From the book Walden

Let me share a brief moment from Walden with all the friends who want to know why I love this book so much and read it so many times.

“If we respected only what is inevitable and has a right to be, music and poetry would resound along the streets.”


And this is how Thoreau himself actually experienced such moments when he was in Walden:

“At a sufficient distance over the woods this sound acquires a certain vibratory hum, as if the pine needles in the horizon were the strings of a harp which it swept.”

Just imagine living in a world where every pine needle is the string of the world’s symphonic orchestra. What a world. What a wonderful man Thoreau was!

In a similar analogy Rumi considers the trees clapping their leaves and dancing with their branches to the music that the winds sing.
I live for beauty and I find the beauty that I live for in these sentences. Really what else do we need for a good life except helping more people to appreciate "what is inevitable and has a right to be?"

Ali

Fattemeh's Writing

Hi Sue
Dear friend, I had missed you because during this time I didn't have communicated with you. But I was always reading your answers to other friends because I'm interested in your writings and I learn many things from them.
I read in your post that you want to come to Iran. Is it right? It is the biggest my wish. I love to see you and speak with you face to face.
Dear Sue, my university has been started since 3 weeks ago. Civil engineering has 3 projects in the graduate. Some friends and I decided to take one of them this semester. In this project, we must design an educational building. The building has 7 floors and it occupy 1370 sq m of space. It is difficult but attractive. We must deliver this project after one year and during this time 3 professors help us. We must give our work report to one of them every week.
In Iran, schools have been started for a week. I go to a high school for teaching on Thursday. I can go there only on Thursday because other days I must go to the university. I have taught geometry since 4 years ago. I love math specially geometry very much. After a week heavy studies of university, it is variety for me. I like to continue both teaching and engineering in the future and I love both of them.
Sometimes, I accept private teaching. I can't accept many private teachings because I don't have time.
I had one question from you "what traits must a good teacher have? Do you have memory from favorite your teacher that send it to me?"
During this time when I wasn't writing for you, I want to do other my work and then with open mind I write for you.
Thank you very much for reading my letter.
I wish the best.
Your friend, Fattemeh

Four Helpful Hints

Here are 4 little hints that I think will help your English. Check with T if you don't understand what I am saying:

1. S is an important letter in English. Many plurals are formed with s: apple, apples, girl, girls, car, cars etc. Some words are made into plurals in a different way: woman - women| man - men| church - chuches| child - children | person - people | foot - feet | mouse - mice | tooth - teeth. Check all nouns in your dictionary to see how the plural is formed.
2. Only use an apostrophe (') in possessives: i.e. words that indicate that something belongs to the person or thing: Example, The cat's claws were sharp. This is ONE cat. If it were two cats you would say The cats' claws were sharp. Do you see the difference?

3. Compound sentences: When you have two complete thoughts joined by and, but, or, nor, for or other words that are conjunctions, separate them with a comma beforethe conjunction. Example: Jack and Jill ran up the hill, and Jack fell down. I like to write, but it makes me tired.

4. Always check spelling in your dictionary.

Take care, Sue

Sabber's letter to Sue

Hi Sue

I hope you are fine. We read your letter to Faranak in the class. Now I want to say some things about that letter.
I think it is not a good idea that we discuss politics on the website because Discussing about politics can hurt our friendship.

Tow years ago, I lost one of my best friends because of politics, of course I have many opinions about politics.

I think you and I are different from our leaders, we are good friends for each other but my leader is not a good friend for your leader!

In any case, I hope that always you and I are good friends for each other.
And I will answer your questions in future.

Thanks a lot.

Your friend, SABBER

Maryam's letter to Sue

Hi Sue
Tanks alot for your letter. I'm so sorry because, Ianswer you very late. Last week I was very busy.
Now your answers:
Here in Iran all of schools have budgets but, the schools which get good rankings can have higher budgets. So teachers are very strict with their students and students can not enjoy studying.
Therefore schhols try to employ strict teachers. I want to be relax when I see a teacher for example our phisycs' techer is very very strict and I'm nervous in her class.
In gils' schools teacher's never strike students but, in boys' schools some teachers strike students but they are very rare.
At last I should say everything in Iran is university and because of this, even the best friends are rivals for together. Of course their contest is well.

MARYAM

Today Is Molavi Memorial Days

Titles in America

If one is speaking or writing to someone, here are the titles you would use:

Mr. (Mister) any man
Miss an unmarried woman
Mrs. (Mistress) a married woman
Ms. When you don't know if a woman is married or unmarried.

Dr. Doctor This is used for medical doctors and also for persons with a PHD degree in any subject.

I thought this might help. Usually we are more informal in America. I want you to just call me Sue, although my title would be Mrs. Sue Petrovski. Before I was married I was Miss Sue Matthews. I married Mr. Rudy Petrovski and when a woman marries she takes his last name. Sometimes I sign myself as

Sue Matthews Petrovski

Ehsan's letter to dear Sue

Hi dear Sue
Sorry that I post my letter late.
You know the schools and universities have opened and this year is very hard and my classes are very succinct.I have test class daily except Saturdays, Wednesdays and Fridays and also I have sport class on Saturdays and Wednesdays. Also I go to English class on Sundays and Thursdays.
You see my free time is on Fridays and I don't like it.
Have fun.Ehsan

Bahman's letter to Sue,

Dear Sue,
Colonial power, I think it is a big false for capture countries by governments like British, France, Spain, Portugal and etc. they just think to themselves. Colonial power is a noun for capture natural resources of that. I saw a picture from Pakistan’s torrent. An ill child. I was very sad. Pakistan is a very poor country.
Oh, I’m so sorry. Yes, my mean was treasures. Sometimes I had mistakes that they are very grisly. Carelessly.
Are Iranians in Denver? Here people tell that Iranians usually are in New York and Washington. I think in Canada Iranians live more than US. Is Canada more quite than us?
Take care,
Bahman
Ps: It is a version from Cyrus cylinder in English.
I am Kourosh (Cyrus), King of the world, great king, mighty king, king of Babylon, king of the land of Sumer and Akkad, king of the four quarters, son of Camboujiyah (Cambyases), great king, king of Anshân, grandson of Kourosh (Cyrus), great king, king of Anshân, descendant of Chaish-Pesh (Teispes), great king, king of Anshân, progeny of an unending royal line, whose rule Bel and Nabu cherish, whose kingship they desire for their hearts, pleasure. When I well -disposed, entered Babylon, I set up a seat of domination in the royal palace amidst jubilation and rejoicing. Marduk the great god, caused the big-hearted inhabitations of Babylon to ……………… me, I sought daily to worship him.
He continues:
At my deeds Marduk, the great lord, rejoiced and to me, Kourosh (Cyrus), the king who worshipped him, and to Camboujiyah (Cambyases), my son, the offspring of (my) loins, and to all my troops he graciously gave his blessing, and in good sprit before him we glorified exceedingly his high divinity. All the kings who sat in throne rooms, throughout the four quarters, from the Upper to the Lower Sea, those who dwelt in ………………., all the kings of the West Country, who dwelt in tents, brought me their heavy tribute and kissed my feet in Babylon. From … to the cities of Ashur, Susa, Agade and Eshnuna, the cities of Zamban, Meurnu, Der as far as the region of the land of Gutium, the holy cities beyond the Tigris whose sanctuaries had been in ruins over a long period, the gods whose abode is in the midst of them, I returned to their places and housed them in lasting abodes.
I gathered together all their inhabitations and restored (to them) their dwellings. The gods of Sumer and Akkad whom Nabounids had, to the anger of the lord of the gods, brought into Babylon. I, at the bidding of Marduk, the great lord, made to dwell in peace in their habitations, delightful abodes.
May all the gods whom I have placed within their sanctuaries address a daily prayer in my favour before Bel and Nabu, that my days may be long, and may they say to Marduk my lord, “May Kourosh (Cyrus) the King, who reveres thee, and Camboujiyah (Cambyases) his son …”
And:
Now that I put the crown of kingdom of Iran, Babylon, and the nations of the four directions on the head with the help of (Ahura) Mazda, I announce that I will respect the traditions, customs and religions of the nations of my empire and never let any of my governors and subordinates look down on or insult them until I am alive. From now on, till (Ahura) Mazda grants me the kingdom favor, I will impose my monarchy on no nation. Each is free to accept it , and if any one of them rejects it , I never resolve on war to reign. Until I am the king of Iran, Babylon, and the nations of the four directions, I never let anyone oppress any others, and if it occurs , I will take his or her right back and penalize the oppressor.
And until I am the monarch, I will never let anyone take possession of movable and landed properties of the others by force or without compensation. Until I am alive, I prevent unpaid, forced labor. Today, I announce that everyone is free to choose a religion. People are free to live in all regions and take up a job provided that they never violate other’s rights.
No one could be penalized for his or her relatives’ faults. I prevent slavery and my governors and subordinates are obliged to prohibit exchanging men and women as slaves within their own ruling domains. Such a traditions should be exterminated the world over.
I implore to (Ahura) Mazda to make me succeed in fulfilling my obligations to the nations of Iran (Persia), Babylon, and the ones of the four directions.

Sabber's letter to Sue

Hi Sue

I hope you are fine. In Iran schools and universities have started, and our holidays were about 3 months!
That may not be bad.
Having long holidays is good because we can rest an enjoy life and it's bad because it's too hard after long holidays to go to schools.
What about America?
Do you have long holidays for your students in summer like Iran?

Of course, these questions weren't good because you and I know that holidays in Iran are more than America, but I want to know more.

I wish you the best.


SABBER