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I hope I am wrong. When I was in school in the 70's there were about 25 Iranians in our dormitory, one or two of whom were OK. In general they were the biggest bunch of jerks I ever met in my life. They have no respect for the rights of others, no understanding of the notion of rule of law or of limited government.

But look what happened to them. Those students ---and there were many ---where here enjoying American freedom, they were sometimes jerks but Iranians --even the jerks tend to like to discuss politics and religion with Americans. They're actually more open minded than the typical Muslim, they aren't really as full of hate as their clerics would have them, most would admit to liking Jews on an individual basis. And back then they had a fairly Westernized lifestyle in Iran, they were allowed to wear normal clothes and become educated.

Once they overthrew their Shah, they suddenly got pulled back and got to enjoy their Islamic paradise which they really didn't enjoy all that much. From what people tell me that on the surface things look one way, the women are forced to wear brown ugly drapes in public ---and they don't like it --but underneath they are wearing make-up, dressed very nicely. Everyone listens to smuggled in American and European music CD's, they're watching American movies, the customs agents haven't been confiscating many items brought it because they also don't support the hardline clerics. It will be interesting but I think they may follow the example of Poland when it overthrew their oppressors.

I hope I am wrong. When I was in school in the 70's there were about 25 Iranians in our dormitory, one or two of whom were OK. In general they were the biggest bunch of jerks I ever met in my life. They have no respect for the rights of others, no understanding of the notion of rule of law or of limited government.

This is so unlike any of the Iranians I've known; they have all been friendly, courteous, thoughtful people. My wife, who lived in Iran for a time (and who speaks Farsi), tells me that the Iranians I've met are very representative of the populace in general.

It sounds like, perhaps, you encountered the spoiled rich.