I haven’t seen one outcry from the rest of the world about them disrespecting the makers of this movie; they have called them liars, conspirators, war mongers and worse. The film makers should sue them for slander and libel. They should sue them for pirating the film. They should sue them for rights violations and anything else that they can think of.
Iranian exiles! Exiled from what? Who ever heard of willing leaving home to go live with ones enemy?

Comment by Candide — March 22, 2007 @ 1:09 pm

Oh now they’re just grasping at straws.

First of all, the movie was based off of a comic book, which means that there wasn’t a whole lot of pre-meditating.

Secondly the comic book was based off of actual events. This is like making a movie of the American Revolutionary War and saying it’s a stab trying to make the British look evil. Whoever sees this movie as racial slander needs to get a freaking clue, grow up, and stop being so self-centered.

Comment by Jack — March 22, 2007 @ 9:42 pm

Some people need to get a life, seriously!

This is a tongue in cheek film, based on a comic book that is very loosely based on an actual battle that happened many, many years ago.

You didn’t see the English up in arms when Braveheart came out, depicting the Scottish as brave, downtrodden heroes and the English as snivelling, merciless cowards did you? Why? Because it’s a bl*ody FILM.

Get over your own self importance people.

Comment by Pete Hill — March 23, 2007 @ 9:41 am

you are lie.

Comment by meysam from iran — March 24, 2007 @ 1:17 am

Stop whining!!!

Comment by Paul Weires from St. Paul — March 24, 2007 @ 3:13 pm

Iranian exiles are offended at a movie? I think this topic has more to do with the thin skin of the Iranian group than anything else. I watched the movie and never once did I say “the persian army represents Iran and we should fight them” that is stupid. It is a fictional movie showing a unique time period of when honor and war was valued.  As stated before,Braveheart made the Britons look bad. Did they get pissed?...no. Schindler’s list probably made the Germans look terrible. So Iranian exiles… eat some popcorn and get over it.

Comment by joe — March 24, 2007 @ 11:17 pm

I find that if one looks for the moral of this story, it isn’t about the US-Iran affairs. And anyone who thinks it is has been smoking way too much crack. This movie was about a fictional work that was created by one of the greatest COMIC BOOK writers of my time. I and my group of friends went this evening to see this film, and it was EPIC. One of the best films I’ve seen so far this year. However, this film in no way, shape, or form was a political statement about the US going to war with Iran. That’s beyond logic. What this story was about was 300 warriors that stood against a one million man army, and all that they asked in for return, is for their people to remember them. Plain and simple. In no way, shape, or form did this movie tell me that “Persians are evil people.”

Comment by Angelia — March 24, 2007 @ 11:35 pm

History is wrote by the winners! First off, it was based off of a book meant which was based off of a comic book to be fictional with a LITTLE bit of truth… When the film was first made during the Cold War the enemies looked like Russians. Get over it. The people who complain are apparently natives to the place they “think” it is bashing. You are in America now, if you do not like the way things are run here, then go back to your own country and fix what you have there. Apparently you came to America thinking it was a better country than the one you left and yet once you get here to enjoy the “good life” as people like to put it all you do is complain about what this country is doing. Like I stated earlier, go back and fix your own country before you complain about ours!!!

Comment by Jessica from Texas — March 26, 2007 @ 1:42 am

This movie is ausumn!!! In the old version, persians are tyrants too, maybe not that crule, but common, Rome=WAR, Rome=BLOOD+CRULENES!!! We all know that! Why should people hide the truth?!?!?!?! Just watch and enjoy!!!:)

Comment by Lisa from Kyiv, Ukraine — March 26, 2007 @ 3:40 am

I went to see 300 the night it came out at 12:00 a.m. It was by far one of the best movies i have ever seen. In no way did i think…wow those persians are really bad people. In truth i think that Iranians need to get over themselves and quit whining. It seems that Iranians complain about everything these days. Now it has come to the point where they are complaining about a movie that is based on a battle that took place centuries ago..grow up and do something productive with your time.

Comment by Aaron Mauk from Indianapolis Indiana — March 26, 2007 @ 10:48 am

First of all let me say that this is Greek mythology and there are few accounts from this time let alone the battle.
Looking so deeply into a film that was made for the entertainment of others is silly.
If you did your research you would of found out that the Director had been trying to make this film for over 10 years.

Comment by Jimmy Strange from London — March 28, 2007 @ 3:05 pm

If it is all about a comic book, so why always show
things against Iranians????
Why not make a film about Ariobarzan’s few men
fighting with a moral victory against Alexander
or why not showing Crussadors as the bloodthirsty
beasts.. which is not far from reality by the way.

Comment by A Spartan — March 29, 2007 @ 10:17 pm

im a 16year old iranian from canada.. i know alot about my culture .. and i know that we are decent people..and our culture and religeon is based of equality , peace and though we are kind we strongly belive in dicipline . iranians are polite and caring .. but come ruthless when provoked .because our culture is so strongly focused on good .. justice is very important ..  so we keep to ourselves ..and i find it so funny how yu all are having lives..yur the ones sitting ,at yur comps..complaining about persians tryna defend them selves//..YOU TOOK A COMIC BOOK >... TURNED IT IN TO A MOVIE ,, AND NOW YUR TELLIN EVERY ONE THAT ITS REALL ..??? are yu dumb… i understand it was a part of history .. but im pretty sure the king didnt get kicked in to a RANDOM hole in the ground .....its like me calling you guys idiots .. after you went to university .. busted yur ass ..to be a doctor ..and when yustarted defending yurself ..people told you to shut up ..
so yur all basically tellin me that the film maker didnt think about disrespecting iranians .. and controversy that wud rise?? please//you all are idiots .. its called freedom of speech .. unless it has a negative affect on someone .. so dont tell persians to shut up .. .. n let us stand up for what we belivein ..

persian pride all the way ..

Comment by laya from canada — April 2, 2007 @ 12:53 pm

please excuse my mistakes ..im pretty angry ..  i meant to say .. yur the ones sitting at yur comes n yu say we dont have lives ..??if thats how the world works ..we re all fucked up ..

Comment by laya from canada — April 2, 2007 @ 12:56 pm

What did I tell you? The furor over 300 was just a smoke screen!  Excerpt …. From combined dispatches
  LONDON—An Iranian exile group claimed yesterday that the capture of 15 British naval personnel was premeditated “to win concessions from the international community and divert attention from its nuclear projects.”

Also, the Iranian government using the movie 300 to whip their people up into a frenzy. It was not the other way around as the politically correct, Kum-ba-ya and fairy dust crowd would have you believe.

Quote from World press…  “When such films are produced, they have the unfortunate effect of uniting us, the Iranian people, with our government, which is not a patriotic one, but an Islamist one,” said Hamid Bakhtiari, 68, a retired civil servant.

The Iranian government told the people what to think of the movie, they did not show them the movie. The movie is banned, but they sell bootlegged copies of it.

Quote from World press:
.  None of Iran’s 250 cinemas is scheduled to show the film. Few foreign films are distributed in local theaters, most of which show an almost exclusive repertoire of lighthearted Iranian comedies and existential, romantic dramas.
  Javad Shamqadri, a cultural adviser to Mr. Ahmadinejad, set the tone for the criticism when the “300” film opened in the U.S. earlier this month.

  Just off Tehran’s central Haft-e Tir Square, customers cram into a tiny shop selling bootleg video discs inside a dusty shopping arcade. They flip through pirated action and art-house films while an employee keeps a lookout on the street for approaching police.
The movie is in great demand, but has not officially arrived. The shop’s owner, Siavash, is unwilling to give his full name because of the danger that his shop will be shut down for selling films that have not passed the Islamic republic’s stringent morality reviews
Full story here… http://www.washingtontimes.com/world/20070331-113237-7958r.htm

Comment by Candide — April 2, 2007 @ 3:21 pm

laya,

No one has said this movie was “real”. That is all in your head. The movie is based off a comic book which happens to be based loosely on the acutal historical events. The Term “Fiction” comes into play here. The term fiction means that IT IS NOT REAL! However, I am glad to see your pride in your heritage and your people. But please, before you post something to blantly stupid, make sure you do understand that when America pushes out a movie into the public eye, we have a responsiblity to our public to make sure that if we claim it is “real” that we back that claim up with the hard facts. Simple facts are this; The makers of 300 have not claimed that the depiction of the historical events were, as you say “Real”, We Americans are already familiar with Frank Miller’s Comic Book 300 so we already knew that it was FICTION, Fake, NOT TRUE, or Un-REAL. Lastly, for the biggest part of the nealy 40 people I know saw this movie, NONE of them felt that Perians were “bad” people. That’s your heads. It’s YOU that think, we think your bad.

Comment by Angelia — April 2, 2007 @ 4:29 pm

im sorry maybe i typed wrong .. or maybe yu read wrong but im pretty sure i said that i understand its from a comic book .. but tell me why the hell every one is rubbin it in our faces like its some kinda real shit ..

Comment by laya from canada .. — April 3, 2007 @ 4:07 pm

Laya,
We’re not. I don’t know were on earth the idea has come to a few amoung the Persian community that we as Americans think that 300 is “real”. A small Lesson in history. First, there are only a few accounts of the “real” Battle; but there is little detail in those accounts to what really went on. Next, the comic book was produced from the possible point of view of the Spartans, Not the Persians. If we re-did this movie from the point of view of the Persian King, it would make the Spartans look bad and Persians as Heros.

Take it from me when I say the largest part of Americans took the movie 300 at face value; as nothing more than entertainment. Nobody thinks that Persians are evil, bad, stupid, fearful, or weak people.

In this particular movie, (I discussed this at lenth with other Americans across the Nation) The Persian king wasn’t weak, He just happened to meet people that were Cruel to even their own. Which was something he wasn’t expecting. The Persian King was very Idealistic for his time; offering riches and power instead of death and choas. That still says a lot to the value that the Persian King placed upon Life it self and how much perhaps he disliked the idea of war. Spartans were a Race of warriors, only the fit were allowed to survive; starting at birth.

Laya I urge you to watch the movie for yourself and make up your own mind(If you haven’t already, which by your very first post, I don’t think you have because it was a Messenger that was casted into the hole, not a king).

We are not rubbing anything in your faces. Simply put; if you understood that it’s from a comic book, then sensable reasoning says it’s not real. I can’t understand why the gobal community think that we’re “rubbin it in our faces like its some kinda real shit .. ” Again, face value on this movie. No body has made the claim that this movie is real. I will say this in closeing the last post on the subject for; quit being a sheep and be a lion. Go see this film, watch it. Place yourself in the shoes of the Spartans and see way this movie project Persians in a dim light. Again, not because it’s fiction, but because if we re-made this film from the point of view of the Persian King; the dim light would have been casted on the Spartans.

I wish you luck.
Angelia, South Carolina, United States of America

Comment by Angelia — April 3, 2007 @ 7:04 pm

Laya, there is no freedom of speech in Iran! So why are you claiming that right?

Comment by Candide — April 3, 2007 @ 8:58 pm

Candide,

Laya lives in Canada, And I think she was referring to the US Freedom of Speech. I could be wrong here, but I don’t think so. And she’s a bit wrong in what constitutes as Freedon of Speech here in the US. So I don’t think she’s claiming that there is freedom of speech in Iran.

Comment by Angelia — April 3, 2007 @ 9:04 pm

Angelia

I am pretty sure that Canada has all the same human rights as America. This movie that we are talking about was filmed ONLY in Canada. Most of the actors were British! The movie is banned in Iran and the Iranian officials could not have seen if they didn’t steal it. Pride is one thing, being brainwashed is another. I am sorry for her, but we can not undue the damage by apologizing for something that JUST DID NOT HAPPEN!

Movies fall under the freedom of expression, that is why Americans do not complain when other countries make movies that do not show America in a favorable way.

Freedom isn’t free! Freedom of thought means having access to “ALL” the information from ‘both’ sides of a story and being able to reason out the truth. The truth is never ALL one side OR the other, it is a mixture of both.

You have been very patient trying to explain this to her, but until she is willing to put aside her hatred for Americans, Canadians and Britons (and any one else responsible for making this film) and look at the other side of the story, it is useless.

Comment by Candide from USA — April 3, 2007 @ 11:17 pm

Wow, all of this trouble over entertainment. I can see it now, eventually there will be a world where no one can make a movie because there will always be someone out there who takes offense. It will become a boring world for movie goers indeed! I thought it was a great movie. Maybe they should make one from the point of view of the Persian King to make every one else happy?

Comment by Jessica from Texas — April 3, 2007 @ 11:18 pm

Jessica, they already are making the film. It is a documentary in response to the movie 300.

“Parse Pasargadae Research Center has voiced its objection toward this movie with producing a documentary film which is a montage of some scenes of 300 and comparing them with the bas relief of Persepolis palace in which the image of king Xerxes can be seen clearly.”

Using bootlegged videos to get the clips, no doubt! 

They want the rest of the world to die of boredom watching their latest Blockbuster, a puppet show about a greedy crow!

They are trying to talk other countries into banning the movie as well.
So much for that message of freedom!

The saddest part is that I am not making any of this up.

Comment by Candide from USA — April 4, 2007 @ 12:47 am

That may be true but it will not be the same as a movie like 300. I would actually be interested in seeing a movie from the Persian Kings point of view. It would be interesting indeed. Then both sides would be happy. A documentary just isn’t the same. 300 was a GREAT movie for ENTERTAINMENT though.

Comment by Jessica from Texas — April 4, 2007 @ 11:16 am

Candide,

Your right, Canada does have the same Basic human rights as America. But they are not the same. Our rights have a different spin on them then other free nations like Canada.

Second, I agree. Explaining or trying to reason with any one that fails to see any other point of view other than their own is completely useless. She’s a 16 year old child that hasn’t learned not to believe everything she has read, heard, or seen. She hasn’t become her own person yet. More and likely she may never see this movie, most likely because her parents have told her that she could not see this movie. Plain and simple, ALL people need to quit feeding into the histaria. This includes we Americans. Pointing figers at them only adds to the problem. Just let them know we as Americans don’t see them or their past or their culture as “evil”. Let these people know that we took this movie at face value only and we made no racial judgement agianst them.

Lastly, I really could careless if they have banned the film in Iran. That’s on them. But It’s apparent that the people of Iran (At least a few) want to see this movie to make up their own minds about it, or the bootlegged copies wouldn’t be flying off the shelf. The people are already saying"Hey, lets see this movie for ourselves..”

Comment by Angelia — April 4, 2007 @ 12:07 pm

Profanity and personal insults are not tolerated in these comment areas.  They will be deleted.  Please refrain from this and instead engage in intelligent debate of the issues.

Comment by SysAdmin — April 4, 2007 @ 4:21 pm

Brad,

Show some class please sir. You and your foul language only add to the problem. It’s “Red Neck” statments such as this that make me ashamed that YOUR an American! The lack of education on your behalf shows the major reason why Iranians dislike Americans. The “f*ck you” attitude is should be kept to yourself. Your only adding to the problems, if you can’t offer gobal solutions, then YOU Mr. Denney need to shut up!

Comment by Angelia — April 4, 2007 @ 4:26 pm

SysAdmin,

Thank you for putting this up so that way people like “Brad” are not adding to the problem.

Comment by Angelia — April 4, 2007 @ 4:29 pm

im sorry if i offended you angelia…why dont you grow up and realize that no matter what kind of attitude we show the iranians..they are going to hate us…if someone hates me..im not going to be nice to them and neither should you..so why dont you try standing up for yourself and quit letting people walk all over you..which is what iranians are doing to americans these days…for you doing that..i am indeed ashamed to call myself a fellow american to you because you are pathetic..and dont give me that show some class crap..im not a redneck..i live in the suburbs outside of indianapolis in a residential neighborhood..people in the media along with liberals and democrats are bringing this country down..be happy you have people like mr. bush who take the problem elsewhere and take care of it off of american soil..realize you are in the real world and stand up for yourself…that goes for you too system administrator..and knowing you…this comment probably will be deleted because you are to afraid to show it….IRANIANS HATE US!! so why should i show them any sympathy or class?answer that

Comment by Brad Denney — April 4, 2007 @ 5:12 pm

Wow, someone has their panties in a twist… Some of you may be christians so I think this might strike a cord. What happened to “turn the other cheek” Brad? It is also people like you that is bringing this country down. People that belly ache and complain but offer nothing to fix the place we call home, America. When you show me something that proves you have made a difference, then you will have a right to complain. As for Iranians hating us, not all of them do. Have you seen the photos of Iranian women and children with the soldiers over seas? They welcome them with open arms. Brad, maybe you could learn something from those women and children, it is called understanding, love, and compasion.

“Until he extends the circle of his/her compassion to all living things, man will not himself find peace”

                ~*Dr. Albert Schweitzer*~

^<——That was a smart man who understood things.

It is not weekeness or being pathetic, as you put it. It is the ability to understand others and to know the truth that lies beneath the lies…

Comment by Jessica from Texas — April 4, 2007 @ 5:39 pm

For your information jessica..i have served this country to my extent..i was in the army for 4 years and served my country..if you dont believe me..i served in the 75th ground division..the reason i am complaining is because i have seen first hand the hatred of americans that most middle easterns show..i have seen a compassionate side as well but more often than not.. a hatred.. i served in Abu Ghurayb which is in baghdad on one of my tours and served in Basrah in my last two tours..i am currently home dont plan on doing anything else for the army…so dont doubt what i have done for this country because i am sure it is much more than you have..who has their panties in a twist now?

Comment by Brad Denney — April 4, 2007 @ 6:25 pm

Brad,

Thank you for serving this country with your life. For that, I give you hats off. But rest assure, I too have served this country not only as a Marine, but also as a local law enforcement officer. I too have seen what happens in Iran and other Middle Eastern coutries. But my point was this, Your foul words make us as Americans look bad. You can place your point across without using such ignorance. You have played right into the sterotypes that these countries try so hard to place upon Americans, so in a sense, you’ve become a part of the problem. We as Americans need to be the bigger the persons, so to speak.  Not let our sense of self worth and our sense of moral values decline soley based off of what others think of us. When we stoop to such a level that we can not say what we believe in without foul words, it makes these people that we all know are being lied to by their govenments (Which every government lies to it’s people, including ours), It only makes those masses believe the lies all the more.

Your statement about how the movie 300 was “real” and that we Americans are the modern day Spartans against the Persians is what the Iranian Government wants it’s people to read, to feed the histaria they have created. Please I urge you to be the bigger person that I know the Army taught you to be. If your a Christian, then please remember that as a Christian, you are ask to “Turn the other Cheek”.

Comment by Angelia — April 4, 2007 @ 6:44 pm

Brad,

As a side note here; Preaching HATE is not okay. If an Iranian jumps off a bridge, would you do that too?

Comment by Angelia — April 4, 2007 @ 6:48 pm

Brad,
I am glad you served our country and in showing proof you do have the right to complain. I never said I doubted what you did for this country, I just asked you to tell proof. As for the panties in a twist, I believe that one is still on you. I have not become over heated in this debate as you have. I have kept my cool and remained sensible. I was just putting in my comment. If you are going to complain, which you are, then do it in a calm and sensible manner without losing your cool. Your typing gives you away that you are overly worked up about something you have no control over. All you can do is put in your comment as well. Just remember that you have to make your country look good while doing it. Getting all worked up and losing your cool does not help your case any and just makes you and the rest of us Americans look bad. I am sure all of the people reading these posts that are not in America are getting a good laugh at you and everyone elses expense.

Comment by Jessica from Texas — April 4, 2007 @ 7:13 pm

Wow, a lot of stuff happened here while I was gone! Have some comments been deleted?

Angelia,

You are right! I understand all of that. I am just trying to point out that the topic of this thread is Iranian exiles see film ‘300’ as an attempt to vilify Persians.
I contend that it was the other way around and that we should not turn a blind eye to what is really happening.

You say that she is 16 so must be incapable of thinking for herself. I was in Kindergarten when I realized that I could not tell my bigoted parents what color my school friends were. My friends did not have to defend their race to my bigoted family to make me see that what was going on was wrong. We do not have to defend our art or ideals either.

Comment by Candide from USA — April 4, 2007 @ 10:12 pm

Candide,

There was post deleted that was very nasty. So be glad you missed that one!*lmfao*

First, I saw your point. And no, I don’t think the young lady is incapable of thinking for herself; in fact, I think that she’s hasn’t taken that next step into learning how to research and know her facts before she speaks. This comes with age and experiance. Not all of us can be that contrusctive as you were at an early age.  I feel that she wants to believe her own people and government without soild proof. We as Americans learned a long time ago that government lies and it’s up to us as citizans to dig up the truth. She doesn’t know who to trust and who she should stay away from. It’s human nature to stick to what is similar. To trust what and who you know even if there is a the slightest chance they could be lying. At this point I don’t feel that she has the maturity to understand such gobal concepts. She wants to believe ignorant comments that preach hate and speak ill of her people in which it shouldn’t matter what we or any others thinks of her people. Perhaps she hasn’t been taught the same lesson we have, to understand that Hate is wrong. We don’t know. But please, make no mistake, I am not saying I’m sorry, and I do not believe that Warner Brothers should either.

And your right we don’t have to defend our art or Ideals to them just as they don’t have to defend their art or ideals, or even their reason for why the dislike America so much. But I do belive in putting the word out there for any Iranian that wants to read it, and the word is from me that I don’t hate you, or your people. I didn’t feel like the movie casted you in a such a dim light that it made me think that America needs to bomb Iran into the dirt. Maybe I disagree with your ideals or your government; but that doesn’t mean I hate you, think your evil, or think you are weak and stupid. I just means you are different than myself and nothing more.

The Iranian government wants it’s masses to believe that Americans think ill of them, that we hate them. And just like Brad, To hate simply because they hated you first midset. So why feed this chaos? Why Hate simply because they hate you?

How do you know someone feels about you if you don’t ask? We as humans learn from asking questions, ask me how I feel and I will tell you. If Iranians were able to ask Americans about how they thought the movie protrayed them, most would have had said the same as you and I, we found no truth in it.

But people like Brad, who throw out words like “hate” Have fed right into the hands of those who created this chaos. Americans shouldn’t turn the blind eye, but however, we should turn the other cheek and not preach Hate messages about Iranians and that’s what my point is. As an American I will only put my best forward for my country. I will show that I can accept things different than myself and conduct myself with Ethical and moral values, even if those who dislike me cannot. I will be the bigger person, and not act like a biggot. I will try and understand what it’s like to be in another’s shoes. That’s a part of being an Anerican.

Comment by Angelia — April 4, 2007 @ 11:14 pm

so heres the thing .. i thought about it and its like this .. if i called an american a red neck.. he would get offended , and defend him self ... even if i was joking about it . its the same situation with 300 .. iranians arent guna sit back a watch themselves get killed by greeks ,then laugh about it and say it was a good movie .. thats like an american watching the twin towers get blown up .. and say ” hey .. lets see that again .. it was great ” ...also ..if you have comon sense you know that if someone doesnt act stupid .. nobody will call them stupid . so if you show someone a movie thats identifies persians as vulgar people .. theyre guna think that they are vulgar people .. and thats the only problem with this movie , people told people its based on history , yet its from a comic book , n so it confuses people ...  n to whom ever said that iranians hate you .. your so wrong .. people are people .. and they are treated the same until they step out of line .. get it ? thats how it is every where .. not just in america .. or iran..
if you want a foe ,, you start something that causes a fight .. like rubing 300 in perians faces .. or tellin them to stop whining when they are defending them selves .. if you want a friend , then yu think before you talk.
another thing that bothers me .. is the movie makers ..and the comic book people .. if you can come up with a masterpiece liek 300 .. then you have the brain power to understand that the movie will cause controversy ...
so shit .. just stick to making spiderman movies ..

Comment by laya ....................... from cananda — April 5, 2007 @ 11:30 am

didnt you see what happen today ,, the british wer sent home for easter .. and they wer given new uniforms .. all we wanted was an apology ... its like how mexicans illegally come in to america .. n if they get caught ... its the last time theyll see daylight .. .. if you cant say sorry .. then what can you do ..

Comment by laya .. again .. lol from canada — April 5, 2007 @ 11:45 am

OOOO wow, a threat. I am shaking in my boots. And I quote “so shut yur faces before you get highjacked.its for your own good”. There were other people than I that called you a whiner. It was a movie for entertainment, get over it. And yet another quote, “not mentioning any names “cOUGH” jessica from texas ...... your no better than the people you hate.” I never said I hated anyone. I was just saying that people, not just Iranians, have moved to this country thinking it was better and yet upon arrival after being here for a while, all everyone does is complain. When the hispanics come to america illegally, it is not “the last time they see daylight” they are deported back to their own country. Over half of the time the same people who get deported are back at the border trying it again a week later. All they have to do is appply for a temporary workers card that can last for up to a year and after they have been here and working for a while they can apply for citizenship. It is not that hard.

Comment by Jessica from Texas — April 5, 2007 @ 12:36 pm

Hey Angelia,

Thanks for the update. I guess ‘someone’ was sounding like my relatives. LOL!

I see your point about just putting your best foot forward so that others will not see you as ignorant and dismiss everything that you say right off the bat.

I guess you were right about Laya as well; she is not yet capable of telling right from wrong. From her last few posts, I doubt that she ever will. She seems to think that hijacking, kidnapping, torture, intimidation and brutality are justified and that the victims should have been thankful because it was done for their own good. LOL! I wonder how thankful those Iraqis in GitMo are?

They humiliated the Brits by making them wear the garments of their kidnappers. It is the same as making a Muslim hostage wear the robes and yamaka sp?(the little round hat) of a Jewish Rabbi. Yet, she thought that it was so magnanimous of her government to give them new uniforms. So sad!

The Brits didn’t want the sailor’s families to see them having their heads chopped off or their brains blown out on TV like so many other “Guests” of Muslim countries, so they said what they had to, to get them back. 

Somehow she thinks that Mexicans are being held hostage in America!!! Holy Crap! Where did she get an idea like that? lol

It is a pretty safe bet to say that she has not seen many foreign films; Americans are always being portrayed in a negative light, V for Vendetta is one recent one, and it was also a comic book before it was a movie. I own 2 copies! And I do watch them over and over. But then again, I am capable of thinking for myself. Hell, we even make stuff that makes fun of our ‘own’ government. I am glad that we do, it makes people think, it makes them question, it keeps people from blindly following a political line.

My favorite quote is from French philosopher, Voltaire, it was written 300 years ago, “Anyone who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities.” 

There must be a lot of politicians all over the world very good at making people believe absurdities, because there sure are a lot of atrocities being committed. 

Most Americans are kind, loving, reasonable, rational people. Unfortunately, we are all judged by what our politicians do because we vote for them. It is also unfortunate that the only people that we ever have a choice to vote for are the one’s who have enough money to run or skin thick enough to withstand the lashing that they will get from the media.

The only thing that I agree with Laya about is that the government needs to stop minding other people’s business. The only way that people can ever appreciate freedom is if they have to fight for it and win it for themselves. Otherwise, they just move into other countries and steal the freedom that they did not earn and then do everything that they can to destroy it. I sure hope Laya is enjoying her freedom in Canada. I hear that the Canadians are very gracious hosts. It would be a shame to be an ungrateful guest.

Comment by Candide from USA — April 5, 2007 @ 2:04 pm

I think it’s important to remember that the Iranians come from an ancient and proud civilization in the Persians and should get some respect as such.  Frankly, if Americans who come from a very young nation without such a long, rich history could simply tone down their political rhetoric and learn to appreciate what Persians have contributed to world society, we’d all be a lot better off and perhaps not facing these scary political stand-offs.  Americans are proud to be American, as Iranians feel about their homeland and culture.  Instead of seeing that as something “scary,” why can’t we simply respect those feelings and know that we would feel quite similarly in their shoes.  After all, while Europeans were still running around in forests in Europe, Persia had a grand, and even progressive empire under Cyrus that supported religious tolerance and ethnic difference.  There is much to be admired in Persian history and culture.

Comment by Steve from New York — April 5, 2007 @ 2:06 pm

Hey Jessica,
don’t you just love the party crashers? LOL? That was a really good post, explaining about immigrants, I wasn’t sure exactly how it worked, thanks.
I still would like to know where she got the idea that America was holding Mexicans hostage!

Comment by Candide from USA — April 5, 2007 @ 2:34 pm

Steve,

When we talk about the movie 300, we are talking about pride of technology, the ability to build and use computers to create something new. What about our pride? We know for sure that the movie really was made; we know for sure that it contains Computer Generated Images, we know that it was distributed all over the world. 300 is a testament to the imagination and innovation of the American, Canadian, British, Brazilian and any other people who worked on the film.  While it is no cure for cancer, it is none the less amazing if for no other reason than people from all over the world worked “together” to create something. Do you have any idea how many people it took to get that written, filmed, edited, and distributed? Thousands!!!! You are weighing the pride of something that may or may not have taken place 3000 years ago against something that you can see with your own eyes and against the pride of living breathing people.

Comment by Candide from USA — April 5, 2007 @ 3:21 pm

For the Moment Laya, I’ll ignore you since you can’t speak without being angry. Half of what you have typed was broken and hard to understand. Next Laya, show some respect to your people quit with the foul Language, your 16 and may think it makes you look cool or even bad arsed, but trust me it doesn’t, it only makes you look ignorant. If your going to stand up for your people, you can do it without threats, without Hate, and without being angry.  Remember, none can do well when they are angry. Lastly, What makes Americans think Iranians Hate us? When we see images that are being blasted across TV’s all across the globe with Iranian people dancing in the streets, burning our flag and chanting “death to America” might just be the reason why so many people in America feel that Iranians hate them. Again, that falls into the same thing as you have stated; “you start something that causes a fight” which in the eyes of most Americans, that’s what Iranians have already done with the chanting of “death to America” while Iranians dance in the streets and burn our flags makes us feel the same way you do about 300; it’s a massive slap in the face. And yet, Americans have not spoken out aginst Iran or other Persian nations that have, or will do this. Because it’s your right to do so. And it’s these actions, not a movie that make people in America feel that Iranians and other Persians are “vulgar people”. And statements such as this;“so shut yur faces before you get highjacked.its for your own good.” Just gave another reason for the rest of America to see Iranians and Persians as “valgar people.” Your not helping your cause with such statements. Be in fact, your making your people look so poorly, that I’m ashamed for you all if this is the future of Iran and the once great empire of Persia. That statement alone shows Your hatred toward Americans. So now, the shoe is on the other foot here Laya, you have gone out and made yourself and your people to look like your willing “Highjack” over a movie. You have willing thrown out the idea that killing over a movie is “OK”. You’ve shown a set of colors that I for one will no longer keep silent about. You have sat there and spoke about Iranians are shown in the dim light from this movie, yet you have done more damange to your own people and cause then that movie ever could. The treats will stop Laya, No one here has made threats on your life. I want you to defend your people but you will not do it with threats to me or anyone else for that matter. So, I’m done speaking to you and will not answer anymore of your post to this thread for your rash behavior. I wish you luck in all that you do.

Jessica,
Again, don’t fall into what Laya said. Because here again, making threats only adds to chaos that is already here.

Steve,
Thanks for your comment. Your very right about the Persian people. And I think to some point of view I understand where your coming from. However, This is begining to be less about the movie and more about how we as Iranians and Americans view eachother. Americans think that Persians hate us and Persians think Amercians hate them, all the while no one is talking. People like Laya and Brad, have just added to the problem that is mostly nothing more than a culture clash. Persians have a right to see America as they wish, yes I believe they have a right to be upset about how they were casted. But my first point was that in any movie there must be the Villian and the Hero. In this movie it happened to be the Persians that were the villians. There are thousands of movies made every year and through out the years that have casted every culture in a dim light, not just the Persians. I’ve seen forin(sp?) films that have made Americans out to be blood thrusty, gun carrying, over sexed, un-ethical, non-moral people. Does that mean I should be upset? Does this mean I feel like that those cultures and movie makers OWE me an “I’m sorry”? No, it doesn’t. They owe me nothing. Just as Iranians who dance in the streets burning the American flag, and chanting “death to America”; they owe me nothing. It’s their right to protest! But I will not deal with people that make threats on human life in defence of their people or their culture or their history; no matter who they are.

Comment by Angelia — April 5, 2007 @ 7:59 pm

To Candide,

What can I say? Your last post was completely true. Where Laya has gotten the idea that we keep illegals hostage is beyound me.

Comment by Angelia — April 5, 2007 @ 8:28 pm

Candide,
    There are alot of things that people do not understand just because they do not care to do their research. Not saying you are one of them, but take Laya for an example. Aparently she has not done her “homework”. Just surf the web, everything you could ever want to learn can be found on the net. Just be carefull with that aproach though. Not all things on the web can be trusted. You have to use your own judgement to sort through the B.S.

Angelia,
   
    I did not make idle threats, I was stated what Laya had said. Hence the statement “and I quote” followed by quotation marks which contained what Laya had typed. Not only was I NOT making threats, I was setting straight the
miss-conceptions of what seems to be a very young and confused Laya. I agree tht making threats does not help to solve the problem. If only the rest of the world could see that and work together to create a greater place for all of us to live. Be it Iranians, Americans, the Scotts, the Irish, or any other groups of people that inhabit this world we live in.

Comment by Jessica from Texas — April 5, 2007 @ 11:17 pm

Jessica,

I didn’t mean that you did made a threat but rather that your reaction to her threat “OOOO wow, a threat. I am shaking in my boots,” could be taken the wrong way. Sorry that you took it as I thought you were making a threat toward her.

Comment by Angelia — April 5, 2007 @ 11:28 pm

It is ok, I kinda figured that was not the way you meant it but after the post I figured I should state that fact so that everyone else understood that it was not me making threats… All though I know it did not help much, I just felt as if that comment should be dripping with sarcasm. I guess that was my childish moment for that time… lol.

Comment by Jessica from Texas — April 5, 2007 @ 11:43 pm

No big thing Jessica. Trust me when I say, I should have put “her threats….”

Comment by Angelia — April 5, 2007 @ 11:47 pm

The research thing has been a big part of my job for so many years that I sometimes forget and write my comments in APA format or ask a commenter to site sources. I have been told that it is VERY annoying! LOL! So I know exactly what you mean about having to sift through the BS, and there is a lot of it.

The reason that this thread caught my eye was because my hobby is using video clips and music to make something like music videos. I had used the trailers from 300 to make some and I had them on the internet. A couple of them had been up for months and the only comments I had gotten were about my choice of songs or questions about how I did them. After the Iranian government made an issue of the movie, I got all kinds of hateful vulgar and threatening comments. At first I tried to explain that people make requests for videos and I make them to match with the songs that they choose. It didn’t make any difference! They just kept vandalizing my page, which is when I started looking on the internet to see what was going on. Most of the articles that I found were from newspapers and there was no place to leave a comment. It was good to see real people talking about an issue and not just the talking heads that we see on TV.

My husband told me that if the nasty comments upset me, I should just remove the videos. I didn’t think that I should, I can’t draw or sing but I can use video editing software to create something. I made the videos by working with people that I have never even met; one lives half a world away. I had to do research for a song that I did not understand and I asked questions about another person’s country and answered questions about my own, I learned a lot. I was very proud of the fact that I could work with and learn about people that I would have no contact with otherwise.

What do all of you think? Was I wrong not to remove my videos? When exactly should pride be swallowed and concessions made?

Comment by Candide from USA — April 6, 2007 @ 2:40 am

Candide,

I think that should be left to the individual person. If you are okay with removing the vids then it’s okay hun. If your not, repost them and ignore those that leave such comments. It’s all up to you and what your willing to put up with. I fear we have come to a day and age where such things are common even in the online world. People feel that using such tactics to get what they want is OK when it certainly is not.

I belong to a circle of people across the globe that pride themselves on our skills and talents as photo and art editors and graphic art. We’ve had some nasty things done to us as well. But we didn’t stop doing what we do best, creating art for the online community.

Comment by Angelia — April 6, 2007 @ 8:11 am

Candide,
    I agree with Angelia. It all depends (haha, old people diapers!) on the individuals ability to tolerate the comments. But it is definitly not worth keeping the videos up if it causes you too much stress to read the comments. Too much stress can lead to ulcers and other various bodily problems… What site do you post your videos on? I am interested in seeing the one you made for 300.

Angelia,

    I would be interested in seeing some of this art. Would you happen to have a link to it if it is posted online?

Comment by Jessica from Texas — April 6, 2007 @ 10:56 am

Laya..im going to sit back and let jessica take care of handling you because she seems to be quiet good at it..but make sure you know that people in America arent scared of you or your Iran..you arent a threat..you are closer to a nuisance..so quit trying to sound like your tough..because you and your country are not

Comment by Brad Denney from Indiana — April 7, 2007 @ 6:24 am

I think Candide and Angelia did a better job a setting her straight. What makes a country tough anyway? Who’s job is it to say “Oh yeah, thats a tough country!”? If the leaders of countries were not money, power, and control hungry would all people of the nations get along better? I guess we will never find out unless something is done to better this place we call earth and quit with all of the wars. Instead of having wars, why don’t the leaders just have political debates? Those are alot less messy and less expensive…

Comment by Jessica from Texas — April 7, 2007 @ 9:43 pm

.. k ..  what ever .. i got over this like three weeks ago .. n what ever i sed .. dont take it personally .. cus people say things when ther anooyed .. ... so .. uh .... im outa hurrrrrrrrrrr .. peeaceee

Comment by laya from alberta cananda — April 13, 2007 @ 10:45 am

*Jessica says with enthusiasm and excitement* Goodbye! Have a great time! And remember kids, do your research ( I bet you thought I was going to say “Only you can prevent forest fires” didn’t you?) Refering to Smokey the Bear… lol

Comment by Jessica from Texas — April 13, 2007 @ 11:11 am

Hey, I guess we all learned something because of this flak over a movie. It got people talking and participating, not just passively watching, that’s always a good thing.

Comment by Candide from USA — April 13, 2007 @ 1:06 pm

I served four years in the US Army and worked at the Pentagon and defended America.  I think all the flak over 300 is a joke.  It is just a movie - get a life!!!  To the Iranians who don’t like it - go back to your country and live without freedom of speech. In Canada and America we have free speech, we have a right to make a movie like 300, if you don’t like it - don’t go to see it!!! If your country has a right to make films showing Iranians burning the US flag and shouting death to America - we have a right to make a movie based on on a historical event. If you think 300 was made to insinuate that the US wants to invade Iran, then I am going to bring up another absurdity - the Simpson’s movie was a plot by Iranians to show how stupid American’s are and the Iranians are planning the invade the US.  That is just as absurd. Again, get a life.

Comment by CJ from Texas — September 1, 2007 @ 9:01 am