Meet Senator Joe Lieberman

Dear friends
Salam!
We are still talking about war and peace.
A friend of mine has sent me a video link, which I think is not bad to watch.
In this clip, you will see a lady who has recently visited Iran. She is part of a political group called ‘Code Pink’, which is believed to be espousing peace, especially between Iran and USA (based on the explanation I have received). She has conducted two fasts, stating she wouldn’t eat until Joe Lieberman (the United States senator) agreed to an interview (which, apparently, is not granted).
I invite you to watch the video clip, which is posted on Youtube website.
Here is the address: Meet Senator Joe Lieberman

I hope you will like it.
Like you, I love love, I love peace, and I do not like radicalism; be it cultural, religious, educational, and even democratic!!
Best,
Hassan H.

How is Iran?

Many of you have been asking about the situation in Iran.
Well, based on a Persian expression, ‘no one says his yoghurt is sour’!
I agree the news we receive from Iran is not very promising. However, as you may know, politicians are different from common people! I do not think we can judge a nation merely based on what a couple of leaders do.
Unfortunately, politics makes things complicated. This is the nature of this job!
Let me simply tell you that each country has both good and bad people. However, this is very unfair if we believe all Iranians think like Mr. Ahmadinejad, for example.
What I know about the Iranian people is that they mostly love foreigners. We should know that people of Iran have no problems with the American people. As you know, the problem is our governments.
To answer your possible questions about the environment in Iran, I am presenting you with a message. One of my online students, who has just returned from Iran, sent me the following message. By accident, she is American!
The next is her comments on her trip.
Wish you great time in Iran!
Best,
Hassan H.

Hassan agha, salam aleikum,
…
I had such a wonderful time while in Iran. The Iranian people were all so friendly and helpful, and they seem to really love Americans. Everyone wanted to chat and practice their English. They also wanted to exchange email addresses and I came home to a message from a young lady I met under the Khadju Bridge in Esfahan. She and her friend who was with her are studying tourism, and she is taking a class this semester on the Imam Square and buildings, next semester on the bridges of Esfahan, then she will be through and ready to start working as a tour guide. She actually came to meet our group a couple days later at the square and spent time telling us what she has learned about the mosques and palace there. I invited her to have lunch with us; told her to relay to her professor that she would learn much more hanging out with the Americans that she possibly could in class, but she said her teacher was big, ugly and mean and she couldn’t skip her class! People were also very helpful; a couple times when I got disoriented, someone not only offered to point me in the right direction, but also walked me there. In fact, one woman was very insistent that I make the hand motion that would stop traffic so I could cross. She knew no English, still we communicated with my limited Farsi. There was one incident on my last foray out for a walk by myself that a policeman came across to the middle of the street where I was waiting for a break in traffic (which didn’t come) and helped me across. Wasn’t that above and beyond? I met so many potential friends, and had so many offers to visit homes for tea that I know it is not the Iranian people who are our enemies and it is not the American people who are their enemies, but this enmity lies in the hands of our governments. Both Iranians and Americans want peace and friendship. Coming home, in the Airport we met a young Iranian man who is studying medicine at the Stanford University in CA. At dinner the night before, we met a young woman who is doing graduate work at an American university. Everyone we met had the same message: peace! That is our message as well.
This message has turned into an epistle; I am sure you are tiring of reading it, so will say goodbye for now. Beh farmai sohan o peste o gaz keh az keshvarat avardam. Anita