The op-ed editor of the New York Post sparked an online debate after he called out a college professor for mocking his name.
Iranian-American journalist Sohrab Ahmari found some empathy as well as plenty of criticism on social media after he tweeted, then deleted, a message to the University of Southern California complaining that a professor referred to him as “Sohrab Calamari” on Twitter.
“Hey @USC: Does a USC professor’s mocking my Persian name comport with your diversity and civility codes?” Ahmari wrote on Twitter, tagging the school and its employee. “Or do those lofty statements not apply when the target is a conservative Catholic?”
A screenshot of the tweet was also included with his message before he deleted it.
My Dude, If this is your worst problem OWN IT! Don’t delete it ? pic.twitter.com/mz564ONlSt
— CaliToad (@cali_toad) January 11, 2020
Ahmari deleted the tweet within the hour apparently but soon added a new tweet without tagging anyone.
Among liberal/left-wing academe, it’s permissible to twist a Middle Eastern name into an insult, regardless of what the university “diversity principles,” etc. say. pic.twitter.com/vat0W1Gv4D
— Sohrab Ahmari (@SohrabAhmari) January 10, 2020
Twitter users mocked Ahmari for his thin skin.
“Calamari” is an insult? It just seems like a middle school level wisecrack
Is there another part to this saga that I’m missing?
— Great and Unmatched Miser (@jenifer39) January 10, 2020
We do this to everyone’s names, you’re not special
— mother uranus ? (@traddegeneracy) January 10, 2020
Sohrab Ahmari is so sensitive he can’t even handle primary school insults
— Not me, 1.84 million of us #NoWarOnIran (@ANTIFA_lawyer) January 10, 2020
This would a hate crime of unimaginable proportions if you were a lefty
— Jebe the Arrow (@Mongol_Lawyer) January 10, 2020
The editor and author was called out for deleting his other comments and blocking some users.
Lmao this is AFTER he quote-tweeted me. What a lame coward pic.twitter.com/ODSXGx4rit
— Connor Wroe Southard ?? (@ConnorSouthard) January 10, 2020
Update: pic.twitter.com/tvVOU47VP8
— brer duck-rabbit (@ekstasis) January 10, 2020
There was the occasional defender:
As an impartial observer: I’ve followed Sohrab for some time. His sense of personal pride & dignity is matched by his courtesy to and respect for others. Not once have I seen him denigrate or demean anyone else. What a shame that a fellow academic should fail in basic civility.
— Hereward (@Herewar66545077) January 10, 2020
But some were angry that Ahmari was offended enough to jeopardize someone’s job
are you really trying to get someone fired over this
— scimmia garbaggio (@allahliker) January 10, 2020
He deleted it, but let’s not pretend that the purpose of this tweet was anything but the obvious one. pic.twitter.com/fwrbrHWaqD
— Existential Weirdo (@spurtmagoo) January 10, 2020
New York Times writer Elizabeth Bruenig pleaded for “mercy” from Ahmari, citing personal experiences with similar backlash.
I would counsel mercy. You probably could get him in trouble, possibly fired. But is that proportional or forgiving? I get called horrible things on here daily for being Catholic etc, but I always think — taking away someone’s livelihood is overkill, & hurts innocents (family)
— christmas cheer liz bruenig (@ebruenig) January 10, 2020
I know we disagree on a lot and I know it can be really frustrating on here but I really hope you’ll reconsider. I’ve been on the other side of this (husband got fired for a silly, mild tweet while I was 38 weeks pregnant) and I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy
— christmas cheer liz bruenig (@ebruenig) January 10, 2020
Ahmari’s actions were likened to New York Times columnist Bret Stephens who reported George Washington University associate professor David Karpf after he compared him to a bedbug last year, setting off a viral reaction that caused Stephens to deactivate his Twitter account.
Sohrab Ahmari was mentored by Bret Stephens, so it’s fitting he’s trying to get someone in trouble at work with a bs racism charge for calling him Sohrab Calamari https://t.co/x7aQxKUxGk
— Almaqah (@_Almaqah) January 10, 2020
Though Ahmari, who debated conservatism with National Review writer David French last year, could delete his own comments and retreat, it seems the damage was already done. At least it provided some entertainment on Twitter.
Corncob Salami
— Serious Pool Lifeguard (@seriouspoolman) January 10, 2020
Don’t be a snowflake calamari is good
— ✨#NoWarWithIran #USOutOfIraq ☮️ (@sed_contra_) January 10, 2020
sohrab call-a-manager
— Endless ? Bummer (@LasagnaGarden) January 10, 2020
Any name can be twisted into an insult if the names owner is a pompous nerd
— Aspirational Illuminati (@Aspire2Luminati) January 10, 2020
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Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida where she has been writing for the BizPacReview team since 2015.
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