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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsI have Iranian American friends....
They are seriously the nicest people that I have ever met. Generous---love life, funny, and they truly love America.
It is my sincere hope that this agreement is the beginning to the end of hostilities and that both countries come together and live peacefully with one another.
My friends want it and so do I.
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Aristus
(66,320 posts)His name is Mehdi Karimi. He is a musician; the first Iranian musician to publish an album of English-language music in Iran itself. He is a good friend, and one of the most loving, open, warm and sincere people I have ever known. It dismays me no end to think that people in our country want to kill him and others just like him for no reason at all.
stillwaiting
(3,795 posts)They want to bomb Iran because they are racists and Christianists that are basically still fighting the Crusades.
They want to kill brown Muslims because they believe brown Muslims want to kill them.
And, the only brown Muslims that may want to kill them are their kindred fundamentalist conservative religionists that hold many of their same "religious" values.
Liberal Christians get along just fine with moderate and liberal Muslims.
It's the conservative fundamentalists that cause misunderstandings, chaos, and death wherever they appear (within ALL religions). I believe it's a mental disorder, and it should be seen as such within society at large everywhere in the world. No good comes from it.
LeftishBrit
(41,205 posts)hifiguy
(33,688 posts)since 1953. Mossadegh nationalizing the oil fields was the trigger for the CIA's overthrow of him and restoration of the brutal idiot Shah.
busterbrown
(8,515 posts)Money for MiIC...Thats what its really about....But what you say is so true as well..
stillwaiting
(3,795 posts)But, I'm not sure their desire is to KILL lots of innocent Iranians. They just want the money to keep flowing, and the fact that so many innocent people will die is of no consequence ultimately.
We DO have way too many people in this country that want to bomb Iran and KILL lots of them as the poster I replied to was talking about. The people that really want to kill lots of Iranians are the people that I was referring to in my post.
Clearly we have to push back against both groups, but it's the fundamentalist haters that do want to kill the Iranians (BEFORE THEY KILL US OMG!) that empower the corporatists that make it all possible.
CoffeeCat
(24,411 posts)The neocons spelled out their plan. They wanted to control the Middle East and they laid out their plan.
First, they would invade Iraq, then Syria, then Iran. It's all there in their plan, which they had the audacity
to post on the Internet.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/pdf/RebuildingAmericasDefenses.pdf
These disgusting psychopaths only want power, resources (oil) and military dominance. They want to enrich their
corporate friends who sell the machines of war (planes, bombs, contracting jobs and military equipment).
They are trying to pilfer the Middle East, destroy it, weaken it and take over--with the US and their allies
in control of this part of the world. They get the oil and they get the geopolitical advantage of controlling
that part of the world.
It really is sick.
I think the whole Israel thing is just a ruse to gain support from a large group of people--Christians. They need large
numbers of people to support their bloody wars and corporate greed. But they can't directly say that they want
Iran--for the oil and as part of a greedy takeover. So, they cloak their sick plan in religion. And the sheep can't
get on board fast enough. Why do you think the right wing has fear mongered Christians into believing that they
are being persecuted and that all Muslims want to kill them? It furthers their Middle-East war plans.
The neocons don't give a damn about God, spirituality or anything that resembles decency--or the spirit of Christ. They
only use religion as a device to spark support for war. Their God is war, and they only serve one God.
It's very sad to watch these sociopaths at work--and even sadder to watch religious people buy their sick marketing schemes.
maindawg
(1,151 posts)I was on a board the other day that I frequent, and out of curiosity I read the thread on this topic. I was shocked to see all the enthusiasm for a bombing/murdering campaigned in the ME. Even from progressive posters.
Three pages of it. It seems one thing that these people agreed about was that we should destroy the ME. I was pretty definitive in my own response.
The ME is populated by people. People who eat sleep breath poop love , and build new kitchens when they can. People who create things, artists, people who build things, people who have children and moms and dads who they love. What kind of animal would be callous?
Men like John Mccain who would call for a bombing campaign despicable people.
arcane1
(38,613 posts)
bemildred
(90,061 posts)Surya Gayatri
(15,445 posts)Intelligent, cultured, and charming.
What's not to like?
sinkingfeeling
(51,445 posts)
Avalux
(35,015 posts)One in particular, grew up on a farm in the north with mountains, farmland, and the ocean all within reach. His family was not religious, and he said most in his town were not; the government didn't force anything on them. The government's rhetoric is for the benefit of their neighbors so they'll be left alone. Btw, Iran has never invaded another country.
I hope too that this agreement is a step towards a better relationship between our countries. For us and our counterpart Iranians who just want to be happy and live a peaceful life.
oberliner
(58,724 posts)If so, that might have something to do with where they are coming from.
Skidmore
(37,364 posts)left Iran after the revolution and midway through the Iran - Iraq War. We left behind many, many good and kind people worn down by conflict who did not agree with their leaders. We also left behind a nation in which an entire generation had almost been wiped out. Not all Iranians fit the stereotype. It's a nation of young people who would welcome change and I would wrlcome being able to not fear for my children for the first time in decades.
oberliner
(58,724 posts)Those who left Iran during the revolution tend to be more pro-US, pro-West than those who didn't, for the most part?
Skidmore
(37,364 posts)afford to. And i I know families who left because the were tired of conflict and had lost much. I know peple who long to retun to their families. There is a human dimension that is often lost in the zeal to reinforce political convenience.
oberliner
(58,724 posts)And those who could afford to were, generally speaking, more likely to be aligned with the Shah camp than the Ayatollah camp, would they not?
Skidmore
(37,364 posts)So sorry to be not saying what you want to hear. I speak from experience. Millions of people went on the street to demonstrate against the Shah and around the arrival of Khomeini. I even attended a couple of the demonstrations because I wanted to be a witness to the history that was unfolding. Yeah, me. At the time, I was a young foreign woman with light brown hair and blue eyes who stood out no matter where I went there. But I went.
Millions of people also left the country. You underestimate greatly the popularity of the Shah and conflate reasons for leaving with sympathy for that regime. I know people who fought for the revolution to rid Iran of the Shah but still left it afterward and brought their families with them. Royalists are a much smaller group than you would imagine. Somewhere in between are those who had the vision of a free Iran with a functional democratic system, something I think that can be achieved yet. Not a Jeffersonian democracy necessarily but I have lots of hope of the youth of Iran who carry no memories of the political baggage of their grandparents' generation.
oberliner
(58,724 posts)I appreciate your insights.
The Iranian-Americans I know are Jewish and left under less than ideal circumstances around the time of the revolution so I have a limited perspective.
Skidmore
(37,364 posts)from various ethnic and religious groups as well as social strata. Most people living in Iran during those years were living in stressful circumstances. I do think it has calmed down quite a bit. I know I will never go back, mostly because the path of my life has changed. I know my children sometimes speak of wanting to visit and to take my grandchildren to see the land. I miss the land too. We used to climb in the mountains and visit the Caspian seacoast. The spring winds off of the Alborz range was a delight. Loved the bazaars and the twisting village streets. Sometimes wish I could find a street vendor who sells steamed beets.
But that is a past life. What I wish for most in life is that the adults in all nations grow up and find a way to coexist. I really appreciate what the President has done. Some one needs to try peace. Put down the weapons and use ideas and the spoken word. This is as good a place as any to start.
mainstreetonce
(4,178 posts)Iranian citizens can live without fear.
God bless Obama and Kerry. Two great men
obnoxiousdrunk
(2,910 posts)the Shahs of Sunset a couple of times. Nice people ...
LeftishBrit
(41,205 posts)Peace would be a lovely thing
rurallib
(62,406 posts)she just couldn't be nicer. She worries about the situation, but mostly doesn't dwell on it much.
Hope all goes well with this agreement.
bullwinkle428
(20,629 posts)
edhopper
(33,573 posts)they are always nice.
Dont call me Shirley
(10,998 posts)meaculpa2011
(918 posts)several of them have been friends for more than fifty years. Growing up in NYC there was (and still is) a large Iranian community.
I also knew several Iranians who were virulent anti-Semites. Three of them returned after the fall of the Shah.
One in particular told me that he was ashamed of his country because they were the only Muslim nation in the Mideast that was not committed to the destruction of Israel. The things he said back then made my blood curdle.
He went back to take charge of a port project as chief engineer. After more than a year's work the project was destroyed because they had not taken a certain astronomical alignment into account. He was in charge. He was never heard from again.
As with all groups... some good... some bad... some truly evil.
trof
(54,256 posts)He saved the life of a mutual close friend who had an abdominal aneurysm.
Drove 100 mph from the Cape (he was on vacation when he heard) into Nashua, NH to operate on her and saved her life.
And he refers to himself as 'Persian-American'.
He's retired now, in his 80s.
His family immigrated to the U.S when the shah came into power (CIA).
bravenak
(34,648 posts)She has family still in Iran. I do not want them bombed.
Half-Century Man
(5,279 posts)I don't want to see anyone bombed.
kelliekat44
(7,759 posts)Truly, one of the nicest school mates I ever had. Very smart too. Later, into the late 80's I was blessed to have an Iranian hairdresser for over 20 years. She had such a beautiful spirit, reassuring calmness and as close to a perfect human being as possible...not a malicious word or tone ever...always the peace-maker in the beauty shop. Thus, 100% of the Iranians that i have ever met are treasures.
Jefferson23
(30,099 posts)
madokie
(51,076 posts)The world at peace is a wonderful thought. I truly believe if our President would have had a congress who were honestly wanting to do what is good for the country we could have a lot more peace in this world going forward.
Cha
(297,154 posts)
tclambert
(11,085 posts)You know, people with consciences might feel bad about bombing the families of their friends. So . . . I suppose it still wouldn't bother Republicans. But, c'mon, they're not gonna make friends with any foreigners, anyway. Foreigners are for staffing sweatshops, and pulling out of line at the airport.
Phentex
(16,334 posts)for everyone's sake.
This is a start.