We Will Never See Iranians The Same Way Again

[babylonsister]

http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/06/20/we_will_never_see_iranians_the_same_way_again/?ref=fpd

We Will Never See Iranians The Same Way Again
By M.J. Rosenberg - June 20, 2009, 8:19PM


snip//


The Iranian people are demonstrating a fearlessness, a commitment to democracy, a valor, that is literally awe-inspiring.

We are seeing young and old people together risking their lives to bring down this hateful regime. Young people with their whole lives ahead of them are risking everything for rights we extol but take for granted. Can any of us honestly say that we know we would do the same thing?

I don't know how this will end. But I do know this. After this week, no American will credibly be able to talk about Iranians as if they are something other than fellow human beings who want the same things we do. No one will be able to say that they don't value freedom or that they would cheerfully give up their lives to crush Israel.

America's problems with the government of Iran are not over. If the monstrous mullah regime stays in power, they are probably going to intensify. But our war with the Iranian people is over. Both sides won.

Transforming the image of Iran in the minds of Americans is not why the people are in the streets. They are not risking death to transform their nation's image.

But they have achieved that anyway. And, no matter how this ends, that transformation will ultimately benefit Iranians and Americans, and save lives among both peoples.

[BlooInBloo]

1. Nice companion piece to the Sully article.

[The_Casual_Observer]

2. Was there ever any doubt that the "monstrous mullah regime"

was going to remain in power no matter who was elected?

All of this seems like so much CIA inspired clap-trap.

[caseymoz]

10. It's badly broken, though.

As broken as the Shah's regime was after Ayatollah Khomeini arrived back in Iran.

It will limp along for a while, but it has lost its religious purpose.

[condoleeza]

3. Great article, thanks for posting n/t

[crickets]

4. "But our war with the Iranian people is over. Both sides won."

Indeed. K&R.

[FailureToCommunicate]

5. Thanks for posting. So true. The images of defiance to brutal repression are seared

into our hearts. We Americans look back at what our government did to those people under the Shah and later...
And then our support for the eight years of bloodshed in the Iraq/Iran war. And then for the Iranians to witness the US completely destroy their neighbor Iraq, it's a wonder they don't hate us more...

[glitch]

6. I am constantly amazed at the ability of people to rise above hate. K & R nt

[FailureToCommunicate]

7. Optimism is a candle flickering in a howling gale of world events. Good for you for

keeping it lit.

[glitch]

8. And you. nt

[bemildred]

9. "We have been seeing Iranians in the wrong way all this time."

:thumbsup:

[Vidar]

11. Good article. Thanks for posting it.

[LeftishBrit]

12. Great article!

[santamargarita]

13. It's the governments that are evil, not necessarily the people...

look at the evil shit we went through for eight years

[irislake]

14. So try not to bomb the living bejesus out of them

next time an American government decides they are a danger to your very existence and the wonderful American way, eh?

[Lost Jaguar]

15. So many right wing blowhards...

...spoke of nuking Iran, of turning the sand into glass, in previous times. Shame on them for saying such things then, and double shame if they say it in the future. And how bizarre that some of them now speak of the "courageous Iranians"--as well they should--yet before they were so willing to "kill them all and let God sort them out."