Ethical Issues and Morality

I know of four fundamental ethical theories that I wish to share them here; in my opinion all these four cover many of today’s issues around us:

Mill’s Utilitarianism: This theory was stated most clearly by John Stuart Mills (1806-1873). Utilitarianism states that the best choice in a moral dilemma is that which produces the maximum benefit for the greatest number of people.

Kant’s duty ethics: The theory of duty ethics or formalism was put forward by Immanuel Kant (1724-1804), who proposed that each person has a fundamental to act in a correct ethical manner. He evolved his theory from the belief or observation that each person’s conscience imposed an absolute, categorical imperative (or unconditional command) on that person to follow those courses of action to follow. For example everyone has duty not to tell lies, since, if lying were to be done by everyone, then no promises could be trusted and our social fabric would be at risk of un raveling.

Lock’s Right Ethics: The rights-based ethical theory comes mainly from the work of John Locke (1632-1740), and states that everyone has rights that arise from one’s very existence as a human being. The right to life and the right to maximum possible individual liberty and human dignity are fundamental, and other rights arise as a consequence of personal rights.

Aristotle’s Virtue Ethics: One of the earliest and most durable ethicsl theories was proposed by ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle (384-322 B.C.), who observed that the goodness of an act, object, or person depend on the function or goal concerned. For instance, a “good” chair is comfortable! The one quality that humans have, above all other animal, is power of thought; therefore, Aristotle stated that true happiness would be achieved by developing qualities of character through thought, reason, deduction, and logic.

Lost happiness…

Somebody told me once my happiness was like an early fruit which I tasted its arrival, now its season is passed! This is quite similar to water had been poured on my hands’ palm where the water is slowly dropping though my fingers on the hot soil and getting disappeared!

A start with an End!

I used to hear for every start there is an End, and for every Ending there is a new start!
moving on, I came across this poem of Mehdi Akhvan-Saales with the name of Winter.
Enjoy:-)

Winter

They are not going to answer your greeting
Their heads are in their collars
Nobody is going to raise his head
To answer a question or to see a friend
The eyes cannot see beyond the feet
The road is dark and slick
If you stretch a friendly hand towards anybody
He hardly brings his hand out of his pocket
For the cold is so bitter
The breath coming out of your chest
Turns into a dark cloud
And stands like a wall in front of your eyes
While your own breath is like this
What do you expect from your distant or close friends?

My gentle Messiah, O, dirty dressed monk
The weather is so ungently cold
You be warm and happy
You answer my greeting and open the door
It is me, your nightly guest, an unhappy gypsy;
It is me, a kicked up, afflicted stone
It is me, a low insult of creation, an untuned melody.

I am neither white nor black
I am colorless
Come and open the door, see how cheerless I am
O, my dear host, your nightly guest is shivering outside
There is no hail outside, no death;
If you hear any sound, it is the sound of cold and teeth.

What are you saying, that
It is too late, it is dawn, it is day?
What you see on the sky
Is not the redness after dawn
It is the result of the winter's slap
On the sky's cheeks
O, partner go and get the wine ready
Days and nights are the same

They are not going to answer your greeting
The air is gloomy, doors are closed,
The heads are in collars, the hands are hidden,
The breaths are clouds, the people are tired and sad,
The trees are crystallized skeletons, the earth is low-spirited
The roof of the sky is low
The sun and moon are hazy
It is winter.

Next Generation or Generation X in Iran

Last night I went to Superstar fast food restaurant by Parkway intersection for a bite with a friend of mine. The time of our arrival was around 7:30 pm. Superstar was quite empty to my surprise. “It is Ramedan month and people may be fasting”, these were my explanation to friend of mine. However, after 20 minutes being there I saw arrival of tons of teenage fellow who were only between ages 13 to 16! These boys & girls contrary to my generation were quite comfortable with one another. They were all with fashionable cloths with different style you could tell they wish to make statement.
What you could see and it was quite obvious among the teenagers of these generation is tendency for civil obedient. Two employees of superstar were in front of the entrance door and trying to tell the teenagers to cover themselves more properly and according to Islamic rules. However, they were aggressive enough to refuse what they were told! It was quite obvious and with these types of cloths and acts they were trying to fulfill two aspects of their life. First, their desire for showing off and getting to know the opposite sex. Second, a statement that the government has been incompetent to deal with new generation and showing young people disobedient with current government.
We are getting changed this is obvious, however, how long will it take until we become costume to these changes and how the older generation and we will react to these changes is something remain to be seen.

A sunny Morning!

This is a story that was written by a good friend of mine about a while ago. With her permission I edited and asked her to publish it on my weblog. So, here it goes…

On an early morning, before stars disappear from the beautiful autumn sky, completely by coincident I joined friends who leaded me to see someone who for the first time I felt for! I don’t know whether it has ever happened to you or not. But it was a strange experience. Seeing your soul in another body! At first, I got really confused!
But when I looked closely I realized she is thinking, dancing, and even acting similar to me. She was responding to any actions of mine with a spontaneous and energetic reaction similar to them. This person was in any possible way compatible to me even in very small things that normally no other person may pay attention to.
I tried my best & used all my energy to send her capturing signals, but because of the some known and unknown interferences, my signals were received with setback!! At last, signals were intercepted, when I got to know the person on the other side, I draw a conclusion that a miracle has happened!!! Finding someone who is compatible with me in all existing ways must be a miracle and she must be my soul mate! I dreamt all days & nights; imaging my soul mate in different places with me. I felt without that special person something is missing in my life. My soul mate was source of energy, enjoyment, calmness, and all good effects that a man can ever imagine. I could imagine this one was the one send by god to complete my lost half.
When I closely focused my eyes on her, I realized that she is a mirror, but not just any ordinary mirror on the wall. This was a mirror, which was reflecting all my lost years. A mirror with ability to make my soul transparent something that it was hard to ignore it. I tried to own this mirror. However, there was a problem, the fact was that I couldn’t hang the mirror on my own wall, because it was owned by another person!!

I thought of two possible options:
1. To steal the mirror from its current owner! This, of course, is an illegal act which I choose not to do, because I feel no gentlemen would do anything like this!
2. The second solution is to ask politely from his owner to remove her from the wall, give up the possession of her and hand her to me! This is an impossible solution though because I experienced the desire of the owner towards his mirror!

I finally decided to ask my mirror if it was possible for her to live on MY wall, and to be close to me. Unfortunately, my mirror silently refused!

Considering all options, I realized did not have any chance to win her back!
While I was distancing from her, her silent and calmness made her comparable to a beautiful mountain. It was a rainy day; even sky was crying and seemed sad!

I was distancing myself from my soul. I closed my eyes and tried to remember and record every refection that she emitted on my soul. I took her reflections to my heart and soul where no person could see or understand it. I won’t delete those gorgeous pictures.
I still hear reverberation of her voices in my ears… I know time will heal the pain.

Love & attention!

He said: that my lover doesn’t pay attention to my love!
I said: the problem is that you have focused on the "attention” word! If you focus on “love” word then no matter what she does as long as she is happy you must be happy!!

Yesterday

A work by Beatles that ....

Yesterday , all my troubles seemed so far away ,
Now it looks as though they're here to stay ,
Oh I believe in yesterday .
Suddenly , I'm not half the man I used to be,
There's a shadow hanging over me,
Oh yesterday came suddenly ...
Why she had to go I don't know . She wouldn't say.
I said something wrong , now I long for yesterday ,
Yesterday , love was such an easy game to play ,
Now I need a place to hide away ,
Oh, I believe in yesterday ...

Life goes on!

Listening to Fantasia on Greensleeves a work byVaughan Williams a British composer , my journey in past few weeks flashes in front of my eyes like a day dream! The music makes you flow through the air in such a speed that you see all the laugh and cry you had for the past few weeks!
There are times in your life that you cross your finger and hope for the best and expect the worse!! So, be it, I usually say, it could be better, but it is not that bad either!
Things usually gets better or tend to to move towards what is meant to be!!

Don't cry for me Argentina

These days I feel things are different. Somehow this lyrics from
The Andrew Lloyd Webber collection of Sarah Brightman describes me well. This is from Evita broadway show.

It won't be easy, you'll think it strange
When I try to explain how I feel
That I still need your love after all that I've done
You won't believe me
All you will see is a girl you once knew
Although she's dressed up to the nines
At sixes and sevens with you

I had to let it happen, I had to change
Couldn't stay all my life down at heel
Looking out of the window, staying out of the sun
So I chose freedom
Running around, trying everything new
But nothing impressed me at all
I never expected it to


Don't cry for me Argentina
The truth is I never left you
All through my wild days
My mad existence
I kept my promise
Don't keep your distance


And as for fortune, and as for fame
I never invited them in
Though it seems to the world they were all I desired
They are illusions
They're not the solutions they promised to be
The answer was here all the time
I love you and hope you love me


Don't cry for me Argentina


Don't cry for me Argentina
The truth is I never left you
All through my wild days
My mad existence
I kept my promise
Don't keep your distance


Have I said too much?
There's nothing more I can think of to say to you
But all you have to do is look at me
To know that every word is true


Don't cry for me Argentina

Moving to a New virtual home?

becasue of the blogger lack of support I am trying to move to motime. Please for now see some of my old writing or new ones in stated site.

Something to write about....

I wonder everytime I am away from weblog, I have tons to write about. However, as soon as I get behind the computer screen, volia, nothing can be remembered!...
Last night I saw one of old friends who currently works in Bombardier . We used to go to university together. Now he lives in Toronto, Canada with his partener as a common law. It is so amazing to see how time flies! We used to study together, go Skiing, go Horse back riding and etc. It was fun time!!
....
I have just checked my archive and realized that I can't retrive my old writtings. I am quite pissed off at blogger.com.
I am thinking about setting up my own server!

lack of update and new development:-)

I am told that I rarely update my weblog. This is true but if you update you weblog everyday I would conclude that you have nothing better to do than updating your weblog!!
on the serious side, I am busy and that is the reason I hardly get a chance to update my weblog. but stay tunned and I will at last prevail:)
... just recently Iranian. com published one of my writings, please read it here

Nobel Peace Prize Goes To Iranian Female Lawyer Ebadi

wowowow, I was away for couple of days and now I am back I see that Ms. Ebadi has won the Nobel Peace Price! I would like to take this opportunity and congratulate her on this achievement. As an Iranian I am so excited and honored. I congratulate to all my fellow Iranian around the world specially Women.
read here the news!

Iran first hand Observation

About while ago I published first part of my journey when I first arrived in Iran about a year ago. So, now a little more of it...:)

Day 7
Tonight my Aunt (Khaleh) and her husband and two children visited me. My aunt’s husband suggested that I file an application to the company that he is working. I had to show up at his work place around 9:00 am.

Day 8
Woke up early around 6:00 am. Try to get ready for the interview. I arrived at the company site around 9:00 am. First went to see my aunt’s husband who was busy and directed me to human resources (Karkozini) department. There she was a woman who gave me an application to fill out. Apparently, I was told the application form was newly issued and needless to say many question were like what did you sibling do last night and most import of all what is your religion and what group do you belong to!!

I first saw a chief of Human resources who was big time bureaucrat. He was overlooking at my application without saying much or looking at me. He then expressed that there is no job in the company available. He went to the next page and noticed that I have written Canada in my application. All of the sudden things become about him and how he tried to get out of country in 1997. He started by explaining his life story and how he went to Spain to go to Canada but unfortunately authorities arrested the smuggler and so they decided not to proceed!!! And then he started talking about his son who is very much in love with robotics and mecharonics and is in fight with his father who say: “you should finish you industrial engineering degree then switch to mechanical engineering”. However, he wants to do this change without his permission!
Moving on, after a long day of interview and when they said they don’t need anyone. Around 3:30 pm they hired me! This was one of the longest job interviews I ever had in my entire lifetime in one day!!
Moving from different conversations that I had with a few engineers I found that these people use technology that belong to at least 25 years ago and try to do jobs that are considered modern and advanced in some extend.


Day 11
I went for another interview. This one was a friend of my father just want to evaluate my knowledge for job opening that may be available in the near future.
On my way back to house I got in on a taxi. Another woman passenger got on the taxi as well. The girl introduced herself as a student who is seeking money to pay off his rent debt for the time being. She stated that she is looking for about 45 thousand Toman. I was quite sad to see such scenery. She pulled out her student card and showed it to both of us, the driver and I. Finally when the driver told her he does not have the money and I couldn’t truly not speak! She offered herself for compensation of the money!!!! This moment was tremendously sad. I was speechless! I wasn’t there to judge her or say anything and I couldn’t say a word. She asked if we can’t do anything, diver should stop the car. And he did. It was one of the saddest moment of my life.

Tonight is 11 of September, anniversary of collapse of the twin buildings in NY City. I was passing from Mohseni (Mother’s) Square where people last year lit candle. The square was full of Police, Nirouhaye Entezami and plain cloths officer with walk-in-talky. They were standing everywhere trying to spread people from any such gatherings!
Tomorrow I am going to Mohammad Esfahani Concert. I got tickets via this person in German embassy.

Couple of observations:

Traffic in Tehran is terrible. Pollution is at a constant rate and is killing people without doubt! People are eager to blame someone. I went to ministry of research and science and development. Whomever I met was complaining about the government and how the higher level of government are stealing from Iran. There is big belief that this government is Arab driven. Many people believe that these people are Arabs who are making Iranians to suffer! (This is after talking to a few people on the streets and different ministries. Please do not criticize me because this is what I am told and I am only conveying it!)
People are quite angry at government at any level. There are two problems that people don’t do much, first people don’t see there is any alternative or a leader that they can trust. Second, people feel they have already paid so much for this revolution, so they are hardly ready to pay any other price(s).

The foot steps of water

Sohrab Sepehri is one of my favorite poet of all time. He passed a way in 1359 (1980) In Iran.
This is a one of his poems and its title is The foot steps of water.

Life's a pleasant tradition.
Life's wing is as vast as death.

Life's a jump the size of love.
Life's not something,
we put on the mantel of habit
and forget.

It does not matter where I am.
The sky is always mine.
Windows, ideas, air, love,
earth, all mine.
Why does it matter if sometimes,
the mushrooms of nostalgia grow?

Let's take off our clothes.
Water is just a foot away.
Let's have a basket and
fill it up with all the greens
and all the reds.

We are not to comprehend;
the secret of roses, but maybe
swimming in the incantation of roses.
Or may be looking for
the song of truth
between the morning glory,
and the century.