ADVICE

Hendi the military recruiters seem to be......

 The military recruiters seem to be targeting the young minority students at the high schools. For  awhile there my son kept bringing souvenirs like pens, keychains, etc. given to him by the military recruiters. He had no intentions on signing up because he has plans to go to university but other young students could be more vulnerable to such tactics. If they think the recruiters care and their families just don't understand them.

I totally agree that it is worrisome for parents.

Nadia

Dahatti?!!!!!!

Dahaati, Ha? Very interesting! For those Iranians who are not familiar with the demographic history of Iran, let me explain a few things. Tehran, which our good friend Curious Joe hails from, was essentially established as the seat of the puppet regime established by Arab invaders of Iran, first around the nearby town of Rey. The original population of what is today’s modern day Tehran consisted of Arab tribes who were involved in the puppet government that administered the Persian territories. This went on for centuries. Naturally, the Arab tribes who, throughout centuries, had settled in Rey and surrounding areas and had intermixed with the Iranians who were part of the local administration, remained in the area after the dissolution of the Arab ruled subject governments. Later on in more modern times, Tehran was established as the nation’s capital by the Qajar dynasty, who as we all know, were a Turkish tribe. They, in turn, brought thousands of members of their clan (tribe) to Tehran to be a part of the government and they obviously remained there afterwards, and the trend continued for the entire reign of the Qajar dynasty. So, the original population of Tehran was a mixture of Arabs and Turks, the descendents of whom constitute, to this day, the core of Tehran’s population. This is an extremely brief version of Tehran’s demographic history. Obviously, within the past few decades, there has been a major influx of people from all over the country into Tehran for various socio economic reasons. Now contrast this demographic with the “Dahaatis” that the author refers to in his article. They are folks from Shiraz, Isfahan and Yazd (oddly enough) which are probably the most ethnically Persian of all areas in Iran… Places where Persian kings called home and where they fought to preserve the identity of the Iranian nation. These are the “Dahattis” that you refer to.. Now I do not want to sound racist, but I wrote this to remind the author not to insult us by calling us “Dahaatis”. Know your place in history and culture of the country. There are many things that Tehranis can be called as well.

could have been delivered better

The message of the article is good but the delivery kind of sucks. You could have gotten your point across without even bringing the "dahaati" thing into this. The choice seems odd.
.
Also, as some other person commented, I would have used the word "industrialized" as opposed to "civilized". The civility of many western countries, specially the US, is highly questionable.
.
As for the thesis of the article, I would add the following. As someone who has lived in both Canada and the US for almost two decades in each country, and currently in the US, I would say Canada is the place to be for the working professional. No doubt in my mind. When I look at my peers who stayed in Canada and those of us who came to the US (smaller sample mind you), those in Canada are much better off in terms of quality of life.
.
I would not recommend immigration to the US at the moment for other reasons as well. This country is fast losing its democratic status through increased militarization. Many of my friends' late high school children are being targeted by the armed forces for enlistment. Very uncomfortable situation for the parents.
.

I love Canada!

Last year my family and I drove to Toronto, Canada. What a beautiful and safe city. Also, the Iranians that I encountered seemed very friendly and trusting, unlike the cut-throats you typically find in LA.

I say come to USA

I am one of those Dehati you are talking about I came to USA with a big dream, this great country has helped me to achieve that. I will not look for a hand out from the government I will get it the old fashion way, I earn it, being a car dealership owner or own any other legal businesses is very dignified. These Dehaties are some the most successful migrants in this country. If you did not achieve your American dream don't discourage others. I say to others come here to the land of opportunities . America is the only country in the world when you become a citizen you can say I am an American and people here they will accept you as one, those countries you mentioned you can't say that you are from there. God bless my adopted country.

I would deport

80% of the Iranians living in America citizens or not, Tehrani or Dahhati!? These sandnigger Iranians do NOT deserve to live in America and take advantage of everything America has worked so hard to offer to assholes like Curious Joe. Curious complains about working more that 40 hours a day. Hell, all Americans work 60-70 hour work-week! Doctors bust their ass to become a doctor. Attorneys work an 80-hour week. I work 60-70 hour weeks. If you have talent, education, and keep yourself up-to-date on the technology and your field, you will always be employed with competitive salaries. Hey Curious Joe: There is a high-paying job in Iran waiting for you, you can become in charge of Aftabeh distribution at the Shrine of Imam Khomeini in Ghombolazim. The only drawback is that they will drop the tips inside the Aftabeh for you.

Europe vs. USA

When you consider how many public services you get and how much of tax revenue is spent on things any human being should disagree with (aggressive wars of choice in the Middle East), the European tax rate doesn't seem that bad. Moreover, even France is lowering its highest tax rate to less than 50%. As a high earner in the US the highest tax rate is 35%. Most European countries have tax rates only a handful of percentage points higher than the highest U.S. tax rate and comparable for lower brackets - and their governments don't run deficits that mean inevitable future tax increases --- or guarantee a worthless currency.

lower taxes

The countries that you mentioned, have socialist systems, and all have much higher tax rates. I'd rather be taxed lower, and be able to invest/decide for myself. Can you imagine if all those benefits were to be paid in the U.S? What the tax rate have to be? BTW, the lowered benfits you wrote, are gonna get worse because the baby boom generation is retiring already, and not as much money is coming to the system.

.
.Why should anyone pay for someone else's benefits? Everyone needs to take responsibility for themselves.
.
.

I do agree on the work load, and little vacation time.
.
.

on dahatis: I am Tehrani myself, but those cities you mentioned, have asl-o-nasab. Most people in Tehran are from one of those cities, going back a couple of generations, and if not, they're from dahate atraaf Tehran.

I am in Canada and loving it!

I do not like the writers snob comment,but he is right about being old in the USA.I came to canada 23 yrs ago and I work for the provincial government.Our weather is really cold(today with wind it is -33 C),but I have a secure job with good pay and all the insurance,plus a great pension.So I have never been sad about being here instead of LA .Weather is clean sky is blue no traficand no mterialism and competition.
Long lived Canada

Dear Curious Joe, One would

Dear Curious Joe,
One would hope the your name "curious" would have led you to do some research on the history of Tehran versus the history of many of the cities or "dahat"s you named. I do agree that the U.S.A provides its senior citizens with negligible support but your anger towards "dahatis" is misplaced. You have obviously lived in the U.S.A for decades but it seems that you have just recently figured out that in this country a good business-sense can earn you more money than a good education. This is unfortunate but reality of capitalism. But your ignorance regarding cultural and social matters is even more unfortunate and this is share with many other "tehranis" but not the cultured ones. May you live a long and more prosperous life.

the self-proclaimed civilized world

notice how western nations are deemed as civilized by westerners. ask any Iranians in Iran, we will laugh our asses off when hear you saying you are civilized.

Well said

Great analogy.
Best

Adios US of A. . . .

Thanks for sharing your corporate experience with us. I left the USA many years ago. What I did not like was when people looked at me as if I did not have a country. I stood up to them and we used to get into arguments some of which you also see in this site among Ey-ranians and An-ranians.
-

I have a country and it is called Iran. I was born Iranian, I will remain Iranian regardless of what I am offered. I won’t change my nationality as Ey-ranians and An-ranians have done for the sake of driving a better car or living in a better house. No sirrrreee.

-

Many in the U.S. actually have it good because they work for companies such as Bloodwater (a.k.a Blackwater) or have companies themselves to slave others. Loan sharks, car dealer sharks, etc. have always done well. These thieves will do well wherever they go. In the U.S. one does well if he or she sells hospital equipment or work for companies which steal from others or other countries such as Iraq or steal themselves for example in their taxes (which many Ey-ranians and An-ranians do according to CPAs).

-

One must not forget to mention golddiggers who think they use US thief lawyers to sue their husbands (in three court cases their wives) or threaten with suing and keep their partners slave. I kicked some ass before leaving the U.S. and I know few Iranians who also stood up to golddiggers and their thief lawyers.

-
Many Ey-ranians live like slaves, thinking going to Las Vegas or screwing someone is called Freedom. They can stick this Freedom in their both ends. Adios the US of A. :-)

Daahaatia...

When we were in our Daahaat (a city that is 2000 years old called, Ahvaz) our parents taught us not to let anyone take away "your dignity and integrity", not the the rulers from Tehran or CEOs of Corporate America! 

agreed

I agree 100%.

for sometime, I blamed U.S for me being here, but when I look into it more and more, it wasn't the U.S, it was the .......and also, i couldn't imove to some other country.

let's not go there i guess.

peace

You forgot........

 You forgot to  mention the effects of globalization and the out sourcing of jobs to other less developed countries which is why the corporations are laying off so many people. Corporations only care about the bottom line which is their profit margin. Remember NAFTA? The international trade agreement between Mexico-US-Canada.

North Americans have to work twice as hard now then North Americans of the 1960's to have the same standard of living.

Nadia