Counting My Blessings?
Nov 23rd, 2010 by pedestrian
My first conversation at the United Nations:
Chief: your name … where are you from?
Pedestrian: I’m Iranian, though my name, it’s not a Persian word.
Chief: Aaaah! That beautiful place, Iran! I used to visit over the mountains when I was stationed in Iraq. Such a beautiful place, such amazing food!
Pedestrian: Yes, I certainly think so.
Chief: There was lots going on there last year …
Pedestrian: Yes, there was … it was a horrendous situation.
At this point the chief stops nodding his head in agreement and looks at me funny.
Chief: horrendous? What do you mean?
Pedestrian: Well, it’s been terrible. Absolutely terrible.
Chief: P, I work in peacekeeping. We deal with countries for which there might be no tomorrow. Surely, Iran isn’t that bad?
Pedestrian: I don’t think you can compare countries in those terms. [long monologue about UN peacekeeping not necessarily helping matters, and the fallacy of comparing countries in the way he was trying to compare them, and the fact that there actually are times when I worry about the existential threat to Iran brought on us by Ahmaidnejad and his buddies at home and abroad]
But the chief was insistent that I should count my blessings:
Chief: With all that said, we work in places where when we go to bed at night, were not even sure if the country will still be there when we get up in the morning. So the Iranian government has some issues with human rights, that’s a serious matter, but it’s not the end of the world. You said your family is living there, working, studying? At least when you go to bed at night, you know your country will be there in the morning.
Let’s hope so.
Thanks christinA! Nice to be back
Hi,
for me the same: Nice to read you again.
I always enjoy your blog
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Merci Sara!
wohooo..u’re back again.
Thank goodness you are back.
Yes, comparing apples and oranges is cold comfort. I understand the point they may have been trying to make, but it’s not really appropriate.
I certainly wouldn’t tell you to count your blessings. Rather, I’d say, “it could be worse.” Because, it can always get worse…
Siavash, you of all people should know I never went anywhere
Kurt, I think that’s what he meant though too. things are bad, and we should never settle … but I don’t we should forget the millions of people who are living very fulfiling lives, despite everything …
Well, yes of course, it could be worse…. but it could be better, too !!! And really we should continue to fight for Iran to be a better place – so easy said, but so true nevertheless: the world would be a better place then, too.
Anyway, good to read your post again. It always a bit strange, when not updated for a certain time, but you probably have a life, too
Good to read you again. Missed you.
Now, to comment on this wonderfully enlightening story. I am fighting against the insidious gradual replacement of a beloved country by a depraved cult which is happening by inches before our incredulous gaze. I appreciate that it lacks the drama of having the US or NATO or a UN “Peacekeeping” force come and trash your country back to the antediluvian era. But to me it is as real and as damaging as any war.
I have known forever that Iran is not going to be “rescued” and I feel fortunate that I can read this account as further confirmation of my understanding of the prevailing attitude of global political leadership without feeling demoralized.
Thank goodness for people power!
lol gorbeh, yeah, I kinda do have a life too you know
This really isn’t meant as a lesson or anything … it was just an interesting conversation, so I wanted to share it with others as well. And it did help my self-esteem a bit. When you’re working in peacekeeping, Iran is among the most prosperous countries in the world
Hi Liss! Yes, we’re awesome
lol …
I am thankful you are back
Thanks JHH
I was never gone, just a bit busy!
the tragedy is when a country, or rather fierce preservation and protection of nationalism at any cost…… takes precedence over ..and becomes more important than the rights of humans who are living there