World's Smallest School

A class room with only 4 kids in primary school. The blogger, "Abdul Mohamad", is the soldier/teacher who is doing his military service in "Kalu" a remote southern village in Iran just by Persian Gulf. "Hamideh" the eldest girl in the class is leaving for "Bushehr", the capital of the province , to continue her studies. Here is his Blog

خوشم میاد عمرا نفهمی چی نوشتم. دهنم رو صاف کردی!!!! به من چه؟ من چه گناهی کردم گیر شماها افتادم. جون مادرت دست از سرم بردار

God's state and the state of written English

In response to the world's 6 powers offer to Iran, Iranian delegate to Geneva talks distributed an unofficial letter repeating its stance on the nuclear issue. The paper was titled “The Modality for Comrehensive Negotiations (None paper)”. Only Iranian diplomats can write a letter with 2 mistakes in the title. Apparently one of the Russian diplomats could not stop laughing. read more here

Things you shouldn't do in London

1. Learning Spanish on Saturday afternoon in summer
2. Locking your bike with a tiny little chain
3. Keeping 13 boxes + 2 suitcases + 2 bags of your friend's stuff
4. Going to a gay bar with your female friends
5. Getting out of a pub in a rainy day without going to the loo first

Gene Robinson

Coming from a country that systematically prosecutes and sadly even executes Gays, being there with Gene Robinson was an extraordinary experience. LGBT people have very hard time in deeply religious countries. Although comparing USA and Iran might not make sense, but looking carefully it’s hard to ignore the similarities. Both nations under God with deeply religious right wing conservatives where liberal left struggling to challenge them on human rights & civil rights issues.

To hear Gene Robinson, a truly remarkable man who has pushed the LGBT agenda through new territories, joking about his sexuality and talking about God at the same time was truly inspiring. It was an amazing personal experience to see that “Man of God” can be actually pleasant people! To hear a clergy talking so passionately about social struggle of LGBT and at the same time giving his faith’s “Message of Hope” was great.

Being a non-believer, I couldn't stop judging his views on God and religion, but at the same time I cannot ignore his immense sacrifice. I admire the man for his courage and wish more people of faith would have the balls to stand up to their religious institutions.

p.s: I paid £12 for a compelling documentary, a nice talk by Gene Robinson and Sir Ian McKellen, and a magnificent performance by Sir. M.

جمهوری اسلامی و انتخابات

در حال حاضر حکومت ایران در اوج قدرت خودش هست. انتخابات بدون در نظر گرفتن نتیجه، می تونه راه خوبی برای مطرح کردن مسایلی باشه که برای ما مهم هست. سکوت طبقه متوسط ایران بعد از انتخابات دور دوم خاتمی، باعث شد تا مسایلی مثل معیشت و پول نفت بشه موضوع انتخابات ریاست جمهوری، که اونوقت یکی مثل احمدی نژاد یا کروبی موج سواری می کنه.

گفتم بدون توجه به نتیجه، چون ما می دونیم انتخاباتی که آزاد نباشه اصلا ارزشی نداره و تغییری ایجاد نمی کنه. اما اگر طبقه متوسط دوباره فعال بشه، می تونه حداقل یقه کاندیداها رو بگیره، حتی توی جمهوری اسلامی!!! همین احمدی نژاد سر حرفها و قول هایی که داده الان چقدر آبروش رفته؟ چقدر شانس انتخاب مجدد داره؟

مبارزه با استبداد در ایران چند دهه کار داره، سکوت هیچ دردی رو دوا نمی کنه. 18 تیر بهترین فرصت بود که از دست رفت. حداقل کاری که الان میشه کرد مطرح کردن مسایلی مثل حقوق زنان تو انتخابات هست. این بازی اگه رای بدی یعنی مشروعیت دیگه معنی نداره. دنیا میدونه که ایران انتخابات آزاد نداره، حکومت هم با همونایی که به احمدی نژاد رای دادن انتخاباتش رو برگذار می کنه. این وسط ما که رای ندادیم، برامون طرح امنیت اجتماعی اجرا می کنن

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