I’ve read some critical articles on Jeffrey Goldberg’s long & misleading report and I noticed none of them really crossed what might be the truth and the real fears of Israel.

Iran’s nuclear program may not be the real thing that worries Israel. By now and with the help of NPT they are aware of what Iran has done.

They know that Iran does not have the technology of nuclear weapons yet. Otherwise the Tehran’s reactor which is used for the medical purpose was not being out of work for some months that the fuel would be getting ended. If a nuclear Iran is really going to worry Israel, it has to be a concern of longterm not a worry of today or tomorrow.

So what is it that making Israel so anxious? Arent they hiding some other intentions behind the fuss for Iran’s nuclear program?

My thoughts tell me the real worry of Israel about iran is not the nuclear program even if they bark about it, but Israel’s real concern is Iran’s defence missile technology and they try to hide this concern behind the fuss for nuclear program.
After all no nation is allowed to have the technology to ‘defend’ itself against  Zionist aggressors!

Why not the Nuclear program

The truth is that the fuel used in Tehran medical reactor is 20% enriched uranium, while the uranium in nuclear weapons usually is 85%! So Iran has yet long way to go - as the experts say at least some years – to be able to make a nuclear bomb.

Israel which has a history of assassinating and murder, has never claimed to assassinate or kidnap any ‘nuclear’ scientists of the Atomic Energy Agency, but Israel’s Mossad is accused of assassinating Dr Ardeshir Hosseinpour who was a genius and main part of the Shahab 3 missile project at Malik Ashtar university.

Even Shahram Amiri that was kidnapped by US and was recently freed, is not a nuclear scientist. He is an expert on radioactive isotopes for medical uses which doesn’t have anything at that level with Atomic energy facility but again he was a Malik Ashtar university of technology staff!!

Beside the fact that Iran has never invaded any country and the wars have been always to ‘defend, A single nuclear bomb or at general nuclear bomb does not help iran and is not useful. As once President Ahmadinehad pointed out, the era of nuclear weapons is already over.
North Korea has a nuclear bomb, and all know the sanctions over Iran which does not have any nuclear bomb is much worse than sanctions on a North Korea which has one/some!!

Israel which is not a member of NPT and is estimated to have 75-400 nuclear warhead, is completely aware about details of Iran’s nuclear program through NPT agents. NPT also several times emphasized that Iran’s nuclear program is peaceful and all the western countries including US are also completely aware of all the records!

On the other hand, There’s no organisation like NPT to control the Ballistic Defence missiles.  It seems a free-zone as long as the missiles dont invade the space which would be difficult to be traced. They can never know how much progress Iran has in Ballistic missiles & can’t control it until Iran announces  by own and tests them in public. Based on reports and the tests, Iran has the Ballistic missiles that are able to easily hit Israel. ( Sejjil missile and Shahab 3 that late dr Hosseinpour was main part of the project)

This is the wide range of Shahab 3 missile below:

As mentioned in Goldberg’s report, Israel fighter planes can’t just leave Israel behind, waiting to be beaten by Hizbullah there. The new reports also say of great progress in Hizbullah missiles; Whether Iran shared missiles with them or they made missiles by own;  An Israel which was not able to handle Hamas’s home-made not very strong missiles, how is able to handle such powerful missiles with that wide range?

Iran not an easy target

Iran is a big country, 3 times bigger and more populous that Iraq. The country is so muti-ethnical but Iranians are so patriot. They have always united together against any foreign attack, despite the different political views and ethnicities. They never let Iran to be invaded, occupied or colonised.

Iran also controls the most strategic area in the world, the strait of Hormuz. This strait is the only sea passage to the open ocean for large areas of the petroleum-exporting Persian Gulf that includes 40% of the world’s seaborne oil shipments.

Any attack on Iran may have a very deep effect on price of oil worldwide. Specially if Iran attempt to block the strait.

So all said above, Iran is no way an easy target for US which is injecting the money of hard-working tax payer Americans into wars. The wars proved to be based on lies and as Mark Weber points out very well, most benefits Israel and the Zionist allies than US and the American citizens:

Americans have already paid a high price for their nation’s commitment to Israel. We will pay an ever higher price – not just in dollars or international prestige, but in the lives of young men squandered for the interests of a foreign state – until the Jewish-Zionist hold on US political life is finally broken.

People resist oppression and that spirit of resistance won’t die until a courageous people are free again in their own homes, on their own land. Meanwhile, Never underestimate the strength of women in resistance and struggle.
Here is an interview with one of those women involved in resistance; the unconventional girl next door who is known in the twitter and blogosphere as iRevolt.

You can read Farsi translation of the interview here.

Tell us about yourself. What do you do? Where are you from? What’s your origin? What’s your level of education and what approach you have in your life.

My name is Roqayah ; I am a 21 year old Southern Lebanese student living in the United States – I am currently a University Senior, double majoring in Political Science/Pre-Law and Journalism.
I aim to become a human rights activist and International Criminal Attorney; I hope to work in places such as Occupied Iraq, Afghanistan and Palestine wherein I will be able to provide what I can in terms of writing about the imperialist occupations, aiding families and/or using my education to coordinate projects and tasks with Human Rights Organizations so that I may help in improving the lives and well being of others.

You are a woman who does activities for Resistance. What are you resisting against? How much women like you are involved in Resistance? What they usually do to help the cause? Is gender a case?

I do not consider myself a rarity in any case – women of all ages, all races and all faiths have resisted against tyranny and oppression far longer than many of us are aware. My sole mission in life is to fight corruption, tyranny and subjugation; so long as one human being is being oppressed it is our duty to aid them in whatever way we can – be it physically, monetarily or mentally.

I believe that more women, especially Muslim women, should be more involved in politics and Resistance movements; Allah subhana w’ ta’alla did not prescribe that we remain housewives or confine ourselves to the roles dictated to us by our culture; no. Allah subhana w’ ta’ala has given us the task of upholding His deen and His objectives – all of us, men and women. I strongly believe that women can raise a family, follow the commandments of Allah subhana w’ ta’ala while committing themselves to aiding their brothers and sisters.

I run an entire website, Political Theatrics on my own – with no help from anyone. Also, I do it anonymously. A majority of those who visit my site assume that I am a male; this is only because their culture has dictated this long and corrupt tale that women cannot have such booming voices – that women are timid creatures. I was not raised this way, Alhamdulillah. I know that I am more than capable of holding my own ground as well as (and if not better than) a man.

What are the issues that Muslim women face in the west particularly in the US, your country?

Muslim women are not as free as they are made out to be in the United States – regardless of what the mainstream media tells you, regardless of what you are being fed by your friends etc. There is a type of oppression present here that is rarely spoken of and that is xenophobia; the fear of what is foreign.
My mother,mashaAllah, wears the hijab and though she has not come under attack from non-Muslims I know many who have been – simply for wearing the attire which brands them ‘Muslim’.

Women,in general, are pushed around by Western culture and abhorrent sexist propaganda – on one side you have the ignorant masses who are afraid and hateful towards the Muslims and on the other side you have those who are trying to ‘liberate us’ by means of perversion; They wish to make us choose between the comforts of the West and Allah subhana w’ ta’ala. The jihad (struggle) for Muslim women in the West is to maintain their dignity while facing the continuous curtain of xenophobia.

How about western activists who work for resistance? What are your struggles if you be against policy of your governments?

I had the great honor of joining the Gaza Freedom March, being head of the Student and Media committee and trying to get into Gaza. I met a plethora of men and women from the United States, Muslim – Non-Muslim – Atheist etc, who joined over 1300 others in order to provide aid to the blockaded people of Gaza.
Men and women from all walks of life left their families, their work just so they may break the siege on Gaza.

I was raised in the States – I lived under a brutal regime which occupied and subjugated people from all across the globe. The United States is an imperialistic regime and so long as I have any breath left in my body I shall resist against it. Allah subhana w’ ta’ala does not give us what we cannot handle; if my brother and sister in Gaza can manage to go without food, water, electricity and shelter then I can face whatever the oppressive US regime can pressure me with.

Since you’re originally Lebanese, Is it true that Lebanese women use Islamic Hijab to show off their political attitudes?

Imam Jafar Sadiq (AS) said that “…modesty is the symbol of faith” – in Lebanon the hijab carries a great weight, especially in the South where my family is from.

The hijab is not worn to show political affiliation but in the literal sense there are times, during anniversaries of the war etc, that pins are worn and other adornments in order to show solidarity with certain Resistance groups (i.e. Hezb’Allah, Haraket Amal etc)

What’s role of Hijab in Lebanon’s resistance movement?

Southern Lebanon is home to the Resistance; Our women, as Sayyed Hassan has stated, are our pride and joy. They carry the weight of the Resistance movement on their shoulders by aiding their brothers and providing the light by which the entire movement is able to progress. The hijab is like a badge of honor for many of our women; It should be known that the hijab strengthens our women, it does not degrade them or make them inferior.

How much the resistance affected Arab society? What was its influence on culture and literature? Give me some examples

Being an Arab I take no issue in saying that, in general, my people are apathetic – During Operation Cast Lead, The July War of 2006 in Lebanon (among others) there was a sense of awakening in the Arab world. It was as if someone injected a serum of life into their bloodstream; they reflected upon the victories of the resistance against Apartheid “Israel” and saw their own reflection in the victories.

Books were published about Hezb’Allah, trying to analyze how such a seemingly small group could bring down a heavily funded State. Authors wanted to know how the men of Hezb’Allah could defeat Israel and until now, they are in a state of total shock.

Do you think resistance is just a Muslim cause or a universal movement?

Being a part of a vast array of political and humanitarian organizations I know that resistance is a universal message, carried by men and women from all walks of life. As a human being it is our duty to resist. As Muslims it is our duty and our right.

Are there any organisations in Lebanon especially for women and girls? If there’re any, what services they offer usually? What’s name of the famous ones?

There are an array of groups for women in Lebanon:
Institute for Women’s Studies in the Arab World, The Lebanese Women Democratic Gathering, Lebanese Women’s Association, The National Council of Lebanese Women, etc.
Most of these groups promote the education and advancement of women in all fields but primarily in the societal aspects of our communities. They do projects and work with young women so they may harness their natural potential.

Where were you at the time of 2006 Lebanon-Israel war? How did you feel? What did you do to help to promote the truth and reality of the Israeli aggression?

In 2006 I was 16 years old, going on 17. I was in High School at that time and I remember every moment of those horrid days as if they occurred yesterday; My family would stay up for days praying and trying to comfort one another. This is where my attitude towards imperialism began to change into something more powerful – I felt helpless and needed to do something, anything. So, I decided to send an email to Al Wa3ed – a branch of Al Manar’s media group which wrote in support of the Resistance and against Israeli occupation. My first article was called “Letter from an American Teenager”, soon after the article gained steady ground on the internet I was asked to write once more and this lead, ultimately, to me opening a website.

Though I could not help my people physically I knew that I could enlighten those around me to the plight of my people; My closest friends who were once ignorant about international politics were now asking me questions and I had all the answers.

Muslim women hold the power to help their people, through their wisdom, their brilliance, their intellectual might and their strength.

What did the Lebanese women do to help their country during and after war?

During the war in Lebanon there were women who refused to leave their homes as Israel bombed relentlessly – they provided moral support for the fighters and protected/sheltered their families – comforting them.

I have yet to meet women like those in the most subjugated places and areas like Lebanon,which has faced trials and tribulations which people will speak of for centuries to come.

War is not new to Lebanon and my own parents have lost loved one to it; the way the women in Lebanon face it is what is most redeeming. They put everything in Allah’s knowledgeable hands and they are stronger because of it.

How much you know about Iran and Iranian women? Have you ever been to Iran? Is there anything about Iran that you’ve been interested in, for example, the culture, language, politics etc?

I have always had an affinity for Iran – my father used to tell me how beautiful it is and I’ve wanted and inshaAllah I shall when I am financially able.
I am proud of the people of Iran, especially those who have disengaged from the West in order to promote unity and dignity within their own communities. What interested me the most about Iran, especially during the wars in Palestine and Lebanon, is how the Iranians sided with their brothers and sisters overseas; I recall a video on Al Manar of the protests and how many there chanted their devotion and support of the resistance.

I want to learn Farsi, as I find it an exquisite language; I am friends with a few Iranian women and their mentality is just as strong and unwavering as mine, thus I wish to be acquainted with more women who are just as passionate and dignified.

Tell us about your thoughts and goals in life! What are your wishes and your concerns?

I want to make a difference in this world before I pass, inshaAllah one that may better the life of another human being – man or woman. I want to live long enough to see the total liberation of Palestine and the vanquishing of the illegal apartheid state of “Israel”. Also, I want to start a family and raise my children to have only one fear – Allah – and raise them with devotion to righteousness.

What’s your final message for Iranian women?

Nothing I may say will change the current state of affairs for the women of Iran. They are as strong as they wish to be; so long as they stop fearing man and place their trust in Allah then all things for them are possible.

In the heart of every women there is a candle, one which has a small flame that grows as their devotion to Allah pushes forward. Do not let the flame go out; safeguard it and make it grow.

*Originally posted on Shahrazad

Based on a usual morning habit, Mom switched the Radio.There was Quran recitation for an hour that i always enjoyed, but I didn’t understand why mom was being so nervous hearing that. In that particular usual morning, it was like all are ready to hear not very usual news.

While i was behind the door ready to go, they stopped the Quran recitation meanwhile and Mr Hayati who was a young news presenter at the time announced the news:”Today, ‘the spirit of God’* joint the supreme heavens.”
Mom started crying heavily, i sat right on the carpet in front of the door. Ayatullah Khomeini had passed away.

Khomeini’s Life

The world community was first introduced to Ayatullah Khomeini by the end of 1978 after he was exiled to France for his opposition to Iran’s Pahlavi monarchy.

It was from the suburb of Paris that he delivered his severe statements against American policy in the region and managed his final strikes against the Pahlavi dynasty.

He is known as one of the greatest pioneers of Islamic revival in the previous century, ever since his message has inspired many Islamic movements in the region and the world.

Though, they’ve been many leaders in the history of 20th century, for sure, that they would carry the revolutionary character. But none of them were particularly religious leader, who be able to succeed and establish a religious system of government. He also had great moves on Palestinian cause, Muslim Unity, Resistance movements and different fatwas on controversial issues.

After coming back to Iran, with a great and huge escort of people, He lived in a simple mosque up to his death and carried out a simple life as well , which i remarked in my old notes in my diary.

Khomeini’s Death

I have a very small notebook from when i was a kid. I’ve written some memories of those years with my childlike hand writing and that’s strange i still carry the notes every where with me.

Though, I have not much memories from the first years of post-revolution, Sometimes try to recall, and there’ve been some images and sounds of the street battles and rallies. I was so little to understand liberty of Khoramshahr, but i understood the last years of an imposed war against my country.

I remember Ayatullah Khomeini’s quotes before every Adhan on our black and white 15′ TV. I’ve also written the scenes of chaotic funeral in Tehran, when the mourners refused to leave Imam’s body.

From my old diary, i remember the night before burial, i accompanied my parents to visit Imam’s body in an air-conditioned glass case. The huge crowd of millions and grief of the mourners reminded me of the scenes i read before about Karbala and Ashura day.

The mourners were beating themselves, and it was like everyone is in their own state of stupefaction. Some month after ending an imposed war, everyone would ask: So what will happen now after Khomeini’s death? Would the revolution survive?

Khomeini’s Path

Since then, many events happened in my country. There were some politicians who misused the state of closeness to late leader and tried to take advantage of the position they’re in. They felt people owe them something higher that civil rights upon every Iranian, for they assumed themselves being part of the Imam’s revolutionary movement.

However, Iran, my country goes on its way. With all rise and fall, bearing difficulties of an independent state and enduring western racist sanctions, the revolution has been the biggest reason to the path of today’s development.

Some stated that Khomeini’s time and his universal message to oppose imperialism of the world was indeed over. They intendedly tried to remove memories of Ayatullah from the awake conscience of Iranians and little by little lost the goals and ideals. And at last, they pushed their western-backed agenda during the 2009 post-election events.

It was the time that many of us – the third generation – could get some more knowledge and provoke deeper understanding of Khomeini and his thoughts. Though the unknown Ayatullah, the poet as legislator who was famous for his receptive face and discerning look has still remained a mystery to me.

*Ruhullah (Khomeini’s first name) means Spirit of God.

P.S 1. This post is dedicated to a blog movement related to 21st death anniversary of Imam Khomeini (ra). Thanks to my dear fellow bloggers, Rahil and Maryam who invited me to the movement. Everyone regardless of the nationality can enter the movement.
P.S 2. There’s also this wonderful documentary about Ayatullah Khomeini for you to watch.

]]> http://www.mideastyouth.com/2010/06/01/irans-unknown-khomeini/feed/ 14 http://www.mideastyouth.com/2010/05/31/their-blood-reaches-gaza-before-their-aid/ http://www.mideastyouth.com/2010/05/31/their-blood-reaches-gaza-before-their-aid/#comments Tue, 01 Jun 2010 00:13:26 +0000 Shahrazad (Iran) http://www.mideastyouth.com/?p=7729 The most who suffer in this world are those who are blessed “or cursed” with a high-caliber of feelings. The so-called International Community led by the USA has slowly made it a heavy burden on the humans of the world to remain human;

They are insistingly taming human beings of the world into emotionless robots, non-reactive individuals, careless hungry and lustful seekers of pleasure. They’re eliminating human values, spreading religious hatred, sedating minds into accepting the unacceptable, and worse of all trying to make it all sound as if it is the will of God.

The people of Palestine are the most heroic of all. For sixty years they suffered in agony watching Zionists of the world carried on the wings of the “International Community”, willingly or by deceit, to be planted in the lands and the houses of the lawful owners, the Palestinians.

All universal laws were broken one by one to give a safe-haven to the Zionists, the rejects of the western world, to make them STAY in this geopolitically piece of land, to serve the purpose and the greeds of the west to continue ruling and sucking the blood of the countries of the Middle East.

The PALESTINIANS were left alone against an unjust world standing united against a basic human right; the right of the individual for freedom and liberty on his own land.

When US government played the democracy game in Palestine to prove to the world after the unjustified occupation war of Iraq and the misery they brought again to the area, they were shocked to see the Palestinians electing Hamas into power.

Again what US government controled by AIPAC did? They turned immediately against the principles of democracy and started an immediate starving war against the Palestinian population for not democratically electing the USA puppets into office.

The Vanity Fair magazine disclosed a secret plan USA intelligence service had collaborated with the traitor Dahlan to induce a civil war in Gaza to break the spine of Hamas. Before he could implement the Hamas had already moved in and threw this guy and his pets from the area leaving the Gaza free from the wrong doings of fellow Fatah Party militias.

Now the scene was ready for the US revenge; the Gazans had to be tamed like the rest of the people of the world; HOW?

Have you ever been to a circus? how was the lions and the tigers and other animals of the world been tamed into jumping and dancing against their natural code of genetic behavior?

By starving them until before death and feeding them, repeatedly, and with whips, electric wands, and so on..

What you had bleeded your heart about; the starving of the Gazans, killing their kids, depriving them from their dignity, insulting their rights to be free, travel, work, worship, play, learn, ..etc

Those so-called Hamas rockets were the reactions of the lion to his captivating oppressor and traitor in the lengthy process towards making it a nice obedient lion..

The world is a circus, it’s a pity that the world arena is controlled by entertaining rulers and circus minded businessmen.

The population of the world are the ones sitting in the circus theatre to enjoy the show; bring in the lions, bring in the horses, bring in the midget, the dogs, the acrobats… bring in the Palestinians.. and their international supporters!!

I cry the unjust world, I cry the heartless humans, the worthless who get all the media worth.

I cry that you have to starve or being murdered at the circus door hoping that people stop buying tickets to go in with their children to watch how a lioness plays on a swing after her many little cubs were killed in front of her defending eyes..

The show will go on and the world will laugh their way into an “entertaining scene” of the American military might in the hands of Zio-Nazis. They continue butchering little infants in the loving arms of their nursing moms.
And they murder international activists of freedom flotillas, so that “their blood reaches Gaza before their aid.”

I never liked the circus and I never will…
Lets wait outside, shout, protest and starve..
OR …?

]]> http://www.mideastyouth.com/2010/05/31/their-blood-reaches-gaza-before-their-aid/feed/ 1 http://www.mideastyouth.com/2010/02/12/love-sells/ http://www.mideastyouth.com/2010/02/12/love-sells/#comments Sat, 13 Feb 2010 00:11:05 +0000 Shahrazad (Iran) http://www.mideastyouth.com/?p=6711 The day’s coming. Streets are filled with people. Red is the typical color of most shops; Color of Love: Aritificial Hearts, Teddy Bears, Rose flowers, Chocolate boxes. Good days for sellers as well, to fill their pockets with price of ‘LoVe’!

As a multi-million dollar industry, It’s getting just an “opportunity” for companies to take more financial benefits. The advertisements capture your mind, forcing you to do what they want you to do With an overwhelming number of cards and presents being sold over the world; To ‘celebrate’ it.

Not too bad to have fun, though. But as for most people usually confuse the “Love” and “Lust” and spend money for a feeling that lasts for a short while, V-Day has become as commercial as the rest of corporate holidays.

Nowadays in the Middle East, if you’ve not heard the name of Valentine’s day or are not interested in celebrating a feast that has no trace in your own culture, you will be looked upon as a backward or not definitely ‘modern’. Doesnt matter if V-day’s driven by ‘Modern’ materialism.

Nowadays, Valentine’s day has lost its real meaning and getting to be an empty cube with no spirit. The day once used to be celebrated in the Rome, later in the France, Germany and UK. Finally in the big enforcer of culture, US of A.

The American culture tried to feed whole the world, is transfered via TV channels and Internet to all other countries. I remember before having an internet connection, i’d not even heard about the Valentine’s day. Now this epidemic in the Middle East is getting an important part of culture for some.

Strange that we didnt know this event before internet! Even before Islamic Revolution in Iran that blindly copying the western culture was very common and encouraged, there was no such an event to be practised widely in the society.
Is that considered as a form of globalisation? Or Just enforcing the materialism of the west into Muslim world? Why we simply don’t try to love a person for a lifetime and show our love to the beloves all the year and not just during a day?

The youth in Muslim countries are going to be blindly taken their culture off their mind. Sometimes they’re much more ignorant about their own culture than culture of western nations.
On the other hand, americans are less aware of other nation’s culture and traditions. Americans barely distinguish diversity of lifestyle and culture around the world. While their governments try to enforce the materialistic culture to other countries.

Just need to turn on TV and see how many satellite channels -even the European ones- are filled with American movies.

There’s a difference between “A good understanding of different cultures” and “obsession with foreign culture”. Culture is the most important factor in a society. It can be cause of both development and failure. It might be motivator or a disaster.

If there’s a way to destroy a nation, that’s changing their valuable parts of religious and cultural identity. It makes them feel a vaccuum inside. Makes them slave of other cultures which like a ready sandwich of thoughts goes into their mind.

Today is different from the past. Nowadays, power of a nation is not based on number of population. The powerful nations are those that introduce their identity in an influential way to the world. In fact, a more powerful nation is the one that has the most cultural influence on the others’.

]]> http://www.mideastyouth.com/2010/02/12/love-sells/feed/ 5 http://www.mideastyouth.com/2010/02/10/the-price-of-independence/ http://www.mideastyouth.com/2010/02/10/the-price-of-independence/#comments Wed, 10 Feb 2010 10:18:13 +0000 Shahrazad (Iran) http://www.mideastyouth.com/?p=6692 Fereydoun was born in an irreligious and rich family with no idea about religion. Up to the time he entered high school he was not much involved in politics at all. Being a teenager and the identity conflict of that age made him more interested in human sciences as well as religion.

When he entered university to become an engineer, he used to say 5 times prayers but hidden not in front of the family members who would ridicule him for his belief. After knowing he is becoming a practising Muslim, they gave up support on him and he had to work to pay for his life and education.

At university he got familiar with what’s called political Islam. There were new waves of Muslim university students who used to be political activists against the Pahlavi regime in favour of republic Iran. He graduated with a bachelor in Electronic engineering while he was being one of those been arrested several times. Later on, he was freed and was forced to undergo the military service. He escaped with Ali one of his friends to a city far from Tehran so as not being forced to ‘serve’ under the Shah’s flag.

Afterward those two escaped soldiers became best friends. They were always involved in Iran’s revolutionary scenes in rallies etc until the Islamic revolution happened. After revolution they joint Basij and started their job going to far and poor villages to teach children and youth or to build mosques and schools. Fereydoun married and had a little baby girl at the time.

After Iraq attacked Iran and started an imposed war, Fereydoun and Ali were of those who participated to defend the country, along many others against foreign assault.

At last Fereydoun was murdered as we say martyred quickly after. Samira, his baby girl was just two years old.

His family didn’t want his wife to marry any stranger man. They asked his wife to marry her brother in law, so that the child would remain in the family. They used to say Samira had the same eyes as her father’s but grew up in a different environment.

The uncle started growing beard and carrying a rosary while in his private life, he was not as religious. Attaching himself to some especial lobbies, He quickly went up the stairs of political arena and appeared to get some positions as a ‘Martyr’s brother‘. He sometimes explains ‘memories of the war‘ in which he had never participated.

Ali, Fereydoon’s friend was with him when Fereydoon died and Ali was wounded. Ali hugged Fereydoun’s body and cried awhile. They brought him back to treat him in the hospital. When he reached hospital, all his shirt was covered by Fereydoun’s blood.

He went back to the war scenes while he had Shrapnel in his back and his arm. When war ended, he remained in the area, working to rebuild the ruins. As an electronic engineer he was, he worked along with the labors, farmers, the ordinary citizens in far villages. He’s even taught in schools as he believes the Jihad against illiteracy and ignorance is much more rewarded by God.

Working hard for his country, Ali has yet the bloody shirt as the most precious treasure. All the time when he’s being offered to misuse his wartime experience for a position or in favor of someone, He remembers Fereydoun, and his blood covering the shirt and it makes him heavy hearted.

He feels to be an slave been freed 30 years ago, but for the objections and hardships of pre-post slavery, with the help of hypocrisy and corruption of post freedom, he’s gone through an identity crisis while countries in far west, beating him by nightstick first and then showing him the carrots to enslave him.
Now that they are trying to cheat some of his children with the smell of kebab to enslave them again, he wonders why his naive children don’t understand that’s not beef’s smell they are roasting, but the meat of donkey’s!

He just want to be trusted! Sure if there was any aggression and assault, Ali would be one of those defending the country without any expectation. Nothing might effect Ali and make him surrender to their objections, not hidden agendas of some corrupt Iranian politicians, nor the racist western sanctions. For he remembers many of them who sacrificed their life for the homeland.

The Bloody Shirt reminds him of the price of independence that many Iranians including him and his friend have paid and are paying.

]]> http://www.mideastyouth.com/2010/02/10/the-price-of-independence/feed/ 5 http://www.mideastyouth.com/2010/01/20/irans-clean-air-day/ http://www.mideastyouth.com/2010/01/20/irans-clean-air-day/#comments Wed, 20 Jan 2010 11:16:01 +0000 Shahrazad (Iran) http://www.mideastyouth.com/?p=6465

Yesterday was celebrated as Iran’s Clean Air, Blue Sky Day. Air pollution is a major issue in mega cities like Tehran. Most days, Tehran is clouded by a thick layer of smog making it difficult to breath especially for children and elderly.

Every year on January 19, they celebrate Clean Air day, encouraging people to use public transportation or bicycles instead of their personal cars so that it will reduce the polution of the mega city.

This year, in a symbolic act, President Ahmadinejad first rode a bicycle for a short distance and then joined a group of hiking athletes affiliated with the Federation of Sport and some of the ministers and officials. He seemed cheery, happy and skilled in riding bicycle!

They called on officials and the nation to increase the public interest in physical exercise for having fit and healthy society.

I hope they continue this way, through the year.Iranians are interested in sports but most of them seem to be too busy with their daily affairs to include exercising in their schedule. Many Iranian women attend gyms and clubs to remain fit and healthy, though it’s not yet a national habit.

I wish they would make it easy for women as well and encourage them to use bicycle in Iran. Though it’s not banned for them and some women ride bicycle in public, but still it seems more like a taboo in some areas.

]]> http://www.mideastyouth.com/2010/01/20/irans-clean-air-day/feed/ 7 http://www.mideastyouth.com/2009/12/31/2010-year-of-protecting-the-earth/ http://www.mideastyouth.com/2009/12/31/2010-year-of-protecting-the-earth/#comments Thu, 31 Dec 2009 22:08:43 +0000 Shahrazad (Iran) http://www.mideastyouth.com/?p=6277

2009 was a chaotic year. The Gaza war just ended on January 18, 2009 , leaving many people around the world in grief and concerned about the result: Around 1500 Palestinians murdered-many of them women and children- , more than 400’000 Gazans were left without running water, 4000 homes were distroyed or badly damaged and the siege which has not been ended up to now.

Around the time, Barack Obama was inaugurated as the 44th president of the US. The first black american who was entitled to the position.

Despite Obama’s promises of change, US and NATO troops remained in Afghanistan and Iraq and were also increased in number. Obama also got a noble prize which most believe it was for ‘nothing’!

Let’s not forget Iran’s nuclear disputes, the famous presidential election in Iran and pre-post election events which more or less still warm up the western media.

There was also the epidemic of H1N1 (wrongly named as swine flu),the Yemen war, the death of famous Micheal Jackson and the economic crisis.

Well, now that 2010 is coming (has come already), i’m not going to drag on explaining all the sadden events that took place in 2009.

2010 was proclaimed by the United Nations as The International Year of Biodiversity (IYB). Humans as a part of nature and its diversity have the power to protect it. However human activity is heavily causing so much damage to the life in a great part of nature. 2010 will actually be a year-long celebration of biological diversity and its value for life on Earth.

Now that 2009, the International year of astronomy ended already, i wish you all a very happy 2010. I wish for a much better year to live in. A year of prosperity, LoVe, Peace and justice all over the world. A year in which as to protecting the nature, we will also protect the human values all together.

Now that we watched the sky enough during 2009, let’s look after The Earth!

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