Reflections on Iran's Heritage and Future

Our elders built this Iran.

Our painter went away and came back, our architect went away and came back, our doctor left.

He came back. We all came back, and this Iran was built.

It wasn't built for nothing. You need to be my age

to know. I hope you all reach my age. We built it.

Not us, I mean, before the generation before mine, whom you perhaps

don't know at all.

There were many in the generation before mine. There were the Tani-zadehs,

there were the Khanlaris. All of them, they built this, and

the doctors, physicians, architects. This—

You should compare the architecture built in that era with today's architecture, which

actually reminds one of chelokababi restaurants.

I can't—well, they gave us an environment, and this Iran

was built. But now, when I see you all, I become hopeful again.

I might cry now.

Sometimes I become so disappointed that I think everything we

built is being destroyed. But suddenly, now I saw this lady, and

I see my own student and the love and dedication of some people.

I see. Then I say, no, no, no. Iran

will never die with its good children.

Please, you young people, don't forget the generation

that handed this Iran over to you, the generation

that truly served, whether women or men.