Long before chants of “Death to America,” Iranians saw the United States as a trusted outsider—until the relationship gave way to suspicion and, eventually, open hostility.
Excellent and deep story, thank you. I may add my private perspective. During my trip to Iran in 2019, I spoke a lot to people about pretty much everything - history, religion, politics. I was very surprised how open, thoughtful and educated they were. What also surprised me was how little hatred I felt towards America and Israel. Compared to other Middle East states I went (mostly Muslim), the Iranian society felt far more advanced and less radicalized. I felt pretty much like in Europe, where you can talk to people about pretty much anything. I personally feel that the Iran-Israel-US hostility is a bit of an artificial, politically-steered thing. I did not feel it at all among people. Here's more.
This is an amazing article. It reminds me of how as an American visiting Vietnam in 2018, I was embraced (literally) by an elderly former North Vietnamese decorated soldier, who had survived napalm attacks. He and his wife now lived in a narrow room in Red Cross retirement housing. His pressed army jacket with its decorations was hung proudly on one wall of the room. But there was also a small table with a glass cover and under the glass was a photo of an American doctor, who had treated him and befriended him and his family after the war. The doctor was one of the many American private individuals and and organizations who came to Vietnam after the war ended to provide medical and other services, help individuals and help rebuild the country.
This interesting article presents some relatively little known information about early interactions between Iranians and Americans. Unfortunately it blithely completely skips over the period between 1910 and 1979. I hope that the author will provide more detail for that period in the future.
Excellent and deep story, thank you. I may add my private perspective. During my trip to Iran in 2019, I spoke a lot to people about pretty much everything - history, religion, politics. I was very surprised how open, thoughtful and educated they were. What also surprised me was how little hatred I felt towards America and Israel. Compared to other Middle East states I went (mostly Muslim), the Iranian society felt far more advanced and less radicalized. I felt pretty much like in Europe, where you can talk to people about pretty much anything. I personally feel that the Iran-Israel-US hostility is a bit of an artificial, politically-steered thing. I did not feel it at all among people. Here's more.
https://substack.com/home/post/p-191117219
This is an amazing article. It reminds me of how as an American visiting Vietnam in 2018, I was embraced (literally) by an elderly former North Vietnamese decorated soldier, who had survived napalm attacks. He and his wife now lived in a narrow room in Red Cross retirement housing. His pressed army jacket with its decorations was hung proudly on one wall of the room. But there was also a small table with a glass cover and under the glass was a photo of an American doctor, who had treated him and befriended him and his family after the war. The doctor was one of the many American private individuals and and organizations who came to Vietnam after the war ended to provide medical and other services, help individuals and help rebuild the country.
This interesting article presents some relatively little known information about early interactions between Iranians and Americans. Unfortunately it blithely completely skips over the period between 1910 and 1979. I hope that the author will provide more detail for that period in the future.