GigglesMaster
86836
2054
84
As an Iranian American, it has been such terrible few days. Sure, assassination of an evil person happened. There are hundreds of thousands of people on the streets, but this is such a shallow presentation of a complicated problem. There are millions and millions of people who don’t want the Islamic Republic to be in power. They don’t want the money from their country to support any sort of terrorist activity. The majority of people in Iran want freedom, basic human rights, and literally bread to be able to feed their families. Due to worsening poverty, which has been ongoing since the Shah era, people have no prosperity. The country is filled with extremely intelligent people, who can’t even do anything to help their own families. And if ever given the chance to protest the Islamic Republic, they’re killed more and more with each protest. They can’t be on the streets now to say: “yes, let’s end the nonsense. Let’s stop wasting OUR money on an Islamic agenda outside of the country. Let’s fix the roads, decrease gas prices, provide food for us”.
The problem is that although the number of people against the current political policies is significantly higher than supporters of the government, they can’t keep losing their youth to the cause. They don’t have a real way of fighting back.
In this day and age, it’s been difficult enough to think of the human cost of possible war, even the ongoing sanctions in Iran. The poverty and loss of hope is beyond what you can understand. And there is no real talk of that.
I hope you really understand we are not our government. And threats to destroy our cultures would only hurt the normal people. They suffered for far too long. The government and its supporters don’t actually care about Persian heritage.
TLDR: Iranian government sucks, we know! But the real people in Iran don’t deserve the past years or what Trump is proposing to do.
Edit: Thank you for the support and feedback! I am also an American and love this beautiful country and its people!
You can send me puppy pics or poems. Need the cheering up
Vomgnar
As an average euro-descended American, I really hope my brothers and sisters in Iran will be safe. We are all family on this planet!
FlameBeard86
We recognize that you are not your government and, as an American, I hope you recognize the same.
GigglesMaster
I’m also an American. And lived here for 22 years. I know. I just hope to help more people understand that truth
Pokegeologist
Dad's been telling me this since the 90s. It's a heartbreaking Orwellian nightmare over there. I wish peace and safety for the victims.
AussieScrote
Yeah - Iran is pretty bad as well.
ForFuThake
Suggestion- Let’s send all the politicians and governments of the world to the moon and we’ll all carry on with our lives
doesntmatter
So you want space Nazis? Because that is how you get space Nazis.
dethraivn
I wish more people saw this side of things, that countries are made of human beings and not just carbon copies of their government.
GigglesMaster
Yes!! And people are usually victims of their own governments too.
NoIamAlpharius
For what it's worth, the secretary of defense has stated that the US military will not target cultural sites.
Souljah42
I think most people don't want war. On both sides.
RawChristianPotatoe
If soneone advocates for "putting boots down on the ground" somewhere i expect that he will join the forces tomorrow. Otherwise shut up
terithian
No one really wants to go somewhere they've never seen and kill someone who doesn't want to be there either.
Enoan
I’m not sure. The Government of Iran is horrible, but in order to depose the government we either invade, or stir up a fresh batch of
Enoan
Armed rebels, and the track record of armed rebels establishing a good government ain’t great
andral28042000
This guy deserves to be listened to, more of these voices are what the world needs
Fatbrain
THIS is truth!
bobyran
As a fellow Iranian, all you say is true. Now think about it. if war breaks out, the government will be weaker and primed for revolution
GigglesMaster
Or the government will be even more brutal to people in Iran.. look at how well it’s worked out for Libya, Egypt, Iraq...
bobyran
That's a chance we have to take... If something isn't working either you change it or you don't.
Maeryllith
I imagine that your country can't just roll over and disarm without a Russian occupation 2.0 or Syria situation either.
DarthJ0e
You deserve peace, and the whole region deserves to not have our troops over there anymore.
GigglesMaster
We all deserve peace and harmony!! Hoping 2020 will end up in a better direction
DarthJ0e
z28cam947
Sounds like a really jacked up country to live in. Thank God I live in U.S.A. Thank you for your side and not fake news side.
Crixy
And I thank God I don't live in the US , one of the worse countries on the planet.
GigglesMaster
I’ve lived in the US for 22 years too. And I’m beyond grateful. I just want Americans to know Iranians, for the most part, LOVE the US!
deathreapper9271
I always love listening to people from other countries, they actually love America and are grateful. It semi annoys me seeing all these 1/
deathreapper9271
hate comments on the internet, imgur a lot, of how America sucks and blah blah. So thank you for being here for so long and showing love 2/2
owQuitit
This can be said of all countries
Shendorion
OK, but we're only threatening to bomb the one.
dandoo89
As a American, I don't support the harsh overreaction of our president. It's easy to gamble lives, when yours isn't on the table.
Crixy
Your' country has been doing this for too long , I don't see any difference between grotesque dictatorships around the world and your gov.
dandoo89
Every comment you've ever posted is negative. Who hurt you?
Milfhunter6000
Hey Iran bro. Finland reporting in. People are wonderful everywhere. It's the government's that is the deal-breaker. Many don't see difrence
GigglesMaster
I completely agree!!! Except I’m not really a bro lol
Giiseri2020
100% agree. Fellow finnish here :) it's frustrating To watch the world literally burn and People being idiots, and there's nothing I can do
Shadoweclipse13
As an average American citizen with a heart, I can say that my heart goes out to all of your people. Most of us aren't our self-centered ...
Shadoweclipse13
/2 politicians either, most of us don't want war either. Most of us just want to be able to live our lives in peace, be left alone...
Shadoweclipse13
/3 able to provide for our families, and get a lovin' now and again. All peoples of the world should unite, and make the idiot politicians..
Shadoweclipse13
/4 fight each other, instead of making people who don't care about that stuff fight.
GigglesMaster
Most people are the same around the world..as long as they aren’t misled by those in charge.
Shadoweclipse13
Which we usually are unfortunately.
Shoot117
I don’t think Trump is really wanting war, as much as to bolster our strength again. It plays more into the change on the US perspective 1/x
Shoot117
After the world wars, the US switched to an outward focus, stopping “evil” from rising, hence some belief of the Cold War. 2/x
Shoot117
The US since W. Bush’s end of presidency has backed out of this position, allowing those ‘evils’ to spread freely again. 3/x
Shoot117
People say this is a Boomer ‘war’ which is somewhat true since this idea is what they grew up in, the US being involved in the world. 4/x
Shoot117
The post even mentions not wanting to lose any more of their youth, the same is true all around. Those who likely support the war... 5/x
Shoot117
likely grew up in times of this US push. Now I believe that Trump really doesn’t want war but to use this opinion to show... 6/x
GigglesMaster
This is somewhat true! It’s mostly for his ego too. But it’s also how things escalated
DesolateMirror
<3
Absinthminded
SA I understand your situation @gigglesmaster and live it daily. Such a horrible situation when citizens trapped by politics. Prayers
FraserFurrr
An embassy was attacked, a general got wacked that's all I know about this whole shitshow.
fake40nedeso
And that’s about it. However that doesn’t sell so media and politicians have to pimp it…
serpentinebaboo
That walking has consequences and happened without informing anyone (allies, congress, Iraq). Possible war ahead.
serpentinebaboo
wacking*
Zangakkar
Yes but congressional approval isn't required for small scale military actions anything less than i think 60 days requires no approval
serpentinebaboo
60 days with a 30 day extension for withdrawal or an AUMF is needed, but there is also international law. Plus taking this kind of action
serpentinebaboo
unilaterally, especially by an impeached President, raises concerns. Why not tell congress? They have provided no intel of threat or
serpentinebaboo
evidence of a pending attack yet. They also provided no warning to other allies who had to scramble to harden their defenses in the
Zangakkar
Im not saying there might not be repercussions it is an escalation of violance, but people greatly overexagerate what will most likely
Zangakkar
Happen. They have been openly aggressive towards us for years and only now have we retaliated. Do i think things went to 200 a little quick
BobbieNell
Trump tweeted that if Iran retaliates, the US will target 52 Iranian sites important to Iranians and Iranian culture. Hence, cultural sites.
hipposinthemist
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1213593975732527112?s=20
Sayagain
Didn't the Pentagon tell him to go fuck himself on the targets he suggested?
SudoCatEtcIssue
He is evil in eyes of enemy and hero for Iranians. Millions of Iranians were in the streets for him. I don't know the history behind it 1/2
Hana77
The context is that he was a big part of the fight against Isis... And he was quite successful
Miller16of16
He also is a hero for the tactical planning he gave Hezbollah in the 2006 war that allowed them to walk back a much stronger IDF.
GigglesMaster
people would die if they were in streets celebrating his death. and misinformation is really big in Iran too. Gives govt what it needs
SudoCatEtcIssue
but every story has two sides
orangebicx
Destroying cultural sites will just make people turn to religion
JamesBluntThatSmartassCunt
That’s the idea. Continued war to feed the Military Industrial Complex and time get re-elected
Safebox36
It's a war crime specifically because the Nazis destroyed so much French cultural artifacts. ISIS did the same and most of it is irreversibl
cbale2000
Could there be "cultural sites" that are important to those in power but not the people at large (statues of leaders, etc.)?
tannenbanannen
Knowing Bolton, that may well be the point. Turn it into a final pointless crusade, West versus Mid. East, God vs. Allah. He’d welcome it.
ZombieVarwick
Good thing Bolton no longer works as National Security Advisor.
Pokegeologist
Some of my Cadet officers were evangelicals and saw the war in the ME as Christianity's last stand agsinst evil. They terrified me.
KartFnocker
Not just Bolton, there's a number of evangelicals like Pompeo calling shots who explicitly think this conflict could lead to The Rapture:
KartFnocker
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2020/1/5/1909619/-Pompeo-Awaiting-the-Rapture-Pushed-Trump-to-Strike-Iranian-General-Soleimani
KartFnocker
(yes, it's dailykos, but it quotes a number of better sources which are paywalled)
Iwannaseeit
Why would you WANT to start the rapture? You're essentially saying you don't want to live anymore imo
CaldariBob
But you get to live with White Jesus in heaven, for eternity.
KartFnocker
I'm not a religious nut but I think their plan is to be taken up to heaven immediately
Varimothras
"Not everyone who says to me 'Lord, Lord'".........
Iwannaseeit
I'm sure that's what they're going for, but, in their own words, it's like "fuck God's plan for my life, I'm going to heaven now" or suicide
Lostchild12
IIRC only the purist Xians get raptured & only 400,000 will meet the requirements. They all expect to meet those requirements.
DavedandConfused
OP, basically everything you said could pertain to any other country who wastes effort and money on Political and religious agendas ...
DavedandConfused
Let’s fix the roads, decrease gas prices, provide food for us... but also, fix poverty, homelessness, the environment ....
DavedandConfused
Self servicing governments spend too much effort vilifying these things so they can justify hate, anger, war ...
DavedandConfused
I guarantee that most people on this earth just want to live in peace. But it is our Governments that hate each other, not it's people.
GigglesMaster
I completely agree!!! This isn’t unique to Iran! It happens everywhere
TechnicalDrift
They might not like the status quo, but they're terrified of what it would be replaced with if it failed. History tells us it's ALWAYS worse
CogYang
well as an American, you likely know that most of our countrymen are not terribly bright and like easy answers, often laced with xenophobia
Asadsadsadclown
No, most Americans don’t want anything to do with literal WW3. About 15% are stupid racists that wanna nuke Iran cuz ‘Murica.
Asadsadsadclown
Unfortunately 60% dont vote and that 15% is currently in power and refuse to admit they are bat shit insane because their ego won’t allow it
ExtraExtraExtraUpvote
That math doesnt quite add up there bucko
Asadsadsadclown
60% don’t vote 20% dem 20% rep 5% of rep don’t support Drumph. Political posts at 3 am may contain unspecified leaps of logic.
ExtraExtraExtraUpvote
okay and where are you getting these statistics? Also I never understood the whole calling Trump Drumpf thing. Essentially you're mocking an
MuresanDani
The irony of this comment is almost unbearable.
insufficientimagination
I don't believe that for a minute! I love y'all over there!
LeskoVacNazek
I feel as if the majority of the vocal populace is biasing people's opinions because that is what they see yet not the actual truth.
LeskoVacNazek
Kind of like the statistic that most accidents happen within 50 miles of your home. Most people do not exceed 50 miles.
Asadsadsadclown
60% of people don’t vote. Leaving only 20% of the craziest fuckers on either side for politicians to pander to.
wittybnut
Or you can be an intelligent, informed human being and see the sheer terror that regime is placing on innocent civilians and want to help.
FraserFurrr
Xenophobia is the whole point of separate countries so yeah
ExtraExtraExtraUpvote
I think that's nationalism
serpentinebaboo
Xenophobia: dislike of or prejudice against people from other countries. Nationalism IS xenophobia.
ExtraExtraExtraUpvote
Nationalism is an ideology and movement that promotes the interests of a particular nation (as in a group of people) especially with the aim
ExtraExtraExtraUpvote
of gaining and maintaining the nation's sovereignty (self-governance) over its homeland. Wrong again fucko.
ExtraExtraExtraUpvote
And others, false accusations of racism. Both sides of the political spectrum are guilty of being dim and quick to blame things that aren't
ExtraExtraExtraUpvote
At fault or even part of the equation.
StuckInBetweeen
No one mentioned any political spectrum, why is that always what you jump to? Self defensive there huh?
Deepcethree
Well, I expect it’s in reference to the xenophobia part of the last comment, as it and right-wing ideology are often found together.
StuckInBetweeen
That's ironic, if they assume right wing just from the word xenophobia. Self fulfilling victim complex.
lastcanadian
This sounds more like the truth than I've heard from any other source. Closest is BBC News. Thank you.
kaarbaakimgr
Right...because anon post on Imgur certainly bears that kind of moral weight. LoL. Your post is what is wrong in the world. Imgur>BBC LoL
DarkestAce1313
Lift your own moral weights before bringing people down for expressing concerned I these difficult times.
kaarbaakimgr
LoL
CraicFiend87
The BBC is a pale shadow of what it once was in terms of impartiality.
Magjee
Sadly yes. Even sadder that in its diminished form it's still a better source because the rest are so poor.
hazelrat
Yep. It's still the only like, actual news thing I read lol
bobsvagenecatsdogsredheadscosplaypuffins
https://imgur.com/McTMWwR
lenomdeplume
Your concern for digital veracity is inspiring...
lastcanadian
Hahhahaaa
spiffylookingnerfherder
The NYT ran stories on Iranian internal politics for days during the protests last month, and following the US airstrike.
brusilov
Check out a film called "Nobody knows about Persian Cats" https://youtu.be/LJU9NSOloMs
otiumCatulli
All these pictures of mobilising armies pisses me off, they're all of pre-planned exercises and not either side doing anything unusual
natachan
BBC interviewed an academic in Tehran uni basically saying like this, and telling them off for taking 'news' from DC as fact instd rhetoric
iliketotellabsurdconspiracies
I listened to the BBC world edition. The female host was justifying the regime. Freaking insane
lastcanadian
Well that's not right.
natachan
Which one? The Iranian or the American?
iliketotellabsurdconspiracies
Iranian. She was arguing with the field reporter when he said it’s a police state
spiffylookingnerfherder
Justifying the regime?
iliketotellabsurdconspiracies
Iranian
DelRayWarlord
People don't understand the cultural sites issue. Iranian govt has placed weapons and intelligence infrastructure in or near sites.
PersonalityFire
Oh, you seem like a real dipshit: https://imgur.com/user/DelRayWarlord/index/worst
PersonalityFire
Credible source for this claim?
DelRayWarlord
This was a hallmark of the Quds strategy, as well as the use of human shields. This is a violation of Geneva, which they don't care about.
DelRayWarlord
It makes the US or Israel, when fighting Hezballah, strike at things that are technically clinics, mosques, etc, but also legit targets.
DelRayWarlord
And the news never mentions the rockets on the roof, only "Israel bombed a Mosque!"
DelRayWarlord
Or "Trump threatens cultural sites!"