Schemata

In order to grasp a better understanding of the subject, I would like to start our discussion with a proper and relevant definition of the word schema.

On the ethimology of the word, there is a sufficient rooting introduced by the Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia which reads: “The word schema comes from the Greek word "σχήμα" (skhēma), which means shape, or more generally, plan. The plural is "σχήματα" (skhēmata). In English, both schemas and schemata are used as plural forms, although the latter is the standard form for written English.” (Wikipedia, schema)[1].

Longman, Dictionary of Contemporary English, defines “schema” as:

“Sche.ma, n plural schemas or schemata [c] technical a drawing or description of the main parts of something.” (Longman, 2003:1465)

According to the definitions provided by the online Dictionary.com:

“Sche·ma (skē'mə)

n. pl. sche·ma·ta (skē-mä'tə, skĭ-māt'ə) or sche·mas

1. A diagrammatic representation; an outline or model.

2. Psychology A pattern imposed on complex reality or experience to assist in explaining it, mediate perception, or guide response.”(Dictionary.com, schema) [2]

Since this post is supposed to take into focus the two hot, controversial and alive schemata of Americans toward Iran and Iranians toward America, I would like to pick up the conversation with the latter pattern of schema.

What do Iranians thinks of America?

Basically in order to answer this question and finally find out the current schema that Iranians hold in mind against America, this should be clarified that normally in Iran we are facing with far right as well as far left wing people. Specifically following the 2008 presidential elections in Iran, which brought along with it a lot of opposition to the results of the election, new waves indicate that there is an increasing inclination toward left wing by the young generations, who of course are the building blocks of this young nation.

Steven Kull, director of WorldPublicOpinion.org, based on the work of a global survey group at the University of Maryland, polled more than 700 people in Iran earlier this year with interesting results, offering an answer to the above mentioned question:

“Views of the United States are still quite negative. One of the most striking things that I found in both the poll and in the focus groups is a perception on the part of Iranians that the United States has extraordinary power over all kinds of things in the world. Large majority of the Iranians in the polls said that the United States controls most of the important things that happen in the world. And when I probed about this they even said in the focus groups that the United States controls Al-Jazeera, that the United States controls al-Qaeda.” .(Kull,16 April,2008) [3]

Now, the group of people contributing to the poll with this opinion about America is very much likely to belong to the far right. Again, there is a huge tendency to approve President Ahmadinejad’s presence at the office by the same group.

While on the other hand the face of the leftists is of more compassion toward the United States as Kull asserts:

“What's striking to me is that the - you get a different kind of nuance by doing focus groups because in the poll you just get a lot of, mostly a lot of negativity, except toward the American people. There actually 51 percent of Iranians say they like American people and that comes through when you meet them. They do immediately express frustration with America, but you can feel underneath it a real longing to have better relations and an appreciation that you're there and listening to them. So, by the end, they are actually projecting a real sense of warmth.” (Kull, 16 April, 2008)

What do Americans think of Iran?

Exactly the same trend exists in the United States dividing the results of the polls in two different directions. Steve Watson says, in this regard, on Tuesday, April 1, 2008 that: “According to a new poll by Gallup, Iran is top of the enemy list, with 25 percent, followed by Iraq at 22 percent, then China with 14 percent, and North Korea with 9 percent. A quarter of Americans believe that Iran now poses the biggest threat to the United States, confirming that a sustained neoconservative propaganda campaign to demonize Iran and its leaders for their own strategic benefit is having a significant impact.

Republicans are more than twice as likely as Democrats to see Iran as the top U.S. enemy, while Democrats are likelier to name Iraq. Older people and those who say they closely follow world news are less likely to cite Iraq than the younger and less informed, reported the AP.” (Watson, 1 April, 2008) [4]

Bibliography:

1. Longman, Dictionary of Contemporary English, (2003), London: Pearson Education.

2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schema, retrieved at: 12/14/2009.

3. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/schema, retrieved at: 12/14/2009.

4. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=89683583, retrieved at: 12/14/2009.

5. http://infowars.net/articles/april2008/010408Iran.htm, retrieved at: 12/14/2009.