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Accidental emigrants?
02-Oct-2007
We all know about famous and successful Iranians in our midst. CEO’s and VP’s of big corporations, successful doctors, artists, high-ranking government employees, writers, and gifted scientists, there is always some Iranian somewhere doing something noteworthy for us to feel proud. As a community, however, we tend to lack a common forum and voice. We gather around events and people, but never around issues.
We are, for the most part, law abiding, tax-paying citizens who are assets to our communities, but we tend to shy away from American politics, be apathetic to political developments, and disinterested in local elections. Why is that? Is it because over the past three decades each of us has been catapulted into this new land initially as a “temporary measure,” which turned into a serious, unplanned, and permanent reality? Is it because we see ourselves as “accidental emigrants,” not sure what to do now that we have stayed and have gone on to have children, businesses, and careers here?
Whatever the reasons, the view from the outside in is that we are a fragmented community, unattached and unmotivated to form lobbies to change laws and conditions in our favor. We live in the US now, respecting and loving our new country, abiding by its laws. But we also love and care for Iran and what happens to it and to its people.
Whatever we each think about the Iranian regime, we certainly wish no harm to people of Iran. Then why are we silent when we hear the war drums played non-stop on American media, depicting Iranians as cockroaches, talking about plans to simultaneously hit 10,000 targets in Iran, or speculating casually about striking Iranian nuclear facilities without any reference to the fact that those plants are now located in densely populated areas of Iran, striking each of which will be tantamount to a human catastrophe?
We can and should do more to bring attention to ourselves as a peaceful and peace loving community with intelligence, integrity, and heart. We must find ways to get together and show our strength as a viable, educated, and dedicated populace. Staying silent and indifferent, we will never be heard, recognized, or respected in our proper and deserved position. Accidental emigrants or a community dedicated to a life of integrity in the US, while ensuring a proper and humane approach to a country and a nation we left behind, but will never stop loving—the choice is ours and never as crucial as now.
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Question
by Caspianseamermaid (not verified) on Sun Oct 07, 2007 07:51 AM PDTWhilst I appreciate some of your sentiments, I would like to know one thing: if someone who has accidentally been born within the same fictionally designated national territory (nationalism is not an objective truth) as someone else, what gives them the right to be proud of the person's achievement?
I.e. what gives you the right to feel proud of the doctors etc. (who happen to be born with an Iranian nationality) achievements, if you've never met these people and have done absolutely nothing to help them achieve their successes?
ahsan!
by Ardeshir_P (not verified) on Wed Oct 03, 2007 11:53 PM PDTahsan bar shoma Nazi khanum!
What a well-articulated, concise and critical but still respectful article.
Do you have any concrete suggestions?
mokhlese hamegi,
Ardeshir
Its not that easy
by Alborzi (not verified) on Tue Oct 02, 2007 01:39 PM PDTlast night I was watching war on PBS. They were claiming at
some time during war Germans were killing 1600 American daily
and also Japanese were mistreating the captured soldiers. However, both of these nations are on good terms with US, the terrorists of 911 were Saudi, Egytian and Pakistani yet those are also fine. On the other hand Cuba and Iran are considered real bad, there is no rhyme and reason, it seems like this article
says there is some forces behind it and we are just in the way.
//www.commondreams.org/archive/2007/10/02/426...
the right word
by Anon (not verified) on Tue Oct 02, 2007 01:31 PM PDTis "uninterested" not "disinterested".
As educated Iranians (!!) we should learn to write the language effectively.
Let's Care - Really Care
by sb (not verified) on Tue Oct 02, 2007 11:02 AM PDTGreat Article Nazy jan – nice web site too.
I hope there can be some “brain storming” because of what you are pointing out here to see if we can come up with some solutions that the individuals can participate and make a difference
PS. There is a typo in your URL (the end of this article) for your blog.
Outstanding
by xivaaro (not verified) on Tue Oct 02, 2007 10:16 AM PDTNazy jan: Excellent post. However, what is the solution? I don't think antagonizing and reinforcing our streotypes, which some Iranians inadvertently do--are going to help us. First we need to recognize how we are viewed by the majority of US Population not just the California enclave. Then, we need to build a bridge between us and the rednecks/evangelists. etc....like I have done in my blog...
That is the only way. We need America and all Americans to view us for who we are and not our streotype and the only way is to educate them with integrity and patience instead of getting on our soap boxes that will aggravate things even further--Many Americans read this site and are watching all of us. It is not in our interest to come across as anti-American if we are planning to live here for a long time...Nazy jan, I hope I'm making sense...LOL
Love,
Xivaro
give them free oil then they are going to love you
by hajiagha on Tue Oct 02, 2007 09:50 AM PDTIranian artist
we are as Iranian need to became closer and we need to more love and respect to each others also when are country under attack....buy are enemy
Somebody give the woman a medal!
by Shoobie (not verified) on Tue Oct 02, 2007 09:50 AM PDTNazy joon you deserve a medal for keeping your cool, whilst saying what needs to be said. In all the rants and articles on Iranian.com in the past week, i havent read one entry that was more poignant and simple as yours. Why arent we rallying around each other? Surely as Iranians we have enough negativity to fight off. Without being cliched, perhaps is we unify we can make a difference. Lots of love "Persian Princess" in London - You know who ;-)
Could not have said better....
by Foad on Tue Oct 02, 2007 09:34 AM PDTThanks Ms Kavani. In fact couple years ago we had a reunion of sort in Chicago for those of us who were present (some more active than the others) in opening Iran House (Khaneh e Iran) in Chicago in the 60's. Each one us were reminiscing and in my case, I was also advancing, not as elegantly as you, the same argument. I am unhappy to report that nothing has happened since. Foad