Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 8
Mission: Understand Iran
In early 2008, a friend from the Washington State chapter of the United Nations
Association 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,
“h e 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. h e 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 i lm. My hope was to enjoy a
rich and fascinating 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. People 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 l irtation with an
avoidable war, travel there can help build understanding between our nations.
Knowing that many Americans won't likely actually travel to Iran, I took my TV
crew there to bring the travel experience home to America. Rather than focus on Iran's
well-documented of enses—their alleged funding of terrorists, threats to Israel, or
nuclear ambitions—I simply wanted to better understand Iran's people and its culture
in the hopes that we can sort out our serious dif erences peacefully and more smartly.
While it's common practice for a nation to dehumanize its enemy in a prelude to war,
I believe if you're going to bomb someone, you should know them i rst. It should hurt
when you kill someone. My Iran mission turned out to be not only an exciting and
enjoyable travel experience, but one of the most gratifying projects I've ever taken on. In
addition to addressing some of the deep rifts between our two societies, this chapter also
of ers a behind-the-scenes peek at traveling and i lming in this mysterious country.
