If more individuals took their citizenship responsibilities as seriously as Tom Pratt of Middleburg, the public would be much better informed. The distinguished and soft-spoken horseman sets the hurdles very high for himself as he travels the world to observe international situations first hand. Pratt, who has traveled to many points of international tension, recently joined a "citizen diplomacy" delegation to Iran where he gained first-hand insight into the lives and perspectives of ordinary Iranians who struggle daily under the escalating tension between their country and the United States.

"The relationship between the U.S. and Iran is, as we all know, deeply strained. We've had no diplomatic relations for 28 years, and the U.S. accusation that Iran is attempting to build nuclear weapons, and that they are supplying weapons to insurgents in Iraq has only heightened the tension." "I wanted to meet Iranians and see the situation for myself," he explained. "My goal is simple. I want to be better informed and able to share the knowledge I gain with friends and colleagues so we all have a more balanced and independent point-of-view about what's really happening." Tom traveled to Iran with 23 "citizen diplomats" who had the opportunity to visit Iran with the human rights organization, Global Exchange. The objective of these trips is to establish introductory relationships between U.S. and Iranian citizens.

"I not only gained a much better understanding of Iranian history and culture," Tom said, "…but the background of the current conflict became much clearer as I met with university professors and students, members of the Christian, Jewish and Zoroastrian communities, and Muslim religious leaders and theologians including a Grand Ayatollah". "Iran is not nearly as restrictive as we think. Teheran is a very cosmopolitan and sophisticated city and Ishafaan is absolutely fascinating. The most important thing to understand is that Iranians are not terrorists, and they are very aware that we think they are. Their culture and government is, indeed, very different from ours. President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is not the most popular politician in his country and he has less power than we think. He promised Iranian citizens the economic moon and has delivered little . They are frustrated with him as we are."

According to Pratt, many young Iranian women are beginning to wear a more modern version of the manteau (a sort of trench coat worn over pants) in beautiful colors. Although this clothing still conforms to tradition, it allows more individuality and personal preference. Behind the doors of their homes, they dress casually and comfortably. Other aspects of Iranian life that might surprise Americans included seeing romantic couples holding hands and embracing in parks, something not seen just a few years ago. "There are parks everywhere, and people will picnic at a moments notice, even on grass median strips."

"South Tehran was a slum during the time of the Shah and after the Revolution of 1979 the area was bulldozed, to be replaced by parks, free sports complexes and affordable housing. Land was given to cooperatives and low interest loans were made available so that the coops could sell apartments and houses to their members, eliminating the slums and improving conditions for thousands of working class Iranians. Incredibly, remains of the tents from the opulent over the top ( and last) international party given by the Shah still stand today outside Persepolis, I am sure as a reminder of his incredible extravagances."

According to Tom, Iran is not as restrictive as we think. During one month of each year, the government cracks down and enforces laws governing dress for women and things such as public dancing. For the rest of the year, he says, things are much more "relaxed." Smoking water pipes (called hubbly bubbly) was recently forbidden by the president because tobacco causes cancer, but was rescinded because of public outcry. Capital punishment for murder is very much alive in Iran, but if the victim's family forgives the perpetrator the sentence is commuted and in some cases he or she is set free, according to the Koran.

After traveling all over Iran, Tom came to the conclusion that President Bush and Vice President Cheney should receive "failing grades in diplomacy." "Iran is a complex society, democratic on one hand, autocratic and deeply religious on the other with restrictions that most Americans could not live under. But it is not for us to judge how ordinary Iranians live, that is up to them. We also should be aware that all Iranians did not support the Embassy hostage taking during President Carter's administration. It was a group of student radicals who remembered the US backed coup that led to the overthrow of President Mossadegh in the 50's and saw the Shah as an extension of US involvement in their country. They did not represent the citizens as a whole and many Iranians were as unhappy about it as were we."

Given what he's learned first hand, Tom believes that having a peaceful Middle East simply is not the goal of the Bush administration. "Offers by Iran to help in the early stages of the Iraq war were not even responded to by the administration, for example. Without the assistance of Iran and its other neighbors Iraq will never be stable. The Bush administration has little or no plan to engage them, a very large mistake in my opinion."

"The Iranians are a proud people with a rich history who have not invaded another country since the late 18th century and then only to reclaim jewels purloined by India. So in my opinion to base the fear of Iran wanting a nuclear weapon and being a potential threat to us and the Middle East on the rambling rhetoric of a president who has far less power than our president is not only foolish but extremely dangerous. Just listen to how many times Bush and Cheney refer to the two statements by Ahmadinejad on which they base their war threats. The first being the holocaust denial, where he was misquoted and the second about wiping Israel off the map, which he does not have the power to do. War with Iran would be even more disastrous and costly than the present mess the Bush gang has got us into in Iraq."

"It is only with the help of many friends and concerned citizens that I am able to make these trips, he concluded. "Without their support, I could not return with information that may not be read in American newspapers or seen on television. Hopefully a more informed America will help in the process towards peace and understanding with all nations and especially 'the axis of evil.' So I thank all who supported this trip from the bottom of my heart."

To contact Tom Pratt about Citizen Diplomacy, his recent trip to Iran or future trips to other "hot spots" please telephone him on 540 687 8828.