For the second time this year I had a nice chat with a young Iranian male. One on the chairlift in January and one when I was renewing a vehicle insurance today. Both had been in Canada 3-5 years. One had been an avid skier back home in Iran. I never knew they had modern ski resorts but they do. The other loves hot weather. A very diverse country in geography and weather. Both refer to their country as Persia. The skier told me it’s the Mullahs who support terrorism in the Middle East. They both are pro-Western.

Both wish that the current Religious regime ruling the country would just vanish. Their parents likely told them how modern and Westernized the country was before the Shah fell. The Shah was a CIA puppet, wasn’t perfect either but life was so much better as it was secular and the religious part was on you. I feel their pain. They both spoke about their love of their culture and country and would return if there was a change. It is a very rich ancient civilization that has been destroyed by the Mullahs. Both told me that the vast majority of the Persians feel like him. Especially the women who live in the Middle Ages and are chattels.

I’m not for regime change by foreign governments but when the majority are living under conditions that they do not want, I may be persuaded to change my mind.

On another note Terminal TDS in Canada is endemic. Going to make another food run to WA state tomorrow. Will test a higher food $ limit to see if indeed the tariffs are off. Maybe the last visit with no tariffs was a one-off. Wish me luck!