NYT: Exiles in 'Tehrangeles' Are Split on How U.S. Should Sway Iran

[DeepModem Mom]

Exiles in 'Tehrangeles' Are Split on How U.S. Should Sway Iran
By NEIL MACFARQUHAR
Published: May 9, 2006


(The New York Times)
Clusters of Iranians are sprinkled throughout the Los Angeles region.

LOS ANGELES, May 3 — With neon signs in Persian decorating the window of the Woodland Hills Market — "Kabob" glowing in bright red, "Iranian Market" in pea green — this corner grocery store could just as well be in Tehran as in the heart of "Tehrangeles," as Iranians everywhere call their largest exile community.

Products labeled in Persian and English reflect the dual identity of most customers, who find themselves particularly torn these days, wanting change in Iran but dreading what further sanctions or military action would do to Iranians.

"I love my country, but I hate these mullahs," said Houshang Samandi, a television director for an Iranian satellite channel whose life in Los Angeles remains so completely Iranian that after 14 years he still asks a fellow exile to translate the word "sanctions."

"Sanctions will only harm the ordinary people," Mr. Samandi said. "If there is a military attack, they will be killing my people. But if they don't attack, the mullahs will never leave."

The debate over whether the United States could better influence events in Tehran by using diplomacy or by flexing its muscle, taking military action to try to knock out the Islamic republic's growing nuclear program, rages with particular ferocity in this city as well as in academic exile circles across the country....

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/09/us/09exiles.html?hp&ex=1147147200&en=d527e71d39996800&ei=5094&partner=homepage

[kestrel91316]

1. Hey, that's MY neighborhood!!!

I live and work in what I think is the largest community of Persians outside of Iran. We call it Little Tehran. It actually sort of overlaps and encompasses what we call Little Israel. We have huge numbers of Persian Jews (yes, there is such a thing), and some Persian Christians (of Armenian heritage). many stores in the area have signs in the Arabic script, though I believe the words are Farsi, not Arabic. There are also a lot of Middle Eastern muslims, but I think they live off to the north a couple of miles.

I shop often at the Woodland Hills Market mentioned. It is a block from my office, lol. They have lots of Middle Eastern specialties, and I buy all my tea there, in bulk, for very cheap. Also big bags of basmati rice. And their produce, though not first quality, is very cheap.

I ask the Persians what they think of Bush gunnin' for the old country, and they mostly just shrug their shoulders. It's hard to get a read. Buut if Bush nukes Iran, or even mounts a large conventional attack, and starts killing these folks' relatives back in Iran, I am afraid things could ERUPT. They may hate the mullahs, but they will REALLY hate anybody who harms a hair on the head of any family members..........

[bananas]

2. Sounds like a dinosaur: Tehrangeles Rex!