Hello… Can You Still Hear Me?

“Hello… can you still hear me?” “Yes, I can.” “Good. What is it like there?” “I told you, this is a place that burns people’s hearts. “Here, you say something is against the law, and they laugh and say, ‘I am the law.’ “Here, the first question at a job interview is, ‘Who do you know?’ “Here, meat has become a dream. “Here, you mention a vacation and they say, ‘Anticipation is half the pleasure.’ They spend their holidays paging through overseas tour advertisements in the newspaper. “Here, buying a house is not even a dream. They say homes are for the privileged. “Here, honking your horn means hello, or an insult, or goodbye. “Here, they prescribe camel urine and a blessed keffiyeh to treat illness. “Here, ignorance and filth have become badges of honor, while an educated person is treated as a disgrace. “Here, money is called dirt on the palm of your hand, and a burn mark on the forehead is taken as proof of merit. “Here, the preacher of lamentations is called a gentleman, and the reader of books a criminal. “Here, they call you a friend to your face and disloyal behind your back.” “Are you describing a film to me, or is this real?” “No, it’s real. All of it.” “What is this place called?” “It’s called Iran, occupied by trash.” “Then how are you living there?” “Living? What is that? Do you mean staying alive?”