Kamangir (Archer)

Did you know that Kamangir turns four tomorrow? See the classic "Hello World" dated October 17, 2008!

“MidEast Youth”

Kamangir | November 6, 2006 | Category Iran

Recently, I found an amazingly well-organized discussion group called Mideast Youth, through View From Iran. This is the “short version” of the group’s mission statement,

Mideast Youth is a network dedicated to eliminate extremist ideologies and stupidity from the Middle East. Arabs, Iranians, and Israelis post side-by-side to prove the fact that moderation, interfaith understanding, and sanity does exist in the region.

So, I called them and asked to be invloved in the discussion and they generously accepted. I posted this introduction today,

I am Arash and I have been living in Canada since last September. My wife and I are studying here and I think we will be staying where we are for at least three more years. I was born in Tehran, the polluted capital city of Iran, and I speak Persian as my first language. Since October 2004, I have been writing in my blog, Kamangir, about Iran, Islam, and the Islamic Republic of Iran.

I am not Muslim. Actually, I don’t believe in God. I understand and respect all religions, at least those of them I have been exposed to, but I find it irrational when followers of these religions impose their beliefs on others. Having come from Iran, I have first hand experience of such behaviors.

I have a friend who is from an Arabic country. When I started talking to him about what is called Islam in Iran, shockingly, he could not understand half of it, and the other half, he was sure had nothing to do with his impression of Islam. I also have a blog-friend who is an Iranian living in Israel (see). He talks very frequently about Jewish traditions, which very regularly I find very interesting. So, looking at religion, and tradition, from afar, it is an amazing and supportive institution. Whilst, I have no intention of living under its destructive influence any more.

This is why I’m here. To hear and to talk about good things about religion and traditions of the people of the middle east and to analyze and show how these tender institutions become deadly and hazardous. I trust this can be achieved in a network which is dedicated to eliminating “extremist ideologies and stupidity from the Middle East”.(source)

Reader's Comments

Mahi | November 7th, 2006 at 10:11 am
It was interesting and informative. I read a couple of most commented articles there, and amazed how we are close in some ideas with Arab neigbours.(I mean the young and broad minded generation).
kamangir | November 7th, 2006 at 11:42 am
Mahi,
That is indeed a very good sign! :)
faryaadi | November 7th, 2006 at 1:27 pm
kamangir: markaze taghut !

Translation: Kamangir! The center for Shah’s regime.
kamangir | November 7th, 2006 at 1:48 pm
Faryaadi,
Excuse me?
Kamangir the Patriot | November 9th, 2006 at 12:12 am
Aqa-e- Kamangir Jaan,
You remind me of all those who overthrew Saddam by the hands of Americans. You are a live witness and symbol of treason. I am sure that you will live to regret your present stance. Actually, you are ok, but for now you are straying out to discover. It’s essential that you do so. You gain lots of experience and become a better person as you grow older. Some people get more year, others like you (hopefully) also gain maturity with age. Keep an open mind. The fact that you have things to criticise in your country does not make it any less valuable or make those you think will give you reefuge and relief friends.
Even your saying that you are not Muslim, does not make you any less Muslim in the heart. That’s what I had thought as I was younger. Nothing is permanent, and lots of people (most people) make a full U turn. Make sure you do not burn all your ship and bridges. You will need some for the return journey.
kamangir | November 9th, 2006 at 6:40 pm
Kamangir the Patriot,
So, you mean I am a Muslim-in-heart? Or that I must shut up?
Kamangir the Patriot | November 9th, 2006 at 10:30 pm
If you have been raised in Iran and Persian is your mother tongue, you can be of any religion but what is sure is that you are substantially muslim in the heart. ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ to the ’shut-up’. No, coz i am not in a position to till any one, even in my own forum, let alone theirs, to shut up. but also yes, by way of love. words have such intrinsic power that you need to be careful what you say. the more you say by way conclusions, the more you make mistakes. you make conclusions only at the end. just as a scientist would do. you are still in the research and data collection phase. U R still doing the building brick discovery of what life is about, value system and other important matters of fact. it is very alluring to make conclusions. this is most what most people do most of the time, the remaining few are the wise ones. at this stage it is in your best interest to be more thoughtful and less verbal. verbeage can burn the ships and bridges that one needs for life voyages. it would be a disaster to burn all one’s seaworthy ships and sturdy bridges. you come from a proude and for good reasons nation. you belong to it in more ways than you can appreciate. you are rooted in it, and no matter who disgruntlted you are nothing can every uprood you from Iran and Islam, even if your parent are not muslims. cherish iran and islam, do not condemn them. and still enjoy your new discoveries. love whomever you want to, that will gain you more friends. but never hate any one, especially your own people, nation and the culture in which you grew up. none of these is intrinsically evil, evil if you do feel so now. reserve judgement for later, as we agreed. letting in hatered is the worst form of self destruction any one can indluge in. Save ships and bridges for the return journey, you will soon be disillusioned, my sone. life is so short, even if it seems to you at your present age to be without an end.
Kamangir the Patriot | November 9th, 2006 at 10:39 pm
I should have concluded by saying that reading you and Mideast Youth gives me the impression that both are in the same frame of mind, i.e. “we hate our own people, religion, culture and true friends” and love the aliens. The aliens do welcome you but only to take the worst advantage of your youth (inexperience).
kamangir | November 10th, 2006 at 12:32 pm
“You are substantially muslim in the heart”, what does this really mean? I am trying to stay calm but what you say is the worst kind of oppression; that I can not even choose for myself. Is this what your religion says? I beg you to spare me from your “way of love”.
kamangir | November 10th, 2006 at 12:32 pm
I rather be an inexperienced youth, if you call it so.
The Mandatory Religious Experience « Kamangir (Archer) - Ú©Ù…Ø§Ù†Ú¯ÛŒØ± | November 10th, 2006 at 2:47 pm
[...] The last type of comments I get are the least intellectual ones. “AND IF you truly search, GOD will aid your search and you will be rewarded” (see), “even your saying that you are not Muslim, does not make you any less Muslim in the heart”, (see), “you are substantially muslim in the heart” (see). I leave it to you to interpret these comments. [...]
Mideast Youth - Thinking ahead » The Mandatory Religious Experience | November 10th, 2006 at 2:53 pm
[...] The last type of comments I get are the least intellectual ones. “AND IF you truly search, GOD will aid your search and you will be rewarded” (see), “even your saying that you are not Muslim, does not make you any less Muslim in the heart”, (see), “you are substantially muslim in the heart” (see). I leave it to you to interpret these comments. Bookmark this article:These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages. [...]
Lily | November 10th, 2006 at 6:52 pm
I’m sorry but I just have to say something about the comments here by ‘Kamangir the Patriot’ whoever you are.
My comment is this=you should be free to believe what you want to believe at any given moment. Also, at any given moment your belief may change. The reason I know this is true is because ‘change’ and ‘death’ are the only two definite things universal to all people, regardless of where you are or what you believe. And since change is inevitable, it is naive to think that any one belief is immune to change. Change is what enables growth. Change is what leads to evolution. Change, my friend, is what the whole world is waiting with bated breath for, to see what the future holds.
So to say something with such conviction about someone who you don’t know, haven’t met, and have minimal information about… is just plain stupid. But I do enjoy hearing opinions like yours, because they demonstrate a distinct problem with Islam= A misguided hostility towards change.

I appreciate Kamangir providing a place to let all have a voice–It is brave and openminded. But I most appreciate the intelligent, rational and thoughtful opinions and responses Kamangir has regarding all of the topics here, made all the more thoughtful in contrast to yours.
Kamangir the Patriot | November 11th, 2006 at 12:49 am
â€œYou are substantially muslim in the heartâ€, what does this really mean? I am trying to stay calm but what you say is the worst kind of oppression; that I can not even choose for myself. Is this what your religion says? I beg you to spare me from your way of love.

So, is this supposed to mean that I must shut up?

I rather be an inexperienced youth, if you call it so

I guess it’s another way of asking me to shut up.

I thought you were a blogger in heart too, it transpires that you are not even a blogger in heart. bloggers are uneasy about being gagged and would not condone gagging by any one including themselves. If you have not read bloggers’ ethics, i suggest you read the handbook for bloggers and syber-dissidents from Reporters without Borders web site.

Come back any time if you are less of a rejectionist, son!
Kamangir the Patriot | November 11th, 2006 at 12:57 am
Forgive. indenting is astray.
Kamangir the Patriot | November 11th, 2006 at 1:04 am
Forgive. indenting is astray. May I try fixing. If I fail again, please delete one.

So, is this supposed to mean that I must shut up?

I guess itâ€™s another way of asking me to shut up.

I thought you were a blogger in heart too, it transpires that you are not even a blogger in heart. bloggers are uneasy about being gagged and would not condone gagging by any one including themselves. If you have not read bloggersâ€™ ethics, i suggest you read the handbook for bloggers and syber-dissidents from Reporters without Borders web site.

Come back any time if you are less of a rejectionist, son!
kamangir | November 12th, 2006 at 3:14 pm
Lily,
Thanks for your nice comment. :)
kamangir | November 12th, 2006 at 3:17 pm
Kamangir the Patriot,
I am not asking you to “shut up”. Please understand that many of the things which are obvious to you, are hugely questionable and suspicious to me. I like to have a conversation with you, that’s actually why I write here, but I think we should first define guidelines for our discussion.
Mideast Youth » Blog Archive » The Mandatory Religious Experience | December 3rd, 2006 at 12:35 am
[...] The last type of comments I get are the least intellectual ones. “AND IF you truly search, GOD will aid your search and you will be rewarded” (see), “even your saying that you are not Muslim, does not make you any less Muslim in the heart”, (see), “you are substantially muslim in the heart” (see). I leave it to you to interpret these comments. [...]
Kamangir (Archer) - Ú©Ù…Ø§Ù†Ú¯ÛŒØ± » Blog Archive » Mideast Youth, Even Further | November 21st, 2007 at 7:54 pm
[...] was November 2006 when I first got to know Esra’a Al’shafei and her work at the Mideast Youth, through our mutual friend Tori Egherman. Since then, my respect for this [...]