Forgive this long thread. In case of interest, these are my thoughts on the US election--
I've been a strong, outspoken supporter of Trump Iran policy. As someone focused on achieving democracy for my homeland, I see it as more effective & morally just than any before. But...
I've been a strong, outspoken supporter of Trump Iran policy. As someone focused on achieving democracy for my homeland, I see it as more effective & morally just than any before. But...
despite unprecedented progress to counter the regime, expose its repression & corruption, & amplify, support the democratic aspirations of Iranians, I cannot bring myself to vote Trump. For most people (& nearly all Republicans) I know, voting #BidenHarris is obvious, but for me
it's a moral dilemma. Let me tell you why. Since I came to the US as a child during the '79 revolution, it's been both my dream & moral duty to use the freedom I enjoy as an American to help my compatriots in Iran win theirs. During the Obama yrs, those of us who rejected
the admin's decided reticence about Iranians' great hopes for freedom (& the mounting repression against them) & who rejected appeasement of the regime were pushed aside. Obama policy was decidedly against any fundamental political change in Iran. It was against our hope.
We democracy activists were called warmongers not only by the regime but also by the echo chamber that Obama advisor @brhodes took pride in creating (w/ #NIACLobbies4Mullahs). It was a policy of accommodation with evil, smiles & handshakes for Zarif, & a redline that was
a greenlight for annihilation of Syria & destabilization of the entire region. For 8yrs the US turned its back not just on the people of Iran & Syria &...but also US allies, Arabs & Israelis. It was morally wrong & strategically ineffective.
I am a registered Independent voter.
I am a registered Independent voter.
During the 2016 election, I voted for Hillary & was never-Trump. From the beginning of the Trump admin, however, it was clear we were on course to reverse the appeasement. I know people working for the admin. I am not only deeply grateful for their service, I consider them better
at their job than their predecessors. On MidEast in general & CCommunistParty, too, admin has made a course correction much needed. Even looking beyond foreign policy, I prefer admin on economic policy for the US (particularly as an immigrant & daughter of a smallbusiness owner).
It's fair to say that on the *policies* that matter most to me, I have little reason to think a Biden admin will do better, & every reason to think that on Iran in particular, a Biden admin will go back to appeasing the regime & reversing
the pressure & policies that are aiding the people's movement for democracy. So the fact that I won't vote for Trump is about how profoundly offensive he is to me simply on grounds of who he is. Decency, honesty, humility, fairness, kindness...are values that mean much to me.
I love America & see her hurting directly because of the character, rhetoric & actions of the president. It should never be this way. A president should unite by example, inspire compassion, insist on truth, & have true love for each & every American.
Trump couldn't even say something good about JohnLewis. He's moved portraits of recent presidents out from view at WhiteHouse. His legacy will be the polar opposite of Reagan's dignity, stature, goodness &wisdom. Where Reagan--who was feared by his own party to be too far right--
managed to win votes from every state in the country (except MN) & had backing of "Reagan Democrats", Trump cannot hold on to the most conservative members of his own party. But what makes all this a moral dilemma is that while I know America & the spirit of her democracy
are far healthier without Trump, I'm not at all convinced a Biden presidency will build on gains made to weaken tyrants in Iran & elsewhere. Instead I fear Biden will only resuscitate the failed JCPOA & sacrifice the hopes of people in Iran & throughout the region. But as sad
as this is for me, I think it is better for all the world if America has her decency restored, & we who support Biden for his values but oppose him on policy be vigilant in guiding policy to be one that puts the people of Iran & their democratic aspirations first.
I can only hope that my own honesty about this difficult choice will help me to advocate more strongly for a principled Iran policy. When all is said & done, I love America too much & see in Trump too much indecency to ever be able not to oppose him.
I would easily & proudly vote against Biden & for @NikkiHaley @marcorubio @MittRomney @SenJohnMcCain or many other Republicans in this election. But not Trump.
