Wednesday
February 7, 2001
We do not value human rights as much
With regards to the recent exchange of words on the fingerprinting of
Iranians ["Power
of one", "Shocked
and saddened"], I found certain articles comparing this with the
holocaust or the Japanese camps absurd and hysterically exaggerated. With
all the talk about back stabbing and what-not, hype, high emotions and
name calling certainly take away from the message itself. And somehow I
failed to understand why someone would want to work and live in a country
full of "enemies"?
But I sympathize with the Persian
Watch Cat's point of view. Iranians must stand up for their rights
and not allow racial or ethnic discrimination. I can understand being suspicious
of a young unknown male from a hostile country, but fingerprinting grandmothers
and Olympic athletes who are not anonymous figures doesn't make sense.
It is blatantly racist and no other ethnic minority would tolerate it.
Take into account the recent debates going on about racial profiling. This
is exactly the same thing. If you feel violated, you should not sit back,
smile and just take it. Do something.
But it is very easy to criticize the US government. There is no fear
of repercussion or retaliation. Civil liberties of citizens and even non
citizens are protected, so go around and make as much fun of George Bush
as you want. Curse Feinstein and call her a bigot and ignorant. But don't
mess with Iran. I wonder if any of the writers, directors, and sportsmen
who came to the US and were fingerprinted and then went around complaining
about this "barbaric" act to their US audiences have ever used
their audience in Iran to complain about something. Or the ones who returned
to Iran to a hero's welcome without subjecting themselves to this indignity
ever refused to perform in Iran based on principle.
Does anyone complain to the customs service in Mehrabad because of the
disrespectful actions of its employees? Waiting in the airport for hours
on the way in or out, having your entire luggage opened up in front of
you and having a total stranger go through your underwear as if you are
a terrorist or drug dealer. Has anyone filed any complaint with the police
because its officers at the airport are rude and abrupt making returning
to your country - which should be joyful and relaxing - an experience associated
with anxiety and anger?
Talking to my American friends about the situation in Iran, I often
hear " How can you take it? Why don't you complain?" I have to
explain that we don't do that, its too dangerous and impractical. We go
home, feel violated, sour and bitter, sit around with close friends and
bitch about it for hours without end. Then we go back to the same routine.
Look at the situation in the Iranian bureaucracy.
Ask anyone about going to any of the governmental offices. All you hear
is about the corruption and inefficiency, but everyone will pay the bribe
to get his work done. The most "zebel" and "zerang"
of us will get it done through connections without paying the money. Just
because they know that if they try anything else the only consequence will
be further delays and no one has the time for that. Little do we know we
are paying a far higher price by doing so. Rarely does someone stand by
their principles and they are generally known as "halloo".
We prefer to get along without the hassle and inconvenience of having
to stand for our rights. We wiggle and maneuver our way through life and
don't really care if we swerve and deviate from the road as long as we
get to our destination. We are very resourseful and find it easier to go
around an obstacle than actually try to remove it. Forget about the people
who might come after us.
If we don't give any significance to our rights as Iranians why do we
expect others to do so? I have often felt critical of the US stance in
international affairs, which is often associated with a certain arrogance
and assumption that US life is in someway superior to the life of other
nationals. But I realize that this is what the US citizens expect and demand
from their government, to protect them and fight for their rights. They
assume –correctly in many instances- that the other side is doing
the same for their nationals. Its sad to realize we can feel exhilarated
by hearing that on the most recent trip to Iran our friend was not hassled
or humiliated by the customs official in Tehran, as if it is somehow a
blessing and not a right.
We do not attach the same value to our human rights as the Americans,
and we often criticize them for valuing their lives too much! Iranian's
deserve respect, not just from Americans, but from everyone including other
Iranians, and we are the ones who need to demand it. It's a tough and unfair
world, and respect is earned, not handed out on a silver platter.
Mahmood Kanani
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