Iranian Revolution: Rich and the Poor
A recent article by Roger Cohen, International Herald Tribune Published: March 15, 2009, “Iran, Jews and pragmatism” reminds me of the pre-1979 period. The following is my close association during 1976 with one educated Iranian and his family in Tehran . The last time I toured Iran was summer 1976. My intension was to see the country as it was, not as it was portrayed by the Western Press, or by the Shah’s regime. In contrast to the usual tourists, I had already seen the grandeur of the Iranian past in Persepolis and great mosques in Esfahan. My teaching job allowed me to spend part of my summer vacation touring unusual places, this time was Tehran. I met Oscar (Asgher) through another American in Tehran. Oscar, a Tehrani, was a high school English teacher in one of Tehran’s schools. He wanted to practice his English ands earn a few dollars, and I needed a tour guide to see Tehran. Oscar was mid-forties, like most Iranians had a large built, round head and big almond brown eyes. H