As advertised, our stories come from all over the world. Although most are from the West due mainly to this being an English language site, we are often given sensitive, intelligent glimpses into the mores of various cultures. Still, when you get to it and remove all the traditions, we are all human and hurt much the same.
Mariam Saidan‘s They Always Welcomed Visitor tells of a situation that everyone can relate to at least on the intellectual level. A situation that feels the same to the individual everywhere but one that varies from culture to culture in the social view.
The Q and A
Q: Mina is a first rate character. Please explain the choices that went into her creation?
– Mina is a mixture of numerous people that I knew growing up in Iran. I wanted to reflect the experiences of women in the Islamic Republic but also to represent the feeling of escape that everyone has at some point in their life.
Q: It has taken countless centuries for women everywhere to break free from having the same rights as property–essentially none. Do you foresee a time when such isn’t defined as “progressive” thinking but is a natural matter of course–or is such so deeply women into the social fabric that it will never be wholly eradicated?
– With things that are happening in Iran at the moment, with women leading a revolution and getting the support of men, I’d like to be optimistic about a sea-change to women’s rights. I believe that this revolution will be successful, but even if it is, we still have a long way to go before women are treated as wholly equal throughout the world. Hope for this future is essential.
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literally stories 
Mariam,
Congratulations on the rerun and we look forward to seeing you again soon.
Hope everyone checks out the story.
Leila
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I missed this the first time and so am glad it was chosen for a rerun. I especially like the scene when Mina runs to the street feeling lost and disoriented with “cars trapped, unable to move forward or back” just before she faints. It’s a powerful and effective metaphor. I hope she makes it to the villages in the mountains.
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glad you enjoyed it David and thank you for the constant support of everything we do on the site.
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David,
I also want to thank you as well. You show up everyday with something thoughtful to add.
Leila
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And my thanks to Mariam for her great replies!
Leila
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Another great story that has another day in the sun!!
Cheers to Leila and Mariam!
Hugh
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