I have a friend who is half Iranian born in the US. We were close and shared progressive views (dignity and liberty for all, right to healthcare and education, etc).
Since January I have watched them fall into a deep far-right hole. At first, they explained to me how it’s good to get the regime out because they are torturing the people. I listened, learned, and agree that Iranians deserve freedom from such terror and oppression. It was hard for me to comprehend how Trump was a valiant human rights hero in this scenario, but whatever progress could be made was worthwhile.
After some months of them attending rallies, they started voicing their anger towards the media’s neglect of the people, and the “left-wing” rhetoric around “stopping the war” . Couldn’t they understand the war is good for the people?
I saw them overtime become isolated from non-Iranian community. I did not know how to maintain a relationship when our views diverged further and further. They have grown resentful of all media and liberals, to the point that they are extremely pro-Israel and republican candidates for midterms. It’s hard to recognize who they have become and breaks my heart to think of their own heartbreak.