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War on error
12-Dec-2007
From War on Error: Real Stories of American Muslims (University of Arkansas Press) by Melody Moezzi. War on Error brings together the stories of twelve young people, all vastly different but all American, and all Muslim.
Lounging contentedly on the bed in her apartment some thirty-five stories directly above the FDR, Roxana looks at me standing over her and proclaims,"Interview me," as though she were Julia Roberts promoting her next blockbuster. I know this is going to be difficult. I have known Roxana for over eight years now. We met in college at Wesleyan when she was a senior and I was a freshman, and within days, we were inseparable. She was the only other Iranian girl I had heard of at Wesleyan, and she seemed to know everything and everyone there was to know there.
We were both loud, opinionated, sarcastic, and naive. We were also both virgins and agreed that men were useful almost solely for opening unyielding jars of pickles and hooking up electronic equipment. Roxana is my dearest girlfriend from college, and that may be part of the reason why she was the first person I chose to interview for this book.
That and it gave me a decent excuse to escape the Atlanta summer heat and go shopping and dancing in New York City.
I found it incredibly difficult to get Roxana to sit still and be serious long enough to conduct an interview, but I had a plan. I took her to an Indian restaurant and filled her to the point of near-explosion with samosas and chicken tikka masala. Once I got the impression that fullness had wholly debilitated her, I asked for the check and made my move. By the time we got home, her gorged state made her too weak to mock me or protest, and with a little persuasion,she began to yield.
Roxana is quite possibly the least repressed individual I have ever met. She'll yell when she feels like it, she'll laugh when she feels like it, she'll cry when she feels like it, and she'll dance when she feels like itóthe location or circumstance is pure coincidence. Demure is not part of her repertoire. She can be painfully socially inappropriate, but she could never be disingenuous if she tried.
Roxana was twelve when her family left Iran, in the summer of at the end of the eight-year-long Iran-Iraq War,but the end ofanything is only apparent in hindsight. Things grew progressively worse toward the end of the war. The Iraqis started bombing Tehran that summer, and that same year, Roxana's paternal grandparents died within seven months of each other. Roxana insists that her dad would never have left Iran and made somewhere else his permanent home as long as his mom was alive, and her death made their departure an imminent possibility. Also,on the night of the first Iraqi missile attack on Tehran, Roxana's maternal aunt died in a car accident. After that, her mom was fainting all the time and had to be put on IV fluids. Just the sound of missiles overhead, or anything akin to it, would send her into a fainting spell.
Thus, Roxana's mom's deteriorating emotional state and her father's loss of his greatest ties to Iran precipitated their flight. Her family began selling various household itemsóparticularly, she remembers a Persian rug. She recalls a man coming to buy the rug and wondering why on earth they were selling it. Of course, her parents wouldn't tell her. They were afraid to tell her.
The rug reminded her so much of her uncle Hamid Reza, who was one of the hundreds of thousands of Iranians killed in the war. He was only twenty years old. She can't remember why that rug reminded her so much of him, but it did. After selling it, her father told her that they were going to Japan for health screenings and to obtain their visas.
After less than a year in Japan, they moved to Victoria, British Columbia, staying for only two years before moving to Connecticut, where they continue to live today. Roxana didn't want to leave Iran, and her parents even pushed back their flight a couple of weeks to better prepare her for the transition.
Ironically, they left two weeks after the peace treaty between Iran and Iraq was signed. Still, nothing in Iran really got any better after that. The war is a painful open wound in the collective memory of the millions of Iranians who lived through it, and its effects are still apparent today.
I personally remember an incident years after the war had ended. I was in the bathroom of my uncle's house in Tehran when all of the lights went out. I just considered it an untimely blackout. After fiddling around to find the toilet paper and the sink, I came out to find everyone walking in circles, praying frantically. They were all certain that Iraq was bombing again. In reality, the war had ended over five years before, but in the minds and homes of so many Iranians, it was still far from over.
In elementary school, Roxana was often called in from recess on account of Iraqi missiles flying overhead. I'm sure that the American government had no idea how many future Iranian Americans it was helping to create by supporting Iraq in that war, and I'm sure that American was the last thing a good number of those children wanted to become at the time. Still, I'd venture to guess that Roxana was not the only future American on that playground.
Roxana finally became a naturalized U.S. citizen in twenty-three, but she was an American long before that. This I can attest to much better than she might ever admit herself. The girl speaks fluent English with no accent, and she talks faster (in both English and Farsi) than anyone I've ever met. She has lived in America for over half of her life, and she admits that when she goes back to Iran to visit her extended family, she realizes how American she truly is. When I ask her what has most shaped her American experience, she responds,"I don't know, dude. MTV.McDonald's.You're not really writing that down, are you?" Of course, I'm writing it down. Is there anything more American than music videos, reality television, or Happy Meals?
I can't think of much, but that may just be a generational thing. Regardless, there isn't even a word for "sarcasm" in Farsi. Roxana is about as American as, I don't know, MTV or McDonald's. And yes, she is Muslim too.
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Raadi, you can be glad that
by Nader - West Covina (not verified) on Tue Dec 18, 2007 03:53 PM PSTRaadi, you can be glad that your fellow leftist and IRI apologists bash the U.S, but the truth is, and gladly, only represent a tiny minority of Iranians. You have hijacked our country and have been setting it since the 1979 revolution on the path of slow destruction. First of all, let’s go over what the U.S has done in the Middle East for the last 60 years, and we’ll go region by region. 1- Gulf nations: With the help of U.S, those countries have become from virtual nothing to top economic powers where their people have been living in prosperity for the last 30-40 years. Close to 1 million of your “proud” Iranians live in those countries that left Iran Voluntarily. Egypt: Is the 3rd recipient of U.S foreign donations. That means U.S taxpayer money helps the country stay in one piece, create hundreds of thousands of jobs among other benefits. Jordan: Same as Egypt, just that it is the 2nd recipient of U.S foreign donations. 3- Israel (I’m not sure if you leftists and IRI apologists consider it part of the Middle East or not, but the reality is , it is): 1st recipient of U.S foreign donations. Iraq: pre-1991 war: One of the biggest recipients of U.S assistance. Post-2003: U.S taxpayer money and U.S blood is being sacrificed to keep Iraq together. Iran: Pre-1979: One of the biggest recipients of U.S assistance. With its help, Iran became a major power and international player in the world and achieved tremendous International recognition. (I believe we could’ve replaced Shah’s tyranny with a democratic system and still be respected in the world and achieve prosperity, but leftists like you and your IRI allies hijacked our revolution).And by the way, your argument about the 1953 coup is flawed, because it was the Iranian monarchist who planned, organized and executed the coup against Mosaddegh. Just because the Shah consulted the U.S ambassador, it does not mean that the U.S EXECUTED the coup. Get your facts straight. Shah (Just like Khomeini in 1979) had enough supporters in Iran to go out to the streets and make the difference. Are you gonna say the 1979 revolution was done by the CIA also? In the Azerbaijan issue, it was only and only U.S pressure that led to your beloved Soviet withdrawal from Azerbaijan province. …you want me to give you more examples?? Cause I could go on for days, so by facts and figures, U.S has done a great deal of positive work in Middle East, just like elsewhere, but it is the rise of Islamic fundamentalism led by your beloved Khomeini has turned the region into a hellish war zone. That brings me to the so-called West vs. Middle East issue. Not a single statement by U.S officials in the last 60 years has been negative towards Middle Eastern people, culture or religion. Not a single American has been engaged in a terrorist attack in any Middle Eastern country. Islam is the fastest growing religion in the U.S; so the Americans are allowing Islam to grow, which means if they would’ve consider it a threat they would’ve done something about it. Furthermore, look at the examples above to illustrate U.S help to Middle Eastern countries. However, in the Middle East, since 1979 revolution, the phrase “Gharbi vs. Sharghi” has become an official policy by the Iranian regime and its fellow Arab fundamental supporters. U.S and Western lifestyles, religion, system, belief, dignity, …etc..are being bashed 24/7 by devilish like Mullahs and their leftist allies in Iran (And Ironically the West), and their fundamental Arab supporters. Every other word that comes out of their mouth is bash the U.S and “Gharb” (Whatever that means). Try promoting Christianity in Iran or Saudi Arabia and compare that to the growth of Islam in the U.S…..all of this and you’re telling me U.S has started the civilization war????????? Finally, no one likes Iran to be bombed , maybe you’re not understanding my argument, I’m saying if Iran were to be bombed, I’m not for a million years gonna blame anyone, that includes U.S, Fiji Islands or Bangladesh for it, I’m only gonna blame war mongers IRI for anything that has happened and is going to happen to our people. Lastly, you never answered any of my questions in the last article! Are you running out of argument?
Nader, first of all, I'm
by Raadi Haadi (not verified) on Tue Dec 18, 2007 06:38 AM PSTNader, first of all, I'm not conservative nor am I a leftist. I am very Liberal and an open minded fellow. I am a PROUD Iranian right now even with all the bullshit going on. I am glad that the Iranian leftists are bashing the US government. The US government has done NOTHING productive and helpful in the middle east. All the have done is create more chaos and distress between the Middle east and the west. Iran being the superpower in the region, is doing a great deed in standing up to them. Meaning they are not giving into their useless sanctions and international pressure. They standing strong with their nuclear program which has been very successful so far. Iran is the only country in the region that speaks the truth of Israel and the US. They are one of the few that speak out for the poor Palestinians.....
Speaking of the US and screwing the Middle east. They also made Iran the way it is today. Iran had a democratically elected leader in the 1950s. Once again, IRAN HAD A DEMOCRATICALLY ELECTED PRIME MINISTER by the name of Mohammad Mossadeq. This man wanted to nationalize the oil in Iran, but the British and US governments wanted to keep the oil in Iran privatized. Iran was not receiving any profit for their own oil. Once Mossadeq spoke out against this. The CIA, from the your beloved United States government, overthrew him, and in his place returned the Shah. If you didnt know...the Shah was like Americas little bitch. He was just a puppet of the US and a dictator to the Iranian people.
The Iranian people eventually realized how bad the Shah was screwing them. The Shah just wanted the power and did not give a damn for the people. He did whatever the US government told him to do. He recognized Israel as a state even though he knew how corrupt and evil its regime was. He did it all because the US made him.
Then the revolution happened in 1979.... im sure you understand the rest and the whole Islamic revolution. I do not believe in this regime at all. It has many problems as you know. Religion and State is never a good match. There is nothing anyone can do about the Islamic Republic of Iran. Bombing your own country WILL NOT solve anything!
They way you speak, Nader, sounds like you want another war. It sounds like you want your own people to die. Just look at Iraq right now! you honestly think you can win a war with Iran. A population of 70 million.... these people will fight. They are Iranian and they are Persian and they are proud!
OBJECTION--
by Anon (not verified) on Mon Dec 17, 2007 08:48 PM PSTrelevance?
Raadi, first of all, I’m
by Nader - West Covina (not verified) on Mon Dec 17, 2007 09:43 AM PSTRaadi, first of all, I’m not a conservative, although you’re more than welcome to call me that and I’m not gonna say why I am or not a conservative cause this is not the topic. Second, yes Iranians leftist and IRI apologists bash anything that the U.S does or represent because they are “Oghdei” towards what the U.S has achieved and the fact the they didn’t. No one bashes the U.S like Iranian leftist and IRI apologists do, because no one in the world is Oghdei and Hasood like Iranian leftists and IRI apologists are. That is a social issue in Iranian culture. Trust me, I’ve lived with, in and met people from around the world, and I definitely believe in that Iranians are unique in that category. I mean you would think Iraqis or Vietnamese or others would be bashing U.S 24/7, but if you compare them to Iranians leftist and IRI apologists, you would see what I’m talking about. Third, although I disagree with some of the policies the U.S have conducted in the war on terror, but I undoubtedly think that U.S is and should be one of the leading countries to encounter the rise of Islamic fundamentalism. The world has given authority to the U.S to tackle and lead global issues before, examples are former Yugoslavia in the 1990s and first Iraq war in 1991, and now a days Darfur and Lebanon among others. That does not mean the world countries are giving their sovereignty away to the U.S or anyone else. That doesn’t make any sense and is not supported by any fact. Please do not say the “Communist Manifesto” is what we need to go by when talking about the issue of sovereignty. Fourth, The U.S, and all tolerance and peace loving people around the world including the vast majority of Iranian people, with the exception of leftists and IRI apologists like you, are fighting the idea that “Using force in the purpose of creating a world governed by Islamic law is justified and necessary, and while at that, oppressing all liberal rights is a must ”. That quotation translates to terrorism and it was initiated in 1979 by your beloved Khomeini. The U.S policy towards Iran, or the U.S generally, or Israel, or Neo Cons, or old cons, or what have you, is just and just and just and just, a tool used by the IRI and its leftist allies, to oppress our people and destroy our country. So in order for our people to be effectively able to fight the regime, we need to take ANY oppression tool away from the IRI. Fifth, what do you mean by “standing up” to the U.S? Please explain that in terms of logic, numbers and figures. Why are we doing that? How are we doing that? What are costs and benefits to our country? Even if we accept your argument that U.S has destroyed our country like no one else and is killing our people and ruining our culture, didn’t we show “civility” and took our revenge in 1979 by taking their diplomats hostage and have been for the last 30 years bashing and trashing the country 24/7 ? So if we accept your argument, we should be even, but please explain anyways what I asked you. By the way, the world stage is not South Tehran where a group of “Laats” are always trying to “stand up” to other “Laats”. But I understand that is also a huge cultural problem that we think “laat” and “Laat baazi” is cool and we should be adopting that as our national policy. Lastly, what does how old a country is has to do with where that country stands right now in the world? Do you think countries like Egypt, Guatemala, Peru..and others that are much more “ancient” than us are where they need to be? And I like the fact that you showed that “intolerance towards the others opinion” is part of your “traditions” also, by calling me a retard. I actually believe that is one of the reasons behind where our country stands now.
Author's Response to Anonymous1
by Melody Moezzi (not verified) on Sun Dec 16, 2007 10:28 AM PSTUm, last I checked, the Qur'an says that only God can appropriately judge us, so all I'm asking is that you recognize that you are not God (if only because your spelling is beyond atrocious) and spare us your lectures on what it is to be a good Muslim. I'm more than happy to let God judge my dancing and laughing and dress in the same way that He will no doubt judge your judgmental statements, but who the hell are you to judge me or any other human for that matter? Why not work on perfecting yourself before you come hurling insults at others. I suggest that maybe you start with reading a book--the Qur'an is a good one, and you seem to know very little of what's in it, so I expect that it should be an enlightening read for you. I would particularly suggest 4:94, and just in case you don't own a copy of the Qur'an on hand, let me recite it for you: "When you go abroad in the cause of God, Investigate Carefully, and Say not to anyone who offers you a salutation, 'Though art none of a Believer.'" Peace be unto you my brother, as I know not what lies in your heart.
You have titled this article
by p.o.w. (not verified) on Fri Dec 14, 2007 07:59 PM PSTYou have titled this article as stories of muslims in post-9/11, while most of this story was around the time long befor that. may be you intended to retrospect to the fact that many muslims have emmigrated to USA, under unusual circumstances such as war. (iranically many of those war initiated or supported by USA).
boro baba delet khosheh
by Anonymouspb (not verified) on Fri Dec 14, 2007 10:23 AM PSTboro baba delet khosheh
excerpt from a book with 11 other...
by Anonymous1 (not verified) on Fri Dec 14, 2007 12:49 AM PSTMelody,
Thanks for clarification. Evidently your book is written with non-Iranian readers in mind.
This is an old argument in the Iranian communities abroad. Although people are free to claim to be whatever they want to be (unlike in Iran and many muslem countries), many people claim to be muslem (or whatever) when they not only do not observe their religious rituals, they even break their religious taboos regularly. All muslems have a set of specific guidelines (or lifestyle) that they must obey everyday. Just as an example, and not really wanting to pick on you and your friend, when you go out "dancing" in mid town NY, or even the practice of not wearing the hejab are islamic offenses that are punishable. Women in Iran are punished every day for unislamic behavior and they do only a small fraction of what you described about Roxana. When her life syle is so unislamic then why is she still called a moslem ? She is not.
I do believe that this is the message you intend to deliver to Euro-American audience in order to contradict the moslem stereotypes. The Iranian audience has to see it the same, that the person descibed here is not really a moslem.
Again, I do not mean any disrespect to you or your friend, just trying to make a point.
Respectfully,
To the conservatives, zionists and NADER!
by Raadi Haadi (not verified) on Thu Dec 13, 2007 07:58 PM PSTexplain to me how Iranians are making fun of the War on Terror...???
The U.S. is not fighting terrorism! They are creating it! Nader, you must be retarded, because you obviously have no idea what the hell is going on in Iraq or Palestine. America is not fighting a War ON Terror, they are fighting a War OF Terror! This war has caused nothing but more hatred to the US, and has done nothing but inspiring more terrorists! Iran is playing it smart, so please get your facts straight! The Iranian regime is speaking the truth and is standing up to the bullying western powers. They are an ancient civilization that WILL NOT be bossed around.
besides this book has nothing to do with Iran, it is simply about American Muslims and each of their views on Islam.
Only cold hearted people
by Nader - West Covina (not verified) on Thu Dec 13, 2007 05:55 PM PSTOnly cold hearted people like Iranians would make fun of the War on Terror by calling it things like "war on error". Offcourse they would because its initiated by the U.S! After all , we are infected by the U.S love-hate mental disorder.No wonder the world thinks we are terrorists as people, not just government. Look at all the articles on this site bashing and trashing U.S' efforts to fight terrorism. We derserve the Iranian facist regime ruling us!
I'm Lovin' it!
by Raadi Haadi (not verified) on Thu Dec 13, 2007 05:15 PM PSTIn response to "Ok, but..."
your question is, "Where is the connection to muslims and the war on terror?"....
There is no connection between between muslims and the war on terror. The book is about 11 muslims, only one being Iranian. Each individual has their own story and gives their own opinion on Islam. The book explains how there is a WAR on ERROR not TERROR. The western world has destroyed the reputation of every muslim living American and the rest of the developed war. Uneducated people have a fear of muslims, and governments like the US have created a frightening image for all muslims around the world.
The title and summary is NOT misleading at all. Please, check out the actual book before you speak.
Why explain your-self to a bunch of morons?
by Bored iranian dude (not verified) on Thu Dec 13, 2007 01:29 PM PSTIm a muslim to, a very very reformed alcohol drinking muslim (you get my drift), and Im proud, even after 9/11, why?
Muslim arab fanatics kill 3000 people in 9/11-2001
Christian/Jewish fanatics start a war were they kill or brought fourth the killing of 1,200 000 million people in Iraq out of pure rascist anger
Do the math, the day I explain my-self to a fat christian white man over how peacefull muslims are, is the day Il chop off my own big testicles. Instead, let him explain him-self to me/us!
I Loved the Book
by N (not verified) on Thu Dec 13, 2007 09:21 AM PSTThis is an amazing book, I have recommended it to all my American Friends. Since 911 Most Americans associate Islam with Terrorism and Assume that most muslims are a bunch of fenatics, This books tells the story of 12 amazing people from Different backgrounds who happen to be muslim and live in US. It shows that you cannot put mulims into a specific categories and each person can chose to practice their faith in their own way. Great Job Melody.
response
by Melody Moezzi (not verified) on Thu Dec 13, 2007 08:37 AM PSTThanks for reading this and your reply. As the author, I just wanted to let you know that this is an excerpt from a book with 11 other chapters, an intro and a conclusion--the point of thebook is to say that different people practice and live Islam in different and often subtle ways--Roxana is simply one of these people who happens to also be Iranian like myself. I hope that makes more sense, and I hope you'll read the entire book and let me know what you think.
Thanks!
Melody
9/11 an inside job? Role of Israelis and .....
by emergency denier (not verified) on Wed Dec 12, 2007 07:43 PM PSTOn October 14, 2007 (10/14/2007) there was an article in New York Times (NYT) which states that the QWEST phone company's former chairman has submitted documents to court indicating that 7 MONTHS BEFORE SEPTEMBER 11, 2001, US NAtiona Security Agency (NSA) had been forcing his company and other phone co's to intercept phone calls without court warrent. Please see:
//www.nytimes.com/2007/10/14/business/14qwest...
This along with all other conspirecy theories we know adds another interesting angel to the suspecious that in fact US Government (and its ally Isreael) KNEW OR PLANNED (or both) the attacks of 9/11. This interesting angel that has not received much attention was also reported by Carl Cameron of FOX NEWS (at the time I think with a local TV station in NYC and now reported with with FOX). In that report he stated on the day of 9/11 after the attacks) (I was listening to his report) that 15 Israeli nationals who were working as truck drivers and delivery men in NYC were caught by police (tipped by an old woman neighbor) who were tape recording the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center buildings. After the videos tapes were uncovered and played by police, police had noticed that the recording has actually started 5 minutes or so BEFORE THE FIRST BUILDING was hit by a plane. While there are still hundreds in jails in NYC on supession, from the 9/11 days, these Israelis were let go back to Israel after only a week or so in jail. Peter Jennings of ABC News followed that story and asked Dick Chaney's office why these Israelis were let go? The office of the VP had responded that, "their mothers in Tel Aviv were missing them and wanted them back"!!! and so we released them!!!! (statement from VP's office).
Folks, I am sure there are more documented evidence that indicate role and/or knowledge of US and Israeli governments in 9/11. Lets share and discuss. But please no made up stories. Lets go with documented and reliable sources.
Thanks
amazing piece
by Anonymous-haha (not verified) on Wed Dec 12, 2007 07:33 PM PSTyou are a good writer!!
Ok , but....
by Anonym (not verified) on Wed Dec 12, 2007 05:53 PM PSTMelody,
THis is very typical of many Iranian lives in the states, but where is the connection with muslims and war on terror ? Roxana sounds like a normal and a happy person, thankfully. Wouldn't the use of "Iranian", or "Iranian-American" be more appropriate than "Muslim" since there is no hint of anything islamic (again, thankfully)? And then the use of a pejorative term for war on terror without any hint of it in the article ? Not that I am a proponant of the present approach on war on terror.
Interesting story, but your title and summary is misleading and unrelated to the article.
Best of Luck!
Very Good Read
by Cyrus the Virus (not verified) on Wed Dec 12, 2007 02:58 PM PSTThat is a very good article, and I enjoyed reading it very much. Especially the last line, as I can relate to it. Thank you for posting it.