Second Generation Iranian-Americans to Unite?

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by Tara Kangarlou

As tension builds between Iran, Israel and the United States, the Iranian-American community in Los Angeles seems split on whether to take action and unite. In an effort to understand my own community and dig deeper than the trivial perceptions and mainstream media depictions, I challenged the community to explore what my generation has learned from that of the parents’ generation who experienced the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

After the revolution many of my parents generation came to the States searching for democracy, freedom and success. Now, 33 years into the revolution, we are confronting a possibility of another conflict.Yet as the nation of my birth stands at the brink of war, so much of our community seems ignorant. The biggest news out of our diaspora now? Is a new reality show on Bravo called “Shahs of Sunset”—a sort of Persian Jersey Shore, where young people flaunt their cars, bags and dramas around Beverly Hills.

Sure some people may argue that we finally got some exposure; but for those people I would say; “What is the price?”

I’m simply baffled that at a critical time, so many of my people are focused on this mindlessness; and those who have an opinion are too heedless to come together and for once unite.

Yet, as I looked at the larger community of Iranian Americans in both Orange County and LA, I realized that I’m not alone.

One morning I invited a musician friend, Siavash over for breakfast. He brought his guitar.

Siavash agreed that the image portrayed by Shahs of Sunset, captures the trivial side of our community in Southern California. He blames this on the disappointments passed
down from our parent’s generation.

“Most of them just don’t have hope. They feel you don’t have any power to change anything or to say anything…therefore, why bother.”

“Older generation, you know they say oh we just want to make our money and don’t get involved in politics, because they failed once, and they failed big time and they are afraid
of doing it again.”

With a failed revolution the parent generation managed to focus on their own personal life and look at politics as a taboo and pointless battle. Yet, at a pivotal time, where the stage can be taken by a group of shallow minorities, I wonder if there are people in the second generation who can help rebuilt the Iranian-American narrative.

What does it really take for my generation to stand up and raise their voice? Whatever the old generation did, is the past, so what is the second generation doing—when we see shows like “shahs’ of sunset—what should we expect from others to think of us?

I feel sorry for the cast; yet more disappointed in my generation and the entire community.

“There’s going to be a war with Iran and other countries and it’s really sad that we don’t have the unity to show that hey we have all these good people and unfortunately we have these kids running around in their nice cars and getting the stage” said Siavash.

After breakfast, I called my friend Amir—a West Point graduate. He lives in Orange County, but is now spending most of his time in DC, where he takes an active voice in Iran-related issues. He has just signed a book deal for his Mid-East diplomacy strategies. Despite his young age, he has served in both Iraq and Afghanistan and is one of the most active voices in the Iranian-American community. I just wanted to see if I’m worrying too much.

“What’s at stake is not my individual success, or a doctor or engineers individual success—what is at stake, is really a war with Iran. If Iranian-Americans don’t determine their future, someone else will”, said Amir.

Yet, I feel the second generation, those in their 20s and early 30s…people like Siavash and Amir—in their own unique ways…are trying to bridge differences and portray an honest picture of not just Iranians, but what this young generation is all about.

In an effort to shape new narratives, Amir is now organizing several national panels on foreign policy—like the one he just had in Claremont College.While Amir talks policy, Siavash is taking a more subtle approach, as he collaborates with non-Iranian musicians and puts his talent in use.

In a small studio in Orange County, Siavash and his friend Noalto a Japanese-American trumpet player, are on the same page…playing the same Persian tune—something that years of media portrayals and diplomacy may never do.

Siavash said that by working with non-Iranian musicians he wants to actually engage them with what’s going on in our culture and how as Americans they can help him understand his culture better and present it better.

While the embarrassment of mediocrity seems to be the new recipe for fame; I hope this doesn’t taint my entire generation It’s time for us to take part in framing our own narrative and tell our own story—a story that defines Iranians beyond, the 79-hostage crisis, Ahmadinejad, and a group of shallow characters who live a scripted life.

“I want them to go out and speak about our culture and how different it is. One person at a time; If that’s what it takes, then that’s what it takes,” said Siavash.