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And my website is aimed to promote
democracy and regime change through non-violence.
Essentially most people around the world become familiar
with images that they see in the news and these are images
portrayed by a few clerics, radical fanatics and a radical regime.
I aim to create a
proper image of the Iranian nation, a nation with deep history,
rich culture and with a desire for peace and the desire to bring
regime change through non-violence … essentially have free
democratic elections… and certainly the choice to select the
proper system of governance through free, democratic and
transparent referendum.
SD: Behshad,
is there any misconception about the Iranian people?
Do you feel there is a misconception?
BH: I believe people are genuinely able
to differentiate between the Iranian regime which does not
represent the Iranian people. Iranians are peace loving, they are
tolerant and share many universal values of tolerance, compassion
and compromise. And as
such, it is important to promote those values and make them
transparent and reflect them … And that’s what I aim to do
through my website…
SD: Now let’s talk about
North Vancouver
. How large is the
Iranian population in
North Vancouver
?
BH: Certainly, more than 55,000 Iranian
immigrants contribute to the multicultural image of Greater
Vancouver and a sizeable majority lives in North Vancouver, North
Shore region, may be because of the beautiful environment, the
mountainous region, and certainly because of the existing social
and cultural network that help many new immigrants settle in this
beautiful country and overcome initial challenges of immigration.
SD: And a lot of beautiful stores …We
are here in the Yaas Bazaar, but there is more.
There is the Persian bookstore and lots of unique things to
visit here in the
North
Shore
…
BH: Certainly, these stores and what
you see in the street throughout the
North
Shore
and the Greater Vancouver, they reflect the rich cultural heritage
of
Iran
and they help Iranians to reflect true values… It is important
to make sure that people learn about the food, the dances…
everything … everyday events and understand that Iranians are
like everyone else and that many Iranians come to
Canada
because it is the promised land... Because it is the land of
great opportunity and that it’s because they want to build a
better life for themselves and for the next generation.
SD: It’s nice of you to come down. We
appreciate … your website is up there www.behshadh.com...
So appreciate it and thanks for coming down …
BH: My pleasure … Thank you Steve
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