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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]As another PP who is married to an Iranian, I'd like to know why you seem so ANGRY.  You seem to really have a chip on your shoulder towards the Iranian culture. Why do you care so much about what they call themselves??  Who cares!

I'm married to an Iranian, and I've certainly met Iranians of all types over the years.  I can honestly say that the vast majority of the Iranians I'm lucky to call my friends are some of the most highly educated, introspective and KIND people I've ever known. They're well-traveled, open to different cultures and religions, and full of life.  Every single one is disgusted over what's happened in their country politically.

For anyone who's interested in learning how Iran came to be in the situation it's in today, I highly recommend the book "All the Shah's Men".  http://www.amazon.com/All-Shahs-Men-American-Middle/dp/0471265179.  I also recommend a fantastic movie: "Peresepolis": http://www.sonyclassics.com/persepolis/

As far as the plastic surgery comments above, I'd just like to point out that the U.S. is by FAR the country with the highest rate of plastic surgery. Brazil follows.

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23:23 here, I want to know because I want to be informed. There is a lot of incorrect information on the internet, so why not ask someone posting that is informed on this topic? I come from an area that people were either white or black and we were never taught that Asian meant more than simply Chinese. I want to teach my own children more about the world and its people. I would have simply classified all Iranians as White prior to this post had I not known that this is incorrect. When you come from being taught that anyone who is not black is white it helps to increase your knowledge on race. [/quote]

Sorry, my post was directed at the PP who claims to be married to the "half-Iranian", not you.  [/quote]
[b]
I'm the one you are referring to. You know, my husband and I were up late tonight just talking about various things and I began to tell him about this thread. I told him about your post and other posts on here. He was so put off that he asked me if I would consider not writing on this thread anymore. I think like many people from different countries, they are highly sensitive and defensive about anything negative said about their country or their people. But if all anyone does is talk about how great their culture is, how great their people are, it becomes hard to discern the truth and truly learn about that culture or it's people.  It would be better if people of that country were more objective and more forthcoming. The public becomes more educated and in many cases may also become more understanding. For example, I heard on NPR once that Iranians have great pride because ancient Persia was once such a vast and powerful civilization. They aren't anymore, but they don't want that to ever be forgotten by the international community. As such, one guest on NPR said it would be unwise to use tough tactics in dealing Iran and instead suggested that the U.S. use a diplomatic approach that paid respect to their history to effect change with Iran. The other poster that wrote that the reason women get so much plastic surgery in Iran (particularly nose jobs) is because of the modesty laws requiring women to cover everything except their face,  makes me sympathize with the women living there rather than perceive them as superficial, western-white-caucasian wannabe's. When I questioned the visitor from Iran about the oppressive laws against homosexuals and adulterous women, it seemed as if she wanted to answer me but could not (perhaps due to government monitoring of internet activity?). It made me sympathize with her rather than than perceive her to be a supporter of such oppressive laws. So by asking such questions and getting more honest answers, I, too, am becoming more informed. As far as the bigot is concerned and other offensive replies, they won't change my opinion.

So you're only right in one sense - both my half Iranian husband and I have a few things we are angry about with the Iranian culture, laws, and behavior at times. I don't like the way they treat homosexuals, adulterous women, and how Ashura is observed with the self flagellation. Why did the government have to ban self flagellation? Presumably because if they didn't, it would continue and people would injure themselves or their children too much. I don't like how oppressive the modesty laws are for women. I don't like how so many Iranians want the world to believe they are white caucasian and strive for that western appearance (as evidenced by the kind of nose jobs they get). Iranians are generally quite successful and intelligent people TODAY. So still not understanding why the need to perpetually remind the world that they descended from the powerful Persian civilization from years past. AND do we have people who hate homosexuals here in the U.S. or people who get plastic surgery?  Yes, but our laws don't condone oppressing them or punishing them. And the plastic surgery is something Iranian women still do here in the U.S. where there are no modesty laws oppressing them. So I wonder if there is a dislike for one's own ethnic features, which is sad. It means western influence has a profound effect on the way people of other cultures feel about themselves.

Just being objective and honest would be more educational and informative for us than to only talk about all the positives of the culture.[/b] [/quote]

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