Cultural Conflicts

Religion:

-          Islamic conservative views/beliefs portrayed;

-          Moohdy drank alcohol (not allowed in Islam);

-          Religious broadcasts, music & prayers are heard all over the city every day

-          Ayatollah Khomeini, religious cleric, is head of the gov’t.; no separation of church & state

-          Wives should not keep secrets from their husbands (interpretation)

-          Gave the kidnapped boys a plastic key & told them it was the key to Paradise

Gov’t. : religion is part of the gov’t. – their belief system is forced upon everyone, Muslim or not

-          Violence/domestic violence goes against the teachings of the Koran, but the gov’t. turns a blind eye to it

-          A man can beat, even kill, their wives and daughters & not be tried for this crime

Dress code: enforced by violence & chador police

- Mahtob had to wear the chador @ 5

Women: have almost no idivid., civil, human rights

- Girls can be married off at 9

Praying: Betty doesn’t want Moohdy to get up early (tells you this wasn’t part of their lives in US)

-  Prayers & music are played on the public address system every day, starting at dawn

Violence: against Quran’s teachings—husband starts in Iran

-          all this is played against a country that is at war w/ Iraq, who the U.S. supports

School: learning to recite prayers, no “academic”

War: Kidnapped young boys off the street, used them to “check” the mine fields

Family Conflicts

Husband vs. wife—she doesn’t want go Iran

Older member of Moody’s family don’t seem to like Betty

Moody tells wife about losing job & wants to stay in Iran

Wife doesn’t want to stay—he hits and threatens her.

She is not allowed: phone calls, money, to drive, to have keys to the house, to leave house w/out permission.

Daughter used as pawn

Daughter upset w/way father talks to mother

All his family supports him, won’t listen to Betty

man vs. manàhusband vs. wife

husband lies, keeps secrets, plans to take the family to Iran to live, but doesn’t discuss it with Betty

Violence – Moody hits Betty & Mahtob  and in front of others

Moody locks Betty in the apartment & takes Mahtob – he comes back to give her food, but doesn’t speak to her