The Iranian Protests

For a few days - it seemed like our actions in Iran sort of halted the recent protest against the government.  Glad to see protests are regenerating:

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-51079965

https://www.timesofisrael.com/as-protests-restart-in-iran-demonstrators-refuse-to-trample-us-israeli-flags/

I'm curious, how are protests like this are able to happen in Iran, but in places like Russia - they're able to shut this sort of demonstration down much easier?

The crowds that I saw on the news looked quite young. Reminded me of my Persian friends who were here before the Ayatollah came to power.

We will see more outrage tonight...

The outrage that I am watching is surrounding a very offensive cartoon of Schumer in a turban and Pelosi in hijab against an Iranian flag retweeted by Trump and defended by press secretary Stephanie Grisham.

My questions to Trump supporters. "Don't you know any of us? Aren't Democrats your neighbors and family members? Is this who you really think we are, defenders of Iranian terrorists? Are you not aware that when Trump is gone we will still be here and this kind of offense will not easily be forgotten? 

We are not faceless people behind a keyboard. We are the people on line at the supermarket, pulling out of the parking lot and mowing the lawn. 

If you support Trump, at least tweet back to him that this is destroying our country. It is indecent and dangerous.

Photoshop is damaging many aspects of our society, sadly. That is why I prefer real cartoons. What you say is a “cartoon” is computer altered photography. Not funny or fair.

 A little humor goes a long way.

Morganna said:

The outrage that I am watching is surrounding a very offensive cartoon of Schumer in a turban and Pelosi in hijab against an Iranian flag retweeted by Trump and defended by press secretary Stephanie Grisham.

My questions to Trump supporters. "Don't you know any of us? Aren't Democrats your neighbors and family members? Is this who you really think we are, defenders of Iranian terrorists? Are you not aware that when Trump is gone we will still be here and this kind of offense will not easily be forgotten? 

We are not faceless people behind a keyboard. We are the people on line at the supermarket, pulling out of the parking lot and mowing the lawn. 

If you support Trump, at least tweet back to him that this is destroying our country. It is indecent and dangerous.

 Agreed, doctored/altered photo of Schumer and Pelosi is over the line.

How do we stop such altered photos and videos* being circulated?

Do we have too much social media?

Is there a way to deal with such provocations?

IMHO, more speech (as a response to speech with which you or I disagree) does NOT mean altered and doctored photos or videos should be accepted.  This type of media gives real reasons for voters to NOT trust what they see or hear (IOW bizarro world).

*- remember the Pelosi video several months ago where the speed of video's playback was altered in order to make Pelosi appear drunk.

PS Photo can be found between the bodies of text at the following URL:  https://www.snopes.com/ap/2020/01/13/trump-use-of-doctored-pelosi-schumer-photo-draws-muslim-ire/

I'm less focused on the distinction between cartoons and photoshopped images but in the labeling of half of the population as supporters of terrorism.

 Its basic name calling and I'm asking if this is truly what we should allow a president to be saying or tweeting in our fragile and gun ridden society. And we can't blow it off as a careless remark. It's being defended by the press secretary and it is just a sample of the kind of dangerous statements that are tossed out by a man who ad libs viciously when egged on by a cheering mob.

Morganna said:

I'm less focused on the distinction between cartoons and photoshopped images but in the labeling of half of the population as supporters of terrorism.

...

Yeah, focusing on the photoshop is really kinda missing the big picture here.

Morganna said:

The outrage that I am watching is surrounding a very offensive cartoon of Schumer in a turban and Pelosi in hijab against an Iranian flag retweeted by Trump and defended by press secretary Stephanie Grisham.

mtierney said:

Photoshop is damaging many aspects of our society, sadly. That is why I prefer real cartoons. What you say is a “cartoon” is computer altered photography. Not funny or fair.

 A little humor goes a long way.

 It could have been a pen-and-ink sketch of Pelosi and Schumer and it would have been JUST AS OFFENSIVE and bigoted.  That's why it's a problem, not the fact that it was an altered photograph of them.

The problem is, that no matter how it was made, Trump thought it was amusing to share it with his followers.  Because he knows that they're bigoted enough not to mind.