The Molecules of Heroes

Davar Iran Ardalan, Senior Producer for NPR, writes:

My grandfather Abol Ghassem, often said he would live forever because Rostam, the hero of the Shahnameh, lived for hundreds of years. Before my grandfather died, his oldest daughter, Lailee, asked him where he wanted to be buried -- he said he wished to rest in Tus, near the Holy city of Mashad, where the Shahnameh's poet Ferdowsi is buried. When Lailee asked why, he said he'd had a dream that his molecules would mix with those of Ferdowsi and a Rostam -- a hero-warrior or Pahlavan -- would then be born to save Iran.

Yes, on many occasions, the legendary Rostam stood in place of the divine balance of justice, but today the millions of Iranians thirsty for self-realization ought to just claim this balance of justice on their own. As the poet Rumi once said, "Beyond the wrongdoings and right doings, there is a field. Meet me there."

link: NPR: Iran Needs No Heroes