Still, the Letter

Ahmadi-nejad's letter might be forgotten abroad, but still it's on the top of list of discussions inside the country; either through the comments of the politicians, or jokes swapped on cell phones. In one recent joke, the people are speaking on a second letter* which is going to be issued soon. If the first letter imitated the tone of Prophet Mohammad, this one is going to opt Imam Ali's lectures to follow. You may know that to Shiaas , Imam Ali is the holiest person after the prophet.

Politicians from right wing praise the 'genius' president to take such a measure and writing such a deep-content letter to Bush and those from the left wing (well, the word 'left' has its own definition here in our country) are objecting that the letter has nothing inside and Mr President shouldn't have written it, etc. Mohammad Ghoochani, one of our famous columnists attacked the President in Shargh daily; telling that, writing such letters is not President's business. Instead, he should solve the earthy problems of the people. Ayatollah Jannati, the famous traditional ultra-right member of the traditional ultra-right Guardian Council and one of the Imams for Tehran Friday prayer, is suggesting that the letter should be taught in the schools and universities so that the children could learn about it.** He even went further and claimed that this letter was inspired by God and that is the reason that God takes care of this country. The latest critic is the former speaker to former Parliament (the majority was for reformists then)- Mr Karrubi, criticizing Jannati for his words of praise for the letter. In a letter with a mocking tone, he has proposed Jannati:" Next time, if Mr President desired to write a similar letter to other leaders of the world, ask him to give the job to you who can understand 'God's inspiration' in a better way.'

* Heh, we're reading in the news today that actually he has written a second letter addressing all the leaders of the world going to be issued on next week. "Hello? Isn't anybody over there to stop this guy?!?........"

** Yesterday I called one of my friends who has two kids at school age. I told her:" Tell your kids to study well. If they don't and if their education prolongs, then for punishment they have to learn Ahmadi-nejad's letter!"