320 Years of History
Gold Member
Among my various hobbies and interests, food is one that I get to indulge more often than most of the others. Some folks might even consider me a "foodie." Being interested in nearly all things food related, I from time to time watch Anthony Bourdain's show Parts Unknown. Yesterday, I happened to catch his Iran episode. I encourage anyone to watch it.
Watching the program, I couldn't help but think that all the hoopla we hear about what Iran aims to do isn't at all what the people of Iran aim to make happen. Indeed, prior to seeing the show, I thought sure that the people shown in it would somehow come across as being notably different from the Persians with whom I'm acquainted. They really weren't at all.
The program serves as a reminder that at the "short end" of any government official's political rhetoric "stick" are people. I suspect some (maybe many) Westerners have a false impression of Iranians, Muslims, and other Arabs. I've definitely observed from my years working in the PRC that the way China is depicted in the American press and what the people whom I've met actually want and believe aren't even close to the same things.
Watching the program, I couldn't help but think that all the hoopla we hear about what Iran aims to do isn't at all what the people of Iran aim to make happen. Indeed, prior to seeing the show, I thought sure that the people shown in it would somehow come across as being notably different from the Persians with whom I'm acquainted. They really weren't at all.
The program serves as a reminder that at the "short end" of any government official's political rhetoric "stick" are people. I suspect some (maybe many) Westerners have a false impression of Iranians, Muslims, and other Arabs. I've definitely observed from my years working in the PRC that the way China is depicted in the American press and what the people whom I've met actually want and believe aren't even close to the same things.