If I learned anything from studying psychology is to define my own identity.
What a progress one might say! I believe each one of us is in critical need for self-recognition.
Traditionally, we are lost in some distorted belief about who we are and what we do in this world.
Therefore it is significant that we communicate about our backgrounds and becoming.
In the absence of a realistic view on our true Self, we hide behind clusters of labels and facades.
Using an arrogant view, I would say we Iranian are in critical need to know ourselves.
Why? Because we have been forced to internalize many believes, things that are not really part of how our ancestors saw the world.
We are dressed a dress that does not belong to us.
It does not fit us and it does not suit us.
We Iranian or whatever we call ourselves, we need to redefine us.
One may ask why not others.
I would say, I do not know about others, I know about the mess we Iranian live with.
At times, we Iranian are too embarrassed about our own identity.
Why?May be one reason is that we Iranian have hard time to recognize our own weaknesses and strength in a healthy way.
It is hard is expose our Self.
It is painful to put everything that has happened into perspective.
At times we are too proud of being Iranian.
We may praise our culture; still we do not practice what we preach.
We may brag about the several thousands year of culture, still look what is going on in our home country.
See how media is being misused by some men who take their anger and frustration on others.
Who are we really and what do we want? We are all confused because we do not have a leadership.
Still we are loyal to our roots and we all wish we could do something about the ocean of poison that destroys families and communities.
Myself, I am a woman and I am Iranian.
I live in Canada and I am multicultural.
I acknowledge my sociocultural and ethical identity being influential in my understanding of myself and the world.
Being Iranian involves a culturally fragmented world.
Historically, we Iranian are hurt, while we present a fake picture of our own self-perception.
We Iranian are throughout our entire history barely having had the opportunity to live with a state of peace of mind.
Safety and security has not been and it is not part of our vocabulary.
There have always been those who wanted something from us.
We have always been forced to conform to the rules that we were not part of making it.
The notion of oppression and invasion are familiar concepts, things that we feel it with our flesh and blood.
Being Iranian involves dealing with complex issues that blends in the past as a present form and present time stuck in a delusional future.
Being Iranian is hard and joyful at the same time.
We are proud of our family values while we have no concept for respect for individuals.
Civil right is really farfetched ideas.
Being Iranian and living in Canada means living with adjustment issues, comparisons, and hopes.
Being Iranian and living elsewhere in the world means the same thing.
We always compare, contrast, complain, and swear because of what has happened to us.
No one takes responsibility and we all blame one another.
Still we are funny.
We have a good sense of humour despite all the odds.
What a circus.
What a joke.
Poran Poregbal Vancouver, B.
C.
December 10, 08