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"300": Fact or Fiction? Hating the Iranian regime should not become a reason to hate Persians

Ghazal Omid - 4/25/2007

"300", a PG/R rated "fiction" movie was released March 7th by Warner Brothers. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad - who previously evinced no interest or belief in Persian history - was quick to declare his rage and called the movie "an insult to Persian history." Ahmadinejad, who had thus far evinced no interest or belief in Persian history (and, despite protests by the Iranian people, has taken absolutely no action to stop Passargad, site of the tomb of Cyrus the Great, from being flooded behind Sivand Dam) suddenly went into a rage and declared this movie an insult to Persian history. Bur here he had a reason.

As Persians, we could not less about Ahmadinejad thoughts on himself or on the parts of our heritage that he cares to approve - but Persians do care about how we are portrayed in the US media, particularly in movies, which children may perceive not as "fiction" but rather as historical fact.

Coincidently, this film was released close to the "Persian" New Year, a date in where teachers in Iran demanded their unpaid back salary from the Iranian government.

But on March 7th, people in the US didn't see or hear of the shouts of thousands of teachers gathered in front of the Iranian assembly. People in the US didn't hear about other protests held in the past two weeks; among them a protest in Park Danshjoo where more than 400 women gathered demanding rights for women; some of whom police struck in the face with batons.

On March 12, more than twenty-five women activists were arrested in Tehran while gathering in a non-violent manner, objecting to the Iranian regime's arrest of five other women protesting for women's rights in June 2006.These women spent up to eight days in the notorious Evin prison before being freed. None of their voices reached the pages of any American newspaper. Instead, at the grand opening of the movie "300" - where Iranian women were portrayed as whores dancing for a cross dressing, and in where a bi-sexual man considered himself God - received ample exposure.

Some historical context may be needed. Persians never worshipped Gods. Persian religion, had a prophet, Zoroaster, who taught from the Avesta, the Book of God that is mentioned in the Koran.

Persia was among the first kingdoms to have Queens, who not only managed the affairs their vast country but led their armies through wars.

Persia is considered to be among the first civilizations. It is considered as such not because our people were gathered as a collective at one place but because our behavior as a society became attuned to caring one for another. It was no longer just about surviving in the wild. We came together as a society to care for children, the elderly and for other nations who needed our help.

Persians were never "barbarians" as portrayed in the fiction movie "300." In those glorious times, King Cyrus the Great was the first king to write a Charter of Human Rights. Today, unfortunately, Iran's name is usually sited next to Ahmadinejad and his stated ambition to wipe Israel off the map.


Unlike the present, when Jews are the object of hatred by the Iranian regime, which portrays them as evil pigs, Jews were welcomed in Persia, not as slaves but as free men and women whom we loved as we still do in our hearts. Jews became part of our culture. There was never slavery in ancient Persia; nor is there today.

Wars were thought in Persia- but Persians were almost always considered role model soldiers. In no war were they ordered to kill children and rape women.

For some reason, the US media has been strangely silent about the many anti-regime events that happened in Iran the past few weeks; paying attention only to the stories involving our unpopular president Ahmadinejad. The Iranian people are left wondering what should they do in order to be heard. They repeatedly ask, "Whose side is the US media on?" If anyone is truly interested in replacing the Ahmadinejad regime shouldn't they be paying attention to the Iranian people who are trying to do just that? No one would like this regime to be removed from power more than common Iranians. However, that part of the struggle appears to remain hidden from the eyes if the media - a fact that sends the wrong message to the students and the members of the opposition in Iran. Ahmadinejad is an enemy of the US, Israel and the Persian people. However, as they say, "In the fight against your enemy, don't become like him."