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Iranian students speak out feedback To the Editor: citizens'taxes and has been supported thereafter.) Now, this the so-called “benevolent dictator\ has been accepted for the alleged medical treatment. If occupation of the U.S. embassy lij Tehran is perceived as humilatlon of the American people, the acception of the Shah under the so-called “humanitarian considerations\ has been perceived by Iranian people as humiliation of their bloody revolution. Due to the recent developments in Iran, the Iranian student community felt responsible to inform you,of the other side of the story. International-law supports the territorial and personal immunity of any embassy in any host country. While being a full supporter of the legitimate right of the international community, we wish to inform you of the legitimate right of the oppressed people of Iran: Iran and the CIA To the Editor. The people of Iran want what the world wanted after the WWII, that is to try the criminal for the sake of satisfaction of human conscience and decency. While this IraniaixCchman escaped the country with billions of dollars, the people were literally dying of starvafion. We are writing In protest of the growing antagonism of many Americans towards not only the Iranian struggle, but also towards the Iranians as a people. We are in solidarity with all people in their fight for self-determination and support the Iranian students' demand for the Shah to be sent back to Iran. 1. During the past 37 years, the place called the U.S. embassy has been a center for covert and overt activities inside Iran, with close cooperation between C.I.A. and SAVAK under the pretext of preservation of the United States strategic and economic needs. Now, our problem is a matter of perception: The press coverage of the Shahs' repressive policies over the years can never measure the reaction to those practiced by Khomeini in just a year. The US press, serving as it always has—the interests of the ruling class,*has consistently tried to whip up Nationalist sentiment. By referring to an Iranian slogan such as “Death to Americans\ or acts such as burning the American flag they would have us believe that the anti-American attitude is aimed at the average American worker, student, etc. in reality they are reacting to a symbol of what “American\ means to' them—the US Installed bloody dictatorship, the Embassy—the US ruling elite. Now, after 37 years and after a bloody revolution costing 60,000 lives, the same embassy has been found to be the shelter of the U.S. government’s covert anti- revolutionary activities, which is in continuation of U.S. government’s violation of the most respected principles of Internatlonal.law— non intervention. We, Iranian people had been brutally ruled during the past four decades by the U.S. government's puppet. Everyone of us has direct experience with socio- economic and political oppression of the Shah’s regime. For us the best judge is you, sooner or later the so- called embassy crisis will be over, but a murderer must not be a barrier to a close relationship between the people of our nations. 2. They have not told you that in the past 37 years, on the average every 48 minutes, ex-Shah of Iran has killed one Iranian for his/her political believes with, if not explicit, implicit support of your government (In 1953 after being ousted by mass uprising, he was brought back to power by spending 10 million dollars of U.S Watch the red pen Mehdi Ahmadian Iranian Student Association President It is apparent that, as always, public opinion is being molded by what and how news Is being presented and what is being withheld. We do not take a pro-Khomeini stance but it is important to recognize the vital difference between the roles taken by the Shah and Khomeini. It seems that the \Islamic Republic” is far from democratic and that since Khomeini has executed much of his opposition he too is guilty of denying the people a right to self-determination. However, he has not sold out His country, the people to the US as the Shah has. It is the US that is responsible, through a C.I.A. engineered coup, for putting the Shah into power as a puppet for US financial interests. When he was thrown out in 'S3 by popular resistance his relnstallatlon by the C.I.A. cost taxpayers $10 million. As we know it, this is a violation of the US policy of non- interference, but actually this covert method of maintaining dominant socio-economic influence is “old hat\ for the US (Another example among many is the loaning of money to the illegal South African government after the Soweto uprising of 76). In addition, the repressive measures against growing resistance regularly practiced by US—installed dictators (ex.: Somoza in Nicaragua) are conveniently overlooked by the US as long as those leaders continue to protect the interests of the US. That is why the Shah Is still welcome In the US as an old friend. And such a good friend he must be that David Rockefeller and Henry Kissinger flew to Mexico to exert their Influence to gel the Mexican gov’t, to extend the Shahs' visa. Our own criminal, Richard Nixon, has fraternized wlth-him on several occasions. But the Shah is a criminal and should never have been allowed to get sanctuary here in the first place. If the US is so interested in its own people why not exchange the Shah? Isn’t the lives of 100 people worth more than one man? Or has this man been so valuable that they would sacrifice these American citizens? Although we do not advocate terrorism as a viable means for social change It must be understood that the American Embassy that is in Iran and those operating in countless other parts of the world have traditionally, and continue to act as fronts for C.I.A. counter- revolutionary activities. It would not be surprising to find that some of these hostages are none other than C.I.A. agents. To the Editor: conundrum, the exclusion of the PLO and |he hard line taken by the ultranationalists ... have impeded any significant progress” is misconstrued from my remarks. In the original, I merely demonstrated that immoderates in both camps, the PLO on one side and Israeli ultranationalists on the other, have hampered movement toward a compromise. I never Intimated that the P(.Q’s exclusion from the talks is cause for the slow progress of the negotiations v My words were edited so completely my Ideas seemed to have dissolved as well. The Spectrum is often soliciting for writers, appealing to this university’s students. How can you, as editors, expect a response when a writer Is neither presented accurately or fairly? I trust you'll discipline your red pen and print this contribution in entirety. I am writing because I have a personal complaint and because I think The Spectrum should be aware of the moral boundary between editing words and editing ideas. The article appearing in Wednesday’s, November 7th edition entitled”Cooperate, Dayan Argued,\ was attributed to me, Michele Cohen. I did not write what was printed and therefore do not take responsibility for it. First, let me point out some basic factual errors. Moshe Dayan did not resign from his post as Defense Minister. He has been Israel's Foreign Minister since 1977. Secondly, the statement, “Although the Palestinian autonomy talks between Egypt and Israel mark the first diplomatic effort to resolve the Outlet for frustrations Michele Cohen To the Editor: help it, my instincts get the better of me and prompt me to do things I wouldn’t ordinarily do (one of which is write letters to newspapers—I have been called politically apathetic with just cause). Let’s consider another analgous situation: You walk into a party and decide that you don't like the people at the party. Do you stay at the party and drink as much free beer as you can while you call the people giving the party assholes behind their backs (or to their faces) or do you leave? For those of you who can’t read between the lines; the situation at the American Embassy in Iran stinks. It is a kick in the ass I feel all the way in Buffalo, New York. The statement submitted by the Iranian students—to the Courier last Friday smarts even worse. Their public condonment of the actions that took place quite frankly shock the shit out of me. God, what balls! The purpose of this letter? Please be advised that this is an outlet for one American Citizen’s frustration and anger. Let's consider an analagous situation; You are Invited into someone’s home. This person extends certain hospitalities and priviledges to you. While you are in this person's home you have access to all the advantages of their environment. Suddenly this someone (whose home you are in) learns that your brother has taken his family hostage and is holding them in your house across town. You respond by condoning your brother’s actions and remaining where you are (still taking advantages of the hospitalities and priviledges extended to you by your host initially). Question—How will the host react to^this? I'm not really sure why I write this letter, perhaps my red, white and blue underwear has gotten the best of me. To me a country is no more (or no less) than the people who live in it. Therefore on agressive action against an American solely due to their heritage instinctively repels me. (Surprise, I am an American.) A general hatred and contempt for Americans implies a general hatred and contempt for me. I can’t Down on the farm Paul Comitz We strongly feel that the C.I.A. has no business in Iran and that the Iranian people should be free to decide what Kind of government they want, without outside interference. To the Editor: “truly idealistic, humanistic liberal\ way as you are already busy writing anti-Iranian slogans over the artwork in the toilet stalls. To have these students destroy their valuable drawings for The Common Cause is really a credit to you! I, now would like to write a few words in response to Shove Your Oil. Reall9, Mr. Lewis! How could you write such an awful letter; one so emotional and obsequious to the SHAW, and have the calyptra to use me and other Americans to back you up. You are wrong when you say America doesn’t want or need the Iranians. On the contrary, I for one like them and want them to stay right here. I want them to learn and grow and be a part of America. I want to teach them and I want them to teach me. I want them to be right here where I can exchange ideas with them; laugh with them and come to understand them. And another thing, I want them to have just as much a right to come to this country and be allowed to express their political feelings in a peaceful manner, as did others, in the name of human rights when defecting from “The Other Side.” Yes your letter is a bit emotional and I think that it would be wise for you to go back to that little hick town you were conceived In and cool off. The way we see it, the Iranian students acted independently of Khomeini, reacting against what they saw as a symbol of years of death and the political and economic oppression of the people. The American people should not bo so astonished to find that finally the tactics used by the US for years have been adopted by their victims and subsequently used against them. But really Mr. Lewis, what is wrong with you these days? Could it be that maybe you watch a little too much TV? Could it be that you are being influenced, in a large part, by the Media and their massive Hate Iranians Campaign. You know, the one that's being promoted by a handful of those rich and powerful bastard friends of SHAW. Maybe these bastards hope to start something in Iran, with the help of AMERICAN TROOPS (that means you Dave, when they bring back the Draft for the occasion). Just think of it Dave, you out there in Iran killing hundreds of those “ruthless fanatics\ in the name of SHAW. You might even get a medal? Jim Colucci Buffalo Committee Against Apartheid Fucked world Yes, if the Media is powerful enough to turn such an idealistic liberal like yourself, MR. LEWIS (a University Student who supposedly possesses some gift of reasoning above the average GRUNTS 1 ) into a hate machine, I really wonder what the Media must be doing to the Average Grunt! If our Media can generate hate towards one group of people as the Iranians, someday, if the Media falls into the wrong hands, it might even generate hate towards Blacks, Jews, Italians, Poles, Iranians. Communists, Democrats or ever Liberal Thinkers like yourself, Dave! \Gee Beave. Maybe they’#* U>' srong hands now?\—\Really Wally?” So, ».y »o cool down on the farm Dave. Milk a cow or something and remember, It's not always easy to have a brain. It forces you to be objective and retain the emotions a one sided Media is so adroitly trying to evoke from your shallow mind. To the Editor: While in Hooteville, you’ll probably want to polish up your hard hat and put a little flag in your window in preparation for those up and coming Hate Iranian protest marches the Nazi Party and other fascists have planned for the near future. Your dad and all the guys down at Jimmy's Grill will be proud to read that letter of yours. They might even show you their membership cards and ask you to join! Your little brother will get a big kick out of the whole f >»ve. He might ev«,. If I were an Iranian student studying in America, I would be very polite to my American brothers. Afterall, to come to this country and take its advantages is one thing, but to overtake its embassy is another. The thing that pisses me off most is the fact that Iranian students broke international law and this was condoned by the Ayatollah Khomeini. Iran proved to the world that they will not abide by the law. I am mostly concerned with world peace and if every country broke international law this world would be fucked! that little Iranian girl’s dress on fire. You know, the one that’s in his class. All of America will be united as one again. A nation with a cause—to hate And just think Dave, it’s all because of your letter. At school too your letter is already having an effect. All those overly intellectual students who think in the same David S. Warren Crealoza Keet
