LIFE

Suk Mi Yoo , LOOOOOOOOL

Lance :
I agree with you %100.
And as for that Korean friend who changed his name to John Yoo, he had every right to do that, as a matter of fact I would have encouraged him.
But I did laugh a lot , LOOOOOOL

The D word

Salaam Lance,

I'm with your Mom, on this. If Pedro or Jose or Ari are now acceptable as "American" names, then why not Soori? However, those who choose to adopt (generally) Anglo-European names are clearly entitled to their decision. Its their life, after all. (Your case is exactly like my newly born nephew's: His first name is Nordic (from his father's side) and his middle name is my father's name, which is one the most beautiful names in the Shahnameh.)

I really think it boils down to this: Iranian Americans are not used to being members of a diaspora (which is what we are) and the name change (for the involuntary immigrant) is a significant inner decision.

Clearly the community (as a whole) is still processing the shock of being a diaspora, and certainly we should expect misdirected expressions of collective insecurities and/or legitimate concerns that arise in response to seemingly trivial or inconsequential decisions such as adoption of Anglo-European names by some members of the diaspora.

The key thought here is this: Iranian self image is very much a cultural construct that is highly dependent on language, far more than most other people's. The issue is not one of assimilation, given that Iranians are synthesist without equal (as far as I know). The issue is one of self image and assertion (or establishment) of a collective identity in the American society.

I, for example, speak fluent English and can be more Western than most natives; we certainly enjoy our family Thanksgiving dinners, and my mother makes an excellent cranberry sauce. But I would never even remotely consider changing my name and would personally consider it a betrayal of my Iranian Heritage (which is orthogonal to any notion of citizenship in a liberal society).

If I learn, adopt, and then contribute to the norms and activities of the society I am in, then I am a responsible member of that society, regardless of whether I am called Sue or Soori. If I am able to do so while maintaining, and perhaps even advancing, my heritage, then I have not only assimilated (as a responsible citizen) but also have contributed to the enrichment of the society that I inhabit.

Should the American "experiment" continue to receive 'research grants' from the powers that be and not get canceled (and we pass this dark period in US history), one expects rather significant contributions by the Iranian American community to American culture and society. The Iranian names (amplified in context of social achievements) would consequently softly brand it and the benefits would be extended to the overall community. I don't see that as a negative in anyway to all concerned, as long as this is in a context of positive distinctions.

Btw, the Persian analog of your name is Joubin (ZhuuBeen). Joubin Raheem has a nice ring to it (should you ever find yourself in Iran and "have to" 'assimilate' ... :)

And live up to your name Mardeh Javaan, and be 'Raheem': forgive the error of your cousins. ALLAH does not Bestow of HIS Bounty to *families* who have members who have determined to cut off their relations (hadeeth) ...

/& Salaam

may be we are not born doctors anymore!

Tara jan,

I am so excited to see an Iranian (or Iranian-American) writer with such strong convictions. In fact, I am so excited to see an Iranian writer in America!

Your point is well taken. I work in corporate communications which is totally controlled by white Americans and it can be a brutal place for a second language speaker like myself.

However, I don't blame the white Americans. I blame us the most.

In my view, the big piece missing in our community abroad is the lack of political representation. That's our fault. We are, if you don't mind me saying, a bit ignorant.

We've been taught that happiness comes with being a doctor or an engineer. An Iranian kid is born and bred to be some sort of a science star. For us, that is one of the most rewarding accomplisments.

There's more to life than that and we need to do more. We need to enable our community to best represent itself in this country. We need to have writers like yourself to influence the media. We need to encourage our kids to study art, drama, and be the next Stephen Spielberg and those alike. Media is a powerful tool!

SK

Azarin Sadegh

Azarin :
have you and others ever heard of : don't compare apples with oranges .
If you did you and others would not be writing the following >>
I read your comment and I think there are many points I totally agree with you but based on my own personal experience I should say that if living in US in 1981 was pure hell, living in Iran at that same time was even worse.

when can you people learn the basics of commentary ??
compare 2 things of the same value and situation with each other .

Why in the world you compare Iran during a war with US or Canada calling themselves democratic and land of freedom of speach

But you won't understand no matter how much I explain.

To any American reading this

To any American reading this article: her opinion is in no way, shape or form, the view of the vast majority of Iranians inside and outside of Iran. The whole world knows that the majority of Iranians are pro U.S, not pro any particular administration, but pro U.S the country. The reason is because we believe we have shared values of human rights, liberalism and respect for human dignity. Those values have been an essential part of Iranian society since the birth of our country, just like it has been part of the U.S soul since the birth of this great nation. We have been tolerant to other beliefs and races, that’s why we are a beautiful mosaic of different cultures and religions, and so has been the U.S. It is because of our shared belief in human rights that we have left such positive blueprints on human civilization. We have both inspired people to co exist and have respect of life. We understand that the U.S hosts close to 30 million out of 200 million immigrants in the world. We understand that U.S provides equal opportunity, to the best of its ability, to all people from all walks of life. We understand that, as we speak, there are Iranians and other Middle Easterns living all the way from the smallest town in Alabama to Beverly Hills in peace and harmony with their American friends in their newly adopted by will country, with all their rights preserved and respected. This clash of civilization conflict started by the fascist Khomeini will one day fade away and that day the threat of war between our two people will fade away with it. Our most open minded and intellectual will tell you that most of us don’t have not nearly the same freedoms back home. That’s why we are appreciative of the opportunity provided by you and your country for us to have a better life. We understand that if you really were intolerant, you would have not let any of us step foot in this country. We understand it is not hard for this country to do that, but we recognize that would stand against your humane values that you so dearly worship. So please disregard the article. Some of us unfortunately have lost their way and they’ve been like that for ages. They are unable or unwilling to accept reality and get rid of old envious way of thinking. Those are the ones who are the reason we left Iran and are here to begin with. Long live Iran and America, living in peace and harmony.

In response to your question

In response to your question, I live in the States because my family is here, and as much as I love Europe and hope to retire there, I am not going to allow a bunch of mentally ill, sick, abnormal, libeling, slandering, stalking American lunatics in Colorado, California, New Mexico, and Kansas who are getting publicly humiliated and destroyed by Police, investigators and lawyers to affect my life in the States.

Thanks,

Tara

Why do you live in the

Why do you live in the States????

I'm not asking this in a defensive way. I'm serious. If you were raised in Europe, if you have work experience, if you are always with foreigners and if you have such a miserable time .... why not move to Europe or Canada? You might lose certain things but wouldn't your life be more RAHAT? Why live among people one has to be guarded with? There must be a better option that to live in misery...

Unfortunately, although the

Unfortunately, although the vast majority of Iranians are friends of the U.S and have great respect for its values, it also true that only some Iranians would write articles like that bashing Americans in their own country. Even Arabs don’t go this far. I seriously doubt that the writer of this article or any of her supporters like Dariush, although claim to be the biggest anti American and despises its people, would ever give up their American passport. Some of us have become amazingly misguided and cold hearted. Americans are one of, if not the, nicest, most tolerant, and kindest people ever. Because of its tolerance, it’s the home of 35 out of 200 million immigrants in the world, including 1 million Iranians and close to 1 million Arabs. I just don’t know how a “racist” country like this lets 35 million foreigners live in freedom and take advantage of all its facilities. And she says something about Iranians feel like “changing their name”, how about this, I can clearly claim that out of all the Iranians I know , close to 90% of them didn’t change their name and all their kids have Iranians name. This article is obviously an opinion, but it is one of the most unfair and untrue and inaccurate articles I’ve read on this site. Only Soraya Ulrich writes articles as flawed as this.

Response to G. Rahmanian

I don't think you are in a position to jude my (or anybody else's for that matter) personal experiences.

I would be really interested to know what your reaction to most Americans would be if these lunatics in Colorado, California, New Mexico and Kansas had gone around for eight years concocting lies about you, slandering and libeling you, contacting your collegaues, employers, friends, neighbours and so on in ana effort to stalk, harass, defame, etc. because they are a bunch of bitter, pathological lying, trailer trash racists who think they are above the law.

I have lived here for more than 20 years and I also grew up in Europe and lived in Iran and Kuwait and have traveled around the world.

And as a professional writer who has made a point of studying different cultures, I think I am in the position to make such judgments.

If your experiences are different, then bully for you.

However, when you deal with a bunch of Americans who have broken the law repeatedly and have attempted to harm you and your family, you would also feel as angry as I do, and your opinions about the average American would also be negative.

Names

Tara,

Perhaps, I'm reading more into your question about names than I ought to, but it seems to be that you are insinuating that people who take English sounding names are "Uncle Tom's".  The problem with this is that there are as many reasons one might use an English name as there are Iranians living here and you don't have a right to judge them, just as they have no right to judge you.

Some, like me, have only one Iranian parent, so when we have English names, it is because these are our names.  My first name is Lance and my middle is Raheem.  This is my name.  If it isn't Persian enough for some, well too bad.  I know the last time I was in Iran, my cousins refused in intoduce me to their friends by my first name.  They were embarrased to have a cousin named "Lance."  It didn't really bother me, but I can tell you I won't ever be inviting any of them over for dinner.  I would never have done the same to them.

There are situations where it might just be easier to go by an English name.  For instance, my mother's name is Soori.  She came to this country back in the 70s.   She could have called herself Sue, but she refused to do that.  When the hostages were taken she got her fair share of abuse from Americans.  Once at her college a group of young men began calling her, "Sooeee, Sooeee" which is they way pig farmers call their pigs.  My dad, an American, who was not her husband yet was put in the position of having to defend her honor.  A fight ensued wherein my dad was severely cut across his face.  He bears the scars to this day.  I am proud that he stood up and defended my mother, but the whole thing could have been avoided.  I know the injury my father sustained was not her fault, but her own father had advised her before that incident to go by "Sue".  She was stubborn and insisted on using her given name.  She wasn't the one who had to bear the injury for her decision, my father did.  Many Iranians took English names at that time to try to blend in.  It was for their own safety and the safety of those who cared about them.  You cannot, 28 years later, question a decision they made back then.  It's like Monday morning quarterbacking.

Lastly, your question seems to ignore the fact that millions and millions of immigrants to America from Eastern and Western Europe, Asia, and Africa have also taken on English sounding names.  Name changing is NOT a phenomenon of Iranians, but of immigrants in general.  Some people even change their last names to make them more English-sounding.  My last name today is not the same as my great-grandfather's who immigrated from Eastern Europe.  Upon his arrival here, he changed the spelling of his family name to make it easier for Americans to pronounce,  Even for me to try to pronounce my family name the way it was pronounced 80 years ago is difficult for me.

Finally, let me end with a true story.  My dad has a friend named Mr. Yoo who came here years ago from Korea.  In Korean culture, the last name comes first and the first name comes last.  It would be like John Smith saying "I'm Smith John."  Well Mr. Yoo's name in Korea was Yoo Mi Suk.  When he came to America he had to put his last name last, so his name become Mi Suk Yoo.  Can you imagine a man having to go around and introduce himself to other men as Mi Suk Yoo?  I have no trouble understanding why he eventually changed his name to John Yoo.

People have a thousand reasons why they change their names or keep their names unchanged.  None amongst us has the right to judge them for the choices they make.  It's their name after all.  What I do know is that people like my cousins in Iran or those amongst us here in America who make others feel like "Uncle Tom's" can be hurtful, unkind and judgemental when they have no right to be.  What anyone calls himself or herself is their business and no one elses.  If everyone could learn to accept and respect this, the world would be a better place.   

Kaveh

I understand what you are saying in general. I just don't think she is being treated this way because she is a minority. Maybe there is an issue with her attitude. Just look at how she writes about seeking vengance... Additionally, what are the exact facts of here issues with people in Colorado, California and every other corner of this country? She makes a blanket statement that if you are a minority in this country every body is against you. Not true!

The week I started school in this country the hostages were released so I know exactly what you are saying. I remember T shirts being sold in the street with "Fuck Iran" and the middle finger on them. I got punched in the face by some punk calling me a "fucking Iranian" . We all went through this.

I also got screwed around with at one job and I'm sure that my background had something to do with it by some racist jerk. However, I moved on. This type of thing goes on and happens to any ethnic population moving to a new country.

As an imigrant you have to work harder than the rest and put up with more crap no matter which country you move to.

However, generally speaking, Americans are good people and its the best place on earth to be an immigrant.

Tara,

I was writing a long response to your article when I saw your question about nicknames Iranians choose.

I decided to forego the long reaction and say a few things instead simply because you don't seem to be very serious about the real issue of racism here.

1. I tend to agree with a lot of the things Azarin has said.

2. I think you need to understand the meaning and implications of democracy. Read what the US government sources say about democracy in America and you'll get a pretty good picture where the real problem lies.

3. You had better educate yourself with regards to "racism" before accusing most Americans of being racist.

4. One extremely important issue which you don't seem to have grasped properly is that under the U.S. legal system you are being treated as an equal to those individuals who have harrassed you. That is you can sue them legally and as you have mentioned in your article you have sued and achieved some tangible results.

What this means is that neither those individuals can manipulate the law nor can you take the law into your own hand and seek vengence through any unlawful methods without hurting yourself further.

5. Last but not least: This issue of preserving "our" culture in the heart of America is as old the U.S. itself and is being worn out by many individuals who have very little understanding of what culture actually means.

Tara

Correction: what I meant in my comment was how fluent you speak English.
Many others have made very good points and this shows you have Iranians support.
I know a lady who is an engineer and wears scarf. She was fired from her job and had many problems of being discriminated because she is a Muslim. So land of free is just a slogan and not free for everyone. Strong personality is a must have for dealing with discrimination.

Dear Tara,

I think there's a difference between Iranians who moved to the US in 80's or before that (I agree with you that many of them switched to american names or even they speak English at home), but many of our friends who came to US much later in 90's they have kept their Iranian names. At work I have colleagues named Mehrdad, Shahrokh, Masood, etc. My name is not an easy one, but all my American friends use this same name (maybe with different pronounciation!). But I have noticed my kids friends have easy names like Kia, Ryan, Ali, etc...Plus my boys and their friends (11 to 14 years old kids) have a huge sense of pride being Iranians in America. They keep talking about their Persian Pride and dream to travel to Iran for a visit. So I am very much hopeful about our future in this country.

Wishing you the best, Azarin

Dear Tara,

They just want to fit in at any cost. It's the same as introducing yourself as Persian instead of Iranian!

Without hesitation, I am proud to be Persian, however, if asked by an American, I will certainly introduce myself as an Iranian first. That's because I am proud to be Iranian and frankly speaking I don't give a hoot on what they think about me.

Dear Tara

Dear Tara;

Even though, I haven’t change my first or my last names at any time, I believe people like us change their names justifiably because when it come to success in your career, or your business, name does matter. In other words, there is a correlation between your name and your future success. That is perhaps why there is a booming industry called “baby-naming”. Names have certain connotations. They represent association with certain culture, beliefs, attitudes, and values. Don’t you think you would have been more successful if your last name was something like Johnson, carter, or Kennedy?

People have certain perception about names. There are certain drawbacks including economic penalty attached to certain names. Odd names are disadvantageous when it comes to job search especially in services industries in which constant contact with clients are considered necessary component of success. I don’t want to discuss n this issue any further in my comments which is supposed to be brief. However, if you need to inquire about this issue further, I would like to refer you to the recent researches on this issue especially by Ronald G. Fryer and Steven Levitts.

Wishing you the best of luck,

Varjavand

Your feedback

Thanks for all the feedback to my article.

I have a question, though, for all of you who seem enamored of the US and find no problem dealing with Americans:

Why do most Iranians here feel the need to Americanize their names? I have met Massouds who suddenly call themselves Matthew or Amirs who refer to themselves as Alan. I think it says something about this culture that so many of us have to Americanize ourselves to some degree before we are accepted and I find fault with it.

To All

There is no doubt that America's society is very racist and prejudice and there are a lot of discrimination. The reason the level of it varies on different people are:
1. Your economic status
2. How influence you speak English.
3. How you dress.
4. How you look.
5. How you think. If you agree with what they say there won't be much tension.
6. How strong your personality is.

That is why some are not affected as much as some others. If you work under them or in the same level with them you see much more discrimination, but if they work under you, you will experience almost none at all because they depend on you.

The best way to minimize these discrimination is to have your own business.

Half empty

Negative energy brings out negativity and that would also includes the point of view.

Hi Azarin,

Thanks for your feedback. No doubt, as bad as it was here in the U.S., Iran was worse, and is still worse. I didn't refer to it because it wasn't mentioned before. Oh, and yes, I know about Jean Marie Le Pen, sorry to say. :)

Part of what Tara is going through certainly cannot be accidental or bad luck. I see where the "victim" card is being played. But I suppose I'm playing devil's advocate here. From my own experiences, there are always people at work, or in your home neighborhood who are American, who look upon us as dirty, subhuman trash. These people go out of their way to get in our way, if that makes any sense. Tara's article made that part stand out a bit more.

All the best,

Kaveh

Hi Kaveh,  I read your

Hi Kaveh, 

I read your comment and I think there are many points I totally agree with you but based on my own personal experience I should say that if living in US in 1981 was pure hell, living in Iran at that same time was even worse. The war was going on. All the individual freedoms had been lost and the Islamic regime was showing its real face. Many people were in jail, tortured or executed. Borders were closed. Universities were closed for cultural cleansing,...and thousands of young people were killed at war and in each raid. This is what I call pure hell and the kind of racism I felt in my own country was hopeless.

I was lucky enough to be able to go to France in 1983 and to feel another kind of racism. If you know Jean Marie Le Pen, you should understand what I mean :) So, compared to these two countries I have lived in before, US seems to be much better, and less racist. Also, the percentage of successful Iranian in US shows how most of us we have been treated in this country. I work in a Software company (we're in the top 3 in the Us/world) and there are many Iranian-Americans in the highest executive positions. Even in Tara's field/journalism, we have many personalities like Amanpour, Bakhtiar, etc... And this pattern is seen in almost any profession in US.  

Of course, I would understand there could be exceptions to the rules. There could be individuals who would have a hard time to adjust to this new environment for different reasons, or a few others who have just been extremely unlucky :) Tara could belong to any of these groups, but her article does not reflect this side of her. It mainly shows her anger and frustration and her tendency to generalize.

So, as a reader without knowing her, I might think that there could be no accident (or bad luck!) in whatever has happened to her. Voila!

Azarin

can't stand the victimized

can't stand the victimized tone of this article. every immigrant group has it bad for the first 50 years, and add a misguided war to the mix and the soup is ready to be served. i'm sure as the iranian american community continues tomake succesful strides in business and law, then everything will be alright. give or take a few more decades.

Asghar.....

You won't get any argument when you talk about figuring out the system and its benefits, or better yet, how to properly manipultate that system to get the maximum benefits. This system simply doesn't exist anywhere else in the world. The possiblilities are limited only by our own individual desire and perserverance.

But I can't help but think that you are only seeing a scapegoat seeker while I'm seeing someone who is frustrated at the reason why she's treated the way she's being treated. And it has nothing to do with anything substantive, which makes it all the more frustrating and demoralizing.

No doubt, your brief list of prominent Iranians in the 3rd paragraph of your post is impressive, and it certainly adds support to your position.

You came here in 1981. I'm a few years older than you. Let me tell you. Being Iranian in the U.S., in 1981, was pure hell. People who you thought were your friends, didn't want to have anything to do with you. Prospective employers? Somehow the position you applied for was magically filled on the same day the ad was published (a Sunday, when the company's HR department was closed).

That sentiment still lingers in this country, and unfortunately, it is held by people who are in a position to directly affect someone's life. Whether it's towards Iranians or any other ethnicity. And who's doing it? Some of the same people you mention, who 2 or 3 generations ago were considered sub-human. In this country, everybody is from someplace else. That's what makes this worse.

My advice to Tara and anyone else who finds themselves in this position: Don't ever give these people the satisfaction of seeing that they have managed to get under your skin. That's what they want. Figure out your goal, and reach it by any means necessary. Don't let these rednecks and bigots get in your way. Bulldoze them. The Iranians we see in positions of prominence today undoubtedly encountered what you are dealing with. But they ended up getting the last laugh.

And so can we all.

I enjoyed your read Tara.

I also understand the frustration.

Anyone disagreeing with the core of your article, is either out of touch with reality or ignorant of the facts.

More or less we all are in the same situation.

There are certainly a LOT of great people in this country, however, we encounter a LOT of racism on a day to day basis living it as well.

Just look at the number of voters who put Bush in office, TWICE!

Many of them don't want us here.

Not that I care:-)

Racism in Canada too

Two days ago right here in Toronto I came home and at the enterance to the building where I live I got into an argument with 3 construction workers who had taken half of the drive way with no sign blocking the area where they work.
In the exchange of words one of them shouted at me : go back where you came from.
So I went to the guy and looked him in the eyes and said : make me go back if you can.
Next thing I know all 3 of them were jumping on me.
After being seperated by other residents living here , the superintendent called the police. I had to do my best to convince the police officer that it was them who instigated this situation.
Yes , discrimination is in Canada too, just look at a promotion in the company where you work and you will see.
As for the racism in Iran which someone has mentioned in his comment, yes it exists there too.

Generalizing your own experience

Its funny that you start your article talking about some lawsuits against some white americans. Actually, iranian business people in the US have a reputation of conducting businesses in a shady fashion as they used to do it in Tehran. I think the problem is yours in particular and you are trying to generalize it. I don't share your experience. Mine was the other way around. I get more worried about doing business with iranians than non iranians. From experience!"

  Dear Ms.

  Dear Ms. Taghizedeh: While I totally sympathize with you, I do not agree with your inflammatory and unsubstantiated claims in your article such as; “I find a majority of them to be liars, malicious, narrow-minded, disrespectful, rude and unaware of the cultures and traditions of other nations and religions”, More critically, your prescription of “vengeance” and “an eye for an eye” is absolutely counterproductive. No matter how grave is a situation we should not lose our faith, our clam, our professionalism, and our good judgment.   I believe your outright generalization based on the behavior of a few persons with whom you had unpleasant experiences is fallacious. What is true of a few individuals is not always true of the whole society.

You may happen to work in an industry controlled by a bunch of white people with certain characteristics as you described. However, I don’t believe that is typical. I have been in this country more than 35 years, as a student and now as an educator. I have experienced some adversities for sure and sporadic discriminations but I have found the majority of my colleagues cordial and cognizant of hard work. I, of course, work in academia, may be things are different in my area. As your lawyer have reminded you, you are perhaps dealing with people “who are mentally ill” as you have mentioned in your article. 

  Despite the fact that the US population is heterogeneous, however, there is a poplar, dominant, cultural that we need to be mindful of, respect and honor. Remember, we have chosen to live in this country, a nation with a long history of discrimination against certain minorities. 

 Bashing a foreign country is not unusual in this country; however, it is a temporary phenomenon. Once it was Japan, then Libya and North Korea, it seems it is our turn now. We have no choice but to wait until they find another target for bashing.   Even though, success in this country is tough, because competition is so vigorous, but I still believe that this country is a land of opportunity for even minorities if they have good education, knowledge is power.  It seems that your outrage has to do more with lack of desired success in your job than any other things as another commenter has also pointed out.  Your article, although very-well written, may send inappropriate signals to many who may lose their faith and resort to improper means to voice their concerns.  Varjavand

Missing info in your article

I read your article twice, and still I couldn't find any specific information about the reasons behind your apparent anger toward Americans. I might have felt some sympathy for you if you had given me this missing piece of Info. But you have mainly focused on your final judgment about how racist they are without any detail.

Plus, the high number of these lawsuits of yours in different states could only show your own impossibility to integrate and adapt in this society. Your use of the words such as "war", "destroy", and "vengeance" is disturbing and your final conclusion "an eye for an eye" totally irrational.

You should cool down if you expect readers to take you more seriously.

Azarin

I beg to disagree, Michael

That's exactly what she's saying.  In a nutshell what she's saying is the only problem with America is that it's so damn full of Americans.  Look at the title of her article.  If an American wrote that we'd be all over them.  We'd call them a bigot, and a racist.  We'd accuse them of using stereotypes.

When one of us does it to THEM....it's suddenly all right.  No sir, my friend.  Bigots and racist live on both sides of the fence, and I can tell because I am one who lives his life straddled right on top of that Iranian-American divide each and everyday; not American enough for some of my father's people and not Iranian enough for my mother's.   I see the hate and racism just as clearly in Iranians...some my own family members.....as I do in Americans.....some who are my own flesh and blood, too. 

If you want to support her writing, that's fine and that is certainly your right, but at least be intellectually honest enough to admit that the author of this article is no different from the people she complains so loudy about....narrow minded racists and bigots.  The fact is that she has become the very thing that she hates most about this country. 

Another two cents worth!

Hmmm...

I don't think I got from her writing that she "hates" the country, or even dislikes very much about it other than people within the rabble who say they've heard that "people from over there are crazy" and more often than not haven't even met anybody "from over there"! Not everybody in America lives near an alpha city that would have a sizeable Iranian population, and I'm not sure how many of us congregate near rural areas or less metropolitan areas with under a million people. If anybody knows, I'm all ears/eyes.

Back with the chain of events in 1979 culminating in the hostage crisis, my father would tell people we were Arab (which nowadays is hardly ideal on this turf either!) given that people were on their own Iranian witch hunts, especially in The Deep South where he was attending university and with his English not as good at the time as it is now and him and my mother being recent immigrants in 1976 who were still trying to adapt to Western culture.

Yet I'm very proud that overwhelmingly we are very law-abiding, educated, repsectful, well-mannered, and willing to assimilate when we come here. I read that the four million Iranians outside of Iran are worth one trillion dollars combined (not sure about the legitimacy of this fact, but hey, sounds good enough to me!). Oh sure, money isn't everything, but that's a damn kickass fact to be proud of!