I hope to be able to discuss this in June or July. Come join us!

Here's a new non-fiction book titled, "Searching For Hassan" by Terrence Ward and really enjoying the story of an American family who returns to Iran to search for their old cook/general handy man and his family who took care of the family in the 60's-70's. In 1998, they find a somewhat safe way to return and end up taking a personal tour of Iran on the way to the man's supposed hometown. The descriptive writing is like reading something from Arabian Nights. The colors, the markets, the market goods--fruits, vegetables, spices--- the sights and sounds are described so well that you feel like you are right there. The comments on the history of Iran(Persia) and its new republic government were new to me.

Persian, just think what else you can tell us about Iran! That will make the discussion even more interesting! So glad you will join us.

Check into our new proposal,"Searching For Hassan" by Terrence Ward. This exciting book is filled with great descriptions of historic sites, the sounds, smells, and tastes of Iran(Persia) plus good explanations of the country's religious ties. One wonderful Irish-American family searches for and finds an Iranian family, who were lost to them 30 yrs ago. The graciousness and respect that these two families have for each other's culture is heartwarming. My favorite quote is from Hassan to Terry Ward: "Remember, if you open the eye of your heart, then you can see things that cannot be seen.

And, Persian was kind enough to explain the above quote. Thanks, Persian.

Persian - 11:51am May 2, 2003 PDT (#402 of 410) Mahlia

"Remember, if you open the eye of your heart, then you can see things that cannot be seen."

Ann - in Persian culture this is the same as telling a beloved family member or friend that when he/she/they travel, they are "in my eyes." Physically, one can only see so far, but when someone is in your heart or you look at them "through the eyes of your heart" it makes all the difference in the world. Whenever my husband or son travel (especially now, since both are in the Middle East), I constantly assure them that they are "in my eyes." Ward's book should be very interesting!

Although I haven't quite completed the book yet, I'm of the opinion that it is every bit as fine a work as When Religion Becomes Evil (which you already know I regard very highly). The author of Searching for Hassan is extremely skillful in blending all the aspects of the country, the people and his family's memories together. My sense is that the introduction draws the reader in and then holds one's attention until either sleep, a ringing telephone or some other distraction interrupts.

Whoa, this book is taking on a life of its own! Come join us!

This family had "mucho chutzpa", didn't they? No fear of the "known to them" possibilities of Iran, their long lost home. I had forgotten that only one of the boys wasn't born in the Middle East. No wonder going back was so important to them. Weren't you just overwhelmed when the author, after arriving in Iran, said,"Familiar smells, distinct and faint, dislodged childhood memories. Am immediate feeling of home washed over us. A warm and ancient welcome was in the air." Do we all feel like this when we go "home"??

Along with this book, I am reading "Persian Mirrors" by Elaine Sciolino in which she tells of living in and out of Iran for 20 years while reporting for the NYT. Although the book is two years old, it fits right in with "Searching For Hassan".

Harriet, now another title to look for? My goodness, we will be reading all summer right into the discussion for "Leap of Faith"! Greeeeeaaaaaaaattt!

A new SN poster has been in touch with me about reading and discussing this book with us. She lives in England and has made quite an effort to get the book and has been successful. Her name (to me) is Jennifer. She says she will be here tomorrow.

The jumping of the fire reminded me of the burning of paper with past sins written down on Ash Wednesday. Similar principal but certainly easier for my bones!! Did one have to overhear another's conversation before reporting back to an adult?

Welcome, Lightening, so glad you are going to be in this discussion. We will have fun!

Persian, unfortuneately, I have lost your link to the article about the Zoroastians but will look at Ella's to see if its the same idea. Thanks, Ella.

I also came across the books that Harold has linked here. They do look tempting! Will try the library first!

What do you all think of this family, just loading up and returning to Iran? Only one of the brothers seemed hesitant and afraid, but he went anyway! And, the mother, with her painfully sprained ankle, just brushed all that off, and went on with the trip! What a woman! From the beginning of their lives together, I knew that she and Patrick were going to have an interesting life! Packed right up after he found a job in the Middle East, and carrying her first child, off she went!

"We were oblivious of distant America. For us children, Iran, not the United States was home."

What do you all think of this family, just loading up and returning to Iran?

"Home, the site of all childhood's revelations and sufferings, changes irrevocably, so that we are all in some sense refugees from a lost world....Rebecca Solnit from A BOOK OF MIGRATIONS

"Nostagia comes from the Greek word nostos, to return home and algos, pain. The ancients used the term to desribe the state of mind of Hellenic soldiers of Alexander the Great garrisoned in far-off Asia. There was only one effective cure: the journey back.

This family had "mucho chutzpa", didn't they? No fear of the "known possibilities" of Iran, their long lost home. I had forgotten that only one of the boys wasn't born in the Middle East. No wonder going back was so important to them. Weren't you just overwhelmed when the author, after arriving in Iran, said,"Familiar smells, distinct and faint, dislodged childhood memories. Am immediate feeling of home washed over us. A warm and ancient welcome was in the air." Do we all feel like this when we go "home"??

Islam:Empire of Faith

Along with Harriet, I am learning so much. I know that Cyrus has been brought up to me sometime in my education but certainly not in such a heroic way. Also, Esther, too is mentioned whom I have read about just recently. Her actual history of marriage to a Persian king didn't stay with me until I read it here. And the feast of Purim is in her honor! Whoa!

My good impressions of the book come from this young man's style of writing,too. He does bring you right into his story plus the history of Iran. I am enjoying it a second time.

Our librarian leader of my book discussion group is now reading it. She is quite aware of Iran, Persia, and Shiraz PLUS she studied the Persian language while doing her language requirement for college. She says that found the language quite easy to learn as it sounds is so lovely and smooth and romantic.

”To accommodate the huge U.S. military population that kept mushrooming each year, there was the Officers’Club, the NCO Club and the Castle Club, which kept soldiers off the streets and in the bars. There was also the British Club, the American Club and the German Club – pg. 52.

"The Iran-Iraq War was multifaceted and included religious schisms, border disputes, and political differences. Conflicts contributing to the outbreak of hostilities ranged from centuries-old Sunni-versus-Shia and Arab-versus-Persian religious and ethnic disputes, to a personal animosity between Saddam Hussein and Ayatollah Khomeini. Above all, Iraq launched the war in an effort to consolidate its rising power in the Arab world and to replace Iran as the dominant Persian Gulf state. Phebe Marr, a noted analyst of Iraqi affairs, stated that "the war was more immediately the result of poor political judgement and miscalculation on the part of Saddam Hussein," and "the decision to invade, taken at a moment of Iranian weakness, was Saddam's".

Iraq and Iran had engaged in border clashes for many years and had revived the dormant Shatt al Arab waterway dispute in 1979. Iraq claimed the 200-kilometer channel up to the Iranian shore as its territory, while Iran insisted that the thalweg--a line running down the middle of the waterway--negotiated last in 1975, was the official border. The Iraqis, especially the Baath leadership, regarded the 1975 treaty as merely a truce, not a definitive settlement.

The Iraqis also perceived revolutionary Iran's Islamic agenda as threatening to their pan-Arabism. Khomeini, bitter over his expulsion from Iraq in 1977 after fifteen years in An Najaf, vowed to avenge Shia victims of Baathist repression. Baghdad became more confident, however, as it watched the once invincible Imperial Iranian Army disintegrate.........

From "philosopher king" of the Greeks, Cyrus was elevated even higher by the Old Testament prophets who described the Persian as a savior-king touched by the hand of Yahweh. Ezra and Isaiah proclaimed him "the Lord's anointed." Jeremiah declared, "Yahweh stirs up the soul of the King of the Medes to smite the wicked harlot, Babylon."

Second Isaiah hails Cyrus as a "messiah."

Isn't this man's description of the terain and the monuments wonderful? I wish that Iran was still open to us but after looking at the news from there this morning, I'm a little bit put off. Seems that the college students are on the rampage sinece the goverment is considering privatizing the universities. The Ayatollah is all for just letting the students wear themselves out while his soldiers or police stand by to prevent anything horrible from happening.

Did you know that the United States adopted a way of delivering the mail from the Perians? And uses their motto,too. Persia derived a way for delivering their mail on horseback or camel? And we decided to do that also with our Pony Express. Then we stole their motto which was "Neither rain, sleet or snow or the dark of night" will stop the mail.

I thought I was doing well to explain to Ella who are Arabs and who aren't, plus explaining the Muslim connections. Also, about Mohammed and the Shiites and ths Sunnis. And, then I went to read about Cyrus, Darius and Xerxces! I'm overwhelmed here!

Shiraz is by far my favorite city in Iran. Shiraz, is a city of moderation, calm, and good sense. It may be overcrowded with the hundreds of thousands of Iranians who migrated there during Iran's long war with Iraz, and it may be polluted and hot in the summer. But, Shiraz opens to rich, rolling farmland, with a good highway that leads straight to Persepolis, less than an hour away. Shiraz is not a place of religious pilgrimage, reflecting instead the glories of pre-Islamic Iran. So the Islamic Republic has largely left it alone, pouring money into other cities like Qom and Isfahan. Shiraz is a place of roses, nightingales, rich people who smoke opium, and some of the best wine-producing grapes in the world. It is impossible to to go to Shiraz and ot feel the power of its beauty and the magic of its poetry. Some Iranians consider Shirazis lazy. I find them mellow and good-natured."From "Persian Mirrors" by Elaine Sciolino.

My first reaction is one of laughter when I read that the Shirazis are mellow and good natured. Who wouldn't be while smoking opium?? Tee hee! But its here that we find Mrs. Ward having a difficult time with her head covering and her sons nervously protecting her from the public eye when an Iranian medical student steps forward and helps her to get the covering back on her head and her clothing straightened. The lady was not embarrassed or horrified by Mrs Ward's predicament but the men were worried that she would be what??? Arrested? Mercy!

Harold, those links left me dizzy with much information to digest. I also must correct myself that Darius was Cyrus's grandson? At least that's what I read somewhere. On your link, it says "distant cousin". It doesn't really matter as it was so long ago.

"The bazaar is not only the commercial heart of an Iranian city; it is also a densely built community center--with mosques, public baths, back rooms--that serves as a meeting place and center of communications. The mosque is not only a place of worship but also a vehicle for political mobilization." From "Persion Mirrors" again.

I have company this weekend so won't be in here frequently but will try to keep checking while entertaining.

Jenny, what interesting info you have at your fingertips or should I say from your window in England. So, what Terry Ward and the other author says about the bazaars and mosques is true, not only in Iran, but even outside the Muslim strongholds of the M.E. They are places of intrigue.

Iran's Youth

Ella and I live in a suburb of Columbus but most of our Columbus immigrants are reported to be either from Viet Nam or Solmolia, although, Ella and I saw the mosque featured in a book about Islam that is right outside Perrysberg,Ohio while we were on our way to visit with the Toledo Trotters. Perrysberg is southeast of Toledo.

Back to the "intrigue", one of the places that I believe I mentioned was the Iranian bazaar. According to the reading that I have done, the bazaar is not only commercial heart of an Iranian city;"it is also a densely built comunity center--with mosques, public baths, back rooms--that serves as a meeting place and center of communication."

Assuming that you have been inside a mosque, I find this picture with the circle of lights inside the NYC mosque and am wondering if there is any significance to the hanging of the lights like that? NYC Muslim Cultural Center

When you click on this link, you have to use the map and click on the eastern US and then click on the NYC center.

Due to the problem with our ISP on Saturday, I think we could add a day or two to the next section of the book. I will have to go back in the posts to find out what I said to open that section as we are so far off the topic that I can't remember. :<))

That would be posts #66 and #67, if anyone is interested. :<)

From "Persian Mirrors"(my other book):"The Islamic Republic didn't invent the veil, of course. Even before the advent of Islam, the practice of veiling probably existed among the Zoroastrians. From the sixteeth century on, a kind of all-enveloping Islamic veil was worn, although it was not black and its style varied according to region. Eventurally, well-to-do women of the cities and the court---certainly not a majority of women--took up veiling and secluding themselves from public view. The black chador seen on the streets today probably made its entry in the late eighteenth century--among the upper classes.

In the countryside, women have always worn veils, usually lively prints that protect their heads from dust. They often wear scarves with veils over them, wrapping and gathering them at their waists to free up their arms and to make the garments less cumbersome. In fact, the consensus among modern and traditional, secular and religious women in Iran is that if women were given a choice, the majority would probably choose to cover their heads in public in some way."

A few other things mentioned by this writer are that in 1935, the Reza Shah issued an edict that declared the wearing of traditional dress(Western clothingfor both women and men) an offense punishable by a prison term. The army and police roamed through villages to enforce the laws, tearing chadors off women and handing out free Western-style suits to men. Reza Shah also banned men from wearing turbans. Mustaches were allowed but beards were forbidden, even for clerics. The king told all Iranian women to follow the example of his family's women and "to cast their veils, this symbol of injustice and shame, into the fires of oblivion." But not all the women saw it that way. To many, the veil was a source of protection, respect, and virtue. Also mentioned here was another book, "Daughter of Persia" by a daughter of a Qajar prince, where she recalls her mother's words:"He is trying to destroy religion. He doesn't fear God, this evil Shah--may God curse him for it!"

During the 1979 revolution, women could bo bareheaded in Iran, but within a month, Khomeini ordered all women to wear Islamic dress. At first the Iranian women resisted and led a march protesting the Ayatollah's decree. Men stood on the sides jeering them and throwing rocks and bottles at them. Eventually, after Khomeni backed down and changed his mind about the chador and the wearing of a head covering prevailed.

Iran and Iraq share a common border and that is how Iraq invaded Iran so easlily in the 90's? And continued the war for 8 years, killing many Shiites in the process. Another religious/political war! Will it ever stop???!!!! According to the Iranian representative interviewed on TV Sunday, the police will just wait out the furor of the students as they keep them surrounded. This has happened before.

One of the things that came to my mind when I read Ella's question about the veil and remembered reading the quote that I put up above, was that the covering of their clothes and veils maybe was only meant for protecting their persons from sand storms which from watching the Iraqi war on TV, I saw were quite common. And another thought that I had was---picture the huge hats, veils and dust covers that women wore over here when first exposed to automobiles. Remember"Meet Me In St Louis"?

Wearing colors is frowned upon by the city ladies as they consider it cheap and gaudy and showing one's poor knowledge of style. In the cities, the women prefer black or beige as its more stylish but subdued.

Ramakrishna, the greatest Hindu saint of the 19th century, once said, "God has made different religions to suit different aspirations, times, and countries. All doctrines are only so many paths; but a path is by no means God Himself. Indeed, one can reach God if one follows any of the paths with wholehearted devotion. One may eat a cake with icing either straight or sidewise. It will taste sweet either way."

I think that Terry Ward is indeed wanting us to recognize the Persian contributions to Christianity and Judaism and he alludes that the two faiths keep these contributions quiet? I wonder why they would do that? An absolute truth problem?? My faith is better than yours?

Did you read the link above about the different faiths living side by side in Iran? Yes, 90% of the Iranians are Muslims(mostly Shiia) but there are other religions practiced in Iran and the people seem to live peacefully.

Your friend at the PO sounds like a delight and very open too. You are so lucky to have her around. I keep looking in downtown Gahanna but so far, only in the very well to do areas, do I see anyone who might come from another country. I do have some Russian acquaintances here but they are so busy working in hospital labs that their social time is limited. They are both women doctors but unable to afford schooling that we require for them. One is slightly embittered but the other seems very happy just to be here. Her husband is finishing up his required schooling and will soon be practicing. Maybe after she raises her two boys past high school, she can get her education updated.

Persian, thanks for that great explanation of why the medical schools teach in English. Sometimes, I am amazed that so many people thruout the world can speak English. I wonder if it has or will become the international language someday. Maybe it already has. By the way, it was Ella who asked about the English language in the Iranian schools.

I will be asking my Russian friend if she has checked into OSU giving her some monitary help with her medical education. Thanks for that tip. I do think that she might already be aware of these opportunities but has decided to help her husband further his medical education while she supports the family. Seems to be the way of women, doesn't it?

In the book, I was surprised to realize that not only were religious wars occurring in the ME having to do with the faith of Islam but also, on top of that were huge political wars between the Arabs and the Muslim population. Where does one begin and one end?

I am also quite taken with the poetry of Hafez especially the little example on Pg 117 where he starts out with "Do not judge us, you who boast your purity--No one will indict you for the faults of others." I like that advice. I am also impressed by the Iranian habit of memorizing his poetry and honoring Hafez. Almost as if he were a spiritual being to them. The touching of his sarcaphogus and murmuring of the his poetry, like prayers. And the way that they use Hafez's Divan sort of as an advice column or an oracle book, to give them directions or warnings for their lives.

Akbar is really keeping the Ward family aprised of the Iranian history but also on the politics of the country at this time,ie. his explanation of Khatami's leadership for the people towards "a gentler Islam, a softness of the inner heart, for God's blessing." This new president may have given the people some hope that things will not be so strict in Iran and that changes are going to happen that will make them feel less apprehensive. But even in the telling of this to the Wards, Terry looks around to see if anyoine was eavesdropping.

Jen, looks like ball playing is the ice breaker between all the nationalities around the world. Didn't you chuckle at Pat's(the father of Ward) politically correct way of handling the Iran-US soccer match when he was discussing it with the family who invited them to dinner.

From "Persian Mirrors" "Centuries before the birth of Christ, the prophet Zoroaster preached a message of monotheism, the central feature of which was a long battle between good and evil.(Good will ultimately win.) Judaism, Christianity, and Islam were influenced by the Zoroastrian belief in the devil and angels, heaven and hell, redumption, resurrection, and the last judgement." Seems like the stamping out of Zoroastrianiam by the purists in Iran, was similar to throwing out the baby with the bath water. They were saying that the festivities of Nowruz(Iranian New Year) were superstitious and anti-Islamic.

Anyway, back to the book, where are we???

Oh, we are in the house of the kind Iranians who invited the Wards to dinner, is that right? Can anyone imagine an American would offer such an invitation to a stranger from another country, who is just touring????ahhh, maybe, the tomb of the Unknown Soldier or Arlington Cemetery? Somehow, I don't think so although, maybe Persian would do it since she is so familiar with other countries and their traditions.

”In Iran there has always been tension between farmer, city dweller and nomadic shepherd. It is an age-old rivalry. Over the centuries, waves of tribes from central Asia rode into the country, searching for grazing land.”

We learn the purpose of the minerets for cooling the air in the homes of the villagers. Clever idea, trapping the hot air and spriraling it down and over cool water, but certainly not AC.

And, we find that the Zoroastrians are very eco conscious. They don't believe in burying or cremating their dead but take them to the top of the towers and leave their bodies for the birds to clean, then dump the bones in a small pit at the center of the towers. When the Shah was in power, he ordered the towers of Yazd closed and a cemetery built.

The Wards visit the Zoroastrian fire temple where the flame has burned for 1400 years, kept by the temple's priest who worries about the upcoming generation who are trying to leave this place for a more modern scene. He wonders who will keep the fires if the young leave. Terry meets a small family from London who are in Yazd to visit their Zoroastrian roots.

One of the points mentioned about Yazd and its bazaar. is the lack of beggers that were prolific in the Shah's day. The family is invited to a man's home where he shows them an architectural drawing that he has made of the beautiful and oh, so clean bazaar for the city. Compares the winding streets with its little shops with a piece of music. The man, Mr Yamshid, then invites them to "zoor knaneh" which is what???

I read all this and still am not sure what this traditional show of strength is accomplishing. I guess its their equivalent of our gymnastics and dance recitals. The description of the music sounds fascinating. A sort of jamming jazz concert. And from these traditional programs came their national wrestling champ, Takhti, who was murdered by the Shah's secret police for being a leader in the National Front Party of Mossadigh, the Shah's rival. Intrigue and mayhem once again remind us of where this is all taking place.

So, in chapter 8, the author takes us from the hot dry desert to a local show of strength. And in between, they lose their guide, Akbar and almost Avo, their assigned "spy" from the travel agency. I am still wondering why they have two of these so called guides.

Those wind farms are here in the states, out in the West, mostly in California but the ECO folks are telling us that we are threatening the bird population because the birds fly right into them. Like a mass suicide. So we must find a different way to produce electricity. As to the crematoriums, I had no idea that they were causing a problem with the ozone layer. I just arranged my aunt's funeral(she hasn't died yet but I have to do this to get her on Medicaid) and I am having her cremated and shipped to the out of state church cemetery where she wants to be buried. Hope they don't close the crematoriums down before we get her buried!! At the age of 90, and still going strong, she could outlive us all!!

Persian, clever clever girl!! Glad you were able to lose your Chinese keeper. It does sound annoying to have someone hanging over you all day when you had planned a solitary and private tour.

Harold, I thought that the Perisan background was from the Russian Steppes through Asia. Not right?

Chapter nine takes us from a relatively calm discussion about what the family expected from Iran....The mother exclaims that its so calm when one of the brothers says its not what he expected. The quote from the President's sister is pretty well known. One of the things that she told the author of "Persian Mirrors" was that they had all been well educated and that they had always been very wealthy.

This chapter, which I have read three times, always makes me tear up as I read about the staunchness of the Mother Ward in trekking through that little village looking for someone who might know Hassan's family from Tudeshk. I love this lady! She is so determined and sure that the Hassan is still somewhere in Iran. A momentous moment in the book and now 3 hours away is the beloved Hassan and his little family. What a thrill! The excitement builds!!

The other tradition is the host becoming a servant to his honored guests. That the women of Iran are allowed to go to University and that there are more women in Tehran's university speaks of more freedom than I was aware of.

The stories of the Iraq-Iran war are horrifying. I believe that the Iraqiis killed almost as many Iranians as Hitler killed Germans in the '30's and 40's. And, the story about Maryam's then fiance really enhanced my understanding of the war. Also, when Hassan spoke of his seeing of the war at the front with death all around, gassing of the troops. Horrible! Where were the Americans?? Still angry with the Iranians for taking our people hostage, probably.

In another book, the author says that the American Embassy where the hostages were held became a place like a sideshow at the circus. People planned to go and see and then stayed to eat and play. There was a quaisi midway, where you could buy food, souvenirs, etc. And, two blocks away, life for the Iraniis was status quo with people going to work, to school and shopping in the bazaar. Also, this same author mentions that Khomeni only held the hostages as long as they were of political advantage.

Terry's old friend offers her wonderful gift to him in remembrance of a bike riding lesson, his mother sits talking to Fatimeh while his father and Hassan compare gardens and their lives. Mrs Ward's wonderful letter to Presiden Khatami's sister ends Chapter 10.

Now we are at the Isfahan fountain in Chaper 11 while the Wards wait for Hassan's family once more to tour another great bazaar. They wait by the fountain which is supposed to be the largest in the world. Here is a link to wonderful pictures of Isfahan. Pictures of Isfahan

If you want a super tour of Iran and the other sites that Terry mentions before we got to Isfahan, scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on the different links. So far, I have seen the tomb of Hafez(the beloved poet) plus many other sites that we have already read about. Shiraz is there and the Persepolis.

Back to the wonderful hospitality of Hassan and his family which ends with a huge picnic basket filled once again the most delightful foods that the Wards are told to take with then on their continuing journey. The next morning before they leave, Fatimeh asks Terry to come see what she has in the basement. It turns into a visit to the past of the 60's as so many of her treasures are from his old home in Tehran, gifts from his family to theirs, souveniers of their life with Hassan.

The Wards reminese about an earlier picnic when they lived in Iran where they were frightened by some scary men that they believe are thugs. A shepherd and his flock surround them making the thugs burst out in laughter.

The next city on their journey is Qom which although gloomy and polluted holds the shrine of Masumeh, sister of Reza, the 8th imam. The author compares it to the Vatican with its heart of the Shia clergy and the center of the Islamic Republic.

We also are brought up to date about the running of the country by Islamic clergy(the Supreme Leader is appointed for life) with a president and parliament being elected by the people. The Supreme Leader has the final say on all matters.

The Wards try to get in to see the gold domed shrine of Masumah but are turned away.

The weary travelers drive on to Tehran and vist the Ayatollah Khomeni's tomb. I believe that there is link to a picture of the tomb and building up above.

We also are brought up to date about the running of the country by Islamic clergy (the Supreme Leader is appointed for life) with a president and parliament being elected by the people. The Supreme Leader has the final say on all matters.

I just finished listening, on the radio-on NPR----to a former Congresswoman plus author of three books about the Middle East, one of them titled, "The Iranians". (We do seem to have a wide array of books about Iran available to us, don't we?) One of her comments was that she felt exactly as you do in your summary about the government. She is hoping with that the public will continue to want regularly elected leaders and the for the clergy to go back to the mosque. It will take a major change in their constitution which at present isn't going to happen tomorrow.

I am finishing up my reading of the book and will say more tomorrow as the Wards finally made it back to their old home in Tehran.

Racing north they search out their old street and home. After many attempts to find it, they come upon a huge construcion site and their old home is gone. Only the wall around it stands. They find an open gate and wander aimlessly around the destruction of the beautiful house and gardens finding one of the old pool statues in a shed at the far end of what used to be the garden. There they were, the two Hellenic lovers who once sat transfixed in our grotto staring deep into each other's eyes. Of course the impulse to take the statues back to the US is stifled by brother Chris and Father Ward but Mom vows to return for the statues.

We are at the end of Searching For Hassan..............The author brings us a few stories of his friends from the Middle East such as his friend, Nezam, who is searching for the Garden of Paradise with some archeoligists from Iran. They found something but are not sure that its the place.

Then he speaks of an Iranian lady, who, although raised in California, has moved back to Iran to raise her children as she is sure that it is important to know your own culture.

Next comes another flea market experience! This family are shop-a-holics! My gosh, I don't know if after seeing maybe three of the bazaars that I would be up for more!! How about you?

Then a well known Iranian filmmaker, Majid Majidi, with great humility, says that he believes that God is inside each of us. The film maker is very popular and has had two pictures nominated for Oscars. One being "The Color of Paradise". I wonder if we can rent anything like this here in the states??? It might be interesting to view.

Terry questions his father about taking bribes and Pat Ward says, never! "The most important thing in life is to wake up each morning and be able to look yourself in the mirrow and know you're clean."

I have read another author's words about the Koran and its "one night stand provision". How convenient for the men. If a woman is found to be doing this, she is stoned!!

Its time to leave Iran for the Ward family. At the airport the find a large illuminated sign in baggage claim, "In Future Islam Will Destroy Satanic Soverneignty of the West." There's a cheerful thought! But the Wards carry on and board the plane for home and Terry is blinded by the sacred moment of dawn. I like this thought and wonder how many of us honor the rising of the sun.

I think that the Wards and Hassan's family are bonded at the hip. I am sure that they will find ways to see each other. Wouldn't it be great is Hassan's family could visit the states? Are they allowed out of Iran yet without problems?

The author tells us that things are changing slowly in Iran with the election of President Khatami's canndidates out in the provinces. There are three women governing in three towns south of Tehran. Khatami embarks on the first state visit to the West by an Iranian president in twenty years??? Who was here in the 80's???

In July of 1999, we have students protesting the shutdown of a pro-reform newspaper. Seven months later a coalition of reformers aligned with Khatami won another election with 80% of the vote. Christiane Amanpour is quoted in the Trib: "These elections have not been about overturning Islami law........People just want a more livable life---that's what they voted for."

Two of the Ward sons do return to Iran and get a resounding welcome from Hassan and his family. Fatimeh tells about visiting the site of the old house in Tehran. It breaks her heart when she sees what it happening to the grounds----another hi-rise building is being constructed there. The beautiful gardens and swimming pool where Terry and his brothers played and learned are scarfed from the land. The wonderful memories of Hassan's stories told while sleeping outdoors under the stars will always be with them.

Up above there is a link to the fair devoted to women. I am glad that there is a "flood of Persian culture" where people in the arts are taking notice of the arts of Iran. Wouldn't you like to be at the concert where they played "Blue as the Turquoise Night of Neyshabur" at the New York philharmonic???

And when Terry hopes for a better Iran and wants to see and hear Hassan once more, his father counsels, " If you listen carefully, my son, you will hear his heart beating on that far side of the world".

The final poem of the book says it all.

Like Jenny, my sympathys lie with Ali and his sons so that would make me a Shiia.

If you have enjoyed this little book about Iran, you might want to join in the discussion of "Leap of Faith" by Queen Noor of Jordan on August 1.

Harold, I think that the Armenian Christians history was in the book but you can probably look it up on the net.