"I see people who talk about America, and then undermine it by not paying attention to its soul, to its poetry. I see polarization, reductionism and superficiality.“


-Azar Nafisi

posted in poetry


I see people who talk about America, and then undermine it by not paying attention to its soul, to its poetry. I see polarization, reductionism and superficiality.

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"Religion was used as an ideology, as a system of control. When they forced the veil upon women, they were using it as an instrument of control in the same way that in Mao's China people were wearing Mao jackets and women were not supposed to wear any makeup."

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"Basically, fundamentalism is a modern phenomenon. In the same way that Hitler evoked a mythological religion of German purity and the glory of the past, the Islamists use religion to evoke emotions and passions in people who have been oppressed for a long time in order to reach their purpose."

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"I write poetry in order to live more fully."

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"He fertilizes a phrase or a line of poetry for weeks and then gives birth to it in a speech."

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"Poetry uses the hub of a torque converter for a jello mold."

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"Poetry asks people to have values, form opinions, care about some other part of experience besides making money and being successful on the job."

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"For there is a sound reasoning upon all flowers. For flowers are peculiarly the poetry of Christ."

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"I don't know a better preparation for life than a love of poetry and a good digestion."

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