Friday
May 19, 2000
Don't know what you're talking about, sir
Letter to U.S. Senator Jesse Helms:
I am an American resident of Iranian origin. I am writing to you in
regard to your comments on the World
Bank loans to Iran. I am not completely in favor of the Iranian government.
But I think that U.S. policy and intervention in my country has been quite
hostile, leading toward a crippled economy. These policies and interventions
include the 1953 CIA backed coup, the support for the Shah's oppresive
regime, support for Iraq during an 8-year war that killed and wounded millions
of youth on both sides, and now sanctions.
Tell me sir, with all these actions, don't you think that Iran's economy
has been severly damaged as a result? And don't you think that basic health
care and sewage, which have suffered directly, is a right of the Iranian
people, not to mention everywhere in the world? Therefore I find your comments
completely insensitive, irresponsible, and ignorant, with all due respect.
I would also like to respond to the comments on the "kangaroo court"
trial of 13 Jews in Iran, as you put it. There is no way for biased outside
sources to determine if these defendants are guilty or not. But they are
living in Iran, and they will be tried by the Iranian courts.
Let me ask you this Senator: Would a trial of 13 Muslims in Israel,
accused of spying for Lebanon, receive all this publicity? Would the U.S.
intervene in such a case? I strongly doubt it.
Dear sir, next time you wish to speak on political topics outside the
scope of your competence, think about what Plato once said: "A wise
man speaks because he has something to say; a fool because he has to say
something."
Yashar Mameghan
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