A Story That Mainstream Media Would Never Cover
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Because it's good news. Link to full article

Every week, reporter Kevin Sites writes articles from a chosen area. This week he's in Iran.

In
Iran, an Islamic theocracy, Christians and Jews occupy an unusual place. But it's not necessarily uncomfortable.

Kevin is writing about the Christian and Jewish minorities, and their lives in an Islamic country. His questions uncover a side you're unlikely to see on American news channels

One man tells me, pouring a glass of Johnny Walker Red whisky over ice, "We have more freedoms than even the Muslims. They would never be able to do this."

Christians are allowed to have alcohol in their homes and sometimes for holiday celebrations, but for the Muslim population it's strictly forbidden.

Others at the party agree, saying they don't face discrimination in Iran and can even travel more freely, usually to Armenia and to the United States.

Kevin Sites asked a Jewish man if there's been any change in the climate since Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's recent remarks both questioning the Holocaust and calling for Israel to be "wiped off the map."

He's clearly uncomfortable with the topic and says my questions are getting political. But I press him on it.

"As far as daily life goes here, there hasn't been an impact on us," he says, "We don't see any difference in our lives. But maybe others feel differently."

He continues, saying the Iranian government has made a clear effort to distinguish between Zionism and Judaism.

"Zionism is a political party that enjoys Jewish symbols and ideals, but it's not the same thing," he says. "The law that is being enforced in Israel is not Jewish law, it's not religious, its anti-religious."

When Kevin questioned a Muslim family at a Christian celebration, their response was:

"We want to share their happiness,... and congratulate them on their Christmas."