Good Job Mark

My student visited Iran and said basically the same thing.

I've met Iranians in the Gym. No problem. Nice people.

Cheers for posting this.

I have been to Iran, visited the capital, Tehran, amongst other places.

Personally speaking, I find the people of Isfahan more welcoming and nice to Asians (like me) than in Tehran.

But that's just my trivial personal observation.

But what your Tehranian friend said is true.

BJ thinks, and always has done, that people are people. Yes they don't always get along with each other, but most of the time, people are all the same wherever they live in the world - same fears, hopes and joys.

Unfortunately, most leaders (democratically elected or otherwise) are the same all over the world, too.

How do you solve that conundrum, people?

Whether Iranians are good or bad is not an issue, I am sure they are fantastic.

War is about how much money can be made from it and any excuse no mater how irrational is good enough for its business model.

Dear Mark and Iranian friend,

I grow up under communist regime in former Czechoslovakia. We were fed same misconceptions about USA by our communist government. Even after velvet revolution the misconception were so deep in my people minds that was hard to see the reality. Now let’s say hypothetically that size of country iwere reversed and Czechoslovakia would be able to attract USA at that time—How would USA citizens would feel if Czechoslovakia government attacked USA and enforced communism just because they could?

In my mind no government of any country has a right to forcefully enter other country and force any ideology—any!!

Like in 1968 the “big brother”- decided that Czechoslovakia is on it way to democracy so they entered our country with tanks and took over.

My opinion is that when is time of change and when people of that country are ready for it- the change will come. Just take former Czechoslovakia- there was a velvet revolution in 1989-we overthrown communist regime without one gunshot- I know, I was a part of that and very proud of it.

Cheers for posting this

Lucia

I totally agree with the above Iranian citizen. People just want to live and let live all over the world. Its sad that media and politics have to present contentious points of view, such as they are wrong, we are right... there isn't enough and they have more than enough and aren't sharing... they are different and we are different in a better way so they should do it our way. I realize this is a bit jumbled, but there is enough in the world should we decide that there is. Differences should be celebrated, not feared. Kindness is the best policy when it comes to getting along. In my heart of hearts I believe love will overcome fear and that we are all intercontected. We are one... stop the craziness, keep the dialog open and so long as we can continue to communicate, we won't hurt one another. Mark, thanks for this forum... its in dialogs like these perhaps solutions to the challenges facing earth today maybe discovered.

If you were to record on film a single act of cruelty - anywhere in the world - and magnify it by the power of the internet and the media, you could probably help start a war.

The eye, or the camera, can only see that on which it focuses. So stop to think where you focus.

There is so much that each and every one of us humans can do to create peace instead of strife. Yes, people are people. We are not as kind as we need to be and we tend to take out our frustrations in the wrong places. We all have hopes, fears, dreams, weaknesses, opinions, and strengths.

Mark and student, thank you for sharing this letter.

Ronda Del Boccio
Creator of The Storyation Process(TM)

Thanks so much for posting this, i'm very much impressed with your work. I know a few Iranians who are very nice people and good friends to me. Well i have not been to the country yet but i can assure you i will go there one day. Thanks to this information.

I had an Iranian friend when I was living in Japan. He was a great guy and his Iranian friends were all friendly and warm toward me.

He actually fought in the war against Iraq and said he felt terrible for killing Iraqis. Unfortunately, he had no choice. It was either kill or be killed. That is the crime of war. Despite the long war with Iraq, he had no malice toward Iraqis -- he had the maturity to understand that his "enemy" was in the exact same position.

I also have Iranian friends in Canada, and they are great people. Very loyal once you get inside their circle and earn their trust, and extremely generous.

An attack on that country would (on any country) would be a crime.

Bravo
I couldn't agree more with this person from Tehran. I lived and worked in IRAN during the reign of the Shah of Iran and for a brief period after his fall. My experience of the majority of Iranians has been nothing but positive. They are generous, friendly, fun people that want the best for their families just like we do in the West. I agree that the Media has coloured the perceptions of Non Iranians and particularly us Westerners. I find this quite sad. I miss my Iranian friends.

Yes yes...i play with Iranian musicians..and always us the peaceful-living day to day people are not in for surrendering our life force to wars.All political...the truth needs to get out there of human voices...and yes it will be life threats to those who put themselves out in speech...happens even in Sweden,where I live.
Blessings to those who are pursecuted for human values..I do my best to be in support,sometimes not much according to myself,yet the internet apart from ones own location is a great vehicle to be in use for whats moving down here we we are on the streets!!
thanks vera

I live in the bahamas and one of the reasons i don't watch the news or buy the local paper is because of something i learned long ago ...

people die, get robbed, raped, are involved in an accident, etc every minute of every day, but they only print/air the most shocking and it is all to get more viewers so they can charge advertisers more money to advertise on their channels or print media.

if i paid attention to the news i'd never want to go out my house i'd think everyone is out to get me, because i get a daily dose of everything that is wrong with the world in all its awe, which i would probably not even know about otherwise.

and besides anything really dramatic like the anna nicole thing or an escaped convict will be overheard at the office from the other people that watch the news.

and american news is sora like that they talk about how many american soldiers got killed, they show all the car bombings and anything else that will get people talking and watching and reading their publications.

i personally don't think they are biased against those countries, just printing what they think is news worthy.

i mean really - americans might not be car bombing each other every other day, but america does have a fair share of murderers and serial killers, as does any other country.

i'm not for homosexuality, but if you look around it is everywhere. there are robbers everywhere. there are rapists everywhere. there are religious fanatics everywhere. there are loving families everywhere.

so why is it that people can't see that people are the same no matter where they live - there are always good people and there are always bad people, but if you watch the news you will almost always only find out about the bad or shocking people and events.

it human nature if you ask me, nobody cares about all the good things you or i do, but they love to hear about the bad stuff and tell others about it, so naturally the media gives us what the majority of pople want.

think about it ... if everyone finds pornography distasteful why is it such a huge market? because there are people buying it! why can't we stop drug traffic because people are buying it.

it all just human nature at work.

i read in a motivational book that when new people came to move into their town they'd often ask what kind of people live here before they make a descision to move, and he'd ask, well ...
what kind of people live where you came from, and if they said bad people or good people he'd say well you'd petty much find the same type of people here - and it is true - there are drug dealers in almost every neighborhood, and rapists, and prostitutes, and murderers, and gay people, and christians, and farmers, and bankers, and carpenters, and people with integrity.

in every neighbourhood.

and most of the time the good people are always the majority!

so don't take what the media says and apply it to the whole country, remember they know people don't want to hear the cutesy stuff, they want the shock and awe.

ask the author of the letter suggests people need to educate themselves, not listen to everything their parents tell them, and their government tells them and the media tells them, and the pastor with the really big house and car tell them, education is the key to ridding themselves of ignorance.

but people are generally lazy and like to follow a routine, and hate to pick up a book, or learn how to use a computer, etc - so the sleeping majority live their lives acting out scripts that were created by the people who are awake.

sad but true

While I haven't been to Iran personally, I have to believe this letter is a fair assessment of the country. I have traveled extensively in Western Europe and have always found the US press got it wrong about the "people on the street" and how they feel. Good job, Mark!

Great Mark,
For posting the letter.
That letter might represent all other
countries that was marked as 'terrorist'
I live in Indonesia, we do hate hate terrorist
-in its true meaning- as any other people in the
world.

Let's make this world a better living place together a piece at a time, for each of us.

Mark and friends lets spread the words of peace.

BJ said

"How do you solve that conundrum, people?"

Take money out of politics and politics out of big business. Then and only then will you have leaders who are QUALIFIED to run nations in this world. Until then, it is nothing more than who will gain the most from whom.

In US we have a saying. "Too many cooks in the kitchen spoil the pot." I believe there are definitely too many cooks in the kitchen. It seems to me no one knows the recipe or even what's on the menu for that matter.

What's worse is that none of these so-called leaders bother to ask what THE PEOPLE want to EAT.

jmho.

The greater challenge of the human being in century XXI is to manage not to be manipulated. Arduous task! (. . .or not as much, once you are conscious of it)

Luckyly today we have the same weapons that the (call it) Manipulator: Information (acces to it, at least. You choose). . . At the moment less resources: the Media, but, to our favor, the equal Power: Communication.

. . . And still more luckyly, human being (call it just People) has the Greater FORCE: the Reason; and, next to this one the flat confidence in the victory (althought, talking about war, pains and fear. . . Who cares??)

It is only a Time question.

Meanwhile. . . someone we want, and like to want, to be constructing that other better world. . . . for when they are arriving the stragglers!(I hope with eyes open!)

I doubt if the problem of most leaders democratically elected or otherwise being the same the world over will ever be solved.

They (most) share the same traits: Greedy, powerlusting egotists who will go to any lengths to satiate their personal ambitions.

"They" are not like "me or thee" they are not capable of feeling compassion though they most profess to.

These people ...I use the term losely you understand... subscribe to the view of "He who dies with the most toys wins" whereas most of us I think subscribe to the view that "He who dies with the most friends wins".

Whats the old saying again? Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

Odd thing is that I was only just reading a special report in the UK newspaper The Mail On Sunday Last Sunday written by Peter Hitchins revealed much of what the letter posted by Mark to be spot on.

Interesting.

How DO we solve this conundrum, indeed?

As big and bold as it, no doubt, sounds ...

the people must reclaim their governments!

That MUST be the answer.

But How??

BIG question!

Do we, as in the U.S. just "elect" the right candidate, the right party ... and it'll all get fixed right up?

Call me jaded, but I think that anyone who has the "whatchamacallit" to claw, cheat, steal their way through the ranks, into any kind of political, leadership role ...

does NOT have the people's best interests at heart.

So what to do?

HOW can the people, ALL people, in America, Iran and everywhere govern themselves???

I'm not smart enough to figure it out all by myself, but I'm up for joining a movement to figure out how "we, the people" can govern ourselves.

I do know that a BIG culprit in keeping the bleating sheep in line (by governments) is to sustain religious beliefs that divide us.

As long as we're fussing and fighting over "my God's better than your god," we continue to focus on the wrong thing. We're divided.

Does that sound too simplistic to you?

I'm sure as I say that, many folks feel their hairs stand on end?

"Well, I know my religious belief is the right one, because ... well ... the Bible says blah, blah, blah."

"Well, I know Islam is right because the Koran says blah, blah, blah."

IMMEDIATE DIVISION ... right out the shute!

It's insidiously running through the psyches of everyone, holding onto any kind of dogma or belief system that sets themselves up to be "the right one."

If there is a "right one," it follows that everyone else's belief is the "wrong one." Division.

How can we dissolve these mental constructs and just "BE" with each other ... part of the ONE human family?

I feel that until/if we find a way to do this ... all the work, talk, planning and oy, oy, oy ... won't get at the real problem.

It behoves the political and religious leaders, however, to keep the masses confused.

Keep them thinking there are real differences between us that make one better than, more than, more blessed than, more God-fearing than ...

Keep em fighting amongst themselves!

And then, they will allow governments to wage war on the infidels who disagree with us.

People everywhere ... Rise Up! SEE the invisible walls for what they are and STOP!

So the big question? HOW do we make everyone everywhere dissolve all differences that divide us ... and magnify/focus on those things that make us human?

We are all just ONE family ... the human family.

I'm open to helping in this movement in any way I can.

Here am I. Send me.

Thank you, Mark, for your courage!

Thank you, to your Iranian friend for sharing your experience.

We all really are just people, aren't we?

Namaste,
Carolyn Permentier
Author: The Wacko From Waco

Hi Mark.

Powerful post. I see what you are trying to do and I applaud it. =)

You may also want to check out this video by "Cat Stevens" called 'Peace Train' and shows *exactly* what your friend is talking about:
http://www.lucasgray.com/video/peacetrain.html

Your friend.
Miguel Alvarez

The sentiment here is great and let's face it, American culture seems to love to have an "enemy" to focus their attention on (not unique, but they are good at it).

The problem, I feel, is that the argument that "people are people, why can't we all just get along" seem to kind of miss the point for me...

The point is that in a totalitarian country like Iran, it doesn't matter if the vast majority of the population disagrees with the government (and I'm still not totally convinced that they do, but that is another matter) because the government controls the guns and the funding.

So take, for example, the presumed desire of the Iranian government to build an atomic bomb. Now first of all, I realise that they have children, are people, etc and may never use such a weapon for those reasons. Also, if they really want to give the power/land to the Palestinians, turning the place into so many square kilometres of radioactive waste-land doesn't really achieve that objective... but all of this is not really the point.

The point is, if the Iranian government wants to build The Bomb, it makes no difference at all if even 95% of people disagree with that aim. They can go ahead and build it anyway because the people have no voice or impact on their actions.

Just as they didn't in Germany in the 1930s, just as they don't today in North Korea or a bunch of other countries. And as history has shown, a few people with dangerous ideas and (near) absolute power can achieve great harm if they set their mind to it... and nothing in this letter convinces me that the people who run Iran are not such people nor that the good-naturedness of the Iranian people could stop their government doing truly terrible things if they possessed nuclear weapons.

Note from MJ: Hey Jeremy, very good points. At the same time, we have to remember the context: we covertly overthrew their last democratically elected leader, installed the Shah, and set the stage for the Islamic Revolution there (easily verifiable facts we're normally not taught). Then we funded Hussein's war against Iran for many years. They are just as afraid of us, and have a historic justification for that fear. Perhaps there are non-military solutions to all of this? What if the US showed leadership by starting an initiative to wipe out poverty throughout the world - and made the clear statement that it is interested in helping other nations to prosper ... If that message were loud and clear I don't think the terrorist recruiters would have an easy sell. Just another possible solution. Not necessarily the right one - but I'm interested in creative methods. Even in the Art of War it is recognized that military conflict is a failure of leadership.

Thanks for posting this, Mark. What he says is true - we ALL can find out "the truth" for ourselves if we are willing to take the time to look beyond what the media feeds us. Problem is, those invisible walls are alive and well everywhere... :)

Hear, hear! Thanks MJ for allowing your friend the opportunity to post his letter on your blog. And thank you anonymous student from Tehran for sharing this.

I have Iranian friends who live in the Netherlands and they are wonderful, warm, kind, friendly people. It's all too easy these days to believe what the media dishes up. And shame on those in control for using manipulation in such a damaging and dangerous way!

Another dear friend, Satish Kumar, once walked half the globe together with a friend in an effort to spread a message of peace. Being admirors of Mahatma Gandhi, they started at Gandhi's grave in Delhi. The first country to walk through was Pakistan. Their Indian friends warned them not to go into Pakistan territory as it would be too dangerous.

Yet in their experience the moment they crossed the border they were welcomed by people who had heard of this mission and wanted to support them with food and a place to sleep. And that experience repeated itself as they walked on through Pakistan and other countries all the way to Washington DC.

Satish wrote about their travels and I want to share a short piece of it here:

"We are human beings, first and last. Our religion is our faith in humanity - and there can be no religion greater than that. If we come as Indians, we will meet Pakistans. If we come as Hindus, we will meet Christians or Muslims. If we come as socialists, we will meet capitalists. If we come as human beings, we meet human beings everywhere..."

(Satish Kumar, No Destination - page 85)

Peace!
Patricia

Mark -

I've traveled all over the world - South America, Europe, China, Japan, and Africa. I've never met "people" who weren't hospitable, friendly and more concerned with their own families than they were their leaders.

In China 15 years ago, my wife and step-son (who was there studying Chinese) and I were walking through a military checkpoint at the Beijing airport. The soldiers who were about the same age as my step-son were carrying AK-47s and very stern. My step-son had a fanny pack full of Chinese rock'n'roll tapes. The soldiers looked at them, then at him and said in Chinese, "do you like this one" as they held up a tape. He said, "yes."

The soldiers asked him to sing a song from the tape. We thought the humiliation is beginning. My step-son began singing. The soldiers laid down their weapons and put their arms around his shoulders and began singing with him.

They instantly turned became teenagers again instead of soldiers with deadly weapons.

I'll never forget that. Beneath every helmet is a human being.

If only our leaders weren't so closed-minded...we could just let people live.

John Lennon had it right...Imagine.

Thanks for the great post.

David Perdew

I love this Iranian friend who sends good wishes to us in US.
We feel the same about you, dear Iranian friend!
Most of us here in America don't think like President Bush !
And then, of course, all he needs to do is stop -and remember
that God sent him to this planet to bring more peace, not more
war. A lot of people forget this sacred fact.

So today, May 8th, we wish to say - let's all of us together know
as long as there a song to sing, we'll sing it, and feel
younger than spring - together.

Great letter! And likewise a great counterpoint to the propaganda that our federal government feeds us through the "news" media. Look, Dick Cheney is a defense contractor first and a vice president distant second. That's the reality. When he puts his hand over the defibrillator implanted in his chest where his heart should be he pledges allegiance is to the military-industrial complex, not to the service of the people of America. So of course demonizing Iran as prelude and pretext to war is just part of doing his dirty business and fulfilling his job description as a soulless corporate capitalist.

It is unfortunate, even tragic, that the extreme and noisy minortity seems to control not only the press but most governments. The conundrum will only be solved if and when the reasonable majority becomes more engaged and active in the political process. However most of them are incredibly busy being productive, and by default give center stage to the power hungry, noisy, souless few. My best to your friend, and may the sane prevail in Iran and around the world.

Agree with him or not, Rush Limbaugh refers to the American media as "The Drive-by Media."

I think your friend adds his testimony to the crap we are fed through our media outlets.

Referring to his son who has downs syndrome, I once heard a State Representative at a graduation ceremony proclaim "We're all more alike than we are different."

How true this is!

God Bless,

Bill

In your email you said, "No one will doubt this is the most controversial blog post I've
made yet - but will they take the time to verify that it's true?"

What's controversial about it? I expect that most people who get their info from more than one (Times) source already know that the Iranian people are as nice as any others.

I've heard rumors that Arab/Persian culture tends to put a very high premium on hospitality.

Of course, there are a few Iranians who will disagree with some of his remarks.

I've also read a few remarks from Farsi speaking people who would disagree with your friend's interpretation of their President's remarks. (And the extremist groups are very clear about what they mean.)

There are some pictures of Tehran, and other Iranian cities, floating around the web. These cities looks as beautiful, and green, as any other.

Of course, the people of Iran don't make policy any more than the Palestinian people.

Otherwise, we definitely need to get more of this stuff into the infosphere. It's nice to hear from someone who isn't a terrorist or Israel basher. Very refreshing.

Here is a more objective look...

http://www.cidcm.umd.edu/mar/assessments.asp?regionId=5
http://www.cidcm.umd.edu/mar/assessment.asp?groupId=63010

One snippet from the above links..

"The United Nations Special Representative to Iran reported that Christians were leaving the country at a rate of 15,000-20,000 per year during the period of 2001-2003"

Thanks for posting this, Mark. It is important we build bridges between people.

How, though, do we address conflicting interests between people and state-sponsored corporate profit where seeking that profit engenders war? All of the bridge-building simply corrects or mitigates the effect of the propaganda and fails to address the root cause of the war itself.

Val

Most people in the US do not believe the people of Iran are the enemy.

As a citizen of the US, my only question of this writer is, if the people of Iran don't agree with their government (and particularly their religious leaders who run the government), what are they planning to do about it?

In general, the people of any nation get the government they deserve, whether that government is elected or not. If they don't like the government they deserve, then they need to determine whether they're willing to do whatever's necessary to change it--even at risk to all they hold dear.

Unfortunately, most people would rather put up with the government they deserve because they'd have to put too much at risk to change it.

It would certainly help if every child in the world learned Simpleology from kindergarten on. Then we might see people growing better governments because they have grown enough to deserve better governments.

However, I won't hold my breath.

Mark,

The only ones who have misconceptions about Iran or any other Muslim country are those who would listen to your friend. All true Muslim countries are dedicated to the destruction of every non-Muslim country on the planet. This is not political. This is not a left or right point of view. It is the religious dogma written in the Koran. Most citizens of Muslim countries don't read Arabic so they have never read the Koran. Muhammad was explicit in his instructions to his followers - Conquer all coountries and convert them to Islam. If they don't convert, destroy them.

For the last 15-20 years, all international terrorist attacks have been conducted and sponsored by Muslims. This is not a political point of view. These are the facts.

For those who really care about the future of our planet and all the people on it, here is a reading list that might give you some perspective on this issue. It is immoral to talk so casually about a subject that you know nothing about and that is so threatening to life as we know it.

"The Truth about Muhammad"

"The Life and Religion of Muhammad"

"The War of Ideas"

"Infidel"

"Inside the Jihad"

"Religion of Peace? Islam's War against the World"

"The Sword of the Prophet"

"Islamic Imperialism: A History"

"Because They Hate: A Survivor of Islamic Terror Warns America"

"The West's Last Chance"

"My Year Inside Radical Islam"

"Countdown to Terror"

"The Great Divide"

"Perfect Soldiers"

Note from MJ: Actually, no. If you were paying attention you'd know that, yes, radical Islam exists and, no, it is not the point of view of the majority of the Arab or Persian people - nor usually of their governments. You can take quotes out of the Jewish and Christian literature as well and make a clear case for both of those religions being a religion of world-domination and exclusion. In fact, I'm sure you can find many propgaganda films making this statement - much like your propaganda films are making about Islam. This person is trying to show you what the average person in Iran is like - not the extremists. If you really care about the future of the planet what you'll do is help to remove the conditions that are helping terrorists recruit: poverty, suffering, and injustice - a great deal of which we are sometimes contributing to and doing nothing to stop. That, rather than spread propaganda about the extremists of one particular group and claim it is represenative of the whole.

The letter confirms much of what I've heard and read recently in contemplating the rhetoric of the leaders of the U.S. and Iran.

In an effort to raise awareness of the potential for war and help prevent one before it starts, Wes Clark's WesPAC and VoteVets.org (veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars) have a campaign in progress at www.stopIranWar.com. You can join in this effort by signing the petition there, writing to your Congresspeople and writing to the media.

PResident Eisenhower warned the American people about the military Industrial Complex before he left office. He should know because he was the Commander in Charge of it. What the media hardly ever talks about is the money trail during a war. I'm not talking about how much the war costs the taxpayers, but the where that money goes. We all heard about how Halliburton overcharged the US for its services but where they ever convicted of any charges...a little....
http://www.culturekitchen.com/mole333/blog/halliburton_corruption_finally_a_conviction

http://www.halliburtonwatch.org/

I can believe the Iranian people don't want war, nor the american people, but there are some people in both governments who would stand to profit with their bank accounts from a war. As the Michael Douglas's character in movie "wall Street" said, "Greed is Good!" That's what some members of our administration believe.

Reality is the illusion of the mind,
That which your mind feeds on, creates your illusion.

I personally prefer to feed my mind than let my mind be fed by the untrusted or unknown.

Does the media have your highest good in mind, or theirs, or someone else's entirely???

Hmmm.....?

To Anonymous at May 9, 2007 08:19 AM,

It's ironic to state that any particular religion is a threat to the planet.

If you really care about the survival of the human race and of the planet, then stop driving your car, stop buying food and other products produced further than a few miles from your house, and radically shift your lifestyle, and prepare your community for the end of oil (read carefully through www.lifeaftertheoilcrash.net).

It never ceases to amaze me how people fail to see the forest for the trees by getting caught up in trivial issues like race and religion.

Radical muslims are NOT the greatest threat to the planet by a long shot. Our lifestyles are.

It was good to read the open letter from Mark's friend in Iran. Too many times the radical few get their voice heard and the silent majority leaves the world in darkness as to the truth.

I am a proud American but I am also open to new and different societies and cultures. I believe we can learn much from being open. Every society, culture, religion and such have good things we can learn to make our life and our world better.

I hope and pray many more will come forward to speak the truth.

Thanks for the words from a different perspective.

After all humans are humans.. whether Americans, or Iranians. God gave us one earth to live... so lets make the best out of it..

I once worked with an Iranian exchange student who was as handsome, charming, intelligent, and decent a person I've ever known. This was during the US embassy hostage crisis, and he was vehemently opposed to the radical Iranian government of the Imam's and was thoroughly embarrassed and angry at what his government was doing to the american hostages.

And yet his government prevailed. Of course, what the people of a country want is usually what a majority of the people in that country don't want. But, the population is held hostage by the marrow-minded and corrupt policies of their government officials. As another post here confirms, it is up to the people to invent the government they want if they have the courage to make it happen.

Here in the US, we are ruled by corrupt leaders whose agenda is run by special interests and those who want to maintain power and keep the population under their control, through fear, manipulation, and the assurance that most people will live with the status quo rather than lead a revolt against those things they know are wrong with their leaders and their government.

Despite this young Iranian's belief's, the actions of his government are inflammatory against Israel, nuclear weapons proliferation, and a very hostile stance toward the US government and our people.

People love to blame "the media" as some monolithic entity that acts as one resounding negative voice. the media reflects what is bad because that's what sells newspapers, magazines, and gets broadcast ratings. If that were not the case, then "the media" would change to reflect that economic reality. So making "the media" a scapegoat for people's lack of willingness to seek the truth among many sources is their own fault. It's easy to blame someone or something else for our dissatisfaction.

Ghandi said: "Be the change you want to see in the world." Almost every self-help book I've read says I am responsible for changing me, and by the power of that change, changing the world around me.

I agree that we don't know the Iranians, the Iraqi's, the Russians or dozens of other cultures with whom we interact on a very meaningful level but know very little about. it is up to us to make that change happen.

Perhaps then as people who understand each other, we can effect change wihin our governments to accommodate all nations.

Am not not Iranian but Jeremy.. all I want to ask you is..

If the USA can make bombs - why can't Iran?

I repeat:
If the USA can make bombs - why can't Iran?

Who is USA (or any other country) to tell them they can't make arms??

The only country with near "absolute" power was USA. Now China and India are emerging way faster than anyone had thought - but they still are the most powerful country in the world. (Iran, Iraq or Afghanistan or any third-world country is absolutely NOTHING infront of them. The only power all these countries have or had was within their country.)

So if USA can have absolute power - so much power that they attack Afghanistan AND Iraq - while standing AGAINST the united nations - who are they to teach the righteous stuff to the world??
What rules and what history are you talking about? Stop looking what anyone says - and start seeing what everyone is DOING. And if you start looking what the USA is DOING - you'll realize that if there is a country in the world that everybody should fear - it's them.

They're the ones who look like they're going to take over the whole world. They're invading countries with the banner of 'War on Terror'. But WITHOUT PROOF. They had NO solid proof of terrorism base to attack on Afghanistan and we all know that NO weapons of mass destruction were found in Iraq.

Btw USA is the country who spends billions of dollars on making the most advanced and most distructive weapons of mass destruction. And they've even used it on thousands of people. Infact they're the country who in the era after world war 2 - killed the most INNOCENT people in the world.

Am not talking about terrorists. They should be smashed with bulldozers. Am talking about INNOCENT people in Afghanistan and Iraq.

3000 Innocent people were killed in 9/11 - and that was a big catastrophe. The world was in uproar and big countries joined hands to fight against terrorism.

10 TIMES that many INNOCENT people died in Iraq in 2006 alone - and about the same in Afghanistan..

And that's okay??

No problem with that?

It's right to kill people as long as they are from the middle east and not the USA?

Never EVER forget this: ALL LIFES ARE EQUALLY VALUABLE.

Whether it's a life in the states.. afgahnistan.. china.. germany or iraq.. Every life is important.

And all are equal.

Shariq.

P.S. BTW ever wondered - that since the hijakers in the plane were from Saudi Arabia - the USA should've attacked Saudi Arabia first of all! But they didn't.

Ever thought why?

No it's not the first thought that came to your mind. Think intelligently & differently. You'll be shocked if you even touch upon the real reason.

Hey Mr. Anonymous..

I've got some factual answers for you - wanna hear them out?

"All true Muslim countries are dedicated to the destruction of every non-Muslim country on the planet. This is not political. This is not a left or right point of view. It is the religious dogma written in the Koran."

Have you read the Koran? Nope.

Have you read the widly-avalable ENGLISH translation of the Koran? Nope.

So what is your basis of opinion?

What others are saying?

I heard they call you an asshole - so should I start believing you're an asshole? Just because someone said that?

No I won't - coz I don't know you. I can't say if you're an asshole or if you're a loving guy with a heart of gold.

But how will I know that? By knowing you.

If I start believing what others are saying about you - am an asshole myself.

Ever thought to check out the facts of Koran by yourself? Or did you just depend on what others are saying? I can send you an English translation of the Koran. Just tell me where to send it.

Or if you don't trust me - come down here - visit the mosque - take a Koran - go back to your country - get a Arabic-to-English Translator - get him to translate the Koran in English - and THEN STUDY IT.

Then you'll know for a FACT what Koran teaches.

You won't find a single LINE in Koran where it's being taught to kill the Christians or Hindus or any person of the other religion. If you do - I'll convert to Christanity.

Fair enough?

And if you do - go on TV with PROOF that the Koran teaches to kill other people.

That's enough of a dare - what do you say?

Too bad I won't see you on TV.

(BTW I was serious about sending you an authentic English-translation of the Quran. Let me know.)

..........

"Most citizens of Muslim countries don't read Arabic so they have never read the Koran."

If most Muslims have never read the Koran - where according to you - they were told to kill people. Then why are you against Muslims?!?!?!?!?!

Heck - according to you - they didn't read the Koran! So they don't know they should kill people - right?

See you dont have the full picture. You got crooked facts that you listened from here and there and you think you know enough.

But being honest about it - I'd like to tell you that fact is totally wrong.

Pakistan is a Muslim country. 99% of the people don't know Arabic. But 99% of the Muslims read Quran.

You don't need to learn Arabic to read the Quran. We just read the words - not understanding the grammer or meaning while reading. Then we read the translation of it in our language.

So go check up your facts please. You DO NOT HAVE THE CORRECT INFO.

And why don't you visit a few Muslim countries where people don't know Arabic - and see if the Muslims read Koran?

Am inviting you here - come and see for yourself.

..........

"Muhammad was explicit in his instructions to his followers - Conquer all coountries and convert them to Islam. If they don't convert, destroy them."

When and where did he say that?

Show us proof buddy. The world wants PROOF.

Everybody can talk. I can say anything about anyone. But just because I say it doens't make it a true.

Visit an Islamic library with authentic books on Islam written by Islamic scholars. Study them and see if they EVER say to get other people to convert to Islam by FORCE.

You'll NEVER find it. Because Islam is AGAINST converting other people by force. Islam encourages preaching it's religion and being an example yourself so good that other people WANT to convert to your relgion.

And every religion teaches to spread it. From christanity to Hindiusm.

And go read history to find out why people converted to Islam. You'll find they did so because they liked how Muslims behaved with them. NOT because they were threatened to be killed.

Again - go get your 'facts' right'.

.......

"For the last 15-20 years, all international terrorist attacks have been conducted and sponsored by Muslims. This is not a political point of view. These are the facts."

Where's the frickin' PROOF??

Where're the reports man - what backs up what you say?

I'm ready to backup every word I said here - but can you?

If so - lets do it.

..........

"It is immoral to talk so casually about a subject that you know nothing about"

Now THAT'S funny!

I never thought you were an immoral guy. I respect your opinion and wouldn't want even a mosquitoo to bite you.

But I hate to say that you're calling yourself an immoral guy.

What you think you know - is majorly wrong. BECAUSE you learnt from sources that had their own agenda and opnion.

You should have learnt from the SOURCE.

Now go out there and check out the SOURCE - be it the Koran or the mindsets of Muslims all over the world - and THEN you'll know what's true for a FACT.

God bless.

Junaid.

One thing Jeremy..

Aftering having said all that - I still don't hate the Americans.

I beleive an extreme majority of them are good, nice people with a loving heart. Just like the rest of the people in the world.

The only people I hate are the ones in the USA government who agreed to kill innocent people. And the ones in other countries who supported them.

And the army - who agrees to burn holes in the heads of innocent people. They're terrorists in my opinion.

I think any person agreeing to kill an innocent person is a terrorist. And should be thrown off the top of the Effil tower.

Be it from the USA or UK or Iraq or Afghanistan.

I am a Croatian who grew up in Iran. I went through the Islamic revolution and had to flee the country with my brother and parents.
What was surprising then is that students and many young people were in favor of Khomeini.

Most of the friends I had back then live somewhere else now, States, France and God knows where else. Some of them have not seen their families again after they left the country. Their lives have been destroyed.

Now there is a saying: Every country deserves the leadership it has. Sounds harsh but maybe true?

My point- Iranian people and Iran are a big part of my life. And as contradictory as it may sound to the saying above, all people can not be identified with the government they have chosen. There are bad and good people everywhere, the same goes for my destroyed and beloved Iran.

MJ - good call about the historical background to Iran. I guess my response to that is 2-fold:

1. It would be wonderful if the US showed the kind of leaership you suggest in working to aleviate poverty globally, but I'm a tad suspicious when I hear that after reading "Confessions of an Economic Hit Man" by Joh Perkins.

2. History matters because it is useful to learn it's lessons and (hopefully) not repeat it, but to applogise for the actions on the basis of the bad things the US (and the west in general) did to Iran in the past is a little like a drug addict saying it is all because of their abusive parents when they were little. Both need to take responsibility for their lives/actions today and stop being the victims of their past

Your post, Mark, and these comments, confirm to me that those of us who are building international businesses using the internet are starting a new paradigm.
Someone above says - below every helmet there is a real person.
And as we build each online relationship in our business, in different countries, we see one more "real person under the helmet".
When we hear in the media that X country thinks this, or does this - WE think about the person we know in that country, and we know that there are alternative thoughts and viewpoints in each country.
All of which hopefully makes us mopre tolernat, more thoughtful, less warlike, more peaceful.
And I see all these relationships as "virtual cobweb", an alternative network, covering the globe and spreading an alternative message.
Just like you and your Iranian friend are doing.

"For the last 15-20 years, all international terrorist attacks have been conducted and sponsored by Muslims. This is not a political point of view. These are the facts."

What planet is this guy living on???

I'll just name one "international terrorist" organisation who are not muslim, who operated in my own country attacking our neighbours - the IRA.

If other decent people believe crap like this, then there's no hope.

My response--from a very personal and Western insider as far as the Middle East. Although I have not been to Iran or Iraq, I have lived, worked, and travelled in Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Saudi, Oman, Israel, Palestine, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates…

I have been searching the web, looking for people within the Middle East, so that I can spread my wings again and make a connection. If any of this message sounds self-serving--I can only ask you to trust that in my heart of hearts, I am sincerely wanting to reach out to those oppressed within the Middle East primarily--and women of the world.

Having lived, worked, and traveled through much of the Middle East, I realized I was always "escaping" to the desert because of my own oppressions. I did not have an outer veil or burka, but I certainly had an internal veil, suffocating my soul, my voice, my right to be seen and heard as a woman.

I wrote my first book, Circles in the Sand, which I thought was my personal journey but have quickly discovered how it resonates with many, many women--and even men--who understand oppression, abuse, war, hatred, discrimination... It is a communal journey from darkness into light.

I now see the Middle East as a metaphor for my life's journey. That Circles in the Sand has touched the lives of those who have read it motivates me to keep believing that if I can touch one, I can touch one million.

Some experiences I have personal understanding of {and which are noted in my Theme Chart on my web site} are:
Family dysfunction {which branches out to Arab/Jewish “family” dysfunction}, homosexuality in both the East and the West, religion versus spirituality, women's oppression, a nation's oppression, war {having been in Lebanon in the 1982 Israeli invasion}, death, fear, illness and the connection to my biography, forgiveness, and death.

Although I heard the phrase put very gently, almost unnoticed-- “the Israel government should give its place to Palestine - like it used to be before. The Iranian President Ahmadinejad has stated that there should be no country called "Israel' on the map, and instead it should be called "Palestine".--this is the root that must be pulled out and replanted. Anything built on this foundation will crumble.

Their truth--and that of every Arab country--has been said in various tones but the message is so, so clear--to simply remove "Israel" and rename the land "Palestine"... this is THE MOST IMPORTANT statement to understand. It is the truth of every Muslim country--Israel is not allowed to exist. It is the root of the Arab/Israeli conflict, no matter how softly spoken. I have lived and worked with Arabs who are Muslim, Christian, Druze, Shi’hite, Sunni… the feeling is the same with all, and there truly is no denying it. They have told us repeatedly, but we just don’t want to listen--and that includes Saudi, who the U.S. is quite friendly with--how odd?!

Having been drawn to the Arab world over and over, including Palestine, I have personally felt their oppression and have heard hundreds of voices in unison over the decades declare that Israel does not have the right to exist. The fact that the U.S. supports Israel is interweaving politics with our Judeo/Christian history and yet, the U.S. has managed to do business deals with Saudi... ignoring the terrorism of Saudis; ignoring that women are executed regularly; ignoring that there are executions each and every week... it's all such a crazy mess and only we--one by one--can begin to collectively change our world.

Although my book has the underlying running storyline of my personal traumas, there is much said regarding life in the Middle East and religions that we somehow manage to pretend we all share the same God--Christian/Islam/Judaism--and yet, that "same God" has the three of us fighting. Something has to give "peeps" of the world.

I personally will send my book to any individual or book club, especially women around the world, if they would like an inside look at both of our veils of oppression.

Not yet having funds in my bank, should you have the finances, I would be honoured if you purchased my book but...I will send a copy to those I can.

I know in my deepest place of spirit, that there are healing words and tools on how we can step out of our egos and personality disagreements and step into the light of LOVE--a new spirituality--just pure LOVE.

As I often think, "Imagine all the people...living life in peace" -- it's not beyond our reach!

Thank you for speaking your truth. I know, having been in a war zone and having been in Israel with bombs going off every other day seemingly, that the truth of life within that environment is very, very different from what the news shows us. I truly get it and feel and understand you... may Allah/Yahweh {you are brothers}, Jesus, Buddha, Krishna, Ghandi, Mother Theresa, Mary Magdalene {if we dare believe}, and the multitude of Masters who have only asked of us one thing... to be LOVE...may their LOVE and LIGHT be shone through each of our hearts.

Note from MJ: Hi Samadhi, thanks for sharing your comments. I think saying the refusal to recognize Israel as a state is the heart of the problem misses the mark. We might want to take into consideration the events of the past that led up to that sentiment, and the events that are going on to this day (there are still 150+ Israeli settlements in the West Bank, for example, and now announced plans to build more). Only when we acknowledge these things can we get a true clear picture and without a clear picture, there will be no resolution.

I have just one comment for your friend. This is going to sound harsh, but the bottom line is this. IF what he says is true, then HE AND HIS PEOPLE need to change his country to be what he says it is/should be. People have the kind of government they deserve. Not a new concept. The fact is that our perception of Iran as a hostile nation is fomented as much by THEIR government as by ours. If they don't want a fight with us, then the PEOPLE OF IRAN need to rise up in rebellion within their own country and change it.

I think the Media on both ends of the world are blowing everything out of proportion. They like using 'scare tactics' with the public. Actually, alot of the public like these 'scare tactics' also. Kind of gives them a 'rush' I guess.

We're all humans all over the place; it's just that the Government and the Rebels etc. like to run us over by being the dominant one.

Whatever happened to "For the People and By the People....."??

Hats off to you Mark, your article containing your Iranian friend's letter was a revelation.
It seemed that I already knew it in the core of my heart but a veil of misinformation was removed from it.
I live in Kolkata (Calcutta), India where also people of Iran live.
They seem basically to be peace-loving people - PEOPLE just like you and me.
In fact more such articles are needed in today's war-ridden world.
Thanks.

Human beings are the problem. Religions have staged huge breeding competitions for their own survival. No better way to beget converts. The polarisation of fundamentalist beliefs are the cause of the lies told by both sides.

Both Iran and the USA have faults but they got round a table and started talking.

Not so sure America has any moral platform to stop Iran from building nuclear weapons. Not so sure Iran has any moral platform to tell Americans not to celebrate freedom of speech.

So speak to each other with a bit of reality. Common needs are many.

War always makes matters far worse. War is out of date. Expensive. Stupid.

Thank you dear friend from Iran. I was involved for awhile with a message board with people from Palestine and Israel. Yes, there were people who wanted to "destroy" the others, however , the majority just wanted to find a way to live in peace so they could make a living, raise and educate their families and not live in fear. We tried to start a sit in like the ones they used during the Civil Rights movement or South Africa, however, the people on the ground said it would be too dangerous and all would be killed. We remember what happened to Ghandhi and Dr King. I believe we must find a new way to shift people's thinking and change the planet. You cannot solve the problem at the level of mind that created it ... and when you fight something you create resistance and polarity. Maybe has we create peace within ourselves we add to the " peace energy of the group mind"... how do we create new beliefs when the media is so strong. Just thinking today about the planet.

Dear Mark and Friend,
I have red your letter and trying to find words to express my view, but I can only find an anology: a breath of fresh air. Thank you.
We are bombarded by this bigots called politician and Is good that another point of view is expressed although not often enough.
Keep on writing do not let people forget.

As it IS the media that warps reality so badly, and also influences the actions of our leaders in a major way, it is the media that should be stopped! If we all refused to listen they would be unable to sell their high priced ads and their high priced lies!

As an Iranian living in Los Angeles, I am really glad to see that someone has posted something to this effect! Thank you for spreading the words of an Iranian. Hopefully, this little post will turn at least one person's negative views of Iran and Iranians to a positive!

Hi Mark,
thanks for sharing this letter.

It confirms that we don't see most of what's going on.

Main stream US news agencies, like CNN and Foreign US Politics...well do I need to go on?

Keep it up.
All the Best!

I would like to comment on the fella that mentioned that his Iranian friend fought and killed Iraqi's because he had no choice---it was either kill or be killed.

This, my friends is the crux of the issue.

I am an American woman converted (reverted) to Islam 15 years ago. My husband is Iraqi and when he was ordered to kill the Kuwaiti's under Saddam Hussein, he refused and escaped through the desert knowing that his life was on the line.

He nearly died of thirst with no provisions and miraculously made it over the border to Saudi Arabia where he was detained in a POW camp for 3 years before the UN High Commissioner granted him asylum in Europe where we currently live.

That is why I married him. And this is what I teach my 5 children. "If anyone demands that you kill another or else you will be killed, then you go ahead and let them kill you. Your soul is far more valuable than your flesh."

This, my friends, is how all wars would end. All mothers must teach their children this. Agreed?

I know it's hard but this is how we stop this madness. I vow that my children will not be taught to kill your children.

Peace, Susan

Susan,

I am a Christian. My husband was born in Iran, served in the Iran Iraq war, but he was not in any fighting. He drove supplies to the front lines, and after his military service he came to the US. You are right. We should all teach our children not to kill, and not to hate, too. We should teach them war is wrong, and to say no to war and killing one another. Our governments try to brainwash us to fear others, hate others, and encourage us to fight in wars. We need to say no to all of this. We can all choose to refuse to hate and hurt and kill other human beings. All of our lives have value and we can respect the rights of each other to co-exist in peace.

On 9-11-01 CNN blatantly faked CGI images of Boeings crashing into NY skyscrapers. Ever since that fateful day, CNN and the PerpeTraitors lied shamelessly and lost all credibility.

When Dubya's belligerent rhetoric towards President Ahmadinejad gets reported, the conspiratorial Media just loses yet more respect.

Most Americans can see past the Media of Power: they would only want friendship with the people of Iran.

But who in the White House does not have ill-gotten millions invested in the mighty military machine?

yep that the media that creating the image of iran as an enemy. as well as the war on terrorism it's all from media and politics. let have FUN! )) lol