Ancient Mesopotamia, Near East and Greater Iran: the seven Parthian clans

All these information are interesting and fascinating to read. However, there is not a nation that is any longer pure. They are inter-racial/ethnic marriages that has brought diversity to the world. The Kurds, Turks, Gilakis, Fars, etc. as well French, British, German, etc.

The most nations dream to recapture the glories of the past. This form of nationalism could be counterproductive to being a progressive society. It is often creates an extremism, nationalism as a result division among the members of the nation.

To look at the world from the broader spectrum as a family with no divisions of cultures could be much more fascinating and more creative thinking. This might be too optimistic at this point in the human history. However, we need to focus on the contemporary history of any nation in order to progress.

Therefore, one needs to look at the Iran an define whether or not they identify with its contemporary culture. I personally don't consider Iranians who are out of Iran in the west as true Iranians. Their parents might have been yet at this moment they are not.

True Germans live in Germany, true Italians live in Italy and true Iranians live in Iran. They are the Iranians, Germans, Italians of the 2006.

Where people live and contribute to society is where they belong to.

The nationalism was created by man kind: a) To protect one's territory. b) To keep the market within the community thus generating revenue. Just think about it: If I made you believe that the next door's grocery store is very unclean you no longer would shop from them. I have already achieved a small form of economic nationalism. With just an enough amount of paranoia generated from the nationalism non-democratic regimes can sustain their existance. The people who are motivated by nationalism don't often survive outside their communities. They are all like the fish out of water.

I accidentally came across this forum and noticed all these chats about the Sirus the great, etc. It almost reminded me of my 80 years old uncle speaking about Iran some 20 years ago holding a glass of red wine in his hand when people outside Tehran didn't even have the basic necessities of life.

The history and anthropology are interesting sentimental classic subjects to have a PhD in. However, these subjects would not be able to define what Iran and Iranians are in 2006. I am not an Iranian since I no longer live there. I speak Farsi and cook Iranian food and know poetries in Farsi but that is not going to make me feel the same way as the people in Iran do. Let us be clear on this one.

wtn

p.s.I am not going to be on this forum, therefore, the discussion would be among you people.