2 posts tagged “peace”

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All Good Things...

May 13, 2008
1 comment

So, this will be weird. I’ve written tons of stuff to post, but the one thing that I never really understood until half way through the trip is that Iran has mostly 56.6 k dial-up (remember that) and it goes through frequent spats of downtime. I have almost 1,500 photos, 60 hours of unedited audio, 100 hours of unedited video, and virtual reams of blog entries. So, how to upload them?

Now that I have a bit of reflection time I think that I will commit myself to one post on Iran per day for the next week, then we’ll see where we are. There will be some real surprises, and I’m not really sure that I want to post them in chronological order as my memories aren’t necessarily in chronological order. I am decided that the final post will be a writing that I’ve been working on throughout this trip titled “Assumptions.” “Assumptions” is my reflection on the presuppositions I made before going to Iran, and how most of them were altered, or slightly skewed, of just flat out wrong.

Currently, I’m sitting in the airport in Frankfurt, Germany, that’s right, I entered the “Axis of Evil” and lived to tell the tale... and I can’t wait to return. If it wasn’t for the constant fear of what my own government will do to that wonderfully rich, ancient, creative, hospitable, diverse and multi-faceted gem of a country, I might even take my wife and children.

Persian lamps

So, I begin with these photos and my first entry of writing from Iran will be posted from JFK.

much peace,

sean

I know, I know... and off to Iran

Apr 25, 2008
1 comment

Esfahan_Masjed-e_Imam_Mosque

It's been a while. I guess I'm not much of a blogger. But I'm going to try to do better. Especially since I leave Tuesday, April 29, for Iran. I will be going with the Fellowship of Reconciliation and the group of citizen diplomats is a really amazing group of people. I don't really know what my internet access will be like, but I am hoping to be able to post here. If I'm not able to sign into Vox, then I will try to email postings to my colleague Monica for her to upload. In other words, the communications might not be instant or regular, but we will do our best to keep you informed. I also plan to post photos on DioCal's flickr photostream.

Those of us who are members of this delegation share the stance that policies of mutual isolation by the US and Iran have resulted in mutual demonization, misinformed public discussions, and poorly-conceived policy. In other words, the "Great Satan" and this key state in the "Axis of Evil" must open up and must grow to understand one another if we are ever going to achieve the peace that the people of the Middle East long for, and that will bring security to all peoples.

Of course the work of this one group of civilian diplomats is only one small piece of the work to be done, but it is an important piece. The delegation I will be traveling with is the seventh sponsored by FOR and we will be meeting with politicians, religious leaders, artists, and young people. We will visit the school of Shia Theology (Madraseh) in Qom, and we will meet with Jews, Christians and Zoroastrians as well.

We will be broken into three affinity groups: politics, religion, and arts/culture. I plan to join the arts and culture group as I think it will provide the best opportunity to meet younger Iranians. I'm really hoping to be able to hear some traditional Persian music, and maybe even some Iranian rock-and-roll. I also love Chai and plan to drink lots of it.

I will be a walking multimedia recording studio. I have two audio recorders (one that records in surround sound), i have a digital SLR camera with telephoto and wide-angle lenses, and I have an HD camcorder. Upon my return, I will be available to speak at churches, schools and community events, hopefully with a fully-produced multi-media program.

We ask your prayers for our safe travel and for our work. We also ask your prayers for peace and understanding and that our governments might gain wisdom and true compassion.

much peace,

Sean McConnell

Communications Officer, Diocese of California

Member, 7th Iran Civilian Diplomacy Delegation of the Fellowship of Reconciliation