L.A.’s Iranian community grapples with reactions to U.S. military attack
Roozbeh Farahanipour sat in the blue-green glow of the Westwood restaurant’s 220 gallon saline water aquarium and was worried about Iran, whose voice was painful.
It was Sunday morning, and the homeland, which he fled a quarter century ago, was bombed by the US army, and increased a conflict that began when Israel created a surprise attack on the Middle East enemy of Israel nine days ago.
Farahanipour, owner of Delphi Greek Restaurant and other two nearby restaurants, said, “There is anger and hatred for the Iranian regime – I have it, but I am trying to manage it.” “If the regime is to be changed for any reason, we will face another Iraq or Afghanistan or we will see the situation of the Balkans. Iran will be divided into pieces.”
53 -year -old Farahahanipour, a political activist before escaping from Iran, shook a series of questions while making lazy loops in the tank behind a gray shark. If the US attack triggers a more widespread war, what could be for civilians in Iran? What will be the potential loss of Israel’s lives? And the Americans? After wrestling with these heavy questions, he created more work: “What will be the gas price tomorrow?”
This is life for Iranian Americans in Los Angeles, a diaspora that forms the largest Iranian community other than Iran. Like other Iranian Americans interviewed by The Times, Farahanipour, the United States hit the three nuclear regions and participated in the country’s efforts to disrupt an atomic weapon.
Approximately 141,000 Iranian Americans live in La County, Iranian Data PanelOrganized by UCLA Near East Research Center. Westwood is the central base of the community, where the name boulevard is stained with showcases covered with Persian scenario.
On Sunday morning, the reaction to the news of the conflict was closed in an area nicknamed “Tehrangeles”, referring to Iran’s capital. 1979 Islamic Revolution. In some stores and restaurants, journalists from CNN, Spectrum News and other sales points are more than Iranian users. Attari in the sandwich shop, Cattle SandwichThe pre-revolutionary Iranian flag was hanging near Yazırkasa-However, he did not want to interview any restaurant.
“No thank you; [I’m] Not really political, ”he said with a moderate guest with a sarcastic smile.
Kevan Harris, a professor of sociology in UCLA, said that the US participation in a military conflict with Iran has been imposed on meaning and has been a long -standing hand.
“This scenario, which looks almost almost fantastic, is something in its imagination: the US will bomb Iran,” he said “Social Revolution: Politics and Iranian Welfare State”. “This is something that has been discussed regularly for 20 years.”
Many immigrants are concerned about the family members that the authoritarian government, where they escaped, is struggling with their deep and anger and left behind. Some of the Westwood were willing to chat.
A woman who wanted to be defined as Mary, who is worried about security for her family in Iran, said she migrated five years ago and visited La with her husband. Chicago said that one and a half last week is very difficult, because many people in his close family, including his family, still live in Tehran. Recently, they left the city for another place in Iran because of the ongoing attacks of Israeli forces.
35 -year -old Mary, “I talk to them every day,” he said.
The owner, who hangs the Iranian flag before 1979, said that he was “hopeful and anxious”.
“This is a very confusing feeling,” he said. “Some people are happy because they don’t like the government – they hate the government.” He said others were uncomfortable with the destruction of the property and deaths of civilians.
Mary was planning to visit her family in Iran in August, but it was mixed. “I don’t know what to do now,” he said.
Beverly Hills, the leading Iranian Jewish community of Beverly Hills, which was not far from Westwood, made it felt. On Sunday morning, 62 -year -old Shahram Javidnia walked with a group of pro -Israel supporters who organized a regiment to the city’s great “Beverly Hills” sign. One of them shook the Israeli flag.
Javidnia, a Iranian Jew who lives in Beverly Hills and opposed the government in Iran, said that he was watching social media, TV and radio for the news of the situation there.
Iran’s authoritarian leadership said, “Now they are at a weak point,“ It’s time for the Iranians to rise and try to do the right thing. ”
In 1978, Javidnia came to the United States as a young man a year before the revolution led to the overthrow of the Shah and the establishment of the Islamic Republic. He settled in the La region and hasn’t come back since then. He said there was nothing he’s thinking about.
“My childhood is no longer there,” he said. “Impossible.”
