It doesn't take you long to feel and embrace the warmth and affection you receive once you set foot on the Iranian soil; let it be the ever smiling ground staff at the airport , the taxi driver who will gladly share you the tiniest and most private aspects of his life ( even if you didn't even ask ) and all the way to the hotel where the bell boy is more than willing to help you with your small shoulder laptop bag hoping to make you realize how hospitable the Iranians are and of course a generous tip. So in other words, there's another side for Persia, a side the biased media doesn't bother to uncover and reveal to the masses.
I have been living in Iran for the past 4 years, upon arrival my sole purpose was studying the unquestionably marvelous art of this land, where every corner holds a memory, and every street speaks of history. By time, my needs grew stronger and fiercer, I realized there's more than meets the eye in this country, it's not as once probably imagined a place raging with strict rules and laws, dress and behavior codes, and most important of all Anti Arab or Western patriotism, and I use such a word for I've realized that one cannot simply doubt the patriotism of a nation that is willing to defend its land down to the last child and man, regardless of the cause. Any normal one month trip would probably leave the casual tourist astonished, amazed and unfortunately confused. For one cannot simply understand the nature of such a huge country on such a short notice. It takes a lot of time to adapt and adopt the life style, which will seem enforced upon you even if you didn't show a gesture; you simply have to blend in and live it the Iranian way. That and the nature and pattern of each Iranian city changes by year depending on domestic and some times remote events. Four years spent on the streets on Tehran , Ghazvin , Isfahan And Shiraz and still no sign of any nukes aimed towards the States, or suicidal bombing fanatics running to blast through the clusters of foreign tourists you encounter on a daily basis. And if there was something the Iranians should be accused for, it would be extreme and sometimes over exaggerated hospitality. Even though I know this might sound biased but in the lands of Cyrus, feasts are being held everyday in the streets where everyone shares the joy.
Ramin , a 22 years old Iranian majoring in Computer Science at The Amir Kabir University Of Technology ( Polytechnic Tehran ) says: " It's not really about the nuclear weapons or any other weapon, we're not as half dangerous as they claim, we never attacked any other country. It's simple, they just want to tame and harness the Persian lion, but little did they know that even circus lions revolt and fight back if irritated or abused. We've always stood by the righteous side and it's our natural born right to benefit from nuclear power for the right reasons. If the west wants to pillage our country I suggest they start doing so by reading poems of Ferdowsi, Moulana and Others. That's our most valued treasure, a message of love and passion. Who knows, perhaps they might change their mind if they chose to see Iran the other way and not follow some Idiot's fetish for killing and slaughter. "
Modern day Tehran never ceases to confirm Ramin's words, and sometimes if needed, repeating them. Despite what the media is suggesting, a young man's face under the flickering candle light (due to recent black outs ) at the bakery doesn't pose a threat to humanity as some psycho might claim. And between Ramin's poetry books and the sound of Andy blasting through the taxi's CD player, I think there's more than just a nuclear bomb in the making, for a history is being revived everyday and in every house in this country.
No comments:
Post a Comment