a lot of misinformation about Iran
Reader comment on item: Decision Time on Iran

Submitted by nima (Canada), Feb 22, 2007 at 13:08

There is a lot of misunderstanding concerning Iran.
Most of the comments I read about Iran are based on Arabic
culture and stereotypes or completely off target. On top
of that, it seems like no one in the US realizes why Iranians
hate the US government, here are some things you should
understand about Iran before you make any sort of comment.

Iranian people and culture:

1. Iranians are not Arabic or Semitic
2. Iranians are Aryans, Iran literally means 'Land of Aryans'
3. Iranians love western culture
4. Iranian culture most closely resembles the Greek culture
5. Largest population of Iranians outside Iran is in Los Angeles
6. Iranians are not very religious, a minority government of extremist
Muslims are holding the power over the people
7. Iranians do not get along with their Arabic neighbors
8. Iran has a Jewish community and had a very large Jewish community before
the revolution
9. Iranians and Jews have a very long and friendly relationship dating
back to the time of Cyrus the Great, Iranians do not hate Jewish people
they just believe that the Palestinian situation should have been
handled differently
10.Iranians are universally considered to be the first people to have a
written charter of human rights.
11.Early American leaders were greatly influenced by Cyrus when developing
the American constitution and systems of law. A mandatory reading at
that time was 'Xenophon's Cyrus the Great: The Arts of Leadership and War'
which taught that leaders can lead with Justice and benevolence rather than
violence and fear.

History of Iran and US relations: Prior to 1953, Iranians loved the US.
The US was considered the country that had defeated the Imperial British
and freed the enslaved world.

1. Iranians overthrow the British backed Shah (the King) and start
working towards a democracy
2. British get kicked out of Iran and the Iranian Prime Minister socializes
the Iranian oil company. (yes they had a Prime Minister)
3. British approach Truman and ask for help to get Iranian oil back, Truman
rejects them because he sympathizes with the Iranian people who are fighting
for freedom from British rule just as the US had done
4. British rethink their game plan and approach new President Ike and
tell him there is a communist threat in Iran, which in hindsight
was extremely exaggerated
5. Ike sends CIA (operation Ajax) in to overthrow the Iranian democracy and
install a dictator, the Shah will is re-installed
6. operation Ajax is a success because of the great ground resources the
British and Americans had in Iran
7. Iranians have hated the American government ever since
8. Iranians revolt and remove the Shah from power
9. Iranian students storm the US embassy and take hostages because they are
afraid of another CIA operation that could re-install the Shah.

The present situation:

1. the Muslim majority have very little power left in Iran
2. Iranians drink in homes, women barely cover themselves in public
and the internet has allowed the youth to embrace the western culture
3. the only thing holding back Iranian freedom is the US, the Iranian people
would rather have the current government in power rather than a puppet US
government
4. Iran, contrary to belief, is a very progressive country considering
all of the trade restrictions and pressure that the US is applying
5. the current Iranian president is not taken very seriously inside Iran
6. the Iranian president understands his position and that is why he is
trying to rally the Iranian people behind the Nuclear program and against
a common enemy like Israel or the US
7. Iranians would not allow an attack on Israel, the Iranian president is using
the threats against Israel to provoke an attack on Iran by Israel or the US,
which would give him popular support and strengthen his position.

Iran is not Germany and Ahmadinejad is not Hitler, the worst thing anyone could
do is attack Iran. Leave Iran alone and they will have democracy in the near
future. Attack them now and you will only strengthen the current government

sorry for the essay, I couldn't keep it short

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