By Mary Duggan
Mohammad Darvish: what a lovely, gentle, enlightened Iranian. I’d like to meet him. I know, I know, you are sick of hearing that day in and day out. Sick of all the hype about all the wonderful Iranians we should be getting to know better. But seriously, really seriously, wouldn’t it be wonderful to start knowing each other as fellow citizens of planet earth? Why are such a small number of characters allowed a place on the world stage? I think there are so many interesting people to meet and stories to hear, especially folks from countries that we think are so completely different from ours, so foreign to us in the truest sense of the word. I think knowing these people and their stories is what would actually make the world a better place in which to live, a less scary place for sure. Isn’t that why they tell us we need all these nuclear weapons? To protect our place in this scary world we live in? Isn’t that what Iranians are being told as well? Why not build bridges instead of bombs; bridges to one another?
Turns out the ’60s really were about flower power.
A few days ago I encountered a lovely, encouraging article in the news about Mohammad Darvish, a botanist and environmental activist in Iran. I’d love to spend some time with him; just one tree hugger to another, swapping stories and dreams. I’d like to walk in the herbarium where he works. It was built as a joint effort in the 1960s by botanists from our two countries. We could listen to waterfalls and experience microclimates. I’d like to swap vegetarian recipes and discuss Persian poetry and tell him about the Iranian centered years of my own strange life.
Ahmadinejad and Kardashian are getting too much air time.
Okay, okay I know I’d end up telling him about our little deodorant company, as well. For sure I’d give him a sample and I’d wager he’d love it being botanically based and named lifestinks. And I would give it to him so he would know about the work we three sisters are doing to make our planet a less toxic place. Because just as I’d like to know an Iranian other than Ahmadinejad, I’m sure he’d like to know an American not named Kardashian. Darvish and Duggan are altogether simpler names to spell and pronounce and remember. I’d like to think our efforts matter more to both of our countries and our shared planet.
Mohammad Darvish is a crusader deserving of our attention. Until we can see him chatting with Bill Moyers, this lovely article will have to suffice. Let’s take the time to acknowledge the heroic in our midst. Let’s shine a light on really interesting people living really substantial lives. I think it’s fun and healing. At least it will make Kim’s pregnancy pass a little more quickly for all of us.
About the author:
Mary Duggan is Co-Founder and President of the Duggan Sisters.
The Duggan Sisters cracked the code and created a natural deodorant that actually works: lifestinks. We hope you will spend a few minutes exploring duggansisters.com to experience their spirited approach to wellness through their natural products and healing stories.
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