on 29th of September 2009, we had the opportunity to meet the American poet and writer, Dr. Christopher Merill, on the faculty of world studies. He "directs the international writing program at the university of Iowa"* and has recieved awards from the Academy of American poets for "Brilliant waters" and "Watch fire"**
Gladly, he was so touched with the Iranians' habit of honoring the guests and felt coming back home while visiting the tomb of the king of ghazal, Hafez, at Shiraz.
There, a friendly meeting was held and the students posed diverse questions from civil and foreign policies of the U.S. to its culture and literature, although, he insisted that he's there just as poet and writer.
Dr. merill believed that "literature is a good field to know Americans". The diversity of ethnicities in U.S. is an important issue that not only is reflected in the works of famous writers but also the giants of American literature are themselves from different ethnicities. These help the diversity to be brought under the flag of unity. "Writers responded to the condition of own time" he believed.
To answer a question about 9/11 and its aftermats for the Islamic world, he said that "it's easier to be afraid of it than to do something about it" as the reason for Islamophobia spread through America at the time.
Dr. Christopher Merill, as an American literary man who is interested in the elitist world while living with the mass in the heart of society, believed that the slogan of change,introduced by president Obama, brought hopes but can not expect to happen in a short period of time. He expressed that media and writers should do their job in realizing the idea.
At the end he admitted to share his classes in Iowa via vidio conference with the faculty of world studies.
*&** : http://www.christophermerillbooks.com/
Gladly, he was so touched with the Iranians' habit of honoring the guests and felt coming back home while visiting the tomb of the king of ghazal, Hafez, at Shiraz.
There, a friendly meeting was held and the students posed diverse questions from civil and foreign policies of the U.S. to its culture and literature, although, he insisted that he's there just as poet and writer.
Dr. merill believed that "literature is a good field to know Americans". The diversity of ethnicities in U.S. is an important issue that not only is reflected in the works of famous writers but also the giants of American literature are themselves from different ethnicities. These help the diversity to be brought under the flag of unity. "Writers responded to the condition of own time" he believed.
To answer a question about 9/11 and its aftermats for the Islamic world, he said that "it's easier to be afraid of it than to do something about it" as the reason for Islamophobia spread through America at the time.
Dr. Christopher Merill, as an American literary man who is interested in the elitist world while living with the mass in the heart of society, believed that the slogan of change,introduced by president Obama, brought hopes but can not expect to happen in a short period of time. He expressed that media and writers should do their job in realizing the idea.
At the end he admitted to share his classes in Iowa via vidio conference with the faculty of world studies.
*&** : http://www.christophermerillbooks.com/
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