I read with interest the article “Living in nostalgia” (Feb. 16) by Abdulrahman Al-Rashed. It is very true that the Iranians are being held hostage to the whims and wishes of the extremist elements. Since the so-called revolution, the lifestyle of an average Iranian has deteriorated. Iranians are craving for personal freedom. They don’t hate everything West, as shown on the Iranian state media. The truth is they are an oppressed people.