Meow
In defense of the Persian Watch Cat
By Nazila Ghazi-Mahdavi
February 13, 2001
The Iranian
Let me be honest: I love you all. Anyway, I have an article for you.
I am a software designer in Westchester County. This is the first time
I am writing for you. But I have written quite a lot for womens magazines.
Anyway, please consider my article.
Suggested Title: "Accidental Individual"
I am one of the sincere admirers of Mr. Jahanshah Javid and have been
following the recent debate initiated by Mr. Mirfenderski's provocative
writings very closely ["Power
of one", "Face
in the mirror"].
I was appalled by Mr. Mirfendereski's articles and three recent letters
in The Iranian ["Setting
a bad example"] defending his ideas and bashing newly-formed Iranian
American organizations. I am not happy with Dr. Karimi's article either
["Persian
Watch Dog"] but I think he wanted to express his frustration in
form of a sad joke.
Anyway, the way I understand Dr. Karimi's article is that our country,
Iran, is run by corrupted people, the IRI hard-liners; yet they managed
to continue their dominance for over 20 years only because the alternative,
being egoistic intellectuals such as Mr. Mirfendereski, is even worse.
If Mr. Mirfendereski really believes that "Iranians" are not
capable of organization and cooperation, then why does he care to write
to "Iranians"? If Mr. Mirfendereski describes our opposition
against Senator Feinstein with terms such as "anti-Semitism"
and "anti-Americanism" and defends the anti-Iranian Senator Feinstein
who calls me and other Iranian students "potential terrorists",
then why does he care for "Iranians" who, in his opinion, are
inherently anti-Semitic since they opposed Senator Feinstein?
I am a member of both Iranians for International
Cooperation (IIC) and Persian
Watch Cat (PWC). Anyway, I am proud to be in these two great organizations.
These people have initiated what we have been lacking for two decades:
Iranian American lobby group (IIC) and Iranian American Anti-Discrimination
group (PWC). They are hardworking people with no desire to be admired or
appreciated. They work hard.
But those who never bothered even writing a simple petition against
Senators Feinstein and D'Amato and yet claim to be the "intellectual
leaders" of Iranian Americans, are now outraged since the newly formed
organizations such as IIC and PWC can now do what these "intellectual
leaders" failed to do for more than 20 years: Defending our rights
in the U.S.
Those who just "talk" and never "act" may care to
tell us what they have done for the people. Have you issued a petition?
Have you gone to Washington, DC, to speak with your congressmen about the
rights of Iranians in the U.S.?
Anyway these two groups have done what they can do. A word of appreciation
and "Khasteh Nabashid" would be nicer than following a self-centered
professor such as Guive Mirfendereski whose anti-Iranian ideas are outrageous.
A man who calls his own countrymen "anti-Semitic".
Anyway, a man who believes "the power of one" is more than
"the power of many" is fundamentally against the very existence
of our whole nation. A man who calls Iran "an accidental country"
is insulting his own existence, since he is "an "accidental individual"
as per his own definition.
Anyway, Mr. Mirfendereski's opinion that "Iranians cannot work
with each other and cannot form organizations" is one of the most
insulting statements that an Iranian may express about his own countrymen.
Perhaps Mr. Guive Mirfendereski is unpleased because these two very successful
organizations (IIC and PWC) have been formed in the recent years in spite
of his prophesies that "Iranian are incapable of cooperation".
If so, then shame on Mr. Mirfendereski and his reactionary followers.
Those who adore Mr. Mirfendereski and his intimidating ideology about Iranians
may one day reconsider and realize whom they were following: A nihilistic
man who cannot see that his countrymen are capable of union. A pessimistic
man who do more harm and destruction than assistance and cooperation.
Anyway, I want to thank IIC and PWC one more time for what they have
been doing. Khasteh Nabashid.
