August 22, 2005

Sean Penn Speaks

Finally! Two months after his much balleyhooed visit to Iran to cover the Iranian elections for the San Francisco Chronicle, Sean Penn delivers the first of a five-part series recounting his experiences.

I have one word to say: boring.

The agent whose large hands had rolled my black-inked fingers and palms over several printing forms barked at me to follow him with a wave of his hand. He led me to a men's room, where he swung open the door and indicated I should go in ahead of him. It was a bit of a ratty hole. Water closets, open. Worn, reflectionless mirrors. Where our standard toilets might sit, these are simply holes in the floor, with dark glimmering puddles beneath, and fluorescent light above. He just stared at me. Neither threateningly, nor warmly. Seconds went by as I stared back. Neither threatened, nor comfortable. "Now what?" I said. He raised his hands and wiped his palms over one another. Yes, he wanted me to have the opportunity to wash my hands, rather than to walk, black-handed, into the Persian night.

Read it yourself if you're looking for a cure for insomnia.

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