September 13, 2004

From the horse's mouth

Iran

Iranian people are very open. It takes very little before they start expressing their opinions on all manner of things, politics being particularly popular. Here is just a small selection:

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"I wish America would invade and we could be like Iraq". 24 year old guy in Mashhad.

"Iran would be much better without the mullahs", lady in Esfahan

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Small shop owner in Tehran:

"Iranian passport used to be good. You could go anywhere in the world. Now they just say no."

"99% of people are against the government but 1% has all the power and money and they have the connections in Europe"

(My random sampling would certainly back this up. Many people believe President Khatami is useless in Iran, having no power, and is just a figurehead propped up to show the West.)

"Bush is the new Ali." (most revered figure in Iran after the Prophet) "France and Germany and England don't care about the people, just the money. Bush cares."

"Do one thing for me. When you go home tell your friends and your government about the people of Iran. They are not the government".

"Look around. We have good weather and oil and resources but the people are poor. It's the fault of the government, but we cannot change it."

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Abol from Mashhad - doing military service in Arak. Another fan of George W. "I hope they invade Iran next". He seemed unperturbed by the thought that he, as a member of the military, would be fighting against them. He thought it was the only way democracy and change would come to Iran.

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Ali from the Tabriz bazar - "I work hard every day. I would like to go out together with my girlfriend once in a while. To a restaurant or bar or disco. Just two or three times a month. I think my government owes me that. If I go on a holiday to the beach I have to swim here and she has to swim there. Where's the fun in that?"

Where indeed.

Posted by David at September 13, 2004 10:29 PM