DIASPORA

Dear Cy;  Thanks for

Dear Cy; 

Thanks for taking time to write another very informative comment. As you see, my article is intended to be mainly entertaining. I had no intention to promote or justify self pity. I wasn’t even aware of this phenomenon, it sounds like a physiological disorder. I understand your rightful concern that we should stay away from it. Self pity must be a symptom of weakness and inability to coupe with the challenging situations or as you pointed out utilizing the resources to better your life, hence, blaming others for our failure.

Judging from your postings on this site, you are a very good writer, much better than me. Why don’t you write an article on this subject and hope to stir up a debate about it. It is relevant and surely worthwhile.  Sincerely,Varjavand

Good Humor, Wrong Category

Dear Varjavand: Thanks for the extra effort to clarify your article. What you have written has nothing to do with Diaspora. I think Diaspora is a bogus title to be given to Iranians anyway.  See my June 9th blog about that subject.   Your humor when placed in the right context and all the specific qualification for an Immigrant removed has a charming Woody Allenish flavor.  What I'd like for Iranian Immigrants and Iranian-Americans in America is to stay away from self pity and sympathy seeking attitude embedded in our culture.  My pet peeve has become the word Iranian Diaspora which to me is nothing more than a crutch for laziness and a giant chip on Iranians' shoulders for not wanting to try.  I especially can't tolerate it from American born/raised generation who don't even have any idea how good their life has been compared to that of their parents.   Yet because they have heard all their lives about nostalgic beauty of Iran, they have become confused as to what they have missed and who they really are and how should they behave. Iran at its best days had nothing to offer which could remotely reach the life style in America. The organization, comfort, great customer service from all businesses and abundance of goods in America cannot be matched by any other country except may be Canada to some extent.  It is true that there was family and emotional support and security of clan living.   But with it came baggage of everybody always sticking their nose in your business and near zero privacy.  People in Iran come to your house unannounced and you are supposed to scramble to tidy up the place.   If you decide to do something, everybody has an opinion which does not always sound very supportive.  They make disparaging remarks about your purchases and make you feel bad about not having shopped thoroughly or bargained harder.   Iranians who do take advantage of American life have an added advantage.  At home they are loved by parents or family and at work, school or personal business; they have the organized and reliable support of American system.   In less than 3 decades, Iranians have established their presence in top of many remarkable categories.  We don't need any help and we can and have realized Iranian-American dream almost effortlessly.  Yet there are those who would whine about being victim of discrimination, what could have been if Mullahs did not take over Iran and the glory of Persian Empire which was ruined by Arabs and Islam.   I think certain Iranians have more aggregate chips on their shoulders than any other nationality. So, if we wanted to praise ourselves for one more thing in a tongue-in-cheek way that would be it.

Great humor. thanks.

Great humor. thanks.

Fun Read!

That was cute!

Unfortunately I don't believe when the politicians compete, WE win.

I think they're competing for AIPAC's vote and the evangelical vote more than anything else... and that's who will actually win!

but I like your sense of humor, I keep going in and coming out of my walk-in closets every day too but nobody made a fuss about me either.

:0)

IRANdokht

PS: Cy, I don't think you read the whole thing... did u?

Do Not Take Things Personally

You know I parctice yoga every day since I moved to big city and I give All The Love and Attention I need to myself and as a matter of fact people come to me to know more about me, I have no family here and of course no other freinds just love is in the air , open your eyes. It is the same concept in every where in the world people have their own problems, why should we be an self pitty immigrant while we can just not pay attention to what people think about us. Just make it your new goal " Dont Take Any Thing Personaly".

Too fast

To the conclusion. Anyways to beat McCain I would say not only Mr. Obama will take a country of your choice, but he will share some of the treasures stolen from them with you. Beat that McCain.

Dear Commenters;   

Dear Commenters;

Thanks for your comments.

To: Cy, as you know, the organizers of this site choose the category under which they want to put your article, I have nothing to do with it.

  Even though my day time job is serious my writings are not. This article, as you guessed, was meant to be funny, however, it was designed to remind us of an acute social problem, “discrimination in- disguise”.  Many of its stories are made up, or exaggerated, wrapped in the soft cover of humor, just to describe this social evil. A more serious case of such discrimination is against ugly, fat, and short people, please read my previous article entitled “We, The Short People”, posted on June 5th. Stories like the ones told in this article may, in fact, happen, some of us may shrug them off and others may take them seriously.  

Sometime in your life, you have no choice but to resort to humor, if you can, as the best method of relaxation, as a refreshing way to depart from the sameness of your everyday life. Let me copy a segment of a comment by a thoughtful reader about my previous article. “Sometimes (most of the times) reading Iranian.com feels like being in the middle of a war zone and it makes me feel like choking and then I have to fight back with the devil in me who feels like responding! The site is overflowing with frustrated and angry people shouting and insulting and cursing each other about nothing and everything”

And I may add, some of these people are like pigs, the only thing make them happy is mud, others have a gun in their pocket and see everything as a shooting practice, others, just like to open a can full of wild bees just to create noise.  I let you think and laugh at my own expense. By doing that, I not only I enlighten your day with laughter, hopefully, but also avoid costly lawsuits 

Cheer,

 Varjavand

Dear Commenters;   

Dear Commenters;

Thanks for your comments.

To: Cy, as you know, the organizers of this site choose the category under which they want to put your article, I have nothing to do with it.

  Even though my day time job is serious my writings are not. This article, as you guessed, was meant to be funny, however, it was designed to remind us of an acute social problem, “discrimination in- disguise”.  Many of its stories are made up, or exaggerated, wrapped in the soft cover of humor, just to describe this social evil. A more serious case of such discrimination is against ugly, fat, and short people, please read my previous article entitled “We, The Short People”, posted on June 5th. Stories like the ones told in this article may, in fact, happen, some of us may shrug them off and others may take them seriously.  Sometime in your life, you have no choice but to resort to humor, if you can, as the best method of relaxation, as a refreshing way to depart from the sameness of your everyday life. Let me copy a segment of a comment by a thoughtful reader about my previous article. “Sometimes (most of the times) reading Iranian.com feels like being in the middle of a war zone and it makes me feel like choking and then I have to fight back with the devil in me who feels like responding! The site is overflowing with frustrated and angry people shouting and insulting and cursing each other about nothing and everything”

And I may add, some of these people are like pigs, the only thing make them happy is mud, others have a gun in their pocket and see everything as a shooting practice, others, just like to open a can full of wild bees just to create noise.  I let you think and laugh at my own expense. By doing that, I not only I enlighten your day with laughter, hopefully, but also avoid costly lawsuits 

Cheer,

 Varjavand

Did you mean to post this under humor?

And how come there is a Diaspora catagory in this On-line magazine? 

Why does a member of diaspora have a job, a place to live, rides a commuter train and gets to watch TV?  I thought diaspora members have all their belonging on back of a donkey going up with the rest of unfortunate people along a cold mountain pass on their way to a UN camp or something.

If you are joking and you are that hard up for attention.  Sneez and say Bless me to yourself.   

If you want more attention, don't live in NYC or some other Gynormous city.   Move to Mayberry and live next door to Mrs. Kravitz from Bewitched.  She will know about every move that you make and she will ask you about it. 

Most of all and this is for all of you poor little neglected and ignored diaspora babies:

Get over yourselves!  Self pity is not an attractive trait!

Nice read Mrs. Varjavand!

thanks :)

so, what are the fringe benefits of being a fringe minority? Are there any?