Since Mr. Bush seems determined to invade Iran for the oil under the Iranians feet I think it is only fair that Iran should invade America with pistachios, jasmine, cardamom tea, carpets, backgammon and Rumi. I want to see Faloodeh and Yakht Dar Behesht in every frozen yogurt and ice cream shop. I want to see Toot, Bamieh and Sohan in every pastry store. I want to see the shells of empty pumpkin seeds strewn all over the floor of the movie theatres instead of candy bar wrappers. I want Iranian Americans to gain seats in both the House and Senate; I want an Iranian for President. I want Iranian mayors in every major city and at least a dozen governors.
I want to see Dom Balon and Maghz in every butcher shop and Jeegar at every barbeque. I want to see lamb roasting on every spit. I want to see Gaz and Nogl in every candy store. I want to see Nun-e-Barbari at every bakery along with Taftoon, Sangak and Lavash. I want to see Pakdis and Chateau Sardasht and Vodka Sagi in every liquor store. I want to see beluga caviar and sturgeon and white fish in every fish market. I want to see fresh Gerdu being sold in the streets of New York City. I want the restaurant menus to be filled with polos and Kash-e-Badenjoon and Fessenjoon…
I want to see Beh preserves and egg plant Torshi in every 7/11. I want Kharbozeh in every produce section in every supermarket across this vast nation and on the carts of street vendors on every corner. I want to see donkeys everywhere. I want to see dromedaries and bactrians instead of horses. I want to see Haji Firooz dancing in every alley. I want to see the Daf being taught in every music class. I want to see Khanegah Sufi houses in every neighborhood full of people doing Sama. I want to see every American celebrate Nowruz, Chahar Shanbe Souri and Seezda Bidar and the Haft Seen in every household.
I want every child to hear Mullah Nassrudin stories. I want Persian proverbs to be mandatory reading in schools. I want fortune tellers to use the Divan. I want children to be able to recite by heart Omar Khayyam, Sa’adi, Hafez, Attar, Rumi, Ferdowsi, al Ghazalli. I want to see Persian carpets in every home. I want to see a Hoz in every Bagh. I want to see Joobs with snow fed water coursing through all the streets of every town… I want to see fat-tailed sheep. I want to see tulips and crocuses pushing up through the snow in spring…
What’s been left behind is not forgotten in the wind. I will not settle for shopping malls and Big Macs. Give me the Bazaar and Kufte Tabrizi … give me turquoise, give me carnelian, give me Backgammon, give me belly dancing, give me life, liberty, happiness and the pursuit of Taroff … give me worry beads instead of valium …
Make me Persian … .if they take our oil then they have to take our culture too …
