People don't know anymore why we've had eight years of war. Why their children have died...This entire war was just a big setup to destroy both the Iranian and the Iraqi armies. The former was the most powerful in the Middle East in 1980, and the latter represented a real danger to Israel. The West sold weapons to both camps and we, we were stupid enough to enter into this cynical game...eight years of war for nothing! So now the state names streets after martyrs to flatter the families of the victims. In this way, perhaps, they'll find some meaning in all this absurdity.
The quote reflects the disillusionment felt by people who have lived through eight years of war without understanding its true purpose. It highlights the tragedy of lost lives, particularly the youth, and points out that the conflict served to undermine both the Iranian and Iraqi military forces, positioning them as pawns in a larger geopolitical game orchestrated by Western powers. This war, seen as senseless, is critiqued for its manipulation of nations and people.
Satrapi discusses how, in the aftermath of such devastation, societies may try to find meaning or solace by honoring those who died through monuments or memorials. Streets named after martyrs serve as symbolic gestures that attempt to provide the families of victims with some comfort amidst the chaos, but ultimately, they serve as an acknowledgment of the absurdity and futility of the war that claimed so many lives.
