Peace & Community

Iran delegate Lily Tinker Fortel has been posting more entries throughout the trip at her blog Lily in Iran. Now that the delegates have returned, she promises more reflections to come. I hope there will be more of her beautiful pictures as well.

There is a sense of urgency among us—I think a feeling and fear that our work here will not be enough. That said, I have struggled some with the reality that the past four days have been mostly cultural and/or historical sightseeing days. The reverse of that, of course, is an appreciation for the opportunity to further understand the cultural history of Iran and Persia. History, culture, religion, belief, lifestyle and political ideologies are intertwined, not separate.

Written by Iran delegate Susan Mark Landis on May 12th. Click here to read more of Susan's journals.

Journal, as we leave

About 12 hours from now we should be in the airport, preparing to leave Iran. I have more questions than when I arrived. Iranian culture is a multitude of inconsistencies--not unlike my own. The President says one thing; the Supreme Leader another; and the people have their own interpretations and hopes. Don't people everywhere want peace, clean air and food for their children, the chance for meaningful work and the right to worship God the way they understand?

Written by Iran delegate Susan Mark Landis on May 9th.

Just arrived in Tehran after a day's trip from Esfahan, where the internet connection at the hotel was 'destroyed.' The trip was to take 6 hours and we were to be here about noon--it is after 6:15 now. We stopped in a mountainous village town--Zoroastrian, I think. PACKED. Today is the day off from work--Friday--and people picnic and rest wherever they can find room, including on the pavement and narrow strips of grass along the highway.

Written by Iran delegate Susan Mark Landis on May 6th.

I don't know how much time I’ll have to say anything vital this morning. My roommate and I skipped the evening activity--time at Hafiz tomb--to get a bit of rest. We were both very short on sleep and energy.

Yesterday we visited Persepolis, the ancient, ancient palaces of the Zoroastrian kings. From these comes the immense historical pride of the Iranian people. Long carvings, previously painted, of people from many countries bringing tribute--all the way to Ethiopia. A bit of a climb to reach the site. A brief rainstorm included hail, taking me very much by surprise! But as I looked at the ancient ruins and touched artifacts from as early as 500 B.C., I could sense the need of this people to be respected for their past--and we must learn, in our negotiations, to speak out of that respect.

Written by Iran delegate Susan Mark Landis on May 6th.

This morning we got a sense, from CNN-watching members of our delegation, that the roller coaster of relations between the US and Iran is currently rushing toward increased tension.

Today we walked through the colorful, bustling bazaar, the Shiraz gardens and ate at a traditional restaurant with live music.

Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb is currently co-leading our delegation in Iran. This is her first blog entry, posted 2 days ago at ShomerShalom.org.

I arrived in Iran three days ago. We have met with many people from formal meetings to people on the streets and everyone expresses the same message: please urge our government to negotiate with their government.

The most moving experience for me personally has been to meet and pray with the Jewish community of Teheran. I was able to meet the current and future Jewish member of Parliment. Ciamak Morsathegh, who begins to serve his community as a member of parliment in 20 days also hosted me and several delegation members to a wonderful Sabbath meal. While at synagogue on Friday evening, I was called to address the congregation. It was a very moving experience and people were extremely warm and clapped profusely, even when I expressed a hope that I would like to someday return to Iran and meet the first ordained woman rabbi in Iran. The Iranian community appears to be doing well, worships freely, and sponsors six day schools with a population of five hundred chilren attending. The youth were very evident at services.

Here is a second entry from Iran delegate Susan Mark Landis.

The men giggled and pointed when I got on the hotel elevator. "Is my scarf not proper?" I asked. "No," they guffawed. "Not right." I guess I learned from an other-than-Iranian website how to put on my scarf! But as I walk the streets, there is an enormous variety of women's wear. Scarves of many shapes and colors, manteaus that are slinky or loose, and chadors.

The conversations we have are the most important reason for being here. As we started to climb the highest mountain in Iraq yesterday, an intense young man came up to us. "Do you think all Iranians are terrorists?" he asked. "NO!" we spontaneously shouted. He was beyond delighted--gleeful to see people from the United States not hating him as a young man. Constantly people tell us, "We love the American people. It is only the governments that disagree."

History was made yesterday. And I was there to witness it. My colleague, Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb, was invited to stand before the congregation of an Orthodox Jewish synagogue in Tehran, Iran. And as I should have realized she would, Lynn claimed the prophetic mantle.

One of the members of our 7th Iran delegation has her own blog at Mid-Missouri Peaceworks. Here is an excerpt from her latest entry, the entire piece is below.

Sometimes, In the jet lag lull of the early afternoon or in the transition between meetings on busy city streets or in preparation for group process meetings, I pause and ask myself "Why are you here Lily?" And I know it's for the human. We are here to say ten thousand times: "We came here for peace and we want the American people to know the truth about Iranians." We are here to show our buttons that read "Peace Advocate" in Farsi. And to deliver our poems about how we are all part of the same body.

I take pictures and remember they are for the people I will show them to--whomever they may be--when I return home. Just like all of us, I am here for the little moments and the big ones. We-you and me-are here for the laughter and tears. To learn. To ask questions. To challenge. But most of all, I believe, to do our best to love.