Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: Notesfiles $Revision: 1.6.2.17 $; site uokvax.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!ihnp4!inuxc!pur-ee!uiucdcs!uokvax!emks From: emks@uokvax.UUCP Newsgroups: net.politics Subject: Re: Re: Reagan's re-election Message-ID: <5000131@uokvax.UUCP> Date: Thu, 20-Dec-84 01:22:00 EST Article-I.D.: uokvax.5000131 Posted: Thu Dec 20 01:22:00 1984 Date-Received: Sat, 22-Dec-84 02:37:46 EST References: <188@dspo.UUCP> Lines: 70 Nf-ID: #R:dspo:-18800:uokvax:5000131:000:3496 Nf-From: uokvax!emks Dec 20 00:22:00 1984 > Funny, I remember about 5 years ago right before the hostage situation > in Iran, we (Iranian students) had a demonstration on campus protesting > the US government's letting the Shah of Iran here. What ensued was about > 1,500 American students surrounding us (about 25 of us) telling us that > "America is a great country, US presidents ARE the American people, and > the US government IS America." We were told the atrocities committed by > Shah, with full knowledge of the US government, were right because > "That's the way it is". And if we didn't believe them, they would gladly > "prove" it to us. We were rescued by the police and ... but that's another > story. > > I am not saying that what you say is wrong. Actually that's the way > it should be. You can never expect a government (even in a democracy) > to do exactly what the people want, and no more. But you at least want > the people to be aware of this. > > The mentality in this country is changing and is becoming more and > more of a bully mentality. The Iranian situation probably was the > turning point. Now Americans either blindly approve of what their > government does, or just don't want to know about it. "Remember Iran" > is becoming a catch phrase. > > H. Reza Taheri > ...!ihnp4!ihuxb!reza > (312)-979-7473 Mr. Taheri (that sounds too formal, perhaps "Reza" is okay?) I was a college student at the University of Tulsa during the hostage "crisis." I didn't see any protests--probably because I spent most of my time at the "North Campus," which is somewhat removed from the "real" campus. What I did see was a lot of Iranian nationals (and people who *appeared* to be Iranian at first glance) disappear. In fact, most did not reappear in classes until the next semester. Let me put one thing up front. I didn't support Khomeini's (*PLEASE don't flame me if I spelled his name wrong. I DO read the newspapers, but I'm TERRIBLE with name spellings... [fodder from an earlier argument]) supporters' actions against the U.S. government and it's employees at the U.S. Embassy. In fact, I would have gleefully supported military actions against Iran-- but that is another issue, and I guess I shouldn't have brought it up since it's a complicated issue as well. But instead, let's refocus on treatment of Iranian students within the U.S. If my experience is anything approximating "typical," I'll explain that I felt like a "hostage," too. I understood that a foreign government had overrun our embassy (i.e. with government sanction) and there wasn't a damn thing I could do about it. Now, my reaction was different than some of the overzealous types; they went so far as to take the "law in their own hands" and "teach those damn 'sand niggers' a lesson." Talk about revulsion. I may disagree vehemently with a person's, a group of people's, or a nation's stated (or taken) position, but that doesn't sanction my cutting them down by class-slander [for lack of a better term], not to mention physical abuse. And a great deal of physical abuse took place. By the way, burning the American flag is a federal offense and, probably, a state offense as well. I know it is in Oklahoma. I'd arrest someone in a heartbeat if they burned a flag in my presence (except for worn-out flags using proper procedure). That flag represents something which I've pleged to "support and defend": the U.S. Constitution and the people for which it stands. Have a safe holiday season. kurt