Saigon
Gold Member
I think there is a tendency for us in the west to assume that al Islamic countries and all Middle Eastern countries must be much the same - so that if something happens in one coutnry, it'll probably happen in another.
This is very human, but what happens in Spain does not often happen in Denmark, and what happens in Canada does not often happen in Honduras - the countries are distinctly difference and with clear cultural patterns.
I haven't been to Iran either (although will in a year or two), but understand that Iran has always been big on education, and that, as you say, Tehran was long cosmopolitan and perhaps more like Beirut than Baghdad.
So things change...but I suspect Tehran will be back some day. I can't see the peope tolerating extremism for ever. At some stage cracks will open up, and when the people in the Diaspora go back , they chang everything, as they have in Armenia and Israel.
We hope so, anyway.
This is very human, but what happens in Spain does not often happen in Denmark, and what happens in Canada does not often happen in Honduras - the countries are distinctly difference and with clear cultural patterns.
I haven't been to Iran either (although will in a year or two), but understand that Iran has always been big on education, and that, as you say, Tehran was long cosmopolitan and perhaps more like Beirut than Baghdad.
So things change...but I suspect Tehran will be back some day. I can't see the peope tolerating extremism for ever. At some stage cracks will open up, and when the people in the Diaspora go back , they chang everything, as they have in Armenia and Israel.
We hope so, anyway.