Insects infect cultural understanding


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Insects infect cultural understanding
by aamahdi
12-Sep-2007
 

Note: The following commentary was written in reaction to the cartoon published in the Columbus Dispatch last week.  I sent it to the paper on Friday 7 September, 2007.  Many members of the Iranian community in Ohio contacted me about this disturbing cartoon and asked for an immediate reaction. 

I had been telling them that I would wait for the due process, hoping that the Columbus Dispatch would be responsive to a community of approximately 2,500 Iranians in the greater Columbus area and publish the piece.

Since the paper did not publish the piece after 5 days, nor offered any indication of publishing it in near future, I decided to publish in Iranian.com.  It should be mentioned that so far the paper has published the statement by the NIAC and a very brief protest by an American reader.
-- Ali Akbar Mahdi
Professor at the Department of Sociology
and Anthropology in Ohio Wesleyan University.

Research has shown that in most cases Americans’ attitude toward other nations is a reflection of our government’s foreign policy.  This is ever more the case when there are hostilities between two countries and the lives of ordinary people are affected by such hostility. 

Media frenzy and sensationalism can further reinforce such hostilities and adds fire to the flames of stereotyping, stigmatizing, dehumanizing, and even war-mongering. Unfortunately, this has been the case for the United States and Iran since Nov. 4, 1979, when Iranian students took American diplomats as hostages and held them for 444 days. 

The profound impact of that event has prevented the two governments from making a genuine effort for rapprochement in the past 28 years.  The failure of subsequent Iranian and American governments to resolve their conflict and normalize their relationship has solidified public antagonism generated by grievances held by the two nations.

Sadly, the categorization of Iran as a part of the Axis of Evil by President Bush, in his State of the Union Address in 2002, led to further deterioration of the relationship between the two governments, adding more fuel to the public misunderstanding and distrust. 

Recently, the mayhem caused by the invasion of Iraq, the mismanagement of the occupation, and the difficulties in establishing a viable national government in that country have led the U.S. government to see Iran as the source of her problems – a charge that has reinforced the widely held negative public attitudes toward Iran.  Inflammatory rhetoric from the radical conservative faction in the Iranian leadership has further alienated the American public.

This kind of hostility underlies the lack of understanding demonstrated in public discussion about the two countries. One result of such hostility is the deepening animosity and hatred demonstrated in editorial writings, letters to editors, and art works referencing national symbols and cultural markers on both sides – a hatred fed by lack of adequate knowledge and understanding of distant people and countries. 

A sad, but revealing, example of this misunderstanding is a cartoon published in the Columbus Dispatch on Sept. 4, 2007.  This cartoon depicted the entire county of Iran as sewage from which cockroaches were crawling into neighboring countries.  The drawing implicated Iran as a scum pot infested by cockroaches.

What are the implications of this kind of wild characterization of a country and its entire people, not just its government or certain political groups?  Surely, the foreign policies of both revolutionary Iran in the past three decades and the United States during the current administration have been “extreme” by regional and international standards. 

But does such extremism justify the characterization of an entire country on the map as infested ground full of “cockroaches”?  On the one hand, in an environment of real Al-Qaeda terrorism, hyper politics of fear and security, and categorical suspicion of Muslims and people of Middle Eastern origin, the real victims are the Iranian people whose humanity is reduced by an American newspaper to dirty, grotesque creatures worthy of elimination. 

On the other hand, fearful of being surrounded by American forces from all sides, and threatened with military attack, the Iranian people are left with the view Americans are indifferent to dehumanization of others, invasion of foreign lands, and tragic consequences of war.  

Do such characterizations help us to bridge the divide between America and the Muslim world?  Or do they inflame an already tense situation and reinforce people’s stereotypes and prejudices against one another?  Doesn’t the dehumanization of an entire people make us more susceptible to accept false justification for an attack on Iran?  Are we aware of unintended consequences of this type of categorical characterization of our adversaries? 

By now, we should have learned more from what we had said about Iraq before invasion, what we did, what happened, and what still is going on in Iraq.

Sept. 7, 2007


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Do you guys remember the

by AT (not verified) on

Do you guys remember the constant French bashing, even by the govt. some time ago? "Freedom Fries" in govt. offices instead of french- fries??? ...?
Now a super-plus stupid dude called Ramirez draws a really deplorable cartoon...
(Do you know how many deplorable cartoons of Yanks and the govt... are drawn per day in the world???)
Cool it friends. Lets do something about the source of this attitude towards the people.
Unfortunately numerous idiotic people in different countries throughout the world cannot differentiate between governments and the people of a nation!
We cannot become the chomagh be-dast people all the time.
There will come a time, with the current political atmosphere, that we will become the people to whom you cannot say Balay-e Cheshmet Abroost!
It's not being 'bee- gheyrat' to pay no heed to the likes of Ramirez and the Columbus.
It's the story of the barking dog and the 'asghal' under your foot that you pay NO attention to. There could be more of these ashghals.
Anyway, what they are doing is not against any laws!

But we should go ahead and try to fix the problem.The real problem.


almo5000

To: KHASHMGIN (an IDIOT)

by almo5000 on

where did I claim that? Are you daydreaming again? Go take your ADHD medication, you idiot!


khashmgin1

Re: ALMwhOre 5000

by khashmgin1 on

Almo, if you claim all these people who are being hanged are prostitutes and murderes, then you belong up there with your neck in the noose too. You are an IRI whore who is less than a prostitue that sells her body. At least a prostitute has more dignity that you.


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The reason they "allegedly"

by nay (not verified) on

The reason they "allegedly" commit crimes is because of abject povery. More than 40% of the Iranian population lives below poverty level. Iran has the highest rate of drug addicts in the world. Do you think that's by accident? NO, The mullahs deliberately keep people sedated and poor to avoid establishing a vibrant middlecalss who will end up turning against them just like they did during the Shah's time.

The mullahs and Islamic clergies from other muslim countries, in general, don’t want to see successes brought into the Muslim world, because success lessens the hold the radical Islamists/dictators have on entire populations. The radical Islamists across the ME have much on common with the failed and dysfunctional leaders they claim to hate. They are fighting to prevent an empowered and educated Muslim population. Religious freedoms, individual rights and human rights are anathema to radical Islamist ideologies. Those ideologies demands the murder of those whose behavior they find offensive, best administered in a cruel and brutal fashion. How else are they going to fill their mosques if people were properous and busy with making their country and lives and their future. How else are they going to stay as representative of God on earth if people got educated and saw right through their nonsense. had a future to work for and to look forward to.

The horrendous poverty in Iran is abominable while being one of the second largest oil-rich countries in the world. If you compare economies of other countries that don't even have oil, they are doing much better on every economic indices; GDP, Income per capita, etc. Check out the statstitic for Malaysia, for instance.

The reason these people "allegedly" commit crimes because they have no jobs, no future to look forward to.

The reason they are so many poor in Iran is because the IR spends billions of dollars to fund and buy Arab militia in Lebanon and Palestine. South Lebanon is rebuild while Bam after 4 years of the earthquake remains pile of rubbles. The reason there are so many poor in Iran is because the IRI pays for Aghazadeh and Basiji Boursiah.

We have no way of knowing if they are political dissidents or are conveniently labeled as "murderers" on trumped up charges, routinely used by the IRI. The process of arriving at such verdict and the method by which the death sentence is carried out in Iran are highly suspect. The judiciary, legal system and courts, in general, in Mullah ruled Iran are absolutely dysfunctional. Two different people can be sentenced to two different punishments for exactly the same crime depending on how much each one is favored by those in charge of passing the sentence.(e.g. Basiji have free reign in killing,murder, rape and torture). Khodi vs Ghayre Khodi are subjected to different laws.

If laws against murder, stealing, adultery, rape, and so one were to be applied fairly across the board, the ruling mullahs (e.g. Mortazavi wanted man for murdering Zahara Kazemi) should all be hanged.

Please watch the video: (Warning: graphic)

//www.liveleak.com/view?i=2a0_1185106657


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Another sly soled Antellectual

by Khar khodeti (not verified) on

The whole article is to deceitfully play down the anti-iranian nature of the IRI, if the IRI were a part of our doomed destiny.

No, the IRI is YOUR government! Not ours! Not from any democrat, secular, patriotic, and free Iranian!
This only yours.


almo5000

to : Khashmgin1 who is really khashmgin after watching video !

by almo5000 on

Khashmgin,

If you do to the people that you disagree with, what you had said in your message, I am sure "$75M Club" will  give you a raise (may be you will be up to $3.00). They are always after unjust behavior towards Iranians, and therefore will like what you said you will do. . At this time, you are probably the poorest member of the "$75M Club".. I heard Esfanddoolchi makes $1M as "senior member" of that club. Of course she went to jail too! Well, here ia plan for you: Go to Tel Aviv to your uncle, and come back after 3 months and tell the $75M club management that you were in jail in Evin. After all your uncle's home in Tel Aviv is no better than Evin prison in Iran!  May be they will believe you and give you $1M.


Al 


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message from a pro-IRI son of his father

by another Anonymous (not verified) on

Dear Kashk-migi 1
Do you know why they are being hanged? I suggest do a little search before you commit your family alliance to them. (unless you are happy to have rapist, murderers, and drug dealers as your brothers & sisters!..)


khashmgin1

Re: Fellow wonderful Iranians

by khashmgin1 on

I watched the video of the hangings. It makes me so angry that I swear the next pro-IRI bastard son of bitch I see, I'll beat the crap out of him. I am refering to those pro-IRI bastards who are sitting happy in the US while their masters are killing our brothers and sisters in Iran. I'll kick your &^% ass you son of &^%&.

 


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Prepare yourselfs....

by Man with Long and Koloft Keer (not verified) on

Americans are coming.


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Fellow wonderful Iranians,

by nay (not verified) on


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Kaleh Pacheh + Domballan Kabob

by Abb_Limoo (not verified) on

Mosadeq was infested with the commies in 1953 exaclty the same way CD depicting Iran being infested with the terrorist mullahs (cockroaches) today.

What do you do with cockroaches? You squish them. That's what US did with the commie Mosadeq and his thugs in 1953. That's what US will do with the terrorist cockroaches (mullahs) in 2008.

Just wait and see.o).


jamshid

Re: Almord5000

by jamshid on

Almo you quoted an Iranian professor saying "I don't cry to what we have become (today)-- I cry for what we could become (if not for the 1953 coup) and are not"

 

I added the words in paranthesis for clarifications. Please send the following note to the professor:

 

According to the released CIA documents, if the Shah could not be a viable solution, then Britain and US had a secondary plan. They would arm the then mostly arab population of Khuzestan and finance and support their separatist movement, and utlitmately recognize Khuzestan as an independent arab country. They even had calculated for the possible Soviets' objection: Give them Azarbaijan.

 

USA, Britan and Soviet Union could and would do this, and IRAN DID NOT HAVE THE POWER TO STOP THEM.

 

So when the professor says "I don't cry to what we have become (today)-- I cry for what we could become (if not for the 1953 coup) and are not...", just tell him to stop crying for what we could have become if there was no coup in 1953. Iran's map would look different today, and he would end up crying even more.

 

DON'T MAKE AN EMAMZADEH OUT OF MOSADEGH. Don't just considere the ideal and best case scenario that could result under his rule. Also consider other less ideal but very highly possible scenarios, like the one I mentioned. Mossadegh was a patriot but an aweful politician who did not know who to play Iran's weak hand against three super powers.

 

 


almo5000

1800, I have read yours

by almo5000 on

clearly you are mad at refreshing your memoery about our  sad history. That will not get you anywhere. You need to learn from it, like a good boy!

By the way, where in my writing did I say anything "islamists"  or"jihadists"? Are you a Glenn Beck/ Rush Limbough type who call people names when they disagree with them and cannot find logic to defend? Go get a life!


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almoo5000: I have read your

by 1800 (not verified) on

almoo5000: I have read your one-sided comments laced with islamic jihadism on this forum. It is exactly because of people like you that we are where we are. I don't want to resort to ad hominem attacks like you have done...but you my friend are the epitomy of dogmatic upbrining that has befallen the Iranian nation, and I'm not basing my comments concerning you only from just this thread. I normally don't respond to Ismaist with agenda. I really don't have time to argue the 1953 coup; it's adverse effects or it's merits. One can present a well-reasoned argument for both case from many different perspectives and ideologies. This thread is not about rehashing history.

Btw, the coup of 1978 was just as manufactured as the one in 1953 and I don't see you crying about that. Just read the book, "A century of War" by William Engdhall. I know you're not interested in facts and evidence since they don't corroborate your self-serving agenda here in this forum, but just in case. I really have to go now...good day!

I can assure you that ethnocentricity on either side (both Iran and U.S.) will not bring about peace and harmony in the world. I'm sure the Professor will agree with me.

Food for thought:

"No country or people who are slaves to dogma and the dogmatic mentality can progress, and unhappily our country and people have become extraordinarily dogmatic and little-minded--Jawaharlal Nehru

"The recipe for perpetual ignorance is: be satisfied with your opinions and content with your knowledge
--Elbert Hubbard

"Fight for your opinions, but do not believe that they contain the whole truth, or the only truth--Charles A. Dana


almo5000

re: statements by 1953:2007

by almo5000 on

Obviously (at least obvious to me) you are not familiar with the Iranian history and the kind of damage that was done to Iran and character of its people due to that thugary by the US government in 1953. You can probably not even comprehend the backwardness that that thugary brought to Iran due to lost confidence of its people, my nation. This forum or the like is too precious to be wasted to educate you. you need to educate yourself. Go read the history, or at least listen to those who have read it. As philosophers have said: "An individual whose heart is broken may take him/her decades to recover. For a nation, it can take centuries". As a professor (of Iranian heritage) has said" "I don't cry to what we have become -- I cry for what we could become and are not" (due to that thugary of 1953). (My paraphrase of her statement after she had reviewed the book written on the subject by a NYT writer).

 

Al


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anonymous: Again, according

by 1953:2007 (not verified) on

anonymous: Again, according to you logic, Japanese who were nuked by the U.S., should be blowing up every city in America left and right....And should chant "Death to America" all day long every day of the week....how did they get revenge? Japna is the largest creditor to America with the second largest economy in the world...

You need to move one too. You're not adding to the debate...It's 2007. How long are youg going to use victimhood as a crutch or justification for the sad state of affairs and hate-mongering? It's really boring....What are consequences of this revenge seeking. There is a Chinese saying, " If you look for revenge, dig two graves.

Some might argue that 1953 coup was the best thing that happened to Iran, and some thing it was the end of Iran and will remain the end to eternity...but that's another discussion entirley.


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re: Professor Mahdi Lets Move (on)

by 1999_deb (not verified) on

Hey Man,
Those who FORGET the HISTORY, they repeat it. Why should we forget what the THUGS did in 1953?


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1800 -> 1953

by Anonymous_1953 (not verified) on

Hey 1800,

Remember 1953!? when you think hostage crisis, think 1953 first. A good place to start is Stephen Kinzer's "Overthrow," then maybe you'll understand the roots of the problem. And keep in mind. Kinzer is not exactly the kind of reporter that would challenge the establishment. His reporting on Nicaragua, was in harmony with Reagan's BS.


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Professor Mahdi: Let's move

by 1800 (not verified) on

Professor Mahdi: Let's move on. You're stating the obvious. It's frankly boring. You don't understand the American culture either as much as you claim Americans don't understand Iran. It's two way street. If you really want to build a bridge, you can't use fighting words. You need to understand how and why almost half of the American electorate think of Iranians and start from there instead of being offended. Americans were deeply affected by the hostage crisis, and they haven't forgotten about it. You think only Iranians are entitled to revenge and grievances? No, Iranians don't have a monopoly on hate, revenge and patriotism.

Good place to start making a bridge by debating and using well-reasoned argument; substantiated by facts instead of opinion, to prove your point.

//tigerhawk.blogspot.com/2007/09/my-whereabou...


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WOW

by Anonymous Coward (not verified) on

That's a remarkably accurate programme. I hope the White House isn't reading it!!!


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Speaking of terrorism...

by Anonymous on

Of course, history speaks for itself. All you have to do is not be ignorant of history. But check this out:

1. Bush and Cheney order their henchmen in the media to prepare public opinion for an attack on Iran.

2. A B-52 flies from North Dakota with six nukes and arrives in Louisiana with 5 nukes.

3. The air force base in Louisiana is a jumping point for Middle East.

4. Nukes are normally transfered on the ground, so as to minimize the risk of loosing them in case of an accident.

5. There is a general air force stand down scheduled for Sep. 14th.

6. The last time there was a general stand down was Sep. 10th, 2001.

I hope this all conspiracy theory nonsense, but just in case, you do the math!


jamshid

What do you exepct him to do?

by jamshid on

What do you expect him to do? I mean when someone calls Iran (not the IRI, but Iran itself) a septic tank, how do you expect the response should be? With taarof va noghlo nabaat?

 

To the guy who calls Iran a septic tank: You were born and raised there you scum, and if not you, your parents were. What a jerk.


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please disagree respectfully,

by Anonymous on

there is no need for all this name calling and insults between commentators. Please discuss, debate, and reason as much as you wish, but why insults in front of the whole world? We should be able to do better!


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Furthermore, (to the asshole

by Anonymous on

Furthermore, (to the asshole who calls Iran a septic tank)

That cartoon depicts Iranians and Iran as cockroaches. Your effort in whitewashing and spinning don't fly here, IQs here are higher than the likes of you (just continue bending over with your eyes closed in your life).


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"I would have depicted it as

by Anonymous on

"I would have depicted it as a septic tank!!"

And I call you for what you are, an asshole.

You #$%^%$ fanatics have shit on the world, the whole lot of you, and I don't give a shit which specific brand of prejudice and fanaticism you (the write of that crap) personally have bent over for in your life.


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The pay grade of the Islamic Republic Thugs....

by Anonymous on

Juts heard on NPR barrel of oil reached $80, highest ever. The thugs of the Islamic Republic of Mullahs (IRM) are jumping up and down since the increase in the price of oil means more money for them!

The IRM plunders the wealth of the Iranians based as much as $80x 365x 4.5 M barrels per day = $131.4 B a year!

If IRM paid 1% of this to its thugs in Europe, Canada, and America, that would be equivalent to $ 1.3 B (Billion) a year.

Of course, IRM pays according to skills and years of experience of each thug:

Hooder types get paid: $100 K a year since they have to travel to many conferences.
Dariush Abadi:$ 50K.
….

Elmo69: $10 K since he is a single digit IQ (cipher.)

Abgousht


jamshid

Re: Almord5000

by jamshid on

Almord, you are at the shahis again?

 

When the Shah was in power, nobody would draw these kind of cartoons about Iran. We had respect everywhere. Until your types came along and destroyed Iran's image in the world.

 

Iranians are being humiliated outside by the Western media, and inside by IRI. We are fighting in two fronts. Then there are the likes of you, IRI lackeys, who are the true infestation and cancer of Iran.

 

The correct cartoon would show the map of Iran as a flower garden and Iranians as colorful and beautiful flowers. And near Ghom, it would show a sewage from which the mullahs and your likes are crawling out as roaches and worms, infesting this beautiful garden and its flowers.

 

 


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The CD cartoon was right on the money

by Anonymous on

The fact that the inhabitants of the Islamic Republic have not made up their minds on choosing between "Iran" and "Islam=Terrorism" should not prevent the civilized world to portray the country as what really it is which is nothing but the source of terrorism for the past 28 years. The CD has been too kind to depict IR as a cockroach infested sewer. I would have depicted it as a septic tank!!


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Iran is not part of Moslem World.

by Anonymous on

The cartoon was offensive to Iranian people, however not insulting to IRI. The responses from Iranians were valid for preserving our nationality. However, I protest identifying Iran as a part of Moslem world.

This is insulting to all Iranian freedom seeker. Iran is not a Moslem country. Iran is occupied by Moslems. Can’t you comprehend that Iranians have been for centuries struggling to free themselves from chain of Islam? Read your Ferdowsi.

Iranians can not reach desired liberty and democracy unless this religion is completely pushed aside. Islam can not recognize liberty, democracy and human rights. Its tenets oppose all international laws.

Stop your illusion about Islam and this IRI regime.


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US Government to respond

by Anonymous on

I think this case should be sent to the white house and ask for their reaction.
I would suggest a peaceful gathering in front of the news paper.


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