foreign Tourists)" http://en.rocketnews24.com/2012/09/...dest-people-in-the-world-to-foreign-tourists/ EXCERPT "During my stay in the country,[IRAN] I soon came to realize what everyone was talking about. Below is a list of ten things I encountered that I believe attest to the kindness of Iranians. 1. About 30 people a day would approach me on the street and ask “Is there anything I can help you with?” or “Welcome to Iran!” 2. About three time a day, complete strangers would ask me where my hotel was and invite me to stay with them. I ended up taking one person up on the offer once. Talk about budget travel! 3. When caught wandering along the street while looking at a map, people would take up to 30 minutes of their own time showing me the way to my destination. 4. Like Japan, it is common courtesy in Iran to give up your seat on the subway when an elderly person gets on. What surprised me is that many Iranians would give up their seat for me because I was a tourist. When I tried to tell them I was fine standing, they would reply: “You’re a tourist, right? Thank you for coming to Iran! Let me express my gratitude! Please, sit down!” 5. While visiting the Naqsh-e Jahan Square World Heritage Site in Esfahan, more than 20 people offered to have tea or lunch together, some with their families! 6. People would frequently come up to me and ask to take a picture together. 7. People would treat me to tea or a meal for no apparent reason. Whenever I tried to pay they decline to take my money. 8. Most stores don’t try to rip off tourists. 9. Foreign tourists are instant celebrities. Whenever I was in a tourist spot, I would be surrounded by Iranians asking me to take pictures with them or exchange contact information. 10. Nearly everyone you make eye contact with on the street smiles at you and says “Hello!” in English. I’ve visited over 40 countries in my travels, and nowhere have I encountered a people kinder than the Iranians."CONTINUED
it's the internet, no way to know if anyone is being honest with their opinions & insight... everyone has an agenda, whether to pass along actual knowledge or to spout lies/misinformation for entertainment... some of the more ardent folk are here to play with your mind/emotions...
Interesting. I didn't look at it in this way. We can see this phenomena in the real world too but I agree it's heightened in here. Anyway I don't think that there is any place outside of internet that we can have a group of a large number of people from all over the world. It's true that there are some threats in cyberspace because we can't see each other's body language. But there are also some opportunities as well and technically there are no perfect situations for us humans.
What say I get the ball rolling, and see what you think... eg I think Biden and Bloomberg represent the status quo, and are satisfied with the way the economy is, whereas Bernie wants to create an economy that works for everyone. [I've given up on Trump, not for the economy, but because he is launching the world into a permanent arms race. China should ignore Trump (who doesn't like WTO rules) and just concentrate on developing their own economy]. .
Status quo is ruining the majority of people's lives and it's serving a tiny minority. Whoever is trying to change it to a form to serve everyone we should see the value in him.
Is English your first or second language? So far you are mastering this remarkably well if English is your second language.
Thanks. It's my second. My first is Persian obviously. FYI I know I have some grammatical mistakes sometimes.
We have famous poet named Ferdowsi. He has a famous poet in persian in which he says "the humans should seek knowledge from the moment you'r a baby in your cradle to the moment you're getting into your grave.
Before the revolution Iranians were going abroad to study because (for one reason) it was dangerous for students in Iran during the Shah. Iran was not strong.