[FREE IRAN Project] In The Spirit Of Cyrus The Great Forum Index [FREE IRAN Project] In The Spirit Of Cyrus The Great
Views expressed here are not necessarily the views & opinions of ActivistChat.com. Comments are unmoderated. Abusive remarks may be deleted. ActivistChat.com retains the rights to all content/IP info in in this forum and may re-post content elsewhere.
 
 FAQFAQ   SearchSearch   RegisterRegister 
 ProfileProfile   Log in to check your private messagesLog in to check your private messages   Log inLog in 

Support Petition 45-46: Boycott the Movie 300
Goto page 1, 2, 3  Next
 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    [FREE IRAN Project] In The Spirit Of Cyrus The Great Forum Index -> Petitions
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
cyrus
Site Admin


Joined: 24 Jun 2003
Posts: 4993

PostPosted: Fri Mar 09, 2007 2:01 pm    Post subject: Support Petition 45-46: Boycott the Movie 300 Reply with quote



Petition 46: Boycott the Movie "300"
Sign the Petition -
View Current Signatures


http://www.petitiononline.com/BTM3/petition.html

To: Warner Brothers Studios, 4000 Warner Blvd, Burbank, CA 91522


Your new movie called “300” opening on March 9th in theatres all over the United States and based on a graphic novel by Frank Miller portrays the battle of Thermopylae in which King Leonidas and 300 Spartans fight against Xerxes and his Persian army. Upon seeing the previews of this movie, it immediately becomes apparent that apart from the actual names used in it, the entire depiction of this battle is based upon fantasy. Nowhere among the historical data that remains of the time of Xerxes and ancient Persian empires, do we come across any reference that shows those kings and soldiers as monsters with body-piercing, armors, facial features and demonic behavior that seem to have sprung out from the dungeons of hell. The inaccurate and derogatory depiction of ancient Persians that according to all historical data conducted warfare with mastery and dignity, and looked nothing like science-fictional monsters, is a depiction of how movie studios and authors sacrifice historical accuracy for would-be profits.

The author Frank Miller and Warner Brothers Studios should understand that distorting historical data is unethical, and so is feeding ignorance to viewers and readers. Fantasy-like characters should not have names that are based on actual historical figures. Xerxes was one of the many revered and respected rulers of an ancient civilization the vestiges of which last to this day and are acknowledged by historians of all nations. He did not look like a creature out of a frightening bedtime story. Neither did his soldiers.

By all means depict important historical events, but take the trouble to visit a library and to do some research before you do so.

We, The Undersigned, consider the movie “300” an outrage and boycott it.

Sincerely,


________________________________________________________
Petition 45: 300, an unethical movie picture
Sign the Petition -
View Current Signatures


http://www.petitiononline.com/wpci96c/petition.html

To: Warner Bros. Picture Company
Cc: Zack Snyder (director)


Dear Warner Bros. Picture Company,


We the undersigned, through this letter, protest your irresponsible, unethical and unscientific actions.

This letter is in concern of making the movie, 300 by your company, which, according to all historical documents, is fraudulent and distorted, and its broadcast guarantees the violation of undeniable international legal rights.

It is a proven scholarly fact that the Persian Empire in 480 B.C was the most magnificent and civilized empire. Established by the Cyrus the great, the writer of the first human right declaration, Persians ruled over significant portions of Greater Iran, the east modern Afghanistan and beyond into central Asia; in the north and west all of Asia Minor (modern Turkey), the upper Balkans peninsula (Thrace), and most of the Black Sea coastal regions; in the west and southwest the territories of modern Iraq, northern Saudi-Arabia, Jordan, Israel, Lebanon, Syria, all significant population centers of ancient Egypt and as far west as portions of Libya. Having twenty nations under control, encompassing approximately 7.5 million square kilometers, unquestionably the Achaemenid Empire was territorially the largest empire of classical antiquity.


Based on the Zoroastrian doctrine, it was the strong emphasis on honesty and integrity that gave the ancient Persians credibility to rule the world, even in the eyes of the people belonging to the conquered nations (Herodotus, mid 5th century B.C). Truth for the sake of truth, was the universal motto and the very core of the Persian culture that was followed not only by the great kings, but even the ordinary Persians made it a point to adhere to this code of conduct.

We did not expect Warner Bros. Picture company, as one of the world's largest producers of film and television entertainment to ignore the proven obvious historical facts, and damage its own reputation by showing the Persian army at the battle of Thermopylae as some monstrous savages, and thus create an atmosphere of public mistrust in its content, and hurt the national pride of the millions of Persians while doing so.

While announcing our disgust at such a heresy, we demand an immediate historical review and quick apology from the responsible people.

Sincerely,


Last edited by cyrus on Mon Mar 12, 2007 3:22 pm; edited 1 time in total
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
cyrus
Site Admin


Joined: 24 Jun 2003
Posts: 4993

PostPosted: Sun Mar 11, 2007 5:48 pm    Post subject: Who Are We - Engineering an Empire - The Persians (Part 1-2) Reply with quote




Engineering an Empire - The Persians (Part 1)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8aukC8GBEsU

Engineering an Empire - The Persians (Part 2)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSm68TxRBRo

Engineering an Empire - The Persians (Part 3)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5mwOovpetA

Engineering an Empire - The Persians (Part 4)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNWmaMTTesI

Engineering an Empire - The Persians (Part 5)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8H-jYYnkt0


Last edited by cyrus on Sat Sep 06, 2008 1:00 pm; edited 5 times in total
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
cyrus
Site Admin


Joined: 24 Jun 2003
Posts: 4993

PostPosted: Sun Mar 11, 2007 9:09 pm    Post subject: Persian inventions Reply with quote

Persian inventions

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IK6QwVBS4mQ
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
cyrus
Site Admin


Joined: 24 Jun 2003
Posts: 4993

PostPosted: Sun Mar 11, 2007 9:14 pm    Post subject: In Search of Cyrus the Great English Version Reply with quote

In Search of Cyrus the Great English Version - Cyrus Kar- Spenta Productions
11 min 23 sec - Oct 6, 2006

To Watch This Video Please Click Here

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5468494210860637483&q=Cyrus+The+Great&hl=en


Cyrus (580-529 BC) was the first Achaemenid Emperor. He founded Persia by uniting the two original Iranian Tribes- the Medes and the ... all » Persians. Although he was known to be a great conqueror, who at one point controlled one of the greatest Empires ever seen, he is best remembered for his unprecedented tolerance and magnanimous attitude towards those he defeated. Upon his victory over the Medes, he founded a government for his new kingdom, incorporating both Median and Persian nobles as civilian officials. The conquest of Asia Minor completed, he led his armies to the eastern frontiers. Hyrcania and Parthia were already part of the Median Kingdom. Further east, he conquered Drangiana, Arachosia,Margiana and Bactria. After crossing the Oxus, he reached the Jaxartes, where he built fortified towns with the object of defending the farthest frontier of his kingdom against nomadic tribes of Central Asia.

The victories to the east led him again to the west and sounded the hour for attack on Babylon and Egypt. When he conquered Babylon, he did so to cheers from the Jewish Community, who welcomed him as a liberator- he allowed the Jews to return to the promised Land. He showed great forbearance and respect towards the religious beliefs and cultural traditions of other races. These qualities earned him the respect and homage of all the people over whom he ruled.

________________________________________
Please Help NOW Cyrus The Great Film Documentary By Director Cyrus Kar

--------------------------------------------------------------

In Search of Cyrus the Great - Spenta Productions - Persian (Farsi) Version
در جستجوی کورش بزرگ



This film is about Cyrus the Great - Persian Version
Click URL:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3219610748168103101

Spenta Productions - Cyrus Kar
12 min 51 sec - Feb 4, 2007
www.SpentaProductions.com

Spenta Productions was founded by Cyrus Kar with one simple mission: to shed light on history's most pivotal moments, which, for whatever reason, have gone untold or mistold. We believe that an accurate account of history will lead to a better understanding of the present.

در جستجوی کورش بزرگ

Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
cyrus
Site Admin


Joined: 24 Jun 2003
Posts: 4993

PostPosted: Sun Mar 11, 2007 10:25 pm    Post subject: 300 Spartans, The Real Story! Reply with quote

300 Spartans, The Real Story! A Historically Accurate Review on 300, The Movie (2007)


http://iranpoliticsclub.net/history/300/
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
cyrus
Site Admin


Joined: 24 Jun 2003
Posts: 4993

PostPosted: Mon Mar 12, 2007 11:28 pm    Post subject: 300, an unethical movie picture Comments Reply with quote

http://www.petitiononline.com/mod_perl/signed.cgi?wpci96c&1

29437. Ruth McKeen
I understand that the mediums of film and comic books take dramatic licenses in the story telling process, but this excuse shouldn’t justify the monstrous portrayal of Persians in this film.

29422. Mehdi Amirhosseini
Shame on you Warner Bro’s. Hollywood is nothing but a cesspool. THE STENCH OF YOUR LIES IS TRULY NAUSIATING. Congratulation for sinking to an all time historic LOW!!

29390. Farhad Fahimi B.Sc., M.Sc.
The minimum you could have done, was to contact the American historians at Harvard or the British historians at Oxford.

29384. Farsheed Azad
We need to show the world that neither the current regime in Iran, made of bunch of philistines, is the true representative of our people nor the depiction of our ancestors in this totally biased film is the just characterization of our civilized forefathers.

29364. Rahman Ranjbar
Ignorance causes a lot of misunderstanding.

29354. sasha jazayeri
You Need to Cancel the Distribution of this Historically Incorrect Movie

29341. Sam
This is an insult to intelligence of American public. This movie has reversed the historical events written and available at the libraries including library of congress. Clearly American people will wake up sooner or later and then, loose faith and trust in the system. Ten times more money that was made has to be spent for publicity to gain ten percent of the people’s trust back. Breaking hearts is easier than gaining hearts. History goes on.

29306. shohreh
Nothing could be further from the historic facts than the way Xerxes and Persians have been portrayed in this movie. There was no need to turn the historic facts 180 degrees to make this movie appealing to the viewers .It was the most disturbing and disappointing movie I had ever seen.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
cyrus
Site Admin


Joined: 24 Jun 2003
Posts: 4993

PostPosted: Mon Mar 12, 2007 11:57 pm    Post subject: Boycott the Movie "300" Reply with quote

http://www.petitiononline.com/mod_perl/signed.cgi?BTM3&1

7771. Nami
Does money really worth to distort the History or there are other issues behind this business?

7737. Robert Adan Williams
As the unprovoked Bush White House poises itself to attack Iran, it is extraordinarily reckless and indulgent of the film industry to release a film like "300", which so distastefully and distortedly portrays the ancient Iranian empire, Persia, as hellishly demonic and deeply immoral. The painfully obvious racial division delineated in the film betray the ongoing onslaught of Eurocentric cultural colonialism, and the blatant "white"-washing of history. The film is ahistorical at best and at worst, just plain disgracefully racist: Greeks as physically flawless, nearly divine heroes, and all the rest of us the spawn of hell. Shame on all those responsible for such a childishly useless waste of talent, money and vision, and especially for foisted such a heap of rubbish on the young and impressionable. - Robert Adan Williams

7723. Kelvish Piro
This movie is prejudical, racist and discriminating! that's dis-respectfull...
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
cyrus
Site Admin


Joined: 24 Jun 2003
Posts: 4993

PostPosted: Tue Mar 13, 2007 12:04 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

29505. Mohammad Pessaran
It is disrespectful showing the Persian army at the battle of Thermopylae as some monstrous savages, and thus create an atmosphere of public mistrust in its content, and hurt the national pride of the millions of Persians while doing so. Persians are not Arabs as they have shown in this movie!!!!

29495. amir mohsen mahoozi
i think depicting iranians as barbarians, ans savages and unciviliized is horrendous. remember that , the persian civilization was a tremendous culture in adavabncing civil rights , human rights and philosophy. the greeks are here depicted as the saints but infact there was mutual trust and respect between the two cultures. you are totally biased in your movie and it is a real shame that you have falsified our history. shame on you.

29437. Ruth McKeen
I understand that the mediums of film and comic books take dramatic licenses in the story telling process, but this excuse shouldn’t justify the monstrous portrayal of Persians in this film.

29566. Marcia
Respect earns Respect.--Warner Bros, I am sure you are following the news about how south American welcoming your president. This is because of the way you treat others. Learn a lesson of the mistakes.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
cyrus
Site Admin


Joined: 24 Jun 2003
Posts: 4993

PostPosted: Tue Mar 13, 2007 11:19 am    Post subject: Iranian Renaissance Starts With Learning About Truth Reply with quote

Iranian Renaissance Starts With Learning About Truth, Past, Present and Reject Ignorance
1) Please remember few ignorant top executive at Warner Bros. and director of 300 who are responsible for insulting Persians out of ignorance and greed are not representing the USA nor elites of Jews .. as the Islamic Clerical Taazi invaders and occupiers of Iran are not considered as Iranians.
2) Please avoid any insults out of angers which is against both Iranians and Americans code of ethics. Ignorance and lack of awareness is the source of many problems.
3) Top Harvard University Scholar Professor Richard Nelson Frye said "Iranian is a culture." In his will, Professor Frye has expressed his wish to be buried next to Zayandeh-rud in Isfahan. Two other American Iranologists, Arthur Pope and Phyllis Ackerman, are already buried there. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Nelson_Frye

4) United we stand for cultural Toleration, Free society, Secular Democracy, Free Iran, Human Rights based on Good Thoughts, Good Words, and Good Deeds.
5) The biggest enemies of our time are ignorance and greed.
6) To fight back please support financially the true documentary In Search Of Cyrus The Great to increase the USA public awareness.
Please Help NOW Cyrus The Great Film Documentary By Director Cyrus Kar
7)For more points regarding Iranian Renaissance please visit :
http://activistchat.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=8074

Dr Catherine Todd wrote:
36573. Dr Catherine Todd

The year 2007 is not the right time to rewrite history and to stir up more ethnic unrest than did 9/11. Unfortunately the viewing public is ignorant of many facts about the Middle East including the FACT that Persians are not Arabs. To me this movie seemed to pit the poor undermanned Westerners against the evil Middle Easterners. It was simplistic and, most often, ridiculous. I kept asking myself throughout the 'movie' if it was meant to be a ninja turtles cartoon or was it meant to be factual--especially with all those silly piercings. i mean. come on guys can't Hollywood do better than this?


***********************************************************

In Search of Cyrus the Great English Version - Cyrus Kar- Spenta Productions
11 min 23 sec - Oct 6, 2006

To Watch This Video Please Click Here

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5468494210860637483&q=Cyrus+The+Great&hl=en


Cyrus (580-529 BC) was the first Achaemenid Emperor. He founded Persia by uniting the two original Iranian Tribes- the Medes and the ... all » Persians. Although he was known to be a great conqueror, who at one point controlled one of the greatest Empires ever seen, he is best remembered for his unprecedented tolerance and magnanimous attitude towards those he defeated. Upon his victory over the Medes, he founded a government for his new kingdom, incorporating both Median and Persian nobles as civilian officials. The conquest of Asia Minor completed, he led his armies to the eastern frontiers. Hyrcania and Parthia were already part of the Median Kingdom. Further east, he conquered Drangiana, Arachosia,Margiana and Bactria. After crossing the Oxus, he reached the Jaxartes, where he built fortified towns with the object of defending the farthest frontier of his kingdom against nomadic tribes of Central Asia.

The victories to the east led him again to the west and sounded the hour for attack on Babylon and Egypt. When he conquered Babylon, he did so to cheers from the Jewish Community, who welcomed him as a liberator- he allowed the Jews to return to the promised Land. He showed great forbearance and respect towards the religious beliefs and cultural traditions of other races. These qualities earned him the respect and homage of all the people over whom he ruled.

________________________________________
Please Help NOW Cyrus The Great Film Documentary By Director Cyrus Kar

--------------------------------------------------------------

In Search of Cyrus the Great - Spenta Productions - Persian (Farsi) Version
در جستجوی کورش بزرگ





Spenta Productions was founded by Cyrus Kar with one simple mission: to shed light on history's most pivotal moments, which, for whatever reason, have gone untold or mistold. We believe that an accurate account of history will lead to a better understanding of the present.

در جستجوی کورش بزرگ



Last edited by cyrus on Thu Mar 15, 2007 8:48 pm; edited 5 times in total
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
cyrus
Site Admin


Joined: 24 Jun 2003
Posts: 4993

PostPosted: Tue Mar 13, 2007 7:11 pm    Post subject: Comments Reply with quote

37604. Peshotan S. Kotval, MD, PhD
Has anyone read 6 books of the Old Testament which show the magnanimity of Achmenid Zoroastrian Kings....Are you carrying water for a hate group? Do you know a single blessed thing about the Parsi Zoroastrians of India and their record for the last 14 centuries? If not try shedding some ignorance and then look at the entire 2500 years since before Xerxes and Thermopylae and then we can look at the picture again. 'Molo laben' as the Spartans allegedly said..
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
cyrus
Site Admin


Joined: 24 Jun 2003
Posts: 4993

PostPosted: Wed Mar 14, 2007 10:12 pm    Post subject: THE TRUTH BEHIND ‘300’ By Director Cyrus Kar Reply with quote

Cyrus Kar wrote:


THE TRUTH BEHIND ‘300’ By Director Cyrus Kar

For many Iranians the cinematic movie ‘300’ may come as a shocking revelation. But to those of us who came up through America’s school system, the ‘Battle of Thermopylae,’ which is what the movie ‘300’ is based on, is as familiar as George Washington’s fabled “cherry tree” episode.

The Battle of Thermopylae was of course written by the classical Greek author, Herodotus, who lived in the Persian city of Halicarnassus. His book, ‘The Histories’ became part of Western folklore only recently. It wasn’t until about 1850 that America embraced Herodotus as the leading authority on Persian history.

Before 1850, however, the West had a very favorable impression of the Persian Empire. That’s because the West’s main source for Persian history was the Bible and the ‘Cyropaedia,’ written by another Greek author named Xenophon.

But the Cyropaedia glorified the monarchy of Cyrus The Great, and in the wake of two bloody revolutions fought by America and France to liberate themselves from their own monarchies, a major campaign began, around the mid 19th century, to promote democracy throughout the rest of Europe, and Herodotus was the perfect propaganda tool.

Herodotus was a democratic groupie and was quickly ushered in as the “Father Of History.” Around 1850, his ‘Battle Of Thermopylae’ came to symbolize the West’s struggle for democracy against the powerful forces of Persia’s monarchy.

The story is easy to buy into: 300 brave Spartans saved Western democracy from 2.7 million evil Persians. But aside from the fanciful numbers which need decimal-point adjustments, this whimsical tale has far graver consequences than a mere biased account of history.

The ‘Battle Of Thermopylae’ has been the single most powerful wedge, which has divided East and West for over 2 millennia. In a time when East and West should be reconciling their differences, along comes the movie ‘300’ to drive that wedge even deeper.

What is most disturbing about this movie is not that it lacks historical accuracy. It is not that Xerxes, the Grandson of Cyrus The Great and loving husband of Esther, is shown as an oversized drag queen. It is not even the outdated racist cliché of casting the Persians as Africans and the Spartans as white, blue-eyed ‘Chippendale dancers,’ when in reality the roles may well have been reversed.

What is so distressing about this movie is the realization of the tremendous power Hollywood wields in determining a people’s identity. It is the same nightmare Native Americans endured during the whole ‘cowboy-movie’ genre.

But for those who are quick to dismiss ‘300’ as a fleeting fantasy flick aimed at the insignificant, 17 to 24 year-old male video-gamer, think again. First there was Alexander, now ‘300,’ next could well be the ‘Battle Of Marathon,’ another one of Herodotus’s glowing accounts of ancient Persia.

Herodotus is accepted blindly by virtually all Western demographics. Even the New York Times is not immune. Here is how it described the Persians in its April 20, 2004 issue about the Battle Of Marathon:


“the defeat of a ruthless state (Persia) that had enslaved much of the known world from the Balkans to the Himalayas.”

“the ancient Greeks defeated the Asian invaders (Persia) and saved Europe in what scholars call one of the first great victories of freedom over tyranny”
- William J. Broad,
(NY Times)





What stretches the limits of hypocrisy is that there isn’t a single shred of archeological evidence that the Persians ever owned slaves. Yet we know that slavery was an integral cornerstone of Greek society. Aristotle’s manifesto even sanctions it. Persia, which was once a haven for runaway slaves from Egypt, Greece, and later Rome, is today branded as a slave-hungry empire by cultures which were built on slavery!

What makes Herodotus’s propaganda so difficult to refute is that it is peppered with facts. But in reality, it is a desperate diatribe. Perhaps his biggest ploy is his attempt to equate democracy with freedom. These two words are used virtually interchangeably throughout his book. And the West has swallowed it hook-line-and-sinker.

But America’s founding fathers knew better. They were not swayed by Herodotus. They implemented many safeguards to protect freedom from the pitfalls that mired Athenian democracy. Even Winston Churchill said, “Democracy is the worst form of government except for all the others which have been tried.”

Democracy may well be the best form of government. But what makes America great is not so much democracy as it is its Bill Of Rights. And this is exactly what made Persia Great. Democracy can often lead to tyranny by the majority as was the case in democratic Athens, where women, slaves and foreigners did not have the right to vote.

In monarchic Persia, however, women enjoyed a level of gender equality unmatched even to this day, and slavery was not practiced. The fact is, Persia’s monarchy was more free than Athens’ democracy, all because of Persia’s Bill Of Rights.

No one exemplifies Persia’s freedom better than Herodotus himself. He describes Athens as the bastion of freedom, yet he chose to live in Persia. Xenophon, on the other hand, who actually lived in Athens, reminisces enviably about the monarchy of Cyrus The Great?

Herodotus claims Persia had enslaved most of the known world, yet we know Herodotus was not a slave. He traveled freely throughout the empire, openly criticizing it.

Why did Herodotus not live in Greece? Because Persia - the empire he is so quick to demonize - afforded him the very freedom to publish his scathing report of it. People want to live where their god-given rights are protected, regardless of whether its democratic or monarchic.

These god-given rights were first drafted into law by the founder of the Persian empire, Cyrus The Great. In fact, ancient Persia may well have served as the blue print for America’s Bill Of Rights. Both Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, the architects of America’s Constitution, were great admirers and owned several copies of Xenophon’s Cyropaedia.

Today, no other country resembles ancient Persia as closely as does the United States. If any country should sympathize with, rather than celebrate, Persia’s quagmire in Greece it is the United States. Few events in history mirror America’s war on terror as closely as Persia’s war on Greece.

The Greeks had been carrying out terrorist attacks on Persian holdings for years. They had attacked Persian cities, set fire to Persian temples, disrupted key trade routes, and pirated merchant ships crossing the Bosphorus. They incited rebellions inside Persian provinces, but perhaps most abhorrent to the Persians was the ease by which the Greeks broke their treaties and betrayed Persia’s trust.

Rather than resort to violence, however, Persia tried to keep the Greeks in check by financially supporting Greek politicians who were “pro-Persian,” much the same way America fights its proxy wars. But what finally triggered Persia’s wrath was an act rarely mentioned in the West, though well documented, even by Herodotus (7:11).

Persia’s 9/11:

In 498 BCE, Athens carried out a terrorist attack on Sardis, a major Persian city, which made 9/11 seem like child’s play. Aristagoras, an Athenian, set fire to the “outlying parts” of Sardis trapping most of its population “in a ring of fire.” (Herodotus 5:101)

More innocent civilians died at the hands of Aristagoras than Osama bin Laden could ever hope to kill. And just as most of the world supported America’s retaliation against Al Qaeda, so did it rally in support of Persia’s attack on Athens.

The Spartans were not even targets of Persia’s attack, until they violated a universal protocol by killing a Persian messenger who Herodotus claims was asking for Sparta’s submission but in reality was probably sent by Persia’s king, Xerxes to convey the same message America sent to the entire world after 9/11: “you’re either with us, or against us.”

The Spartans were Greek Jihadists who lived only to die. They were by all accounts ruthless savages who murdered Greek slaves known as “Helots” just for sport, cultivated a culture of thievery and rape, and practiced infanticide, as the movie ‘300’ rightly points out in its opening scenes. Sparta was not even democratic. It was an oligarchy at best. Despite knowing all this, the West continues to hail the Spartans as the saviors of Western democracy.

Yes, the Spartans died fighting a foreign invader. But so do countless terrorists, yet few would consider them “good guys.” Those who do are then not much different from Westerners who cheer for the Spartans.

Persia was drawn into a protracted war against terror, much the same way the U.S. was. Cheering for the Spartans merely because they were underdogs, is like cheering for Osama bin Laden today.


The Power Of Film:

History is no longer written by the victors, it is written by filmmakers. When will the children of Persia rise up and fight back using the same weapon Hollywood has used for decades to denigrate the legacy of their ancestors? When will we abandon our defensive posture and begin to write our own history again?

Perhaps the movie ‘300’ was a necessary wake up call. But Persia bashing will never disappear on its own. It is the main villain in the Western saga. The only way it will change is through the power of film.

Alex Jovy’s epic movie about Cyrus The Great could have done wonders for the Iranian image. Most minority groups in America understand the power of film and are quick to finance films that communicate their stories to the rest of the world. But Alex Jovy’s movie today sits idle due lack of money. My documentary film about Cyrus The Great has languished for the same reasons.


Cyrus Kar


Dear Compatriots,

Iranians are the most affluent and educated minority group in America. If we set our minds to it, we could literally change the world. This Norooz, I hope all Iranians, regardless of race, religion or political affiliation, resolve to finally unite in an effort to redeem the reputation of our ancestors.
ActivistChat agrees with Director Cyrus Kar regarding The Power Of Film. We have reviewed the documentary excellent final post-production business plan that needs another $400,000 to finish and we highly recommend to support this effort financially now as much as you can ASAP by clicking the link below:
Please Help NOW Cyrus The Great Film Documentary By Director Cyrus Kar
Your financial help for post-production of a ground-breaking documentary film titled, ‘In Search Of Cyrus The Great will be spent for the following segments:

1.) Image Editing fees (Editor & Assistant Editor)
2.) Computer Animation to Recreate Battle Scenes (15 min.)
3.) Sound Editor fees
4.) Music Composer fees
5.) Rights and Clearances of Licensed Music and Archival Footage fees
6.) Titles and Opticals fees
7.) Sound Mix and Master Copy fees
8.) Promotion & Advertising fees
9.) Transfer to 35mm film with Optical Sound fees
10.) Legal Services fees

For more information please visit: http://www.spentaproductions.com

Happy Norooz,
ActivistChat


Quote:

In Search of Cyrus the Great English Version - Cyrus Kar- Spenta Productions Preview
11 min 23 sec - Oct 6, 2006

To Watch This Video Preview Please Click Here

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5468494210860637483&q=Cyrus+The+Great&hl=en

In Search of Cyrus the Great - Spenta Productions - Persian (Parsi) Version Preview
در جستجوی کورش بزرگ



Last edited by cyrus on Thu Mar 15, 2007 11:17 pm; edited 15 times in total
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
cyrus
Site Admin


Joined: 24 Jun 2003
Posts: 4993

PostPosted: Thu Mar 15, 2007 11:59 am    Post subject: The Father Of History, Or The Father Of Lies? Reply with quote



AmirN wrote:
The Father Of History, Or The Father Of Lies?

Almost all of what is currently accepted regarding the struggles of the Persians and that of the Greeks, deemed “The Persian Wars” is based on the writings of one man: Herodotus. Are “The Histories” of Herodotus true historical accounts, or are they mythology?

Furthermore, almost all that is known about Herodotus comes from his own writing. There is not a substantial alternative body of evidence to either corroborate or refute his accounts; at least none that has survived in history. One is therefore left to simply analyze his works in order to render judgement. Common sense and logic, as well as a basic understanding of the world at that time period are at the present the main tools used to scrutinize Herodotus’ works.

I. A Greek storyteller presenting Greek valor to a Greek audience:

Herodotus was a native of Helicarnassus, in present day Western Turkey. Although Helicarnassus was a part of the Persian Empire at the time, the ethnicity of the region was Greek. The people of the region accepted themselves as subjects of the Persian Empire, but identified themselves as having Greek heritage. The same applies to Herodotus. He identified himself as Greek. Interestingly, Herodotus was an exile of his homeland, which was a large reason for his travels. The reason for his exile remains dubious.

He initially presented his work in oral prose, to an audience of Greeks in Greece. It is important to note that at the time, all storytelling in Greece was performed within the style of theatrical presentation. The people were not interested in getting simple facts handed to them. They wanted entertainment. Storytellers were entertainers, and they were more than anyone else aware of this fact. A storyteller had to keep his audience captivated and on the edge of their seats, or risk orating to an empty hall. Herodotus made tours of Greek cities during festivals, and gave personal performances to captive Greek audiences in return for payment. This must be remembered above all else.

II. Homeric comparisons:

Prior to Herodotus, Homer was the start-all and end-all of all Greek storytellers. He was the gold standard against which all other works would be compared. Surely, Herodotus was aware of this, and incorporated Homeric homage and narrative. Here are a few examples:

1. His books are divided and named after 9 Muses, which are mythological creatures. This was not Herodotus’s doing, but that of subsequent editors. It does, however, show that intentional parallels were drawn to Homer by himself as well as his subsequent followers. Homer’s Iliad begins with the words “Sing, O Muse, of the anger of Achilles, son of Peleus…”

2. “To me it seems that the cold may likewise be the cause which prevents the oxen in Scythia from having horns. There is a line of Homer's in the Odyssey which gives a support to my opinion.” -Herodotus, Histories, Book IV.

3. Book I of Histories attempts to explain the original feud between the Persians and Greeks. Surprise, surprise, it happens to be the same reason for honor and retribution as that behind the Trojan War: wife stealing. In Book I, Herodotus explains that it was the Phoenicians that first carried off a Greek woman to Asia and then to Egypt. Subsequently, the Greeks retaliated by carrying off a woman from Colchis. Then, Alexander the son of Priam (aka Paris) retaliated by carrying off Helen to Troy, prompting the Trojan War. Not only is Herodotus paralleling himself to Homer’s story, but he is in fact starting his story where Homer left off: with the Trojan War.

“In the next generation afterwards, according to the same authorities, Alexander the son of Priam, bearing these events in mind, resolved to procure himself a wife out of Greece by violence, fully persuaded, that as the Greeks had not given satisfaction for their outrages, so neither would he be forced to make any for his. Accordingly he made prize of Helen; upon which the Greeks decided that, before resorting to other measures, they would send envoys to reclaim the princess and require reparation of the wrong. Their demands were met by a reference to the violence which had been offered to Medea, and they were asked with what face they could now require satisfaction, when they had formerly rejected all demands for either reparation or restitution addressed to them.” -Herodotus, Histories, Book I.

Right off the bat, the opening of Herodotus’ Histories points to it being driven by mythology rather than fact. It is a continuation of the Iliad.

III. Is History based on prophesy?

Prophesy is a tool that adds literary flare to any entertaining story, especially within Greek tragedies. Prophetic references are abundant in Herodotus’ work. Here are a few examples:

1. According to Herodotus, in the Mysian Olympus there was a huge boar that terrorized the countryside. The people asked their king, Croesus, to help by sending his son and other warriors to fend off the beast. Croesus refused to send his son, but his son insisted on going. This is the reason why the king did not want his son to undertake the hunting expedition:

“Then Croesus answered, ‘My son, it is not because I have seen in thee either cowardice or aught else which has displeased me that I keep thee back; but because a vision which came before me in a dream as I slept, warned me that thou wert doomed to die young, pierced by an iron weapon…’ -Herodotus, Histories, Book I.

His son, however, convinces the father that a boar cannot wield an iron weapon and so the dream did not apply to this expedition. Convinced, Croesus lets him go. Shortly thereafter…

“Thus assured, Croesus let them depart, accompanied by a band of picked youths, and well provided with dogs of chase. When they reached Olympus, they scattered in quest of the animal; he was soon found, and the hunters, drawing round him in a circle, hurled their weapons at him. Then the stranger, the man who had been purified of blood, whose name was Adrastus, he also hurled his spear at the boar, but missed his aim, and struck Atys. Thus was the son of Croesus slain by the point of an iron weapon, and the warning of the vision was fulfilled.” -Herodotus, Histories, Book I.

2. “Cambyses no sooner heard the name of Smerdis than he was struck with the truth of Prexaspes' words, and the fulfilment of his own dream- the dream, I mean, which he had in former days, when one appeared to him in his sleep and told him that Smerdis sate upon the royal throne, and with his head touched the heavens.” -Herodotus, Histories, Book III.

3. “As he made his spring, the button of his sword-sheath fell off, and the bared point entered his thigh, wounding him exactly where he had himself once wounded the Egyptian god Apis. Then Cambyses, feeling that he had got his death-wound, inquired the name of the place where he was, and was answered, "Agbatana." Now before this it had been told him by the oracle at Buto that he should end his days at Agbatana. He, however, had understood the Median Agbatana, where all his treasures were, and had thought that he should die there in a good old age; but the oracle meant Agbatana in Syria. So when Cambyses heard the name of the place, the double shock that he had received, from the revolt of the Magus and from his wound, brought him back to his senses. And he understood now the true meaning of the oracle, and said, ‘Here then Cambyses, son of Cyrus, is doomed to die.’”-Herodotus, Histories, Book IV.

4. “At last, however, in the midst of these many difficulties, the barbarians made discovery of an access. For verily the oracle had spoken truth; and it was fated that the whole mainland of Attica should fall beneath the sway of the Persians.” -Herodotus, Histories, Book VIII.

5. “For if things turn out as I anticipate, and we beat them by sea, then we shall have kept your Isthmus free from the barbarians, and they will have advanced no further than Attica, but from thence have fled back in disorder; and we shall, moreover, have saved Megara, Egina, and Salamis itself, where an oracle has said that we are to overcome our enemies.” -Herodotus, Histories, Book VIII.

6. “When the whole army had crossed, and the troops were now upon their march, a strange prodigy appeared to them, whereof the king made no account, though its meaning was not difficult to conjecture. Now the prodigy was this:- a mare brought forth a hare. Hereby it was shown plainly enough, that Xerxes would lead forth his host against Greece with mighty pomp and splendor, but, in order to reach again the spot from which he set out, would have to run for his life. There had also been another portent, while Xerxes was still at Sardis- a mule dropped a foal, neither male nor female; but this likewise was disregarded.

So Xerxes, despising the omens, marched forwards; and his land army accompanied him.” -Herodotus, Histories, Book VII.


7. “The Euboeans, until now, had made light of the oracle of Bacis, as though it had been void of all significance, and had neither removed their goods from the island, nor yet taken them into their strong places; as they would most certainly have done if they had believed that war was approaching. By this neglect they had brought their affairs into the very greatest danger. Now the oracle of which I speak ran as follows:

When o'er the main shall be thrown a byblus yoke by a stranger,
Be thou ware, and drive from Euboea the goats' loud-bleating. So, as the Euboeans had paid no regard to this oracle when the evils approached and impended, now that they had arrived, the worst was likely to befall them.” -Herodotus, Histories, Book VII.


8. “Mardonius accordingly went round the entire assemblage, beginning with the Sidonian monarch, and asked this question; to which all gave the same answer, advising to engage the Greeks, except only Artemisia, who spake as follows:

‘Say to the king, Mardonius, that these are my words to him: I was not the least brave of those who fought at Euboea, nor were my achievements there among the meanest; it is my right, therefore, O my lord, to tell thee plainly what I think to be most for thy advantage now. This then is my advice. Spare thy ships, and do not risk a battle; for these people are as much superior to thy people in seamanship, as men to women. What so great need is there for thee to incur hazard at sea? Art thou not master of Athens, for which thou didst undertake thy expedition? Is not Greece subject to thee? Not a soul now resists thy advance. They who once resisted, were handled even as they deserved. Now learn how I expect that affairs will go with thy adversaries. If thou art not over-hasty to engage with them by sea, but wilt keep thy fleet near the land, then whether thou abidest as thou art, or marches forward towards the Peloponnese, thou wilt easily accomplish all for which thou art come hither. The Greeks cannot hold out against thee very long; thou wilt soon part them asunder, and scatter them to their several homes. In the island where they lie, I hear they have no food in store; nor is it likely, if thy land force begins its march towards the Peloponnese, that they will remain quietly where they are- at least such as come from that region. Of a surety they will not greatly trouble themselves to give battle on behalf of the Athenians. On the other hand, if thou art hasty to fight, I tremble lest the defeat of thy sea force bring harm likewise to thy land army. This, too, thou should remember, O king; good masters are apt to have bad servants, and bad masters good ones. Now, as thou art the best of men, thy servants must need be a sorry set. These Egyptians, Cyprians, Cilicians, and Pamphylians, who are counted in the number of thy subject-allies, of how little service are they to thee!’” -Herodotus, Histories, Book VIII.


Interesting that Artemisia should make such a prophetic revelation to Xerxes, only to be ignored. This type of motif is abundant in the writings of Homer, whereby an ordinary person reveals a prophesy to another, only to be ignored. In fact, it is Cassandra, the Trojan royal princess that keeps forewarning the disaster that is to befall Troy and herself, only to be repeatedly ignored. Hence, the term “Cassandra complex” that is in modern use.

Hector has a similar prophesy for Achilles’ demise immediately prior to his death at the hands of Achilles. His wife, Andromache has a similar prophesy for her own fate at the hands of the Acheans, and so on.

These are just some examples of Herodotus’ flare for prophesy. The Histories is littered with them.

IV. Griffins and Cyclops:

No piece of mythological story is complete without a few eccentric beasts. Griffins and Cyclops were quite popular at the time:

1. "But in the north of Europe there is by far the most gold. In this matter again I cannot say with assurance how the gold is produced, but it is said that one-eyed men called Arimaspoi steal it from Grypes. The most outlying lands, though, as they enclose and wholly surround all the rest of the world, are likely to have those things which we think the finest and the rarest." - Herodotus, Histories, Book III.

2. "There is also a story related in a poem by Aristeas son of Kaüstrobios, a man of Prokonnesos. This Aristeas, possessed by Phoibos [Apollon], visited the Issedones; beyond these (he said) live the one-eyed Arimaspoi, beyond whom are the Grypes (Griffins) that guard gold, and beyond these again the Hyperboreoi, whose territory reaches to the sea. Except for the Hyperboreoi, all these nations (and first the Arimaspoi) are always at war with their neighbors; the Issedones were pushed from their lands by the Arimaspoi, and the Skythians by the Issedones." - Herodotus, Histories, Book IV.

3. "Of these too, then, we have knowledge; but as for what is north of them, it is from the Issedones that the tale comes of the one-eyed men [Arimaspoi] and the Grypes (Griffins) that guard gold; this is told by the Skythians, who have heard it from them; and we have taken it as true from the Skythians, and call these people by the Skythian name, Arimaspoi; for in the Skythian tongue 'arima' is one, and 'spou' is the eye." - Herodotus, Histories, Book IV.

V. Whatever happened to common sense?

We are asked to believe that an army of a few thousand Greeks devastated an army of about 2 million Persians. First, the numbers are obviously grossly exaggerated on the Persian side. No one believes that such an army could have been amassed at that time. Even in current times, the most powerful military in the world does not possess such a host, with a population of over 300 million. Back then, the total population of the Persians was about a tenth of that, in the tens of millions. To raise and support such an army would have been impossible.

We are asked to believe that repeatedly, a far superior Persian navy, outnumbering the Greeks anywhere from 5:1 to 10:1 was defeated over and over by the Greeks. Considering that they had similar ships and technology, why this should occur repeatedly is enigmatic. Supposedly, an element of surprise or better coordination can give one side a slight advantage over another, perhaps once. However, over and over? This seems highly suspect.

The Persians were the sole dominant empire at the time, and they did not lack in technology, engineering, metallurgy, any resource, or money. If they did not exceed the Greeks in all these respects, they at least did not drag behind them. It is unlikely that they were inept at achieving their goals or victory.

VI. Archaeology is notably silent:

According to Herodotus, hundreds of Persian ships were sunk at Salamis. Where are the remains of these shipwrecks? Of course, not all shipwrecks are always salvaged, either because the exact site is indeterminate, or because a single ship is being sought. The location that is given by Herodotus is a relatively precise location, and is not in a desolate or extremely deep part of an ocean. It is close to land, and not too deep. So what has been found at the site? Not much. Apart from an occasional shipwreck or two from the ancient world, the vast graveyard of triremes one expects to find there is notably absent, even with today’s complex ship salvage technologies.

How about Thermopylae? What has been recovered there? Apart from some Persian arrowheads, not much else. Again, considering the very specific site of battle and mountainous terrain that allows for only a small strip of flat land, the search area is relatively small. Furthermore, it is unlikely that it would conceal the following from the prying eyes of modern archaeologists:

“ It was while they were at this station that a herald reached them from Xerxes, whom he had sent after making the following dispositions with respect to the bodies of those who fell at Thermopylae. Of the twenty thousand who had been slain on the Persian side, he left one thousand upon the field while he buried the rest in trenches; and these he carefully filled up with earth, and hid with foliage, that the sailors might not see any signs of them.” –Herodotus, The Histories, Book VIII.

Twenty thousand Persians died at Thermopylae, of which nineteen thousand were buried in mass graves at that very site by Xerxes, according to Herodotus. There are supposedly mass graves of 19,000 dead warriors there, somewhere in that narrow mountain pass. Archaeologists have been able to find a few arrowheads from that incident, but the colossal cemetery has somehow managed to elude discovery.

The conspicuous absence of hundreds of sunk Persian ships and the mass graves of 19,000 dead Persian warriors sheds serious doubt not just on the details of Herodotus’ story, but upon its entire foundation.

VII. The Peloponnesian War:

Interestingly, The Histories of Herodotus was put into a continuous narrative around the time when the Peloponnesian War broke out between Athens and Sparta. This was a long and brutal war, and resulted in the eventual annihilation of both sides, even though Sparta was the final victor. It is entirely possible, indeed probable, that Herodotus presented this work to the Greek world in an effort to circumvent this self-destructive behavior. The Histories is fraught with feelings of Greek unity and comradery, especially between Sparta and Athens. The proud Greek Athenians and Spartans came together and united to repel the despotic Persians. This was the message that the Greek world needed to hear in the midst of a vain Peloponnesian War. Unfortunately, it did not have the intended impact.

The war continued, and killed far more than any other war up to that time, and for centuries afterwards. Far more Greeks were killed at the hands of other Greeks than at the hands of the Persians. Even so, that particular war had the Persians as the greatest victors. The Persians could not have hoped for a better outcome even if they had invaded Greece themselves. The Persians played both cities against each other, supplying each with money and ships as necessary to meet their own ends.

VIII. Concluding Thoughts:

That there were wars between Persia and Greece is true. There are accounts for the existence of this conflict independent from Herodotus. That there was a Persian invasion of Greece by Xerxes, which culminated in the eventual sack and destruction of Athens is also certain, and this is evident by the archaeological evidence for Athens’ destruction.

No doubt, a conflict was present, the Persians did invade Greece (with a much smaller force than is described), there were battles at Salamis and Thermopylae (evidenced by arrowheads) as well as elsewhere. What are dubious are the details of those skirmishes or battles, which are described by Herodotus. On more than one occasion, and from various different angles of thought, his descriptions are seen as not an actual recount of events, but a sophisticated fabrication of glorious and heroic deeds of his countrymen.

The people were real. The places were real. The skirmishes were real. The events of those skirmishes, and the behavior of the characters, however, were most likely not real. This motivation for propagation of glory, is given away by Herodotus himself in the opening lines of “Histories:”

“These are the researches of Herodotus of Halicarnassus, which he publishes, in the hope of thereby preserving from decay the remembrance of what men have done, and of preventing the great and wonderful actions of the Greeks and the Barbarians from losing their due meed of glory; -Herodotus, Histories, Book I.

This article is not meant to demean the value of The Histories, or the important role that Herodotus played for the subject of history. Prior to his time, all such accounts were handed down in the form of poems or epics. He was the first to present his story in the form of a narrative, and at least show an attempt at information gathering. For that, he must be commended.

The problem is that historians have given him and his narration more historical credit than it is due. Although his technique was pioneering, it is a far cry from an acceptable historical account.

As this article has shown, his work parallels mythology, and at numerous times gives mythological accounts. Mythology, of course, is a story that has some basis on truth and reality along with many concepts that are inventions and imaginations. Much of Herodotus’ writing is easily identified as mythological. What about the rest? How much of what is accepted at face value is indeed also an exaggeration, manipulation, and invention, and how much is factual history?

The question cannot be adequately answered. However, one must remember that when truth is mixed with lies, the sum result is a lie. When historical accounts are mixed with mythology, the end result yields mythology, since it becomes impossible to separate fiction from fact.

The Histories is a magnificent work of ancient literature. Then again, so are the Iliad, the Odyssey, and the Shahnameh. All must be appreciated as important literary works, but none revered as historical documents.

Recent historians have begun a debate regarding this figure. Most call him the Father of History, while others call him the Father of Lies.

Many have heralded Herodotus as the Father of History. There may be some accuracy to that, in that the methodology that he tampered with was a primitive method of history. Be that as it may, his personal work is not historical. Certainly, it is not as defined by the modern meaning of the word.

Others have called him the Father of Lies. That he told lies, and that those lies expanded to become the basis of the world’s understanding of ancient history is irrefutable.

Most individuals that accept ancient history as is currently accounted, based almost entirely on Herodotus, do so without having read this work or without completely understanding it.

For the above reasons, the author believes that Herodotus is both the Father of History as well as the Father of Lies. The reader is invited to consider these words, and make up his or her own judgement.

This recount of Herodotus is presented concurrent to the release of the movie “300” to an audience that is just as keen on fantasy and mythology as the audience that Herodotus kept captive in Athens 2400 years ago. Many have been outraged that the current movie is a false exaggeration of history, and go so far as cite Herodotus for what is accepted history. It is most interesting that this movie is such a fantastic exaggeration that the defenders of Persia gladly present Herodotus’ work in order to get an anchor on reality. It is interesting, because a more moderate lie is used to partly refute the more exaggerated lie. One can only take pause before realizing that one mythological lie has become the basis for an even more fantastically outrageous lie.

The world would do well to combat all lies, present and past, which have on occasion become the foundation of accepted beliefs of events from long ago. May this world be protected from lies:

“King Dariush says: You who shall be king hereafter, protect yourself vigorously from lies; punish the liars well, if thus you shall think, 'May my country be secure.'” -Dariush the Great, Behistun Inscription, Column 4, Line 55.

Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
cyrus
Site Admin


Joined: 24 Jun 2003
Posts: 4993

PostPosted: Thu Mar 15, 2007 3:30 pm    Post subject: Check out Pajamas Media: Film: 300 Questions Reply with quote

Check out Pajamas Media: Film: 300 Questions

Roxanne Ganji wrote:

Ardeshir has written a great article. He is already being bombarded by ignorant people's comments. It is up to all of us to post our comments against Warner Brothers and all these illiterates who no nothing about our culture. We are in this predicament today because we didn't appreciate and stand up for what we had and let a bunch of hoodlums take over our country and put is in this position today. Lets all show them how important our heritage is to us and how these terrorists running our country are not representing us. PLEASE POST YOUR COMMENTS NOW.

Thank you,

Roxanne


Click here: Pajamas Media: Film: 300 Questions




Source: http://pajamasmedia.com/2007/03/film_300_questions.php#commentForm
Like many Iranians the world over, Los Angeles based filmmaker Ardeshir Arian — no supporter of the current Iranian regime — casts a critical eye on the movie’s portrayal of the ancient Persian Empire, and wonders if the filmmakers behind “300” haven’t confused the ruling class of that era with the vastly different culture of today.


As an Iranian-American filmmaker who believes in truth and humanity it very much disturbed me to see the magnificent Persian culture and heritage; the great civilization of my origin, the legacy of my ancestors, the facts of history, and the truth as a whole being attacked by a group of filmmakers for “A Fistful of Dollars.” And many now believe that there are also political intentions behind “300.”

No matter the reasons for the making of the film, I feel obligated to set the record straight on some of the misconceptions that this movie is creating for its viewers. I should mention that this film has already sparked enough emotion and resentment to trigger two petitions online that are already among the top 25 in popularity and growing by the minute.

By many historical accounts contrary to his depiction in “300”, Xerxes was a wise man, a tolerant king, and the founder of “Systematic Management”. Not a bald and clean-shaven robotic monstrosity with the synthesized voice of a machine. And certainly not the barbaric, talentless, stupid giant that the makers of “300” have portrayed him as. 1

Xerxes was the son of Darius the Great and Queen Atossa, and grandson of Cyrus the Great, the liberator of Babylon and creator of the first “Human Rights Charter” known to mankind. 2

The film characterizes the ancient Persians as anti-woman, racist, and undemocratic; none of which is true. In fact, some of Xerxes’ most influential subordinates were female immigrants to the Persian Empire later made citizens. Among the key women of Xerxes’ court were his wife, Queen Esther of Israel, and his Navy Commander Queen Artemisia of Halicarnassus, who lead the Persian Navy against the Greeks. His daughter, Homa, is one of the first novelists known to civilization. I think the makers of “300” have mistakenly transposed the Mullahs’ mess and the era of the Persian Empire with regard to the role of women in Persian culture. 3

Being unusually democratic and tolerant for the era, the ancient Persians did not interfere with the religion, social life, and habits of conquered nations. Xerxes himself did not want to attack Greece, but did so only under pressure from Greek natives within the empire. 4

I do not know whose bright idea it was to use real names in a historical fantasy instead of just calling it fiction. But is there any difference between the makers of this movie and Ahmadinejad? They are both blind to the truth. Brainwashing is wrong whether done by communists, Islamo-Fascists, or Warner Brothers. The intentions may be different, but the results are the same. Obscuring history and slandering a great civilization is an undeniable sin, and an intolerable offense by any standard.

Due to the many falsifications of this film I will not bother to enumerate them all. But for the enlightenment of the reader I should mention that the Persian wardrobe was taken from “Ali-Baba and the Forty Thieves of Baghdad”, and the attire of the “Immortals” was stolen from Darth Vader. I guess what these filmmakers lacked – besides substance, knowledge, ethics, and a conscience – was professor Emmett Brown’s flying DeLorean. Maybe they should have invited Michael J. Fox to change history. Alas, that would not help either because the DeLorean was destroyed in the last “Back to the Future.” What a pity.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1. Xerxes, whose character was later distorted in Greek legend, was neither foolish nor overly optimistic; although sensible and intelligent, he was nevertheless, a sovereign by divine right, to whom opposition was as annoying as sacrilege according to G. Glotz

2. Based on the Zoroastrian doctrine, it was the strong emphasis on honesty and integrity that gave the ancient Persians credibility to rule the world, even in the eyes of the people belonging to the conquered nations. -Herodotus

3. She likewise gave to Xerxes sounder counsel than any of his other allies. Against advice of Mardonius, Xerxes acted on her advice when he decided to withdraw from Greece. -Herodotus

4. War against the Greeks With the tranquility of the empire reestablished, Xerxes would willingly have devoted himself to peaceful activities. But many of those around him were pressing for the renewal of hostilities. His cousin and brother-in-law Mardonius, supported by a strong party of exiled Greeks, incited him to take revenge for the affront that Darius had suffered at the hands of the Greeks at Marathon (490 BC). The impressionable Xerxes gave way to pressure from his entourage and threw himself into patient diplomatic and military preparations for war, which required three years to complete (484-481 BC)
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
cyrus
Site Admin


Joined: 24 Jun 2003
Posts: 4993

PostPosted: Thu Mar 15, 2007 4:21 pm    Post subject: 300 Sparks an Outcry in Iran Reply with quote

Tuesday, Mar. 13, 2007
300 Sparks an Outcry in Iran



http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1598886,00.html?cnn=yes
By Azadeh Moaveni/Tehran
All of Tehran was outraged. Everywhere I went yesterday, the talk vibrated with indignation over the film 300 — a movie no one in Iran has seen but everyone seems to know about since it became a major box office surprise in the U.S. As I stood in line for a full hour to buy ajeel, a mixture of dried fruits and nuts traditional to the start of Persian new year festivities, I felt the entire queue, composed of housewives with pet dogs, teenagers, and clerks from a nearby ministry, shake with fury. I hadn't even heard of the film until that morning when a screed about it came on the radio, so I was able to nod darkly with the rest of the shoppers, savoring a moment of public accord so rare in Tehran. Everywhere else I went, from the dentist to the flower shop, Iranians buzzed with resentment at the film's depictions of Persians, adamant that the movie was secretly funded by the U.S. government to prepare Americans for going to war against Iran. "Otherwise why now, if not to turn their people against us?" demanded an elderly lady buying tuberoses. "Yes, truly it is a grave offense," I said, shaking my own bunch of irises.

I returned home to discover my family in a similar state of pique. My sister-in-law sat behind her laptop, sending off an e-mail petition against the film to half of Tehran, while my husband leafed through a book on the Achaemenid Empire, noting that Herodotus had estimated the Persian army at 120,000 men, not one million as the film claimed. The morning newspaper lay on the table with the headline "300 AGAINST 70 MILLION!" (the population of the country). It was echoed by the evening news: "Hollywood has opened a new front in the war against Iran."

The timing of the computer-generated film, which depicts the ancient confrontation of Sparta and the Persian empire at the Battle of Thermopylae, is certainly inauspicious. It falls on the eve of Norouz, Persian new year, a time when Iranians typically gather in proud celebration, observing rites that date back over 3,000 years, way before Islam, to the age of Zoroastrianism, when their ancient land produced the world's first monotheistic religion. It is not a particularly welcome season to be portrayed as pillaging, deranged savages. Since the entire country will be on two weeks of official holiday, there will be no shortage of time to sit about discussing the slight and what it portends for Iran's current confrontation with the United States. For a people prone to conspiracy logic, the box office success of 300, compared with the relative flop of Alexander (another spurious period epic dealing with Persians) is cause for considerable alarm, signaling ominous U.S. intentions.

While the hullabaloo over 300 may dampen Iranians' holiday spirits, it offers common cause between people and their estranged government. Top officials and parliament have scorned the film as though it were a matter of state, and for the first time in a long while, taxi drivers are shaking their fists in agreement when the state news comes on. Agreeing that 300 is egregious drivel is fairly easy. I'm relatively mellow as Iranian nationalists go, and even I found myself applauding when the government spokesman described the film as fabrication and insult. Iranians view the Achaemenid empire as a particularly noble page in their history and cannot understand why it has been singled out for such shoddy cinematic treatment, as the populace here perceives it, with the Persians in rags and its Great King practically naked. The Achaemenid kings, who built their majestic capital at Persepolis, were exceptionally munificent for their time. They wrote the world's earliest recorded human rights declaration, and were opposed to slavery. Cuneiform plates show that Persepolis was built by paid staff rather than slaves And any Iranian child who has visited Persepolis can tell you that its preserved reliefs depict court dress of velvet robes, and that if anyone was wearing rags around 500 B.C., it wasn't the Persians.

It is going to take an act of foolhardy courage to distribute that film in Iran. It will truly be 70 million against 300.

Click to Print Find this article at:
http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1598886,00.html

Shokooh Mirzadegi wrote:
خشايارشاه در نقش برجسته تاريخی و خشايارشاه فيلم 300

ايرانيان امپراتوری هخامنشی را يکی از پر غرورترين دوران های تاريخ خود می دانند

فيلم 300 خشم ايرانيان را شعله ور کرده است

ترجمه برای سايت کميته نجات پاسارگاد

از نشريه تايم


آزاده معاونی خبرنگار مجله تايم از تهران می نويسد همه تهران را خشم فراگرفته است. ديروز هر کجا که رفتم بحث داغ درباره فيلم 300 برقرار بود. فيلمی که هنوز هيچ کس در ايران آن را نديده است اما از وقتی که به صورتی غافلگيرکننده بيشترين فروش فيلم را در آمريکا داشته همه از آن با خبرند. در يک ساعتی که من در صف خريد آجيل ايستاده بودم ديدم که تمام صف که متشکل از زنان خانه ای که سگ شان را با خود آورده بودند و تين ايجر ها، کارمندان يک اداره دولتی نزديک محل همگی خشمگينانه در اين مورد سخن می گفتند. من تا ديروز صبح که از راديو خبر اين فيلم را داد درباره آن چيزی نشنيده بودم ولی در مقابل کسانی که در صف ايستاده بودند سری به نشانه با خبری تکان می دادم. تا در توافق عمومی که در تهران امری نادر محسوب می شود شرکت کرده باشم. پس از آن هر کجا که رفتم از دندان پزشک گرفته تا گلفروشی مردم ايران خشم خود را نسبت به فيلمی که عليه آنها ساخته شده بود و خيلی ها اعتقاد داشتند پول آن را دولت آمريکا داده تا زمينه را برای حمله به ايران آماده کند نشان می دادند. زن پيری که مشغول خريد گل بود می گفت اگر آنها خيال ندارند مردم خودشان را عليه ما تجهيز کنند چرا حالا اين فيلم را به نمايش گذاشته اند به خانه که رسيدم ديدم که اهل خانه هم مشغول همين بحث هستند. خواهر شوهرم جلوی کامپيوترش نشسته و آدرس يک پتی شن درباره اين فيلم را برای هر که می شناخت می فرستاد. شوهرم هم مشغول ورق زدن يک کتاب درباره امپراتوری هخامنشی بود و می گفت که هرودوت در کتاب خود گفته است که ارتش ايران 120 هزار نفر بوده است و نه يک ملييون نفر که در اين فيلم بود. روزنامه صبح تهران که روی ميز افتاد بوده تيتر درشت زده بود که 300 نفر عليه هفتاد ميليون نفر. روزناامه های عصر هم در همين مورد بود.

اين فيلم کامپيوتری که جنگ باستانی اسپارت و امپراتوری ايران در نبرد ترموپيل را نشان می دهد مسلما در وقت بدی به روی پرده آمده است چرا که اين روزها سال نو ايرانی است و زمانی است که ايرانيان می کوشند تا مراسم پر افتخار باستانی خود را که 3 هزار سال قبل از اسلام بوجود آمده جشن بگيرند، جشنی که زرتشت پايه گذار آن بود و ايران سرزمينی است که نخستين مذهب توحيدی را بوجود آورده است. و خلاصه زمان مناسبی برای اين که نشان دهد ايرانيان مردمی وحشی و غارتگر هستند محسوب نمی شود. از آن که تمام کشور به مدت دو هفته تعيطيات نوروزی دارد برای نشستن و بحث کردن در مورد جزييات اين امر همراه با ارتباط دادن آن با مقابله ايران و آمريکا وقت کم نمی آورند. در ميان مردمی که اغلب به تئوری توطئه اعتقاد دارند موفقيت اين فيلم در مقايسه با فروش اندک فيلم اسکندر که چندی پيش به روی پرده آمد و در مورد ايرانيان مهربان نبود در مردم نوعی احساس خطر در مورد نقشه های امريکا بوجود اورده است.

در عين حالی که ممکن است بحث در مورد اين فيلم روحيه نوروزی ايرانيان را خراب کند اما به نظر می رسد که بين دولت و مردم نوعی اشتراک عقيده عجيب بوجود بياورد چرا که مقامات دولتی و نمايندگان مجلس مرتبا مشغول سرزنش اين فيلم هستند. گويي که رسيدگی به اين مسايل هم جزو اموردولتی محسوب می شود و از سويي ديگر بعد از مدت ها بی تفاوتی می بينيم که راننده های تاکسی هم در حالی که مشتشان را تکان می دهند براساس خبرهايي که از خبرگزاری دولتی دريافت می کنند شعار می دهند. ايرانيان امپراتوری هخامنشی را يکی از پر غرورترين دوران های تاريخ خود می دانند و نمی توانند باور کنند که هاليوود اين دوران را برای مقصود خود انتخاب کرده باشد. و ايرانيان را در لباس ها پاره پوره و پادشاهشان را تقريبا لخت نشان دهد. شاهان هخامنشی که پايتخت شکوهمند خود را در تخت جمشيد ساختند در زمانه خود مردمی کم نظير بودند آنها نخستين اعلاميه مکتوب شده حقوق بشر را نوشتند و با برده داری مخالفت کرده اند. الواح به دست آمده در تخت جمشيد نشان می دهد که اين ساختمان بدون استفاده از بردگان و با پرداخت دستمزد ساخته شده است. و حتی کودکان ايرانی که به تخت جمشيد رفته اند می توانند برای شما درباره نقش برجسته هايي که نشان می دهد ايرانيان آن زمان شولاهای بلند مخملی می پوشيدند توضيح دهند و مسلما اگر در 500 سال قبل از ميلاد مسيح کسی لباس پاره به تن داشت ايرانی نبود. به نظر می رسد که احمق ها بايد به فکر پخش اين فيلم در ايران باشند چرا که آنگاه هفتاد ميليون نفر عليه 300 برخواهند خواست.

http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1598886,00.html?cnn=yes

www.savepasargad.com
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
cyrus
Site Admin


Joined: 24 Jun 2003
Posts: 4993

PostPosted: Thu Mar 15, 2007 6:27 pm    Post subject: Ignorance of history is nothing new Reply with quote

Source: http://pajamasmedia.com/2007/03/film_300_questions.php#commentForm

Stefania wrote:


http://freethoughts.wordpress.com/


Ignorance of history is nothing new. Worst, filmmakers that deride a GREAT CIVILIZATION only because of the current Islamo-Fascist regime in Iran, show their ignorance and seem not to realize that the Islamic regime is the exact opposite of the Persian empire.

Xerxes was a heroic figure, and so were Cyrus and Dariush. Doesn't Mr. Miller know that it was Cyrus, NOT Alexander, who freed the Jews from slavery in Babylon and that the Persians NEVER enslaved conquered peoples?

Doesn't he know that Cyrus issued the first Declaration of Human Rights?
Whenever they went, the Greeks enslaved and tyrannized peoples.

If you need to know more, just ask our Jewish friends, who are well aware of how humane the Persians were.

Also, let us not forget that the Persians fought the Islamic invasion, and the female warriors were among the main fighters.

As a non-Iranian who loves the Persian culture and civilization, I join in boycotting this propaganda movie.

Long Live Iran
Down with the Islamic Republic.
No to the violation of Iran's Territorial Integrity.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic   Reply to topic    [FREE IRAN Project] In The Spirit Of Cyrus The Great Forum Index -> Petitions All times are GMT - 4 Hours
Goto page 1, 2, 3  Next
Page 1 of 3

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum


Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2005 phpBB Group