Dear Donald Trump! A few days ago, some protests began in Iran. Right away, you started to tweet on the matter. Since I have been living among the Iranians for the past four years, let me clear some issues in response to your tweets:
The people of Iran are not hungry, they have food more than you can ever imagine and they are such hospitable people. They have so much food that during their holidays or special occasions, food is distributed on the streets for free, maybe you have never heard of this food; they call Nazri. You probably do not know what food on the streets for free is like, especially as the CNN asks why does America have so many hungry kids?
The people of Iran have the right to express themselves. Maybe you have never attended any of their conferences or meetings when regular university students or citizens attack the government officials and they are allowed to speak and describe their problems elaborately, or maybe you have not seen the peaceful protests that take place in the streets. Maybe you should have been there on the night of the presidential elections to see how the people were on the streets to sound support for their candidates. Ironically, they seem to have more freedom than that kid in the US who called Hillary Monica and got kicked out quickly.
The people of Iran are wise, and well-educated. Yes, there are problems in the country, there is corruption here or there, and unemployment is a problem, just like the case is across the globe. But these people are wise I tell you, and share a history dating back to some six thousand years of consecutive ancient civilizations unlike the US which was established after kicking out its indigenous people. I bet you have no idea what I am talking about!
The people of Iran have been supporting people across the region. The Palestinians have the right to live in peace, but they cannot because you have decided to confiscate their homeland by supporting the apartheid regime. Yes, Hebollah is not a state-actor, but it is a popular movement that first came to light in the 80s, when Israel decided to occupy its land. I do not think anyone recalls that it was the other way round. Yemen is under Saudi fire and siege, your number one ally in the region. Leaked memos revealed that the terrorist groups in Syria and Iraq were supported by your country and its allies in the region, mainly Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Also, for your information, it is in Islamic teaching and identity, which you fear, that you help your brothers and sisters when in need.
Let us take a look at your country for a second. In the 1890s, Americans struggled with financial crashes, substance abuse, family instability, and much more. Now, a century and a few decades later, they seem to struggle with the same if not more issues if we add environmental problems and other issues.
According to the New York Times, and based on the famous Gallup polling carried out by the US, the biggest problem cited by the Americans themselves in February 2017 is dissatisfaction with the government. That is to say, after your inaugural speech in January.
Back to terrorism here, an FBI report said that the number of “hate crimes” committed in the United States rose in 2016 for the second consecutive year, with African-Americans, Jews and Muslims targeted in many of the incidents. I wonder why you call them hate crimes, isn’t it terrorism when you kill others for no reason, or even if you kill them for hate?
If there is any soil growing ripe for protests and a final fall apart, it is the United States of America with Islamophobia, homophobia, misogyny, xenophobia and racism expanding throughout its culture. The US is neither a melting pot nor a salad bowl. It is a ripe soil for instability in the coming years.
Despite the pressure you try to put on Iran, the Iranians will not yield. And at the time you say the majority of the people express dissatisfaction, Iran is a nation of 80 million, please tell me how many are on the streets? The rioters who broke public property, burned Iran’s flag, and killed some innocent people to whom you have sounded your support are also backed by voices like some Israeli regime officials and the head of the MKO terrorist group Maryam Rajavi via social media.
Yes, it is true that Iranians are sounding their dissatisfaction with the economy, but if anyone was to blame in first place it would have been you. Since the signing of the nuclear deal, Iran has kept its word and as the IAEA has repeatedly assured the country is abiding by the commitment at the time when the US keeps breaching the deal and its spirit.
Today Monday, Iranians poured into the streets to participate in demonstrations, not against the government but to distance themselves from the rioters and voice their demands in a civilized manner.
Maybe it is time for you to taste some of the famous Iranian dish Ghrome Sabzi, or drink some saffron tea and read some Hafiz poetry. Or just like some of my American friends did, maybe you should travel across the borders and come see for yourself. Maybe it is best if you come here and know who Iran is, and avoid another flagrant mistake of ignorance like you did while meeting Lebanon’s Prime Minister Saad Hariri when you said“Lebanon is on the front lines in the fight against ISIS, Al Qaeda, and Hezbollah.”
In a country named Iran, there is freedom of expression, there are well-educated people, and there is enough food to put on the table. And yes, the country has problems of its own but who doesn’t? Just keep in mind that this country has chosen to have an identity of its own.
WRITER
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