Why Doesn’t Iran Take Steps Towards Peace?

[Debater Slayer]

Unfortunately, those are not cultures that value forgiveness. So vengeance tends to rule their thinking and behavior.

What exactly do you know about "those" cultures, and are you aware that the Middle East is highly diverse in its cultures and, therefore, referring to said cultures as "those" as if they were all similar (unless you didn't mean to imply that, in which case this doesn't apply) is inaccurate?

Not to mention that Iran is ruled by an extremely authoritarian regime, so that regime's actions could hardly be taken as an accurate representation of even that one country's culture and people.

Vengeance rules a lot of countries' decisions on certain issues, so I don't see that issue as unique to any specific region or culture. The country that launched two invasions in the span of less than three years—in which it killed over half a million people—in revenge for an attack that killed 3,000 people certainly wasn't Middle Eastern.

 

[Kathryn]

TRUE STORY TIME:

My husband was actually working in Saudi Arabia when 9/11 happened. So he was pretty glued to his monitor but he eventually noticed that this particular group of Saudis were whispering over in a corner and looking at him. He finally asked them what they were saying and one of them came over to him and whispered, "We think it was the Japanese, for what you did to them in WW2."

 

[Jimmy]

I know many Christians.
I've often heard them claim this.

I think what you heard is them say the Bible claims that. Did you ask them if they personally believe it?

 

[Jimmy]

When killing is impersonal, it's easier.
You disagree?

Yup and it’s not impersonal

 

[Revoltingest]

I think what you heard is them say the Bible claims that.

No.

Did you ask them if they personally believe it?

No.
They stated it as a fact, ie, they believed it.
No need to ask.

 

[Jimmy]

No.

No.
They stated it as a fact, ie, they believed it.
No need to ask.

Maybe a few. Not many

 

[PureX]

Vengeance rules a lot of countries' decisions on certain issues, so I don't see that issue as unique to any specific region or culture.

I agree. But it is specific to them, NOW.

The country that launched two invasions in the span of less than three years—in which it killed over half a million people—in revenge for an attack that killed 3,000 people certainly wasn't Middle Eastern.

But we do it for the money. Vengeance us just the theatrical mask that we use to try and cover the face of our greed. The rich get rich destroying the world, and then they get even richer rebuilding it. They feed us the righteous vengeance stories to keep us compliant.

 

[Debater Slayer]

I agree. But it is specific to them, NOW.

I would agree the Iranian government is vengeful and violent. I don't see that as a reflection on Iranian culture (let alone other Middle Eastern cultures) or as representative of it, though.

But we do it for the money. Vengeance us just the theatrical mask that we use to try and cover the face of our greed. The rich get rich destroying the world, and then they get even richer rebuilding it. They feed us the righteous vengeance stories to keep us compliant.

I think there were many motives behind it, including revenge. My point is that, when the practical considerations of geopolitics come into the picture, many different sorts of cultures and countries often engage in similar behaviors—for better or worse. Human nature and tribalism remain the same beneath all of the cultural differences, at the end of the day.