Concerns and Ambitions

Iranian Youths; Concerns and Ambitions
Wednesday, 25 March 2009 08:44
Kourosh Ziabari

As Iran welcomes the arrival of spring with the countrywide celebration of Nowrouz – the ancient Persian festivity marking the commencement of New Solar Year – Iranian youths talk about their admirations, aspirations and concerns.

Near to 30 percent of Iran’s 70 million-strong population are the under-25 youths which constitute the dominant majority of country’s social body. Undisputedly, such a large host of young population can be an effectual and substantive factor in the prosperity and scientific progression of the society, provided that a prudent mobilization of these forces is taken into account.”

Iranian youths perpetually deal with a trilogy of different cultural prototypes offered to them. First of all, there is their nationality which forms a major part of their characteristics and should be preserved steadfastly; secondly, they have Islamic backgrounds, which they inherit from their parents as a religious legacy and should be dealt with constructively, and finally they are exposed to the spates of western culture targeting them through mass media, internet etc.

Actually, nationalistic feelings are considerably significant and remarkable among the youth generation of Iran. Arsalan, 18, who is a freshman of civil engineering, believes that being Iranian is a source of pride and honor: “Our historical backgrounds date back to at least 5000 years ago, where the ancient kingdoms of Egypt and Persia (the old name of Iran) dominated the whole world, so I’m personally honored of being an Iranian, the son of this ancient and cultured soil.”

…”Ehsan Ghaem Maghami, the 26-year old chess Grand Master who has recently defeated Anatoly Karpov, the world-renowned Russian champion; Erfan Esmaeili, the 17-year old astronomer who won the excellence medal of International Astrophysics Olympiad of Indonesia and Saeed Kamali Dehghan, the young journalist who has already interviewed some 5 Nobel Prize Laureates of Literature for the Guardian newspaper are some brilliant examples of outstanding Iranian youths who perpetually seek progression, advancement and perfection,” elucidates Kiomars, “However these are just few samples which I know in person. Actually, there are thousands of others whom remain to be mentioned.”

Here is the full article.