Toronto, Taiwan, and Home

I sometimes contemplate the serendipitous relationship between a person and a place. The marriage of the living and the inanimate, with the inanimate cheating the living by influencing it more than something inanimate ever should. In opining these places, I think of James Joyce’s Dublin, Charles Dickens’ London, and Orhan Pamuk’s Istanbul.

The place I think about tonight is a small island in the South China sea, an island which emerges from the haunting waves of a vast ocean, and entrenches itself not only against the wrath of the natural world, but also against the might of far more powerful and undemocratic neighbors, including China, which insists on territorial sovereignty over the island. Taiwan is officially recognized by very few nations in the world, and yet through an unbreakable spirit and an indomitable will, the 23 million people of Taiwan have transformed it into one of the world’s foremost economies, and more importantly, into a vibrant and restless Asian democracy.

I can remember, in Taiwan, being mesmerized by the chaotic energy of the night markets, the crowded streets which buzzed with commerce and creativity, and the endless stream of scooters, cars, trucks, bicycles and humans that together made up the fabric of a nation.

I can also remember the food, sold seemingly everywhere, not just in restaurants, but from stands all along the streets. Chicken fried rice, deep fried shrimp, but also more unusual items, such as chicken feet, pig ear and blood, stinky tofu, and so many other things I couldn’t recognize. The thought occurred to me that, “while in Rome, I should do as the Romans do.” After all, it can be a deeply enriching experience to sample foods from other countries and cultures.

However, there is a grace, serenity and peace about that which is familiar. And for a young Canadian in a far flung land, the familiar could hardly be epitomized more profoundly than by McDonalds. It wasn’t that I thought that a pig’s ear or a chicken’s foot would taste like a piece of shit, but rather that I knew exactly what fries and a crispy chicken sandwich at McDonald’s would taste like. And sure enough, it tasted just like I thought it would. It tasted like home.

The places we visit touch us, haunt us, and sometimes change us. But at the end of the day, it is the place we come from that touches, haunts and changes us the most.

And so while Dublin is written on James Joyce’s heart, Toronto is written on mine. A city bequeathed with the restless minds of young idealists and artists, like tender flowers pushing forth on barren rocks. A city whose neighborhoods are as different and diverse as the flora and fauna of Madagascar.

But regardless of the superlatives, it is a great city simply because it is home.

Why I forgive and support Michael Vick

I cannot pretend to be unbiased in this debate. I watched Michael Vick compete as a colligate at Virginia Tech, and his performances on a football field stunned me more than Roger Federer on a tennis court, more than Michael Jordan on a basketball court, more than Michael Phelps in a swimming pool. Perhaps some feel that I exaggerate, but I digress. His elusiveness matched that of a frustrated cat chasing down a fearful but quick moving mouse. Not since Barry Sanders have I ever witnessed a football player with as much god given natural ability as Michael Vick.

He grew up in Newport News, Virginia. A hard edged town, filled with vice, a place where very few young men grow up to make a positive difference in their world, a place where a disproportionate number of young African American men end up in federal penitentiaries. When he was 8 years old, Michael vick came upon two men fighting dogs, and was intrigued. Many of his neighbors and friends were excited, and viewed it as normal and exciting. Vulnerable, impressionable and without fatherly guidance, a young Michael Vick had been introduced to the barbarity, disguised as accepted urban culture, that was dog fighting. It was a path that would follow him, or that he would follow, into the NFL, where we would sign a record contract and bask in the glow of stardom.

Of all the things that America is, it is a land of second chances. It is a place where people can commit acts of laughable silliness, unexplainable vanity, and even unimaginable evil. But ultimately, even those in the latter class can somehow find a new opportunity, a second chance. Jacob's brothers sold him into slavery, but at a reunion many years hence, he wept and forgave. America demonstrates the possibility of second chances and the beauty of forgiveness more than most nations on this earth.

Some say that Michael Vick's sins are so egregious that they should never be forgiven, that he should never be allowed a second chance to display his magnificent talent on a football field again. When I hear this, I am reminded of the words of John 12:7. Christ spoke of a woman accused of adultery and said, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." No one came forward. Anyone who can judge Michael Vick as truly evil and unworthy of forgiveness surely must have the ability of God, to judge the motives of the soul and the desires of the heart. For me, I am content to leave this judgment to God.

It is possible that Michael Vick comes back to the NFL not just as a quarterback who is electrifying, but also as a quarterback who is more well rounded and more complete. But most importantly, he returns as a human being chastened, a man who has paid a severe price, who now understands the high price that is rightfully paid for cruelty to animals, and who is more credible than anyone else in preaching to young inner city kids the folly of dog fighting and the evil of animal cruelty.

I can't wait to witness the magnificent magic of Michael Vick once again, but this time I will appreciate it even more knowing that he is a good and decent man who has humbly paid the lessons of sin and emerged from his dark place an even stronger and better football player and human being.

Whither this land that has touched my soul?

(note - all personal names used in this article have been changed and are not real names)

I have wondered in recent weeks why Iran has touched me so deeply. I have travelled to 25 countries in my life. In all of them, I have marveled at various aspects of culture, history and natural beauty. And yet this 25th country I visited, Iran, has touched me more than all others. It is a land that has haunted my dreams, touched my soul, and shifted my consciousness. Little did I know that, after visiting Iran, I would never be the same again. From unexpectedness came an appreciation inexpressible by frail words.

New York Times journalist Roger Cohen spent many months in Iran before and just after its presidential election, and it touched him so deeply that he wrote: “We journalists are supposed to move on. Most of the time, like insatiable voyeurs, we do. But once a decade or so, we get undone, as if in love, and our subject has its revenge, turning the tables and refusing to let us be.” He further said that Iran "crushes people with its tragedy", and he called Iran "a land of poets who knew how to marry the sacred and the sensuous and always laughed at the idea of a truth so absolute it would not accommodate contradiction." To me, this description is incredibly apt, for Persian poets like Rumi, Saadi and Hafez wrote in beautiful and profound prose, yet they would have never been able to imagine the tragedy that would befall the land they loved. To me, Iran is a land of parks, poetry and wonderful people. And yes, it is a land that has crushed me with its tragedy, a country cast into the cauldron of darkness.

There is something unspeakably tragic about young, well educated, non-religious women who are forced by the state to wear a headscarf in the sweltering heat, young women who are strong willed but yet whose fashion is directed in minute detail by old men with beards who supposedly represent God. There is something strange and sad about a country and civilization that once formed the first true Super Power of this earth, under Darius the Great, a leader who influenced both Eastern and Western civilizations and religions, and yet today is guided by small, belligerent men, who seek conflict with the world. Supreme Leader Ali Khamanei and his cronies have turned a land of profound poetry into a place of perverse puppetry.

As the days have passed since I left Iran, I have thought about the individual people I met. I think about my friend Sohrab, in Esfahan. His father marched in the revolution of 1979, but Sohrab is an atheist. He told me straightforwardly, "I could legally be killed because I was raised a Muslim but now I am an atheist...that's bulls**t."

I think about my friend Atifa, also from Esfahan. The first time I met her in person, she said "My name is Atifa, it's an Arabic name, I don't like it!" We all laughed. Her headscarf slipped off as smoothly and regularly as the waves of the sea covering and cleaning the rocks on a wind swept shore. She was as religious as a deviant drunkard in a monastery.

I think about my friend Sepideh, a more traditional girl, with her headscarf always secure. Sepideh prays regularly and is a sincere Muslim. Yet I marveled at her intelligence, kindness, patience and helpfulness.

I think about the little baby boy in a stroller in Shiraz, who held in his hand a green flag, given by his parents, supporters of the Reformist presidential candidate Mir-Hossein Mousavi. From his face I could tell that he was a bit confused, uncertain of why I was smiling at him, but there was no mistaking the fact that his parents hoped that he would grow up in a better and more free world than the one that they inherited. The little green flag he held represented the small spark of freedom, and held the promise of a better future for him and other children of Iran.

Of course, these were just a handful of the people I met and spoke with in Iran, yet most of the hearts I sampled I found to be beautiful.

I am grateful that I had the chance to set foot in this place, blessed with a prolific history and rich natural beauty, but unfortunately cursed by the scourge of men who exercise absolute power in the name of religion.

I have tried hard in my life to learn about this world, and all that is in it. Many things I don't know and never will. And yet, this one thing, I know. I know Iran, not the Iran so commonly portrayed in our media, but rather its pulsating soul, experienced by breaking bread with its people, walking the dusty streets of its villages, and feeling the chaotic energy and vibrant beauty of its vast cities. Until the restless dream of Iranian freedom is achieved, this is the bond I make with her citizens, and with my God. I will stand with the Iranian people, and give all that I have for the land and people that have so strongly shifted my consciousness, and so deeply touched my soul.

A brief tribute to Corazon Aquino

On August 21, 1983, Philippine opposition figure Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr was killed by a sniper at Manila International Airport as he attempted to re-enter the Philippines. As they viewed images of his lifeless body on the tarmac of an airport, a nation was reminded of the words of John 15:13: “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” The next day, the large headline of the Manila Bulletin read: "Benigno shot dead". Shockwaves reverberated through out the nation. Demarcations had been set. The Marcos regime had sent an unmistakable and ruthless message: no opposition would be tolerated.

However, the seeds of People Power had been sown, and were gestating in a restless nation hungering for freedom. All that was needed was a leader, someone with credibility and courage, who would rally the people and lead the noble cause. From the comfort of a foreign land, the desolate widow of Ninoy Aquino found a calling.

The self proclaimed “plain housewife” would become the leader of a cause greater than herself, a cause that would change the history of her nation, make her Time Magazine’s Woman of the Year in 1986, and even lead to her nomination for the Nobel Prize. While the Czech Republic pays homage to Vaclav Havel, and Poland remembers Lech Walesa, the Philippines answers the reverential calls of these velvet revolutions with their own “People Power” movement, made possible and spearheaded by Corazon Aquino. The success of the revolution would eventually lead her to be elected as the 11th president of the Philippines.

Her presidency was not without deserved criticism. Deep seated corruption was difficult to erase. Many argued that she was a puppet of the advisors around her. Nevertheless, the nation had been purged of the martial law of the Marcos administration, and once again ordinary citizens could criticize their government with impunity.

Cory would later say that when she left the United States to return to Manila and bury her husband, she also felt that she was going to “lay to rest his restless dream of Philippine freedom.” However, she would go on to say of the millions of people who lead her husband’s body to his grave, “by that brave and selfless act of giving honor, a nation in shame recovered its own.” Her husband’s restless dream would see fulfillment, posthumously and primarily because of his own death. A nation yielded democracy from its pounding rage.

As she grew older, the accolades would become more vociferous and significant. In her appearance before a joint session of the United States Congress in September 1986, Cory delivered what has been described as the greatest speech ever given on the floor of that hallowed hall of human freedom. A 1994 book by Gail Meyer Rolka cited Cory as “one of 100 Women Who Shaped World History”. In August 1999, Time Magazine called her one of the 20 most influential Asians of the 20th century. In January 2008, Cory was selected as “one of the 15 Champions of World Democracy” by the Europe based organization “A Different View”, being mentioned alongside Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King Jr.

While former first lady Imelda Marcos enriched herself on the backs of her own people, Cory, on the day she handed over the presidency to her successor, left the inauguration ceremony in her own small car, rather than in the lavish transportation provided by the government. She wanted to show that once again, she was an ordinary citizen. And perhaps this is the greatest lesson of Cory. Like her husband, she saw herself as an ordinary citizen, who was called by extraordinary times to lead an eminent cause. Today, an ordinary citizen, a devout and great woman who trembled before God, rests in peace under an Asian Pacific sun, a tribute to her nation and a gift to the cause of human freedom.

Evin Prison: Hell on earth, as seen from Google Earth

On Google Earth, it can be viewed. Evin Prison in Northern Tehran, Iran, though from an immeasurable distance and not in "real time". Its fences and front gate noticeably visible from a distant satellite.

But invisible from satellite views are the forlorn and desolate contained therein, young men and women who stand up for fundamental freedoms, who desire simply the same openness that so many of us take for granted.

Iran is a place whose government and leaders, to quote the word's of Christ in Matthew 23, "tie on heavy burdens and impose these on the shoulders of humankind while they are unwilling to budge [these loads] with a single finger." Older Mullahs and Ayatollahs, at the apex of power, with an unwillingness to listen to the voices of women burdened under headscarf’s, and women battered by laws that deny, at their heart, the very premise that men and women should be given equal opportunity and treatment.

And while there is abundant evidence of evil all over Iran, on the streets and in police stations from large cities to small towns, Evin is a huge prison that seems to be the singular symbol epitomizing Iran's oppression, the massive wave of a tsunami beside many currents of injustice.

No written words can express the deafening cadence of a scream of horror, and no blog written from the relative safety of the western world can tell the of the deep and primal fear of being interrogated, tortured and possibly raped within the deep confines of Evin Prison.

In recent days, I have wondered often about the young Iranian men and women who have been brave enough to stand up against the violation of their constitution, who have been brutally and heartbreakingly let down by a system that they didn't like to begin with, but which promised a free and fair election, even if it meant the election of a "reformist" president who had cut his teeth in the same revolution as the hardliners. For those snatched from the streets, what did they feel when they entered Evin? What did they think about when the torture began, interrogations lasting up to 15 hours, using threats and beatings to obtain a forced confession, an attempt to breach the sacredness of truth and extinguish the smoldering flame of justice?

I can only imagine the screams, tears, broken bones and broken hearts in Evin, and the cells meant for solitary confinement stuffed with 15 people.

It seems that the butchery and barbarity of the government and leaders of this land, as exemplified by Evin Prison, has became as infinite as the treacherousness of Gomorrah, as desperately heartbreaking as the gulags of the Soviet Union.

In his epic Inferno, the 14th century writer Dante depicted hell as 9 circles of suffering situated within the earth. In the 21st century, hell is perhaps a sprawling prison in northern Tehran, visible from the heavens via modern technology on Google Earth.

And lo, what about those who have died at the hands of torture in this very prison? What might they say to all of us?

“We risked our lives for the sake of change
That this system of dominance might be re-arranged
All of us chanting proudly and wearing green
From the rooftops of Tehran we were clearly seen

For this cause we have in blood paid the ultimate price
Because of those with the power to inflict staggering vice
We were students with common aspirations and dreams
Some of us were middle class, and some of us of little means

We were tortured brutally and inexpressibly at Evin
Our prayers and screams reaching the edge of heaven
Today, we rest in the finality of death
Unable to on our own to reach the fruition of our quest

Leaving behind our dear parents and friends, who are bereft
Who from the State are under incredible duress
But from a beautifully higher and magnificent place
We look down upon our compatriots, and can freedom taste

We will not rest in peace lest you, the living, stand for us
Securing the foundation of a land clearly on freedom's cusp
We are the brutally murdered young and dead
The unafraid, who were by dreams of freedom fed

No longer in flesh, wearing green, are we lead
But still, for freedom, our blood was shed
Today, our message is, let not us perish in vain
Your not gaining freedom is our greatest pain

For this is that for which we had to die
That our brothers and sisters may not continue to cry
That our counterparts, living, will not always sigh
That other parents will never have to say good bye."

Adoption and America’s Inherent Goodness

United States Senator Sam Brownback once stated in a speech: "America is great because she is good." This simple yet profound statement epitomizes the essence of the most eminent nation of our universe. Though not without deserved criticism, America is a land that has both changed and set an example to the world.

All too often, we speak of America's greatness from the standpoint of military might. Reasonable people can surely disagree on whether this power has always been used prudently. But what so many of us fail to notice, at the end of the day, is that America is great for far more than simply the power of her army, navy and air force.

From a demographic standpoint, America, in the Western World, stands alone. While Japan and many countries in Europe have a birthrate that makes their very existence a couple of hundred years from now untenable, the United States is the one nation in the Western World that continues to produce enough children to replace the elderly who perish.

Faith, family and country are at the centre of American life, with the promise of bearing children still viewed as a blessed opportunity to positively influence one’s nation and our world. The ability to reproduce is viewed as a gift that should be cherished and acted upon.

But what of those who, for whatever reason, are unable to bear children? Husbands and wives who have a simple dream - to experience the joy of a new baby's touch, to watch their child’s tentative first steps, and to hear the first utterance of "Mommy" and "Daddy". And then there are those who already have children, but who decide to adopt another child, wanting to expand their family and bring a better life to an abandoned baby.

I am not trying to suggest that America alone contains couples and parents eager to adopt. But the numbers are fascinating and revealing. On Wikipedia’s page about “adoption” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adoption), a table shows adoption statistics from various Western countries, and particularly highlights the ratio of adoptions to live births. In Australia, for every 100 births, there 0.2 adoptions. In England, the number is 0.7, and in Italy 0.6. In the United States, for every 100 live births, there are 3 adoptions. In other words the United States has an adoption to live birth rate at least 4 times, and upwards of 15 times, higher than other wealthy Western nations. Why is this case? I don’t have all the answers. But I believe that it is no co-incidence that the most religious nation in the Western World would also be the one that has a positive birthrate, and the highest adoption rate. At James 1:27, Christians are admonished to “look after orphans and widows in their distress”, for such action demonstrates “religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless.”

On YouTube, countless videos exist showing parents meeting their baby daughter for the first time, an event often described as “Gotcha Day”. In the far away land of China, containing streets teaming with millions of people, young American couples see realized a simple dream. They become parents. They welcome into their lives a baby, not of their own race or culture or genes, and adopt her as their very own. A life to guide, shape, cherish and love. I have not in my life witnessed goodness greater than this.

Going back to Senator Brownback, there is something interesting to note. On his official Senate page, a photograph shows him and his wife with 7 children. Two of them, however are much younger than the rest, and have visibly Asian features. His daughter Jenna was adopted from China when she was 2 years old. Today Jenna grows up as a child of America, with little connection to the orphanage at which spent she spent the first few months of her life.

Sometimes I wonder what these baby girls will think when they grow up. What type of reflections will they have on their life, with the full force of maturity now behind them? For now, they are just normal and ordinary young girls, who simply look a little different from their parents, having jet black hair and beautiful black eyes. No doubt, before becoming completely grown up young women, they will go through the usual trials of adolescence, the sometimes painful rite of passage into womanhood. But when they are 20, 25, and 30, and marry and perhaps have children of their own, what will they think? I imagine that, perhaps, they will shed tears at the "goodness" exhibited by the parents they love, remembering the people who spent thousands of dollars and many years, that they might take a lonely ride to a nearby airport, and board a plane to travel to a land they never knew, to encounter a people they never met, all simply because they wanted to embrace her as their very own.

Truly, "America is great because she is good".

My friend Liza's poem, about Iran

Gently place your throwing-rocks beside the road, and thank them,
that today… they will not be used for violent actions…..
Open your hands and show your palms…as you walk,
with peace and silence in your hearts…..
Sit quietly, as you face the barricades…
and, surrender your souls to your authentic selves…..
Invisible Arms, now hold you…
as The Greater Peace touches the innermost minds of all…..
In this stillness, all-encompassing love reaches across all obstacles…
in waves of truth…..
We, all, were born to live lives in freedom…
choosing, for ourselves the path of Light.　

(With tears in my heart for Iran and her beautiful people) - Liza

Future posts

Dear friends,

I hope you enjoy my articles below about Xinjiang, Western China, and Iran. Feel free to disagree with me in any way you like.

In the next few weeks and months, please come back and check for my new articles on the following topics. I will write, sometimes using “purple prose”, from the deepest places of my soul, about the following subjects.

Evin Prison, in Tehran - the place where even as I write many innocent young Iranians are being tortured, the most tyrannical symbol of the Iranian regime.

Adoption of baby girls from China to America - I will write about the unique relationship in which average, decent American couples spend significant amounts of time and money to adopt baby girls from China, baby girls who are often left abandoned at orphanages. Because of this article, I will likely be criticized for praising America for her inherent "goodness".

Toronto - James Joyce, the great Irish novelist, wrote that "when I die, Dublin will be written on my heart." I am no James Joyce, but I truly believe, that when I die, Toronto will be written on my heart. In this article, I will outline why I believe that the city in which I was born and raised is truly the greatest place on earth.

Thanks for your support!

Jair.

Xinjiang on the brink

It is difficult to comment on the events of the past couple of weeks in China's Wild West. They resemble in some ways the Wild Western frontier of the United States 100 to 150 years ago, where vigilante justice prevailed, and where revenge was revered. Any yet, there is so much that we don't know, and may never understand. What prompted a vigilante mob of Uyghur’s to set upon their Han Chinese counterparts with unimaginably horrific acts, murdering innocent bystanders and common laborers in cold blood, with sticks and other crude weapons. But the murder of 150 Han Chinese did not go unnoticed by their brethren.

They gathered, the children of Han, in the streets by the thousands, despite being in a tightly controlled place, armed with all kinds of make shift weapons, from cleavers to metal rods and even billiard ques. Mostly men, but also women and boys, driven to extreme, prompted by fear and motivated by rage. Gone was the shock and disbelief of the unrestrained violence of neighbors, replaced by a bitterness and anger that threatened to turn Urumqi into the very essence of hell on earth, a new Rwanda, a new Srebrenica.

I remember a friend I used to have from Hainan, the beautiful island often described as China's premier tourist destination. She had rich parents, who had given birth to her even though they already had an older daughter, in disregard of China's one child policy. For her family, money and influence was no obstacle. I remember the night she told me about the pictures she was viewing online from Malaysia. She described and showed me photos of Han Chinese, butchered in unimaginable horror simply because they were Han Chinese, and different from their majority Muslim Malaysian neighbors. Despite her status, and her understandable propensity towards indifference due to her living in a Western land with no constraints to her personal freedom, she displayed a moving passion. Behind the make up, the designer clothes, the loft and car bought instantly as a result of being a daughter of privilege, there was a palpable rage. She told me, earnestly, "I will never forget this." A daughter of Han, albeit a privileged one, stunningly aware of the vociferous violence directed at her own people thousands of miles away, vowing to never forget, and presumably, never forgive.

They are 92% of China's population, some 1,200,000,000 people. They represent 1 out of every 5 people on earth. They are people who, for the sake of full disclosure, I have known and loved more than people of my own ethnic background. But in the wild and restless West of China, in cities closer to Tehran and Tashkent than to Beijing, they are a minority, though only slightly so, representing about 40% of the population, comparable to the 45% of ethnic Uyghur’s, a Muslim practicing and Turkic speaking ethnic group. Tensions between the two ethnic groups have always been strained. They share, though Uyghur’s would say (or think) grudgingly, a common country. They are both ethnically Asian. However, they are divided by language, religion and culture.

And now, there is a government and an army at the vanguard of an incredibly difficult position - caught between the almost exploded rage of their own Han counterparts, screaming for justice and revenge at the ruthless slaughter of their children, and between the wailing and screaming of Uyghur women, demanding the release of their detained brothers, husbands, and sons.

While Han Chinese more often than not worship at the alter of economic opportunity, capitalism and modernity, Muslim Uyghur’s bow their heads in the direction of Mecca, worshiping a traditional God while resisting the forces of modernization. The strategy of the Chinese government to make the Uyghur’s abandon or at least minimize their traditional ways, by offering an abundance of economic and financial opportunity, has not gone as smoothly as planned.

On both sides are vastly differing views, separated for now by sheer force, like a dam keeping a minute stream from becoming a massive flood. Han Chinese who believe that Uyghur grievances are no more real than, to quote Roger Cohen of the New York Times, “famine in a fertile land.” Han Chinese who point proudly to the economic develop of this Western province and state that if not for them, Xinjiang would remain a backwards, undeveloped entity. Uyghur Muslims, unnerved, shaken, fearful and feeling that their very identity as a people is at risk. In 1949, their Han neighbors made up 6% of the population of Xinjiang. Today, they make up 40%, with the number probably higher due to Han Chinese migrant workers from the east.

I have been fortunate to have never lived in a land overcome with violent ethnic strife. I have, though, walked through the war cemeteries of Sarajevo, and borne witness to the thousands of people on whose graves the date of death is always the same - between 1992 and 1995. In so doing, I bore witness not to live acts of ethnic cleansing, but to the results of ethnic cleansing wrought long after. The graves, clean and white, glistening under a Balkan sun. An eternal testament to man's unrelenting dominance of his fellowman.

And so has begun Xinjiang's long, restless, and heartbreakingly violent summer of discontent. Lines have been drawn in the sand. Two ethnic groups with a suddenly heightened sense of fear, both containing individuals ready to drink from the cup of bitterness and hatred. The dark places of our soul, exposed. The not so better angels of our nature, exhibited.

For the sake of all humanity, may peace prevail.


By Jair Irwin.
Copyright July 2009

My letters to the Iranian people, with responses below

My First Letter, June 17:
Open letter to the people of Iran
Dear friends,

Recently I was blessed with the opportunity to visit your beautiful country. Before I left, many friends asked me, "Why are you doing to Iran? Isn't it dangerous??" But I found it to be a land of incredible history, culture and people. I marveled at the ancient grandeur of Persepolis, I felt peace standing in parks and gardens in Esfahan, and I was moved standing beside the tombs of Saadi and Hafez. Most of all, I was moved by the warmth and kindness of the Persian people.

I left Tehran on June 8, at 2 am, to return to Canada. I had witnessed the hope and peaceful protests of young Iranians, and had even worn green during my trip to show support for Mir-Hussein Mousavi, the reformist presidential candidate. I met many young Iranians hopeful for a more free and prosperous future under a new president. And to be fair, I even met some supports of President Ahmadinejad, who were also kind to me and with whom I shared tea in a park in Esfahan, beside the dry river.

I never expected that the election would be so obviously rigged. There were too many discrepancies to allow any reasonable minded person to believe the validity of the outcome.

What has transpired in Iran over the last couple of days has deeply disturbed and greatly troubled me. Communication sources have been cut off, peaceful protestors have been attacked, and some people have even been killed!

If you are able to see it, this link shows some images from Iran over the last few days”
http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/06/irans_disputed_election.html

This video shows a young girl being shot in Tehran by the pro-government militia:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9FhIHJY1No

I send you this note from Canada, a country where I can sit at home and relax and send messages without fear of reprisal from police or government forces. This is something I feel grateful for. Today, you have a choice. You can cower in fear, and avoid risk, and allow your country to slip back strongly into the hands of hard-line individuals who have no respect for freedom or for life. Or, you can take significant risk, to stand up against this evil through your peaceful protests.

I don't mean to meddle in Iranian affairs - as you know all to well, foreigners have done this before, with disastrous consequences. However, I want you to think about the girl in the video I posted above, shot dead by pro-government forces, simply because she had the courage to wear a green ribbon and chose to stand for freedom in a crowded square in Tehran. What if she was your daughter? Your sister? Your mother? How can this be allowed to happen with impunity?

My friends, I wish I Was still in Iran standing beside you and risking everything for freedom. I wish there was more I could do to stand with you and support you. I have decided to try to email every Iranian on CouchSurfing with this message, because I feel it’s the least I can do. I want to show my support and appreciation for you as you stand up for what is right. If you think this message will cause you any trouble with the authorities, please just delete it. I haven't talked to you before and simply want to show my support from outside of Iran.

I want you to know this: When you stand up for your country, and support the universal values of freedom of speech and peaceful protest, know that you will never walk alone. From around the world, we love you and support you.

Sincerely,

Jair, in Canada.

"Today we are all Iranians"

************************************************************************


My follow up letter, June 18:

Dear friends,

I have received many responses to the letter I sent to Iranian Couch Surfing friends. The majority have been very appreciative, thanking me for my support and concern, and indicating their unbreakable desire to fight for freedom and change. I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for the friendly and appreciative responses I have received from you.

To be fair, some of you were critical of me and my message. Anywhere I have published these responses (without names) I have included yours as well. Now, I would like to talk to you directly. I call you friends in good faith.

First of all, I very much appreciate your honesty. In a truly free society, there are many diverse opinions. People often disagree with each other. The fact that I have seen this from people in Iran makes me believe even more than Iran is a great society made of people with vastly varying viewpoints.

I also want to say that I have nothing against those who sincerely support your current president, Mr. Ahmadinejad. People should be free to vote for who they chose, without any negative consequences. Mr. Mousavi is not perfect, nor are his supporters. Further, when I was in Iran, I met people who told me that they supported Mr. Ahmadinejad because of what he had done for the poor in rural villages.

My main concern is who really won the election. Mr. Ahmadinejad has millions of supporters. But ask yourselves honestly, does he really have more supporters than Mr. Mousavi? I hope you will consider this question sincerely. In my country, Canada, I have been very disappointed with election results over the last 15 years. But I never doubted that the majority of people disagreed with me and voted for the candidate that I didn't agree with. I simply had to accept the outcome, knowing that it was fair.
I would like to address a specific issue that some of you raised. You stated that commenting on Iran and Iranian politics is not my business, and that I should mind my own business. Again, I appreciate your honesty. I would, however, like to remind you of the words of the great Persian poet Saadi, who said: "The children of Adam are limbs to each other, having been created of one essence." You may interpret his words differently than me. But to me, Saadi was not just saying that all people are equal, but that all people are brothers and sisters. Regardless of what country we happened to be born in, we are all children of Adam, created by the same God, moved by the same forces. When one of us suffers or dies, we all do. When one of us yearns for freedom, we all do. I speak about Iran because I am citizen of the world, not because I am a citizen of Canada or Iran, or any other country. I believe that Saadi would agree with me.

Finally, you have told me that I should not talk about Iran or get involved in its current political issues. I respect your viewpoint, as I have mentioned. I want to ask you one question. Will you also demand that the Arabic speaking Hezbollah/Hamas militia men, who are beating Persian women and children in the streets of Tehran, also do the same? Their is overwhelming evidence from people in Tehran that Arabic speaking men on motorbikes are ruthlessly beating people in the streets, in order to prevent opposition supporters from making any progress. When I was in Tehran 2 weeks ago, I personally saw many Arab men at the shrine of Ayatollah Khomeini and at my hotel. You have asked me, a peaceful young Canadian, to keep silent and not get involved in anything to do with Iran. I ask you sincerely, will you also demand that these Arabs from Lebanon and Palestine do the same?

Love and respect,

Jair.




Here are the responses I received to my above letters. Most are positive, and some are negative. For the sake of fairness, I have included all of them. I think that these vastly differing responses are a sign that Iran is made of people with many diverse viewpoints, which is in itself a hallmark of a free society. It is a good thing, not a bad thing. One intersting note, however. All of the negative responses came from men. I didn't receive even one negative response from a woman. The positive responses came from both men and women. It seems to me that young Iranian women are truly at the vanguard of change, showing extroadinary bravery and courage, and yearning for greater personal freedom.


Responses:


hi dear jairhow r u ?do you have a nice travel ?unfortunately we get lost in the election but it was acheating and mr mosavi didnt accept it and make acomplain and i don't know what will hap pend in thefuture . Iran have a bad condition at nowtake carebe happybye
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Dear Jair,Thank you very much for your warm words. Everybody hereis struggling for the truth. We just hope it all endswell.Many many thanks again for caring about what ishappennig here.Many cheers,
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hi therethnx for offering sympathy.iranian nation have showed that during the centuriesthat no one be able to solve their problems butthemselves.i don't support any line special in this issue.but i'm saying that whenever we offered assistance byoutsiders we would loose something bigger.no offense but you said that you don't want to meddlein the Iranians affairs. you're trying to provoke uswhile we know how to make it. just made it worse.take careregards
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hi jairthank you for supporting us...we are fighting in streets all night till morning andthis battle is not fair...couse they have gun and weare fighiting with our hands...all of my body is lividand is aching now...the policemen are really wild...original iranian dont hit the people wildly,butunfortunately the palestinian ranger come to iran andare hitting us in streets...we really hate of ARABS inthe world .. they are disturbing iran easlly...we just hope USA military or NATO invade to iran'snuclear power in this time...if other goverment dont doanything the dictatorial goverments will kill allyoungmen in the streets with lots help that they arereceiving of arabs goverment especially palestinian....
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Mr. Jair! SalamHow do you do? Hope you be OK!Thanks for the letter. I found you a clever writer,starting with what all Iranians are proud of! (Ourhistory) Presenting documents showing the events andfinally encouraging to continue the disputes. You saidyou don't want to interfere! yeah! But you are!!! ;)... However I don't care. It is an international world.We are all under one common roof and yes that roof isfreedom! Why should you not care about one of thecountries you have been recently?I appreciate your sense of passion and warmth. I dobelieve that all these issues shall never be solvedunless we can improve our culture... And we are stillat the first of the way ... We need to know a lot ofthings and maybe
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Dear Jair,I Can say nothing But ThankS.Thank U ,YOur Country and all the World.most of The police gaurds that kick people are notIRANIAN,an IRANIAN can not hurt his brothers andsisters !!they speak in ARABIC!!!i have heard that theyare LEBENESE or from palestine.Damn Ahmadinejad gavethem money to kick and shoot people!shame on him!!!!!Never leave us alone ,we love all the world,help andsupport us.Hope to visit u in a Free IRAN.
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Dear Jair,I'm so happy you liked Iran. Iran has so many greatplaces and it's such an ancient country.I'm so sorry for Iran, for these things which arehappening, and again I am so grateful you decided towrite this letter which I'm sure will touch so manyhearts.Things aren't so fair these days in Iran, my friendshave been attacked, or in Tehran university they havebeen attacked at night as you know, please be amessenger to the world and tell them how unfair thingshere are. please tell them we don't like Ahmadinejadand Khomeini at all, and they cheated like hell in theelection. I wish you could have seen the streets inTehran yesterday they were like 4,000,000 people onstreetswe may visit Canada soon for my paper,best wishes
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Hi,Sorry, We here now, can not trust ppls any more. youcan trace events via twitter ( #IranElection ) andfacebook
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Thanks for your support.
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Hi JairWell you heard about the seven that got killedyesterday.(The defence was that they werehooligans)Yeah right!So how will the families of the dead deal with theBasijis tonight.Tomorrows media will show.By the way Youtube is banned so i wasnt able to watchthat wideo and Facebook is banned too and so a lot ofother sites and the speed of my internet is really sloweven though we have an asdl and its not the providersfault but the governments telecom that is slowing it.(can hardly check my yahoo e-mail).And where has the president gone today....Russia(Buysome Russian anti-riot gear probably:)RegardsP.sIf those idiots had half a mind in their heads theywould use rubber bullets instead of live rounds(sayingone thing is something but come on they could havefired rubber bullets and that just shows how much theycare about human lives).Well hopefully things will change for a country wherepeople can do whatever they want and not get arrestedfor defending their rights.(freedom of speech).
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hi my new friend nice to inform youfirst you and other poele in other country should kowwe love our culture and our country and we dont needother countris help.we can do it as we did it in passfor Phlavi dynasty.and we love all candidate and werespect together.but the way of candidate is diffrentand most peole show which one is more suitable for ourcountry.you can say others we love AiatollahKhamenei.but some stranger people interfere for theiradvantages.Goodluck
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jair jair jairyou are as great as i cant explain that for your selfi try to do my best and also try to invite pepoles tohelp usbut we nedd forgien supports plzz if you can help mewith this give me your email i will send you alotpictures and if you would you can give them to a bignews paper in your country and even if you want i cangive you good and true reports to tell them to yournews papersthank youa young boy who lost his cousin
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dear jairthank you for your mail and your attention to our oldcountry.i think it`s needed to say that nowadays young Iraniansare trying to repair democratic government in iran ,which is going to some wrong areas and turn back thissystem to its main way.it is the governmental systemthat our fathers made in 30 years ago.with hope to see you again in iran or any where in theworld
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dear Javirmany thanks for your encouraging message.it's reallyimportant to announce the world about the bad eventshappening in Iran.here , they're killing peopleeveryday :((I do appreciate your humanity and hope to see you someday in Iran, when the anger is tapered off, the bloodis washed down and the right is achieved...vive freedomvive Iran
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Dear Jair,I will stand up for mycountry and fight for freedom.thank you for your support
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Hey,This is not your business!. Iran is our homeland, I amnot a mullah's supporter, But I don't allow to you totalk about our freedom or our problems.I'm not livin' in Tehran, but if I did, I didn't go toany place to protest, caz the politic is not myinterest and it's not important for me what happen atthe top layer of country.Got it? this is the reason for me to avoid of anydiscussion and idea about it.But what can I say about you?? I must say this is notyour problem, during 2500 yrs we had a Kingdom gov. andwe adapted to some behaviour and it's cost so manyyears to change many things.So, I say "You aren't all Iranian "*******************************************************


Dear Jair,thank you for your attention!i cant say anything.... :(im not in good condition,i see people attack or die in streets!!!im sorry,may be we can talk next time.Greetings,
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hello a nice manhello to a freedom man and fan freedomim abop from iran and im agree with youcuse they punish me tooyes every thing is right and truewe will be free and have freedom herebut they are comptition to iranian people and fightwith usof cousre i saw that girl in internetvery bad and shamedhow the police can do it with iranian becuse they areiranian toonow yesterday 8 people day with gun and police killedthemnow we are angrysir i try be contact with youand you told me what is your reflex and yourgovernemnt idea about election in iranof course a fake electionthank you so much for be stand with iranian and yourfeeli hope one day all people be free in their lifeand all governemnt do right human for all peopleagain thank you o muchim waiting for your answerbest things and best free for you and all peoplesuffering
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hitahnks for your opiniun about me and my countrybut we try do evry thing from humanity in my countrythank you
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Hi JairUnfortunatly i dont have any pics of the events but imsure all the people with their mobile phones send themto cnn ireport bbc Persia and world and also voaPersia.Tomorrow however their is a funeral for the people thatgot shot and we have to see what that leads to buttonight i think is going to be quiet too as their is afootball game between Saudi and North Korea that canchange Irans destiny in Participating in the worldCup.Maybe before or after the Football the people willstart their protests:)Also there has been reports of the police and otherrevolutionaries stealing peoples cell phones so theydont show the photographs on them and post them on thenet.Also a few reports of militia breaking in peopleshouses and beating people up.(I bet a few guard dogs inthe house would chase the bastards off)Well thats it from me for now and hope to see a bigchange soon.Kind regards
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Dear Jair ,my English is not good so sorry for that ,yes we have a problem in Iran with freedom of speech orsomething like that ,i thank you for your support butthere is a thing that i think you forget it ,i can walkany time of day or night in Iran without any fear ,i donot understand what are you talking about ? i do nothave any problem with my life except tiny problem ,i donot want you show me the girl or protest of people inIran ,my government are vicious and wild in field ,butdo you want me show you the european's government orUSA's government how kill the people wildly inAfghanistan or Iraq or other land ? i thanks you foryour support but please be polite when you want to showme your support .have a best daytanks again and sorry for my English
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Dear jairyou should know that if Musavi was elected as thepresident , such accidents was done also with a younggirl with a 3 color iranian flag strip.as you say you are sitting on your chair calmly andwith out any stress and you say your idea but you dontknow the real fact.when 85 percent of iranian take apart in the election ,what it means?and it make some countries very angry who dont like myland , why you think that it is done by ahmadinejadfans .think greater and look for the roots.I just want to say to obama ; let our country forourselves and dont kill my sisters and mothers in mycountry and my sisters in iraq , afganistan andpakistan.dear jair , just wash your eyes and look again withmore open eyes.
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JUST THANK YOUUUUUU!WITH TEARS!
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Hi Jairthanks alot for your nice feelingI am a protester student looking for freedomI saw the movie and I saw anothers maybe you and theothers out of Iran dont see ..please give me your email..I will declare you about each news and happenings andmaybe you can help us and show it to the world toprotect us...hope to freedome in every part of worl,
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hi dear jairyou are a really good criticize ,really , and have acomplete perception about Iranian political problem butyou have to know some point about Iran. Iran is looklike a democratic country but it isn't and people don'tlike to have trouble with the government or policebecause all of them are poor or have a low salary andthey like to keep their job or their opportunity and soon .if some one don't say anythings or someone areagree with this condition related to fear .fear ofmoney food condition and so on .we had a war before and people was in touch with theproblems of the war . we had a revolution before andjust people had to cope with problems .all of iranianpeople are disagree with this kind of condition .government like to continue like every government atthe world at any cost but people want to change thecondition of country not the government because we havea bad economical condition or political or sociological.people like to improve their country but not at anycost .people hate of Mr ahmadinejad but he very expert tospeak and persuade people to get vote to him because hehas a TV and other government resource .anyway i think that he cant get 24 million vote and itsa cheating because i see all of people in rural areaand urban area that like mousavi and they block somesites or sms and so oni think its better to speak to each other because ihave some idea that cant write it .do you have skype ?we could speak about it if you have free time and ifyou like .warm regards
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Dear Jair,maybe i am wrong and sorry for that,i hate ayatollahkhamenei ,i do not want talk about political because ido not know about it ,in Iran political men are veryingenious ,government want to make a challenge betweento group of people ,one group is people who supportermousavi and the other group is foolish military withthe name of BASIJ in public cloth with stick who attackthe people but they are supported with government orbad Ahmadinejad ,after few days of quarrel police willcome into simulated quarrel that planed with governmentand will terminate this fake challenge,see ?howintelligent was it ?but people are more cleverer thenthem.sorry for my previous letter Mr Jair ,in this timeevery men want to be friend with poor Persian peopleand tell us we support you ,go and go ,they seat intheir chair with safe space and tell us go in tochallenge ,Best Regards
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Dear JairI have flagged your email till I can find free time towrite for you!But the very early answer is this: I have not asked youto remain silent. I agree that 's one world and youhave the right to concern about freedom in every partof the world.To be honest. I don't like Hezbollah at all. I reallymean it that I hate them! So I shall soon write foryou....Regards
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Hi and thx for your long letter.Ya I defiantly agree with the Sa’di.I am really feeling sorrow for what happening,behaviors of police (some of them) and extremists (inboth sides). I guess in 10 days all of the conflict inour country will be ended and you will forget it soonas well.You’re not here to see what is happening. Althoughit’s not important if you were.you can also spend your on our (all human) brothers andlittle sisters whom kill in our neighborhood, Iraqand Afghanistan, as well as in Gaza people need yoursympathy too. Once awhile I heard news about a Iraqi orAfghan girl or woman raped by colonizer soldiers. Yesyou also have opportunity to defend their rights. Overone million civilian Iraqi have killed since 2003invasion. Narcotic export has increased several timessince 2002 in Afghanistan. How many more people haveaddicted in your and my country. WHOSE PROBLEM IS MORECRITICAL? For those poor people we have a proverb whichsays “got out form a hole then threw into a deepwell”. And finally Middle East is our home ratherthan your.Before US invasion to Iraq bush promised young Iraqisliberalism which you translated as freedom.. and civilsociety. I bet many of them don’t know what it is.After 6 years I can see it lots of it in Iraq.In 1953 Yankees and Britons organized a coup, using twopowerful tools to handle it. CIA agents to employ someones and BBC to provoke people and sending secretmessages. They could overthrow the people backedgovernment. You can compare it with the today’s Iransituation. There are similarities.1-About those Arabs you met 2 weeks ago. You were hereat Khomeini’s anniversary. Not only Arabs, thereforeigner guests form 5 continents.2- Where is your evidence about thoseLebanonis\Palestinians Arabs beating people in TehranStreets? As far as I know there are special riot policethat regime uses them only in critical situation likethis one. They’re been ordered not to say even a wordso rioters fear more (something like that).ONCE AGAIN : SPEND YOU TIME AND ENERGY TO THOSE ONE WHONEED IT MORE.In God we believe.Take care
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hi sirindeedall lobnanian and flestinian are eating iranian moneywe hate them sanse long time agobecuse when they need help we helped them and afterthat they answered to iranian very bad and insult usbut iranian forget itbut infact iran governemnt helping these three groupalways and indeed ir`s governemnt mode these groupsnow poor iranian dont have much money becuse all moneyof iranian is speanding for flestinian and lobnaniangroupiranian hate from three groupsindeed when we will have compalaint from somethingshere and go out homeif people be alotour governemnt used from this people for punish iranianand really i was in tehran and i saw one of them he wasspeakking arabic with one of other policethey they are in our country and they kill iranian theyare in our country and punish us in our countryits so sillyi dont know why they are in iranof couirse i know and you know the answeranyway we will be freedom and freeand we take our vote at least
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Hi JairThats a long one.They say no man is an island.People in Iran have been locked up for a long time toknow what the meaning of freedom is or have been bornat a time when they have had no freedom.Maybe all ofthis is just too much emotion over the past few daysbut still it doesnt give any one the excuse to tellsomeone to mind their own business and not tointerfere in other peoples affairs.What if you werehalf Canadian half Iranian(Then could you say ok i willkeep out of your affairs and stick to my Canadianside).Then probably since your half Iranian and itcomes to doing your military service you could say hayim not going to interfere in this stuff but then theywould force you to join and what happens is all of asudden your an Iranian.(not treated like a full bloodedIranian).That just proves that people are still so racist andwhat is freedom when its limited by borders.Ok so ill get out of the country and tell everyone thatcrosses the border to go back to their country or whatthe ...are you lookin at.Then again if i did such a thing what kind of personwould i be:/If people dont understand that the world is connectedthen they are really closed minded and so blind as tonot see that they are sitting behind a screen with anonline web page.Probably some of the people that contacted you or allof them are on couchsurfing and thats sad that somehave told you not to interfere in their countriespolitics.Well why the hell are they on such a culturalexchange site that people like to be able to dayanything and chat about politics and ...and is this anIranian site that allows such rude people to tell youto mind your own business or an International kind ofsite that is free for everyone to state their opinionwithout disrespecing other peoples freedom to interferewhere and when they want.I bet if some of these Irania couchsurfers were beatenup by their own people in a foreign country theywouldnt mind a hand from bystanders and the police;0)And i say it with no fear since ive had about enough ofthe police in this country and being beaten up so manytimes and my only guilt was that i was either innocentor a hero.Ive been whipped by this government beaten up to tearsin police stations and had my money and cellphonestollen in the street by thugs that were no differentbut kinder than the police and that was at knife pointand why am i saying this...Its because no oneinterveined and the street was so busy with carspassing by and no one stopped to help me with thethugs.Well ill tell you when these people need help anddont get it its not going to be fun.As the saying goes a life lived in fear is a life halflived:)Im really ashamed at the response from some of thepeople telling you not to interfere.If it was me id saylisten my mum lives in this country and doesnt want towear a headscarf so why dont you mind your own businessand stop interfering in our freedom.Its like when youcome on a holiday to europe or the west i dont tellyour mum to take of her headscarf but you force mine towear one.So who is the dictator and who is free?Enough saidTake it easy as i plan to do
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Thanks Jair for your sympathize.
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mY jairwe are happy in our funeral cuz we know we have alot offriends around the world like you!we are proud to be host of humans like you!dear jair we are totally sad about kiling and violencein our old iran!noW i have a guy who coming from swiss and he isshocked like you!i can say just thanks to your pure scence about us!we are proud to have you !i belive that you are iranina noW brother!
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Hi JairI am sure the Iranian people vote in elections toMirhosen Moosavi Iran is widespread fraud.
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Hi dear Jair. Thanks for your support and kindness. Itreally make us happy to see that if here we are notheard but outside, the World knows what is the truthand I really hope one day I can see my people who areliving in peace and what they really deserve to havehere...With best wishes for all
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Hello JairThank you for your support.Viva Freedom!
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Hi Jair,I hope you're fine. I've heard about the reasons whythe opposition think there has been a fraud in theelection, some of which is not reasonable and some arenot true. I want to hear your reasons too.After all what I think is that it is a war on powerthat makes people provoked.And the bad part of it is that in this war the sides donot go accoring to legitimate play rules and just abusepeople hearts specially teenagers.Anyway I hope everything will calm down soon and thankyou for your concerns,
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Dear Jair ,ur letter was full of peace ,love and faith. Thank youfor all ur supports and the efforts for democracy andfreedom in Iran , unfortunatately the beautiful Iran isnow under fire and blood and many of our sisters andbrothers are been killed these days ! we hope that Iransees beautiful days in near future , and hope to see usoon in free and peacefull beautiful Iran.
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hiwe won.and there is no cheat.
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dear my friend:i am really happy that somebody at leastappriciate iran. actualy as you saw peaple in iranparticipated in election just to dont let ahmadinejadreelect again.as i did .i my self woted to karoobi notmoosavi but i hate ahmadinejad .i really happy to meet u .we dont have a realldemocrasy in iran.we dont like this fucking president he is a rigidreligous person we believe that he is really insaine.ilike to stay in touch with u bye
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Dear Jair Irwin,Many thanks for your kind letter. it is a true movingand caring letter to people which you are not bond byblood or heredity but stronger bond which is"freedom".As you know we are almost cut from the world withlimitations from our illegal government and i am veryhappy to hear from outside world and a completestranger how he and free societies and countries thinkabout our movement.I really appreciate your kind words and hope that someday peace and democracy come back to our country.The thing that you guys out there could do is spreadingthe words and things that are occurring in here rightnow and help us by letting know what's happening here.There is a special article about how the governmentmonitoring our media and specially internet which ourpeople would like to be bombarded and use againstcompanies(Nokia&siemens) which are providing thesetechnics and hardware.You can Google for those companies in wallsteet journalnad find the article. If any legal actions should madewe would be grateful.Regards
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Dear JairThank you for your friendly email, it is nice of you ifyou sympathy with people of Iran. They are in adangerous situation!I wish I could mwt you in Esfahan!Sincerely
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Hi,Thanks, I really appreciate it! I can't answer you withsome fancy words, but to tell you the truth it's allbecause greedy people!One more thing , is it a joke?your sending me youtube link?!!everything here is filtered!!! if you see some videosthey are sent through friends in other countries (likeyou). we don't even see them. and even they have cutthe satelite channels and also for 3 weeks we don'thave sms system. and for 5 days they'd cut the cellphone system!
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Dear Jair,Thanks for your heartfelt message of solidarity.The regime has exposed its brutal face as a militarydictatorship, run by Khamenei, Ahmadinejad, and hismilitia goons.The anti-regime majority in the country must live underthe rule of a backward-thinking Islamofacsistminority.Any glimmer of hope we had for Iran's future as ademocracy has been snuffed out, unless we pay for it inblood.I never imagined the Mousavi green wave would end likethis.Thanks again for your supportbest wishes,XXXXp.s. please delete this later, due to tight security, Idon't want my name on anything traceable ... merci!
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Dear Jair,Yes, you are right.thank you for your support.your friend,
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Hi JairThank you for your massage. You know freedome is notcheap and we pry its value with our blood.Iranianalways did it but they never feel the freedome! theseday we just see the sick people on the streets! We dontsee any happy person, and its bad more than the resultof election. we do our job as a robate! And after jobwe search the chanals of satelight for real news.I dont know how can i do for my firends and myself toreturn to life.I m connecting to net after 8days, becouse the speedwas too low and i couldnt open my email pages!!!but i believe this situation is not for ever.Best wishes for you and iranian.
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hello my friend,the situation is not like that in which you havedescribed. the girl has not been shot byprogovernment militia.every thing is done by western countries like US andIsrail.every thing is ok in Iran and we accept the outcome ofthe vote and we respect it.thanks for your very kind messageand please don't attention to the foreign media likeBBC., because they are our enemy and they want toimpose negative propoganda on us.\all the best
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Hellothank you very much my friend. I hope all the peopleliove in peace.and thnak you for your writing.
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Dear JairI read your beautiful message and we feel more powerfulhavingsuch friends who support democracy and freedom all overthe world,here in Iran we need to communicate with free countriesfor peopleto know the benefits of democracy.again thanks for your supporthope to meet you
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hello my nice frd from another country but in fact mycountryman who is so kind.thx for ur nice words.absolutly i feel ur feeling tosupport us.yes ppl in iran protested beside the liar governmentthat deceived ppl in election curelly.but now ppl havebeen calm bcz they killed ppl easily and they r so curewho just think of their interests,while they pretendthat they r muslim and they abuse this religion to doevery thing wrong and to deceive iranian ppl.they justlie,they dont fear to kill ppl who protest,but what todo?but they r unstable and i m sure it,s near to seethat they disapear,i hope so.i saw that girl who was killed by them but it wasntjust her,i saw many of these ppl who were killedcurly.thx again for ur sympathy but dont worry ,i m sure wewill win,i m sure.i and other iranian ppl thank u and other ppl in allover the world for ur supporting.have funbye
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Thanks a lot .
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hi dear jairthank for your awareness about Iranian juvenile ,i think Iranian government have big problem withmajority of peopleevery body have been seed and nerves,but they are notdisappointed and they will tray for change in Iran.if i need any help i will connect with you\best regards
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THANK FOR YOUR EMAIL,MY DEAR FRIEND
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dear JairI read your message, it was really great one...and Imreally happy that u enjoyed your stay in iran and feltproud when read you were in protests and you arefollowing news about Iran and care about it.hope too see ya again in a free and green Iran soonregards,
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Hi Jair,I really impressed by your kind letter and I got happyknowing that people in the world are not apathetic andare aware of the situation of Iran. I hope and Ibelieve that futur is ours and we will get freedom evenmaybe after years.cheers,
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Hi Jair thx for good looking about Iran. and sorry for delayingin respond. I was busy about the election and demonstration.hope the best for you and human beings
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