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 Patriotism and bigotry
Far too many of the latter since September 11
By Koupal Davoudi
March 27, 2002
The Iranian
"America-Hating Iranian Passenger Gets Prison for Threats",
read the title of a news item I read online:
LOS ANGELES, March 19, 2002 (News wires) ó An angry airline passenger whose threats
to "kill all Americans" brought out fighter jets to escort his flight back
to Los Angeles was sentenced Monday to 33 months in a federal prison.
U.S. District Judge Ronald Lew imposed the sentence on 38-year-old Javid Naghani,
an Iranian national living in the Los Angeles area, who was convicted in December
of interfering with the crew of Air Canada Flight 729 from Los Angeles to Toronto.
The crew turned the airliner around after Naghani became loudly argumentative with
flight attendants Sept. 27 after they discovered him sneaking a cigarette in the
plane's lavatory.
"As he was being questioned by a member of the flight crew, Naghani made several
threatening statements, including threatening to 'kill all Americans,'" the
U.S. attorney's office said in a release. "When informed of this incident and
the concerns of the flight crew, the flight captain decided to divert back to LAX."
On the witness stand, Naghani denied those allegations and said he had apologized
profusely for violating the smoking ban.
He said he begged the crew not to have him arrested, explaining that he needed to
be available to pay employees of his janitorial service, Cleaning of America, in
Canoga Park.
The defense has suggested that, given Naghani's heavy accent, the flight attendants
may have mistaken "Cleaning of America" for "killing Americans."
Naghani also disputed a police officer's testimony that he shouted obscenities about
President Bush and America in a holding cell at LAX.
Officer Troy Tamaki said Naghani told him, "If I had a .45, I'd shoot you."
The defendant denied saying that.
The airliner landed without incident. However, two Air Force fighter jets flew alongside
the aircraft as it touched down at LAX in full view of television news crews on hand
to cover an unrelated story on post-Sept. 11 security at the airport.
Naghani's attorney blamed the threats on too many drinks for his client. Naghani
was ordered held without bail.
The U.S. attorney's office said Naghani had been granted political asylum in
the United States around 20 years ago.
I would be the first to admit that Mr. Naghani does not appear to be an angel.
Apparently he has a problem with alcohol and he seems to have had a few before boarding
the plane (one of the flight attendants had seen him carrying a cup of what seemed
like wine when he boarded the plane). But to be sentenced to 33 months for allegedly
uttering a threatening phrase seems to be too harsh.
As somebody who saw the changes of the Iranian society in the first few years
following the revolution, I remember all too well the police state and the intolerance
that was shown toward anyone who showed any form of dissent from the official Islamic
view that prevailed at the time.
Now as someone who has chosen to live in America, I have to watch with alarm some
events, such as the sentencing of Mr. Naghani , which are reminiscent of those early
turbulent years of the post-revolutionary Iran.
 Just as there is a fine line between self-confidence
and arrogance, there is a distinct line between patriotism and bigotry and unfortunately
following the September 11 attacks, I have seen far too many examples of the latter
(with the news article whose title I chose for my piece simply being the latest).
The rule of law, the American Constitution, the freedom to express your opinion,
are things that make the Americans as whole, a fair and just people. We should not
allow the cowardly acts of a few misguided terrorists lead to our losing sight of
these fundamental and noble principles.
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