Letter to the L.A. Times and Borzou Daragahi

On July 26, L.A. Times correspondent Borzou Daragahi printed an article on the commemoration of the death's of the Shah of Iran and Anwar Sadat in Egypt. Here's the link that article:http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-shah26jul26,1,1882469.story?ctrack=2&cset=true


Here's the letter I sent to the Times:

Thank you for Borzou Daragahi's article on the anniversary of the Shah's death - Although I must admit it was somewhat petty - taking shots at Iranians because of their clothes and perfume. Did he expect them to wear fanny packs and sweat pants?

I don't doubt there may have been fluff surrounding some of those mourners - But in truth, I believe there is often a mob mentality regarding a lot of people, and "monarchists" are no different thanintellectuals, communists, revolutionaries and evidently, journalists.

As an Iranian-American Angeleno, I think Mr. Daragahi could have created a piece that really looked at the significance of the Shah in today's global context and in relation to the hundred thousand of Iranians and Iranian-Americans who live in Los Angeles today.What he failed to do wasacknowledge his audience - scores of respectable, intelligent and proud Iranian L.A Times readers, many of whom supported the Shah and most of whom revile the consequences of the Islamic revolution - and who at the very least, can view that man's great accomplishments and failings objectively - something that is usually expected of journalists like himself.

But like I said, some Iranians like the fluff, and it seems that Mr. Daragahi is no exception.

Respectfully,