Naturalized Arrogant Citizens!

I was reading COP’s blog which by the way is a very good and informative blog and he has written it in a way that we can really compare some of the differences between Saudi Arabia and Iran.  In one comment the discussion went towards Haj and if he’s going to do it!  Everybody is doing it!  He mentioned that he is not a believer and a “self-proclaimed” non-Muslim.  I don’t think that’s make any real difference!

It reminded me of a blog I had written for persianmirror.com and thought to post it here again. I do not mean to insinuate this blog is meant for COP, it isn’t.  With so much discussion about anti-Arab rhetoric which by the way just fans the flames of basically the differences between Shiites and Sunnis or Iranians and Arabs it is worthwhile to consider you may end up having to drink your own sweat some day!

You say all the racist things about Arabs but when confronted you say who? when? where? not me! you got me wrong! Or you dig in and say yep I hate Arabs.  Well it doesn’t matter what you think, in today’s world you are an Iranian and a Muslim until death do you part!  What goes around comes around so be careful what you wish for!

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Arrogance is not a US naturalization requirement.  I know after you become a US citizen some of your American friends and coworkers say that they expect to see more arrogance and attitude from you, but that is really a joke.  You know that right? 

It is really annoying to see this kind of attitude from some of our beloved Iranian-Americans.  Not just us, when I see another hyphenated American with heavy accent get on TV and express his/her expert opinion on say economy, it is really something when you hear them say; well ______ (his/her country, fill in the blank) is now ahead of “us” in economy in many respects.  What we need to do is address _______ (his/her country) role in world economy head on, take the “cow” by the horn “sort of speaking” and don’t allow “them” to ignore “us”. Again imagine seeing that in a heavy accent.  Isn’t that annoying?!

The other day I had to again participate in another divorce ceremony where the couple had to use the services of an “Agha” who is an Iranian mullah (most likely an Iranian-American mullah :-), usually in suit and approved by the Iranian Govt to perform religious ceremonies such as aghds, weddings or divorces.

I’ve become an expert witness in these things and am starting to think about charging people for it.  You know in these religious ceremonies a minimum of 2 men are required and a man is worth 2 women.  Many of our men either don’t care for these traditions or find it beneath them and think they are too “civilized” to do it and ridicule those who do. Our women don’t want to sign their name as half a man either and who can blame them?  So yours truly comes to the rescue and gladly sign my name without hesitation.  After all it is the couple’s business not mine, I’m only there to help a friend.

Now back to our story.  I was in this Agha’s living room with the blessed divorcees and the ex-husband’s brother as the witness.  Everything was going well and we were having tea and cookies and waiting our turns to sign these documents which everyone clearly examines as if they are Iran’s response to the 5 + 1 nuclear incentive package.  I put up a show of interest but of course I really don’t give a hoot! I even asked Agha about a “clarification” to show everyone how concerned I am and how a simple mistake could cost people their future.  Of course there is no mistake and the Agha explains the issue to me while I finish my 2nd cup of tea.

The ex-husband’s brother and I sign our names as witnesses and then it was the ex-husband’s turn to sign who by the way has another wedding coming up which was a topic of a side discussion with the Agha and if he could get a discount now that he was doing his divorce with him too.

Suddenly he rolled his eyes and asked Agha about the part where he was supposed to claim his country of citizenship.  Agha told him that he had to say Iran which made the man suddenly jump up his seat and claim he is no longer an Iranian citizen since he became a US citizen and wants to put USA as his country of citizenship.  Are you freaking kidding me?!

Agha told him that the divorce will not be valid because only the Iranian Parliament can strip his Iranian citizenship via a ‘vote’ and in order for that to happen he needs to complete an application and send it to Iranian Parliament for action and that could take years and they probably won’t approve it anyway.  The guy deflated and promptly complied and said ok if that is the case he’ll sign it, as if he was looking for a justification and the excuse was good enough.

I see this kind of arrogance over and over again from all races and backgrounds.  I mentioned this story since we are Iranians but it is really not a positive.  It is sad to think you need to worsen your image and consider it an improvement.  Stay cool and true to your heritage.  You’ll look and sound better.

Update: adding a link to a story in New York where an Asian-American woman was sentenced to indefinite jury duty for making racist remarks, including her own heritage.

 

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