None of us are representative of the land we are from. Of course it is part of our history and contributes to the people we become, but no single person can wholly represent a people. I need to continue reminding myself of this.
Tonight I had a great conversation with Simin, a fellow student from Tehran, Iran. And as much as I don't represent a majority of Americans, she felt the same. One of the first things she said to me was, "My life has been full of paradoxes." See, she is not religious, nor our her parents. Her government, however, is Islamic. In Iran, she had to wear garments that covered her entire body whenever she was outside. In the privacy of her home, however, she was free to express herself.
She said when she was young she would ask her parents why this performance was necessary. It was not until she was much older that she understood. "I may not agree with my government, and they may not do what is best for the people. This does not mean that I would ever want foreigners to come and tell me how to live or how my government should be run."
The conversation ended with us joking about the "Axis of Evil." Wow, did she have a point.
Flown by mariposa at 04:13 PM on April 03, 2004
