Voices for Peace

This video was sent to me by Suad, one of the members of my recent delegation to Iran. Please share it widely.



You can learn more about Voices for Peace at their website www.voicesforpeace.net

This quote appears on the Voices for Peace website:

It is time for all people of conscience to call upon America to return to her true home of brotherhood and peaceful pursuits. We cannot remain silent as our nation engages in one of history's most cruel and senseless wars. During these days of human travail we must encourage creative dissenters. We need them because the thunder of their fearless voices will be the only sound stronger than the blasts of bombs and the clamor of war hysteria.

--Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
February 26, 1967



It's hard to believe that I've been back for more than a month and I'm only just now writing about the second day of our trip to Iran. Time does fly! I've had several talks about the trip to various groups and individuals since my return. I'm working hard to refine my PowerPoint and am realizing that every presentation requires some revision/tweaking so I meet the time restraints or improve on the one before. It has been quite a journey thus far! And I'm excited to report that the trip to Iran is not something that happened and is now over. I've had the pleasure of exchanging several emails with some of the wonderful Iranians I met in the trip--so this continues to be a living experience, which means my sense of purpose is fulfilled almost daily. Today, I received an email from the sister of Simin, the woman I met at the square in Esfahan. Simin's sister is living in Arizona; she was impressed to learn of Peaceworks, and found our work hopeful--especially given our location right in the heart of America. Keep up the energy, friends. There are people on the other side of the world who are counting on us to use our voices for peace.

In hope and love,

Lily

Friday, May 2, 2008

Itinerary:

Morning: Visit to the Armenian Christian Cultural Center

Mid-Day: Walking at Alborz Mountain

Afternoon: Meeting at Sapir Charity Hospital with Morris Motamed (Current Jewish MP), Ciamak Morathegh (Incoming Jewish MP, Chairman Tehran Jewish Committee, and Chairman Sapir Charity Hospital) and Farhad Aframian

Evening: Service at Synagogue
Visit in North Tehran

Morning: Visit to the Armenian Christian Cultural Center

I have vivid memories still of arriving at the Armenian Christian Cultural Center in Tehran. We had breakfast at the hotel--bread, cheese, dates, yogurt, cucumbers, tomatoes and nectar--and loaded our big yellow bus. Traveled through Tehran's streets and arrived at a gated entry to the Armenian retreat in the middle of the city. I believe we arrived late--this is something that would happen often in the following weeks--and our bus was greeted by the men who would be our guides for the morning.

There were children playing some dodge ball-type game in the parking lot adjacent to the the one our bus parked in, and we spent several minutes admiring their activity and becoming introduced to the complex itself. I took my candy and pencils with me that day, but was too timid until the very end to actually approach the children and risk interrupting their activities; thus, frustrating their teachers.

I suppose it's difficult to understand what I mean when I say Armenian Christian Cultural Center. Try imagining a retreat center--a huge retreat center. There, take yourself to an entire football (soccer) stadium--complete track and bleachers--full tennis courts with a clubhouse for dining, a chapel, gardens, a massive indoor building with a cafeteria and basketball court, an outdoor courtyard with enough room for hundreds to dine and a swimming pool and swing sets. Then imagine enough green spaces for children to participate in summer camp picnicking and activities. This will catch many off guard, but it reminded me of the family camp in the film Dirty Dancing--the oasis-ness of it is what I'm referring to.

First, we visited the enormous soccer stadium.



Then, the tennis courts.



Next, we visited the chapel, complete with a small, historic graveyard.



On the way to the chapel area, I admired the pristine landscaping, which included beautiful flowers--trumpeter flowers and roses.





In the yard near the chapel, groups of campers/children gathered with their leaders. Watching them took me back to the family groups that were formed during summer camps I participated in at Rickman Center in Jefferson City. The children, guided by their teenage leaders, sang songs and participated in silly camp games, and eagerly anticipated the popsicles and watermelons that were served as snacks!



Seeing the chapel was meaningful. I don't know if that makes sense, but being inside and admiring the beauty of the decorations--the stained glass windows.





Then, seeing the way it stood with integrity as I admired geometrical architecture of the outside of the building was a meaningful experience. It was a place for silence, which was paired quite paradoxically and beautifully, really, with the energetic campers who greeted us as we approached, and intentionally entertained as we waited for the next stop on the tour.

We walked back toward the main entryway, and to the outdoor courtyard and dining area. For the first time, I truly appreciated what a large number of people the complex serves. I tried to count the chairs and tables in the area but was unable as we were pressed for time and only had a moment for absorbing the sight.

As we entered, we saw many, many rows of sunflower tablecloth covered plastic tables lined with yellow and green plastic chairs--all together, I imagine the courtyard seated hundreds.



On the far end, was the place for ordering food. To our left, the playground protected by large trees. Just to the left of the entrance was a table where three or four were selling candy for children--this took me back to the Fayette swimming pool in the summertime during the snack breaks! And to the right was the entrance for the swimming pool.

Beyond that, a small hill with many rose bushes which was bordered by the fence for the swimming pool beyond it.



I gave a piece of candy to a girl who was shyly, but intentionally watching me as I ventured over to the playground.



She was delighted and embarrassed--running back to her parents to show them her newly acquired treat! It was the first of many energizing encounters in which the joy and innocence of a child would transform me by melting my heart. A nearly ever-present reminder that if we could just bring the brewing conflict back to the human and remember the children, we might all be humbled and touched. Children--wanting joy for our children, wanting peace and joy for our children--it's part of the concrete that the Arch Bishop mentioned the day before. Peace becomes concrete when experiencing the joy of a child.

I was hungry by the time we made it inside for tea and pastries! We sat with the group as our hosts treated us to a tasty mid-morning snack! Because we were running late already and because we wanted to make it to the mountain and to lunch before our afternoon meeting at the Sepia Charity Hospital, we were somewhat rushed in our exit from the Armenian Christian Church Complex in Tehran.

Looking back, I have a desire to be in that parking lot again. I would sit down for a just few minutes and tear up I observe our group of 21 Americans lovingly admiring the children who were playing dodge ball (or something) in the adjacent parking lot. I'd breathe in the air again and admire the blue sky.

And I'd run back to the soccer stadium for just one second, so I could close my eyes and imagine a game taking place with admiring community members watching cheering on their favorite team.


I'd go back to those trees between the stadium and the tennis courts that somebody had carved their names into who-knows-how-many-years-ago and I'd trace the patterns in their trunk with my fingertips.



I'd let it take me to Hannibal, Missouri on the Muddy Mississippi as Tom carved his name and Becky's in to the tree. And in that moment, I'd remember that from country to country, and century to century we're all still human beings.



That afternoon, a team of young adult journalists from one of the TV stations in Iran interviewed our delegation leaders and several of the young adults in the delegation. There were two women interviewing—one asking questions and one translating—and two or three cameramen getting different angles on each interview. We were interviewed individually, not as a group. They asked each of us questions about why we had chosen to travel to Iran. We were also asked about our religious background, our beliefs/feelings about Islam and our opinions about dialogue and the potential for an agreement between our governments.

It was an exciting experience for our first day in Iran! It was the only time members of our group would be interviewed by a TV station, though this interest in what we were doing and how we felt about different topics was something we would experience hundreds of times during the next 11 days in Iran. We were told the interview would air sometime the following week, and as we walked the mountain Friday afternoon, somebody recognized Rabbi Lynn, one of our leaders, from the TV, so we assumed the interview aired, though none of us ever saw it.

It was nearly 3:00 p.m. by the time the interviews were finished. The restaurant at Hotel Howezyeh closes for the afternoon at 3:00 p.m. so we hurried to the dining room on the second floor and ordered kabobs. We enjoyed a nice lunch discussion—a debrief of sorts—on the interviews we had just completed. What did we do well? What would we work to improve for next time?

After lunch, I went with several of the group members to Valiasr, the longest street in the Middle East! Suad, an Iranian American woman who was born in Mississippi, raised in DC, and has been living in Tehran for the past several months, guided us on this exciting first day adventure. The six of us took two cabs. I sat in the front of one with Alicia and Charles in the back. We watched in awe as the driver navigated the busy freeways and city streets! I clenched the armrest on the door several times in a nervous-mother manner as people crossed the street in front of or behind us, or as motorbikes/scooters sped their way through traffic!

We were dropped off just near Valisar and had to cross a busy freeway to get there. Our first of many daredevil street crossings during the trip! It was worth it!
Valiasr is amazing! Imagine a busy street lined on both sides with beautiful, towering sycamores—miles of sycamores. We walked up the street, window shopping and soaking in the music of passing cars; enjoying the sight of partners holding hands or friends on benches just people watching; observing the stylish tunics on young women, the way they wore their scarves; we were amazed at the fashion of young men; we saw our first gas station and the cars lined up waiting to fill up with their weekly ration of fuel.

Suad led us to a curvy side street. There were more and more people. And there it was! The most beautiful, enclosed market. Perhaps the most magical experience on the trip. I’m not much of a Harry Potter fan, but I know many of you will appreciate the reference to Diagon Alley and the imagery it brings to the imagination. We were only in the massive, enclosed entryway for a moment and I’m so glad I have a picture to recall the memory of awe as I tried to absorb the essence of the space we were in. Then, we continued on our way through the market!

Before long, we were in a hurry to get back to the main street and in cabs so we could make it to the hotel at the group’s agreed upon meeting time. Dinner would follow. Then, sleep. Friday would be another exciting day.


April 2008 May 2008 June 2008 July 2008