Short Version:
I am Arash Abadpour (Abad Pour), an Iranian student in Canada. I write under the pen name “Arash Kamangir” and I am not into politics, of any kind. This is my email address and this is Kamangir’s feed. The best way to contact me is through the Skype ID arash.kamangir.
Kamangir.net is a collection of an English blog, a Persian blog, a photoblog, and a photography blog.
Long Version:
I am an Iranian student, not studying politics, law, or anything related to what I talk about in here. I have been living in Canada, since last year, with my lovely wife, Azadeh, and our zero children.
Kamangir means archer in Persian, and please remember that the name Farsi is the Arabic term for the language I speak as my mother tongue. So, here, I will only use the term Persian. I have chosen Kamangir as my blog’s name because my first name is Arash. In the mythology, Arash is the heroic archer who saves Iran. the full story is mentioned here.
I am an agnostic, raised in an Islamic country. Since childhood, one of my greatest challenges has been to explain to Muslims how obvious they think their ideas are and how ignorantly they force others to live as they do. Obviously, this blog follows the same path. However, when I talk about the words “Islam” and “Muslim”, I mean the mainstream Islam and Muslimism. To my understanding, people have the right to worship whatever they want to however they want to and this is none of anyone’s business. However, when people force children to recite books or take ideology courses, or collapse twin buildings, for that matter, in the name of Allah, I find no reason to remain silent.
To my understanding, Iran and what is seen today in the news about “Iran”, are two very distinct issues. However, I am not a fan of conspiracy theories or “Jews rule the world” fantasies. I will use the name Islamic Republic (IR) to refer to the Iranian political system. To my understanding, Iran and the IR are like a body and an infection. You will not kill ill people. You will not sleep with them, either.
While I have all the reasons to criticize the Islamic Republic, I will remain objective. I am not a member of any Iranian political party in or outside Iran. Having said that, I do respect any movement which is pro democracy and human rights.
In Kamangir, no lie has ever been told, neither will it be in the future. If you catch me telling a lie, I will send you a $1,000 check (not for mistakes, though!).
I read any single comment and I respond to almost all of them. I do not censor or delete any comment unless they contain insults or links to pornographic websites. As some of Kamangir’s readers may use Persian or Pinglish in their comments, I will translate, and also annotate, terms and ideas which an average non-Iranian would not understand.
My mother tongue is Persian. So, obviously, Kamangir is full of mistakes. I would be grateful if you let me know when my sentences are weird/unintelligible/or just wrong.
Kamangir.net is a collection of an English blog, a Persian blog, a photoblog, and a photography blog. If you have added any of these blogs’ addresses to yours but your blog is not listed here, please kindly let me know. This is my email address and this is Kamangir’s feed. The best way to contact me is through the Skype ID arash.kamangir .
Other than here, I write for these blogs,
Last update: 16 April 2008.
Nice to meet you, Kamangir. I’m always surprised (not to say shocked!) when someone actually stumbles across my blog, which resides safely and in obscurity at the outer fringes of the blogosphere.
I love your simple question. I’m very interested in the same question–especially since a good portion of the world’s current hazards seem to have their root in religion and/or tradition. It’s so easy to love one’s own beliefs, and discount–without thought but with great derision–everyone else’s.
Comment by Kelly L.C. Russell — October 20, 2006 @ 12:50 pm
Unfortunately, it seems that you are right. Any way, I liked your post about lip gloss and I found it in Wordpress forntpage. Lets talk more.
Comment by kamangir — October 20, 2006 @ 1:15 pm
[...] About (Updated!) [...]
Pingback by About « Kamangir (Archer) - کمانگیر — January 9, 2007 @ 7:37 pm
Beside everything else, you are handsome, especially with sun glasses. Personally I have never seen any sentence in your blog that I can improve.
Comment by Øسین — January 10, 2007 @ 2:22 am
بابا من Ú©Ù‡ کلاÙÙ‡ شدم آخرش پرژن درسته یا Ùارسی. میان بلاگ من ÙØØ´ Ùˆ ÙضیØت Ù…ÛŒ دن Ú©Ù‡ اونو ننویس، اینو بنویس. ایام به کام
Translation: Come on! It’s enough for me. Which one is correct, Persian or Farsi? People visit my blog and swear me because I have used this one of that one. Have a nice day!
Comment by Øاجی کنزینگتون — January 10, 2007 @ 1:13 pm
Hossein,
Chakerim. :)
Comment by kamangir — January 10, 2007 @ 7:39 pm
Øاجی کنزینگتون,
Sorry! I reminded you of your problems with your visitors. :D
Comment by kamangir — January 10, 2007 @ 7:41 pm
I’m English — I’d rather die than correct someone’s grammatical errors!
Comment by Max — January 12, 2007 @ 6:39 pm
Max,
So let’s only be friends. :D
Comment by kamangir — January 12, 2007 @ 6:52 pm
I’ve been looking through your old articles and comment threads, and I’m really impressed. Many middle eastern blogs in English are little more than America bashing websites. I don’t agree with all the stuff you say, but I’ve never learned anything from someone that thought just like me.
I find your discipline and self restraint refreshing.
Comment by brando — January 27, 2007 @ 2:56 pm
Brando,
Nice meeting you. :)
Comment by kamangir — January 28, 2007 @ 6:49 pm
Kamangir,
I think you would enjoy very much the writings of Allama Iqbal. He has written in both my language and yours – Farsi and Urdu. Here is a nice piece from him titled “Jihad”: (English translation of Urdu text)
It is the verdict of the Shaikh
That pen is stronger than the sword
“The sword has lost its might and force,
Tile pen has gained a firmer hold.”
But does not the august Shaikh
Take cognizance of this bitter fact
That this lecturing in the mosque
Can never make the least effect?
In hands of Muslims of the world,
Where can the gun and sword be seen?
If equipped with such deadly arms,
To suffer death they won’t be keen.
At sight of heathen’s natural death,
If one with fear and fright is filled
No one directs a man like that
To get in Holy War be killed.
A man, whose bloody claws for world
With risk and danger much are fraught,
Must avoid the Holy Wars,
To give up wars he must be taught.
The West is bent to mount a guard
On false, untrue pretentious show
It is armed with weapons dread,
Is clad in mail from top to toe.
We like to Ask the holy Shaikh,
Who holds the shrine in high esteem,
If war for West is heinous crime,
How far in East can harmless seem?
A man concerned with truth alone
Can never this much proper deem
That East for sins must reckoning face,
But crimes by West may lighter seem.
ماشأللÛ
Comment by Ali — January 30, 2007 @ 2:45 am
Ali,
Sorry, I did not get it.
Comment by kamangir — February 1, 2007 @ 7:18 pm
I found your site interesting. But as a convert to Islam fromm Atheism, I found your ideas that people force children to follow relgion rather offensive. That DOES happen. But it’s not the norm. It’s the exceptiion. Twin towers was a regrettable casee, and thosee guilty for it should be punished. But I seriously doubt whether the childre who died of explosions of cluster bombs had anything to do with it. Or the milliioons of children malnutritioned or those who could not be treated becausee medicine could not come because of embargo… I doubt they are responsible. And I found no reason to stay silent about BOTH thee twin towers and the children.
Comment by Manas — February 5, 2007 @ 4:34 pm
Manas,
Sorry if I offended you. About the indoctrination, as someone who has lived in an Islamic country, I assure you that it exactly is the norm. For the twin towers and its relevance to medicine, yes the world is not a fair place but insanity is not a justification for more insanity. I “understand” your point that if all people had whatever they wanted there would be no conflict. The problem is, we are living in a real world and we probably have to learn how to not to kill people when we are angry, while we are sure they have harmed us.
Comment by kamangir — February 5, 2007 @ 4:50 pm
I would like to differ. You can’t generalise from your experience unless you have hard data. I have grown up in predominantly Muslim area. And my experience is contrary to yours.
“we probably have to learn how to not to kill people when we are angry, while we are sure they have harmed us.”
Good intentions. But are you really sure they have harmed you? The 911 commission has not come up with any hard evidence linking the terrorists to Al-Quaeda (I am not talking of the conspiracy theories).
Some fanatics have harmed some people. For example london bombings. The Britons have provided clear evidence in support of their charges.
Fact is, uncle Bush’s bragging against muslims (under the veil of targetting muslim fanatics) is backed by something stronger than reason. Guns. And you are either behind them, or in front of them, as he elaborates.
And if you talk of who’s harming whom, you don’t have to be very impartial to know US has harmed iraq more or the other way. and iraq is only ONE example.
Comment by Manas — February 5, 2007 @ 6:01 pm
Manas,
Where have you been living?
Comment by kamangir — February 5, 2007 @ 6:07 pm
I was living in India.
By the way, I sound very aggressive when I argue. Please don’t take that personally.
Comment by Manas — February 6, 2007 @ 12:04 am
Manas,
You weren’t aggressive. Any way, nice to meet you. :)
Comment by kamangir — February 6, 2007 @ 12:48 am
Nice to meet you too, Kamangir.
Comment by Manas — February 6, 2007 @ 1:25 pm
Thanks for reciprocating the blogroll link – much appreciated.
kudos on great content.
R
Comment by Richard Buchanan — February 13, 2007 @ 5:16 pm
Richard,
You are most welcome. Nice to meet you. :)
Comment by kamangir — February 13, 2007 @ 5:19 pm
Hallo, i just found your website and my first impression is really positive. I’m an exchange Stundent in the U.S. and I plan on writing an article about the wrong impression about islamic countries, here in the States.
I am an atheist, too, and i admit my knowledge about the islam isn’t as big as i’d like it to be, i’m hesitating a lot answering questions when ppl ask me about this religion / culture.
What I know is, that i grew up in germany with a lot of friends from e.g. turkey, and none of them had / have any extreme opinions.
That’s what i try to explain people here.
bye, martin
Comment by Martin Smolka — February 14, 2007 @ 1:44 pm
Arash, perhaps you – or some of the many people who read your blog – can help me. I am nearly finished with a global survey of WiFi regulations for the ITU. I have been unable to find current info about whether WiFi is licensed in Iran. Last November, The CRA issued new regulations for low-power wireless devices, including WiFi and Bluetooth, but I cannot tell if the rules require licensing. The regs (in Persian) are online at Word.doc format and PDF format.
Note that one must use Internet explorer to download from CRA…
My page of wireless resources for Iran is online at
openspectrum.info.
Anyway, I would appreciate any info about current WiFi regulation in Iran. Many thanks in advance.
Comment by Robert Horvitz — February 16, 2007 @ 8:26 am
Robert,
I am afraid I can’t help. I will send you the email of a friend of mine, who is based in Iran and is an IT expert.
Comment by kamangir — February 16, 2007 @ 9:59 am
I don’t suppose you were watching CBC this past Sunday (last night)? They had a documentary about being gay in Iran that was pretty interesting. They don’t have the Doc available online, but some of the relevent info can be found on their website:
http://www.cbc.ca/sunday/2007/02/021807_1.html
Thought you’d be interested in an ongoing civil rights movement in Iran that’s not getting a lot of press…
Comment by feartheseeds — February 19, 2007 @ 2:00 am
Great site – common sense is alive….
Comment by Isaac — February 23, 2007 @ 3:15 pm
Hello Kamangir, you have an interesting blog. I am adding you to my blogroll. I hope you do not mind.
Comment by 2jay — February 23, 2007 @ 11:37 pm
Kamangir wrote….”People have the right to worship whatever they want however they want and it is none of anyone’s business”……I totally agree with you. And it is wrong to use force on others especially to the vulnerable children, teenagers, women to do anything that is harmful to them and society or to use violent such as war, sucide bombing and collapsing building eg NY twin towers, in the name of Allah, because Islam does not teach Muslims to do so. It is the culture and behaviour of those people who resort to violent and force to be blamed. Islam tries to educate these people (who born and grew up in an environment that full of violent and anger) how to live peacefully in harmony, however Islam ended up of having a bad name! It is always Islam to be blamed when the real culprit is the culture, bad habits and bad behaviours of certain nations of the world!
Comment by 2jay — February 24, 2007 @ 1:04 am
Hey there Kamangir, just wanted to say I really like your articles and I have added you to my blogroll. I also gave plug for your site here hope you don’t mind.
Keep up the great work!
Comment by emoat — February 24, 2007 @ 2:10 am
I just saw your new site today…don’t know how long you have moved here but Congratulation and good luck!
Comment by Amin — February 27, 2007 @ 5:16 pm
Pleased to meet you.
Comment by Bill — March 7, 2007 @ 3:51 am
Amin,
Thanks.
Comment by Kamangir — March 7, 2007 @ 6:24 am
Emoat,
Nice to meet you.
Comment by Kamangir — March 7, 2007 @ 6:24 am
Bill,
Same here.
Comment by Kamangir — March 7, 2007 @ 6:25 am
Came here from Feartheseeds blog.
Was always curious about what was really happening in Iran and I think I am going to get an objective view here. I’ve added you to my blogroll.
I understand what Manas says. I have Muslim friends (I am a Hindu)and maybe it was because they came from a certain section of society (I don’t know) but I didn’t see any indoctrination. I believe it must be happening though in Islamic countries. I guess that even though India has the second largest population of Muslims in the world, the Muslims here are different from those in Islamic countries. I am really curious as to the difference between Indian Muslims and Muslims in Islamic countries.
Comment by Nita — March 27, 2007 @ 4:46 pm
Nita,
Nice to meet you. I added you, too. :)
Comment by Kamangir — March 27, 2007 @ 8:08 pm
I would like to congratulate you on your blog. You take a consistant approach on what you see and provide a very interesting insight into the media in IR.
The current custodians of Iran are making such a mess of Irans future ably aided and abetted by the USA. For the past I do not know how long they seem to be taking it in turns to mess around with a country that has all it needs for its own well being. I look forward to the day when I don’t turn on the news and hear something bizare coming out of the IR or US governments that will eventually / mostly cause the people of Iran more pain. Iran and its people have so much more to offer than they are given the chance to.
Keep up the great site.
Darius
Comment by Darius — March 29, 2007 @ 7:48 pm
Darius,
Thanks for your nice comments. :)
I look forward to that day too. Nice to meet you. :)
Comment by Kamangir — March 30, 2007 @ 1:16 am
من عاشق شعری هستم Ú©Ù‡ ظاهرا اسمت برگرÙته ازشه: آرش کمانگیر از سیاوش کسرایی از آشنایی باهات مشعو٠شدم
Comment by پگاه — April 6, 2007 @ 7:23 pm
good read. thanks. keep up the good work
Comment by Ali — April 18, 2007 @ 11:47 am
hi, baradar kamangir, this is not a comment about your introductory text. it’s about the link in balatarin.com (sexy tarin tablight). Actually, I have put that link to test a hypothesis and to initiate a good discussion around it. so, far it’s going well. I would appreciate your contribution to that discussion. at the end, sorry for contacting you this way :)
Comment by rebel — May 4, 2007 @ 6:01 am
[...] اØترام به همه پیروان این دین (Ùˆ دیگر ادیان) همونطور Ú©Ù‡ صÙØÙ‡ ØªÙˆØ¶ÛŒØ Ú©Ù…Ø§Ù†Ú¯ÛŒØ± انگلیسی (Ú©Ù‡ هنوز Ùرصت نکردم به کمانگیر Ùارسی اضاÙØ´ کنم) صریØا [...]
Pingback by سلام هودر جان « کمانگیر — May 7, 2007 @ 2:11 pm
2jay-#29 is sooo wrong. Or maybe practicing taqiyya. I am an infidel. But I have read that koran.
the whole 9th sura is about making war on the infidel and ’striking at their necks’. And, in at least three different suras it tells muslims not to have infidels for friends.-3:114,4:144,and 5:51.
Kill infidels-4:84,8:12,9:29,8:39,47,4,2:186-188
Muslims are obliged to war in 2:212.
Other religions are bad 98,1-8, 76:1-5,40:67-73 and on and on and on.
Every sura that Mo wrote in Medina has war and ugliness and terror in it. Mo himself said; “I have been made victorious with terror.”
So, unless you are part of the islam that denies jihad, then islam is a blood-letting religion.
More at http://www.faithfreedom.org/forum/index.php
Comment by el greco — May 23, 2007 @ 6:19 pm
سلام
آقا سايت جالبي داري
سعي كن بيشتر تبليغ كني
Comment by mojtab — June 14, 2007 @ 1:00 pm
Dear Arash,
I find your blog fascinating and sensitive, you bring the special resolution of the individual life that is missing from regular media coverage. After taking all this mosaics of bites of life you can sense the tragedy of being infected by totalitarian Islam.
I add your site to my recommended blogs (in my site http://www.anochi.com). Please allow yourself to contact me if you like to let your readers know more about life in the “small devil” country.
Boaz Arad, Israel
Comment by Boaz Arad — July 1, 2007 @ 7:21 pm
Great blog Arash!
I have Syrian, Israeli and Palestinian friends in Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal, most people would be surprised at how alike they all are. My friends represent the majority of these peoples, and are far different from what the media and mullahs try to represent them as. You included.
I have sent my Skype ID to you via skype, hopefully we can speak sometime, and you can meet a few more sane people from the neighbourhood.
Peace,
Michael Travis
Comment by Michael Travis — July 22, 2007 @ 9:16 am
Don’t know if you have seen this http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=070828122700.z70aj5ml&show_article=1
Would love to see your take on it.
Comment by Aelia — August 28, 2007 @ 9:38 am
very interesting weblog.
i want to add a link to it in my blog …if that’s ok?
Kamangir: Sure, please go ahead and do it. :)
Comment by Selma (From Tehran, with love) — September 1, 2007 @ 11:10 pm
Hey! Just wanted 2 say that your blog is really refreshing to read. I enjoyed it so much that i even got my parents hooked on it =) If you dont mind i would like 2 add a link 2 it in my blog…
Kamangir: Thanks for your nice comment. I added your blog, too.
Comment by Mona — September 2, 2007 @ 6:24 pm
Welcome to Canada :) I immigrated from Europe. Your blog has a lot of honest information on what is going on in Iran and more. I find it easiest to subscribe to blogs on my Google Reader, that’s where I’ve added yours. I add some posts to the “shared items” on my blog, if I’d like my readers to see it. Not that I have huge amounts of traffic :) You have a great blog. If you go back to Iran, would you have problems with the authorities because of this blog?
Kamangir: Well, let’s put it this way, I am not going to go back to Iran any time soon.
Comment by nachtwache — September 23, 2007 @ 2:47 am
That’s smart! I wouldn’t either. I won’t even move back to Europe, too close to it all. Besides, I love Canada.
Comment by nachtwache — September 23, 2007 @ 2:17 pm
First visit to your blog.
“In Kamangir, no lie has ever been told, neither will it be in the future.”
Herodotus said Persian education is to ride, shoot and speak the truth.
It is a great tradition to follow.
Kamangir: Nice to meet you. :)
Comment by tvoh — October 21, 2007 @ 10:43 am
[...] رو Ú©Ù‡ اتÙاق Ù…ÛŒ اÙته Ù…ÛŒ نویسم Ùˆ صادقانه هم Ù…ÛŒ نویسم. قبلا هم Ú¯Ùتم، اگر دروغی در اینجا دیدید Øتما خبر بدید ÙˆÛ±Û°Û°Û° دلار [...]
Pingback by کمانگیر » آرشیو » کمانگیر معرو٠می شود، بطور معکوس — October 26, 2007 @ 2:37 pm
Great blog! I’ll add it to my bloglist. Thanks Arash!
Kamangir: Thanks Richard. Please send me your link.
Comment by Richard — October 30, 2007 @ 7:04 pm
what is wrong with people like you..your bitter and twisted…why do you go round demonising your own country..don’t you have any dignity…at the end of the day wherever you go you will always be recognised as an Iranian and not a “Canadian” or a “Westerner”. Go look in the mirror you hypocrite. Do you like being laughed at because the whole western world is laughing at people like you who sell their soul to become a slave to the n.w.o. why not encourage change within Iran instead of just moaning … you should be proud to be Iranian. Like i said take a good long look in the mirror and think about your philosophy from a different point of view and how people perceive you at the end of the day you can’t bleach your self you are not a Michael Jackson, a black man hiding in a white mans complexion you are Iranian you should be proud of who you are no matter how bad things are..you should really stand by your own people. Because in the end if its just a few words you utter to these people they will for sure inshallah promote change in Iran in to a democracy rivalling that of the U.S!!!
Comment by Naomi — January 9, 2008 @ 8:11 pm
Great blog, Arash. I’m always willing to explore the possibility of actually learning something out here in the blogosphere and I think you may have some personal wisdom to impart.:)
Comment by Fiona — November 10, 2008 @ 5:28 pm
are you not afraid to write that you are agnostic when you are living in Iran?
feel free to check my blog and tell me what you think
http://andishehblog.wordpress.com/
Comment by Kourosh Shahidi — November 17, 2008 @ 7:26 pm
A good blog, Indeed :)
Comment by Nim — January 18, 2009 @ 1:56 pm
If your belief is like your writing above, know i will read yours and trust u.
Comment by vahid — April 11, 2009 @ 2:00 am