Many of you are already aware that the Public Affairs Alliance of Iranian Americans (PAAIA) recently launched in Washington, D.C. Besides sounding like a delectable afternoon treat, PAAIA is apparently the first Iranian-American lobbying organization, and definitely comes at a useful time for improving perceptions of and gaining influence for Iranians in the U.S.
I’m wondering what are your thoughts on the group’s launch? It’s pretty much a fact that our community has largely veered away from political issues and safely engages in what I would deem “informed apathy.” This stands in stark contrast to other “ethnic lobbies.” AIPAC, the much-vilified, pro-Israel advocacy group, is arguably among the strongest lobbies in the nation. And even Iran’s northerly neighbors, the Armenians, have a strong political voice in the U.S., made even more apparent by the fairly recent controversy over the Armenian genocide in the House of Representatives. With regard to our potential (especially considering our numbers, and the fact that we’re among the most highly educated people in the country) Iranian-Americans have done a poor job of influencing public matters. Can PAAIA, along with groups like the NIAC, end this political drought?
What’s more, the internal split in the Iranian-American community over the issue of U.S. sanctions on Iran can also stymie efforts at forming a united political front. This is one of the reasons that the staunchly anti-sanctions NIAC has not gained a bigger following. Time and time again, we see the debate over the shir o khorshid versus the lalah overtake other issues and divide us. Can PAAIA effectively navigate these hazardous waters without taking on some of its own?
Pardon my crappy analogies, but I’m just trying to play devil’s advocate for a moment. I’m curious about your thoughts. . .
-Kevin
1 comment
I would have to say it depends on who the driving force behind this new group is. Perhaps the greatest problem of Iranian-American organizations is that they are largely (and correct me if I am wrong) run by older, 1st generation immigrant Iranians who usually have brought extra baggage from the homeland with them. As one 1st generation Iranian I know put it, “I have forgotten Farsi and have yet to learn how to speak English properly,” and I think this is a generally a good analogy for that generation.
Iranican (correct me if I am wrong again) to me came out of this idea that as Iranian-Americans we have an identity issue and this show was a forum to explore that identity. We also perceive the problems with our predecessors and we do not want to make the same mistakes. I don’t want to bag on Iranian immigrants completely because lets face it, many of them came over followed by bad press about their country, with next to nothing, forced to build a new life for themselves.
As Iranian-Americans we are far less restricted and I believe that it is our time to shine. The future of Iranian-American identity, lobbying, relations, whatever rests on the shoulders of this new generation and I believe we have to step up to the plate. Taking the good from both worlds, we are a generation of talented young professionals that in coalition with other up and coming groups can form the intellectual elite of this country, and steer it towards better policies.
Thanks for opening up the topic Kevin.
–Abdol