Picture taken from Mount of Olives, looking through Christianity's cross and down into the Wailing Wall of Judeaiesm and the Golden Mosque--ALL from human history of the "one God"...
THIS HAS BEEN TAKEN FROM MARK JOYNER’S BLOG & TRANSFERRED WITH MY RESPONSE BELOW:
http://www.markjoyner.name/logs/archives/news/a_letter_from_an_anonymous_iranian_to_the_american_people.php#comments
May 08, 2007
A Letter from an Anonymous Iranian to the American People
The author of this letter is a friend of mine who just so happens to be an Iranian citizen.
In order to protect his identity, I can only reveal that he is a university student living in the city of Tehran.
During our conversations it became clear that those of us in the west tend to have some common deep misconceptions about the Iranian people and what life is like in Iran.
I am sure that bits of this letter will be singled out and used for the political purposes of those on the left and the right alike.
His motivation for writing this letter, and mine for printing it, is not political - but human.
The facts he states in this letter, though many of which will likely run contrary to our preconceived notions, can very easily be verified if you care to take the time to do so.
I've already said too much-as his letter stands quite well on it's own-in it's unedited glory ...
Mark Joyner
A Letter from an Anonymous Iranian to the People of America
OK, I first wanted to deliver this message to you in form of a video containing interviews with people here, but after receiving some warnings from from family and friends about the risks of it here, I decided to share this message for you in form of a letter.But just know that there's actually a human being - just like you - behind this letter, typing every word for you... You know how much focus there is on the news about Iran these days. When you turn on the TV and read the paper, you hear about it.You see the media tries to create an image in your mind about Iran and Iranians.But have you ever wondered how real it is? Have you ever wished you could see behind the scenes and see the truth for yourself?Well, here's a chance...After talking with Mark about how many big misconceptions have been created by the media, I decided to clear up some of them for you in this letter. Hope you enjoy reading them and seeing the truth...Do Iranians hate Americans and the people in the West?No, not at all. Just ask someone who has come here as a tourist and he will tell you Iranians are very friendly and hospitable with people from other countries.It's true that the media here tries to make people think the West is the enemy because that's how they get power. But most Iranians don't have any problem with other nations and actually like them.Yes, there are some radical groups (like "Basij") who think the west is the enemy but they are the minority. Actually this minority group is even hated among most people here because they interfere with our own people - like attacking and arresting women if they're not wearing the kind of covered clothed they think is correct, among other things.But the big majority of people here like other nations and want to live in peace and harmony with the rest of the world. So do Iranian people want to enter a war with the US?What do YOU think? Do people ever like to enter a war at all? Hasn't it been always kings and governments provoke and force people to this?The Iran's government may not mind a war, but the people certainly don't want it.Because people are always people. They have families who they care about and don't want to risk losing in a war. Also they understand the other country's people have families too. You know, war never has solved any problems. It only creates more problems.What about the Iran president? Do Iranians agree with him and his politics?Some do, but the majority don't. So it's important to know he certainly doesn't speak for all Iranians. So when he says something about Holocaust, writes a letter to the US president, or makes a speech in United Nations, he is NOT speaking for us either.But doesn't the President of Iran want to nuke Israel and "wipe them off the map"? I have heard the exact statement Ahmadinejad said in Farsi so I know what he really meant. He meant the Israel government should give its place to Palestine - like it used to be before.He thinks there should be no country called "Israel' on the map, and instead it should be called "Palestine". So what about the Jews living there? Well, they can certainly keep living there in peace because neither the government of Iran nor our people have any problem with Jews. Actually, did you know there are many Jews and Christians living here in Iran in peace?So what about terrorists? Don't Iranians agree with and support groups like Al Qaida?I was really shocked when Mark told me some Americans think Iranians support Al Qaida and other similar groups. Because Al Qaida and Taliban were one of the most hated groups among Iranians - even years before the September 11 tragedy, because of what Taliban were doing to Afghan people.If you go to the streets here and ask hundreds of people if they agree with those groups, I guarantee you'll receive some shocked faces looking at you wondering what strange question is that?Are Iranians all Muslim?Even though most people here are Muslim, but there are also many Christians, Jews, Atheists, and others living here in peace. And just like other Iranians, they too like Iran's culture and are proud of their history, but don't agree with the regime.So how is life in Iran really like?If you come to Iran today and walk in the streets, what you will see may surprise you...You will see parents and their children walking happily together...You'll see children playing soccer in the corner of an alley...You'll see young boys driving a sports car fast and playing western POP music in the car...You'll see couples walking hand in hand and talking...You'll see normal stores, shopping malls, restaurants, and people living their ordinary life.You see, people are people - no matter if they are in New York, Paris, Tokyo, or Tehran.So how come the picture the media shows is so different?(I know because I sometimes watch CNN and BBC through satellite TV and check out their websites on the Internet.)You know, it's an art of the media to take a tiny part of the whole picture and make it look as if it IS the whole picture.Just like there are Ku Klux Klan in America. It would be easy to use images of the KKK and paint the picture: "See, this is America."They do it over there to show a cloaked picture of Iranians, and they do it here to show a cloaked image of Americans.But today the Internet gives us the opportunity to discover the truth for ourselves - if we are open to do it.So to you that are reading this letter, whether you live in the US or any other part of the world, warm regards from the people in Iran.[Your peace-lover friend from Tehran, Iran]
Samadhi’s response of May 22nd 2007:
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 read the Iranian gentleman's phrase put very gently, almost unnoticed {in his above-letter}-- “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 extremely 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 acts of Saudis on those planes; 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" to this Iranian man 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.
