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First off, What is a FOB? Can someone be living outside of Iran for a long time and still be a FOB? What does it mean when different people use this word? What sorts of attitudes make or break a FOB? What sorts of music/movies/people/experiences do FOBs like vs. Whitewashed people? What can we learn from the other group?
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I just heard the second episode of “Cafe Latte” show and it reminded me of this back in the day… good show =)
i would rather be called a fob any day than whitewashed…what’s there to learn from someone who is whitewashed? they obviously arent proud of their culture…being persian or iranian (whatever you want to use) is ALWAYS something to be proud of…and for people who were born in Iran and live in America now but use the term “Iranian-American” to describe themselves are a joke! its honestly the most annoying thing ever.
Iman you mention that you always buy your mom a gift for Persian mother’s day. I am wondering which one do you celebrate? Is it the birthday of Shah’s wife that was the official women’s day in Iran prior to revolution or do you celebrate prophet Mohammad’s birthday (Fatemeh)?
Which one is it that you chose as your default iranian Mother’s day?
I was referring to the current Iranian Mother’s day which is as you mentioned the birthday of Prophet’s daughter. I don’t even know when the other one is, I wasn’t born back then…
In my mind, the reason behind these dates are irrelevant to the purpose. But what I don’t understand is why someone would celebrate the older date! It just shows that they are still in denial about the recent history of their country. Personally, I think they’re ignorant!
I like the way it is done in the U.S. because it is a set date that began from an old ceremonial church practice (hence Sunday) started by Ann Jarvis, and continued by her daughter. I am willing to bet 99% of Americans have no clue who Ann Jarvis is, but at least most of them know it is the second Sunday of the month of May.
The current Iranian mother’s day refers to a more historical event, which is somewhat better; although I’ve always had a problem with the way most of our current holidays are revolving due to the Islamic lunar calendar. If it was up to me, I would just calculate the original solar date and stick with that!
So in Iran everyone knows the reason behind it but almost no one knows when it is! And now the question I have for you is, which one do you think is better? To know the reason but never be sure when it is? Or vice-versa?
well honestly I like to celebrate the international Women’s day in March rather than any mother’s day. But when I was in Iran, I celebrated the current mother’s day and I didn’t even know about the other one. But now, I met so many Iranians here who are not muslims or have faced terrible situations after the Islamic revolution. So I can’t blame them if they avoid the new calendar. Believe it or not many people celebrate the old one! and some celebrate both.
Also, I think traditionally people were used to celebrate the older one because it was there for many years. It was really stupid for the new government to change everything. [Flag, street names, (or have u heard that recently they changed the name of ‘shirini danmakri’? apparently it’s now ‘shirini golmohamadi!) ]
What I do remember about the current mother’s day is that we had to buy our teacher’s something! it was ridicules.. because not only they didn’t treat us like their children, they treated us totally inhuman! I have really bad memories! and the mother’s day was a stress. It mattered who brought what! and u know … my parents were not really into these things and you can imagine what troubles I had to go through on that day!
to answer your final question I think we should all celebrate Women’s day and because women are Awesome!
I totally understand what you mean by getting into trouble on mother’s day and all, we were lucky in a way because we had to do it only on “Rooz e Moalem.” I’m guessing you had to do it on both days… That sucks!
In any case, unfortunately for us Iranians the issue of religion is always a dividing factor and almost never uniting, even those within the same sect of the same religion! The fact about religious background of holidays are true in every country and every culture but not many cultures are as obsessive about the issue as we are. The American mother’s day as I mentioned started in a church, or Valentine’s day (Saint Valentine) but no body thinks of them as christian holidays.
But I definitely agree that the names and many other superficial changes were ridiculous and nonsense. That’s another huge problem with our glorious Iranian culture, we build hatred in ourselves and others, because we are too emotional and reactionary. The Shirini Gole Mohammdi idea is more like a joke, and on the same note, you know after the movie 300, Iranians have a different way of counting: …, 298, 299, Gol e Mohammadi, 301, …
I would take that further.. Gol e Mohammadi, Gol e Mohammadi va 1, Gol e Mohammadi va 2…400