Global Exchange

With a brief summer hiatus from my new FOX television show "Dollhouse" before me I sat down, opened up the newspapers, and began to scroll world news headlines in order to figure out where I felt I might put myself. Next, I clicked on probably my favorite group of human rights advocates’ website: Global Exchange (.org), compared the papers and the site, side-by-side, and the place emerged clearly: Iran. Citizen Diplomacy was calling. Axis of evil, terrorist/Al-Qaeda/Taliban supporting, WMD harboring, anti-American, Islamic, radical misogynist Iran… (if you listen to local news coverage and even some close friends, co-workers and family). Admittedly, at first, I too felt a bit uneasy, afraid even, and quite overwhelmed based on all the images that have been ‘imprinted’ in my mind through recent news coverage and media reports. Iran had become one of the most demonized countries in the world today. I had to go and see for myself.

My experience travelling throughout Iran by bus with a delegation of some truly incredible fellow US citizen ambassadors began in the bustling capital Tehran and looped down through historic cities like Yazd, (with a day touring marvelous Persepolis), Shiraz, Esfahan, and even Natanz (the location of Iran’s nuclear research facility). Because political tension between our respective governments is at such an all time high right now, we really made a point to tread ultra-carefully, respectfully, and conservatively. We women always wore the Hijab head cover and often full manteaus for body cover. We tried to blend as much as possible. This allowed us to pretty fully immerse ourselves into fascinating and passionate Persian day-to-day life where we were warmly welcomed. We were often invited into circles of people to gain deeper understanding of some of the values, traditions, loves, fears, heroes and issues straight from Iran’s own citizens. Overall the outcome was a truly eye-opening, and thought-provoking. It was an awesome reality check. Our mission was to meet with and make a personal one-on-one connection with as many of the generous, beautiful, and mainly American-loving Persian folks over our two week trip as possible. It was not difficult to accomplish a lot of this contact, I promise you. They were as interested in meeting us as we were them.

Home in LA, my heart is full, and my immediate identification with Iran, this austere yet modern and possibly threatening country, has shifted completely and positively. Sitting here today I re-envision Iran and see a family- oriented, culturally rich, colorful, community-based and hopeful people. I now have that reality ‘imprinted’ in my mind.

All of us who travelled hope that our government and others will continue to favor talks, diplomacy and communication to reach a resolution of any disagreements with Iran, resolution that does not cost human lives with weapons and war.

Some Iranians talked of missile tests and a "show of might" by the Iranian government and we think that should be condemned, but we did note that tests occurred after threats of attack by the Israeli government and that there were Israeli aerial exercises geared towards an attack on Iran. And now Congress prepares to vote on a naval blockade of Iran.

An attack on Iran would cause immense human suffering (Iranian, Israeli, and those in the American services). It would destabilize the region, is bound to harm U.S. interests in the region, and do the global economy no good.

One of the reasons I am so drawn to international travel is because once I’ve physically been somewhere, it is no longer just a region on a map and images in the media. It becomes a place I can forever relate to in my gut and heart, someplace full of new friends and memories. I fully intend on staying connected and involved in these people’s lives now.

Finally, it was just so clear to me as we made our way through this country and its citizens, how insane it is to clump an entire people together with their governing leaders. I mean, just imagine if we as Americans were seen only as we’re represented by the few men/women who head our state? What an unrealistic and unfair disadvantage that would be for us. Of course the same applies to Iran and so many other countries of the world. We can’t judge an entire nation based on the man or woman on the podium calling the shots, but instead we must give the people a face, a life and a voice. And with that we give them REAL worth, as human beings, who want the same things we all do in life: happiness, health, family, freedom, safety. I encourage others to think about the things that are artificially imprinted in their minds and then maybe try looking at things through investigation and different eyes. I know I’ve always valued figuring out the "real deal" in the circumstances of my own life. Don’t you? And why not in the world?"

Eliza Dushku