tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8411145127857089342.post6622689903850592140..comments2024-02-17T06:06:58.131-05:00Comments on AP Literature 2010 - 2011: Women and The Middle EastR. Gallagherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01320082679219510745noreply@blogger.comBlogger43125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8411145127857089342.post-91082825241902107952009-11-29T12:51:45.702-05:002009-11-29T12:51:45.702-05:00Part 3: Part C
I’d also like to draw some light o...<b>Part 3: Part C</b><br /><br />I’d also like to draw some light onto a quite that Jennifer previously referenced. It is the part when Moaveni is “describing a trip on the plane, and how women used to take off their veil, and change and wear make up, but they don’t do it anymore.”. I think that the reason why these women choose not to partake in this anymore is because they probably don’t have a choice. It is hard to believe that out of the entire plane that no one would transform herself into the women that she truly wanted to be. The whole idea of it seemed unnatural. If you had the choice to <i>finally</i> have the freedom to look as you pleased, wouldn’t you take the chance? On the other hand, if these women truly continued to follow the rules and regulations of the Iranian culture---that is truly a shocker. I could be because that these women have became who the country had sculpted them to be. The women that they often yearned to be was probably long gone by now. I’d also like to reference your statement about plastic surgery. In case you have forgotten, Moaveni was born and raised in California. California is known for its competent plastic surgeons who seems to work wonders with a scalpel. I doubt that plastic surgery is much of a big deal to her because back home it was basically on every corner. Whether it was an office for a plastic surgeon or someone who previously got work done. In conclusion, I just don’t like who these women are so submissive. I wish that they would just fight a little harder for what they believed in, instead of letting Moaveni take the fall for it. I am almost positive that Moaveni got what she wanted by the end of her journey. For the women in this society, their journey is just beginning.Stephany J.https://www.blogger.com/profile/14933346682023556433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8411145127857089342.post-1854703937463311812009-11-29T12:36:54.670-05:002009-11-29T12:36:54.670-05:00Part 3: Part B
Well, like both of you guys I also...<b>Part 3: Part B</b><br /><br />Well, like both of you guys I also thought that the comment about “Death to America” was taken out context. Jen, you have to think of these men screaming obscenities as children. Even though they know they can’t get their way, they will kick and scream just to make in scene. The cop who chose to say this obviously had nothing to with his time. Could one say that they were profiling her to a certain extent ? I did not see any valid reason to pull her over in the first place. For some reason I think that the officers already knew of Moaveni and her so-called mission. Pulling Moaveni over could have been their idea of fun for the night---no matter how wrong that sounds. The job of police officers is to be generally responsible for apprehending criminals, maintaining public order, preventing and detecting crime. In this case, these officers were the very people who were committing the crimes. In section two the audience was able to see how corrupt the police officers in Iran already were with the house beating. I also wondered who would bring justice to this country if the police officers couldn’t assist with taking some of the burden off of the citizens. Like Gaelle I am also a bit weary when it comes to officers. In my time at Malden High School there have been officers who walk around the school and think that they run the place. Just because they have a gym and wear a dinky uniform, they think it gives them the right to talk to any student however they want to. From my experience, these people barely know me to go around and treat me like a bad kid because of the way I walk or dress. The whole situation just sickens me. In Iran the government and police officers tend to all be intertwined in some way. For that reason it just gives me more reason to not trust what the Iranian government states. From the beginning of “Lipstick Jihad” the government indulged in this somewhat obsessive behavior regarding women to protect them from the evils of the world. As I reach the end of the memoir I believe that most of the evils are taking place within Iran. I thought that by the end of this I would be able to understand what the thought process of the Iranian government officials were. Now, I am left with a disturbed feeling in the pit of my stomach.Stephany J.https://www.blogger.com/profile/14933346682023556433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8411145127857089342.post-40353325204309209702009-11-29T12:17:44.672-05:002009-11-29T12:17:44.672-05:00Part 3: Part A
Sorry I couldn't post these fi...<b>Part 3: Part A</b><br /><br />Sorry I couldn't post these final blogs last night. By the time I we got back from dinner it was past midnight. I just got back from New York a couple of minutes ago! <br /><br />In the final section of <i>Lipsick Jihad</i> Moaveni is being introduced to the elite members of Iranian society in terms of women. The scene begins in a gym setting that made the audience feel as if it were located in Beverly Hills. The various women depicted are portrayed to be so prissy and pampered. These women were easier targets of manipulation from the stand point of their husbands. The reader could view how they fit into the mold of what this specific society expected from females. They appeared to lack much life experience, if any at all. The naivety of these females continued to scream off the page the more I read. “ They exercised with small movements--crossing and uncrossing legs, retouching their make up, and sipping tea”. I don’t know about you guys but this so-called work out does not seem very productive. It was more like a social hour. These women already had a perception of Moaveni, just like Moaveni had a perception about them. “For some reason, they hated” Moaveni because she did not fit the mold by any means. In my eyes, these women were portrayed as trophy wives. It was obvious that these women were in it for the money of the significant others. The country was surely not in tip-top shape, so these women decided to find a way out for themselves. Being at the gym was just a breeding ground for these women to further conspire. To think that these women were in it for love was ridiculous. They were just skilled enough to make it seem so around their husbands. In actually, they were all just a bunch of gold diggers. The author uses this portion of the text to illuminate a distinct line between herself and these very women. There are certain things that Moaveni will not submit to, and these women believe that she is foolish because she will not.<br /><br />What bothered me while I read was how Moaveni began to blame herself for being different. Relatively speaking, Moaveni was not as different as society portrayed her to be. Yet, they kept her on the outside of the circle because she did not necessarily deserve to be in Iran “acting” like she cared. Even though she did not suffer like the rest of her people; that did not mean that she did not feel remorse for what they had to go through. These people will not even give her the chance to hear her out entirely. At this point Moaveni is in a vulnerable state of mind. Her subconscious is playing trick on her more and more each day to plant little seeds of doubt. By believing her subconscious she is only playing in to the hands of the members of society who wished that she went back to California already. Currently, Moaveni’s journey appears to be paused. It is up to her whether she wants to stop it completely or to keep going.Stephany J.https://www.blogger.com/profile/14933346682023556433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8411145127857089342.post-1982745738628046732009-11-28T23:12:23.728-05:002009-11-28T23:12:23.728-05:00Part 3: C
In response to step, I don’t think it’s ...Part 3: C<br />In response to step, I don’t think it’s just the Iranians. But I think it’s a stretch how they blame the Americans for everything. I definitely agree with these things being taken out of proportion. The more they try to be strict with this generation the more they’re going to rebel. <br />For the killing part, I thought it was people that they wanted to make an example of. The way they said they took the house, I thought it meant that it was a place that they took just to do this. I thought they were doing it for political reasons.<br /><br />To what Gaelle said about my comment I think that it’s absurd the way they are treated. I remember I saw this thing on TV where this reporter went in the Middle East and how it’s still like that. I remember a man told the reporter that she should cover up, because seeing her hair was attractive. That’ it would be her fault if she got unwanted attention.Jenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04830007267011251671noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8411145127857089342.post-80117378792172033592009-11-28T23:11:46.474-05:002009-11-28T23:11:46.474-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.Jenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04830007267011251671noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8411145127857089342.post-16253372616123569632009-11-28T22:59:10.926-05:002009-11-28T22:59:10.926-05:00well Jennifer, I see where you going with this , h...well Jennifer, I see where you going with this , how they try to move on, wel it seem like down there, the women would not get the right they deserve, which is not fair. For women to gain the same right , I don't know when that would happen. They don't see women, as important, which is not fair.well as Jennifer, it's seem like they trying to move forward, but we all know , how they view women down there, nothing will change their point of view of women.<br /><br />and yes definetely this section stood out to me,and as for women needs men in their life to find themselves, please. I hate when people say that.Most of women likes to be independent, well be I like being independent. Most of women, when they have a men, lets' take the womens that their husbands are beating them ,or hitting them 24/7 do you think they find themselves with all those things going on , no , I don't think so. I definetely don't agree with women needs men in their life to find themselves, i judt don't think that 's trueGaellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04889438321169851295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8411145127857089342.post-76221456153166252212009-11-28T22:40:36.522-05:002009-11-28T22:40:36.522-05:00Part 3: B
I think this last section relates to th...Part 3: B <br />I think this last section relates to the idea of identity, which was asked before by Stephany. This kind of shows you something about women, and Iranians, and those in exile. She talks about how hard it is for them to find their identities and how they go about to find that. While she had to go through experiences, these women fell the need to find a man, because even though their semi-independent they’re still seen as inferior to the men. I don’t think how society views her matters anymore because she found herself. And she feels at peace, because she realized that home is with her, not a specific place. <br />While reading the text I could see where Steph, coming from about a child looking for her parent’s approval. However by the end of the book I feel like she succeeded in her journey, and she feels like she doesn’t need crutches anymore, so she’s not really looking for approval.<br />I didn’t really understand why the gym part was there. It showed two different types of life styles. One where she’s made fun of because she doesn’t fit in and another where she feels at home. I noticed how they made the women come to the gym in the morning and the men in the afternoon. Even though the women were by themselves they still had to follow all these rules There’s another section where she was describing a trip on the plane, and how women used to take off their veil, and change and wear make up, but they don’t do it anymore. I guess it shows how they’re getting used to all these rules, and restrictions. Another section that stood out to me was on page 164, it says, “It all seemed so affordable and safe that I felt obliges to get something done.” I thought it was weird how it was normal for everyone to have plastic surgery. As a way to rebel the men got their nose done, so they would look more European. When she was talking about plastic surgery, she made it seem like she was going shopping, like it was an everyday thing. It said “ When I went plastic surgery shopping with Mitra, the waiting rooms were full of Iranian expatriate women, from places like Maryland and London, getting bargain treatments on their trips home to visit family.” This just shows how different things are over there, likes when she was talking about how the paramedics bargain you off to the doctor with the highest bid, and how they don’t really care about your welfare.<br />I don’t understand what she meant when she said she found herself guilty as an American. What is she trying to say?Jenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04830007267011251671noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8411145127857089342.post-92014964498507128622009-11-28T22:39:59.573-05:002009-11-28T22:39:59.573-05:00Part 3 B
Jennifer
That's one of the things tha...Part 3 B<br />Jennifer<br />That's one of the things that really stood to me to when she got arrested.I did not expect that to happen. yeah, I definetely agree with you said that was immature of them. those people takes things to seriously, she's Iranian too, just because they saw that her pass said American reporter, does not gave them the right to just look pass her, and say " Death to America." What is so bad about America for them to hate it that much.America , is about freedom, every one has a say, unlike in Tehran, there's no freedom,people are not treated equally, for example lete's take women and man, Women has a lot of things they're not allowed to do, while men could, which I think it's not fair at all.instead of been treating equaly,they are been taking advantages of.Like I said, before, I can't see myself there, I feel like I would get killed, or end up in prison, because I would of spoke my mind. <br /><br />As you go on , You said as if they were looking for reason to arrest her, which, I definetely agree with that, why do I feel like a lot people have problem with Moaveni, or have something against her.to me, they judge her, a lot, through out the book, that's how I saw it. The other things that kind of stood out to me, was when they got into her car, and told her to drive, I got a little scared for her, I was like what was she getting herslef into. You know from the first few chapters,how we learn how the police down there are corrupted , they were the one killing people. That got me scared, I didn't know what was going to happen to her.Gaellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04889438321169851295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8411145127857089342.post-70704422133411136342009-11-28T22:13:22.768-05:002009-11-28T22:13:22.768-05:00Part 3:A
Something else that stood out to me was...Part 3:A <br /><br />Something else that stood out to me was when she got arrested. These cops pull people over; just by the way they look. When she showed them her pass, and they realized that she was an American reporter they called “Death to America” I thought that it was just immature, whet’s screaming going to do. I don’t see what America has to do with the country’ election. It seemed like they were looking for a reason to take her in. Even though she didn’t say it, but if she did say she was going to vote for someone else they’d take her in. I thought that it was stupid, that she got arrested just because she mentioned that people would be voting for the opponent. I also thought it was weird, how they took them in. It says”…the rear door of my car had been opened and a severe, bearded face appeared in the review mirror. “Drive”, it ordered, from the backseat. At first I didn’t understand what was happening. It’s so different because they didn’t even put them in another car. They just made her drive, without telling her where they were being taken.<br />In this section she talked about women, and their sense of self. On page179 it says, ‘The regime fed the young people such contradictory messages—women were liberated but legally inferior; women should be educated but subservient; women should have careers but stick to traditional gender roles.” I think it shows that they try to move forward, but then it’s not really happening. These women don’t really know themselves. After having to deal with society, and expectations, there’s nothing there, which makes them feel confused and lost. It says “… women, searching for relationships was, if not a search for self, a search to anchor a self adrift.” Did this section stand out to you guys, and o you feel like these women need men in their life to find themselves?<br />I noticed that at the end she went back to telling a story about her childhood, which was also what she did in the beginning. On page 243 it says “On a summery night in Manhattan, my Iranian crew of friends assembled at Lincoln center…” I felt that here, it was demonstrating how they brought a piece of Iran to America. I felt like she did kind of find what she was looking for, and may be realized that she didn’t have to be in her homeland to be considered as Iranian. I felt like she had closure. On page 246, it states, “It was spatial. For us, home was not determined by latitudes and longitudes.” Then it goes on to say “Iran had been disfigured and we carried its scrape in our pockets, and when we assembled, we laid them out, and were home.” I think it’s saying that they don’t necessarily need to be in Iran to find their home, a place to belong, that it’s with them, it’s the history, and the experience that they’ve been through.Jenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04830007267011251671noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8411145127857089342.post-2887688030585266472009-11-28T22:10:42.066-05:002009-11-28T22:10:42.066-05:00Part C
In respond to Jennifer, Instead of the gov...Part C <br />In respond to Jennifer, Instead of the goverment proctecting them, they're the one taking adavantage of the people,what kind of world are we living in today? People are corrupted. If the good guys are the ones that supposed to protect us, now they're the one that's hurting us, whose left to help us. Police, I don't trust them at all,I don't know why, but the police and I don't work.I feel like just because they're the one that's carrying the gun, they think they're the one that's in charge, so they taking advantage of us, because they think they have that rights, which they don't.But Like Jennifer said, everyone knows what kind of peope those cops are, they should know that in the first place, if most of the people know whats kinds of police they have, why don't they all stand up? if they don't stand up for themselves,whose going to stand up for them.In Tehran , people down there has a lot of things to deal with, how can they live with all those rules, and all those other things such as the cops being corrupted.I don't think I could of live like this, the way the Iranian live, it's like they have no control of themselves, whatever the goverment tell thems to do, they have no choice but to follow. The goverment is a big part of their lives, which I think is not a good idea.Gaellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04889438321169851295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8411145127857089342.post-64095998629987628772009-11-28T21:29:26.869-05:002009-11-28T21:29:26.869-05:00Part 2: Part C
In the Iranian culture someone has...<b>Part 2: Part C</b><br /><br />In the Iranian culture someone has to take the blame for everything wrong going on in the country. In this case, the Americans are the ones who take the blame. Being westernized is portrayed as some sort of distant evil. As an American I can’t help by roll my eyes because the Iranians in the text are just waging their fingers at all things American. I felt as if they were blaming me for brainwashing their youth. Haven’t these people ever heard of teenage rebellion? Hello, as a teenager it is our duty NOT to listen to our parents! The whole phrase “Death to America” was taken completely out of proportion.<br /><br />I also want to touch on a statement that Jen made about Moaveni bursting out into tears because she was called a foreigner. Ever since Moaveni got to Iran members of society have been making rude and sarcastic remarks because of where she was raised. After a certain amount of time there is only so much a women can take. She must have built up so many emotions regarding these emotions. I don’t think it was so much being called a foreigner that set her off; I think that it was more being excluded from the society of Iran again that further upset her.<br /><br />Like Gaelle I was also confused by the use of the death squad. I could have sworn that I read that specific part numerous times and I still do not understand it. Were they killing random people because they had stolen houses? Is this all basically an example of government funded killing? If it was for this reason, what purpose could the government ultimately serve?<br /><br />In the case of Mr.X, I have yet to figure out his character either. I may have a perception about him but I believe that there is more to him than meets the eye. For some reason he seems to be one of those sketchy people who aims to gain the trust of the audience. Yet, it is difficult to put all trust into him because he does not appear to be a legitimate comrade. Gaelle, I just think Mr.X wants to see how far he can push Moaveni. The more inappropriate his comments are the more satisfaction he receives because he is making Moaveni squirm to a certain extent.Stephany J.https://www.blogger.com/profile/14933346682023556433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8411145127857089342.post-28228849258146291862009-11-28T21:27:34.153-05:002009-11-28T21:27:34.153-05:00Part 3 A
To start with the last part of the book, ...Part 3 A<br />To start with the last part of the book, When Moaveni starts talking about the other women, or ladies, how they act, it kind of disturb me. "Many of the women there were obviously the mistresses of these rich men because they were young, breathtakingly beautiful, and middle class to afford the place otherwise." I bet they just going out with those older man, because they were forced to, or they had no choice, or it's one way to get money, you know how these days girls would do anything for money, and anyways , there older man were allow to date or marry as many women as they can. I have problem with those of people , that won't do anything for themselves." They were taking photos of each other doing erotic legs lofts on the machines." Are you serious, that's a force, you go do the gym to work out, not to be girly, I really hate when people does that, that disturb me"If they broke sweat, it was because they had gone up to the roof to tan, or sat in the sauna after message, their activity of choice." Tha's what's called the defination of lazy. Well that's the life of the rich, that's how they live, we can't really changed anything about it. The way Moaveni starts the last part of the book, with people in the gym, I did not expect that.<br /><br />When Moaveni said " Every day,I put myself on trial, and ruled myself guilty as an American." I don't know about you guys, when I read that part, I started thinking of Reading Lolita in tehran, when the Book Great Gatsby was put on Trial. When She said that "I put myself on trial"It kind of remind me of the paper I wrote on Nora, Putting Nora on trial.<br /><br />"Tehran, a city more palpably tense than any other I had ever know, a city that generously gave all of it's ten million residents so many causes for distress, must surely contain places where people cope with the physical manifestations of the strain." Well I don't really know that Tehran like that,but to me what Moaveni is saying make sense to me, What I have read about Teharan so far, brought a lot to mind.Me, taking that I have it worst, but a lot of people in Tehran have no say which is not fair.A lot of people get hurts everyday for no reason, well their might a reason but it's just stupid reason, girls not wearing their veils , or wearing to much make ups.Gaellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04889438321169851295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8411145127857089342.post-32692889309456206782009-11-28T21:27:34.154-05:002009-11-28T21:27:34.154-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.Gaellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04889438321169851295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8411145127857089342.post-91905248232399994992009-11-28T21:06:40.184-05:002009-11-28T21:06:40.184-05:00For the thing with the house I think that it’s all...For the thing with the house I think that it’s all the same thing, the government, and the cops, they all do whatever they want to the citizens, to get their points across. So did they just take the house, to do this. When they do things like that they have this control over these people, because they’re so scared. They do these things in public places where they know things will be noticed by the public. I realized that here in this section, even though she’s living in Iran she was still thinking like an American, because everyone else knows that the cops from these to different places don’t represent the same thing. With Mr. X I don’t really like his attitude, and the way he treats her. Like how he calls her, when she doesn’t call and threatens her, and talk to her as if they’re intimate. I think that he feels that the more unsure, and insecure he makes her feel, the more threatened she’ll feel so she won’t stray away from him. I liked the way she made a comparison to a jealous ex boy friend, to describe him, his actions, and this strange hold that he has over her.Jenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04830007267011251671noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8411145127857089342.post-90362509685957520182009-11-28T21:00:57.794-05:002009-11-28T21:00:57.794-05:00Part 2: Part B
Since you guys finally decided to ...<b>Part 2: Part B</b><br /><br />Since you guys finally decided to post I guess I can finally wrap this up. This weekend should have been about wrapping up the text in general, but I guess I have to roll with the obstacles that go along with group work.<br /><br />In response to Jen I feel as though the section pertains to Moaveni discovering her journey. I can see why you believe that she is in the middle of facing reality for what it truly is. Even though she often talked about being in the midst of Iran, Moaveni certainly did not know what she was in for. The more I read the text I could envision the main character trying to discover her identity in such an unknown land. Well, an unknown land to a certain extent. Even though the people looked just like her, they refused to welcome her honorably. One could say that she was the black sheep of the clan. Will society ever be able to appreciate her or will they continue to point out her short-comings?<br /><br />Did anybody else pick up on how the other characters in the text often teased Moaveni about where she came from ? Often times Reza would mock the author about her Californian mentality. He was basically calling her a “bootleg Iranian”. In other words she was being reduced to an imposter of the culture. At this point I am still surprised that Moaveni is still firmly rooted in Iran. If I was being treated this way I would have went back to California a long time ago. It all just doesn’t make any sense to me. Yet, I wonder if something is going on between Reza and Moaveni. In most scenes within this section he is here. When she lost contact with her friends Reza still stood by her. How would you guys identify identity within the text? Think ahead to when Moaveni has completed her journey and is finally able to properly categorize herself where she truly belongs. Does her personal categorization alter how society views her? Is it even significant for that matter ? In the first section I viewed Moaveni as an independent women who frankly did not care what any one thought of her. The more I read into the text, my perception of her changed. Now I view her as a child who is begging for the approval of her parents. In this case, her parents is a symbol of the Iranian country.Stephany J.https://www.blogger.com/profile/14933346682023556433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8411145127857089342.post-81768323547939587292009-11-28T20:48:34.250-05:002009-11-28T20:48:34.250-05:00the second part I just posted was part Bthe second part I just posted was part BGaellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04889438321169851295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8411145127857089342.post-4546547314270910892009-11-28T20:46:43.444-05:002009-11-28T20:46:43.444-05:00To respond to Stephany question, I didn't rea...To respond to Stephany question, I didn't read passively to it, well, when I was reading I was getting mad, as you can see I kind of already answer the question on part A, that's kind of the same thing I brought up.I guess we both had a bad reaction towards this part of the book.I don't think it was fair of him, to just come out at her, making her feel bad, she's already feel lost, by putting this in her head, it's going to make her feel more lost or unwanted. Like you said Stephany Dariush is a complete jerk. What he did was unacceptable, he had no right, that was very disrespecful of him. Just because she didn't go through the things that he did, or the other people did, that does not gave them the right to call her a foreigner, like I said before, those people are very selfish, they only think of themselves , and their opinion, they don't think of people opinion. Did he at least gave her a chance to explain herself? No, I don't think so , he just assumed stuff, which I hate when people does that.As you can see, Stephany , your not the only one that was disturb by that part or section of the book. That part got me real angry.Gaellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04889438321169851295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8411145127857089342.post-28641334207101695602009-11-28T20:38:28.344-05:002009-11-28T20:38:28.344-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.Jenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04830007267011251671noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8411145127857089342.post-18498837290667090952009-11-28T20:38:12.464-05:002009-11-28T20:38:12.464-05:00Part 2: C
I felt like in this section she was acti...Part 2: C<br />I felt like in this section she was acting more like what would be expected from an Iranian woman. The way they’re treated, they’re supposed to be stupid, and frail, and in need of men of everything that’s important. The way the men treat the women, it’s like they’re something that might be broken. The quote that Gaelle used, where she was called a foreigner, I felt like she was being too emotional. I understand that she’s hurt that she’s not being accepted, while she’s trying to fit in with her people, but she doesn’t have to burst into tears, just because of that. I also don’t see how being called a “foreigner”, should be taken as a compliment, when everyone looks, and treats you differently. For the quote " Don't demand what's not yours, he told me peevishly. You weren't here during the war, when Iraqi warplanes were flying over Tehran. You didn't have to run into bomb shelters, or duck when windows shattered, or call around to see if your relatives and friends were alive, the morning after.” I don’t think she was demanding anything that’s not hers. Just because she didn’t experience that it doesn’t make her any less Iranian.Jenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04830007267011251671noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8411145127857089342.post-77764813829816108522009-11-28T20:20:15.331-05:002009-11-28T20:20:15.331-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.Jenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04830007267011251671noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8411145127857089342.post-24731777003801856812009-11-28T20:05:18.062-05:002009-11-28T20:05:18.062-05:00I feel that even though she felt alienated in Amer...I feel that even though she felt alienated in America, she’s not completely comfortable here either. She has to transition to this new culture with all these rules and unfair expectations for women. Life in Iran is so different from the one that she had in America. So things are not what she expected. She’s also viewed as a foreigner, because she didn’t live through the revolution. The way I see it, I don’t think that her mother really abandoned the country, because the way things were going, it was definitely not going to get any better for her daughter. I just think that Moaveni feels angry that she didn’t have to experience what they experienced, and that she’s calling herself Iranian. But what about the result of the revolution, isn’t she living through it right now with all the other Iranian women? <br />So, no, I don’t think that Maoveni was justified in the way he reacted to her, trying to find herself. I didn’t really think of bad things happening in other places. I feel like he felt like she betrayed the country by not staying with the rest of them to endure the misery. I didn’t find this important, but I know, it’s the opinion of many others. I also feel like some may be a bit jealous that they dint get the same chances that she got, which is why they keep pointing out everything that’s American about her. I think if I was in her situation I would have felt more angry, rather then degraded, because, it’s not her fault that the country’s in this situation, so he shouldn’t be taking it on her when she’s just trying to find herself.Jenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04830007267011251671noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8411145127857089342.post-9362177171126428552009-11-28T20:04:54.834-05:002009-11-28T20:04:54.834-05:00Part 2: B
I do agree with the fact that Azadeh wen...Part 2: B<br />I do agree with the fact that Azadeh went on this journey to find herself. Steph, the quote you used about Dariush, when I read it I kind of understood what he was trying to say, because she’s coming here trying to call herself Iranian, by running over there when things are getting chaotic. She was never there when these people had to go through what her mother’s generation went through. She wasn’t there to experience what they experienced, but that’s not what makes a person Iranian, so I felt like he was being unfair. She’s trying to find herself, I think the only way she can do that is to accept that she is both American, and Iranian, but at the same time she’s neither. She has both cultures in her, but it’s not sully instilled for both, so I don’t think she should try focusing on one, and try to imitate the life of other Iranians in order for her to feel like she’s Iranian.Jenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04830007267011251671noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8411145127857089342.post-19530910080170077122009-11-28T19:43:11.987-05:002009-11-28T19:43:11.987-05:00job.
I thought that the relationship that she had ...job.<br />I thought that the relationship that she had with Mr. X, the intelligence agent was really weird. Even though he recruited her, he shouldn’t be able to treat her like that. I don’t think it’s right to pressure to release the names of the unnamed sources. I didn’t like the feel of this section. I know I would’ve become paranoid also, thinking that everything I do is probably being watched by someone else.<br />At times I feel like the country is taking a step forward, even though it’s really tiny. But then she starts talking about how they’re being treated, and I feel like the country will never change, no matter how hard they try. On page 124 it says “Every few months a woman was murdered for dressing immodestly. Sometimes the system staged and managed, the spectacle, as it sis with public lashings.” The government controls so much of what its people can and cannot do. For the election, newspapers are being banned and people are being arrested. This kind of reminds me of election time and Haiti, and how everyone kind of lives in fear because of all the assassination that took place for political reasons.Jenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04830007267011251671noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8411145127857089342.post-47757241220530626682009-11-28T19:42:38.205-05:002009-11-28T19:42:38.205-05:00Part 2: A
I felt like this first section was more ...Part 2: A<br />I felt like this first section was more about Azadeh facing the reality. Even though before, she spoke about wanting to be there in the middle of this, while everything’s taking place, I feel like now she’s really seeing everything, and it’s not about what she expected or envisioned. In the first section she kept referring to Iran as the place where she lived as a child, but now that she’s here, it states, “The Iran I had found was spiritually and psychologically wrecked, and it was appalling.” Now she’s experiencing what the others have to experience. Even though she wasn’t there during the revolution she’s still living through the aftermath, by living in Iran. By experiencing what the others are experiencing, I think it helps feel more Iranian, even though others don’t think so.<br />One of the things that stood out to me as I read was the corruption of the government, and how they have so much power. The people that are supposed to be protecting them are the one hurting them. When Azadeh heard someone being tortured and she suggest that they should call 911, her friend replied “ Hah! The police? Listen to you! They’re already there. Those are the police.” I think that it’s moment like this where Azadeh acts and think more like and American; because no matter how much she tries to push it away, she was raised in America. An Iranian would know that the police are not really to be trusted, because they do as they please. She finally began to realize, just what these people are going through. On page 111, she said “..’unbearable’ ‘unacceptable’—lost their meaning, when everyday I saw the unbearable being borne, the unacceptable being accepted.”I think that it was really hard for her to face this reality that the Iranians have to live through, because she started relying on her friends to do herJenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04830007267011251671noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8411145127857089342.post-90727225212459287692009-11-28T11:46:35.770-05:002009-11-28T11:46:35.770-05:00Another thing that my attention in this chapter wa...Another thing that my attention in this chapter was they started to talk about the stolen houses."two yeas before, four dissident intellectuals had been brutally killed.the ministry of Intelligence, the pubic was now learning, had sent death squads that butchered them in their homes"pg 110.I'm kind of little with this part, who sending those suqads to kill those people and why.Also what are the goverment are saying about this, or maybe the goverment are involved in this. "we have to called 911," I spluttered,grasping about in the dark for the rotary phone." Hah! The police ? Listen to you?"they're already there.Those are the police." so the police are the death squads, but why are they killing people for no reason? I'm really confused with this part.<br /><br />Also there's this one person in the book, that kind of disturb be is Mr.X.I don't get him, he think his control of Moaveni.For some reason ,I don't trust him, he seem like his just using or taking advantage of her. well to me, his not that closed to Moaveni, for him to be questioning her like that, espcially those types of questions his asking her is so off the limit.He needs to get a hinted that Moaveni is not that cool with him like that. I just don't trust him with Moaveni, like I said before, his just taking advantage of moaveniGaellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04889438321169851295noreply@blogger.com