Humsafar: friend and fellow traveler
Persia – name for Iran, prior to 1935; also name of an empire
Cyrus the Great, king of Persian Empire 600-530 BC – well known for allowing the customs and religions of the lands he conquered to remain. When he conquered Babylon, he encouraged the Jews who had been captive to return to the land of Israel.
The Cyrus Cylinder: contains the edict of restoration and is mentioned in the bible. Ezra 1:1-4 (NKJV) The Cylinder is currently in the possession of the British Museum.
Persepolis – a world heritage site
Toman – a unit of Iranian currency (IRR)
Shir ro Khorshid – The Lion and Sun emblem on the Persian flag
As Americans, how much do you know about Iran? (ehron, not Eye Ran) Several American presidents have called Iran evil. One went so far as to list Iran on the Axis of evil. And another threatened to drop bombs on Persepolis. For years after that, I called my humsafar Axis if I referred to him on social media. I could never use his real name, or likeness. He had family in Iran: his sister, her son. His widowed and aging mother. His brother, his wife, their son. They were a public family. You can find their name on landmarks in the capital. They are a respected family. And the morals police do watch, and the revolutionary guard do keep track. Social media is monitored. What is said here on Facebook can get people there arrested or killed.
Axis talks of his childhood, before God showed up and ruined his country. He describes hot summer days, the grassy medians with pleached trees where students would gather to study for their exams. He paints pictures of the grand bazaar and the rug shop where his mother, a very shrewd bargainer would strike fear in the shop keeper’s heart. When he saw her coming, he’d call out Hassan – bring the tea, the good tea, the best cups, and lunch. Hello Mrs -- what would you like for lunch. As she bargained with him for the highest quality carpets, he’d complain about the upcoming wedding of his daughter, or how his son’s school expenses were just going up. She would bankrupt him. The Kabob shop where you sat and were served what you were served. His eyes remember, his mouth waters. The colorful mountain neighborhood of Darband. Axis came to the US when he was 15, just weeks before the hostage crisis and the revolution, the founding of the Islamic Republic of Iran. He has photos of family and country lining his living room. It’s all gone now.
Algebra
Advances in astronomy
Sulfuric acid
Chess
Zoroastrianism – a monotheistic religion
The three wise men
Persia was the greatest empire. Cyrus a stern but generous ruler. Persepolis, a World Heritage Site, was chosen by Cyrus the Great but it was Darius I who built the palace and terrace. It is a place that Human History Happened. Like Efes (Ephesus) in Türkiye, Paul’s letters to the Ephesians. Human History. Documented verifiable human history. I’ve seen Efes, and sat in the stadium where Paul addressed the crowds shouting the names of Greek gods to drown his words. Persepolis is on my bucket list. I am not likely to stand on the soil in that place and feel the ancients. The country is being strangled.
It took twelve years to get Axis’ elder brother a green card. Baradar had studied in Oregon and England before returning home to run the family business. The country is not a place with a future for its children. At funerals of young people their families have been heard to say it was better this way, they had nothing to grow up for. Baradar’s son is twelve. And although he is growing up among the privileged class, there is little hope for his future. Iran had the distinction of the most heavily sanctioned nation, until Russia invaded Ukraine. Iranian sanctions are still imposed.
The economy is failing. The people are making hard choices. Axis remembers 7 IRR to $1 in his youth. In November 2022, the exchange rate was $1 to 30,000 IRR. This week it is $1 to almost 55,000 IRR. The rate is rumored to increase to 100,000 IRR to $1 by the last day of Nowruz, the Zoroastrian thirteen day celebration that begins on Spring Equinox, literally meaning New Day, commonly known as Persian New Year.
The failure of the economy is fueled by the protests over a young woman, Masha Amini, who died in police custody after being arrested for improperly wearing her hijab. Girls and young women have taken to the streets for five months. And they are shot, or arrested. Across several cities, young girls poisoned to prevent them from attending schools.
Baradar had come to Los Angeles, which hosts the largest Iranian community outside of Iran to scope out apartments and schools. We take him to breakfast. He’d just gotten confirmation that his wife and son were approved for green cards, and now, he has to reconsider – In Tehran, he has a monthly income. If he were to liquidate everything and move to the US, he’d have nearly nothing. He’s unsure if he’ll be able to return.
The three of us had a final dinner last night. It was somber. Today Axis drove Baradar to the airport, his luggage containing items simply unavailable in Iran. The brothers embrace and give each other the traditional kisses on each cheek.
We don’t know if Baradar will be able to come back. At this time, Axis doubts he’ll ever return to his country. The once great empire.
— Lkai
Persia – name for Iran, prior to 1935; also name of an empire
Cyrus the Great, king of Persian Empire 600-530 BC – well known for allowing the customs and religions of the lands he conquered to remain. When he conquered Babylon, he encouraged the Jews who had been captive to return to the land of Israel.
The Cyrus Cylinder: contains the edict of restoration and is mentioned in the bible. Ezra 1:1-4 (NKJV) The Cylinder is currently in the possession of the British Museum.
Persepolis – a world heritage site
Toman – a unit of Iranian currency (IRR)
Shir ro Khorshid – The Lion and Sun emblem on the Persian flag
As Americans, how much do you know about Iran? (ehron, not Eye Ran) Several American presidents have called Iran evil. One went so far as to list Iran on the Axis of evil. And another threatened to drop bombs on Persepolis. For years after that, I called my humsafar Axis if I referred to him on social media. I could never use his real name, or likeness. He had family in Iran: his sister, her son. His widowed and aging mother. His brother, his wife, their son. They were a public family. You can find their name on landmarks in the capital. They are a respected family. And the morals police do watch, and the revolutionary guard do keep track. Social media is monitored. What is said here on Facebook can get people there arrested or killed.
Axis talks of his childhood, before God showed up and ruined his country. He describes hot summer days, the grassy medians with pleached trees where students would gather to study for their exams. He paints pictures of the grand bazaar and the rug shop where his mother, a very shrewd bargainer would strike fear in the shop keeper’s heart. When he saw her coming, he’d call out Hassan – bring the tea, the good tea, the best cups, and lunch. Hello Mrs -- what would you like for lunch. As she bargained with him for the highest quality carpets, he’d complain about the upcoming wedding of his daughter, or how his son’s school expenses were just going up. She would bankrupt him. The Kabob shop where you sat and were served what you were served. His eyes remember, his mouth waters. The colorful mountain neighborhood of Darband. Axis came to the US when he was 15, just weeks before the hostage crisis and the revolution, the founding of the Islamic Republic of Iran. He has photos of family and country lining his living room. It’s all gone now.
Algebra
Advances in astronomy
Sulfuric acid
Chess
Zoroastrianism – a monotheistic religion
The three wise men
Persia was the greatest empire. Cyrus a stern but generous ruler. Persepolis, a World Heritage Site, was chosen by Cyrus the Great but it was Darius I who built the palace and terrace. It is a place that Human History Happened. Like Efes (Ephesus) in Türkiye, Paul’s letters to the Ephesians. Human History. Documented verifiable human history. I’ve seen Efes, and sat in the stadium where Paul addressed the crowds shouting the names of Greek gods to drown his words. Persepolis is on my bucket list. I am not likely to stand on the soil in that place and feel the ancients. The country is being strangled.
It took twelve years to get Axis’ elder brother a green card. Baradar had studied in Oregon and England before returning home to run the family business. The country is not a place with a future for its children. At funerals of young people their families have been heard to say it was better this way, they had nothing to grow up for. Baradar’s son is twelve. And although he is growing up among the privileged class, there is little hope for his future. Iran had the distinction of the most heavily sanctioned nation, until Russia invaded Ukraine. Iranian sanctions are still imposed.
The economy is failing. The people are making hard choices. Axis remembers 7 IRR to $1 in his youth. In November 2022, the exchange rate was $1 to 30,000 IRR. This week it is $1 to almost 55,000 IRR. The rate is rumored to increase to 100,000 IRR to $1 by the last day of Nowruz, the Zoroastrian thirteen day celebration that begins on Spring Equinox, literally meaning New Day, commonly known as Persian New Year.
The failure of the economy is fueled by the protests over a young woman, Masha Amini, who died in police custody after being arrested for improperly wearing her hijab. Girls and young women have taken to the streets for five months. And they are shot, or arrested. Across several cities, young girls poisoned to prevent them from attending schools.
Baradar had come to Los Angeles, which hosts the largest Iranian community outside of Iran to scope out apartments and schools. We take him to breakfast. He’d just gotten confirmation that his wife and son were approved for green cards, and now, he has to reconsider – In Tehran, he has a monthly income. If he were to liquidate everything and move to the US, he’d have nearly nothing. He’s unsure if he’ll be able to return.
The three of us had a final dinner last night. It was somber. Today Axis drove Baradar to the airport, his luggage containing items simply unavailable in Iran. The brothers embrace and give each other the traditional kisses on each cheek.
We don’t know if Baradar will be able to come back. At this time, Axis doubts he’ll ever return to his country. The once great empire.
— Lkai
Beautiful and sad. Your writing transports and educates. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteI had heard about the former prosperous and open Iran from an art student when I worked at the university here. So sad. Thank you for, as Daniel says, this education. (from "Macoff")
ReplyDeleteThank you for this enlightening story. I am so moved. Your storytelling is engaging, gripping. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteThank you all for reading. This is a very personal story. Your thoughts are very much appreciated
ReplyDeleteI lived (grew up in) Saudi . . . before the Iranian revolution - - I knew people who had worked in Tehran and moved to Saudi. It sounded like a wonderful place (better than Riyadh!!). I couldn't believe it when the revolution happened - - much like it's hard to reconcile what Afghanistan was before America funded Al Qaeda to frustrate Russia there.
ReplyDelete