Classroom Experience Is Still Haunting

By Allan Saxe, WBAP Political Analyst

(Listener Comments Follow Column)

Exactly twenty-two years ago there was a classroom experience that has haunted me to this day. The Iranian Revolution had begun and the Ayatollah Khomeini's name was all over media broadcasts. Iranian students at college campuses in the area had been demonstrating for several months prior to the revolution, both for and against the happenings in that strategic country.

I always have strived to encourage discussion and debate in my classroom. My hope is that students will become interested in the affairs of this world by getting engaged with issues. My hopes were far exceeded one day.

Iranian students had been demonstrating for some time near my classroom. Several American students came in incensed at the support for the Revolution by Iranians on an American college campus. I tried to explain that they too had First Amendment protections as long as no violence ensued.

My defense of the demonstrators in no way meant a support for their views. I understood perfectly the dilemma that some of my students eloquently spoke about. Here were foreign students, guests in this country, protesting not only the United States policy, but supporting a Revolution that would at times humiliate and humble this country.

In my classroom were several Iranian students. Most of my Iranian students over the years had been very sophisticated, courteous and educated. Iran for years had been an ally of this country with many Americans supporting their military with training and sales. Naturally, the oil industry in Iran was closely integrated with American companies.

But there were a few Iranian students who were very different from those I had become accustomed to. These supported the Revolution and hated the Shah, the former ruler of Iran. Iranians were pitted against Iranians both here and abroad.

On that one remembered day in my classroom several Iranians began to argue with one another, excited earlier by the outside demonstrators. As their arguments rose to fever pitch, several American students joined the debate. It became more heated and I tried to calm the shouting matches with a bit of humor. It was too late!

One male Iranian student, who had for most of the semester had remained anonymous, jumped up from his seat and came to front of the room. I moved to the side, but remarked that anything he might say would need to be answered by others. He began his oration by condemning the United States and the Shah of Iran. His list of grievances groaned on and then he began to condemn American values and society. He pointedly looked to female students and grieved about their dress, or lack thereof. He called American students stupid, yes, that was his word. His voice rose as he ticked off his American dislikes, everything from religion, food, and of course the media. He said that America was a condemned nation and would feel the wrath of God! He proclaimed that the new Iranian Revolution, establishing Islamic values, would soon rule the world and that America would crumble.

Naturally, his views and demeanor drew sharp criticism from other Iranians in the class and from American students who viewed him with anger and disbelief. After a while I decided to end the discussion since it was becoming so heated.

After the class ended I asked the enraged Iranian orator if he was here on a student visa. His reply was, "No, I am a resident alien, although I intend to go back to Iran to help with the Revolution." For a while I tried to counter his arguments, point by point, citing the freedoms and glories of our lives here. Obviously, my counter arguments did little to soften his anger. But I needed to try at least. After the semester ended I lost all contact with the student, but his anger and venom hurled at American values still haunts me to this day.

This incident occurred over twenty-two years ago, but is as vivid to me as it might have happened yesterday.

Allan Saxe serves as political analyst for WBAP News/Talk 820 and writes an opinion column for the Star-Telegram.