Your words have been a salve for me many times, but especially today as an Iranian ā they mean a whole lot to me. Thank you Hamilton for your voice and your words, articulating much of what Iām struggling to put together in my grief.
Hi Roya. As an internet stranger, I just want you to know I see you and your loved ones as people. You probably have perspective on the world that I do not, and your family probably has some amazing recipes and traditions. You have unique and interesting lives and I think you're entitled to live them in peace and without judgement from the most embarrassing portion of this country's population.
That's it. As Hamilton said, sorry if this is too-simple of a sentiment, but that's apparently where we are these days. Peace and love to you and yours right now.
What a fantastic article. Nothing is basic about this message. Such a profound and consequential moral error that leads to such suffering, but so easily avoided by understanding the difference, between government and nation.
Ashamed at Van Jones. Horrifed at the reckless behavior of the madman at the healm. Sickened at the immoral behavior of corporate media. Shocked that people have forgotten the lessons of "mission accomplished." Fearful that a terrorist attack on US soil will occur, rallying people to yet another meaningless, soul-crushing war. Thank you for this deeply insightful piece.
Adding this comment here from my brother in law, a military veteran:
āThank you for writing this Hamilton. You make this vital point so, so well. We all need reminding that most of the people in any place are just trying to get by, the same as we are doing every day in our own lives. War causes regular people to suffer, most of whom donāt deserve to suffer any more than we deserve it ourselves. I want to take your point one step further with a reminder that most soldiers in most militaries around the world are regular people from regular families (many are also still very close to being kids themselves, under age 25) who have spouses and kids and parents ā¦ and who have a job that doesnāt define who they are nor make them less human ā¦ and that every military casualty is also a tragedy for someoneās family.
War is always horrible when it happens where you live or to someone you love. Iām not naive enough to believe there can never ever be a war, yet I really have come to believe that war should be the very, very last resort. The mark of a war worth fighting might be: one that youāre willing to volunteer yourself to join in the fight, with your own grown kids at your side.ā
A reminder - there's nothing "cool" about all those explosions, though they look dramatic on the screen. If you've ever been in a burning building - let alone a missile barrage - you know that it's just plain terrifying.
Sitting in our living rooms thousands of miles removed, we are entertained by the pyrotechnics. It's important to remember that people have been incinerated, children made orphans, parents rendered childless, with each bomb.
The way that the more than 400 civilians *already* killed in Iran is mentioned as an afterthought is proof of the truth of this article. Thank you for this.
What you write should be obvious, but it's not. This right here "Nor does he end this speech by volunteering to have his own home blown up by Iranian soldiers as penance for the various detestable beliefs of the Trump administration. Odd." Says it all.
Your words have been a salve for me many times, but especially today as an Iranian ā they mean a whole lot to me. Thank you Hamilton for your voice and your words, articulating much of what Iām struggling to put together in my grief.
Thank you Roya. Solidarity.
Hi Roya. As an internet stranger, I just want you to know I see you and your loved ones as people. You probably have perspective on the world that I do not, and your family probably has some amazing recipes and traditions. You have unique and interesting lives and I think you're entitled to live them in peace and without judgement from the most embarrassing portion of this country's population.
That's it. As Hamilton said, sorry if this is too-simple of a sentiment, but that's apparently where we are these days. Peace and love to you and yours right now.
Thank you so much, Kyle - I really appreciate those words and there's nothing simple about the sentiment, especially in a time like this. And oddly enough, I wrote an entire cookbook of Iranian American family recipes if you ever want to try your hand at it. <3 https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/maman-and-me-recipes-from-our-iranian-american-family-roya-shariat/7497647
What a fantastic article. Nothing is basic about this message. Such a profound and consequential moral error that leads to such suffering, but so easily avoided by understanding the difference, between government and nation.
Thank you for this! š
Ashamed at Van Jones. Horrifed at the reckless behavior of the madman at the healm. Sickened at the immoral behavior of corporate media. Shocked that people have forgotten the lessons of "mission accomplished." Fearful that a terrorist attack on US soil will occur, rallying people to yet another meaningless, soul-crushing war. Thank you for this deeply insightful piece.
Maybe the most sobering commentary on war Iāve ever read. Thanks, Hamilton.
Adding this comment here from my brother in law, a military veteran:
āThank you for writing this Hamilton. You make this vital point so, so well. We all need reminding that most of the people in any place are just trying to get by, the same as we are doing every day in our own lives. War causes regular people to suffer, most of whom donāt deserve to suffer any more than we deserve it ourselves. I want to take your point one step further with a reminder that most soldiers in most militaries around the world are regular people from regular families (many are also still very close to being kids themselves, under age 25) who have spouses and kids and parents ā¦ and who have a job that doesnāt define who they are nor make them less human ā¦ and that every military casualty is also a tragedy for someoneās family.
War is always horrible when it happens where you live or to someone you love. Iām not naive enough to believe there can never ever be a war, yet I really have come to believe that war should be the very, very last resort. The mark of a war worth fighting might be: one that youāre willing to volunteer yourself to join in the fight, with your own grown kids at your side.ā
Don't apologize for writing something true. Simple it may be, but it is otherwise missing entirely from the debate.
A reminder - there's nothing "cool" about all those explosions, though they look dramatic on the screen. If you've ever been in a burning building - let alone a missile barrage - you know that it's just plain terrifying.
Sitting in our living rooms thousands of miles removed, we are entertained by the pyrotechnics. It's important to remember that people have been incinerated, children made orphans, parents rendered childless, with each bomb.
Thank you for such a great piece.
The āHow Things Workā moniker was never more appropriate. Great piece.
Poor people ground to dust, beneath the wheels of the war machine, people cheering it on.
The way that the more than 400 civilians *already* killed in Iran is mentioned as an afterthought is proof of the truth of this article. Thank you for this.
You underestimate the power of your words, HamNo. Thank you for this one.
I appreciate the clarity of your writing. Sometimes obvious things bear repeating.
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Jesus, Hamilton, warn me before you pull out lines like this. I gotta be prepared for this shit!
I would pay good money to see someone say that straight to van jones' smug face.
Exactly! Thank you. Iāve been combing media coverage and so deeply saddened by this missing humanitarian lens.
What you write should be obvious, but it's not. This right here "Nor does he end this speech by volunteering to have his own home blown up by Iranian soldiers as penance for the various detestable beliefs of the Trump administration. Odd." Says it all.