Tuesday
February 20, 2001
Join Persian Watch Cat
I am a member of Persian
Watch Cat, like six hundred other Iranian/Americans and in that capacity,
do not represent the group or speak for the group and only represent myself.
There have been many letters published in Iranian.com recently both
pro and against actions of PWC. I don't want to bring yet another view
to that discussion, but only try to encourage Iranian/Americans to join
PWC.
I do not know any of the board members of the PWC and have no personal
agenda by writing this letter. Most of us who have lived in the U.S. came
here right after or before the 1979 revolution and still remember the hostage
crisis times.
We remember how degrading all of us were treated and how, even until
now, pause when answering the questions of where we are from. I am not
a sociologist or a psychologist but I bet if there was a study done on
us, they would find some long term effect on our social behavior because
of the treatment we received from the general public in those times.
Well, times have changed and most of the Iranians who survived those
times have mixed in pretty well. We are not ashamed of being Iranians
anymore and although still pause when we say we are from Iran, do not hide
our nationality anymore. Isn't it time to take one step further and voice
our collective issues and concerns in this country?
Wouldn't be nice to, one day, hear on a radio program like National
Public Radio that an Iranian/American lobby group has changed some discriminative
law in the U.S.? PWC is a first step in that direction.
We might not like all the debates that are going on between current
and past PWC members, but we are only as good as the level of participation
in our interested groups. Isn't there a saying that the people deserve
their governments? It is probably true with these groups too.
If you and I do not join and make an effect, who will? PWC will go on
its own way and will try to influence Washington. But wouldn't it be better
if your voice was heard too? Visit PWC website at www.antidiscrimination.org
and become a member. You will only strengthen the voice of Iranian/Americans
by this simple action.
Bardia
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