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Chanting 'Death to America,' Iranians mark 40 years since Shah's fall

34 Comments
By Parisa Hafezi

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34 Comments
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If I were Iranian, I would likely feel the same. Any truly patriotic American would given our disdain for other countries attempting to meddle in our affairs.

7 ( +15 / -8 )

This to me sound like an exaggerated translation with an agenda. ‘Down with America’ sounds just right.

Death to America is the common translation.

But Iran is also pretty clear they mean the American government, not the people.

And the Iranians are more than justified about being angry at America. Any American who doesn't know why is simply continuing the policy of America doing something bad to another country, without the citizens caring about the fallout.

6 ( +16 / -10 )

"paving the way for the fall of U.S.-backed Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi." More like installing its own c.I.a backed puppet leader. Like we have seen in many countries look at south america.

5 ( +9 / -4 )

They hate the government but not the people? Impossible. Ever heard of “we the people”?

So... to be clear... you hated Americans during the Obama administration! Got it. Thanks.

5 ( +8 / -3 )

Iran has many problems not least it's clerical and so-called religious police, but it doesn't live in the stone ages. It has scientists, technology, and infrastructure etc.

Its archaic adherence to religion is a drawback, much like the US with people like Pompeo and Pence. If anywhere, that's where the ignorance lies.

3 ( +11 / -8 )

The US government is not the American people. It is a liability and welched on the Iran deal.

From its support of the hated Shah, to the Oliver North debacle, various administrations have interfered in the region.

I think a bit of flag burning and chanting is reasonable to expect.

No worse than the MAGA hats and their jolly japes.

3 ( +10 / -7 )

The 1979 revolution has been so greatly maligned and the reasons so well distorted, the reason, the root of the matter was America’s actions; and oil.

Shall we remember that in 1953 there was a prime minister who was democratically elected by the Iranian people. This prime minister nationalized the Iranian oil deposits. America could not have this and in conjunction with the UK, the CIA coup ousted him from office and implanted the Shah.

This benevolent Shah whose regime was one of complete oppression and a beholding philosophy to America, specifically its military suppliers. During the time of the Shah the majority of Iranians were living well under the poverty line. At the same time the Shah had a solid gold toilet, worth approximately 2 million+ US dollars.

The Anglo Iranian oil company which was principal owned by the UK had full rights to all of Iran’s oil deposits. Iran only received 15% of the revenue from these reserves while the remaining 85% went to the UK. So one must ask who caused the revolution, its aftermath and the current situation.

So like Iraq, we as Americans, jump into situations, cause untold grief and never take responsibility. ISIS is finally being destroyed yet its roots lay at America’s feet stemming from the Iraq war and the irresponsible decision to disband their military. When will we ever truly learn a lesson or understand our actions.

2 ( +11 / -9 )

I had the pleasure of meeting a young Iranian woman, a student at Lake Forest College near Chicago, in 1972. She denounced the Shah at length over beer and wine. (Never met an exchange student who didn’t drink.) Perhaps a scarf would have enhanced her good looks if she had worn one. It didn’t matter to her that the Iranian government subsidized her education abroad. They couldn’t pay her off to keep quiet though she said some Iranian students kept tabs on their fellow students and reported back.

Connection with the article?

I’ve often wondered what she did during the 1979 revolution in Iran. Did she chant “Death to America”? (“Down with America”? “May America drop its open-faced pb&j and have it land face-down on a shag rug”? or whatever.)

I’d love to meet her again and get her take on the current gang in power.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Sounds about right, as long as America is in it's 80s retro mode and playing the Great Satan.

1 ( +8 / -7 )

I usually have two different thoughts...

No matter how much we (the US) like to say we protect people around the world, and we do, sometimes to our own great sacrifice, in this case we acted in pure greed and hurt a lot of people. It's good that it's remembered and talked about so we don't forget about it. Not in the chanting, burning flag kind of way, but in a historical way of a mistake that shouldn't be repeated. And we should be strong enough to own up to it.

On the other hand, it's been 40 years. If they don't have the type of government they want then it's on them at this point. Forty years after WWII would be 1985 to put it into some perspective. If we all managed to get pass the blood and death of WWII then maybe Iran can handle moving on, too.

1 ( +5 / -4 )

Real open minded. Hate rules or governments or ruling parties all you want. But the hatred of a person or people and to call for death. Seriously, child-like barbaric dark ages mind set.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

I’d take a goatherder over a theocratic butcher any day of the week.

Goatherders put in a decent day’s work.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Culturally, the "Death to USA" chanting may be part of Iran, but over a million Iranians have chosen to live in the US. More honestly, I would say that most Iranians love the US.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

What would Iranians do if hundreds of thousands of Americans marched and chanted "Death to Iran" and burned Iranian flags?

Probably not issue sanctions or steal American oil or gas.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

Chanting 'Death to America,' 

This to me sound like an exaggerated translation with an agenda. ‘Down with America’ sounds just right.

0 ( +7 / -7 )

Globalism should be limited only in trade with rules and let people live the way they like and do not interfere each other.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

The Shah was tough but he had a vision to modernize Iran, at the time it was the most prosperous country in the region and had one of the best armies out there. There were growing pains for sure but the country was headed in the right direction, the revolution completely turned the clock back on the country and it still has not been able to recover. The fact that the Shah let the protests which led to the revolution continue instead of shooting people in the streets shows the difference between the regimes.

0 ( +5 / -5 )

True, but the theocratic world has its most appalling examples in the Middle East and the vast majority of others in this hall of shame outside the Middle East seem to share the same religion.

I wouldn't say Israel does. And that's on the cusp of being a conservative theocracy.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

@Toasted Heretic

I did say vast majority. Calling Israel a theocracy or saying it is in the verge of becoming one is a stretch.

It is pretty clear that the vast majority of theocracies around the world are Islamic theocracies. Throwing in a very dodgy example as the exception to the rule doesn’t change this.

Many muslim reformers are sick of people skirting this awkward issue and want to have an honest conversation about why the Muslim world is as it is in terms of democratic rule and human rights.

Refusing to talk honestly about it is music to the ears of theocrats who often butcher those who do talk honestly about it.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

I’d take a goatherder over a theocratic butcher any day of the week.

Me too. Unfortunately, the rise of theocracies and dictators is not just confined to the Middle East.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

Venezuela could use a CIA backed puppet regime right now. But I guess It's best to leave the poor people at the mercy of its democratic socialist government.

Apply that thinking to people arriving at the southern border.

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

Their chanting "death to America" is just a slogan. But for the people who have live in this bloodthirsty theocracy, the specter of death is all too real.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

Although, I think it's a great slogan. If it upsets the PNAC crowd, that's a plus.

Of course, such celebratory nonsense keeps the people of Iran buoyant in times of strife. Very similar to the MAGA Neanderthals and their mindless chanting.

Hopefully peaceful regime change will occur in both Iran and US.

-2 ( +4 / -6 )

Unfortunately, the rise of theocracies and dictators is not just confined to the Middle East.

True, but the theocratic world has its most appalling examples in the Middle East and the vast majority of others in this hall of shame outside the Middle East seem to share the same religion.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

What would Iranians do if hundreds of thousands of Americans marched and chanted "Death to Iran" and burned Iranian flags?

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Love how some people think that a country with a space program, nanotech, contested elections and vigorous political debate, where women in business and politics is the norm, is 'stone age', has gone 'backwards' from being a repressive dictatorship, etc.

But I guess that if there weren't so many people susceptible to propaganda, the advertising and scam industries wouldn't be as big and lucrative as they are, and Trump would be an obscure, failing New Yorker.

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

The rulers of Iran may well be influenced by archaic theocratic rules but they are not goatherders. Such pompous thinking and ignorance goes both ways, you know.

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

Liberals even supporting and making excuses for Iran shouting death to America now. Sad. They hate the government but not the people? Impossible. Ever heard of “we the people”?

Ballistic missiles paid for courtesy of a plane load of US cash from the previous administration.

-4 ( +9 / -13 )

Liberals even supporting and making excuses for Iran shouting death to America now. Sad. They hate the government but not the people? Impossible. Ever heard of “we the people”?

Heh, I think that's about as American a post as you've ever posted.

-5 ( +4 / -9 )

You would think that after 40 years, the geriatric goat herders in charge of Iran could come up with another slogan...

-5 ( +1 / -6 )

More like installing its own c.I.a backed puppet leader. Like we have seen in many countries look at south america.

Venezuela could use a CIA backed puppet regime right now. But I guess It's best to leave the poor people at the mercy of its democratic socialist government.

-6 ( +3 / -9 )

Death to America, yea sure. USA will die before a country still living in the stone ages, ha ha.

-12 ( +6 / -18 )

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