A Leauki's Writings

Thirty years ago, Iranian militants stormed the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, taking American diplomats hostage for 444 days, chilling relations between the two countries for decades and nailing the coffin in President Jimmy Carter's political career. The Iranian Revolution had begun.

Today, the fundamentalist government in Tehran held protests to commemorate the event, as usual burning the American flag and encouraging shouts of "Death to America."

This time, pro-democracy protesters -- many wearing the movement's signature green -- were heard to shout, "Death to dictators."

But the demonstrators, who risked beatings, imprisonment and even death to stage their rebellion, also had a message for the White House.

Witnesses said the protesters could be heard chanting: “Obama, Obama — either you’re with them or you’re with us.”

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2009/11/irans-prodemocracy-protesters-to-obama-with-us-or-against-us-what-a-difference-30-years-makes.html

 

Can we now give up belief in the myth that Iranians hate America because of what happened in 1953? Mohammed Mosaddeq himself was pro-American and remained loyal to the Shah after the events. Maybe it is time for Americans to learn from Mohammed Mosaddeq and show as much respect for the US and democracy as he did!

 


Comments
on Nov 06, 2009

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on Nov 06, 2009

Amazing how the least likely people are the ones looking up to us while we put our own country down.

on Nov 06, 2009

ChuckCS
Amazing how the least likely people are the ones looking up to us while we put our own country down.

They are not looking up to the US. You misunderstand Iranian sentiments.

They are just looking at you. The US are a powerful and just country and so was Iran. Israel is a small nation that looks up to the US. But Iran is right there at your level: one of the great powers in the past and would-be great power now if the Shah hadn't been overthrown.

It is time for the old Iran to return and take its rightful place as one of the great powers.

Just imagine if the Shah returned (as an institution, with the son on the throne). Just imagine what Iran could be within just a few years. Equipped with American arms and Israeli know-how and in control of the vast resources inside the country; with control over the Persian Gulf and a border with Afghanistan and Pakistan; and with Iranian culture (which is very western), Iran would be unstoppable.

But Obama is not currently doing anything to make that possible. A Kurd in Iraq told me last year that Obama is only doing things for America, not the world and certainly not for the Kurds (who are an Iranian people). This is how is seen in that culture.