American In Persia

Richard A. Kauffman tells stories of his encounters with Iranians, their culture, and their politics, to give witness to ways walls can break down when the stories, culture, and history of others are attended to.

Ever since the 1979 Iranian Revolution and the hostage taking of American diplomats in Tehran, there have been no diplomatic relationships between the U.S. and Iran. The image that many people in the West have of Iran is of a country run by radical Muslim clerics who support terrorism in the Middle East and are determined to build nuclear weapons that will pose a threat to Israel and beyond. This is only part of the reality.

Determined to get a fuller picture, Kauffman traveled to Iran as a journalist in 2008. What surprised him was how many total strangers approached him and his fellow travelers on the street, ensuring them of a positive image of their country-that they don’t hate Americans, they just have trouble with American political leadership. They showed the kind of hospitality for which Middle Eastern culture is known.

Kauffman is hopeful that Americans and Iranians aren’t doomed to be enemies and that mutual understanding is possible between Christians and Shi’a Muslims.