What do I say?

I have a speech coming up for the Lion’s Club and the coordinator asked me to share with them how it was to live in Iran .  I have about 20 minutes to speak.  I’m thinking really hard about how to squeeze 13 years of amazing experience into 20 minutes.  In addition to that, a speech usually needs to be relevant to the audience.  How can I make the beauty and loveliness of the culture apparent, even as I share how making good choices and having a good attitude can help people everywhere?

My son and I were talking about the Egyptian uprising that’s happening now and in the news.  We were comparing it to the uprising during the recent elections in Iran , when the “Where’s My Vote?” campaign went violently wrong.  He put on an Iranian song that’s a political statement of the youth lamenting all that’s wrong with the government at the moment and violations of human rights.  I looked at him and for a moment doubted myself.  I told him, “I know these things happen and I know the reality and the horror of it, I’ve seen some of it.  What I really want to do however is to share what I love about Iran , what I found that was good, uplifting, and positive.  I want to share the funny paradox that living in Iran was to me.  I want to tell people how Iran saved my life and share my personal story.  I’m a hopeless Pollyanna.  I can’t help but see the good.”  He gave me a hug and said, “Mom, that’s okay.  As long as you concentrate on the people, it will be good.”