World Politics - Tumblr Posts
westerners starting to become real annoying w their opinions on the war in ukraine
Some tankie bs detection
I saw this post on my dash. The user is blocked now. But just to educate people so that they won't fall for idiotic claims online, here are a couple of facts:
1. The Islamic Republic is not anti imperialist, they're anti USA. The regime is very much in love with Russian imperialism. At this point, Iran is an unofficial russian colony. And by the support of their imperialist father figure they have their small version of imperialism in middle east. Ask Iraq and Lebanon.
2. There's no "safety" when it comes to economy in Iran. The "national sovereignty" is called "those fvckin thieves in power" here. Iran's regime is one of the most corrupt regimes by international index. Rent, nepotism, embezzlement and money laundering are serious issues in Iran. Done only and only by the governors and people in power. Social class is not only a thing, there's a raging gap between rich people and those in poverty. And the gap is getting bigger and bigger by month. If you have connections in government or you are in the government, you'll get richer and richer. Other wise, soon enough you'll be in poverty too. Many families, including mine, who used to be considered middle class, have incomes lower than the poverty threshold now.
About 15% of Iran's economic failure including inflation is on the sanctions. The rest is on the corruption within the regime.
Iran's banking system is also a corrupted organ. The so called Islamic banking is anything but Islamic. The loan interest rate is one of the highest worldwide, 23%, so that often you have to pay back more than twice the money you've received. It's called Riba in Islam and it's Haram. According to the regime themselves, the banking system in European countries, even in the USA, is more Islamic than us. The fact that some of the biggest embezzlement in Iran has been done by bank managers should give you a picture of how they're drinking our blood.
None of this is on USA imperialism. It's all the Islamic Republic.
3. The Islamic Republic doesn't support Palestinians. The regime is extremely racist and anti Arab. I dare you talk about this with an actual Arab. IR don't give two shites about Palestinians lives. The regime is antisemitic. That's what they are. Palestine is just an excuse to attack Israel. In the past 20+ years of my life, living in Iran and dealing with these posers, not once we've been educated about Palestine and Palestinians lives. Everything I know, I've learned from online resources and documentaries make by Palestinians. The regime doesn't talk about Palestinians when they pose as supporters. I'm pretty sure they don't know or care to know anything noteworthy about Palestine, considering my knowledge of the human rights violations there is always more than basiji people of my country, and I don't even know that much. All the regime talks about is how Israel should be eliminated. IR supports a terrorist organization called Hamas, not Palestinians.
4. Let's forget about everything I said so far. I wonder if tankies like the op has any ounce of humanity in them! The regime has been oppressing women, violating every type of human rights and murdering lgbtq people and other-thinkers for the last 40 years. The spectacular environmental disaster in Iran is the direct result of regime's policies and neglect. This is a case of human rights violation since it's ruining people's lives, especially ethnic minorities, like Arab farmers in south.
No religious minority is safe in Iran, be it atheist, Baha'i, Jew, christian, or Sunni Muslim. They commit crime against children, through labor and through war. IRGC have little regards for human lives in general but it descent into no regards at all for ethnic minorities.
They have MASS EXECUTED 30,000 leftists (members of Marxist Communist parties and their supporters) within the first decade of their autocratic rule. It's unbelievably funny to me when foreign leftists support a regime that has executed many of their fellow thinkers and still arrest and torture any left activist in Iran.
To say the reason the 1979 revolution happened was to get rid of western influence and to establish a democratic free independent government is true. But the Islamic Republic is not that result. Don't be fooled.
What are tankies?
They are the truly insufferable Online Leftists whose one and only political theory is "America is responsible for all the bad things in the world ever and no other country, government, or group of people has any agency at all, this is very progressive of me." If that sounds like a vast oversimplification, it's actually not. They have, at best, a middle school grasp of history, social studies, civics, politics, etc; it's like they learned about American imperialism in ninth grade and can't shut up about it or adapt any more nuanced or complicated view of the world. They are often also big fans of not voting and/or encouraging other left-leaning young people not to vote because in their view, the Democrats are as bad as or actually worse than the Republicans. Needless to say, the Kremlin is extremely vested in continuing to support and promote all of this.
I have likewise written posts about how the American left has a problem with denouncing Russia, since they still have an old-school, unreconstructed view of the USSR as the "triumph of socialism" and which is wrong on about 800 different levels. Tankies likewise tend to subscribe to old-school Marxism or Communism (you know, as if the entire twentieth century didn't happen) and have some jumbled Baby's First Commune idea of how society would work, thus revealing that they actually know nothing about globalism and capitalism while pretending to oppose both. They are often virulently misogynistic and think that race, gender, religion, etc are irrelevant; the only valid struggle is The Class Struggle. Some of them, particularly Glenn Greenwald and that horrible Briahna Joy Gray chick who used to work for Bernie and was a big proponent of "don't vote for Hillary Clinton because SCOTUS isn't important," have gone full-fledged Russian fascist cheerleaders, because Putin hates America, they hate America, and therefore they must be friends! Which, you'll note, is functionally identical to the GOP extreme-right Lunatic Caucus buddying up to Putin for the same reasons.
Anyway: tankies suck, they are wrong about literally everything, they're an insult to every actually progressive or historical-minded person with a basic grasp of reality, and the fact that their rhetoric has pervaded so far into young left-identifying political and social spaces, and is often taken as gospel by the members of those spaces, constantly drives me crazy. So yes.
Tankies will bend over backwards to justify every single shitty thing that Russia has done to Ukraine and call anyone that argues with them a Nazi because fundamentally they value stalinist aesthetics and sticking it to the west over shit like basic human decency. They've gone so deep down the anti-western contrarianism rabbit hole that on a long enough timeline I won't be surprised if they start saying that the Ukranian children getting raped by Russian soldiers deserve it because living west of the Dnieper river makes them Nazis by birthright or something.
I wish I could drag these people the the houses in Bucha and Irpin where there are houses with bloody nails in tabletops where women had their hands nailed in place before being raped by Russian soldiers, where you can see rows of blood stains on walls outside of houses where entire families were lined up and shot, and where the guys from my old squad found shipping containers full of corpses with their hands and feet bound. I want to force them to look at these horrors and then demand that they explain to me how any of this is some sort of "Marxist-Leninist praxis" and not just crimes against humanity of the exact same brand the Nazis carried out.
I wish I could take them through Donetsk oblast and show them town after town that lies in ruins. Buildings shredded by autocannon fire, flattened by artillery, and peppered with bullet holes. I wish I could point out all of the still nearly pristine Russian Orthodox churches. Shiny and mostly untouched by the advance of the Russian forces that respect a symbol of their own culture without having a hint of what Christ's teachings were meant to teach them.
I wish I could show them the elderly civilians, struggling to survive in recently liberated areas. Either incapable of leaving, or too stubborn to go. I wish they could see the children. Waving and the soldiers. Smiling when given food. Feeding their families by teaching some of the foreign fighters Ukrainian.
I can't show them any of this. Because they don't care. They aren't interested. The death and suffering here is an abstract concept for them. They don't give a shit about people. Just about the ideology that defines their sense of self. That's theory without praxis. The ironic peak of the hypocrisy of internet tankies.
I am Ukrainian. This is my newsfeed right now:
Codepink protesting aid to Ukraine together with Marjorie Taylor Greene
Democrats grinning over the congressional crisis which will delay the vital military aid to Ukraine
Slovakia set to cancel military aid to Ukraine following the results of elections won by far-right pro-russian populist
Elon Musk posting some meme about Zelensky asking for foreign aid
49 people killed during a wake after russia targeted a café in the village in Kharkiv region
russia conducted an airstrike on a hospital in Beryslav, Ukraine
How on Earth are we still sane?
The least shocking thread I've seen on twitter yet lol
I have a lot of Jewish friends on here who are very critical of Israel's oppression of Palestinians, but instead of talking about that they have to spend their time explaining to people that yes, it is antisemitic to say you want to "embrace your 1940s German heritage" and trying to pass it off as just anti-Zionism doesn't work (and yes, someone actually said that and got offended when they got called out)
There's even Jewish anarchists on here who actively don't think any states should exist who end up having to take time arguing with "criticisms of Israel" that are actually just thinly veiled antisemitism. I know for a fact that they don't want to be defending Israel, but because you motherfuckers can't be bothered to not be antisemitic when criticising it, that's the position they get put in. And then because they spoke out against the antisemitism and they're Jewish, they immediately get accused of being Zionists
Criticism of Israel isn't antisemitic, but some of you actively refuse to avoid antisemitism when criticising Israel
All of this is in response to this:
Ukraine voted to abstain from voting for protections of civilians and upholding legal and humanitarian obligations in Gaza. I’m not here to tell you whether it’s right or wrong that Ukraine didn’t vote, but what I will say is that if all sudden this vote by the Ukraine Government made you retract all support for Ukrainian civilians and believe that Putin should “blow Ukraine to pieces”. Then you are a piece of shit who’s entire ideology is performative and uncaring because you are unable to think more critically and use nuance in a situation, and would rather have innocent civilians just fucking die than understand the decisions the Ukrainian Government makes do not in any way determine the value of life each Ukrainian person has and does not mean that they all deserve to die.
All of this is in response to this:
Ukraine voted to abstain from voting for protections of civilians and upholding legal and humanitarian obligations in Gaza. I’m not here to tell you whether it’s right or wrong that Ukraine didn’t vote, but what I will say is that if all sudden this vote by the Ukraine Government made you retract all support for Ukrainian civilians and believe that Putin should “blow Ukraine to pieces”. Then you are a piece of shit who’s entire ideology is performative and uncaring because you are unable to think more critically and use nuance in a situation, and would rather have innocent civilians just fucking die than understand the decisions the Ukrainian Government makes do not in any way determine the value of life each Ukrainian person has and does not mean that they all deserve to die.
i remember adults telling me, as a kid, to listen to doctors and get my flu vaccine and any shots i could because they remembered Before.
then they started fighting Covid precautions.
i remember adults telling me, as a kid, that the ozone was disappearing and the earth was dying and we needed to recycle and save the planet.
now my parents think climate change is a myth.
i remember adults telling me, as a kid, that racism was a plague, that we had to love and accept everyone, that we should never judge before walking a mile in their shoes.
then they told me that protesting for my Black siblings was wrong.
i remember adults telling me, as a kid, that we needed to give to the poor. working at soup kitchens. making quilts. collecting food and money and supplies. building houses. because it was the christian and just plain right thing to do.
now they look at me, on food stamps with their grandchildren, and lament the "welfare state".
i remember adults telling me, as a kid, that it was easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven and that any rich man, especially an immoral one, should never run our country.
you can guess who they voted for.
i remember adults telling me, as a kid, so very much.
when did they forget?
RAFAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — More than half a million people in Gaza — a quarter of the population — are starving, according to a report Thursday by the U.N. and other agencies that highlights the humanitarian crisis caused by Israel’s bombardment and siege on the territory in response to Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack. The extent of the population’s hunger eclipsed even the near-famines in Afghanistan and Yemen of recent years, according to figures in the report. The report warned that the risk of famine is “increasing each day,” blaming the hunger on insufficient aid entering Gaza. “It doesn’t get any worse,’’ said Arif Husain, chief economist for the U.N.’s World Food Program. “I have never seen something at the scale that is happening in Gaza. And at this speed.” ... At the start of the war, Israel stopped all deliveries of food, water, medicine and fuel into the territory. After U.S. pressure, it allowed a trickle of aid in through Egypt. But U.N. agencies say only 10% of Gaza’s food needs has been entering for weeks. (Dec. 21, 2023 | Source)
DON'T LOOK AWAY.
Now, at the end of 2021, we are still in the pandemic. Lot of violence and conflicts happened this year. However, good news is that the U.S now come back to the international stage. Multiple issues needs international corporations as Jarred Diamond has suggested.
I don’t say Biden administration is very awesome. However, B- or C+ is better than F.
2021 Presidential Inauguration
It was a very good ritual. Core values of the community are revealed, reconfirmed, and shared. Even though the inauguration is different from rituals in “primitive” societies, both have something in common. President Biden’s speech was well written and very sincere. I hung on his every word.
I said it’s a “good” ritual, it is because there are several uncertainties in all kinds of rituals. The pandemic and the insurrection changed the form of attendance and security. Potential threats were under control very well. The world witnessed White House COVID-19 outbreak and superspreading campaign rallies in the U.S. several months ago. And the insurrection in D.C. several weeks ago.
At that time of inauguration, one of the uncertainties turned for the better. When the National Anthem was sung, the sun started shining. I believe it’s a good sign.
world politics/current affairs be wilding so much, like damn what happened now?
Thank you Yemen 🇾🇪
Despite being one of the poorest countries in the world, they showed more empathy than those so-called civilized developed countries.
Hello my dears! I, Asmaa, ask you to support my campaign to help me reach my goal. 🙏 I am now in desperate need of your support to help me stay alive and safe. Gaza is a very dangerous place, both in terms of living standards and souls. I need your financial support so that I can get the basic needs of my family. Please help a family survive through your small donations or through your shares to others. And reblog. The campaign is going very slowly. 🙏🍉💔
South Korea took the unprecedented move to file lawsuits against 7 Israeli leaders for crimes against humanity
The shock move, Seoul has filed lawsuits targeting high-ranking Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Isaac Herzog, IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, Foreign Minister Israel Katz, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir.
Source: Mintpress
Just as a reminder as I've just noticed myself - arab.org has more pages to support on
In case you're unfamiliar with how this site works, it confirms ad revenue via your clicks, which allows them to donate money to various funds
These go to:
Children -> UNICEF (United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund)
Fight Poverty -> UNDP (United Nations Development Programme)
Environment -> Greenpeace MENA (Middle East and North Africa)
Palestine -> UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency [for Palestine Refugees in the Near East])
Refugees -> UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees)
Women -> UN Women
Do more with your daily clicks! You can help each one once per individual (perhaps per IP address?) per day, letting you help out with six things at once?
US-specific advice for helping Palestine below cut.
Side note I'm keeping beneath the cut since it's relevant to US folks only: if you're really determined to help Palestine, vote for Dr. Cornel West, Ph.D. for President of the United States.
He's the most openly vocal about a free Palestine and is the only candidate who has demonstrably shown he is the most committed and prepared to immediately cease US support to Israel.
Joe Biden isn't going to cave if he gets re-elected. We all know that. Voting third party is a lot less risky than you've been taught - the two party system can replace one or both parties with new parties if they lose public favour.
We have both the people and the ability to unseat the Democratic party and install Socialism, and between Socialism and Republicans, Socialism is going to lock in place immediately and become the dominant political force in America.
Cornel West's Platform
Cornel West's Volunteer Events
Cornel West's Ballot Access Tracker and Ballot Access Plans
Tumblr thread I have of Primary/Caucus polling dates in the US (includes US territories)
Not on your Primary/Caucus ballot? Write-in, "Cornel West," on your ballot, or urge your Caucus representatives to do the same.
In a state where it's difficult for Independent candidates to get ballot access? Dr. Cornel West, Ph.D. thought ahead and has created a new party for those states called the Justice for All Party.
(Addendum: Claudia de la Cruz is not a viable alternative. The Party for Socialism and Liberation has a Conservative 5th Column and has frequent issues with discrimination.)
Free Palestine. Vote for Cornel West.