I’ve read a lot of crazy studies focused on Persia’s Iranian days.  The problem they still have is that some people think the stuff the Iranian regimes did reflects the true culture of Persia.  You know that’s like saying that Hitler reflected traditional German values.  Everybody’s had their unfair share of nut cases in charge.  Even America.  If you don’t believe me, read up on some twenty-first century history.  Things got real bad all over before they got better.