Farinaz Aryanfar

Hunter

2011-08-15T17:22:00.002+02:00

King Raam - Shekarchi (The Hunter)
====
Your bones sound hollow

The singing of the wolves around the fire,

you don't like.

Your bones sound hollow

and everyone have put their hands

on their ears.

To the sound of your body's pillars

I dance! I dance!

With your dry and cold lips

I heat up, I die!

The taste of your hands

have driven me crazy.

Come sit next to me

until we turn night into the morning.

Your curves and stretches

have driven me wild.

Like the wolf around the fire

I've sharpened my claws.

To the sound of your body's pillars

I dance! I dance!

With your dry and cold lips

I heat up, I die!

With the cracks under your skin

I melt! I die!

In your complaining eyes' extent

I drown! I die!

Your frown

turns into whiplashes on me

turns into screams inside of me

I can't be silent.

Your laughs

like a bullet in the target

wears me out

torments me well.

Hunter! I'm caught in your trap

Like a prey, I'm captured

I want to die.

Hunter! you're caught in my trap

Such a delicious prey

such a sweet catch

~translation by Farinaz Aryanfar

Iran Elections 2nd anniversary

2011-06-14T13:28:00.001+02:00

Very moving silent protest in Paris to commemorate the 2nd anniversary of the rigged presidential elections in Iran...

Circumstance Trailer

2011-04-20T23:08:00.000+02:00

Love its music... soundtracks of movies have always drawn me to the cinemas... It's my weakness ;)

women's day

2011-03-07T23:03:00.002+01:00

received this today from my special person...
now I'm dedicating it to all the unusual women out there who can't adjust to the norms of these days :)

Interview with BNR

2011-02-11T22:26:00.003+01:00

Hier kunnen jullie mijn interview op BNR nieuws radio van vandaag nog terug luisteren
onderwerp was Iran natuurlijk ;)

http://www.bnr.nl/static/jspx/play.jspx?dag=11&maand=2&jaar=2011&tijd=16:18&lengte=10&titel=Titel

.

Some things...

2010-12-27T22:32:00.002+01:00

Nancy Ajram - Fi Hagat (Libanese music)

Interview

2010-07-12T21:27:00.003+02:00

Tomorrow morning at 7am I will be interviewed by BNR radio about Iran.

Morgen om 7uur 's ochtends word ik geïnterviewed door BNR radio over Iran. Ik zet de link na de interview als het afgelopen is.

http://www.bnr.nl/static/jspx/play.jspx?dag=13&maand=7&jaar=2010&tijd=07:09:00&lengte=10&title=Titel

Debate on multicultural society

2010-06-29T11:23:00.004+02:00

On July 4th 2010
11:30 – 13:00
Debate under direction of the Wereldpodium:
‘From the multicultural drama to the mono cultural drama’

http://www.huisvandewereld.nl/Activiteit.aspx?id=151

The Wereldpodium organizes a discussion panel on the multi/mono cultural society with respect to the recent growth of the political party PVV.

One of the main points of discussion will be the advantages and disadvantages of a society where the Dutch culture is leading or whether there is such a thing as a Dutch culture.

Guest speakers are:

1. Abdel Razak Chraou (head editor M-zine, Marokkaanse Glossy)
3. Michael Lehmann (Photographer China fence)
4. Farinaz Aryanfar (Student UvT, Iran expert)
5. Abubakkar Bangura (Sierra Leone Youth Initiative)
6. Ali Yenice. (councilor Groen Links and entrepreneur)
7. Someone from TROTS (a councilor TROTS)
8. Layla Alizadah (pupil Willem II college, Wereldpodium)
9. Maarten van den Tillaart (fraction chair CDA)
10. Burhanettin Yilmaz (Chair Suleiman mosque Tilburg)

Guest list is under reservation.

Toegang: gratis

Can't anybody see?

2010-06-25T19:29:00.001+02:00

Somehow when I listen to this music I have to think of the Green Movement and all those Iranian protesters inside Iran after last year's election...

can't anybody see,
We've got a war to fight,
Never found our way,
Regardless of what they say
...
I got nobody on my side,
And surely that ain't right,
Surely that ain't right.

Portishead - Roads

My interview with BNR

2010-06-11T19:12:00.005+02:00

Een jaar na de Iraanse verkiezingen.

Mijn interview met BNR

Klik hier om hem na te luisteren

62

2010-04-19T14:17:00.000+02:00

Religion

2010-04-17T01:18:00.006+02:00

I saw this today. Interesting... I think studying different religions is good but not because it gives you faith, I think it makes you believe more and more that there is no GOD as published in the books of GOD. I studied in Muslim schools, in Catholic and Protestant's schools, and that is where it got me: Believing in No Religion!

But I believe knowledge in general is always good!

interviews these days!

2010-04-13T14:29:00.002+02:00

How crazy is it to spend around 45minutes on the phone to answer a journalists questions for an article in the newspaper, then she emails you back after a week and says: "I had too much information for this article so I am going to take your part totally out!!"

Are you fu**ing kidding me?!!

Pfff....

Obama's Persian New Year message

2010-03-21T14:40:00.002+01:00

I love it when Obama talks so condescending to Iranian leaders! They deserve it :)

My Farsi conference on Mid-East women in Köln

2010-02-26T23:08:00.004+01:00

I will be the main speaker of the Conference in Köln (Germany) on March 7th 2010. The Conference is about the Middle Eastern Women, and will be held in Farsi. Thanks to the Talash Foundation which has organized such a beautiful program.

becoming one of the 12 women of 2009

2010-02-21T10:15:00.008+01:00

I have become one of the 12 most on the news women of 2009. The magazine was sent with the volkskrant newspaper yesterday. I also have a talkshow for the same title on the 2nd of March in Amsterdam (see for more info http://www.womeninc.nl/page/18448/nl). It is so strange to be on the other side of the page where Neelie Kroes 's been interviewed and have a photo right above Hillary Clinton's picture... pfff... Overwhelming...
(am on page 11) http://www.bladerboekje.nl/womeninc

Mijn interview als een van de 12 meest in het nieuws geweeste vrouwen van 2009 is met de volkskrant gister meegegaan. Ik heb voor de zelfde titel ook een talkshow op 2 Maart in Amsterdam (zie voor meer info http://www.womeninc.nl/page/18448/nl). Het is een raar gevoel om aan de andere zijde van een blad zijn waar Neelie Kroes ook geïnterviewd is... pfff... overweldigend...
(ben op pagina 11) http://www.bladerboekje.nl/womeninc

BNR Radio

2010-02-11T22:29:00.005+01:00

Tomorrow I will have an interview with BNR radio, about the Iranian demonstration today.

It's at 11.00.

You can listen to it here, but it's in dutch. Je kan hem hier na luisteren.

Tehran Symphony Orchestra

2010-01-31T12:06:00.010+01:00

"Dat Iraanse staatsorkest maakt een Europese Tour. De Italianen hebben geweigerd. Wij dus niet", schreef Arend-Jan Boekestijn via Twitter op facebook... En ja, ik moet er zo nodig op reageren:

Ik vind het zo irritant als de politiek zich met kunst gaat bemoeien of dat als pionier wil gebruiken... bah! Vies! Kunst mag politiek zijn. Politiek mag zich niet gaan bemoeien ermee! Staatsorkest klinkt al vreemd in mijn oren... en zo te horen heeft er al een regering zich mee bemoeid... en dat maakt me gewoon ziek! En als de Nederlandse regering zich ook nog daarmee gaat bemoeien vind ik het nog walgelijker... We zijn hier een vrij land... en ik ben blij dat we ze hun gang hebben laten gaan. Er zijn genoeg demonstranten die er zouden kunnen komen... Er gebeurt iets op het sociaal/culturele niveau, degene die er tegen is mag er tegen actie voeren. De regering moet zich niet met iedere detail van het menselijke leven bemoeien. Laat de liberale democratie en het democratische stelsel zijn gang gaan, ik geloof erin! Dat zouden we allemaal moeten doen!

There, I got it out of my system... Now the Tehran Symphony Orchestra performed in Belgium and the democratic system prevailed. There were people flyering... I don't know what happened in their performance yesterday in Rotterdam, I couldn't find anything in the news, but this on its own is wonderful, it means that they are not even important enough to catch the media's attention.

P.S.

See, I told you the democratic system will prevail, these are some demonstrators inside the building, there were also some outside the building. Anyway, I'm happy the Dutch government did not interfere with this issue like Italy did. We understand the core of democracy here in the Netherlands.

Voor meer info zie NOS nieuws.

Winter Odeur

2010-01-13T12:13:00.004+01:00

Met de inkt
die naar je lichaam ruikt
neem ik je mee
op de versnipperde blaadjes
hier en daar
en zal ‘k je registreren.

Je komt weer
Je komt weer en vraagt me wat ‘wij’ inhouden
en dat, na drie lange seizoenen
in een cirkel
waar het begin en einde
overeenkomstig is.
Drie seizoenen met momenten
die ik met een vers van
‘dit is mijn lot’*
geproefd heb.

Je komt
en ik weet
dat je me
als ieder andere bloemblad van je
gelijkgeurig gaat vinden
alweer.

Maar in deze donkere wagen van je herinneringen
heb ik gehuild en
werd ik gekust
weet je nog?
Toen ik zonder enige aankondiging
voor de deur van je huis der genegenheid
verscheen.

Toen je halfnaakt, gekleed was
en ik gekleed, oernaakt voor je stond.

Toen we ons aparte wegen vervolgden
maar weer terugkwamen…

Toen we met al het gemis
pas in elkaars armen
het verlangen voelden.

Toen je je
na de climax
met je liefkozende ogen
op mijn bewusteloos lichaam
graveerde.

Wist je dan niet
dat ik elke dag
tijdens iedere andere ‘liefde-bedrijving’
die onsterfelijke scènes
met smaak zou proeven
zou verslinden
ze dan zou uitbraken
en als een kameel
een tijd zou blijven herkauwen?

Als een bestelling uit hemel
was je
geboren in mij
geboren in mei.
Jij bent toch een lentevrucht, oh lief…
waarom heb je dan een ijzige winter
voor me geschetst?

Wist je dan niet
dat als je weer eens waaide als een bries
mijn momenten
met wat episodes van de ‘wedergeboorte’*
met jouw handschrift
tot de kelder van de hel van onze memoires
mij zouden vergezellen?

En ik zou je dan achterna roepen
“gij zult van ’n schurk geen liefde claimen”**
maar jij was de schurk, de mijne
met een glimlach net zo gelukkig als de mijne
en een lichaam goed passend bij het mijne…
Maar je komt weer terug
Je komt
en mijn lijk wordt weer verwarmd
tot leven gewekt
om het weer in het kou te laten staan.
zo zou je mijn bomen van hoop weer bemesten
en weer wegwaaien, zul je
en mijn lijk
zou huilen, met bloedtranen
en zou ruiken naar een ‘onschatbare hoer’
en zou blijven met jouw littekens op zich
en zou je vingerafdrukken met zich dragen
en me haten
en je haten
en je haten
en vergeten.
Je plaats zou dan in mijn hartkloppingen
geleidelijk bevriezen.

Maar je komt weer
van begin af aan
en laat je wonden door me uitkleden
zodat ik ze kan zalven.

En vraag je naar een meting
een inhoud over ‘wij’.

En ik ga
en ik kom
en tijdens de piekuren van de vrede
die je aan me verschijnt
en me liefkozend berijmt
word ik niet meer gevuld
word ik niet meer blij…

Lief, het is winter
en je bent je odeur kwijt.

~Fari Naz
----------------
* Een gedicht van het Iraanse dichteres Forough Farrokhzad.
** Een vers uit een oude Perzisch gedicht, vertaald uit “طلب عشق ز هر بی سر و پایی نکنیم”

Middle East, needs some Peace!

2010-01-09T12:34:00.001+01:00

If we only believe... One day...

This commercial is airing in Israil's tv networks :)

U.S. Security

2010-01-07T11:59:00.004+01:00

Come on Man! Your security people can't even protect a party! Let alone countries! pfff... 3 times they failed just to protect a state party!
Also remember that the reason the x-mas attack was failed was only because my country-mates, are brave Dutch people! :) Get a grip man!

This is no way to secure a country! When are you gonna learn that you need another method to treat this mess? Look for better solutions! pfff!

Iran Blacklist

2010-01-06T11:31:00.002+01:00

Iran creates a blacklist for banning Iranians to cooperate with 60 western organizations, including BBC, Yale university, Human Rights Watch and by the Dutch government subsidized Radio Zamaneh, and Hivos organizations.
I can only think of this quote by Fereidoon Farrokhzad (RIP):
"This isn't funny, it is a tragedy."

read here: guardian.co.uk

Ashura protests in Iran

2009-12-27T12:22:00.008+01:00

Yesterday was Ashura. In Iran though everything had a different color, Green. In many places the mourning sounds had changed, and there were rhythmic musics heard (according to some sources from Iran).

In other places the protests still went on, and people were killed. Even the speech of Mohammad Khatami, former president of Iran, was disrupted by the undercover regime agents.

P.S. December 29, 2009

I feel you

2009-12-13T13:08:00.006+01:00

Dit verhaal ken ik zo goed.

Een paar maanden geleden wou ik samen met wat D66 collega’s een kerncentrale bezichtigen en ik was niet eens gescreend! Al was ik lid van de Platform Internationale Veiligheid en Defensie (PIVD), al heb ik me sinds mijn tienertijden uitgesproken tegen de Iraanse regering, al heb ik alleen maar een Nederlands paspoort (geen Iraanse paspoort) en is het gevaarlijk voor me om naar Iran te reizen, al worden mijn familie leden door de Iraanse autoriteiten ondervraagd over mijn activiteiten tegen de huidige ondemocratische regering... word ik nog als potentiële spion gezien tegen de staat waar ik sinds mijn 12e in woon en me totaal in geïntegreerd heb!!!

Demonstration's still go on! (IRAN)

2009-12-09T15:46:00.002+01:00

Yesterday December 8th, Tehran University.
translation of the slogans I could distingiush: "God is great", "Basiji (=Mobilization of the Oppressed) has become violent and agressive", "Iranians support us", "death to the dictator", "oh Hosein (3d Shiite's imam), Mirhosein", etc.
and this new one I heard today and LOVED IT: "Basiji there is no free food here, go home!"

Single stories

2009-10-25T13:48:00.003+01:00

Don't you just love her?

Chimamanda Adichie

Hoe gevaarlijk is Iran

2009-10-02T16:07:00.000+02:00

Interview met Thomas Erdbrink, correspondent NRC-handelsblad

Ahmadinejad getting ready for UN General Assembly

2009-09-22T22:28:00.005+02:00

PS. I just got this article of the Volkskrant. Well what can I say? I love my colleagues at the Iran Committee.

A painting from Iran

2009-09-21T20:19:00.002+02:00

A kid's painting in Iran about International Al-Qods day.....

"Where is My Vote" stamps in The Netherlands

2009-09-18T01:00:00.007+02:00

Photo by Payam F

For more info, check: http://sites.google.com/site/whereismyvoteproject/home/postcards-and-stamps

P.S.

Maybe a little explanation is needed after all.

The idea of this campaign, was a smart one so I put it here. The thing is that you can upload the "where is my vote" design on a bunch of stamps through the web site tnt.nl (Dutch post office) and then send your letters with them. The more people do this, the more people get this stamp on their received-letters.

That's all :)

Welcome to Iran; a lying society

2009-09-15T21:22:00.003+02:00

Movie: About Elly
An interview with Golshifteh Farahani by toutlecine

-------------------------------

Movie: My Tehran For Sale

Iranian Post-modern Artists in exhile

2009-09-10T18:26:00.001+02:00

My office

2009-08-27T14:07:00.000+02:00

I have my own first official office in my carrier.

Tilburg University

Office room C 158

University councillor, party Aryanfar

+31 (0) 13 466 3617

Modern Islam

2009-08-01T21:59:00.003+02:00

Women praying besides men, not behind them...

I Love this picture...

Iran's Protests

2009-07-09T17:49:00.005+02:00

slogan: "death to the dictator"

I am not in a state to type much or even move much (had a surgery) , but I just had to put this here.
This is a video of today (July 9th) evening in Iran. Protests are rising up again, at least for today.
You can read more here (New York Times)

Mousavi, Not worth it!

2009-06-22T18:02:00.013+02:00

I just read Mousavi’s 5th statement and I need to throw up.

In his statement he goes on and on about how “during this 30 years of the Islamic Republic and especially during Khomeini’s life, Khomeini's bright conscience, invested so much through our lives, properties and our honor and established this beautiful sculpture [ie. the Islamic system]. We experienced a holy bright time which never before was experienced by our society.” (...)
“I had come to once again, invite [all] to the way the Islamic revolution was and the way the Islamic republic should be. (…) and now the generation which was convicted to be distant from the bases of Islam, is shouting ‘nasre-men allah va fathel gharib’ [arabic for ‘the victory of God will conquer anything’. arabic is the language of the Islam as Hebrew is the language of classic bible and Greek the language of bible's new testament] and ‘ya Hosein’ [arabic for ‘Oh Hosein’ = Shiite`s third imam] and the name of Khomeini (…).”
The story goes on and gets worse. I just tried to give a taste of it but what the hell is he talking about? Which holy time? Is he talking about the war time and how Khomeini kept on “investing by people’s lives” and didn’t get into the negotiations to stop the damn thing, or is he talking about his own period of governance in which thousands of dissidents were murdered? In his statement he writes (as in his election speeches) that by becoming a president he wanted to take the Iranian society BACK to those “holy” times.

I don’t have much time to go on about this but I wonder whether the Iranians who are on the street getting shot and killed, are doing so for Mousavi. And if so, is he really worth it?
He is not going to give me what I want, and I wish he is not what the Iranians want, ‘cause if the Islamic Republic persists after all these deaths, I will totally give up my Iranianhood!

PS. There is a hot debate going on, about this article on my facebook page. For those who want to participate you can just add me in facebook and join the debate. It is amazing how people from all over the world are contributing...

How to help a bullet wound

2009-06-20T11:37:00.001+02:00

پرستاری و زنده نگه داشتن مجروحین تیر خورده

نکات کلی و مهم

1- خونسردی خود را حفظ کنید، مهمترین چیز حفظ خونسری است

2- به مجروح آب و مایعات ندهید. آشامیدن مایعات باعث افزایش خونریزی می شود

3- به هیچ وجه سعی در خارج کردن گلوله نکنید

4- دستکاری محل زخم خونریزی را شدید و باعث عفونت می شود. تا فراهم شدن یک پارجه یا باند برای بستن زخم با فشار مستقیم روی محل ضایعه می توانید از خونریزی جلوگیری کنید

5- با یک باند یا پارچه تمیز روی زخم را ببندید (خیلی سفت نبندید که جلوی رسیدن خون به انتهای اندام را گرفته و انتهای اندام کبود شود). اگر خونریزی با بانداژ اولیه بند نیامد، روی همان بانداژ اقدام به بستن یک بانداژ دیگر کنید

5- تا جای ممکن از تماس خاک با محل زخم پرهیز کنید

6- مصدوم را در محلی گرم و دور از نور مستقیم خورشید نگه دارید

7- در صورت سرگیجه و یا گیجی شخص مصدوم، سر مصدوم را پایین تر از بدن قرار دهید تا به مغز خون کافی برسد

تیر خوردن دست و پا

خونرسانی به محل اصابت گلوله را تا حد ممکن مسدود نمایید، اما تا حدی که خون رسانی به طور کامل قطع نشود

اگر جراحت خیلی شدید است هر یک ساعت ، حدود 5-10 دقیقه مسیر خونرسانی را باز کنید، سپس مجددا ببندید

جسم خارجی فرو رفته در بدن مثل چاقو

هیچ گاه اقدام به خارج کردن شئی نکنید چون باعث خونریزی و مرگ بیمار می شود.با پانسمان چاقو را در بدن ثابت کرده فرد را سریعا به بیمارستان برسانید

تیر خوردن به ستون فقرات :کمر و گردن

عضو مصدوم را توسط کیسه شن (یا هر چیزی شبیه آن) ثابت نگه دارید که باعث صدمات نخاعی نشود. برای بستن کیسه شن دور عضو مصدوم از کمربند، طناب یا پارچه می توانید استفاده کنید. در حمل مصدوم نهایت دقت را نمایید که کمترین حرکت به بدن او داده شود

تیر خوردن به قفسه سینه

در صورت اصابت گلوله به سینه ، ریه هوا کشیده ، خون وارد ریه شده و باعث خفگی شده و مصدوم در عرض 1 تا 2 دقیقه جان می بازد (Sucking wound)

1- لباس را از روی زخم کنار بزنید. اگر لباس به داخل زخم فرو رفته نمی خواهد آن را از زخم بیرون بکشید

2- با دست روی محل ضایعه فشار وارد کنید: می توانید دست مصدوم را روی زخم بگذارید

3- یک پارچه یا گاز یا باند را کاملا به وازلین، کرم یا روغن آغشته کرده و روی زخم فشار دهید تا جایی که هوا نکشد. می توان از یک تکه نایلون یا فویل تمیز هم استفاده کرد =>>این تکه باند یا نایلون باید حداقل 4-5 سانتی متر از طرفین زخم بزرگتر باشد

4- برای محکم کردن این پانسمان میتوانید ازهر نوع چسب نواری استفاده کنید. سه طرف پانسمان را به خوبی روی بدن بیمار با چسب فیکس کنید و یک طرف زا آزاد بگذارید. اگر چسب در اختیار ندارید بعد از گذاشتن باند آغشته به وازلین روی محل را با باندپیچ کنید

- اگر گلوله از یک طرف وارد و از طرف دیگر بدن خارج شده باید آن طرف را هم کاملا بپوشانید

سپس مصدوم را به بغل و سمتی که تیر خورده بخوابانید و یا حمل کنید

صدمات داخلی در اثر ضربه: مثلا ضربه باتوم یا چماق

صدمات داخلی در اثر ضربه ممکن است منجر به خونریزی داخلی در اثر پارگی اندامهای داخلی بدن مثل کبد و طحال شود.

صدمات داخلی به علت عدم وجود خونریزی واضح دیر تشخیص و درمان شده باعث مرگ و میر فراوان می شود. در این مواقع علائمی مثل درد شدید بخصوص در لمس محل ضایعه، سفت و سخت شدن عضلات شکم، بالا آوردن خون، سرفه خونی و در موارد شدید با علائم کاهش شدید فشار خون مثل سرگیجه تاری دید و شوک تظاهر می کند

در این مواقع بیمار را خوابانده در صورت امکان پاها را بالا بگیرید. هیچ آب و یا غذا به بیمار ندهید. بیمار را گرم نگه داشته و سریعا به بیمارستان برسانید

ضربه به سر و صورت
در صورت وجود علائم زیر احتمال ضربه مغزی بالاست و مصدوم را به بیمارستان برسانید

خونیزی از هر محلی از سر و صورت، بینی، گوش

سردرد، سرگیجه تهوع و استفراغ

کبودی دور چشم و کبودی پشت گوش

در صورت مواجهه با ضربه حاد به سروصورت اولین اقدام اطمینان از این است که مصدوم می تواند نفس بکشد. اگر جسم خارجی (آدامس؛ دندان مصنوعی و ...) در دهان بیمار هست خارج شود. سپس جلوگیری از خونریزی در قدم بعدی و جلوگیری از ورود خون به راه هوایی و انسداد آن مد نظر قرار گیرد.

Ahmadinejad in Russia a couple of days ago

2009-06-18T23:48:00.003+02:00

Sorry I just couldn't back off.
This is just too much fun to miss. It made my day. I wonder why everyone wants to get rid of Ahmadinejad. He is a funny clown!!

No true leader figure for Iran...

2009-06-17T16:47:00.009+02:00

A couple of days ago, I was talking to one of my very good friends who is an Iranian PhD student here in the Netherlands. We were talking about Reza Pahlavi, the son of shah of Iran.
This friend of mine told me that Reza is not really interested in Iran, he is just acting so. I couldn’t agree with him. As I had some direct contacts with Mr. Pahlavi, I had a taste of how he thinks and I could not think that he does not want to go back to Iran.
My friend insisted that “even if there would be a chance for Mr. Pahlavi to go to Iran to rule, do you really think that he would do so? I think he is just making money and popularity out of this whole thing. How could he ever leave his wealthy and modern lifestyle here and go back to an underdeveloped country. Why would he want to rule such a chaotic mess, taking visits to poor dampy villages in Khouzestan? I don't think so. He is having too much fun and I would too if my father took that much money with him out of the country”.

My counter argument was that “he does not do this for money. The man was raised for 18 years believing he would be Iran’s ruler one day, but one day all his goals were vanished. But not quite so because he tried to get back to that dream, working with so many dissidents. The only thing is that he is not a strong man to lead. He was raised to become a SHAH, not a FIGHTER. He has no clue, even after 30 years, how to fight a theocratic regime. He only knows how to give speeches and give orders. I have followed him closely even at a time when I had contacts with him in an indirect way. He became depressed after he tried to gather some young dissidents outside Iran to work with him as ‘the group of Iran’s leaders’ and it didn’t work out. He was so depressed after hearing the disasters happening in that group that he took the next flight to some country (I can’t remember whether it was Switzerland or some other country) far from Washington DC to take his mind off his loss. He really does care but if he was a leader he should have gone to Iran now. Now, that there are protests there. He will either be poisoned or killed or not. Either way, that is the way a true dissident fights.”

Today I received a fake press release in Farsi supposedly from Reza Pahlavi announcing he would go to Iran, dated 15th June, 2009.
“I have made a historic decision, and because of my national duty and conscience, I will be there among my fellow countrymen inside Iran, in 48 hours.”
I was shocked! Could I have been wrong about him after all?
I wasn’t sure whether this was true or not so I checked his official web site. And no, it wasn’t true. No sign of anything more than some messages and statements…
Yesterday I was at someone’s house where they have Iran’s satellite-tv. As hospitable Iranians are, they gave me the remote control to watch the channel I prefer. Well, I don’t really like Iranian expat’s tv. They are really unprofessional but still I switched from one channel to another respectfully.
I found a Marxist channel by chance. The man on the screen was showing some pictures and urging Iranians to hold some of the TRUE leaders who have fought for THEIR freedom for years!!!!
My eyeballs were jumping out. UNBELIEVABLE! How does he dare?

I think it is a shame that Iranians have no better leader figure than a pro Islamic Republican, Mousavi. Such a shame...

Iran rallies, my opinion?!

2009-06-16T19:11:00.004+02:00

The reason I am not writing my opinion about the protests happening in Iran is first: there are enough people analyzing the situation. Both those who have no clue and those who are really involved... The variation is so colorful that there is no need for me to add another.

Second: I am too busy giving interviews on the situation in Iran and also taking exams!!

But if you believe that every person is unique and you troubled yourself to know my opinion "per se", then you can read the Dutch national newspapers like Spits or any local Dutch newspaper.
I will also give tv interviews. (see todays 19:30 rtl4 nieuws from minute 7:43)

Petitie, teken hem aub

2009-06-16T09:38:00.002+02:00

Een petitie om de Iraanse protesten te steunen door Minister Verhagen van buitenlandse zaken te vragen om

Ahmadinejad op basis van deze verkiezingen niet te erkennen als president van Iran;
De Iraanse ambassadeur in Nederland te ontbieden;
Het geweld van de Iraanse staat gericht tegen vreedzame burgers streng te veroordelen;
Al het noodzakelijke te doen om met uw collega’s in de EU tot een Europees pakket van diplomatieke maatregelen tegen de illegitieme machthebbers in Iran te komen
ed

zie de complete petitie HIER en teken hem aub.

Hierbij dank ik mijn oude vriend Damon Golriz voor zijn initiatief

In support of Iranian protesters inside Iran

2009-06-14T11:15:00.009+02:00

Something happened in presidential election on Friday 12th June, 2009. Something like a planned coup.
To protest against the Iranian dictatorship there will be a protest in front of the Iranian embassy on sunday 15th June, 2009.
To show unity and a strong will for changing Iran.
Let's be in front of Iranian embassy at 12.00.

gun shots in Tehran June 14th, 2009

Symposium about the power in Iran

2009-06-10T17:45:00.001+02:00

I will be one of the speakers at the symposium of Tilburg University along with Kader Abdullah and Johan ter Haar on June 11th (a day before the Iranian elections).

Iranian elections

2009-06-10T11:46:00.015+02:00

Young Iranians want change.
And they want to get it through their presidency candidate: Mousavi and his election color: Green

The opposition groups and individuals against the Islamic Republic regime of Iran need to see the facts for once in their life. The truth is that the Iranians' idea for freedom is not to have freedoms and democracy like in developed countries, that is a fairytale to them, which is lovely to hear and dream about but not realizable.
They are "realistic", which means that they want to have underground parties more, want to watch persian romantic movies and not religious movies (during Ahmadinejad the production of the first gave its place to the latter), they want to be able to read some love novels, and be able to have their secret affairs with less fear...
They don't want their dignity be destroyed Internationaly by a crazy little president who does not know the basics of diplomacy, and shouts crazy statements just for his selfexpression. Iranians want their economic wellbeing back at the time of Khatami. If the above is realized they can live with the censorship on newspapers that will be closed again, and the students that are jailed and tortured or even killed in prison.....

Iranians inside Iran need to survive, that is why they will vote for MirHosein Mousavi. Getting around this hard truth will not help us to make a difference. Eventually the people who will bring change are the ones who see the facts without their personal emotions involved and know how to use it to their (Iran's) best interest.

PS. I will be one of the speakers at the symposium of Tilburg University along with Kader Abdullah and Johan ter Haar on June 11th (a day before the Iranian elections).

D66 says YES to EUROPE!

2009-05-27T11:03:00.006+02:00

VOTE D66!
VOTE FOR SOPHIE IN 'T VELD!

First Saudi-Arabian woman on power

2009-02-16T12:21:00.003+01:00

Nour Al-Fayez, new minister of Education... isn't this heartwarming?

The Tatty Teddy story (My girlish side)

2009-02-14T01:00:00.003+01:00

The oldest, smallest house you can imagine was about to be knocked down. All the things that once made the house nice and cozy had been thrown outside and piled up in the front garden, from the soft springy bed the owners slept in, to the old wooden floorboards they used to walk on and even, surely by some mistake, a little brown teddy bear.

He was trapped amongst all the other unwanted things, and couldn’t move. Then, one day, a very cold day, something fell from the sky… a little snowflake.

It landed on the teddy bear’s little nose and then was followed by many more. He began to get cold, very cold indeed. More and more snow fell, heavier and heavier. The little bear was now so cold that his nose started turning blue… so cold that his brown fur started turning grey.

He was cold, unloved and all alone in the world, and felt very, very sad.

Winter finally passed and the weather got warmer. One beautiful spring day, a little girl was playing near the old house, when she spotted the grey bear in the pile of unwanted things. He was like no other bear she had ever seen and she pulled him out from where he was trapped.

She dusted him down and lifted him high in the sky to look at him.

“A grey teddy bear… with a blue nose?” she thought. “How strange!”

The teddy bear wanted to cry. He thought she didn’t like him and would throw him back with the other unwanted things.

“But he’s lovely!” she continued and she fell completely in love with him.

She ran home as fast as her little legs would carry her, to see if her Grandma could patch him up as a lot of his stuffing had fallen out, and he was very much in need of repair.

She looked on as her Grandma replaced his stuffing and patched up his holes. His stitches had started showing where the fur had worn away, but the little girl thought he looked perfect.

It was all cozy and warm in the little girl’s house and the bear felt all cozy and warm in his heart. However, his nose was still blue and his fur was still grey, and they would never return to brown.
He was unique among teddy bears.

The little girl gave him a great big hug. She loved him more than anything else in the world, her little grey, blue-nosed Tatty Teddy.

ABN culture vs. Obama strategy

2009-02-05T23:05:00.003+01:00

How is it possible that ABN, which has been drown out of its debts by the government-money-infusion, can't change its bonus-culture like the way it is going in U.S.?
It's odd... America is the country that is a symbol of rewarding its managers and hardworking CEOs etc. Now, even U.S. is cutting these bonuses from the financial systems that are in trouble and got cash infusions, but our minister of finance (Wouter Bos from the labor party) is still defending the bonus culture in ABN, claiming that these bonuses are just tiny amounts and give more incentive to the individual employee to work...
COME ON, you can't possibly mean than! The bank did a bad job already; it was in trouble and still has huge government debts. Shall we just take U.S as the role model and wait until they pay their debts first before they are rewarded??

And now back home

2009-02-05T10:59:00.005+01:00

My Oh My, the things that can happen in just a few days…
I went to Paris for ONLY a couple of days, for a face 2 face meeting with the National Iranian Congress organizers, and also met my favorite Iranian Economist (Dr. Shahin Fatemi), and then I came back and see that everything has changed here.

Coming back, I found out that the Prime Minister (Jan Peter Balkenende) suddenly has changed course, and was willing to let an independent commission investigate the whole Iraq/ Bush/ Netherlands affair; this while he had keenly resisted the whole idea for month (since December last year).
What was more surprising was that everyone (mostly PVDA – the labor party) was so amazed of this change of course, that they started jumping up and down without taking a good look at the offer.
The questions of the parliament-members are going to be sent to this independent commission which is going to go through a 9 months investigation period to finally give birth to answers behind some closed doors. The parliament members are not going to be able to participate in any hearing, listening to any under oath witnesses (actually there are not going to be any witnesses answering anything under oath!!), they won’t be able to ask any questions directly… In short, they won’t be able to do the things they are elected to do.
The Prime Minister (the Christian Democratic party) is saying that it would be much better if the commission did their job independently, without any political baggage. And afterwards, if the answers were not sufficient for the Parties, then the Parliament may or may not choose to do another investigation transparently, and publically, but that is something that should be decided after the commission is due.
It’s a shame how these parties are just forgetting the basic essences of a democratic country; giving their votes to just waste time.
I think they are taking this the wrong way; it is not important who did what and this is not a matter of blaming this or that party, for a decision made in a different time period. The main issue is to be able to learn the lessons…
Like Alexander Pechtold (Party leader of D66), I think this is going to take just too much time to get to the bottom of things, and by the time (in 10 years from now, when) we do, no-one even cares about US invasion to Iraq, let alone thinking that there are lessons to be learned.
Moreover I also noticed Alexander has changed his haircut!
Come onnnnnnnn, how much change can a lady take at once? Give me a break ;)

National Poet's day

2009-02-05T10:01:00.006+01:00

I was invited to the ruimte-X on 29th January for the National Poet's day, as one of the six honorary guests (3 Campus Poets and 3 City poets of Tilburg).
Of course there were also many other very talented poets who presented some of their poems. And one in particular, Esther Porcelijn, who was a pretty girl, with a very fragile (like her name) structured body, and beautiful erotic poems... I relished her “acte de prèsence”.

De Dood (dutch)

2009-01-29T23:59:00.010+01:00

Ik heb mijn keuze gemaakt

en weet wat me te wachten staat

Ik speel scenario's in mijn hoofd

van de dood,

van de terreur.

Stel me voor dat ik beschoten word

in mijn been, mijn arm, of recht door mijn hart.

Zal ik dan nog blijven leven?

Zal ik mijn ledematen kunnen bewegen?

Zal ik denken dat het best-wel meevalt?

Of zal ik hulpeloos blijven liggen

als het leven mijn lichaam uitholt?

Zal ik in de buurt zijn van een familiaire omgeving?

Of zal ik omringd worden door vreemde gezichten?

Wie zal ik als laatste zien?

En wat zal er zijn in mijn gedachten?

Of zullen ze mij ergens in een smalle steeg

ver uit het oog van ieder, slachten?

Zal ik dagen vermist zijn?

En gemist?

Of maar uren?

Of zal niemand het merken?

Ik zal weer op reis zijn

denken dan de buren.

Dit zijn de dingen waar ik aan denk

de laatste tijd

als je me in de verte ziet turen.

~Fari Naz

P.S. (out of the context) For the short-movie lovers: The last resort of Amin Haghighizadeh is finally out there... Hereby, my support to the young movie director :D

Secret Life

2009-01-28T01:43:00.010+01:00

“She was a very promising agent who showed all the attributes of a very
promising career. She was very well thought of.” said Ephraim Halevy, the former director of Mossad, who for security reasons declined to specify which outfit Ms Livni had served in between 1980 and 1984 [editor. while she was 21-25 years old].

source: Times Online, September 2008

P.S. Jus Ad Bellum...

Will you explain?

2009-01-26T22:04:00.003+01:00

Tiziano Ferro & Laura Pausini - Non me lo so spiegare

Body Language

2009-01-22T21:13:00.006+01:00

(Click on the picture to enlarge)

Source: The Boston Globe

Don't try to cross

2009-01-19T22:16:00.006+01:00

Amir Ace - Shakh Nasho

P.s. Adel Ferdosipour's program will be shut down as of today. Adel has the most popular soccer analyses program in Iran called "90". His fame is due to his outspoken ideas and questions, getting shuts from behind the scenes and broadcasting it out to the public. He is the first in his field giving so much critic to the mafia-sport-authorities, and getting so much behind the scenes out to the public.

p.p.s. (A week later) an sms campaign launched a couple of days ago to make certain Adel stays on the screen. Over one million text messages were sent to Iran's channel 3. And Adel's show is still on, so... What does that tell you?

Shahin Najafi

2009-01-15T00:52:00.014+01:00

Shahin Najafi - We are not men

A couple of months ago, I attended a conference organized by my leftist Iranian friends in Koln (Germany). I met Shahin Najafi there, he performed some of his songs during the break. He was so good, it brought tears to my eyes. I was really touched by his songs. After his performance we talked for a while, exchanged phonenumbers (though I don't know where I put that piece of paper anymore), and the only thing I could do to support him, was to pay a couple of euros for his CD...

PS. Doggy life

Pps. tha Thing

Missed (dutch)

2009-01-14T23:41:00.005+01:00

published in Brabant Cultureel December 2008

anoniem
bel je, stilletjes
mijn mobiel
die ik vergeten wil
al dagen
of een eeuwigheid...

ik hoor je niet
'k zie je pas later
als gemist

~Fari Naz

David Hume

2009-01-12T15:11:00.012+01:00

"Reason is but the slave of the passions."

P.S. Keep breathing

Enjoy your meal, darling!

2009-01-11T01:34:00.005+01:00

The only thing you should know

2009-01-08T12:46:00.032+01:00

The title is a translation of Dutch: “Het enige wat je weten moet”, which is also the title of the poem by Andrew Cartright at the end of this text.

Monday, 5 January 2009
I faded
My face out of every newspaper
My name out of every interview
My pictures ripped off the walls
My title given away
My crown stolen
My fame running off with him;
who is inspired by me
whose poetry takes my breath away.

I am fading

I am fad...

I am ......

I .. ......

...

~Fari Naz

A week before the new Campus Poet (2009) was crowned with the title, I text messaged a head organizer of the event, to ask when the ceremony will be held. The answer I got back was: “It is on 5th January, we didn’t ask you because of your busy schedule but of course you are welcome”.
It put a bad taste in my mouth; the taste of "fame fading away".
I imagined going to the event, and sitting somewhere in a dark corner of that big room. I realized it was a cliché scenario, which gave me a victim role. I hate victim roles. So I just forgot about the whole thing. I totally forgot about the event.
That evening when I was standing in the station, waiting for my train, I saw one of the people who had also sent a poem for the contest. We sat in the train, we talked and among other things he mentioned that today the new campus poet was announced.
“Really? Was that today?” was my response. “Who was it?”
“Mr. Cartwright!” was the answer.
How relieved was I to hear that answer. I was so happy. I remembered following his class, last semester. In our first class he asked whether I was the Campus Poet, and I nodded, while feeling a blush. I felt a little bit shy, every time anybody asked that question. But that was my only moment of shyness. His classes were one of the most fun places I have been to, in my whole life. The course was about presenting skills. But there were other things also that we learned.

It was a very cozy and small classroom, and I remember being one of the chattiest, noisiest, students of the class, giving Andrew, who is one of the most active teachers in the universe (!!), comments of all sorts!
He once told me in the break-time, that he had given it some thought to write some poetry for the contest, this year. I encouraged him to do so, and even more, when I heard that he was going to write some poetry in a mixed language form. I thought it was brilliant. I wished that day, he would win.
So now I heard that the one taking my fame away was, Andrew. It was comforting. I was going to write him an e-mail first but then on Tuesday, I changed my mind. I called the university and checked his schedule, then went and bought a beautiful flower in a vase.
I was looking for his room in P building when I heard his voice in the corridor; I followed the voice and met him standing in a room alongside some other teachers of the language center.
I knocked, calling his name, he came and we went to his own room. We talked for a while, he told me he is going to open a web log, and showed me some pictures he was thinking of putting on the “profile part”. When I was ready to leave, he told me: “You actually inspired me to send the poems”. I don't think that sentence shall be forgotten, anytime soon...

Dit examen begon voor dat jullie verwekt werden
Het heeft geen einde
Doe je best
Zorg ervoor dat je GSM aanstaat
de hele tijd, en voor altijd
Kijk even bij je buurman
Maak gebruik van spiekbriefjes,
rekenmachines,
en woordenboeken
Ga online
Kijk goed naar de notities die je op je palm van je hand hebt geschreven
Praat tijdens het examen
Bel je vrienden en familie
Als het moet, praat met elkaar
Eet en drink
Denk, reflecteer
Ga bij je zelf ten rade
Beantwoord alle vragen, en geen van de vragen
Dagdroom
Neem een dutje als het moet
Kijk bij iedereen af
Pleeg plagiaat in Godsnaam
Zet je horloge to infinity and beyond
Test je limiet
Steek je hand op als je een vraag hebt
Roep en schreeuw als je ergens onzeker over bent
Relax, be cool
Dit examen is oneindig

~Poem by Andrew Cartwright

Merry X-mas & Happy New Year

2008-12-25T15:49:00.010+01:00

Visiting a senior consultant in Oxford/london

2008-12-22T12:18:00.022+01:00

Sniffing your enemy is always good. So this past weekend, I was in UK visiting one of the senior consultants to the Islamic Republic of Iran's foreign ministry on Iraqi, Jordanian and Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood affairs. He introduced me to some other people who apparently have nothing to do with the regime but do believe in it!
Meeting people who still truly believe in the Islamic Republic of Iran’s regime, made me feel obnoxious, but mostly confused. I had never seen pro- regimes live in the western world, do whatever we secular and liberals do here, but still get comfortable defending that inhumane, contradicting, and chaotic regime, and its insane ideologies.
I had seen many of them who work for the government defending and lobbying, but never debated with an “ordinary” Iranian in exile, who claims to love Iran, still reason and debate that well in favor of that system. I was stunned.
Also, I was amazed of the way these consultants take us (the anti-regime expats) not serious at all. According to the consultant when still after 30 years, there is not a single well-organized, active and powerful organization in the opposition, we (=the expats) are then all nothing but a funny joke. “It would be very risky for a tiny white rabbit to think, she is a big black bear”, I was told.
Anyway, I am back in Holland now. It felt so safe when I was getting off board, and it felt even safer when I felt that peaceful breeze on my face, here in The Hague.
I’m home, and more determined than ever…

P.S. I was just thinking of all these people I have associated with until now, and was wondering how fun and interesting to read my memoires shall be by the time I’m 40!!
P.P.S. The white rabbit is not crazy to think that she is a bear, let alone a big black one, but there is a legend about little rabbits, you know ;)
P.P.P.S. Blackmail is a crime in democratic countries!! I would be glad to sue people who commit it...

Interviews

2008-12-22T11:51:00.002+01:00

Here is my interview in Univers which was published on Nov 27th.

It is in Dutch, and unfortunately I have no time translating it. But the Dutch readers of this blog can enjoy. (CLICK HERE FOR THE ENLARGED VERSION)

Tilburg magazine Interview

2008-12-22T11:35:00.004+01:00

I still have not found time to translate the interviews, but for the Dutch audience, here comes the interview in Dutch. I will translate it as soon as I get the chance.

(CLICK ON THE IMAGES TO ENLARGE)

the rabbit joke

2008-12-19T16:49:00.002+01:00

I never remember a single joke, even though I hear many. But this one is an exception.

There was a spy-contest between Iran, Israel and United States. The
contesters were suppose to find the white rabbit which was sent into the jungle by the organizers of the contest.
The US’ spies went in first and after two hours came back with the rabbit.
The Israelis went in the jungle and found the white rabbit a half an hour later.
The Iranian spies went in the jungle and came back two minutes later with a black bear. The jury members looked surprised and asked what the hell they meant by bringing in a bear. The bear started to speak and said: “I confess that I am a white rabbit.”

P.S. if you have a bad memory from a place, the best way to get over the bad memory is to go back to that place, and make better memories.
P.P.S. I am going to taste what the difference between BMI and British Airways is. (metaphor)

2008-12-18T13:35:00.002+01:00

PUBLISHED IN UNIVERS

Dear Mathematics I,

I am so grateful to you. It's not only that I learn through your characteristics and content, but also through the environment you create; an environment which no other course can ever create for us, the students of the Faculty of Economics & Business.

A while ago, we had this year's first midterm. It was my second time taking it, though I'm not the only one. As I entered the room where your midterm was suppose to meet us all, I recognized many familiar faces. I saw some of last year's classmates, my current classmates, third-year friends who happen to fail you time after time, and of course some new freshmen/women.

No matter in which year we study, we all have a united idea about you; you are a complex type. You can also unite us, regardless of the ethnic and political problems of our fatherlands.

As I was sitting there on chair no. 82 of room Wz101, I became aware of an Israeli acquaintance who was sitting in the same row. We nodded as a way of greeting and wished each other luck (something we all depended on). Some minutes later, I noticed one of my Palestinian classmates entering, wandering around the room. He walked past all the available seats searching and looking, over and over again for his "own" place. It might have taken him at least eight minutes to find the right seat, and while he was taking his place, he still did not seem very secure. I remember seeing him going back and taking another look at the list of seats and coming back to check, double check, even triple check the number of his seat, before he finally settled two rows in front of me.

While all this was happening, I, as the omniscient observer, was analyzing every muscle moved by my Israeli friend. I started to panic. Having these two nationalities in the same place has not proven to be harmless, as history tells us. But my Israeli friend was sitting in his seat, comfortably, preparing himself for the exam, and from time to time giving me some friendly glances. I guess he didn't even see the Palestinian guy.

Otherwise, your exam, Dear Mathematics, went on undisturbed. So we were all sitting there, peacefully, next to each other, with the same goal; to pass you. And no, there were no bombs or tanks or invasions of each other's seats, or taking over of each other's exam papers (Taking one exam was more than enough)!

Even though I truly admire all your efforts to bring peace and unity to the world, I hope this is the last semester I will have to witness your hard work.

Sincerely,
Fari Naz

One by One

2008-12-10T20:14:00.003+01:00

piece by piece - Katie Melua

Mysterious people...

2008-12-04T10:15:00.014+01:00

P.S. (out of the context) Do something...

Come back and find me...

2008-11-26T22:54:00.007+01:00

Kate Havnevik - Nowhere Warm

P.S. Throw me a rope

Hate to apologize for being a "vampire"!!

2008-11-25T21:33:00.003+01:00

Enrique Iglesias - Tired of Being sorry

Mystifyer

2008-11-23T13:35:00.002+01:00

You trick me
with that pretty
soft
edge of your skin.

And the waves
in your personage
hypnotize my reasoning.

Your body
dazzles my poetry.
I fall

for your fancy fibs.

I’m in ecstasy,

drunk,
long before having sips
of your bloody
tender
lips

~Fari Naz

P.S. (three days after) How come everybody thinks I wrote this poem for them, besides the person I wrote it for? Crazy world!! (I got 3 messages, a phonecall and an e-mail on this) I feel pressured people. Don't push me so much! It's just a silly poem!

Great Family

2008-11-12T21:41:00.018+01:00

After a week in London, which was horrible, it took me a whole week to recover and put my act together.
The "high" of the week (which helped me get over the unorganized Iranian medieval oposition "organization", who invited me to London) was visiting my two families.

First on Saturday, I spent the whole day at the D66 (Dutch Democratic Party) Congress. It was really fun. I also loved the after-party in which I could talk to different members, whether it was the famous ones, the ones behind the political scenes, or the new members, listening to them was a joy.
Dear M, took most of the pictures while not being in any of the pictures at all (such a pitty). I owe her a big "thank you" for taking the pictures. Unfortunately taking photographs in the congress room was prohibited so we could only take pictures either when we went to smoke outside or at the after-party.

Then I went to my other family. My real real family.

We went out to dinner and in the morning... Only hearing their sounds while they were making breakfast, as I was just waking up, was a true joy.

PS. Sorry for the late update, I am just very busy with stuff...

Nostalgia

2008-11-10T19:29:00.002+01:00

Today, me and Stijn, wrote one of those "he said, she said" poetries of ours, and preformed in the poetry event of "cosmopolitism & nostalgia".

Stijn:
If we could just unwire
our fences
with desire, lower the defences
on which this country
is built

Farinaz:
the fence
protects the rose
the rose is in need of love
but has its thorns.
if you hug, I will kiss
how can I promise
more
to widely opening my door?

Stijn:
How can I caress
your exotic skin, draw near
to your distant soul
without loosing
myself

Farinaz:
to love is to
accept, my precious
not to loose.
what a lost state shall we induce
if we don't hang on
to who we are
the way we are.
still, kiss the thorns of the rose
for that, is also part
of her
charm.

Stijn:
If you will gently wipe my
blooded lips
with Persian tenderness
time after time after time
unwire my defenses
and of the country
we both live in

...

Interesting changes

2008-11-03T23:07:00.004+01:00

click on the picture to enlarge

The Game

2008-11-01T22:59:00.002+01:00

Gary Jules - Falling awake

Strong woman

2008-10-31T00:13:00.007+01:00

Philosophy of the social sciences

2008-10-25T17:18:00.002+02:00

Every once in a base of temporary
I take a peek at some contemporary
and get enough energy
while developing my own
"impressions"1 and "ideas"2
which probably
deceive the reality
of their mind and heart’s angles.
But enough food for my
consuetudinary
to "exploring humans"3 errors
and fallibilities.

~Fari Naz

1 & 2: From David Hume's "Copy Principal"
3: "exploring humans", written by Herman De Regt, Hans Doormalen, Maurice Schouten

One of the things I hate (1)

2008-10-14T22:14:00.019+02:00

Picture: "Censorship" - Lamya Gargash

You know when someone, a so called journalist, asks you to write a column for them? You know the pressure they put on you for meeting a deadline?
Well that happened to me, and of course I love to write, so no matter how busy I was, I just put everything else on hold for this column.
Finally, after not sleeping a whole night, I e-mailed it, and it was supposed to go on line the day after. But two days went by and nothing appeared on their web. When I finally called the journalist asking what the hell happened to the column which was suppose to be on line two days ago, I got this answer "shorten the column, it's two big". I asked how short it should be, "400 words" was the answer. Well if anyone can ever write a column about the subject I got, in 400 words, they deserve a Nobel-prize in literature! By the way, is this the modern censuring method? “Please do the censuring yourself!”
I remember asking how many words it should contain when the journalist first asked me to write a column, but he left it to my "own judgment". If they had told me how long it exactly had to be back then, it was another story but...

Anyway, I couldn't make it less than 600 words. So, I sent the revised one and told them that it’s impossible and by the way, I am writing between 500-700 words, which make my text fall into the category “short article/short story” so, technically they should publish it.

I never got an answer back, instead, I saw their new guest column who was published!! Thanks guys.

You see, I actually don't like to make a fool of the website which is an advocate of Kurdish dissidents. I want to support any supporter of freedom and democracy, but how can I, when they operate like this?

In 2006, I got interviewed by this Iranian Swedish Women organization who also have a radio. The interview lasted for more than an hour, I criticized so many Iranian radical leftists, not a single minute of it was broadcasted.

Another example is Radio Zamaneh (the radio funded by the Dutch government). The first time I was interviewed by them in the Karzar Movement on 8 March 2007, the poor journalist told me that because I mentioned some organizations, they (the producers) might not broadcast it!! (So much for Radio Zamaneh’s independence for informing the Iranians inside Iran)
At a different time, their other journalist was chasing after me at Samad & Khorsandi Theater (actually it was Mr. Khorsandi who pushed the journalist into interviewing me). But the minute I gave her my website, she backed out. I never heard from her, since!

I am so fed up being censured by this so called "Iranian journalists" who live in the democratic, free world, but have not yet learned about the independence in journalism. Come on, if you can’t do your job right, either learn it or leave it to others who can!

Ps. (24 hours later), I love the power of internet. My column in on line now (it's in Dutch).

How could I be so wrong?

2008-10-08T19:08:00.005+02:00

Chi Coltrane - You were my friend

Persian Parties, Young Iranian Minds

2008-10-04T17:57:00.005+02:00

Ghelghelak

And the truth shall set you free

2008-10-01T11:19:00.026+02:00

All my life, I have been searching for the truth. It’s one of my biggest mottos in life, to be honest and to find the truth.
The only problem is that there is no "the" truth, ie. there is no absolute truth. This world we live in, there is actually no absolute anything. There was this guy I knew long time ago (!!!) who told me that only TIME is absolute. But according to Einstein, even that is not absolute!
So there are different sides to a truth. Of course the truth has some facts which could look very absolute but even those are not truly so. (If you can’t follow my “scrap” anymore, it’s because I am following some philosophy courses this year)
Let’s pick an example. Imagine me going to a trip to say… Italy, then getting very emotional seeing this person who is very hot, and say… kiss him once, a deep French kiss, a very passionate kiss. Let’s also assume that it stays by a kiss and it does not go further (it’s just an assumption, we all know that if a kiss is that passionate, it can have some other implications…). Further, we can assume that I have a relationship and I decide not telling my partner about the KISS. In a very odd way though, the minute I arrive back home, my partner has an idea that something has happened. He will then ask me: “is there something you want to tell me?” I will then say: “no.” Let’s analyze this for a minute, shall we?
What is the truth? Am I lying?
Technically I am not lying, because I don’t WANT to tell anything to him, and he is asking me whether there is something I WANT to tell him. If I wanted to, I would have told him myself, and wouldn’t have waited until he asked me to.
Let’s go on a bit further. Time will pass, and the whole “trip & kissing” thing would then seem like ages before and I would certainly feel very safe, thinking I was so smart, not have been caught. Of course my partner has always had this gut feeling telling him there is something missing, but as one of my good friends; Sogol, always says “until you have not said it, it never happened”. Anyway, let's assume the person who was in Italy kissing happens to be an a**hole and sends an e-mail to my partner. Then all hell breaks loose.
Let’s say after hell is breaking loose, the only belt remaining to fasten it, is telling the truth! But what side of the truth? I already said before that there are different kinds of truths. So this is an example of another kind of telling the TRUTH: “Baby, I already told you what happened” Or “I am getting really tired of all this bullshit you are accusing me of.” And of course, the best truthful answer to the question: “I just want to know the truth, you owe me at least that much” is “I already told you everything there is to tell.”
Well in the first answer, the whole truth is that I already told you parts of what happened, the other parts I left out, so I am telling half the truth but still not lying. In the second answer, I again am telling the truth, because I do get tired of answering all those cross-examinations. And in the final one, the parts that are left out are simply, things that are not tell-able in my opinion.
As you see, technically, there are different sides to the truth.

There are other examples I can give, just watch the larry king show interviewing The Islamic Republic's president Ahmadinejad (I delibrately didn't say Iran's president) to see that the truth can have different angels to justify any crime!

I believe in telling the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. But even I know that, that needs guts, guts to show who you truly are, and guts to take off the mask. Shamefully not all of us have that self confidence of being who we are. I can be myself, the whole myself and nothing but myself. Can you?

Ps. If I could...

Boomp3.com

Rain on Montesquieu building

2008-09-30T16:31:00.009+02:00

It’s raining outside while I am sitting here in the Montesquieu building of Tilburg University studying European History (politics and culture); an extra interesting course I am following.

Watching the rain is so calming, while I am actually sitting inside this cozy and warm building, with a hot cocoa on my desk. The view is beautiful. I have an emotional bond with this place. I watched this same view when it was sunny and shiny and I even studied outside in the beautiful weather, I watched it go through the beautiful mesmerizing snowfalls, I’ve been here with my friends who study law while finishing their bachelor’s thesis, I’ve sit here with my classmates discussing economic assignments, I’ve sit here till late at night while working my a** (oops, sorry) neck off for preparing for exams, and like now I’ve sit here alone and read, researched and wrote a paper individually.
It’s raining outside, I have to leave for a political meeting in two hours, but I hesitate. Montesquieu building has turned into my home (thereby painting my own house as my second home and my mum’s house as my third home). I spend much more time here than anywhere else.

You know, sometimes I came here in the early morning, I saw all these half-sleep faces, stayed here for a while then left for some classes, came back again afterwards, met with some friends or classmates for some discussions and when they left I stayed and study so long that when I was ready to leave, I saw that the busy building M has turned to an empty hall...

It’s raining, as if the sky is going to miss me if I ever leave this place, but... Actually the feeling would be mutual...
Cause Like the M building, Holland has become my home through the years I was growing up, and no matter where I go, and for how long I stay away, whenever I come back, it feels like... like... well, like; "there is no place like home".

e-books

2008-09-30T10:40:00.002+02:00

In request of the e-book committee of the Tilburg University

My books
My precious precious books
My bookshelf for bragging
oh, my holy image…

Your time has come
e-books, shall take thy place
from now on
I will be admired
only
for the ones I read
indeed
not the ones I own

~ Fari Naz

He said, she said

2008-09-24T18:35:00.008+02:00

He said:
Liked your little leaves
they seemed to breeze

somehow

And, I am wondering,
do you wrap your kisses
round Him
as subtle
as - tin foil
round flowers

Liked your sweets
from a country
close to you

somewhere

She said:
Liked your mesmerizing verses
they covered my worries

for a while

wished, He could be as gentle
with the spirit of a poet
when the creepy monsters appear
and have the ability to burn me

sometimes

~Stijn vs. Fari Naz

Words of wisdom to fresh(wo)men

2008-09-08T10:41:00.003+02:00

A week, late
for my words to start.
they have been terrorized
in the knowledge’s yard.
they have lost again
their identity.
Was everything I knew
all my life
a fraud?
Yes, a week late
but these I have come to found
for you, if you don’t want to keep down:
To never lose your guard, have it around!
and know for sure
that nothing is sound
The base-rule for you to hang on
is to doubt the ground, you stand on
no ideology, word, thought, or belief
not even the rule I mentioned is
forever to keep!

~Fari Naz

posted on UNIVERS

A Statement

2008-08-20T12:09:00.008+02:00

I am busy; which is perfect, just perfect.
Truly! It is. I sound like a total nerd, telling I love to work, work and study overtime in the holidays. But I do love this. This is the life I have dreamed of. This is my relaxing time. It gives me a kick every time I find a better way in debating, every time I can convince the other members present at that special meeting, and even every time I loose. Because every time I loose, first I am disappointed, but then I think the whole process through and analyze what happened, and try to work on my skills.
I love being busy.
My perspective on many issues has developed itself this last year (when I was totally independent from any organization and when I could analyze issues from a good distance), to something that has broaden my vision and mode of thought.
I am proud to have been nominated at the Azarbaijan International Conference in Frankfurt on August 3, 2008 and then win votes to be one of the 7 members of the counselor and preparation committee of the National Iranian Congress.

Some attendees of Azarbaijan Conference in Frankfurt

I am happy to have finally accepted the invitation of one of the D66 (Democrats in the Netherlands) old parliament members to become a member of D66.
I am doing a lot, and also reading a lot, which means I don’t have much time to write (a true pity, because I thought I was going to finish my book this year but I think I have to hold that for much, much later – “everything has its price”).

So actually, what I’m trying to write here is that, I am busy, I might become more and more busy every day, but no matter what and how big my responsibilities become, I will always write here about little things, little details, of life; the things that are overlooked but make the true meaning of life come out so beautifully.

How Does It Feel?!!

2008-08-08T18:23:00.004+02:00

Avril lavigne - How does it feel

Keep Breathing

2008-07-29T10:58:00.002+02:00

Keep Breathing - Ingrid Michaelson

Angel

2008-07-08T20:28:00.005+02:00

An angel stopped by today
with a package of comfort
with violet words
and orange roses
So fragile
so small
so beautiful
Like a new born life

I have angels
with invisible wings
who hold a shield
in front of my heart-strings
preventing them from
breaking

~Fari Naz

Broken dreams

2008-07-05T19:26:00.008+02:00

I leave
my dreams of future
in the past
while not being able
to keep my eyes
on the road of things to come
and Instead
look back over and again
to all that went on
and on
before

I leave
the prins and his sword
right there where it can’t
put a wound anymore

May the dreams
of your fans
the little butterflies
of every color that dance
come true…

~Fari Naz

ps. Tardes Negras...

Clouds

2008-07-03T22:17:00.005+02:00

I have black clouds in my throat
is there any caressing melody
that can sweep them away...?

~Fari Naz

ps. (a day after) thank you Stijn, for this

Prof Randy Pausch's last lecture

2008-07-03T16:34:00.003+02:00

This is NOT a STORY

2008-06-21T00:26:00.008+02:00

He said: Ardalan has been arrested… In Isfahan…
I said: What shall we do?
He said: Nothing yet. We have to be sure of his whereabouts first…
***
I said: Have you heard anything about Nahid?
He said: They MADE Nahid write a letter on internet (in her old blog), in which she breaks all her ties with X (an iranian ex- political prisoner) and…
I said: Wasn’t she released then?
He said: They released her then, but they still bring her in for questioning over and over again. Day and night they call her to check herself in. They even interrogated her parents. They put her in a room, make her sit on a chair, face to the wall and then call her names like “whore” and “bitch”. They shout at her and ask with how many guys has she slept to become such a whore! While the only thing she did was write about the injustice in Iran, in her blog…
I said: What shall we do?
He said: Nothing. Whatever we do is going to make the situation worse.
I said: But we can’t just keep silent. That is what they want to achieve.
He said: Nahid is really scared. She is in a bad shape. She trembles and can’t eat. Whenever she eats she vomits. She is in a bad condition. They told her to not tell anyone about these interrogations. She has lost around 20 pounds.
***
He said: There is no hope for Arjang (Davoodi) to stay alive. Maybe two days, maybe four, who knows…
I said: But didn’t you say a couple of days ago that he has broken his strike. And they gave him vitamins. That he talked to you happy and lively and told you that they will give him all he demanded?
He said: They did inject him vitamins but he didn’t break his hunger strike. He is still in the Raja-i Shahr’s prison. His situation hasn’t changed. There is no hope. There is no hope…
***
I leave the house. I have a cigarette between my fingers, some tears in my eyes, a lump in my throat, insensitivity in my legs, and memories in my head:
Two years ago, Arjang tells me in English: How is the weather over there?
I am in the train, I can’t hear him well on the phone, the lines are bad. I tell him in Farsi: Always cloudy. Always rainy. Always wind. Are you ok?
Arjang: Great. Never been better. I hear your voice don’t I?
His voice is full of life and joy. He is comical. Talking to him gives me positive energy. The phone call doesn’t go smooth though, the line goes dead several times. We have to call each other again and again to make one conversation. I can’t remember what the subject of our conversation was. Maybe just getting acquainted. Maybe just saying hello. I remember thanking him for being who he is.
BEING… I wish I could talk to him right now. Tell him “Arjang, in the name of freedom, please oh please break your strike. To be, is better than not to be, especially in spring (a verse of Shamlou, the Persian poet). Spring… Arjang please make us happy like you always do. These faithless people have no idea what a strike implies, why do you object in this way? Have you forgotten about Akbar?"
Arjang has said that he will go till the end.
"But Arjang, the end is when these situations end, not you! Arjang break it. Break it! Break it! We need you to BE…"
My cigarette ends. I throw the end away. I try to swallow the lump but it doesn’t melt. I walk again. But still don’t feel my legs. I imagine Nahid sitting in front of a white wall… Something inside my heart stings me. As if my throat is stabbed, I put my hand in front of it, trying to block the bleeding…
I come back home. I unplug the phone. The one’s number I only give to friends in Iran. Whoever has called that phone number and has been arrested, has also been accused of having ties with foreign agents (spies).
After we established the Save Nahid Campaign, I received strange emails containing “you have sold your soul to Americans and Zionists (a word only used by Iranian government, instead of “Israelis”)…
I don’t know what to do… I only know that I should not keep quiet. I have to tell the campaign cooperates that Nahid has not been set free. I have to send e-mails. As long as the Islamic Republic is in charge of Iran, no one will be set free.
And is there really no hope? And will I not be able to do anything about it?
We’ll see…

Vanity

2008-06-16T10:45:00.008+02:00

the universe dances
to the notes I hum

and it stares
every muscle I wave

I amaze them

my mind and body
as colorful as rainbow

I shine the room,

bright
with my smile

And turn it to a

mourning ceremony
just with my thoughts
being elsewhere

...
...
Oh...

I am,

Therefore is the world.

~ Fari Naz

Dedicated to Univers magazin, on its "sin special"

Give me Peace of Mind

2008-06-14T16:03:00.002+02:00

Tarkan - Verme

Tilburg Zoap

2008-05-31T11:27:00.006+02:00

Yesterday, my part in TilburgZoap stories was published. It is an honor for me to have my first Dutch story among so many good writers like Jasper Mikkers who I truly admire. Though it is my first Dutch story, and I wrote it in half an hour (I had lack of time because of other things), I'm happy with my malformed story.
Besides that, I loved the funny pictures below the story. When my eyes met the pictures, I started laughing so hard... It is amazing, seeing that the images in your mind had reached the reader (the illustrator, in this case) so well.
Also I would like to thank the editor-in-chief, Mr. Alard Govers, for this fun opportunity.

Where do I belong?

2008-05-25T18:08:00.004+02:00

Shahrzad Sepanlou - Eteraz

REPLY TO ALL

2008-05-20T11:51:00.006+02:00

For all those people who are so worried and sick to know how I am doing...

well below is the answer, but don't worry, I am standing on my own strong two feet, and always can handel life and its time-consuming-, energy-taking-, tiring-, stressing-, migraine-causing-, dis-concentrating-, games...

Beating knowledge

2008-05-12T18:53:00.002+02:00

A scientist with a heart
A settlement between generations
A mission
to care
for a better perception
So take a good observation
of this mingle of texture
of this gift
of colorful nature
in every corner of her
for every person
to find a shelter
in her
infinity

~Fari Naz Aryanfar
May, 2008
Dedicated to Riet Poldermans who will get her PhD on May 23, 2008

UvT verkiezingsstrijd (Dutch)

2008-04-21T13:19:00.005+02:00

“Neem mij”
“Nee, mij…”
Het lijkt wel de gymzaal
maar ‘t zijn de verkiezingen
de strijd
En ik vraag me af
wat ze allemaal weten
van ons
Van Mij…