Iranian of the Day

I couldn't have said better

Thank you, you are so right, I could not have said it any better. This government may have done lots of things wrong, but they punished very FEW Innocent people. They didn't come to you unless there was a reason. I do agree that post war of Iran Iraq there was a post 9/11 atmosphere, but not for long. wish Mr Bakhtiar all the best. By the way how much did he donate to his UV ?

Dr. Jim Bakhtiar

Dr. Jim Bakhtiar story is amazing but not unique.
There were thousands of very successful Iranians who left their jobs, businesses and sometimes loved ones to go back to Iran in hope of making things better in their mother country.
My father Captain Ross Aimer was one of those.
He was one of the very small number of Iranian major airline pilots in US in the 60's. He left a promising career with Continental Airlines to join Iran Air in 1969. Although he seldom talks about his days in Iran he once told us about a horrific incident on board an Iran Air 747SP that resulted in his hasty defection back to US some ten years after his repatriation! He worked his way back up the ladder again and 30 years later retired from United Airlines as a distinguished and decorated Captain.
If you Google his name you will find that he is perhaps the most experienced airline pilot in the world! He is often quoted in the media as an expert in aviation matters.
You can see I am very proud of my father and his accomplishments.
I also wish Dr. Bakhtiar and his family the best.

I agree

I just got back from Iran and agree with your strong word choice about the Iranian government. Unlike the people, the regime is a fanatical and dangerous dictatorship. The people, and youth in general are sick of it. I hope with all of my heart that something productive and peaceful can CHANGE the current system. The amazingly rich culture deserves choice, space to grow, and personal freedom of self expression. It's not about westernizing the country, it's about CHOICE, giving each citizen the chance to find balance and their own way of life...a bend of cultures, beliefs, or whatever works best for them, the individual. This is NOT to much to ask, or hope for.
Mochakeram-
Jamileé

Iranian goverment is pure evil

Iranian exodus by 10 millions is one of the saddest part of human tragedy that no body talks about it or rarely made a movie about it. There are 2 million Iranian stuck in the city of Istanbul alone …these Iranian flee Iran hoping to come to Europe or USA but couldn’t. I hope the heroic story of Mr. Jamshid Bakhtiar will help to the Iranian refugee plight and highlight what kind of evil government we have in Iran.

Arzhang from Iran

How could you not at all be

How could you not at all be impressed by what this man has done? To echo Moje: "Not many immigrants from middle east come to america and Play Pro football(100% american sport), become a doctor on a football scholarship, go back to the middle east and help their own people through that education, only to return back to America and get the kinda reception this guy got from the people he knew from when he was in his twenties!!!"

I'm not sure how many other All-Americans have a story like this... nor do I care. Work it, Regis!

you obviously have led a

you obviously have led a sheltered life and not know that the revolutionary guards were against any one who loved and loves iran and trying to destroy all the good. Mr Bakhtiari has no reason to lie it isn;t like he is going to get something for his hardship it is merely informing people who don't know these things happen.
good luck to him and to you

shoma nemoneye yek ensane

shoma nemoneye yek ensane ghavi baraye ma ghorbatneshinan hasti,sarafraz bashi dr bakhtiar.

A bit of Insight that I find makes the story interesting

About seven years ago, my family and I were touring a campus that would become my home for the next four years. Universities invest lots of money in their stadiums and UVA was no exception. So, we went to take a look. And lo and be hold what did we find? At a university in the heart of Virginia, in its Hall of Fame of Football, among approximately 12 other elegantly framed pictures, was a picture of a Persian man named Jim Bakhtiar! Albeit faded, the picture stood out among the mostly White and African American profiles on the wall. We were astonished and proud, but also very curious to know who this man was. Jim Bakhtiar, aka Prince of Persia, and better yet class of '54! Now, that's admirable. There probably weren't more than a handful of Iranians in America in '54, much less one of the best football players of an All-American university.

The Persian community at UVA does a good job at seeking out the Persian scholars in and about the UVA community, inviting them to events and dinners. But I never met any student that knew any more about Jim than that of his profile in the hall of fame. It's great to finally have a story behind that faded yet appealing picture. Thanks for sharing!

He's done all this stuff and

He's done all this stuff and now looks at his very hard life as an honor. He has something to be proud of. I agree with him where he said "I hope you can look back at your life and say whata journey i had" 'cause most of these Football players havent even experienced a day without a cell phone and their cars. They go to clubs and have good time and enjoy their lives without really achieving anything. I saw a Black hall of famer who told his journey, and believe or not, he was just talking about his food and stuff that little, nothing really special or challenging. His biggest problems was the little separation between white kids and black kids which he called racism in schools. I had a challenging life with lots of obstacles. Im facing more challenges now and I know gonna win these challenges. We all had these challenges. If someone has not faced them, then has to, so his or her life will be more meaningful.

Association

The clip, I have seen. The comments, I have read. None of this changes the fact that we all rather be associated with Jamshid than with Ahmadi-Nejad.
We have plenty like Jamshid to brag about. Let's find them and tell all.
- Bolbol

He went to study and while

He went to study and while in the US made a lot of friends and played American Football. Then he went back home and started his practice there. The revolution comes and changes everything.


Up to here everything is fine and nobody will deny any of those happening, well maybe the fact, as someone mentioned earlier, that he started introducing modern methods in treatment of mental illnesses is a bit far fetched but it could be true. Well you see, American TV and movie industry likes to add all sort of extras and decorations to stories in order to make them more appealing, I would not be surprised if some of the things mentioned in the clip are just simply over dramatization of the real events. Why would the "crazy" revolutionaries take in a simple doctor (if that's what he was, a mere doctor) for questioning and keep him in jail? I simply do not buy this story about a very dramatic escape and truly believe most of it is fabricated. Those of you who believe it, have been watching too many Hollywood movies.


What I do not have any doubt about is the fact that this gentleman is a decent person and has done OK for himself. That is it, nothing less and nothing more. Stop making a hero of someone simply because he was shown on TV and praised a bit, who happens to be Iranian.


As somebody else mentioned earlier, I too wish him all the best.

A Fantastic Human Being!

We are American parents of a lovely daughter who last year married a wonderful Iranian/Persian-American man, who with his family fled as a child to America following the revolution in Iran. Our son-in-law's parents were also educated in America and returned to Iran, only to flee their country after the revolution. Thus, we understand how much courage it took for Dr. Bakhtiar to risk what he did to save his family in the dead of night to bring them back to the U.S. Iranians are highly educated, very kind and most gracious. We are honored to be a part of a family from Iran. Dr. Bakhtiar has achieved so much in his life, We are honored he and his family are living in America. The doctor continues to help others in need and sets a fine example of how a truly good life should be lived. To the doctor, who was also a great athlete, we say "merci" many times over for all he has done and continues to do. Congratulations on your award, which you so richly deserve. Linda

All are wrong

Some of you have mentioned that he has not achieved a big thing but from my point of view, I am proud of him. Actually my parents came out of the Iranian war in the exact same way.
I don't mind you saying these things but I think you are jealous of him for achieving so much!

Don't let them use you Dr. Bakhtiar ....

At first, I was pretty moved by watching Jamshid's story but then it hit me.
You know, I suppose it is natural for immigrants (here or anywhere in the world) to feel accepted by their host nation and the general public at large.
But is it just me that feel Iranians are particularly interested in being accepted? That is, we are constantly seeking approval of others which is a trait normally displayed by people with inferiority complex.
Again, my own immediate reaction to watching this clip was of joy and full of pride (being a hypocrite) but later I realized that Dr. Bakhtiar as grateful as he sounded is being used as a propaganda tool by our manipulative media. All-in-all, it appeared to be mostly superficial and hollow. Think about it!

Sia wrote: "You may not get

Sia wrote: "You may not get history now, but hiostory will get you, in time".


Well excuse me Sia jan for not getting the historical importance and dimensions of this clip shown on some American channel. Thanks for those very wise words. By the way, did you come up with those yourself or did you ask a philosopher friend of yours, perhaps, to help you out?


But you are right,this is indeed history, American style.


Shad bashid!

Iranian of the Day and those who "don't get it!"

As a human being, I am proud of Jamshid's achievements, and to those who "don't get it";

"You may not get history now, but hiostory will get you, in time".

I still don't get it. Is it

I still don't get it. Is it a big deal for someone from the middle-east to play handball (ups sorry, football) in the USA? I would have understood if he was playing real football (that's soccer to you), now that is something.


He I am sure had left quite a good impression on his friends back then in order for them to help him out the way they did but then again haven't you any friends who are willing to help you out in any way they can? If you don't then I am sorry that you do not have any real friends.


As I mentioned earlier I am not trying to belittle this gentleman but I still insist he has done / achieved nothing out of the ordinary. But you and others like you are entitled to your opinions and If you think he is a role model and a hero then so be it I have nothing against that but grant me the right to differ with you on this matter.


I wish him long and healthy life.

Inspiring...

BAKHTIAR'S LIFE STORY IS VERY INSPIRING, TOUCHING AND ENCOURAGING. A PRO FOOTBALL PLAYER, BECOMING A DOCTOR, AND MOVING TO IRAN????? THAT TAKES SOME COURAGE, INTEGRITY AND HONOR. THANKS BAKHTIAR!

This is what you missed...

Not many immigrants from middle east come to america and Play Pro football(100% american sport), become a doctor on a football scholarship, go back to the middle east and help their own people through that education, only to return back to America and get the kinda reception this guy got from the people he knew from when he was in his twenties!!! And by this time, this guy is in his 70s! And he is still at it helping others , except now here instead of Iran! You would think he would jsut quit working and collect Social security!!! Right??? You miss the fact that he must be an amazingly good man to have left such long lasting impressions and such strong friendships that when he did come back, he was completely taken care of by his old friends!!! Not your typical imigrant story my friend! Kudos DR. Bakhtiar! You are inspiring.

I watched this clip all the

I watched this clip all the way through but honestly I could not find anything special about this gentleman. Did I miss something? I am not saying this to belittle him but many immigrants could tell you the same story.


Well, I do not know what you people are used to but I need much more than this to consider someone a role model or a hero.

What a guy, we are so proud of him...

Another wonderful example of an Iranian man, what a role model for our people. God bless him...

Khoshemaan Aamad!

Damet garm baba. Bikhiyaal e mardom. Bezaar oona har chi mikhaan began.

Geshang!

Bravo. Kudos. Thank you and merci. What a pleasure to see such exemplification.

VIVA!!

This is HIS world some of "US" living in!

Zendeh baad, Bar gharaar bashee, khoda hefzet konee!!!!!

Right...

"First modern psychiatry unit in Iran in 1974" my ...
Folks, if you sometimes wonder why some think we live in tents, drive camels to work and smoke barge-mo for fun, you have to turn around and look at some of the nonsense some of us spread ourselves.

This would make a Good Film!

Dear Mani,

This is a wonderful story. I would like to learn more about this gentleman. Could you email me his contacts I would like to interview him. Here is my email :

darius_film@yahoo.com

Darius