(no subject)

[andrew_jorgensen]

As I mull over a possible autumn trip to Iran, I have been much consoled by Nicholas Kristof's recent columns (1, 2) reporting that its inhabitants are strikingly pro-American. This doesn't surprise me in particular, because when I'm travelling international I rarely run into anyone who even expresses resentment towards the US government, much less holds me responsible. In fact, I spent my first few days in Egypt, when the administration was at the height of its sabre-rattling about Iraq (but a few months before the actual invasion), dissembling my nationality whenever asked. I soon stopped this, partially because I realized no one was so ungracious as to conflate me with President Bush, and partially because I grew tired of hearing "Canada Dry!" every time I mentioned my adopted homeland.

In any case, Kristof speaks of a great warmth felt by Iranians towards America, and even towards our current administration. It is notable that he writes these columns during the midst of the Abu Ghraib revelations. That they seem to have had no effect might be explicated by this post by Ogged at Unfogged:

At Least They're Consistent

My mom finally got a hold of one of our relatives in Iran to ask him what he thought about the Abu Ghraib business. Turns out, he had only seen the picture of the guy hooked up to the electrodes because Iranian TV won't show nudity. She pointed him to the Internet; I'll report back when I hear from him.

Ogged also points out that the clerics are developing a sense of purposeful irony:

Iran's hardline Guardian Council has approved a law banning police from using torture to extract confessions from criminal suspects.

The council, a 12-member cleric-dominated panel that approves or rejects Iranian legislation, had in the past quashed similar legislative attempts to protect prisoners from custodial abuse.

Comments

Oo, Iran,

[anneth.livejournal.com]

one of the places I'd like to visit someday...

When I traveled in Europe two summers ago, I heard a pretty fair amount of "stupid ugly Americans!" I certainly wasn't being personally conflated with Bush, but I overheard a good number of young people complaining about the US in a vague, grumbly manner. Now that I think about it, though, I recall that most of the grumbling came from my fellow American student-travelers, grumbling about overhearing grumbling. Hmmm.

(Sorry; only tangentially related. What would you be doing in Iran? Am I allowed to ask?)

Re: Oo, Iran,

[dherblay.livejournal.com]

The trip to Iran would be sight-seeing.

Yeah, I considered mentioning that the place I've encountered the most virulent anti-Americanism is Switzerland, but that would be egging the pudding; and it would also severely understate my mother's politics.

Re: Oo, Iran,

[angeyja.livejournal.com]

Since Anneth broke the ice, could I ask what it is about Iran that drew you to think of visiting?

I've only ever been to Iceland (can't really count Canada) lots of place stateside, and were things a bit differemt lots of places overseas I'd really like to see.

Re: Oo, Iran,

[dherblay.livejournal.com]

Oh, Ishafan, Persepolis. That's about it really. I like Islamic architecture.

Re: Oo, Iran,

[angeyja.livejournal.com]

Ah, curiosity indulged.

(Please don't think badly of me if I say I was thinking roses... I mean as an association not the reason for you to visit.)

Re: Oo, Iran,

[dherblay.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't think badly of you for mentioning that you were thinking of roses as an association, any more than you would think badly of me for mentioning that I now associate "Roses" with OutKast.

Re: Oo, Iran,

[angeyja.livejournal.com]

...no way... no way... no way. ;-)

Re: Oo, Iran,

[rebekahroxanna.livejournal.com]

You are the one who gave me the T Shirt last Mother's Day (the one that says in 16 languages on the front that it is the American apology T shirt and on the back that i'm really sorry about our President, I didn't vote for him). Now, to the substantive issue. I am not antiAmerican. Being anti-Bush is not antiAmerican. in fact I can make a quite cogent case that being antiBush is the height of proAmericanism. Bush's policies and practices undermine basic American Constitutional values. Not to mention tthe actions of Cheney, Rumsfeld, Haliburton and KBR.

What is egging the pudding?

As to why Iran? Why not?

When I was in seminary, i was riding the van back from Berkeley with a French exchange student (actually Swiss but a francophone). he was telling us that his favorite place to visit was Iran. He said it was so green there. Well, we were a little confused. i said that I had always thought it was desert. he said no, it was very green. I asked what language they spoke there. He said English. I said gee, I thought it was something like Farsi. He said oh, no Gaelic. Oh I said suddenly seeing green pastures and sheep. Ireland. Yes, he said Iran.

Re: Oo, Iran,

[mamculuna.livejournal.com]

Even more tangential--for my upcoming trip to Europe, a friend gave me the American Traveller's Apology Tshirt, which says in 7 or 8 languages (including Arabic):

I apogize for my stupid President. I didn't vote for him.

Sorry if that's offensive, but it's really how I feel!

Re: Oo, Iran,

[dherblay.livejournal.com]

I gave my mother that shirt last Mother's Day.