From: zamie@zamiepcSanDiego.NCR.com (Zamie Mehraz)
Subject: Re: What is the meaning of life?
Reply-To: zamie@zamiepcSanDiego.NCR.com (Zamie Mehraz)
Organization: NCR Engineering and Manufacturing, San Diego, CA
Distribution: usa
Date: Wed, 11 Nov 1992 21:40:22 GMT


Ba Drood:

A while ago, one of our friend posted an interesting question and that was:

		What is the meaning of life?

Unfortunately, with a few responses from individuals we could not come
up with an answer.
Now I am going to look at this question differently and directly related
to this newsgroup.  Nevertheless, I am not trying to answer any question
because I look at things differently from different people exactly like
other individuals looking at things differently, but I hope we can
discuss this issue in a better look from different angles.

	What is the meaning of life for us Iranian in and out of Iran?

Let me concentrate first on outside of Iran.  Have you notice, how most
of us live here in U.S. or Europe, Asia, or Oceanica.  Routine after routine.  

-Go to school
-Go to collage
-Get a degree (90%) in an Engineering, Medical, Law 
 (i.e. the rest of the majors are garbage to many of us because they are
not money makers!!!)
-Get a job, or open up a business
-Buy a house
-Get married
-Have a baby
-Have the second baby, and more
-Having an isolated life (due to your heavy debts as well as a very busy
personal life with your family).


I think, this is what most of us expecting from life.  But don't you
think this is too conservative.  No wonder, many of us are in favor of
Republican party in U.S.!!! 

Now, look how people react if an individual acts in the following ways:

* A person who is adventurist (One who likes to challenge life)?

People response:  Folan Kass Devanast! 

* A person who likes art, playing music (not piano only!!!), drawing, and ....

people response: Yaroo Yeh Cheezesh Misheh.

* A person who enjoys life with playing different sports (Banjoo
jumping, car racing, glider riding, mountain climbing, ....)

People response: Yaroo Khooleh!

These were some examples of how people treats individuals.  I know what
your argument is : "One should not care what others say."  I agree with
this theory but is it true in our culture.  In our culture, your image
is very important.  People can destroy you with a bad image.  The thing
even gets worse since we always look at the negative side of one than
positive side (looks like this is satisfying for us).

Let me don't carry out.  Now, what is the meaning of life.  I remember I
read somewhere something like this:

"Life is a real model of daily events for different individuals, where
these events can bring good or bad time, and the challenge of life is
how to get over different stages."

In addition, I think one should have a certain philosophy to get by
these events.  I personally believe different religions are different
philosophies and that is why the meaning of life coincide with religion.
 One's philosophy is how to handle problems, how to resolve different
obstacles, how to enjoy life, how to live in this world, how you can
change other people's life in a better edge, and many of these hows.

One thing that can bring a lot of satisfaction for one is :"creativity".
 This part is missing in many of us and perhaps life can have a better
meaning with this.


Newsgroups: soc.culture.iranian