I’ve noticed more and more that some American progressives diminish the pain and trauma of Iranians who are taking on the regime by comparing conditions in Iran to those in the USA. It’s infuriating.
Americans understand other countries’ histories about as much as we acknowledge our own. It’s so damaging - the level of ignorance, and lack of education, not to mention close-minded self-centeredness.
It’s insulting to the people who escaped violence and terror to come to this country to live a better life. As the American-born daughter of an Afghan whose remaining family escaped the Soviet invasion in the early 80’s I have a special view of how stupid people’s comments are.
I’m sorry, Yashar. I hear your pain and grief and desperation. We white Americans haven’t truly suffered. We are the power center and have had it relatively easy. Compassion and empathy are key components of humanity. So many of us need to board that train and lean into what it truly means to seek change and be a light in this tortured world. Thank you for your sobering words here.
I'm exhausted. I've spent 20 years studying MENA geopolitics and political economies, spending time in MENA countries. The current fervor to utilize any actually violently repressive struggle as a proxy for themselves is absolutely wild. This is the first time in decades that progressives have truly had to strategize to get back in power, to coalition, utilize the system on a large level. Instead there's so much internal desire to coast and demand ideologic synchrony. The desire to attempt to use Israel/Palestine as their allegory fantasy struggle as a proxy for the US but then refuse to engage with almost any actual on the ground peace workers, experts, or facts that might provide nuance. Anything remotely related to I/P especially the Iranian Regime due to its support for Hamas and Hezbollah seems fodder for them to play hopscotch whenever convenient. I've seen so many bizarro screeds praising Khomeini and the regime because it lines up with an ideology that blames the dreaded Z-words for everything. It's no surprise that seeing violent repression, because it's not bombs, it must be like their own struggle at home right?
You have taken my breath away. The power of your words, your voice. I am a white progressive and what you described is indeed despicable and narcissistic, not to mention absurd.
It's ignorance. I'm floored by it.
Americans understand other countries’ histories about as much as we acknowledge our own. It’s so damaging - the level of ignorance, and lack of education, not to mention close-minded self-centeredness.
It’s insulting to the people who escaped violence and terror to come to this country to live a better life. As the American-born daughter of an Afghan whose remaining family escaped the Soviet invasion in the early 80’s I have a special view of how stupid people’s comments are.
I’m sorry, Yashar. I hear your pain and grief and desperation. We white Americans haven’t truly suffered. We are the power center and have had it relatively easy. Compassion and empathy are key components of humanity. So many of us need to board that train and lean into what it truly means to seek change and be a light in this tortured world. Thank you for your sobering words here.
Morons
I’m sorry 💔
I don't even know what to say, other than thank you. And I'm sorry what you said even needed to be said.
I'm exhausted. I've spent 20 years studying MENA geopolitics and political economies, spending time in MENA countries. The current fervor to utilize any actually violently repressive struggle as a proxy for themselves is absolutely wild. This is the first time in decades that progressives have truly had to strategize to get back in power, to coalition, utilize the system on a large level. Instead there's so much internal desire to coast and demand ideologic synchrony. The desire to attempt to use Israel/Palestine as their allegory fantasy struggle as a proxy for the US but then refuse to engage with almost any actual on the ground peace workers, experts, or facts that might provide nuance. Anything remotely related to I/P especially the Iranian Regime due to its support for Hamas and Hezbollah seems fodder for them to play hopscotch whenever convenient. I've seen so many bizarro screeds praising Khomeini and the regime because it lines up with an ideology that blames the dreaded Z-words for everything. It's no surprise that seeing violent repression, because it's not bombs, it must be like their own struggle at home right?
You have taken my breath away. The power of your words, your voice. I am a white progressive and what you described is indeed despicable and narcissistic, not to mention absurd.