Anthony Bourdain Finally Visits Iran (and this is what he found)

While there are many places one can go such as a library or even the internet to form a more well rounded opinion of Iran, many don't. With ass firmly planted in couch or even listening to the television from another room, many are unaware of what exactly is going on over there.

When someone starts a conversation with "I heard on the news", it is your best interest to place both hands firmly over your ears and go la la la la la. While at the home or work, when have you ever heard someone say "That's interesting, did your investigation into the matter confirm these accusations?" Yeah right, fat chance, unless your talking to an ATS member of course!

I only watched Bourdain's show a few times, but I have some level of respect for his opinions. I was more a Zimmern type of guy. He seemed to bring more love to the table. Anyways, this is a glimpse into their culture from a guy without a teleprompter with a seemingly genuine interest to discover the heart of a nation through the eyes of his stomach. As Anderson cooper says, "It's a really fascinating look at the food, the people, the culture, behind the politics of the Islamic republic."

I heard Libya was a good place for it's population before it was ahh... ahhhh... ahhhh. Liberated ?

a reply to: eisegesis

Wait omg not all muslims are bad? And these people have the same hopes, fears and dreams as the rest of all humans? WTF!!!

Cool video and thx for posting...don't get to see much about Iran. When I was overseas I met quite a few people from the Middle East that I felt were much more honest and caring then most of the people I met from the usa. In fact the hardest thing I found for them to understand is how Americans use small talk but don't mean it... like when we say "ok lets get together some time"....then we never call them to get together. They were literally hurt by this and felt we didn't like them because someone said that..then never followed through.

I was born in America but have spent more than 50% of my adult life over seas and now no longer live there....the world is so much cooler when you have experienced it and you can see America isn't the best at everything...although it is very beautiful itself.

originally posted by: 727Sky
I heard Libya was a good place for it's population before it was ahh... ahhhh... ahhhh. Liberated ?

I heard Obama didn't like their cooking so he fired everybody and shut the place down. After the renovation, the restaurant reopened with a new name and all new staff.

Zimmeren is a ghoul. I love it how he ate a fetal pig in his first episode and went on about how he was so Jewish when he went to Minnesota. Back to Tony...

I used to watch Tony Bourdain for years. I loved Kitchen Confidential, great book, you probably won't go out to eat for a while after reading it.
no reservations had a lot of good episodes. Damascus. Saudi Arabia. Cambodia. Vietnam. Very well done and he was reverent of the cultures he immersed himself in. He did make some people get a "stunt camel" when he felt bad about killing one he just petted, but that's just because he is human.

originally posted by: eisegesis

originally posted by: 727Sky
I heard Libya was a good place for it's population before it was ahh... ahhhh... ahhhh. Liberated ?

I heard Obama didn't like their cooking so he fired everybody and shut the place down. After the renovation, the restaurant reopened with a new name and all new staff.

Wrong president :p

So a famous chef with his camera crew visit a country and are treated warmly. Why would anyone think differently? Dennis Rodman had a jolly time in North korea.
I have no idea what iran is like for those that live there and have never claimed to know, but showing how a vip is treated there does not show what it's like either.
This is just like Michael Moore and his anti gun movie. He shows up in a supposedly bad neighborhood with his camera crew in broad daylight and says he feels safe. I want him to walk alone at midnight in the same place to see how he feels then.

originally posted by: tavi45

originally posted by: eisegesis

originally posted by: 727Sky
I heard Libya was a good place for it's population before it was ahh... ahhhh... ahhhh. Liberated ?

I heard Obama didn't like their cooking so he fired everybody and shut the place down. After the renovation, the restaurant reopened with a new name and all new staff.

Wrong president :p

Link

Moammar Gaddafi was overthrown in 2011 with the help of U.S. and NATO air forces.

“I think we [and] our European partners underestimated the need to come in full force if you’re going to do this,” Obama said about his 2011 campaign to remove Libya’s dictator, Moammar Gadhafi.

originally posted by: Hoosierdaddy71
So a famous chef with his camera crew visit a country and are treated warmly. Why would anyone think differently? Dennis Rodman had a jolly time in North korea.
I have no idea what iran is like for those that live there and have never claimed to know, but showing how a vip is treated there does not show what it's like either.
This is just like Michael Moore and his anti gun movie. He shows up in a supposedly bad neighborhood with his camera crew in broad daylight and says he feels safe. I want him to walk alone at midnight in the same place to see how he feels then.

I agree, there is preferential treatment when you roll with a camera crew and look expensive.

But based upon how Americans are spoon-fed ideas that Iran despises westerners, why wouldn't they be throwing tomatoes and cabbages at him?

a reply to: Hoosierdaddy71

I have no idea what iran is like for those that live there and have never claimed to know, but showing how a vip is treated there does not show what it's like either.

You just said you never claimed to know what its like so how would you know "what its like for vips, either"?

This is just like Michael Moore and his anti gun movie. He shows up in a supposedly bad neighborhood with his camera crew in broad daylight and says he feels safe. I want him to walk alone at midnight in the same place to see how he feels then.

Meaning what? Iran isn't "safe" after midnight?

a reply to: eisegesis

Maybe they did, it's called editing.
or maybe their escorts protected him.
or nothing happened at all.
We may never know...

originally posted by: intrptr
a reply to: Hoosierdaddy71

I have no idea what iran is like for those that live there and have never claimed to know, but showing how a vip is treated there does not show what it's like either.

You just said you never claimed to know what its like so how would you know "what its like for vips, either"?

This is just like Michael Moore and his anti gun movie. He shows up in a supposedly bad neighborhood with his camera crew in broad daylight and says he feels safe. I want him to walk alone at midnight in the same place to see how he feels then.

Meaning what? Iran isn't "safe" after midnight?

Was Michael Moore in iran? No he was not.

Vips are treated different everywhere so why would iran be any different?


People on this website prolly can tell what it's like better than this clown.

Iran is the same as everywhere else. People hate the government, try to do their own thing without getting caught, and live. I know some people from Iran, they left during the war that the US paid for on both sides. They visit every year except last year when they went on the hajj. They gave me a nice rug.

The broader lesson here, before this thread devolves into a tit-for-tat argument about Islam and terrorism, is that people are pretty much the same all over the world, with the exception of a few zealous fools who willingly swallow the Kool-Aid fed to them by mainstream media sources.

People all over the planet can be warm, friendly, caring, and serve awesome home cooking. The nice thing about what Mr. Bourdain did was go to an ancient country that has been badly demonized in our press to show that what we *think* we know about a country is just a lot of propaganda, and we actually don't know anything about it at all.

As in the United States, the government and the lies it spreads are so very different from the actual people who live there. When you see the face of humanity on your so-called enemy, you can no longer demonize them.

a reply to: rockpaperhammock

In fact the hardest thing I found for them to understand is how Americans use small talk but don't mean it... like when we say "ok lets get together some time"....then we never call them to get together. They were literally hurt by this and felt we didn't like them because someone said that, then never followed through.

Funny you said that. I have had an issue with almost everyone of my friends about the same thing. Even at a young age, when someone said, "I'll call you later", I was deeply hurt when the phone never rang. The next time we spoke I asked, "I thought you said you were going to call me", and their response was always the same. Uh, I didn't think it was a big deal."

Say what you mean, mean what you say. One of many golden rules.

a reply to: Hoosierdaddy71

Vips are treated different everywhere so why would iran be any different?

Anthony Bourdain isn't a "VIp".

In fact, he surpasses most hosts in his efforts to find out of the way places that reflect the reality of everyday life. If you watched his shows you would know that.

I have always had the feeling Iranians are not represented abroad by the actions of their government,....And I believe the common people are not as anti American as the current administration.
Iran could have been the start of better things to come back in 53..........someday well all know them better and at that time we will understand they are just like us.......only a little different.....
I do wish them well....

originally posted by: intrptr
a reply to: Hoosierdaddy71

Vips are treated different everywhere so why would iran be any different?

Anthony Bourdain isn't a "VIp".

In fact, he surpasses most hosts in his efforts to find out of the way places that reflect the reality of everyday life. If you watched his shows you would know that.

I have watched his shows and read his book. I know who he is.
You are right in one sense, he's not important.
That does not change the fact that he has a camera crew following him around and a tour guide directing him on where to go.
I would feel much more comfortable with the opinion of someone that didn't have the crew of people with them.

originally posted by: Hoosierdaddy71

originally posted by: intrptr
a reply to: Hoosierdaddy71

Vips are treated different everywhere so why would iran be any different?

Anthony Bourdain isn't a "VIp".

In fact, he surpasses most hosts in his efforts to find out of the way places that reflect the reality of everyday life. If you watched his shows you would know that.

I have watched his shows and read his book. I know who he is.
You are right in one sense, he's not important.
That does not change the fact that he has a camera crew following him around and a tour guide directing him on where to go.
I would feel much more comfortable with the opinion of someone that didn't have the crew of people with them.

It is the same experience most Westerners have visiting Iran. You can find many blogs from people who have visited all over the Web. They all say the same thing. Iranians are very kind and friendly, not big fans of thier government but, very proud of thier country. Also if you have netfix check out The Iran Job. It is a documentory filmed on the sly in Iran about an American playing basketball there for a year. Gives a great view of life there and it postives and negatives.

originally posted by: Hoosierdaddy71

originally posted by: intrptr
a reply to: Hoosierdaddy71

Vips are treated different everywhere so why would iran be any different?

Anthony Bourdain isn't a "VIp".

In fact, he surpasses most hosts in his efforts to find out of the way places that reflect the reality of everyday life. If you watched his shows you would know that.

I have watched his shows and read his book. I know who he is.
You are right in one sense, he's not important.
That does not change the fact that he has a camera crew following him around and a tour guide directing him on where to go.
I would feel much more comfortable with the opinion of someone that didn't have the crew of people with them.

In the last video at 2:05, Bourdain says,

"Understand, we were treated very, very well. First, just walking down the street in Tehran was a very surprising situation. Everybody was lovely to us. Without cameras, with cameras. When people found out we were American, everybody was lovely to us."

He went on to say that even the people they met from the government who had to grant their approval were very congenial and helpful.

Bourdain certainly commands attention at 6'4", and with how friendly and connected everybody seems, he probably stuck out like a sore thumb having not been from the area. The only other motive for their hospitality I can think of would be the preconceived notion that American tourists carry around wads of cash.