General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: I do not condone killing ... [View all]freshwest
(53,661 posts)was dealing with the Iranian government under the Shah, the Iranians were as regular as clockwork with their signs and willing to engage all the people who wanted by with respect. They explained all that he was doing and what was wrong, and a number of them were immigrants. There was none of the hostility that we see in demonstrations and no violence. ARAMCO itself did not object to them using the plaza in front of their building, which was one of the high rises, and had a large area. No one stopped them. It was educational and part of how Americans changed their opinion on the Shah. They were also not happy about Khomeini, it ended up like being from the jumping from the frying pan in to the fire. More Iranians came to the USA to escape what was going on there. They were just like anyone else at the time, for the environment, civil rights and unions, etc. Things since have turned so nasty and hateful. I wish these guys and the community had taken that approach long ago. The guys that put out fatwas and things like that aren't doing anything but putting themselves out of the dialogue. And this didn't help what they may have felt was beautiful about Islam.