Poem for Memorial Day

Hmong child in northern Vietnam

Being in DC during Memorial Day is an experience to say the least.  However, in the midst of the flag waving, concrete memorials, and concerts- I feel like we’re glossing over profound human suffering.  So here is my small protest.

We fill the craters left by the bombs
And once again we sing
And once again we sow
Because life never surrenders.

- anonymous Vietnamese poem

“Iran” Is More Than a Government

Yes, people live in Iran! Photo by Ehsan Maleki under Creative Common's License

This morning I woke up, as usual, to NPR. Apparently while I was sleeping Iran launched its own satellite. Soon after the analysts began dissecting the situation; what this means for US-Iran relations, what Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will do, how President Obama will respond, etc, etc, etc.

Over the years what I feel has been lost on Americans is Iran is more than just the government. It is more than Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

It is home to more than 66 million people.

There are a series of wonderful photo blogs depicting daily life in Iran. Here are just a few:

• My favorite, sent by a friend, Life Goes on in Tehran. Updated monthly. Beautiful photos.

• Ehsan Maleki’s Tehran Photoblog, a documentary photoblog.
  

• Teheran. More photos around the capital.

• Stunning photos at BSurprised.

• Want more? Check out Top 20 Photoblogs in Iran.

What does this have to do with public health? Peace is fundamental to health. Isolation leads us away from peaceful interactions.  Isolation can lead to hostility and even war. My feelings on war were nicely stated by Lorriane Schneider during the Vietnam Era.

“War is not healthy for children and other living things”

Important to remember in a country that associates war with liberation and freedom.

Yes, I am aware that many terrible things happen in Iran, just like any country, every day. If you crave these stories, just turn on the television or the radio. I enjoy these blogs because they humanize a country the US loves to demonize.

Do you know another great photo blog on Iran? Post it to the comment section, and I’ll update this post!