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Old 02-10-2010, 06:42 PM
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ilbegone ilbegone is offline
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The other day I spoke with a young woman who came from the middle east: In all the conversation, she referred to her originating locality as "Persia", only once did say "Iran".

I had seen her a few times, seemed like a nice, perhaps shy person. I asked her what kind of music she liked, it's pop and rap. Then I asked her what kind of music her parents like - I misunderstood at first, sounded like "dispersia" (as in "dispersing", which confused me), but I got the idea after a couple of repetitions. It was Persian.

So the next question had to do with whatever concern her parents had about her being Americanized. She said that they had that worry, but she didn't consider herself to be all that Americanized, that she was proud of being Persian.The next thing I believe she misunderstood, I asked why half the people around the world hate us and why were the other half trying to get here. She replied that she didn't really like to push her Persian heritage because Persia had hurt her so much. Being of a minority religion, she commented that when Muslims found out one was not Muslim, they could and would do whatever they wanted with the non Muslim.

After a while I asked her what minority religion she belonged to, the reaction was dramatic.

Previously, she had been rather low voiced and almost shy, but now, not quite having flaring nostrils and fiery eyes, she became the most assertive I have seen her to date.

Seeming to grow several inches, it was more a proclamation than a statement: "JEWISH".

She left for a little bit, then returned. I asked if there was any problems with her being a Persian Jew In America. She said no, no one cared in the slightest that she is a Persian Jew.

The part where she mentioned Iran is where she commented that there were a lot of ignorant people who asked her questions. I replied "Such as I". She countered no, at least I seemed to know where Iran was at, most people assume her to be from Iraq.

I believe there has been bad blood between much of the concept of "Iraq" and the concept of "Iran". I appreciate, whether she was merely being polite or sincere, that she made the above comment concerning myself.

She was, as I remember, 13 when she entered the United States with her parents. She is now 21. I don't know the circumstances of their arrival.
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Last edited by ilbegone; 02-10-2010 at 06:45 PM.
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