From: ex_myst341	Date: November 10th, 2003 10:37 am (UTC)		(Link)

Hey, I was dating an Iranian guy named Farshad who came out to the U.S. (along with some of his uncles and cousins) to get away from all the crap going on there, and this was 1979! (and damn, he was cute) He wouldn't say much about the Shah but he was from Tehran. Things have really changed there since then; it's sad.

	From: felineparadox	Date: November 10th, 2003 11:09 am (UTC)		(Link)

On a similar theme, i was in Waterstones bookshop on sunday morning and was browsing the history section when a book on the middle east caught my eye. It's an area few people really pay attention to, like the break up of the oOtoman empire or how the different Muslim factions arose. All these things are quite important when you consider the size of the Islamic religon and the economic resources of the middle east.

Other areas i'm wanting to look into are China, India and America. Oh, and not forgetting cold war Europe.

Good luck with your finals if i don't comment again before them :)

	From: vexen	Date: November 12th, 2003 10:17 am (UTC)		(Link)

Yeah, if you know the history of the Ottoman empire SO MUCH more makes sense in the Middle East!

Unfortunately, I hardly know that history.

But I know enough to know it's important!

	From: felineparadox	Date: November 12th, 2003 11:21 am (UTC)		(Link)

My problem is i have a brain like seive, if i could remember half of what i've read or heard i'd be great :P

	From: vexen	Date: November 12th, 2003 12:45 pm (UTC)		(Link)

Yeah me too. Sometimes though I discover a subject that seems "ripe" and I take it all in instantly! It feels good. But most the time I go from book to book, subject to subject, only remembering odd bits and general trends.