Thoughts on Iran - Marks perspective.
What did I think Iran was like?
Islam
Mosques everywhere
Muezzins call ringing out day and night
Angry young men chanting death to America
Being looked at with suspicion
People praying 5 times a day
Mullahs wandering the street making sure people are behaving themselves
Police state.
Hospitable people ( I have read about this)
How many of the above things are true? I am not sure but I will tell you this from my observations.
We have traveled in the North west, north and east as far as Quchan.
There are relatively few Mosques in Iran.
There is little calling to prayer by the Muezzin that we have heard.
Most of the mosques that we have seen in Iran have been built in the last 40 years.
The only police we have seen are traffic police. Not sure who the guy in the SUV was. ( see Cars of Iran post)
It seems that only a small minority of Iranians are practicing Muslims.
They practice Shi’a Islam here, most of the rest of the Muslim world are Sunni. So when the mullahs here say they represent the Muslim world - they don’t. Its like saying Brian Tamaki represents all Christians.
One young well educated man stopped us in the street and very politely asked if he could converse with us to practice his English, as we parted we shook hands and Robyn automatically shook his hand also. He was taken aback and said that was not supposed to happen. We know this of course and apologized. It was just a reflex. He said it didn’t bother him at all and openly admitted to his atheism. However the consequences of someone else seeing and reporting this could be serious.
The way people have reacted to us here has left me with many questions.
Are we just a novelty?
Of course we are, but the interest and warmth is genuine. If I smile at someone in the street whether its a man or a woman, young or old, my smile is returned.
The people are starved of contact with foreigners and are naturally curious to find out about us. But underneath that is a sense of showing a kindness to a stranger, a smile, a Salaam - how are you, a cup of tea. Whatever it is, it is offered with kindness without expectation of anything in return.
I have not had one person look at me in any derisory way at all. The exception could have been the day I was driving, but I couldn’t see them so it doesn’t count.
I have no doubt the regime and their minions are lurking in the shadows and controlling what they can. Will this regime last? I doubt it. Has repression ever lasted? Not for ever, greater empires than this have crumbled. Eventually the tide will turn.
There are bigger players at work here and it could be that Iran is played by both Russia and the USA with Israel and Saudi Arabia cheering from the sidelines. If this comes to pass I will cry because these people do not deserve it.
I am also in no doubt that what the West accuses them of is probably true, however starting a conflict to topple the regime has the potential to make things worse. Much worse.
Change will come, but let it come from within.
Enough of my rambling.
Islam
Mosques everywhere
Muezzins call ringing out day and night
Angry young men chanting death to America
Being looked at with suspicion
People praying 5 times a day
Mullahs wandering the street making sure people are behaving themselves
Police state.
Hospitable people ( I have read about this)
How many of the above things are true? I am not sure but I will tell you this from my observations.
We have traveled in the North west, north and east as far as Quchan.
There are relatively few Mosques in Iran.
There is little calling to prayer by the Muezzin that we have heard.
Most of the mosques that we have seen in Iran have been built in the last 40 years.
The only police we have seen are traffic police. Not sure who the guy in the SUV was. ( see Cars of Iran post)
It seems that only a small minority of Iranians are practicing Muslims.
They practice Shi’a Islam here, most of the rest of the Muslim world are Sunni. So when the mullahs here say they represent the Muslim world - they don’t. Its like saying Brian Tamaki represents all Christians.
One young well educated man stopped us in the street and very politely asked if he could converse with us to practice his English, as we parted we shook hands and Robyn automatically shook his hand also. He was taken aback and said that was not supposed to happen. We know this of course and apologized. It was just a reflex. He said it didn’t bother him at all and openly admitted to his atheism. However the consequences of someone else seeing and reporting this could be serious.
The way people have reacted to us here has left me with many questions.
Are we just a novelty?
Of course we are, but the interest and warmth is genuine. If I smile at someone in the street whether its a man or a woman, young or old, my smile is returned.
The people are starved of contact with foreigners and are naturally curious to find out about us. But underneath that is a sense of showing a kindness to a stranger, a smile, a Salaam - how are you, a cup of tea. Whatever it is, it is offered with kindness without expectation of anything in return.
I have not had one person look at me in any derisory way at all. The exception could have been the day I was driving, but I couldn’t see them so it doesn’t count.
I have no doubt the regime and their minions are lurking in the shadows and controlling what they can. Will this regime last? I doubt it. Has repression ever lasted? Not for ever, greater empires than this have crumbled. Eventually the tide will turn.
There are bigger players at work here and it could be that Iran is played by both Russia and the USA with Israel and Saudi Arabia cheering from the sidelines. If this comes to pass I will cry because these people do not deserve it.
I am also in no doubt that what the West accuses them of is probably true, however starting a conflict to topple the regime has the potential to make things worse. Much worse.
Change will come, but let it come from within.
Enough of my rambling.
Thoughtful and insightful Mark, it does help us to understand more. This can only be done by being there as you both have.
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