Hello everyone, below is the first draft of my SOP.
The necessity of changing attitudes to foster positive relationships for the future.
Iran has the potential to be Americas greatest ally in the Middle East and South East Asia. A country at the cross roads of these extremely important and troubled regions, Iran shares many of Americas security concerns in a very tangible sense. However, the intense war of words and overwhelming mistrust finds both countries speaking past each other instead of with each other. With a population of 70 million highly literate people Iran's population is young, educated, talented and most of all ready to interact with the world in a very real way. Our current regime of punishment and saber rattling only serves to help the autocratic regime in Tehran maintain a tight grip on power by suppressing the moderate, progressive majority in its society.
First and second generation Iranian-Americans have a unique ability to work past the Iranian government and interact directly with the people by visiting Iran, understanding the people and using these experiences to develop new, more positive policy alternatives. In addition to being the son of an Iranian immigrant, I am an American who whole-heartedly believes in democracy, freedom and the potentially good force Americans can play in the world. There is a strong desire in me to try to bridge the gulf between my country and the country of my family. Additionally, the ubiquity and accessibility of global communications and the rapid popularization of new media has opened a vast marketplace of ideas and understanding unknown only a decade ago. Armed with a greater knowledge of the Middle East, its history, geopolitics and relationship with the west, I hope to find means of mutual communication and cooperation.
I currently hold a BA in digital media and I hope to attain a second one in Middle Eastern studies and then pursue a graduate education in Middle Eastern studies and journalism. Having traveled to Iran many times I have arrived at the belief that there is a genuine desire for understanding and using new media there is a profound opportunity to communicate ideas. There also seems to be a narrow interest about the middle east in the younger generation of Iranian-Americans, an interest I would like to see expanded through new technologies and social forums. Iran's disenfranchised youth is looking for an outlet, we only need to reach out and seize this opportunity to see that we are all searching for the same thing; life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
The necessity of changing attitudes to foster positive relationships for the future.
Iran has the potential to be Americas greatest ally in the Middle East and South East Asia. A country at the cross roads of these extremely important and troubled regions, Iran shares many of Americas security concerns in a very tangible sense. However, the intense war of words and overwhelming mistrust finds both countries speaking past each other instead of with each other. With a population of 70 million highly literate people Iran's population is young, educated, talented and most of all ready to interact with the world in a very real way. Our current regime of punishment and saber rattling only serves to help the autocratic regime in Tehran maintain a tight grip on power by suppressing the moderate, progressive majority in its society.
First and second generation Iranian-Americans have a unique ability to work past the Iranian government and interact directly with the people by visiting Iran, understanding the people and using these experiences to develop new, more positive policy alternatives. In addition to being the son of an Iranian immigrant, I am an American who whole-heartedly believes in democracy, freedom and the potentially good force Americans can play in the world. There is a strong desire in me to try to bridge the gulf between my country and the country of my family. Additionally, the ubiquity and accessibility of global communications and the rapid popularization of new media has opened a vast marketplace of ideas and understanding unknown only a decade ago. Armed with a greater knowledge of the Middle East, its history, geopolitics and relationship with the west, I hope to find means of mutual communication and cooperation.
I currently hold a BA in digital media and I hope to attain a second one in Middle Eastern studies and then pursue a graduate education in Middle Eastern studies and journalism. Having traveled to Iran many times I have arrived at the belief that there is a genuine desire for understanding and using new media there is a profound opportunity to communicate ideas. There also seems to be a narrow interest about the middle east in the younger generation of Iranian-Americans, an interest I would like to see expanded through new technologies and social forums. Iran's disenfranchised youth is looking for an outlet, we only need to reach out and seize this opportunity to see that we are all searching for the same thing; life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.