To keep it the Persian Gulf

Changing the name will be a very significant blow to the Persian identity


Share/Save/Bookmark

To keep it the Persian Gulf
by Ben Madadi
07-May-2008
 

This website, and many other Iranian ones, have for some time already been inundated by blogs and threads about a possible danger, the danger that the name for the gulf that is located in the Middle East, south of Iran, to be named Arabian Gulf, from its historical name of Persian Gulf.

The concern is indeed genuine, and I quite agree with it. Many changes in this world, especially in the world of mass communications, democracy, lobby etc, take place not necessarily because the change is right, but because the change is well promoted, propagated and sustained. So, the Iranian community is doing its right bit to take preventive actions against the possibility of this name change, in the future. The name change has been on the agenda of Arab nations in the Middle East for decades, far before the Islamic revolution in Iran.

If the name of the gulf will be changed it will be a very significant blow to the Persian identity. Some in the West may even think that the last remnant of the Persian people was erased simply because Persians have long disappeared. Even today it is quite tricky to make Westerners understand the difference between an Iranian, or a Persian Iranian, and an Arab. The word Persian sounds more like something from the history book, rather than the name of a people.

When an Iranian says that he is a Persian, the Western counterpart may think for a bit that he is dealing with an almost extinct human species, about whom he once read in the history book when he was little. Of course, this doesn't apply to the more informed individuals. It can very well apply to the average Joe though. And in today's world of Arabophobia, it seems quite reasonable for some not-so-confident Middle-Eastern Joe to say that he's a Jew in case he's an Arab, and that he's Persian in case he's an Iranian.

A couple of months ago I was amazed to see a couple of Arabs who told me they were Jewish. Of course I am not so unfamiliar with Middle-Easterners not to notice the difference between Hebrew and Arabic. They were speaking Arabic with each other (with the unique pronunciation of Arabic H, like in Habibi, and DH, like in Ramadhan). The Arab guys were chatting and happily entertaining with their Christian colleagues who had been told that they were Jewish. The other guys joked about Arab terrorists (knowing that they were dealing with Jews), and even went as far as subtly attacking Islam, and the Arabs were quietly concurring. And I was restraining myself from laughter.

I also met, quite interestingly, a couple of Iranian folks at the same place a few days later. When I heard them talking normally I went to them and they were very happy to know that I was an Iranian too. Iranians always ask each other which part of Iran they come from, so they told me, I told them, and after a while I started joking about my Turkish accent, they laughed, and so on.

This is the fun part of being the citizen of a badly managed semi-empire, of Middle-Eastern flavour. But we are always very happy to find each other and it is amazing how we Iranians get along with each other, and never really have the balls to say anything bad about each other, except when we are not heard or seen directly. We do have our little differences, contentions and stupid fantasies and unrealistic ideas that do surface once in a while and never really go any further than empty rhetoric and gibberish. These are also probably some relatively sinister parts of the beauty of our Middle-Eastern origins.

Going back to the main subject of this article, it was quite interesting for me to see a pathetic video of some well-dressed (probably from northern Tehran) Iranians who were chanting outside the UAE embassy in Tehran, protesting against their desire to call the Persian Gulf, Arabian Gulf (or Khalij Arab). Well, it is nice to see Iranians bold enough to initiate protests on their own, probably with no government backing! I doubt the Iranian government would send those Western-looking stylish Tehrani women to protest for something, for anything! It is something pretty new for Iranians to protest about such issues.

But isn't it pathetic for Iranians to protest against the government of the UAE? What the hell! Some years ago Iranians would have simply gone there, burned down some date palms, hanged some Sheikhs, beheaded a few innocent people, and taught them a lesson (for some, or no, reason). How 'low' have we come now? Now we are PROTESTING against such a small government? Okay, joking aside, it really is pathetic for foreigners, non-Iranians, to see something like this! Why do Iranians care some Arabs call some place with this or that name??? Did anybody ever protest against Iranians calling the Caspian Sea, Khazar?

One thing is to protest, officially or even by street demonstrations, against the International community, the UN, or maybe even a large and powerful country like America, for saying or doing something against the Iranian NATIONAL INTERESTS, and a completely different thing to protest what the government of a small country does on its own choosing. So, tomorrow we are going to see Iranians protesting against the government of Papua New Guinea's decision to name their children after Iranian pistachio species?

And on the final note, how do Iranians explain names of so many many places, things, dates and buildings or locations inside Iranian Azerbaijan that have been changed from Azeri to Persian? That wasn't so nice, brotherly and sporty, was it? Just think about it!�


Share/Save/Bookmark

Recently by Ben MadadiCommentsDate
Moving forward
33
Nov 06, 2008
Testing democracy
15
Nov 02, 2008
Playing dumb?
72
Sep 29, 2008
more from Ben Madadi
 
default

To Kurdish Warrior

by Anonymous2008 (not verified) on

You need to explain something to me. I was in Iranian Kurdestan, in Azarbaijan, in Balochestan, in Lorestan and all other parts of Iran and I worked as a teacher in those areas(Nehzate savad Amozy). I saw and heard kurds speakin kurdish, Azeris(turkic), Lors speaking lory, iranian Arabs speaking Arabic..... and I have also noticed the way of traditional dressing and their uniqe cultural norms that they in their daily life freely practiced and enjoyed. I have to tell you that I still wear the traditional kurdish pants(Shalvar kurdi) and I really like it. I don't understand what more should they have that makes you guys happier. If you talk about freedom of speech and human rights, then I have to inform you that it is a problem for all Iranians and not only kurds, Persians or some specific ethnitic groups. You should know that we need a common language, the official language of Iran which is called Persian in order to communicate with each other. And it was my job for many years to help people to speak, write and understand the official language of their country(Persian) and they really loved that. Don't forget that we are all people of a great country, Iran.


default

Persian Gulf

by jahangard (not verified) on

Tis is to the person who says Arabian Gulf Sounds Much Nicer. If the lizard eaters and desert dwellers, oops, I mean the Arabs can get back the lands that they lost to Israel, then they can change the name of Persian Gulf, let them go back to the desert and enjoy their lizard eating contest.


default

To Pissed off the Arab hero ($$$$$$$$)

by Anonymous-persis (not verified) on

Speaking of Arab political power, why the hell all Arabs are so afraid of a little country with just 5 millions people? How comes that a little country like Israel made from you Arab heros($) a little mouse sitting on desert. Don't forget that you Arabs were and still are a group of desert tribe with no known industry or architecture and survived on lizards, scorpions, beetles and snakes. Till 100 years ago you did not know anything about Water way that were, is and will remain Persian Gulf. You Arabs were so scared of water that you washed yourselves with the sand instead of water and now you want to rename the Persian Gulf. Don't ridicule yourselve. Soon we Iranians will send the 1400 years old scum(Islam)back to your Arabian deserts.


default

To jamshid

by Kurdish Warrior (not verified) on

Spot on. I totally agree with you on freedom of practicing your culture and etc. We all need to listen to each other needs and discuss the issues that exist in our society, not by calling each other names, accusing each other which only create hatred. It is only then that we all will be a unified strong Iran.


sanazi

hey mr.pissed-off

by sanazi on

remember that the name of the gulf WILL ALWAYS REMAIN PERSIAN.  so as for YOU, you can remain pissed off.


default

To Sanaz

by Anonymous-persis (not verified) on

Thanks a lot for your support. Ben Madadi is an uneducated guy that need to do a lot of reading. I think the only book that he has read is Sadegh Khalkhali's book!!!!!. He needs to read some useful book about the history of Turks, Arabs and Mongols and what they did to Iranians and other nations. Their history which Ben Madadi brag about it, is full of crime, genocide and atrocities.


default

Arabian Gulf Sounds Much Nicer!

by Pissed Off (not verified) on

Why Persian Gulf? Arabian Gulf sounds much nicer.

The name was orignally imposed on the wtaterway by Persian bullies. Now Arabs have more political power and have changed the name.

Get used to the new and real name, you good-for-nothing Persians!!!


sanazi

No Ben

by sanazi on

Anonymous-persis is right. You have no respect for Iran, Iranian culture or History. And you are a disgrace to azaris too.


Ben Madadi

Re: Anonymous-persis

by Ben Madadi on

Mr Anonymous-persis, I admire and respect the UAE, its people and its rulers because they provide our fellow Iranians with jobs, so they can have better lives.

The rest of what you have retorted is quite old and I have read many such comments. Please solve your race problems for your own sake and sanity! Being Arab, Turk, Mongol or any other human being is no less a pride than being an American, French, or even Persian etc.


alborz

Names are significant, meaningful and not static

by alborz on

The Islamic government of Iran has changed many of the names of streets and historic sites in Iran for the purpose of erasing from memory those people, concepts, and ideologies it found to be a threatening or disdainful to its fundamentals.  I need only mention the name a few like Maydan-eh Shah, now Maydan-eh Imam in Isfahan; Shahyad, now Azadi and so on.  So the practice is common and dynamic.  Protests such as the ones that have been expressed here on this site and elsewhere occur in response to a process that is ongoing and undeniable.  They only serve as a reminder of ths dynamic process which cannot be stopped.

The growing trend towards the use of the term "The Gulf" or "The Arabian Gulf" is no different.  In this way the international community is expressing its disdain with Iran and everything it stands for by simply introducing a new name for a very strategic waterway.  Just like the term "Farsi" has crept into the English language, and has replaced "Persian", the longstanding name for our language, so has the name "The Gulf" crept into the world maps and communications and replaced the term "Persian Gulf". 

 "The Gulf" is also a term that signifies the singular and imoportant position it holds in today's world.  It is has been the stage for much geopolitically important events and therefore it requires no descriptors such as "Persian" or "Arabian".  In fact, with the emergence of Islam as the basis for many of the radical forces in the world, it is perhaps best to call it the Islamic Gulf.  It symbolically represents the "divide" or "gulf" between the two rival sects of Islam, and yet could enjoy the support of the so called "moslem brothers and sisters" on either side of it. 

If the disdain for Iran and all that it stands for changes, it will still take decades to erase the memory.  For example, for how many years will Germany's Nazi past remain an integral part of its social and national consciousness?  Angela Merkel's recent speech to the Israeli Knesset was nothing more than an apology for a monumental transgression, 60 years ago.

Assuming that there is a change in course in Iran, then in a few decades we may see the name "Persian Gulf" re-emerge as a confirmation that Iran has rejoined the world family of nations.  Just as a centuries old name can be easily replaced, any new name can also be replaced.   We need to remain focused on the substance which drives these changes not the symptoms.

Alborz


default

To Ben Madadi

by Anonymous-persis (not verified) on

Mr. Ben Madadi,
it does not surprise me that you care more about your Arab brothers and sisters rather than your Iranian fellow citizens. People like you are the reason that hundreds and thousands of Iranians having been reduced to such a stage of depravity, that they have to go to the UAE to earn a living. Shame on you for braging about this misfortune. You have no honor because you admire the rulers of a country who want to tear your county apart. You are not an Iranian and you don't belong to the Iranian community. Just go and leave us alone. Iranian.com is for true Iranians and not the pseudo-Iranian likes of you. Don't stick your head in the sand like an ostrich for some money that your Arab bosses give to you to bash Iran and Iranian culture and history. You feel hurt, frustrated, and perhaps even angry for facing the truth and reality because you don't tolerate the truth. With someone else in bashing the core and founder of Iranian civilization and culture and pride , then every Iranian should be pride of his/her unique culture to have invoked such jealously in likes of Ben Madadi. Even the enemy of iran praises Persian culture with utmost admiration and respect, the respect that you disdain, the iran-born non-Iranians. Good for you pseudo- Iranians, to be anti-Iranian. I leave it to you pan-turkist clown to pop up whenever there is an opportunity to bash Persian culture and Persian history.
Iranian are the decadence of one of the world’s great civilizations, the Persian empire for over 2500 years since the time of Cyrus the great. We true Iranian care for this history and are proud of it and that is what you can not feel and understand because you have your roots in Arabian-turkish-mongol lands. Even the language that use in your writing shows the degree of your cultural depravity that is a combination Arab-Turk culture. Get a life.


jamshid

My opinion

by jamshid on

The word "Persian" was invented by the Greeks. They did not use this word to refer to the "Pars" tribes. They used it to refer to all of Iran's tribes.

All of us Iranians should feel sensitive about the naming of Persian Gulf. It doesn't matter whether we are Farsi or Azari or Kurdish or whatever else. 

Madadi made a good point regarding forcing "Persian" names in places like Azarbayjan. Although I think anything that is Farsi, Azari, Kurdish, Lori, Baloochi, etc, should be considered Iranian AND Persian too, and vice versa, however, I can understand his point.

In my opinion, the only solution to the issues arising from Iran's multi-ethnicity is to give complete freedom to each ethnic group to practice their own culture, language, arts, etc. I would want this for me, therefore I should want it for others as well.

All Iranian ethnic groups, including Farsis, should be required to learn in school a "second" language chosen from various Iranian languages, eg, Azari, Kurdish, etc. This second language should be "mastered", not just "introduced".

The common language of the country should remain Farsi which should be used in goverment and national affairs. Naturally, most none Farsi ethnic groups will choose Farsi as their second language which is fine.

Some may object that this will work against unification of Iran. However, I disagree. I think this will make us even closer and more trusting and loving of each other. Also, remember the Hakhaamaneshi dynasty when all ethnic groups of Iran were allowed to practice their onw religion, language and culture, yet Iran was strong.

Lastly, I want to reiterate that the word Iran and Persia belongs to all of Irans ethinc groups, not just Farsis. The authentic "Parsi" tribes of 2500 years ago do not exsit any longer, except perhaps among the "Parsis" of India.


Ben Madadi

Re: Anonymous-persis

by Ben Madadi on

Mr Anonymous-persis, the word IRAN is old, but the older word is ARYAN. I think Iran was called Aryan far before. The word Azerbaijan is old, and the word Azarabadegan is even older. So?!

The United Arab Emirate though is very new indeed. But my dear fellow ignorant Iranian, your likes are the pity of our community. Do you go to work for Arabs in the UAE? You don't? Or do you? Hundreds of thousands of Iranians do. Thousands and thousands of Iranians go to the UAE to earn a living. I admire the citizens of the UAE and I admire their rulers. For you, I have some sand in the yard where you can stick your head and I will light it for you and write a BIG "I AM A BIG GOD-DAMN PERSIAN WHO HAS INHERITED A 7000 YEAR OLD HISTORY AND I WORK FOR A CAMEL-DWELLER FOR A LIVING"!!! Who cares for that history? You don't deserve the least respect of an Arab with no history, believe me ;)

For the rest of the readers, please excuse my harshness on this fella!


default

very surprising, Ben.

by Anonymous-persis (not verified) on

Ben madadi you asked for an explanation for this part of your articel, "And on the final note, how do Iranians explain names of so many many places, things, dates and buildings or locations inside Iranian Azerbaijan that have been changed from Azeri to Persian? That wasn't so nice, brotherly and sporty, was it? Just think about it!", here is the explanation: Azerbaijan(North & south) did not exist and the real name is Aran or Azer-Abadegan. Azerbaijan is the fake name of this part of Iran and it is politically motivated!!!. I hope you know something about the history of Iran, specially about the north west of Iran. Do you remember what happened in December 1945 in Tabriz? Are you familiar with the name "Jafar Pishevari" and Toudeh communists? Are you familiar with the conspiracy and plot for separation of Azer-Abadegan from the rest of Iran? Educate yourself about all these issues than ask such a question. Iran(Persia) is a Persian country which its population consists of a number of different ethnic groups, including Azeris. It is the same problem with UAE. How can a 37 years old country like UAE claim change of name of the Persian Gulf and claim the three Iranian islands in the Persian Gulf from a 7000 years old country like Persia(Iran)? Arabs need to educate themselves too!!!!!. I'm gald to see that you finally realized the importance of using the word "PERSIAN" for reviving the ancient Persian empire and its progressive history and culture.


Ben Madadi

Re:

by Ben Madadi on

Yes, that would be a good idea, but I didn't choose ALL the title. I only chose the big title "To keep it the Persian Gulf" ;)


default

Arabian Gulf

by Pissed Off (not verified) on

Let's count the countries in the vicinity of the gulf and see how many Persian states and how many Arab states there are and then decide on a name!


default

You lost me at "This"!

by PedramMoallemian on

Perhaps the author can write more in the future and focus on the "significance" of such a blow as this one almost argues against such a notion.


FACEBOOK