Monday
December 4, 2000
Have you an ounce of "sharm"?
You letter ["Married
a Black man?!!"] to the iranian.com about Maryam Ovissi and Daryl
Pendleton caused my do-rageh blood to boil [Maryam
and Daryl].
You disgrace yourself by claiming to speak for anyone but your own racist
self. I for one, have known the incredible courage and sensitivity it
takes to engage in an inter-racial relationship --- and to face the scrutiny,
derision, and close-minded prejudice of not just White people, but worse
yet, Iranians who managed to adopt the racism of this country, coupled
with unfortunately, a superiority of their so-called, and let me add, ill-understood
term "Aryan" race.
Iranians themselves ought to know better since they have faced their
own experience of discrimination, stereotyping, and racism (as a result
of the political events of the past two decades).
Racism should be challenged regardless of who speaks it and from where
it originates. You obviously don't know anything about Maryam or Daryl
and the contributions they have made and the struggles they have faced.
And you obviously don't value the courage and dignity of those who have
challenged and overcome the racism of this country and culture(s) to make
beautiful and lasting relationships that provide models for human dignity,
respect and love for all of "us."
I dare say, if you don't know Maryam and Daryl, you shouldn't make such
empty comments. More importantly, however, you ought to keep your bigotry
to yourself and if you have an ounce of "sharm" you would interrogate
your own prejudice and educate yourself.
Persis Karim
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