Reader Comments: Iran

At the conclusion of each trip, the Hot Zone team highlights some of the more interesting, thoughtful or provocative reader comments.

At the conclusion of each trip, the Hot Zone team highlights some of the more interesting, thoughtful or provocative reader comments.

ANY GIVEN FRIDAY

2
Excellent article and a great insight into the life of modern Iranians. I come away with the feeling that life in

Iran is not great, but is better than life under the Shah. I am biased toward my own country, of course, but I think it is understandable that we supported

Iraq in their war against Iran - especially with the Hostage debacle fresh in our minds.
Posted by chiefchip749 on Mon, Jan 9, 2006 7:38 AM ET

4
I have to disagree with you in several aspects. One, being an half Persian-American, some parts of your story are inaccurate. To label the Shah a dictator, and to even point to or lead people to assume that life is better in Iran under this conservative Islamic regime is a FALLACY. Yes the Shah did have a stict policy on those who opposed him, but also he allowed his people to listen to what they want, and women in Iran actually had rights, contrary to what they do now. Women back then go wear what they wanted, and Iran during the Shah's era was called the "Paris" of the middle east.
Posted by davidrzr on Mon, Jan 9, 2006 8:21 AM ET

18
Dear Kevin, Should you see any members of "Mine" again, please tell them that I really loved their sound (from the one song that I could hear, anyway.) How cool would it be if some American label could pick them up to actaully produce somehow!
Posted by k97nimue on Mon, Jan 9, 2006 1:44 PM ET

36
Basketball and "death to America"? Somthing is wrong with that picture.
Posted by wmcol on Mon, Jan 9, 2006 4:55 PM ET

90
I don’t think Kevin was off by a millimeter when he said Shah was a dictator, although that does not make current regime any better but there is a positive part to it… the current regime is not a puppet government for the West and if one day Iranians inside Iran (not the exiles and the ex-pats) reach their goal and defeat the Islamic government..
Posted by kamijoon_rafie on Mon, Jan 9, 2006 7:43 PM ET

170
The video segments are excellent, presented without attempting to support any underlying viewpoint. Let reality speak for itself and assume that the viewer is capable of arriving at a reasonable conclusion. The surest way to prevent change is by trying to impose it.
Posted by bostonblakie on Wed, Jan 11, 2006 12:48 PM ET

228
Please, Kevin, you haven't talked about the women for heaven's sake! You do a disservice to them and your readers by not investigating how severely curtailed women's rights are and that prostitutes are being hanged. Get out of the quasi-middle/upper class areas and you will see what women endure, if they are lucky enough to survive. These mullahs are the worst, the worst in the world when it comes to women's rights.
Posted by equalitynyc on Thu, Jan 19, 2006 10:19 AM ET

HARD LINE, HARD TIMES

8
Who is to say whether or not they can research nuclear technology? Let them have at it. We'll just have to watch them more closely.
Posted by jjames2k3000 on Tue, Jan 10, 2006 5:51 PM ET

10
How closely do you think we can watch them? If Iraq,

North Korea and a few other nations run by a bunch of extremist yahoos get their hands on nukes, a lot of folks are going to die. These are the types of nations that will sell this crap to terrorists.
Posted by holyschmoley on Tue, Jan 10, 2006 5:53 PM ET

14
Don't be so quick to judge. You don't KNOW that they would sell it to terrorists. Just like we don't know that they won't.
Posted by jjames2k3000 on Tue, Jan 10, 2006 5:56 PM ET

44
Gee, when i make Napalm at my house I tell the cops I use it to heat up my Chef Boyardee Ravioli.
Posted by danlewis91 on Tue, Jan 10, 2006 6:10 PM ET

113
I don't think Kevin was trying to stand up for Iran. He was being as objective as possible and did a good job of asking alot of direct and important questions. We got to "hear" the "words from the horses mouth" on alot of the key issues between USA and Iran.
Posted by lambdamax01 on Tue, Jan 10, 2006 7:05 PM ET

183
I agree with the Iranians on this one. The US has been and continues to be the most serious threat to world peace and stability.

Israel should face the same UN Security Council sanctions for its unconventional weapons stockpiles. Iran is facing continued hostilities from the West and further threats will only succeed in escalating the situation.
Posted by mrtasseron on Tue, Jan 10, 2006 11:04 PM ET

399
Thanks for the interview. Most mainstream American journalists would not even interview foreign diplomats people one's feelings on Muslim-US relations it is important to have every side have an opportunity to provide a point of view and that is journalism at its best.
Posted by kenna_b on Thu, Jan 12, 2006 11:48 AM ET

586
I'm muslim and Iranian and I don't believe Iran. With the political situation as it is in Iran, they need to tick someone off and be confronted to unify the country like the Iran/Iraq war did for revolutionaries. This regime is desparate, radical and confronting them is a catch 22
Posted by nimaoftadeh on Mon, Jan 16, 2006 11:55 PM ET

‘BROWN SUGAR’ JUNKIES

66
It is ironic that the USA can learn the importance to protecting all lives from this Iranian program -- many of the evidence-based practices shown useful over 40 years are in use putting the Persepolis Harm Reduction Center ahead of all disease prevention programs in the USA.
Posted by hrcboard on Thu, Jan 12, 2006 1:35 AM ET

85
I think it's a progressive solution. This doctor seeks to humanize and deal pratically. Bless him.
Posted by miveyjr on Thu, Jan 12, 2006 3:11 AM ET

178
All around the world same song. The article was excellent. I am glad I took the time out of my day to read it. I too am a recovering addict and it is good to know that even on the other side of the world we are getting into the solution and not staying in the problem.
Posted by triciamweb on Thu, Jan 12, 2006 8:37 AM ET

939
Two comments: 1) 200,000 heroin addicts didn't happen over night. The USA is not to blame! 2)Methodone is also called "liquid Handcuffs". I am a recovering herion addict for 4 years now - no methodone! That's just putting a band-aid on a bullet whole!
Posted by sugreeva1 on Fri, Jan 13, 2006 7:35 AM ET

955
Very interesting article...makes Iran less surealistic. I liked the different point of views and it helped me to understand some more of what is going on there. They are far way from being like other more developed countries and I hope their government continues to support the efforts of Nassirimanesh to reduce heroine usage. It seems he has the right idea, but not always easy to accept.
Posted by linetta33 on Fri, Jan 13, 2006 8:43 AM E

984
The methods of this centre might work in America as well, which is why it might be useful to Americans to know about it. I suspect you do not care as much for America's problems as you do for inciting hatred of Iranians. You condemn the author for even finding information in Iran! If you really gave a damn, why have you wasted so much space stereotyping my people and confusing a doctor with a nuclear program?
Posted by anvaria on Fri, Jan 13, 2006 10:42 AM ET

SEX, DRUGS AND HIV: NO STRANGERS TO IRAN

2
Why do we still care about Iranian drug addicts and

HIV Patients when we still have drug addicts and HIV patients in America? Does anybody still care about their own country anymore?
Posted by rs91228 on Fri, Jan 13, 2006 2:33 PM ET

9
The irony of the whole situation is that a country in which the government praises itself on its moral superiority suffers from the very vices that plague the western world that it supposedly despises. These problems are but a symptom of the despair brought about by the ignorance of an inept leadership that steals the country's wealth, spends more time posturing than solving problems and shows no regard for the lack of opportunities available to its young population.
Posted by atasooji on Fri, Jan 13, 2006 3:28 PM ET

10
for rs91228: There's a simple solution to your problem. If you don't want to read about drug problems in other parts of the world, then don't. If life from an American perspective is all you care about, then limit your reading accordingly. Jorunalists are under no obligation to narrow their field of view according to your wants..and thank God for that. g.
Posted by galan98 on Fri, Jan 13, 2006 3:47 PM ET

32
I had no idea the Muslim countries had these sorts of problems with their strict societal laws and all, what an eye opener…and what’s with the people taking offense to this article, get a grip for gods sakes.
Posted by booo7099 on Fri, Jan 13, 2006 10:11 PM ET

37
Iran needs to realize they are not better than the rest of the world.They critisize every one else while they sit up on their pedistal.They say they can`t trust Europe to supply them with euranium because they can`t even supply them with the needed medicines they need to fight deceise in there country.If they have the money for nukes.Then why don`t they use some of that money to produce their own meds
Posted by williamwade2005 on Sat, Jan 14, 2006 12:24 AM ET

40
The middle east in general has the lowest HIV/

AIDS rates in the world. 11,000 is not an epidemic...compared to African nations, Latin America and the United states.
Posted by spaniard_spain_europe on Sat, Jan 14, 2006 3:37 AM E

86
I am a substance abuse counselor in the U.S. I come into contact on a daily basis with people who have HIV. It is treatable. The key to helping those who have HIV and preventing the spread of the virus is education. Government officials, doctors, the media and citizens must all get involved. This disease, like substance abuse knows no borders, no class, or no cultures. It is an equal opportunity killer. Wherever it strikes education is the most powerful weapon there is in defense of human life.
Posted by kevinlesniewski@sbcglobal.net on Sat, Jan 14, 2006 3:22 PM

ALL MY FATHERS, ALL MY SONS

1
very interesting reporting from a land we need to know more about. while no one should be trying to transform iran into a western regime, iran must respect its neighbors if it wants to live in the civilized world. despite the rhetoric, i'm sure iran's hardline president knows that israel is not going anywhere and attacking israel would surely mean the end of iran as we know it.
Posted by thomas4dt on Mon, Jan 16, 2006 1:22 PM E

2
Very insightful, Kevin. I hope many people read this article. We certainly need to be careful in dealing with the Iranians because as I read it was once again re-impressed in my mind how different their mentality is from ours. Articles like these will go a long ways in helping Americans understand our differences as we find ways to work with them. Good job of reporting - I would be interested to know how you felt going through this museum as an American.
Posted by doughardt on Mon, Jan 16, 2006 1:59 PM ET

3
It's nice to hear some Americans as well as other countries having a good attitude but its still far and few between. Most of us can hear the condesending attitudes and not many are man enough to try and befriend Iran.
Posted by player-420@rogers.com on Mon, Jan 16, 2006 2:04 PM ET

11
Keep up the great work Kevin. Glad to see you are staying away from the atypical- rehashing of information used by the world media. Very interesting that a young person is willing to give up their future, for the sake of their country. Something that all countries have done/are doing, in one aspect or another. They are just willing to go a step further. The same can be said about the Japanese Kamikazees or the Shinyo suicide boats.
Posted by lesliepatrus on Mon, Jan 16, 2006 4:03 PM ET

16
I find this article to hit at the truth of why the conservative government in Iran persists. There is a large number of religious people who support the Islamic Republic. Unfortunately too many Iranians living outside the country just don't understand this. For better or worse...there is a lot of support inside Iran for this regime.
Posted by niusha98133 on Mon, Jan 16, 2006 4:57 PM ET

18
What is wrong with loving and enjoying this life and looking forward to the beauty and peace the afterlife will bring? I do both.
Posted by bigfly1037 on Mon, Jan 16, 2006 5:06 PM ET

29
For those of you who think Iran is "backward" and a "lunatic asylum" you are truly ignorant. Why don't you try traveling there before making such absurd, un-informed judgements. If you went, you'd find a very rich culture, with an ancient civilization, and a group of people who are some of the most hospitable people in the world and--love American people.
Posted by dmtober on Mon, Jan 16, 2006 8:26 PM ET

586
Islam does not encourage terrorism, it says nothing about "killing the infidels". Islam clearly states that killing an innocent person, regardless of their religion, is forbidden and doing so will result in going to an eternal punishment in hell (not heaven). Further more, it says killing an innocent person is like killing all of humanity. Please actually read the Quran and don't just rely on the biased media to interpret it for you. Also, maybe you should research more and notice that just because the media chooses to report on "Muslim" terrorists doesn't mean other ones don't exist. What about all the South American terrorist organizations, what about racist groups in US like KKK, just too name a few.
Posted by salaam_mansouri@sbcglobal.net on Thu, Jan 19, 2006 12:46 AM ET

‘We Are Citizens of This Country’

2
You know, you do a great job bringing a human face to those in the Middle East, thereby undoing some of the harsh depictions that are routinely put forth in the mainstream American media.
Posted by dirtyharriet0 on Wed, Jan 18, 2006 9:47 PM ET

9
Those poor people can not speak freely, so it seems like another pathetic way of providing the wrong image of Iran
Posted by yitzhakrosen on Wed, Jan 18, 2006 10:50 PM ET

10
Thank you. At a time when Iranians are being portrayed as monsters (or something close to it) you bring them to light in their wonderful humanity. Thank you.
Posted by firinne2004 on Wed, Jan 18, 2006 10:50 PM ET

16
Give me a @#$% break!! The religious leaders in Iran are some of the most repressive people in the history of the world. Try talking to some of the Jewish people that have left Iran since the revolution. Most if not all of them have nothing good to say about religious freedom in Iran. GET REAL! The government of Iran is at the whim of the Islamic leaders. Those people are dangerous and if they are not careful about what they say and do their country might not exist in the not to distant future.
Posted by aidapuss on Wed, Jan 18, 2006 10:57 PM ET

50
Very interesting article. It really sheds light on other Iranians out there. But how about the Baha'i Faith? Before the revolution, there were 100,000 Baha'is in Iran (making up the largest religious minority in the country). They continue to be persecuted by the fanatical Islamic government to this day.
Posted by colohockeyplayer on Wed, Jan 18, 2006 11:23 PM ET

368
Excellent reporting, all the best Kevin. As an exiled Iranian journalist with no love for the Islamic Republic, I found your dipiction of todays' Iran fair and balanced. No doubt the Iranian nation has huge political, cultural and financial difficulties, but the way Iran has been reflected in most western media is far from fair. There is a lot of steriotyping and prejudice as evident in some of the comments. Unlike some other nations of the region, Iranians in general do not hate the West. I hope the humanitarian ties and mutual understanding grows between our nations.
Posted by kdarvak on Thu, Jan 19, 2006 7:29 PM ET

378
OK, I didn't read every message here but from the ones I read, I'm surprised how many people missed the fact that jews are second-class citizens and how content everyone is with this. What if the US or France treated blacks or women the way Iran treats jews and said "Oops, no government jobs for you, black person, no jobs for you, white woman!!!!", would the reaction be the same......All Kevin did was show that Jews in Iran exist, not that they live. Understand the difference?
Posted by sayhitodan on Thu, Jan 19, 2006 8:28 PM ET

386
I just read your report on Iranian Jewish community and I must say I am rather disappointed. As a Jew who grew up in Iran I know the hardships that Jews face every day in Iran and I just wanted to let you know that the Jews you interviewed in Iran may have felt very pressured to say exactly what the fascist Islamic theocracy wanted them to say. It is not like they have any freedom of speech to express themselves and say what real hardships they really feel on camera.
Posted by tanaz2 on Thu, Jan 19, 2006 11:00 PM ET

-Compiled by Hot Zone associate producer Erin Green 

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