I was offended to read your critique of Prof. Sobhani, and would venture to guess that you have a limited knowledge of him and his views. He has opened up the dynamics Iran to hundreds of students who previously had no conception of the importance, history, significance, or aspirations of such a strategic country. I have been lucky enough to be one of his students, and can attest from numerous lectures and from my own research into his publications that he shares balanced and well-informed information. By no stretch of the imagination could he ever be considered racist or against immigration into the US, most certainly against his own native countrymen. That allegation is preposterous. He has enlightened us all about the contribution of ethnic struggles to the political dynamics of the region, in a fair presentation from all viewpoints. Sobhani has influenced the lives of hundreds of young future policy makers, and been instrumental in shaping their positive and inquisitive opinions on Iran. I suggest that you respect such an illuminating figure for your community. It appears that you fail to understood the benefit he is bringing to your varied causes. Most sincerely, Jennifer McDonald MSFS Georgetown University
- By: jennifer mcdonald on April 23, 2003

First, let me assure you that “Rob” Sobhani does not speak for Iranians (A friend suggested may be he will when he might start using his Iranian name Sohrab instead of Rob, but that’s another topic for another day). “Rob” is so submerged in his ultra-right Republican views, he’ll say anything to appease his honchos. After all, he has been groomed by the party elite to one day represent the community, unfortunately the community he represents is an inconsequential minority within the greater Iranian as well as Iranian-American community. He was a Republican candidate for Senate from Maryland in 2000, when his claim to fame was that he had “opened the Caspian sea resources to the American corporations”. Anyone familiar with the politics of energy in that region knows what he meant. Some of his recent “achievements” include his hostility and intolerance towards immigrant communities. In a July 2002 article he goes so far as to say “...multiculturalism is eroding America's sovereignty and the national identity of its citizens” (note to Rob; take a trip up to Canada to see how multi-culturalism has made ALL communities flourish), he goes on to decide that “English must become the official language of America” (I hope by “America” he means the USA, since the name includes two very diverse continents). Then he shows his true bias when he attacks the entire current system of immigration, based on family reunification principals as “an enormous burden on our nation’s resources” (goddamn immigrants come to this country and take our jobs away... or is it that they all collect welfare? not sure). So, is it a surprise that to him George W. Bush is another Abraham Lincoln? Perhaps not. However, if by that definition he draws parallels between oppressed Iranians and Americans under slavery, then perhaps he is right in that a true emancipator like Martin Luther King Jr. (and not Honest Abe) is most welcomed and needed. From: http://pedramweb.blogspot.com/
- By: Pedram Moallemian on February 10, 2003