Just a heads-up on a fascinating article in the LA Weekly about an American doctor, Nayer Khazeni, returning to Iran after leaving to come to America 28 years ago. I used to teach Iranian graduate students English at the University of Texas (petroleum engineering majors, mostly). The little I know of Iranian culture and attitudes is readily confirmed by Dr. Khazeni’s report of her trip.
Our final trip is to Esfahan, known as the gem of Iran and the Islamic world. You don’t need to be Iranian or Muslim to fall in love with this city — even Duke Ellington wrote a song about it. Set in the center of the country, at the foothills of the Zagros mountain range, it is a designated UNESCO world-heritage city. Eleven picturesque, fairytale-like bridges cross the scenic Zayandeh River. We stroll repeatedly across them, stopping for chayee at a teahouse on the lower portion of a bridge constructed of 33 arches. At the Baazaar-e Bozorg (Big Bazaar), I speak to a baazaari who tells me he loves Americans but doesn’t care much for their government. As an afterthought, he points out that he feels the same way about Iranians. He goes to the back of his shop and brings me a book in which he has pasted the business cards of all the Americans who have ever visited. We chat for some time, and as I’m about to leave he asks, “Is it true?” He wants to know if America is likely to hamleh (attack) Iran. He is well-read, and he knows Esfahan has a uranium-conversion facility.
A view of Esfahan, Khajou Bridge (Pol-e Khajou)
I’ll let the article speak for itself. See how you feel after reading it.
[Note: visit this page for more info and pictures of Esfahan. Photo Credit for above image, Iran Chamber Society, a site well worth exploring for information about Iranian art and culture. And here's the Duke Ellington "Far East Suite" info. I also urge you to google "Esfahan" or "Isfahan" and learn as much as you can.]
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{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
Thanks for this. I liked what the shopkeeper said about liking people but not the governments: it’s so true.
What I don’t understand, though, is why the Iranian government is so anti-Israel. I mean, I’m with Carter in his attitude towards Israel, but I don’t understand why Israel matters that much to Iran. Iranians are Shi’a Persians and Palestinians are Sunni Arabs, so I don’t see an Islamic connection.
I like American people. They’re becoming less stupid. Only 30 percent or so are now unaware their president is a moron.
As to governments, they are always suspect.
Amen to all of that.
Amen!
I don’t know. There’s a lot of morons. 60% of the American public believe they each have a guardian angel. Those angels haven’t been much help to our volunteers who are being blown up every day in Iraq! Look at the bozos we Americans elect. Atom bomb Truman, Johnson the crazy, and dumb as a fence post Bushes.
Anarchism is founded on the observation that since few men are wise enough to rule themselves, even fewer are wise enough to rule others.
- Edward Abbey
I have actually seen an angel. No fucking shit, in the Ranchos Post Office a couple of years ago. And I don’t care who knows it.