[combat_boots]

Aha. What’s behind the Iranian culture part of the question you asked is your own experience.

Were you in Iran/Azerbaijan during Aashura?

[SolidWood]

In Iran I watched once an Ashura procession and a Taazi passion play while keeping safe distance... the participitaing Shias really (and I mean REALLY) resent infidels at this procession and as you know the mood is more than bone-chilling, with bloddied men in trance mumbling and crying for Hussein.

Infact in 1924 an attending American diplomat Imbrie was killed brutally by the "devout"... with the consequence that Reza Shah prohibited the procession of Ashura until 1941.

I considered the procession to be numbing and appalling. I avoided it ever since and preferred the company of sane Iranians. The nightlife in Iran during the 1970's was more my cup of tea. ;^)