Hmmm....
Posted on 10/30/2004 11:10:50 AM PDT by Prince of Persia
In 1935 the Iranian government requested those countries which it had diplomatic relations with, to call Persia "Iran," which is the name of the country in Persian.
The suggestion for the change is said to have come from the Iranian ambassador to Germany, who came under the influence of the Nazis. At the time Germany was in the grip of racial fever and cultivated good relations with nations of "Aryan" blood. It is said that some German friends of the ambassador persuaded him that, as with the advent of Reza Shah, Persia had turned a new leaf in its history and had freed itself from the pernicious influences of Britain and Russia, whose interventions in Persian affairs had practically crippled the country under the Qajars, it was only fitting that the country be called by its own name, "Iran." This would not only signal a new beginning and bring home to the world the new era in Iranian history, but would also signify the Aryan race of its population, as "Iran" is a cognate of "Aryan" and derived from it.
The Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent out a circular to all foreign embassies in Tehran, requesting that the country thenceforth be called "Iran." Diplomatic courtesy obliged, and by and by the name "Iran" began to appear in official correspondence and news items.
At first "Iran" sounded alien (for non-Iranians), and many failed to recognize its connection with Persia. Some (Westerners) thought that it was perhaps one of the new countries like Iraq and Jordan carved out of the ruins of the Ottoman Empire, or a country in Africa or Southeast Asia that had just been granted independence; and not a few confused it with Iraq, itself a recent entity.
As time passed and as a number of events, like the Allied invasion of Iran in 1941 and the nationalization of the oil industry under Prime Minster Dr Mohammad Mosaddeq, put the country in the headlines, the name "Iran" became generally accepted, and "Persia" fell into comparative disuse, though more slowly in Britain than in the United States.
I totally agree. The name "Persia" is far more beautiful and lyrical.
Welcome to Free Republic, Prince!
FWIW
Since when is Iran beautiful and lyrical?
I know several Persian (Iranian) people -- businessmen in Sacramento, CA. They love America and when we invaded Iraq in '03 they said it's what they had been praying and waiting for. They refer to themselves as Persian and their language as Persian. They hate Sadaam. They hate the government in Iran/Persia right now and want democracy.
It's high time Persia turned another new leaf in its history and freed itself from the pernicious influences of Arabia.
Go back to the glories of the Persian Empire, and dump Islam.
Well, when they shead the theocratic, islamic, taliban type rule, it will be much easier. In the meantime, I find that too difficult.
Cozying up to the chicoms is no help either.
That said, welcome aboard!
The reason for Britain responding to the change more slowly was WW II and Winston Churchill.
When he became Prime Minister, he circulated a directive that, henceforth, "Iran" was to be referred to as "Persia" in all military and intelligence communications. He was concerned about the possibility of confusion between "Iran" and "Iraq". The Middle East was then an active theater of the war, where Britain had extensive strategic interests in Iran (Anglo-Persian Oil Co), plus a protectorate in Iraq.
Thus, all British communications and histories of the period will refer to "Persia"...
Persian is still the ethnicity of most Iranians. The nationality is Iranian, but the ethnicity is still Persian considering Iranians aren't Arabic by ethnicity.
btw what exactly are Qajars?
Hmmm....
As an igonrant black American, my first introduction into "racial" world affiars was via an Iraniran-American. Beautiful people, excellent citizens.
Ironically, it was the Persians who kept the Arabs in check when Europe was in danger of being overrun. The Egyptians/Arabs and Kurds (Saladin was a Kurd)could never fight a two front war.
I agree - topple the repressive mullahs and change it back to Persia.
Persia sounds better anyways. Historically, they were called Persia. Iran also has Azeri, Armenian, Turks, Kurds, Jews, and Arabs. I know some Nazis fled to Iran after World War II. I knew some Persian people and they are really nice. They really well dressed and well to do. I always got the impression that Persians are related to Indians, Armenians, and Europeans. Persian women are very attractive. Think of Catherine Bell or Rudi Bakithar.
Hello!
And welcome to Free Republic!
Arabs really hate Persians. I heard if you watch Persian TV, they spout out anti-Arabic rhetoric.
The reality is America is a country, by the people, for the people. Race is a secondary factor to Republicans.
Ouch! (I agree)...........*~*
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