zlacker

You don't think history has an effect on the present?

I didn't even bring up SAVAK or Basij.

>>coryrc+(OP)
You haven't shown that the lineage is connected to modern Persian people nor whether it is particularly prominent in Persian culture as a whole

Torture and power preserving/seeking are emergent and universal, nothing particularly Persian about it

>>E-Reve+ga2
I feel you must not have met any people from continually-multi-thousand-year-old cultures.

I believe Crete was the first country to unilaterally declare itself a part of another country, because being Greek is possibly the strongest and proudest connection they share. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crete#Cretan_State_and_union_w...

The Jewish Diaspora take great lengths to preserve their traditions; you can walk into a synagogue (sharing the same movement) anywhere in the world and it'll be the same as your hometown.

The Persians I have known have had a connection to their history similarly, for better or for worse. Their views and values are a little different than, say, your average Euro-mutt "white" American -- and I think we "white" Americans have some lessons we could take about culture, identity, and values.

>>coryrc+Tj2
Where do you think I'm from lol .....