like a fish needs a bicycle...

That is so last week, I'm already wearing the new "Galaxy Unite 2032" jeans.

Hahahaha! Galaxy Unite...

I came across your blog through following some other threads. In regards to your sympathy with black people and your previous thread I wanted to make a comment. I read your entry and then saw your photo album. What is interesting is the VERY thing you accuse others of is what you seem to be struggling with in your own life. There are hardly ANY photos of you and black people or other minorities. It's merely you and other Iranian folk or half Iranians. What does that say about you as a person, with all the self righteousness that you preach parading as religion on this blog. I'm a black man and I've had interesting experiences with Iranians. Iranians gravitate towards us, because they think it makes them cool. They want to feel accepted and in a sense be a sign of danger to the white upper class as well because it shows by reason of association some sort of minority solidarity. But you know what? It's all a bunch of b.s. by Iranians. Iranians ARE NOT black so STOP trying to be and acting like you know hip hop and are cool. It would be another step when Iranians start marrying black people en masse. This is the only cure for what seems to be the superfialness of Iranians--the fake noses, and plastic surgery and endless intellectual arguments all meant to gain proximity with black culture. A culture of which they have no awareness nor appreciation. Not any more than white people.

Shawn, I'm wondering where the need to accuse someone you don't know of such things. I think it is rather presumptous to make such assumptions by looking at someone's photo album, and I also wonder how many of the pictures you looked at. I just went through her album again, and I see a pretty decent representation (not that it should be used as a factor in any case!).

I understand if you have frustration and anger at the situation in regards to race...but expressing such hatred does not solve anything, it just perpetuates itself. Be productive. Each culture has its own faults and beauty. If you really want the race issue to be resolved, work on educating, not attacking. :-)

I was just pointing something out. Be productive? What makes you think I'm not? I have spent my entire life trying to bring people together, but only by having people face the truth first. In your religion it is said that black people are the pupil of the eye and that there should be intermarriage and the mingling of races. How prevalent is interracial marriage between Iranians and us? Where do Iranians buy their homes? Are you saying that by ignoring it, it will go away? I bought a house next to an Iranian. My daughter was going out with an Iranian kid. His parents dispproved vehemently, despite that she's very successful, and cultured and perfect in every way, except the color of her skin. They moved a little while back from the neighborhood.
Listen, you Iranians think you know black people. You simply have no appreciation for what we've gone through and continue to go through. You came here because you were warned to leave in the first place. When you guys didn't listen to the prophecies bad things happened. Then you used that experience as a crutch to lean on. Well whose fault was that? Still some of you got educated and made it but the education was that of the white man which seperates your from your spirit. Just look at the decisions you all make every day. Do you make a concerted effort to be with black people? Why not? You say you love us. I saw the token black man here and there in the album, but if I were to venture to guess, every one of you come from well to do families who have gigantic homes where you make great speeches and serve up cake and pudding to the white folk, hoping they'll convert. You are trying to buy their conversion to your way of thinking and believing. So even if they do convert, it's pretty temporary because it was never real in the first place.

I've seen Iranian kids emulate us because they think it makes them cool. But you know what would really make them cool? If they actually practiced what they preached. Iranians like us in the end because even they are aware of the superficialness of their lives. They want to be near us because as we say, we keep it REAL. Iranians desperately want to be real, and are aware of their hypocrisy, but are afraid of taking real steps towards unity. I'll beieve in all that stuff you all say, when I see your centers filled with as many black people as with white people. So far, the only religion that has provided a way out of the misery of racial injustice has been Islam. Is it any wonder why many of us have turned to Islam? We pray side by side. We live togther in the same neighborhoods and I feel a connection of brotherliness with my Muslim brothers. My wife feels connected spiritually to the community and my kids are brought up with in a loving environment.
I think Iranians are committing a travesty by saying they believe in such a great religion and cause while they don't really follow any of its precepts. It makes me wanna holla.

It occurs to me that you are making your judgements based completely on stereotypes you've formed through your experiences. It seems to me that as a black man, you should know better than anyone to judge an individual based on the content of their character, not the color of their skin. It's just as unethical for you to say "Iranians are hypocrites" as it is for a white person to say "Black people are ignorant". Perhaps some Iranians are hypocrites, and some black people are ignorant, but to take any single quality you've observed in your interactions and apply that to an entire people is nothing short of racism.

I'm in a relationship with a black man right now and we regularly discuss the importance of understanding people in a case by case scenario, regardless of prevalent stereotypes, skin color, ethnicity, religious affliation, etc. No two Iranians are the same, as no two white people and no two black are the same. That's why it is imperative for us all to recognize, understand, and explore the diversity of humanity and its thoughts and interactions, rather than focus on the negativity and perversity of stereotypes that only further drag us into the abyss of racism, inequality, and injustice.

To charlotte:
Why did your religion come to Iran? Is it because Iranians were so full of nobility? Nay, it's because they had sunk into the 'abys of rascism, inequality and injustice."
Iranians preach a good game, but can't back it up.

Mona:
Good for you.

The comments and observations I've made are such that I could produce tons of black people who would agree with my sentiments. Why are your centers filled with white folk? What's going on that black folk are not finding due to the ineptitude of Iranian people who parade religion as something they'd invented.

I'm not Muslim, and I'm not Iranian. I'm a white Christian. Perhaps I didn't fit into your stereotype.

I didn’t realize it at first, but apparently having a blog like this one requires a lot of guts. White people have posted here and said, “Why are you complaining so much?” Black people have come and said, “What gives you the right to speak?” That’s why most people, whatever their skin color, don’t raise these issues. Naseem does, for the simple reason that it’s what she believes and she’s willing to take heat for her beliefs; and I admire that, and that’s why I’ll do everything I can to support her.

There are probably a lot of reasons why Naseem provokes such a strong response in some people. Possibly it’s because she’s brown-skinned, or because she’s a woman, and certainly it’s because she’s so outspoken. But I don’t think it’s just the messenger; I think the reason that Naseem gets so much flak online is that she’s so good at conveying her message.

For thousands of years, everyone has been saying the same thing, regardless of their color or their nationality or their class: these people hurt me, I hate them, and someday my people are going to be on top and we’re going to get them. That’s the summary of just about every major conflict going on in the world today. Here’s just one example, from the March 2005 Atlantic Monthly:

“[A human rights activist from Amnesty International] and her colleagues arrived in Kuwait City immediately [after Iraqi forces were driven out of Kuwait]. Their purpose was primarily to document the Iraqi crimes, but they found themselves overwhelmed by an additional problem, which was the widespread Kuwaiti vengeance that was being carried out against perceived collaborators—mostly foreign. This particular pattern—of the oppressed becoming the oppressors when the tables suddenly turn—is a perpetual problem for human-rights activists, and an indication of the structural challenges that they face in their attempt to remake human behavior.”

And then along comes Naseem, and people like her, with a new way of looking at the world. They say, “Everyone is my people.” That’s a pretty difficult thing to get away with saying. It breaks down thousands of years of precedent. More importantly, it requires spiritual and mental transformation. And that’s a pretty big deal.

But she’s not the only one who thinks that. I think that, too. And that means that I, as a black man, judge my freedom and success and security, and the freedom and success and security of my country and my whole world, based in part on how she, as a Persian woman, is treated. And you can bet that if there’s any prejudice against Iranians at all, any slightly disparaging word against Iranians as a people or a culture, they’ll be coming after me next. And then they’ll be coming after white women and Asian men. And then they’ll be coming after us all. So I get highly offended when anyone speaks poorly of her, particularly when it’s because of something like race.

But I realize that not everyone thinks like I do (which is an intentional understatement). So for everyone who gets a kick out of judging people based on the photos on their webpage, may I humbly recommend http://blackpeopleloveus.com/.

Well said, Aaron. The world would be a better place if we could work towards seeing our neighbors as humans, and not limit them to identification with various ethnic or religious groups.

Since, when did white christian women want to live together with black folk? Charlotte, Christianity slaughtered the American Indians, Africans and now they're doing it in Iraq all because they think God is gonna come down on clouds--for the protection of Israel. I don't know what sort of Christian you are, but I've never met one that was worth knowing. If you believe in the doctrine of original sin, then it carries over that what your ancestors did is now around your neck and you and I can never be friends with you nor can we'work together'. It is your ilk that elected a Dubya. It is your ilk that supports the wars against people who are not white. So you can sit here and try and be holy, but why don't you do something, other than try to defend yourself or some notion of who you are on this blog. Islam is the only religion that has helped black people. Christianity and its bigotted ways and actions all in the name of of a holy man such as Christ has brought this country to the edge of catastrophe.

Aaron, I ain't go no beef with the writer of this blog so much as I do with Iranians. They're just as ignorant as white folk. I bet you were one of the token black bruthas in the album. It's mighty big of you to defend your friend like that.
But let's be honest here.

If any of the Iranians on this blog can answer no to all of these questions then I rest my case. But I figure, probably not.

Have you ever had plastic surgery?
Do your parents own a big mansion where everyone is catered to with cake and pudding all in the hopes of worshipping the idea that you are such good people and hopefully convert them? Is everybody at this gathering white?
Are great speeches given at these events, about what a wonderful world we have ahead of us and how Iran is gonna be wonderful again?

Ofcourse it feels good to try and wrap your arms around everyone when you are the minority and your country is on the terror list. And Iranians for the most part are not brown Aaron. They've prided themselves over centuries for being Aryan.

Point being I'm just holdin' a mirror to the Iranians. Iranians love europeans. why does every sentence have to end with merci?

like i said, it makes me wanna holla

readers and commenters:

i am all for dialogue. but please be respectful to each other. i have edited the above post because it contained offensive terms and personal accusations. i will remove any post that is hostile and intentionally unkind to anyone else -- especially a fellow commenter. if you cannot elevate your discourse and treat others with dignity, please do not comment on this site anymore.

thank you.

Editing it fine. But we are at an impasse. We are at the most critical juncture in the history of mankind and it would anyone want to scream, because sometimes a brutha feels like he's living amongst dead people. Thank you for allowing me to comment on this blog, though you can very well go and delete everything. That in itself says alot about you as a person. Bravo.

I can tell you're not like the Iranians I talk about, so I'm glad. You seem like a real person so thanks for putting up with me.
But I still say, Charlotte, you gotta look clearly in the mirror. White folk have been responsible for the greatest crime in human history--slavery.
You may say you are not directly responsible. I agree. But what is it that you are doing directly to help the situation? If every white person in this country took fifteen minutes to work on some way to bring blacks and whites together we'd have the Kingdom of God here on earth. Trouble is, talk is cheap. Maybe I'm projecting all this onto you Charlotte, but Christianity as a religion as it exists today is simply not compatible with the times. It was way back when it was needed. But mankind grew up and needed Islam. That you can't even acknowledge Islam, makes you inherently rascist and illogical. But hey, that's alright. We all grow at our own pace. I do believe that the promised one of God did come down on clouds, but just not the clouds you suspect. Unfortunately, the deen or religion was put in the hands of a some people who did it a mighty disgrace. Others, probably people like the writer of this blog have been really trying to live it.
I can tell from the other entries that whoever is writing this blog is a sincere human being trying to make a change. So, Mrs. Nazeem, I didn't mean to be harsh or throw hate at ya'. You're alright and I apologize.

I have tried to love white people all my life. But you all make it so hard for us to even give you a hug. I think you all got more hurt at perpetuating slavery on us, than we did going through it. I say, this because you folks don't know how to really love another person. And that is a shame.
Peace and salaam alaikum my bruthas and sisters.

If only we all had those jeans from nordstoms.... we would all be getting along.....

Mr.Greg, you seem like a man in love.
Did you just get married? Or maybe you are already married and have a great marriage. All I know is that your comment is actually pretty funny and sums up the comments pretty well.
When a man is having a good time in life he wants to make peace and if he wants to make peace its beause he's in love. So who or exactly what are you in love with, cuz I may want to smoke some of that love potion myself.

Okay Shawn,

I hear what you're saying and there are some things that I agree with and some things that I don't....

I don't know where you grew up or where you live (looks like California) but I was born and raised on the east side of Detroit and I shouldn't have to describe to you what that was like but I will say that my mom brought us up to be Bahais and I thank God everyday for that because it litterally saved my life and to me this is the only Faith that tells me SPECIFICALLY that as a black man I am free because I am God's child as everyone else is.

Yes racism is alive and well and we are all kidding ourselves if we think we can just "overlook" the color of peoples skin. The point is not to overlook, but to appreciate and love it regardless.

When people say "lets not look at peoples color" that in itself is racist because it is like running away from your true identity but the Bahai Writings tell us to in fact look at it and appreciate it and love it because the beauty IS in the difference.

Brother Shawn, in this country racism effects all. So when people come here they are automatically put in somekind of class no matter what they think or believe. But within those races and ethnicities you will find true believers and those are the ones you really need to reach because if you keep telling someone who feels love for you that in fact you do not because you are "white" or you are "Iranian" we will never get anywhere.

When those "whites" and those "Iranians" champion the cause of race unity we will see unbelievable results.

Brother Shawn, I feel you on this issue but we can't knock down entire races at this point, thats what they do and thats how we got in this retarded mess in the first place.

We are different, we are noble and we don't need to prove it to anybody accept God Almighty.

So instead of pointing fingers at different people lets continue with encouraging those true believers to push even harder on eradicating racism and help them understand that no it is not over and no, just because you have black friends or lived in a black community or even are married to a black person doesn't exempt you from racism.

White people in America really have to champion this cause and until this happens we will not see any end to racism.

One love

Shawn-
Once again, I apologize for not fitting your stereotype of a white woman. Perhaps it’s easier for you to hate me if you believe that I voted for Bush, or that I support the war in Iraq, or that I live my life according to the New Testament. The very fact that you assume that because I am white and Christian, I am not worth knowing, defeats the cause of unity. By doing that you completely devalue any progress that I, or any member of my generation, has made or will make towards peace. You say I should do something—if you want to know what I’ve done in my short life, just ask. I’ll be happy to share my experiences and efforts with you. To assume that you know me, and what I stand for, based on my ethnicity and religious affiliation is to reject plurality.

Pardon me Charlotte, while I roll out the red carpet for you. You poor thing. Let's all hold hands and skip through the park. The cause of unity? Since when was this a Christian cause? I don't know what you're smoking, but it's definitely not the New, Old or Future Testament. I believe that all white people were created evil and that Jesus died for your sins. Now you can go do whatever you want from Monday through Saturday and it's all clean and done away with on Sunday. Does that make you feel better? Sunday is the most segregated day in America. What have you been doing about that my white christian sister? You need not prove yourself to an angry black man like me, but to your own self. How does it sit with you that we have black and white churches. That you don't even acknowledge the reality of the great faith of Islam and the one that came after it?
The opportunity to bring change is all around us. You first have to get really angry and let it drive you towards change. But you, seem to want to hide behind some curtain of sympathy, which I will not extend to you. Because the best thing for you is to get fired up and to think about what I've said and for it to agitate you a while and hopefully ACT. We are all dying and making great remarks and speeches won't do it. That's my final answer to you. Malcolm X was asked by an impressionable young womanwhat she can do to help. He said to say out of our way. This is the same story of Africa. Colonial powers raped and plundered it and now they want to help. The best way to help is get out of the way.

One time I went to the park, and my sister pushed me on the swing. It was the best! And you know what? I miss things like that.
Another thing: the smell of the air after it rains is the best. By the way, I love that this post is about jeans! So awesome! Totally didn't expect it to get so many comments!

I'm beginning to find it wasteful of my time to attempt to argue with such ignorance. You suggest that only blacks should fight for equality. It seems as though you would rather I were a racist. The cause of unity may not necessarily be a Christian one, but "Christian" is not all or even a large part of who I am. I'm wondering who the "you" you're addressing is when you say, "That you don't even acknowledge the reality of the great faith of Islam and the one that came after it?" Is it me, or Christian fundamentalists? I will not allow you to project the wrongs of others upon me when you make no effort to ask after my own beliefs.

In the words of Gloria Anzaldua, "The answer to the problem between the white race and the colored, between males and females, lies in healing the split that originates in the very foundation of our lives, our culture, our languages, our thoughts. A massive uprooting of dualistic thinking in the individual and collective consciousness is the beginning of a long struggle, but one that could, in our best hopes, bring us to the end of rape, of violence, of war."

You assume wrongly that I have not pursued plurality in my own life. I find it shameful that you claim to be striving for unity, when clearly you aim to divide.

charlotte and shawn, if you have further interpersonal issues that you'd like to resolve, please e-mail each other directly. thank you.

For reasons not known to me, I will declare myself as a Bahai. I will declare my Faith as a Baha'i as it is the only Faith I feel will heal rascism in America. I believe in Christianity, but only real Christianity. I already came to believe in Islam, but now will take this last step. I will also start Fasting tomorrow. It shouldn't be so hard as it is 11 days shorter than Ramadan.
To Charlotte, I am very sorry, although mere words can not heal the divide that exists and will continue to exists. We must be pragmatic about what to do. I have also come to realize that I can not condition my faith on the people that the Bahai Faith was brought to, for very often the people who have been brought the Faith take it for granted and are not the best exemplars of it. I am humbled by the Faith and the Writings itself. For some reason it had to happen tonight.

I no longer wish to take part in this back and forth hatefulness. I've been discriminated against as a black man all my life, but that's alright. That's just the way it is in America. As they say, God sufficeth me. As they say Charlotte, I will 'turn the other cheek'.
I hope you will join us someday in this Faith as it is the only common ground towards unity.

Peace to all,
Shawn

WOW....I turned around and what happened here? I am so confused! Shawn please tell us more about yourself, if you wouldn't mind! I want to know more about you if possible. Mona you are in a relationship? WOW!

I bought a pair of those jeans today.