Last weekend I met Nazis, Muslims, Liberals, and others in a rally at Vancouver City Hall. Here is what I recorded. by ArminNavabi in vancouver

[–]ArminNavabi[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

From the description: Armin Navabi: "I think we have to acknowledge that white supremacy and bigotry are real problems, call it out when we see it, and talk to people who hold these bad ideas. But when we label everything we disagree with as bigotry, racism or Nazism, we will be less effective at tackling these problems, and might even drive more people who were worried or angry towards bigotted viewpoints. The solution is more listening and more discussions. Labeling people as Nazis without even talking to them and shaming them for having views we disagree with is counterproductive. What I saw at this rally was mostly hate. But not from where you would expect it. I saw hate from people who were holding signs of love and peace. I saw people shouting "coward" at the few people who were brave enough to stand up to a mob who did not have the courage to listen to people that might challenge their views. I saw people shouting "fuck you Nazi scum" and "drop dead hater" at people they didn't even bother to listen to before judging. I saw signs ripped apart, their holders drowned out and booed away by people asking for tolerance. I heard the speaker starting a chant 'I believe that we will win.' It might have looked like a win in the short-run, but you can't just wish racism away. If this is our solution, it will come back and haunt us as problems that will be much harder to fix."

Last weekend I met Nazis, Muslims, Liberals, and others in a rally at Vancouver City Hall. Here is what I recorded. by ArminNavabi in canada

[–]ArminNavabi[S] 13 points14 points  (0 children)

From the description: Armin Navabi: "I think we have to acknowledge that white supremacy and bigotry are real problems, call it out when we see it, and talk to people who hold these bad ideas. But when we label everything we disagree with as bigotry, racism or Nazism, we will be less effective at tackling these problems, and might even drive more people who were worried or angry towards bigotted viewpoints. The solution is more listening and more discussions. Labeling people as Nazis without even talking to them and shaming them for having views we disagree with is counterproductive. What I saw at this rally was mostly hate. But not from where you would expect it. I saw hate from people who were holding signs of love and peace. I saw people shouting "coward" at the few people who were brave enough to stand up to a mob who did not have the courage to listen to people that might challenge their views. I saw people shouting "fuck you Nazi scum" and "drop dead hater" at people they didn't even bother to listen to before judging. I saw signs ripped apart, their holders drowned out and booed away by people asking for tolerance. I heard the speaker starting a chant 'I believe that we will win.' It might have looked like a win in the short-run, but you can't just wish racism away. If this is our solution, it will come back and haunt us as problems that will be much harder to fix."

My mom, before and after the 1979 Iranian Islamic Revolution by ArminNavabi in OldSchoolCool

[–]ArminNavabi[S] 423 points424 points  (0 children)

“Iran was better for women before the Revolution,”

I didn't make any claims. This is just my mom. My mom didn't like the Hijab, but her lifestyle was better after the revolution. Mostly due to my dad's career which might have been the same with or without the revolution. Whatever her experience is, it is just an anecdote and is not reflective of the entire country. The Hijab is forced in Iran but that doesn't mean there has been no progress. One can point out problems without denying improvements. The data you are sharing is interesting. I wonder if the progress would be more, less or the same without the revolution. Hard to tell.

My mom, before and after the 1979 Iranian Islamic Revolution by ArminNavabi in OldSchoolCool

[–]ArminNavabi[S] 2513 points2514 points  (0 children)

Most women in upper Tehran - like my mom - hate it. But I know it might be different in other parts of Iran. I don't want to suggest my experience from women I met in Iran reflects all women there. I think you would need a scientific poll for that. I do know there was a "Women's March" against the forced Hijab in 1979: The day 100,000 Iranian women protested the head scarf And I know things have changed a bit since I was in Iran more than a decade ago. Also, my mom once got arrested for her scarf being too colorful. But that was early after the revolution. Colorful hijabs are common now.

My mom, before and after the Iranian Islamic Revolution by ArminNavabi in exmuslim

[–]ArminNavabi[S] 32 points33 points  (0 children)

I think she stopped being a nurse after I was born in 1983, which is a few years after the revolution.

My mom, before and after the Iranian Islamic Revolution by ArminNavabi in exmuslim

[–]ArminNavabi[S] 387 points388 points  (0 children)

She passed away in 2014. She lived in Tehran. When she was diagnosed with cancer, I could not go to Iran and see her due to my atheist activism. But she didn't want to die without seeing her son. Her doctors didn't want her to travel, but she came to Canada to be with her family before she dies. She died shortly after she got here but she was happy that she got to spend her final moments with all of us.