When Iranian-American peace activist Bahar last visited Iran, she was encouraged by MAPA to take photos and videos that would give Americans a more personal and nuanced view of everyday life in Iran. We are now privileged to present her story as she shares sights, sounds and reflections from her trip, and describes what it feels like to live in America while it wages an illegal war on her homeland.
This need to “humanize” Iranians comes with the awareness that, in reality, it should not be necessary for Iranians to defend their own humanity. The basis for international law is that all citizens of the globe are equally human and equally deserve self-determination. This fundamental principle is as simple as it is intuitive, and yet, most Americans are programmed to accept that it is untrue. American intervention in foreign affairs is so normalized that we have placed world citizenry in the unfathomable position of having to prove their own humanity while we kill their people, obliterate their homes, and deprive them of their autonomy. Dehumanization is central to upholding this imperialism.
Our media, and our consumption of that media, plays an important role in that dehumanization effort. Mainstream news offers a distorted and often knowingly inaccurate view into Iran, while Hollywood reinforces it through tired tropes – continuing decades of Israeli and western propaganda casting Arabs as less civilized. A 2023 study found that 47% of Iranian characters in American films and shows were villains, with only 31% of all Iranians constituting “developed characters”. The 1991 American drama Not Without My Daughter starring Sally Fields exemplifies this, with scholar James A. Bill noting the film “question the very civility and humanity of Iranians.”
The city of Tehran itself is inaccurately portrayed as underdeveloped. Other Middle East cities face the same treatment. Showtime’s Homeland infamously filmed in Israel to depict Beirut as dusty, dangerous and filled with militia. This harmful misrepresentation is not an accident. Homeland is based on an Israeli show created by a former paratrooper in the IDF and Hollywood itself reinforces U.S. (and its proxy Israel’s) exceptionalism.
Giving insight into the reality in Iran is critical and helps dismantle the propaganda. In this video, Bahar shows many sides to Iran: modern life in Tehran; the unspoiled beauty of Semnan; stepping through time in the historic Grand Bazaar of Tabriz. Iran is a country steeped in history, with diverse cultures, gorgeous landscapes, stunning architecture and amazing people. This beauty, the people, and this history are all currently threatened by U.S. aggression.
We are asking everyone to please watch and share widely.
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By Randy Wurster
