Iranians chant "Death to America" despite president's chat with Obama

[bananas]

Source: Associated Press



Iranians chanted "Death to America" and burned the U.S. flag after weekly prayers in Tehran on Friday despite their new president's outreach to the West and promises of moderation and easing of tensions with the outside world.

The chants, customary after Friday services in the Iranian capital, reflect the challenges facing President Hassan Rouhani as he tries to build on the groundbreaking exchanges with Washington that included a telephone chat last week with President Barack Obama - a gesture aimed at ending three decades of estrangement between the two countries.

Rouhani's overtures have been hailed by both Iranian reformists and the country's conservative clerical leadership.

But a wide array of Iranian hard-liners opposes any improved contact with the Unites States. Diplomatic relations between the two were cut after the 1979 Islamic Revolution and the storming of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, when militants held 52 Americans hostage for 444 days.

During prayers Friday in Tehran, the master-of-ceremonies led the crowd into chants of "Death to America" at least twice from the podium.

<snip>

Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-202_162-57606151/iranians-chant-death-to-america-despite-presidents-chat-with-obama/

[pscot]

1. It's the only English they know

[KurtNYC]

40. They learned it watching Cruz and Boehner on CSPAN.

[Pterodactyl]

42. And that's why we should never negotiate with Iran.

[Cooley Hurd]

2. Iran has its teabaggers too...

[kelliekat44]

14. Words out of my mouth.... nt

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

3. Ah, an oldie but goody

Fuck them.

[blm]

4. A group of Americans would scream Death to Obama, Death to Iran, Death to Teachers,

Death to the Homeless, Death to Liberals, Death to Michael Moore, etc......

[Snake Plissken]

5. Every country has Red Necks, Iran is no different

One thing the Right Winger in Iran and the United States have in common is...

The Right Wingers in this country want the United States to fail too.

[davidpdx]

25. Very true, just like the Tea Party in the US

The other thing to look at is who is in the picture. All of the people protesting are males. My guess is most of the Iranian women have a less rigid ideology.

Welcome to DU!

[maxsolomon]

6. A group of MALE Iranians. The Basij.

The same ones who fought against the pro-democracy protestors during the green revolution, beating them, arresting them, torturing them.

[treestar]

7. "customary"

probably devoid of real meaning by now.

[seveneyes]

8. I'd wager there are the sharia law types

They likely fear a modernization of Iran and peaceful ties with the USA and Israel.

[former9thward]

19. You do know you are describing the leadership of Iran.

[seveneyes]

23. It's hard to tell sometimes

There seems to be a Heckle and Jyde with a Mullah pointing one direction while a diplomat makes sense. It's fluid.

[Ash_F]

16. Welcome to DU. You are right.

That did not come out of nowhere, and there were crimes committed by the US government long before Bush.

[oberliner]

20. This is Iran not Iraq

Iran killed a few hundred thousand Iraqis not too long ago incidentally.

[oberliner]

22. No problem

Easy mistake - just one letter!

[jessie04]

10. I'm sure given a chance....

they probably wouldn't do it.

[YOHABLO]

11. This is news worthy? How about McCain's ''bomb bomb Iran''?

"During prayers Friday in Tehran, the master-of-ceremonies led the crowd into chants of "Death to America" at least twice from the podium."

Oh please! Are you kidding me? This is suppose to get me all riled up?

[tomm2thumbs]

13. exactly -- this is news? I heard a kid at the store throw a tantrum... ergo all kids are bad.

Sounds like they are getting paid to dig up adrenaline-pumping stories for FoxNews to buy.

[underthematrix]

12. PSYOPS - they're getting paid

Ignore it

[Ash_F]

15. "I did not raise that slogan that you are chanting."

When the crowd erupted into another "Death to America" chant, Harandi said: "I did not raise that slogan that you are chanting."

There is going to be very vocal, possibly violent, resistance to change in Iran.

[Nye Bevan]

18. Isn't that pretty much their national motto? (nt)

[ForgoTheConsequence]

27. No.

A lot of Iranians love America and the idea of America. I suppose if you're an ignorant blowhard xenophobic American you might think otherwise though. Then again if you're of that ilk I doubt you do much thinking in the first place.

[Nye Bevan]

32. Got any photos of the pro-American counter-demonstration?

Take your time.

[leveymg]

33. Demonstrations don't count for much in the US either. Remember these?

[ForgoTheConsequence]

37. What stupid logic.

And frankly offensive. Take your xenophobic nonsense elsewhere.


But here, maybe this article will help (if you don't mind reading from the "liberal" New York Times)


Hugs From Iran

NICHOLAS D. KRISTOF

“We love America!” gushed a former military commando, now a clothing seller, my first evening in the spiritual center of Mashhad. He was so carried away that I thought he might hug me, and although he acknowledged that his business was suffering greatly from Western sanctions, he said he blamed his own leaders.

“I can’t blame America,” he said. “I love America too much.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/14/opinion/kristof-hugs-from-iran.html?_r=0






Or maybe you should watch the Rick Steves Iran episode and see how warm the people are towards America and Americans. You're completely clueless would be wise to open your mind and heart a little.

[Nye Bevan]

39. Well obviously he loves America. As do most people.

Speaking anonymously I am sure the vast majority of Iranians would prefer to be living in the US (or at least in a country with similar freedoms to ours). My point was not that Iranians themselves dislike the US (clearly they do not) but that the Ayatollahs obviously would not tolerate any kind of public expression of friendly sentiment towards us.

[adirondacker]

36. Thanks for stating this. Some people need to get out in the Real world more to understand. nt

[Alamuti Lotus]

24. What?? Decades of arrogant US policy hasn't been washed aside with a couple fine-sounding speeches?

[ConcernedCanuk]

30. Exactly - USA's behaviour belies its stance of promoting peace.

.
.
.

Anyone under 34 years old has lived under the increasing sanctions from the USA their whole lives.

Most are not too aware of political things till their teens, so almost anyone under 50 has been aware of USA`s sanctions their whole adult life.

That`s a lot of people, and although Obama is making overtures, his government insists on maintaining sanctions on Iran - over its ALLEGED nuclear program for weapons.

Even if all sanctions were removed today (which ain't gonna happen) - hatred for the USA is so ingrained it would take decades for it to diminish in intensity.

Don`t know what`s wrong with those Middle East people - We send them gifts like bombs, bullets, sanctions etc.,

- isn't it time for them ME peeps to be showering us Westerners with flowers and candy?

ingrates . .

CC

[ForgoTheConsequence]

38. How dare you!!!!!

Are you a blame America firster? You're suppose to react in disgust at the angry brown people from a foreign country.




It's amazing how hateful and right wing this website has become.

[Skittles]

26. such a diverse crowd

[Behind the Aegis]

28. Hardly surprising.

[Warpy]

29. It's one of those dumb habits of 44 years' duration

that will be hard to break among the minority of faithful who still fancy themselves armchair jihadists.

It's sort of like our sanctions against Cuba. Dumb habits are hard to break.

[yorgatron]

31. I watched the footage, you could tell their hearts weren't really in it.

you know, on account of Obama being a secret Muslim and all.

[Celefin]

34. Corrected headline:

Hardline Iranians chant "Death to America" because of president's chant with Obama

About as surprising as 'Bomb, bomb, bomb Iran' on the other side of the world.

Hardly news, actually. Would be news if that changed, though. Let's hope.

[Jefferson23]

35. Gee, can't imagine why an Iranian would not trust the US and wish it harm. n/t

[KurtNYC]

41. They are showing their solidarity with House Republicans.

[Pterodactyl]

43. Iran is led by hateful xenophobes.

[jessie04]

45. Those don't look like the leaders of Iran.

.

[Pterodactyl]

46. The death chants are customary and are led by religous leaders.

Looks like them to me. Sorta like a weekly national KKK rally.

[tabasco]

44. Not news.

Please report when they stop chanting Death To America.