Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
In early 2008, a friend from the Washington State chapter of the United Nations Associ-
ation called me and asked what I could do to help them build understanding between Iran
and the US, and defuse the tension that could lead to war. I answered, “The only thing of
any consequence I could do would be to produce a TV show on Iran.” Over the next few
months, I wrote a proposal for a public television show—no politics, just travel. The title
was
Iran: Yesterday and Today.
When this project began, like most Americans, I knew next to nothing about Iran. It
was a journey of discovery…all caught on film. My hope was to enjoy a rich and fascinat-
ing culture, to get to know a nation that's a leader in its corner of the world (and has been
for 2,500 years), and to better understand the 70 million people who call Iran home.
I'm convinced that people-to-people travel experiences can be a powerful force for
peace. Americans traveling to the Soviet Union helped us get through the Cold War
without things turning hot. Travel to Vietnam has helped heal wounds left in the aftermath
of that war. And, as the USA and Iran continue their dangerous flirtation with an avoid-
able war, travel there can help build understanding between our nations.
Knowing that many Americans won't likely actually travel to Iran, my TV crew
wanted to bring the travel experience home to America. Rather than focus on Iran's well-
documented offenses—their alleged funding of terrorists, threats to Israel, and nuclear
ambitions—I simply wanted to better understand Iran's people and culture in the hopes
that we can sort out our differences peacefully and more smartly. Contrary to the common
practice of a nation dehumanizing the enemy as a prelude to war, I believe if you're going
to bomb a place, you should know it first. It should hurt when you kill someone. My Iran
