Persian POWER (continued)
The shock of 9/11
Arab-Americans weren’t the only ones who felt the sting of the 9/11 backlash.
Extremists assaulted turban-wearing Sikhs from India, and the FBI seemingly
arrested just about anyone who had the misfortune of being born in a country with a
government that supported terrorism.
Among those caught up in the chaos were thousands of immigrants from Iran.
“Iranians were asked to report to the FBI,” says attorney Sotoodeh. “Thousands did
just to be law-abiding and all of them were arrested. The FBI even harassed Iranian
engineers at work, telling co-workers that they want to interview them about terrorism
and they never found anything.”
What shocked Sotoodeh even more was officials’ ignorance about Iranian culture
and society. “They thought that we spoke Arabic! They even arrested an Israeli
because he was born in Iran. What does he have to do with al-Qaeda? But they
refused to listen.”
The shock of 9/11
Arab-Americans weren’t the only ones who felt the sting of the 9/11 backlash.
Extremists assaulted turban-wearing Sikhs from India, and the FBI seemingly
arrested just about anyone who had the misfortune of being born in a country with a
government that supported terrorism.
Among those caught up in the chaos were thousands of immigrants from Iran.
“Iranians were asked to report to the FBI,” says attorney Sotoodeh. “Thousands did
just to be law-abiding and all of them were arrested. The FBI even harassed Iranian
engineers at work, telling co-workers that they want to interview them about terrorism
and they never found anything.”
What shocked Sotoodeh even more was officials’ ignorance about Iranian culture
and society. “They thought that we spoke Arabic! They even arrested an Israeli
because he was born in Iran. What does he have to do with al-Qaeda? But they
refused to listen.”
As a result of these struggles, Sotoodeh formed the Alliance of Iranian-Americans, a nonpartisan group active here and in Los Angeles. The
AIA seeks to intervene in 9/11-related cases and to build public awareness. “We want to inform other Americans and public officials about
who we are, that we are not a threat. We also want to inform our own community about their rights and their role in society. We want them to
get involved.”
Sotoodeh adds, “Many are afraid the government will put everyone in internment camps, like the Japanese-Americans.”
Easing into politics
Politics, American-style, doesn’t come easily to Iranian-Americans. They are, by custom, extremely formal and polite, even “Old World.” At
mixers sponsored by NIPOC, every handshake is accompanied by a bow. One almost expects to see the members in top hats and
monocles, as they cheer on the Lakers.
They also come from a country that has known the forms of democracy for nearly a century, but has never enjoyed the reality. And for that
reason, they distrust politicians, and many are afraid that they could get into trouble if they take a stand on public issues. The result is a
population that is not eager to join the rough-and-ready political life they see in this country.
“We aren’t used to speaking up, even though we now have the numbers to be heard,” says Hosseini. “We may be educated and worldly, but
we don’t know how to be influential, how to work the political system. People don’t know that you can write to a congressman about some
problem and expect an answer. Instead, politicians of both parties tend to see us as ATM machines, and they forget about us after elections.”
An Iranian-American who has entered the political fray is Irvine optometrist Dr. Mosen Alinaghian, a community pioneer who immigrated to
California in 1968. A veteran of civic affairs in Fountain Valley and Irvine, Dr. Alinaghian is running for Irvine’s 4-seat city council. He is well-
spoken about Irvine civic affairs and outspoken about its numerous problems, including sclerotic streets not built to handle the city’s
current daytime population.
More to come?
Among Iranian-Americans, opinions concerning the theocracy ruling their homeland range from mild disgust to visceral revulsion. Some
want to see the regime left alone to slowly rot away; others want to see it overthrown by another “shock and awe” campaign.
All, however, expect the current regime to fall within a few years.
If that happens, Orange County can expect a sudden spike in immigration, as the country slowly reorders its society and economy. Then
immigration will likely taper off, as have previous waves from Europe and Asia. And as U.S.-born Iranian-Americans join the American
melting pot, the ubiquitous Persian accent may go the way of the Irish brogue.
But by the time, jars of fesenjan will sit next to marinara in every supermarket, possibly to be served with corn chips and no one will
confuse Persians with Arabs, or the other way around.
Note: The local Bahai and Zoroastrian communities did not respond by press time. OCM
Stan Brin is a long-time Orange County journalist for OC METRO (Business Lifestyle Magazine)
AIA seeks to intervene in 9/11-related cases and to build public awareness. “We want to inform other Americans and public officials about
who we are, that we are not a threat. We also want to inform our own community about their rights and their role in society. We want them to
get involved.”
Sotoodeh adds, “Many are afraid the government will put everyone in internment camps, like the Japanese-Americans.”
Easing into politics
Politics, American-style, doesn’t come easily to Iranian-Americans. They are, by custom, extremely formal and polite, even “Old World.” At
mixers sponsored by NIPOC, every handshake is accompanied by a bow. One almost expects to see the members in top hats and
monocles, as they cheer on the Lakers.
They also come from a country that has known the forms of democracy for nearly a century, but has never enjoyed the reality. And for that
reason, they distrust politicians, and many are afraid that they could get into trouble if they take a stand on public issues. The result is a
population that is not eager to join the rough-and-ready political life they see in this country.
“We aren’t used to speaking up, even though we now have the numbers to be heard,” says Hosseini. “We may be educated and worldly, but
we don’t know how to be influential, how to work the political system. People don’t know that you can write to a congressman about some
problem and expect an answer. Instead, politicians of both parties tend to see us as ATM machines, and they forget about us after elections.”
An Iranian-American who has entered the political fray is Irvine optometrist Dr. Mosen Alinaghian, a community pioneer who immigrated to
California in 1968. A veteran of civic affairs in Fountain Valley and Irvine, Dr. Alinaghian is running for Irvine’s 4-seat city council. He is well-
spoken about Irvine civic affairs and outspoken about its numerous problems, including sclerotic streets not built to handle the city’s
current daytime population.
More to come?
Among Iranian-Americans, opinions concerning the theocracy ruling their homeland range from mild disgust to visceral revulsion. Some
want to see the regime left alone to slowly rot away; others want to see it overthrown by another “shock and awe” campaign.
All, however, expect the current regime to fall within a few years.
If that happens, Orange County can expect a sudden spike in immigration, as the country slowly reorders its society and economy. Then
immigration will likely taper off, as have previous waves from Europe and Asia. And as U.S.-born Iranian-Americans join the American
melting pot, the ubiquitous Persian accent may go the way of the Irish brogue.
But by the time, jars of fesenjan will sit next to marinara in every supermarket, possibly to be served with corn chips and no one will
confuse Persians with Arabs, or the other way around.
Note: The local Bahai and Zoroastrian communities did not respond by press time. OCM
Stan Brin is a long-time Orange County journalist for OC METRO (Business Lifestyle Magazine)
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