Election Countdown:17 days

So, election is near and everywhere people are talking about it. And in less that a month Iranians will decide wether or not they want to have Ahmadinejad four another 4 years in their lives.

He is an established populist which makes a very good candidate in a relatively poor country like Iran. He had all the money from exceptionally high oil income in the past 4 years to spend for his campaign by travelling to poor places and giving out money. Yes... as simple as that... just gathering people and giving them gifts and money, as if he is the owner of a charity institution.

So, in a nutshell, here's the deal. He has the vote of two category of people. These poor people who are so in need of the basics (a situation aggravated by Ahmadinejad's policies) who can not see further than tomorrow, and those who vote to whoever is implicitly approved by The Leader. These two groups constitute about half the estimated number of voters.

On the other hand there are those with the dilemma, who are growingly drawn to voting, because of how much they despise Admadinejad. These people are divided into two groups, those in favour of Mousavi and those who prefer Karoubi. Of course there is a fourth candidate, Rezayi, who is not predicted to play a critical role.

In theory at least, it is not important that people against Ahmadinejad are divided in two groups. According to Iranian election rules, a candidate can only win to presidency if they can have more than half of the votes. So, even if Ahmadinejad fails to get more than half the votes, just because more than half voted for somebody else (no matter which other candidate), there will be a second round of elections, in which the two top voted candidates will compete. Then, one can be hopeful that people who voted against Ahmadinejad in the first round, will vote again, and again against him.

The interesting fact is that, if such scenario happens, whoever is elected instead of Ahmadinejad, will be president, not because people necessarily want him to, but rather because they no longer want some body else. And this is exactly how Ahmadinejad became president in the first place, not because people wanted him to, but because they didn't want Rafsanjani.

Movie: Standard Operating Procedure

The critical question: Given the right circumstances (or better say "wrong time, wrong place" circumstances) aren't we all capable of the worst? I mean, is there anybody who can honestly claim that no matter what happens to them, they will never ever turn into violent creatures?

Moods and Chain Reactions

Some days everything seems to be in their place, everything as it should be. All that happens make sense and I succeed in what I do during the day. But some days... oh some days... nothing fits. Everything is falling apart. From early in the morning crazy people dominate the drivers, I am late for work, my colleagues drive me mad,.. (and you know the rest...). Like the whole world is doing its best to feed my rage.

I have no doubt that this chain reaction of disturbing events goes back to my moods. When anger takes over in me, frustrating events are in action. What I am not sure however is whether my angry mood makes me only notice the disturbing part of all things that happens around me, or it actually CAUSES disturbing things to HAPPEN around me?

On a second thought... is there any difference between the two??

Movie: TOWELHEAD

A bit disturbing, shockingly honest, great performance. Don't watch this if you are afraid of digging into your memories of confusing teenage years. I like Allan Ball's works and this one is no exception. I am tempted to read the book.

View of Tehran from Tochal

Tehran is not a beautiful city, I must admit. Google Tehran images and you'll see what I mean. Juxtaposition of tall and short buildings and lack of real control over its mushroom-like urban structure has made it not really a picturesque view to look at. But recently I have received this photo in my mailbox which shows parts of Tehran viewed from Tochal, one of several mountains surrounding this city. I found it interesting.

Yummies: Green/Unripe Almonds

We call them Chaghale Badoom (Badoom=Almond) and almost every body likes them. The are available during the first three or four weeks of spring. The smaller, the more expensive, the easier to digest!!! I like them salted.

Movie: The Hurt Locker

Intense, engaging, fascinating visual language, interesting main character.

Country Dropdown Lists

Did you know that when I am registering in some of the sites that ask about your information like name, gender, age, country, etc., I cannot find the name of my country in the dropdown list? Not much of a surprise, huh? since most internet sites are American and there is an embargo going on. What country would you choose if you didn't have the name of your country listed?

Elections and a Historcial Dilemma

Well, Khatami decided not to be a candidate in favour of the other reformist Mousavi and some other reasons and this has made things more complicated.

You see, for a few years now, people who want to see change in this country have to deal with a dilemma when deciding about voting in the elections. If they do, they have put legitimacy to the whole establishment of the Islamic Republic and its constitution (which many Iranians now disagree with). On the other hand, not participating in the elections puts the power in the hands of fundamentalists and the result would be what happened four years ago; a phenomenon called Ahmadinejad.

Khatami was popular. Many had decided to vote for him despite their disagreement with the whole thing. I have only voted two times for presidential elections and both for Khatami and I had decided to do it again. But now, I am one of the people who know nothing about Mousavi. Older people may know him through his Prime Minister times at the beginning of the revolution but young people who constitute most eligible voters don't.

Rick Steves : A Perspective On Iran

Insightful, fun and REAL:

http://fora.tv/2009/01/26/Rick_Steves_A_Perspective_on_Iran

Having a relatively fine knowledge of average american culture through several TV shows that I watch, I really enjoyed the way he compares Iranian culture and belief system with that of Americans.

I must also add that exceptions exist everywhere, and exceptions to what he describes as Iranian culture are growing radically.

Nowruz Greetings by President Obama

This is why I respect him so much...

http://www.whitehouse.gov/Nowruz/

And yes, Iranians did really like this gesture. I really wished Khatami hadn't refused candidacy. Him snd Obama would make a good match - exactly like Ahmadinejad and Bush did.

Chaharshanbe Suri

Every yea,r, as a prelude to Norouz and new year celebrations, Iranians practice the tradition of Chaharshanbe Suri. Chaharshanbe is the Persian world for Wednesday and this festive tradition takes place the night before the last Wednesday of the ending year.

Traditionally, people would light up bonfires and jump over them, singing special songs. The most famous song calls for health and happiness by asking the fire to get the yellow color off the face of the jumper (resembling paleness and sickness) and trade it with its fiery red (resembling joy, health and happiness). People may also get together (traditionally in the elders' houses) and eat a special mix of nuts and dried fruits among many other things.

Unfortunately in recent years, this tradition has witnessed some changes. Most bonfire songs have given their place to disturbing sounds of crackers and other hand-made or cheap and unsafe explosives. The call for health and happiness has been replaced by the risk of explosions and arson.

Despite the unfortunate casualties brought about by modern times, Chaharshanbe Suri can still be called a festive occasion. It is a tradition that has survived a few thousand years of military and cultural invasions and is now shared by all Iranians regardless of religion, cultural or political beliefs.

Norouz and the New Year

Minute by minute, we're getting closer to the end of the year. Feeling the spring filling the air. Housewives "shaking their houses" as we call the tradition of cleaning every inch of the house to welcome the new year. Streets full of rushing people. Some in and out of travel agency's to find the best way to spend two weeks of vacation. Some in and out of shops to buy presents, buy nice and new clothes. Some in and out of banks , asking for new, shiny, stiff, unfolded bills to give out as gifts or "Eidy's" when relatives are visiting. Every body is excited. Friday afternoon, they are going to celebrate the beginning of the new year of the Solar Calender; Iranian calender.

Among all Iranian traditions, I love Norooz the best. It is all about harmony with nature. I'm not sure of the origin of this tradition (I have to study my Wikipedia), but all I know is that it is among the very few Iranian traditions that have survived the invasion of Islam. Even now, although Quran is among the ingredients of "Haft Sin" Islam has little to do with this celebration. Norouz (unlike other Iranian and Muslim holydays or "Eyd"s) is the birth of no Imam, it is the ending of no fasting month. It just celebrates the Re-birth of nature, and inspiration of hope. Or at least that's how see it.

Visitor Visas

As an answer to today's One Minute Writer's prompt, the first thing that came to my mind was that I wanted to own a store that would sell visitor visas to any country. I mentioned in my comment that this may seem a silly idea to Americans and nationalities of certain western countries as they can already visit many countries without visas.

About six weeks ago S and I bought tickets for CeBIT fair in Hannover, Germany. We wanted to visit the fair and afterwards take a week or so to visit a few friends in Gemrany and France. We prepared all necessary documents and went for the interview. Two weeks later when we went to pick up the passwports, we found out that Gemran embassy had not given me the visa. They didn't say why but said I could write a letter of objection, which I did and have not recevied any reply for yet.

So here we are. S flew to Germany this morning and I'm left here with no answers as to why I am not eligible to have a 10 day visitor visa to Europe.

Somewhere to Go on Holiday Evenings

Yesterday was a Holiday (well, the Definition of Holidays are a bit different in Iran). Most holidays in Iran are not honoring a national event but rather honoring(!!) the death of a religous figure. anyway, We had spent all day at home watching the last episode of Battlestar Galactica and a few of Taken. lounging in the couch, eating. In the evening, we were frustated and decided to get out. We spent more than an hour trying to decide were to go. Nowhere to be found. We decided to visit S's parents at last. Boring Boring Boring Tehran.... Especially on death-related holidays...