Notes from the Underground: Iranians and Israelis connect online

Posted on February 14, 2008
Filed Under Israel, Iran, Blogging and New Media |

Ah, I love blogging.

Telling me I can’t talk to so and so will just make me even more curious. And so here we are, living in the wonderful age of people-powered new media, interacting and reading each others’ words.

Hell, at one point I was even corresponding with an American soldier based in Iraq. Being able to talk to her directly was enjoyable and simply fascinating.

10 years from now, we’ll probably have Star Trek holograms and virtual reality instead of written comments.

Comments

19 Responses to “Notes from the Underground: Iranians and Israelis connect online”

  1. Howie on February 14th, 2008 5:31 am

    Freaking good…

    You know…historically…we never had a beef with the Iranians…that is shit Khomeni and his morons dreamed up to charge up the ignorant and provide…yes… a scapegoat…

    Persia is well spoken of going all the way back to the Old Testament…especially Cyrus who “let mah people go” and even helped fund the rebuilding of the second temple.

    Come on Persian homies…don’t let that dick Ahmeniahminidick scare you off…We have little to no historical hassle. Don’t jump on the Muslim bad-Jews bandwagon…

  2. Drima on February 14th, 2008 8:24 am

    I hear you Howie!

  3. Andrew Brehm on February 14th, 2008 10:48 am

    Don’t forget that the Persian Empire and Israel had the longest treaty of peace and friendship in the world.

    It was forged by Jews and Zoroastrians, both monotheists, and was honored by both parties until that pagan Khomeini broke it.

    The Persian Empire is Israel’s friend and protector.

    It is unfortunate that it fell to Khomeini. I hope it will come back to life, like Israel.

  4. elinor(Iran) on February 14th, 2008 11:24 am

    I send my warmest regards from over the bluest waters of the Gulf ( Persian or Arab no harm), to the land of Sudan.
    I am happy you guys were interested in the link:)
    I hope things will change and people will start afresh. As Andrew mentioned, Iran and Israel have a very ancient relationship, a good one, Talmud called our king the annoited, Cyrus reconstructed the holy temple of Jeruslam and ordered for giving back all the gold and silver taken from the temple by the Babylonians.

    Besides being muslims, as many Iranians are, people of Iran honor King Cyrus and they find him an example for being an Iranian.

    In fact among all the countries of the region, one way or another, there is an undeniable relationship, we all belong to one another, and we deserve a future much brighter than what we can imagine right now.
    The good point is, we can be in touch, even though conceptually, but i always remember, thinking is based on conceptions as well, and the result of thinking could be many things, practical, great, and effective :)
    Be well dear
    Viva Sudan :)

  5. Andrew Brehm on February 14th, 2008 12:02 pm

    Elinor,

    I also admire King Cyrus and I am sure all of Israel does too. He was your king as well as Israel’s.

    I think it is time we all remember the ancient ties between Arabs and Jews and Iranians and Jews.

    As I see it, and as history suggests, Judaism, Islam, and Zoroastrianism all worship the same one G-d. And all three religions share fundamental principles that result from and explain the common history.

    In Israel I have met many Persian Jews, most of whom spoke Persian fluently, some of whom spoke only Persian and Hebrew, and one of whom spoke only Persian as he had only just arrived via Turkey.

  6. Howie on February 14th, 2008 1:07 pm

    Elinor-

    All my kidding aside, this is something I have felt for years…

    In my part of the USA…we have a huge Iranian population…I have had Iranian friends going back to 1978…Muslim, Christian and Jew. Though, over the years, I have heard Arabs make some very very nasty comments about Jews (in college, in 1972, I remember one Arab guy telling his friend “we have to finish what Hitler didn’t)but never a negative word from the Persian side. Yes, and especially since the revolution, we have some political differences on some issues…but I never noted hatred.

    Iran got hijacked, by the Shah, by the Americans and then by Khomeini…that is how I see it. But these contacts are so small…but this is what we can do and it is amazing…As an older person…the Internet is like a miracle because I find myself talking to people who otherwise would have NO idea of who I/we really are.

    Like Drima says…as soon as somebody says, “you can’t talk to them”…then I triple want to.

    Mottoshakrem Elinor and choda chafes

    Oh…my neighbors are Iranian as well as numerous friends….so I get a few words here and there ;)

  7. Drima on February 14th, 2008 4:19 pm

    Elinor, salam khobi, hale chatori! Thanks for your kind words. Actually I just back home after meeting two close Iranian friends of mine. Had great food, lovely shisha, and enjoyable conversations.

    Andrew and Howie, indeed the internet is a miracle. It has redefined my world view drastically. Sure, politically we don’t agree with everything but the fact that hatred can (and *has*) been cleared is a huge, huge positive aspect that’s absolutely worth the effort for me.

    Khodafez and Shalom everyone! :)

  8. Roman Kalik on February 14th, 2008 4:58 pm

    Every now and then we do have a positive development - blogs were one of them. Allowing Israelis and Iranians to interact over the Internet may have not fully countered the physical limitations, but they do make a difference and allow to learn of each other, and from each other.

    It may also help to reforge old ties, though that may take a long time to truly happen.

  9. Howie on February 14th, 2008 5:09 pm

    RK-

    You are right…but me…like Drima..this opened a world that I only intuitively knew had to exist…things like moderate Muslims, liberal Muslims…all we got was primarily the hate exposure. With me, that was even on an interpersonal level during college and in my professional career, though I must say, I met and interacted with some very cool Arabs, including Palestinians from the territories while I lived in Israel (they just could’nt talk very loud).

    But in the last year I started hanging on blogs…it has become an addiction…distracts me from work etc. But has even lead to amazing opportunities, like becoming friends with Mohammed Yahyah, a Darfur activist and one of the most amazing people I have ever known. How else could that have happened 10 years ago? Imposssible.

    It is a small light, but a light nonetheless.

  10. Drima on February 14th, 2008 5:20 pm

    “It is a small light, but a light nonetheless.”

    Nicely said. I think I’m going to steal that quote for my book. :P

    Which reminds me, I have to get back to writing!

  11. Andrew Brehm on February 14th, 2008 5:27 pm

    Drima,

    As you know I grew up in Germany. Germany was the Shah’s best friend and many, perhaps most, Iranians that left Iran due to the revolution moved to Germany where many Iranians already lived.

    In fact, one of the villas in my street was formerly owned by a Persian noble family.

    Before I knew anything about the Iranian regime I had met many Iranians (or “Persians” as they preferred to be called), hence my picture of Iran will always be the one of the great civilised empire it used to be. It’s not something I have to uncover, it is rather impossible for me to see Khomeini as “Iranian”.

    A few things were very noticeable about those Persian-Germans. They were usually very polite and well educated, very assimilated (and practiced their religion at home), and often gave their children Jewish names (but they were not Jewish).

    The community were very visible as Iranian fans during the 2006 football world cup. The girls were certainly not dressed like Khomeini likes his women and many of them displayed the old imperial flag of Iran.

  12. Andrew Brehm on February 14th, 2008 5:30 pm

    “Nicely said. I think I’m going to steal that quote for my book.”

    Don’t forget

    “Religion is a smart man’s admission that he cannot know everything. Religious fundamentalism is a stupid man’s admission that he thinks he knows enough.”

    :-)

  13. Howie on February 14th, 2008 5:49 pm

    Speaking of Persians…a buddy of mine taught me a great Persian saying…which describes a fair portion of my life at times:

    “If one dick fell out of the sky, it would certainly find my ass”.

    Now…in fact…there is a book title right there.

    Drima…once you get your book published and you go on tour…we have to all meet in some holy place….I know the Persians favorite….VEGAS!!!

  14. Kamangir on February 14th, 2008 8:23 pm

    Just wanted to say hi. :)

  15. elinor(Iran) on February 19th, 2008 10:36 pm

    Andrew,
    I was thinking about what you said,” the same G-d being worshipped by Jews and Muslims and Christians and Zarostrians…”
    I remeber a hindu lady, an intellectual lady from Delhi telling me about hinduism which is not exactly worshipping different G-ds. She said in the deep structure of the religion Hindus believe in the supreme power that rules the universe. I guess even many contradicting religions could have some essential aspects in common if looked at from the right angle :)
    I am posting this translation of a poem from a old Perdsian Poet called Hatef Esfahani, the poem explains the idea of the unity of religions in beautiful words :

    And here is its English version as translated by scholar Manavaz Alexandrian**:

    [I won’t break my tie with you, O my fair,
    Even if all my joints with sharp swords they tear;
    A hundred lives is worthless for you, O you lovely,
    If you will open your mouth with a smile to cheer me.
    O father, cease to advise me about my love, cease!
    For your son will not be tamed with this disease.
    Those who give counsel, alas, it is better,
    To teach me about your love by word or letter.
    I know the road to the place of happiness, I know!,
    But, alas, I have fallen in fetters of sorrow.
    In the church, to the Christian charmer, I muttered:
    “O fairy to whom my poor heart is fettered,
    Till when you must fail to achieve divine unity?
    Till when be damned to impose on One the Trinity?
    How can you call the Single One (with reason lost)
    A father, a Son and the Holy Ghost?”
    The Christian opened her sweet lips and thus she said,
    While from her smiling mouth candy melted:
    “If you know the secret to unity,
    Why do you blame us with blasphemy?
    In three looking glasses the everlasting maid of grace
    Sends rays of radiant light from her shinning face;
    Silk shall not be three things if you call (she vented)
    Shot silk, pure silk or a silk painted.”
    While thus we were discoursing near the door
    I heard this song being chanted by the choir:
    That there is God only and none but God,
    God is the sole Being and none but God].

  16. elinor(Iran) on February 19th, 2008 10:40 pm

    Howie :)
    It is so nice to read your Persian :) That is very kind of you :) Khahesh Mikonam Azizam :)
    You are welcome my dear.
    I really feel for people like you I communicate with online :)
    I will do any thing I can to make it a better world for you and me, and people around us, so that you still find peace in communicating with your Persian friends :)

  17. elinor(Iran) on February 19th, 2008 10:51 pm

    Drima :)
    Khoobam :)
    You are welcome dear.Shisha is so cool, I love it ( did you know they made it illigal recently? )
    Shisha here is called Ghelyoon.
    Drima would you like to come over and smoke some Shisha ( Ghlyoon) with us ?
    Iranians love guests and they make it a feast whenever they have guests. So be our guest!

  18. elinor(Iran) on February 19th, 2008 10:59 pm

    Roman,
    I love the net. I don’t think it is even necessary to see whom we want to talk to, the intentions show their nature when we write, the words have their messages which some times speak more, even more than the words we emply when we speak face to face. Well, speaking and communicating face to face is ideal, but as you say this is what we get, and that is good for now, you understand how passionate I am to read your words :)

  19. elinor(Iran) on February 19th, 2008 11:04 pm

    Kamangir,
    Hi Dashashe khoobam:)

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