Neal: Welcoming a Dictator's Fall While Questioning the War in Iran
In the most straightforward narrative, Iran's supreme leader governs for decades with absolute authority, suppressing dissent and oppressing his people. Eventually, history corrects itself—the tyrant falls, and freedom emerges. The United States and its allies stand at the forefront, guiding history toward justice. Unfortunately, reality rarely follows such a simple plotline.
The Déjà Vu of Foreign Intervention
It's difficult to avoid a sense of repetition. Haven't we witnessed this story previously in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Libya? At the outset of those conflicts, the world was assured that foreign intervention would deliver liberty. Instead, those wars left behind instability and broken promises.
In real life, another war commences without a clear objective, defined success metrics, or a predetermined conclusion. This ambiguity fuels skepticism and concern among observers worldwide.
Montreal's Reaction and Global Diaspora Emotions
For Iranian communities globally—including in Montreal, where demonstrators celebrated in the streets following the U.S.- and Israel-led killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei—there exists hope that relatives living under authoritarian rule might finally experience change. A demonstration in support of Iranians was held in Montreal on Saturday, February 28, 2026, the day of the airstrikes.
For others, particularly those who have endured the exclusionary and sometimes violent policies of governments professing to bring freedom, the moment evokes disappointment and suspicion. The unease intensifies when celebrations for the dictator's downfall include symbols like red MAGA hats, which for many represent white supremacy, hostility toward immigrants, and division. Observing an oppressor reinterpreted as a liberator raises critical questions about whether the method, motives, and outcome of this war will align with the promised narrative.
Reconciling Conflicting Perspectives
Arron Neal has spent recent weeks attempting to reconcile two seemingly opposing ideas: It is possible to welcome the defeat of an authoritarian ruler while simultaneously recoiling at the violence and conduct of those claiming credit for it, especially when their own record demonstrates a willingness to marginalize and harm those they deem less valuable.
In our polarized news cycle, where everyone seems expected to have an immediate opinion, Neal hesitated. Despite considerable time contemplating power, policy, and their impact on ordinary families, no easy answer emerged to these conflicting feelings. The political and cultural history of the region is intricate, and opinions within the Iranian diaspora are as fragmented as the political discussions occurring around North American dinner tables.
Expert Insight on Fractured Reactions
Narges Bajoghli, a cultural anthropologist at Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies, captured this fracture in a recent essay for New York Magazine's Intelligencer. She described how friends, colleagues, and strangers across oceans and borders reacted in profoundly different ways—some celebrated while others grieved.
"The fault line, crudely stated," she wrote, "runs between those who see this war as a long-overdue liberation—the regime finally falling, whatever the cost—and those who find something perverse, even obscene, in celebrating bombs falling on the country that made you."
The Montreal Context and Listening Imperative
In the Greater Montreal area, where Statistics Canada estimated over 23,000 people with Persian ancestry resided at the time of the last census, these voices are pervasive. They emerge in conversations with Iranian friends and neighbors anxious about relatives back home and in stories shared by Montrealers with The Gazette and other organizations.
While complexity might explain hesitation to express feelings, it cannot justify inaction. This moment demands a different approach: opine less and listen more. Listen to the individuals whose lives are directly impacted by these events.
Embracing Discomfort for Deeper Understanding
Holding two truths simultaneously feels like an uncomfortable contradiction. It requires resisting simplistic tales of heroes and villains and confronting more challenging realities, including the fact that liberation, when promised through war, seldom unfolds as described, especially for those who must live with its consequences. Discomfort, however, often marks the beginning of a more honest comprehension of the world—and of our place within it.
Arron Neal is a communications strategist, writer, and mother of two exploring the intersection of culture, parenting, and politics.
