(Untitled)

[dherblay]

As I mull over a possible autumn trip to Iran, I have been much consoled by Nicholas Kristof's recent columns (1, 2) reporting that its inhabitants are strikingly pro-American. This doesn't surprise me in particular, because when I'm travelling international I rarely run into anyone who even expresses resentment towards the US government, much less

Comments

Oo, Iran,

[anneth]

one of the places I'd like to visit someday...

When I traveled in Europe two summers ago, I heard a pretty fair amount of "stupid ugly Americans!" I certainly wasn't being personally conflated with Bush, but I overheard a good number of young people complaining about the US in a vague, grumbly manner. Now that I think about it, though, I recall that most of the grumbling came from my fellow American student-travelers, grumbling about overhearing grumbling. Hmmm.

(Sorry; only tangentially related. What would you be doing in Iran? Am I allowed to ask?)

Re: Oo, Iran,

[dherblay]

The trip to Iran would be sight-seeing.

Yeah, I considered mentioning that the place I've encountered the most virulent anti-Americanism is Switzerland, but that would be egging the pudding; and it would also severely understate my mother's politics.

Re: Oo, Iran,

[angeyja]

Since Anneth broke the ice, could I ask what it is about Iran that drew you to think of visiting?

I've only ever been to Iceland (can't really count Canada) lots of place stateside, and were things a bit differemt lots of places overseas I'd really like to see.

Re: Oo, Iran,

[dherblay]

Oh, Ishafan, Persepolis. That's about it really. I like Islamic architecture.

Re: Oo, Iran,

[angeyja]

Ah, curiosity indulged.

(Please don't think badly of me if I say I was thinking roses... I mean as an association not the reason for you to visit.)

Re: Oo, Iran,

[dherblay]

I wouldn't think badly of you for mentioning that you were thinking of roses as an association, any more than you would think badly of me for mentioning that I now associate "Roses" with OutKast.

Re: Oo, Iran,

[angeyja]

...no way... no way... no way. ;-)

Re: Oo, Iran,

[rebekahroxanna]

You are the one who gave me the T Shirt last Mother's Day (the one that says in 16 languages on the front that it is the American apology T shirt and on the back that i'm really sorry about our President, I didn't vote for him). Now, to the substantive issue. I am not antiAmerican. Being anti-Bush is not antiAmerican. in fact I can make a quite cogent case that being antiBush is the height of proAmericanism. Bush's policies and practices undermine basic American Constitutional values. Not to mention tthe actions of Cheney, Rumsfeld, Haliburton and KBR

Re: Oo, Iran,

[mamculuna]

Even more tangential--for my upcoming trip to Europe, a friend gave me the American Traveller's Apology Tshirt, which says in 7 or 8 languages (including Arabic):

I apogize for my stupid President. I didn't vote for him.

Sorry if that's offensive, but it's really how I feel!

Re: Oo, Iran,

[dherblay]

I gave my mother that shirt last Mother's Day.