Comments on: Iranian-American Dual Loyalty?

By: Shahrzad

Shahrzad — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 07:02:40 +0000

Here’s the view of an Iranian-American Jew. What most of the world does not understand, is that the Iranian government does not equal the Iranian people. In USA equivalence, it would be as if the KKK was in charge of the government, ruled with a bloody iron fist, and made damn sure that they remained in power by decimating any opposition and by controlling who gets to even run for office (as well as who actually gets elected). Somewhere between 7 to 10 percent of the people of Iran are of the same mindset as the government. The rest, the 90 percent or more of Iranian people, are trapped and controlled and embarrassed by their government. They protested and shared videos of the protests knowing full well that they would be beaten, stabbed, shot, arrested and tortured. They did it anyway, in the spirit of “Give me liberty or give me death.” They did so, without any hope of actual liberty, but with mere hope to show their government that they were not fooled and to show the world that their government does not represent them.

Do Iranian-Americans like me have loyalty to the Iranian people? You bet. Do we have loyalty to the Iranian government? Not an ounce. Do we wish for regime change in Iran? Absolutely. Do we agree with each other what we would want the current regime replaced with? Not at all.

Do we want “access” to Iran? Some wish they could go back, but most of us merely wish we could visit there without fearing our life, fearing jail time, or fearing that we would not be allowed to leave again. I have lived here since I was a kid. My English is better than my Farsi ever was. I am married and have kids. Iran is my birth place, but America is my home country. And my kids? They were born here. They have American first names. Would their loyalties and intentions and objectivity also be questioned because of their last name?

By: Jack Farb

Jack Farb — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 17:44:19 +0000

I applaud this piece and I agree with your points 100%. If the Israeli lobby wants to paint a picture in such broad strokes about the Iranian-American community, then they have no right to scream of anti-Semitism when one questions to whom their loyalty belongs.

By: scott

scott — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 02:30:18 +0000

“Neocon Martin Kramer says that Iranian-Americans can’t be trusted on issues related to Iran at an AIPAC conference. That’s the kind of disgusting racism typical of the neocons and AIPAC.”

Sorry, it’s not racism to suspect someone’s affiliations where there are ties. It’s not racist to test these ties for hints of bias and take that under advisement when balancing their commentary. You wouldn’t be racist to consider the Jews here pro-Israel, you’d be stupid and ignorant.

There might well be Iranians who simply long for the days of the Shah. I don’t really want to take their commentaries without putting it in its context either.

Finally, would those here at LobeLog offer a summary of the sanctions against Iran? Specifically, are these sanctions related to the fact that Iran can’t refine its own oil?

By: Jon Harrison

Jon Harrison — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 01:03:56 +0000

Aren’t Goldfarb and Goldberg doing Israel’s legwork here in the U.S.? They accuse someone else of dual loyalty? It’s the pot calling the kettle black!

By: Roger Lafontaine

Roger Lafontaine — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 13:00:56 +0000

Trita Parsi is ‘the Iranians’ regimes’ man in Washington’? Give me a break. That he decidedly is not. I have heard Mr. Parsi on Cspan. That characterization is quite a stretch of imagination.

By: Zeke

Zeke — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 03:02:17 +0000

Neocon Martin Kramer says that Iranian-Americans can’t be trusted on issues related to Iran at an AIPAC conference. That’s the kind of disgusting racism typical of the neocons and AIPAC. They won’t be happy until the whole Mideast and all of Central Asia is one giant ocean of blood. Excuse me, I should probably say highly radioactive blood.

By: TutuG

TutuG — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 16:23:51 +0000

Oh, wake up Mr Luban, what it is that you do not understand here? Haven’t you heard of the strategy of giving somebody a bad name before hanging him/her? Like John Bolton saying that unless Iran is bombed to a smithereens they will continue to support Al Qaeda! Who cares whether the Iranians hate Al Qaeda perhaps a tiny bit more than they hate John Bolton. Someone with an Islamic sounding name donating money to J Street!! Shock horror, how can an Islamic person support a group that is fighting for justice and speaks out for deprived folks knowing fully well that they are Muslims! Which holy book are you reading lately? Rest assured J Street, you folks are beginning to have effects. You are being attacked for exactly the same reasons for which the Acorn group is being attacked by some influential groups. Whoever likes the threat of the possibility of an apple cart being upset?

By: Steve Gardner

Steve Gardner — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:38:54 +0000

Claiming Iranian-Americans have a dual loyalty is remarkably bad strategy on the part of Neocons. The vast majority of Iranian Americans are either refugees from the Islamic Republic or the children of those refugees. They voted against the mullahcracy with their feet. Jewish Americans like Goldfarb and Goldberg aren’t refugees from Israel and show their dual loyalty every day of their lives. Aren’t they concerned that this time they have given people the idea that their dual loyalty should be questioned?