By Shireen Korkzan
<[email protected]>

After 9/11, we became more aware of the existence of Persians, but not in a positive light. Many Americans started calling these people “terrorists” because “they” were the ones who killed 2,974 civilians in one day even though the 19 terrorists physically involved in the attacks were Saudis. The same goes for Osama bin Laden, the enigmatic man behind the horrendous attacks.

Many Persians – myself included – still deal with this sort of verbal bullying despite more people becoming tolerant of the culture over the years.

Although I’m half Iranian, I thought I’d never have these kinds of problems because I live in an open-minded and educated community and attend a school where the kids here know better than to call someone discriminatory names. I regularly state the Pledge of Allegiance and I don’t talk about being Iranian unless the subject is brought up. I’ve never been to Iran, and the only time I’ve ever left the country, other than my three trips to Canada, is when I visited my Latino relatives in Nicaragua twice and toured the Costa Rican rainforest for one week. I was also baptized in the Roman Catholic Church (my middle name’s Maria). The only way people would care to know where my roots lie, I thought, was if they asked about my name.

I thought wrong. Early in December 2007 I was reading a book during passing period before class. I was so into my book I didn’t realize everyone was standing for the Pledge. It wasn’t until the student who sat behind me asked why I didn’t stand for the Pledge when I realized what I did. Then someone in the room said, “It’s because she’s a terrorist,” and that’s when it started. Throughout half the period, the entire class kept calling me that offensive word and my teacher either didn’t notice or ignored everything.

When I got home, I was angry, but my Iranian father said to let it go because no one would do anything and all it would cause me is extra unneeded stress. I didn’t agree with him then, but I obeyed.

Now, more than a year later, I finally realize what my father meant. Yes, calling someone a terrorist is wrong, but Iranians shouldn’t care what the few uneducated people in this country call them. After all, Iranians consist of some of the brightest people in history. I shouldn’t have taken a gaggle of ignorant and immature students seriously; what is important is that I know I’ll actually go somewhere in life and succeed at what I do. Today, I can laugh off what offended me a year ago, mainly because I now know what true Persian pride is.

Iranians have bragging rights. Some of the best doctors, engineers and mathematicians are Iranians. In fact, some mathematicians claim Omar Khayyam, Iranian poet, astronomer and mathematician, should take the credit for Pascal’s Triangle, which he used for finding nth roots based on binomial expansion nearly 600 years before Blaise Pascal was even born. Shirin Ebadi, founder of Children’s Rights Support Association, was awarded the 2003 Nobel Peace Prize for her extensive efforts for democracy and human rights. This latter example is especially encouraging for me since we share the same name (my spelling is the “Americanized” version). And Persians know the list of successful Iranians is never-ending. With this being said, Iranians shouldn’t be ashamed of who they are and shouldn’t sulk about being called a terrorist.

Iranians are some of the hardest working people earning their high statuses in life. I know I work hard, and though my efforts may never pay off while I’m in high school, I know they will soon. After I graduate this year and attend the Missouri School of Journalism, what is often considered one of the best journalism schools in the country, the next time most students here will see me is when I’m reporting for a major news outlet. Laugh at me if you want, but with my strong Persian will, I know it’ll happen. Who knows? Maybe I’ll someday become a chief international correspondent for CNN like Christiane Amanpour, or an anchor for the same program like Rudi Bakhtiar, who was also a general correspondent for Fox News, and no terrorist-calling will ever get in my way. Shireen Korkzan is a writing coach for the HiLite. Contact her at [email protected].