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• 1 special report * Angry Americans vent frustrations on Iranian student demonstrators by Seth Goodchild “patriotic” songs learned from their childhood. America the Beautiful and God Bless America have regained popularity. They have even turned to waving pictures of the ultimate American hero, John W^yne. In Houston, about 100 irate persons gathered in front of the Iranian embassy last Thursday and burned an Iranian flag, joining in on a chorus of patriotic songs. The group—which eventually grew to 500 —was comprised largely of downtown workers during a lunch hour break. About 60 Iranian students had paraded through Hodston the day before and. the Thursday demonstration was believed to be a spur-of-the-moment reaction to the earlier march. City Editor Across the country, many in the U.S. have responded to tl# Iranian student takeover of *' the American embassy in Teheran with anger, venting their displeasure via demonstrations and—occasionally—vio- lence. Frustrated by their inability to aid the hostages, many Americans have turned their rage on the 50,000 or so Iranian students in the country. Defending U.S. honor, they are rallying behind President Carter in a rare display of public support. Students at universities throughout the nation have resorted to a kind of jingoism, exhibiting a patriotic stand, not seen on campuses sihce jong before the turmoil of the Sixties. Incensed by American flag burnings, they have responded in kind—engulfing in flames effigies of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini and Iranian flags. A new nationalism seems to have overtaken many in the U.S., who want to In Portland, Oregon, about 25 Iranian students marched through the downtown area last Thursday shouting, “Death to the Shah.” Some 40 counter-demonstrators marched alongside, ripping the banners carried by the Iranians and shouting obscenities. ‘Deport, deport’ Many in the U.S. believe that Iranian students should no longer be welcome in this country. Iranians have refused to take a low profile and on occasion, others charge, seem to be looking out for trouble. And trouble is one thing that can be found. In Beverly Hills where 136 anti-Shah Iranian protesters were arrested, the Iranians defiantly carried out a protest march even though area police had received 25 or so threats from residents to shojot the protesters as soon as they crossed thi city line. They were eventually attacked by a mob shouting, “Deport! Deport!” demonstrators there. “This same visibility combined with their tendency to keep to themselves had bred small, unspoken antagonisms long before last week,” reported the Washington Post. Despite the ban, a group of Washington area students went ahead with plans for a demonstration outside the Iranian embassy. Events in Iran seem to have mobilized Washington area campuses in a way that no other issue has—including the anti-nuclear movements. i Snowballs One George Washington student was quoted as saying, “We don’t need to use part of South Carolina as a nuclear waste dump, we should send the stuff to Iran.” At other schools, Iranians have become favorite targets for hurled objects. In SpringTidd,Massachusetts, 30 students were pelted with rocks, bottles and eggs. At the University of Minnesota, students hurled snowballs at the anti-Shah protesters. ‘everybody is upset’ “We’ve been trying for years to get students upset about anything,’’ George Washington University student newspaper editor Jeff Levey was quoted by The Washington Post as saying. He added the students did not seem to care about school issues, but noted that “everybody is upset” about the Iranians. inform the world of their weariness of this country’s new image in the world community—that of weakness. Many have taken to demonstrations to reassert this country’s strength which they perceive as slipping. On the University of Southern Illinois campus, 1000 students surrounded a small group of Iranians and all but held them captive until police moved in. But not all U.S. police are interested in protecting the Iranians. Time magazine quoted a New York City cop as saying, “Just let one of those bastards open his goddam mouth.” Federal officials have prohibited demonstrations on government property in Washington, D.C.\ whose mayor Marion Barry ordered city officials not to issue parade permits to either anti or pro-Iranian But the reaction is not only coming from students. After finishing his sports report, a Cleveland broadcaster set fire to a small Iranian flag, saying, “1 know it’s not spoils but it is an Iranian flag.” His station received about 600 calls concerning the remark, on|y 15 of them unfavorable. A? the embassy takeover continue*, government officials continue to voice growing concern.,, and confrontations continue to occur with greater frequ<* icy. Just a few years ago, many students were calling this country the same names Iranians are now using, names such as “imperialist” and “fascist.” Now they have found a totally different lexicon to describe America with—“scared” and “sick.” Flag burnings The demonstrations have centered in the areas where the concentration of Iranian students is greatest—the Southwest, New York State and California. At George Washington University, for example, there are about 500 Iranians among the 18,000 students, making them the largest and most visible group of foreign students Americans have taken up singing i| 1 UNIVERSITY PRESBYTERIAN Lucian C.Parlato ROCK MUSIC CHURCH Attorney - at -Law Every night 631 8884 at S™ * Main Street at 36 Hopkins Road Niagara Falls Blvd. Williamsville, N.Y. 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