NationStates Jolt Archive


Iran land of poets and gardens

Politeia utopia
31-05-2007, 20:37
With all the negative press, a slightly different note.


It really struck me how much Iranians like their parks and gardens. They absolutely love gardens there, they create them everywhere. It is a very dry country, yet they nonetheless succeed in subtracting water from the mountains, creating fountains and parks, which are frequented by Iranians. They have also created parks for their major poets; they actually revere them. By night one can go visit these tombs and see people read each other poetry and become deeply moved by it..
United Beleriand
31-05-2007, 20:41
With all the negative press, a slightly different note.


It really struck me how much Iranians like their parks and gardens. They absolutely love gardens there, they create them everywhere. It is a very dry country, yet they nonetheless succeed in subtracting water from the mountains, creating fountains and parks, which are frequented by Iranians. They have also created parks for their major poets; they actually revere them. By night one can go visit these tombs and see people read each other poetry and become deeply moved by it..And? What's new about this? Never read of a Persian Garden? A pairidaêza? Where the word paradise comes from?
Politeia utopia
31-05-2007, 20:45
And? What's new about this? Never read of a Persian Garden? A pairidaêza? Where the word paradise comes from?
Sure I've read of historic gardens, but had not idea how prominent and popular they are in modern Iran. It struck me how successful they are in keeping their cities green.
United Beleriand
31-05-2007, 20:46
Sure I've read of historic gardens, but had not idea how prominent and popular they are in modern Iran. It struck me how successful they are in keeping their cities green.Why?
New Manvir
31-05-2007, 20:46
pfft...who cares about a bunch of plants and some hippies rhyming :p:p
Politeia utopia
31-05-2007, 20:47
Why?

Because the land is so dry and Iran is not a wealthy country.

It also struck me how that the social rules were rather lax.
Politeia utopia
31-05-2007, 20:51
pfft...who cares about a bunch of plants and some hippies rhyming :p:p
Some consider these hippies to be really dangerous and threatening..:p I know it is boring news, but one will hardly hear of the pleasant sides of the Islamic republic :)
United Beleriand
31-05-2007, 20:54
Because the land is so dry and Iran is not a wealthy country.

It also struck me how that the social rules were rather lax.So, you are just saying you never looked at Iran before.
Iran is only dry in the Dasht-e-Kavir region. And Iran is not exactly poor. And they way that "social rules" are applied differs considerably from region to region, and actually even from family to family.
UN Protectorates
31-05-2007, 20:54
With all the negative press, a slightly different note.


It really struck me how much Iranians like their parks and gardens. They absolutely love gardens there, they create them everywhere. It is a very dry country, yet they nonetheless succeed in subtracting water from the mountains, creating fountains and parks, which are frequented by Iranians. They have also created parks for their major poets; they actually revere them. By night one can go visit these tombs and see people read each other poetry and become deeply moved by it..

Oh yeah... Weren't you the user who announced he would be visiting Iran for a fortnight? If so, did you post a report thread, and can I find it?
Politeia utopia
31-05-2007, 20:55
Iran is no longer as revolutionary as it once was, it is relaxing its control. Iran is changing as we speak, even the current neoconservative wave cannot change that. :)
Politeia utopia
31-05-2007, 20:57
So, you are just saying you never looked at Iran before.
Iran is only dry in the Dasht-e-Kavir region. And Iran is not exactly poor. And they way that "social rules" are applied differs considerably from region to region, and actually even from family to family.


The Dasht-e-Kavir is the main desert and the most dry area... The rest of the country is also very dry with a few exceptions.
Cannot think of a name
31-05-2007, 20:57
Their film is quite remarkable, if a bit dry.
Politeia utopia
31-05-2007, 20:59
Oh yeah... Weren't you the user who announced he would be visiting Iran for a fortnight? If so, did you post a report thread, and can I find it?
Yeah, I did with losts of noise

But real life obligations struck hard following my visit and I have really little time off
Keruvalia
31-05-2007, 21:20
Seems to me that someone may have been to Iran, but didn't really visit.

It's a gorgeous country with some really fine people and an amazing culture and history.

Dry? I remember snow.

Go back and really visit it.
New Limacon
31-05-2007, 21:56
Iran has been one of the countries I would like to know more about.

Their national government is, at best, insane, and at worst, homicidally insane. But the Iranian people themselves seem to be a more heterogenous group. Is there anyone that lives or has lived in Iran for a significant period of time on this forum?
Ashmoria
31-05-2007, 21:58
i dont know why these posters are giving you a ration of shit but thanks for the snippet of iranian life.
Ashmoria
31-05-2007, 21:59
Yeah, I did with losts of noise

But real life obligations struck hard following my visit and I have really little time off

did you take any good pictures?
Slythros
31-05-2007, 22:23
Yep, I'm an Iranian (I dont live there anymore) and my grandparents love their garden. And yes it is pretty dry, It rains rarely, and the majority of people are rather poor. And it's still pretty bad, but much better than immediatley after the revolution. But still, the people are poor, the pollution is terrible, and the government is oppresive. Theres still a lot of work to do. By the way, diud you go to Tehran? If so, what did you think of the pollution? And the horrible traffic? But still, the people are great. And You are actually much safer in Iran, less chance of being murdered. And some of the nicest people I've met.
Hynation
31-05-2007, 22:23
Some consider these hippies to be really dangerous and threatening..:p

Not like the older generations huh?
Hynation
31-05-2007, 22:26
With all the negative press, a slightly different note.


It really struck me how much Iranians like their parks and gardens. They absolutely love gardens there, they create them everywhere. It is a very dry country, yet they nonetheless succeed in subtracting water from the mountains, creating fountains and parks, which are frequented by Iranians. They have also created parks for their major poets; they actually revere them. By night one can go visit these tombs and see people read each other poetry and become deeply moved by it..

That sounds nice :)
New Limacon
31-05-2007, 22:36
How do most Iranians feel about the US? It's hard to get a good idea because of the negative press surrounding it
Keruvalia
31-05-2007, 22:36
Yep, I'm an Iranian

Nuh uh! You can't be Iranian! By all stereotypes, all you should be saying is "DEATH TO AMERICA!! DEATH TO JEWS!!"

You lie! You aren't saying "ALLAH COMMANDS ME TO KILL EVERYONE!!!"

;)
Ruby City
01-06-2007, 01:07
The culture, history, architecture and Persian stuff such as the rugs seems very nice. The news about oppression, censorship, Nazi like opinions, nuke project, and the propaganda cult around the leader seems very scary. My overall impression is that it's one of the greatest nations in history that is having one of the worst periods in it's history.

A couple questions...
How do most Iranians feel about Jews, US and non-Muslims in general?
How would most Iranians feel about the outrageous books that could be published if censorship ceased completely?
What do most Iranians think about harsh practices like for example honor killings?
Slythros
01-06-2007, 01:35
The culture, history, architecture and Persian stuff such as the rugs seems very nice. The news about oppression, censorship, Nazi like opinions, nuke project, and the propaganda cult around the leader seems very scary. My overall impression is that it's one of the greatest nations in history that is having one of the worst periods in it's history.

A couple questions...
How do most Iranians feel about Jews, US and non-Muslims in general?
How would most Iranians feel about the outrageous books that could be published if censorship ceased completely?
What do most Iranians think about harsh practices like for example honor killings?

the first part: absolutley correct

The Second part: I can only speak for urban city Iranians, I have had no contact with the rural ones.However, to the best of my knowledge
1.Fine with US, still kind of pissed about Mossadegh, fine with non-muslims, fine with Jews, hate Israel (some hate JEws, but not the majority that I have spoken to)
2. the young ones would embrace it, the older, more islamic ones would be shocked and lobby for their removal. Kind of like the U.S.
3. They hate them. However, there are some Iranians (none that I've met) who are fine with them and would actually do them, and i is not illegal under Iranian law.
Thumbless Pete Crabbe
01-06-2007, 02:39
I was surprised to learn of their declining birthrate. Not the norm for Islamic countries. Looks like they'll be more managable in the future, nukes or no. :)
Politeia utopia
01-06-2007, 10:58
The culture, history, architecture and Persian stuff such as the rugs seems very nice. The news about oppression, censorship, Nazi like opinions, nuke project, and the propaganda cult around the leader seems very scary. My overall impression is that it's one of the greatest nations in history that is having one of the worst periods in it's history.

A couple questions...
How do most Iranians feel about Jews, US and non-Muslims in general?
How would most Iranians feel about the outrageous books that could be published if censorship ceased completely?
What do most Iranians think about harsh practices like for example honor killings?

One woman in our party had last visited the place 12 years ago. According to her it had definitely relaxed, and we could sense the relaxed atmosphere; live music, young people meeting, purple and pink school uniforms, no religious police on the streets. Especially in the mayor cities the body-hugging mantle “manteau”, high heels, thick make-up and headscarf covering only the back of the head can be seen alongside the women in chador.

As for Iranian views I can only speak for the few people I have spoken, analyzing public opinion in these countries is hard; there are no reliable polls and my personal N is small.

As in many places most people have a general disdain for politics and political leaders. Iran has always had a strong anti-clergy sentiment and mullah is definitely not a compliment.

I am not American, but the people that I’ve spoken really like the US with respect to the people, culture, and perceived opportunities. People are generally weary of US international politics, and consider the US a potential threat to peace. The current nuclear debate (why Israel can and we cannot) the Mossadeq coup, supporting Iraq, and shooting civilian airliners did not help.

As for Israel it is the same as in other Middle Eastern countries, I guess. They see things on the news that do not reach our broadcasts. They see the gruesome effects of the occupation of the West Bank and Gaza and of the Lebanon war in more detail than we do, they consequently see the Israeli regime as dangerous, threatening its neighbours; a construct of coloneal oppression. As for Jews people harbour no bad feelings towards them but there are some anti-Semitic myths.

It was obvious that many (not all) people want change, especially with regard to less social restrictions; we could see that the process of change has already started and cannot be reversed by the reactionary conservatives. People really do not want to go back to the time of the Shah: it was a popular revolution for a reason.
Politeia utopia
01-06-2007, 11:13
Seems to me that someone may have been to Iran, but didn't really visit.

It's a gorgeous country with some really fine people and an amazing culture and history.

Dry? I remember snow.

Go back and really visit it.

That is a harsh conclusion based on the few words I have said, not really a friendly is it ;)
Yes, there is water in the mountain, and yes I have also seen snow and rain. The area north of the Albors at the Caspian sea is on the rain-side and very whet for example (have not been there)

Still the rain falls mainly high in the mountains and Iran has difficulties getting enough water into the cities, especially in the summer months. By now there will hardly fall any rain until October I guess. Note that Iran is very big and there are consequently large differences between locations.

And yes I have not by far seen enough, so I will return in sha’a-llah
OcceanDrive
01-06-2007, 12:36
did you take any good pictures?Yes this thread need pictures.
I remember a while ago, someone posted beautiful Pictures of Iran cities and Countryside..
Descendants of Latta
01-06-2007, 13:03
So cos they like their gardens we shouldn't carpet bomb them? This is insane! Carpet bombing is good, it brings peace and stability to regions and allows new opportunity for business. Remember, carpet bombing is good, and, ;)at a place near you soon.
Politeia utopia
01-06-2007, 13:41
So cos they like their gardens we shouldn't carpet bomb them? This is insane! Carpet bombing is good, it brings peace and stability to regions and allows new opportunity for business. Remember, carpet bombing is good, and, ;)at a place near you soon.

Hope this is a bad attempt at a joke.
Minaris
01-06-2007, 14:07
So cos they like their gardens we shouldn't carpet bomb them? This is insane! Carpet bombing is good, it brings peace and stability to regions and allows new opportunity for business. Remember, carpet bombing is good, and, ;)at a place near you soon.

I do believe the OP was trying to say he'd LIKE us to carpet-bomb them.

Some new rugs over there would do great. :p

...

I'll just go back in my corner now...
UN Protectorates
01-06-2007, 14:37
Hope this is a bad attempt at a joke.

No worries, I think it is.
Siempreciego
01-06-2007, 16:24
With all the negative press, a slightly different note.


It really struck me how much Iranians like their parks and gardens. They absolutely love gardens there, they create them everywhere. It is a very dry country, yet they nonetheless succeed in subtracting water from the mountains, creating fountains and parks, which are frequented by Iranians. They have also created parks for their major poets; they actually revere them. By night one can go visit these tombs and see people read each other poetry and become deeply moved by it..

if anyone hsa'nt already post this enjoy
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography_of_Iran
Politeia utopia
01-06-2007, 16:58
i dont know why these posters are giving you a ration of shit but thanks for the snippet of iranian life.

They think they know Iran better and to show that they are taking my words to start a geography contest. ;)

I do not mind, they are not wrong, but read things in my posts that are not there. I would hardly see myself as ignorant on Iran

did you take any good pictures?

We took loads of pictures, but I would not want to clutter the forum with this shitload of visual data :)
Soleichunn
01-06-2007, 20:22
And? What's new about this? Never read of a Persian Garden? A pairidaêza? Where the word paradise comes from?

I want a traditional persian ice cream-waffle thingy.