How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Panel)
Quote #7
While people were dying in our country, she was talking to me about trivial things. (20.13)
Well, you can take the girl out of Iran but you can't take Iran out of the girl. Marji believes that all Iranians should be concerned about the war in Iran, and gets mad when Shirin, Zozo's daughter, is not. Does she have a point? Should Shirin shut up about gloves and be more politically active? What can she do all the way in Vienna?
Quote #8
"Everything has to be rebuilt now."
"While we wait for the next war which will destroy everything again." (29.44)
Marjane's mother says the second line here, and Marjane calls her mother "disillusioned" (29.47). Is she disillusioned or realistic? Iran has been at war for over 2000 years it seems. She's right that there will be another one eventually. Does that mean they shouldn't rebuild?
Quote #9
"The entire war was just a big setup to destroy both the Iranian and the Iraqi armies. The former was the most powerful in the Middle East in 1980, and the latter represented a real danger to Israel." (29.53)
Here's another reason that Iran will never be at peace: other powers pit them against other countries. Marjane's dad is referring to U.S. and British involvement in these wars in the 1980s and '90s. What are these countries' relationships with Iran like now? We bet that, whenever you read this, they're not good.