By Rayana Hunt
BYU students of Iranian heritage say they feel their country is being misrepresented in the media and stereotyped by the public, even at BYU.
With President Bush''s statement that Iran, Iraq and North Korea are part of an 'axis of evil,' some Iranian students saw a misconception many people have about Iran.
Houri Andalibian, 21, a junior from Irvine, Calif., majoring in psychology, was born in Iran. Andalibian said it is disheartening to see negative comments about Iran in the news.
'Particularly at BYU where we''re surrounded by scholars and academic people and to hear people say, ''Yeah, we need to bomb Iran''... makes me so sad,' said Houri, 'because it is really such an ignorant statement.'
Shahram Paksima, 32, a graduate student from San Diego, Calif., studying sociology, is of Iranian descent. He said Bush''s statement was detrimental to U.S. relations with Iran.
'It really did push relations with the moderates within the country back, maybe decades,' Paksima said. 'In order for those moderates within the country to seem as though they are patriotic, they had to jump on an anti-American bandwagon.'
Mehrsa Baradaran, 23, a senior from New York, NY, majoring in English, also of Iranian descent, said although Iran has its problems, it should not be generalized as evil.
'There are obviously things wrong with the Iranian government,' said Baradaran. 'But it''s not evil. These are people trying to live their religion.'
Baradaran said Americans should look at Iran in terms of the people and culture.
'Look at it like you would Argentina,' said Baradaran. 'Look at the culture, the music, the food, instead of the political system. I mean, look at Argentina''s political system. It''s messed up, but it''s not evil.'
The idea Iran is an evil country stems from the Iran hostage crisis of 1979 when militants took about 70 Americans hostage in the American Embassy in Terhan for 444 days. The fire was recently refueled when Middle Eastern terrorist groups were found responsible for the Sept. 11th attacks.