Propaganda overtakes us. Not true. Iran has a powerful sense of self and identity, given centuries of history. When you keep the masses famished in every way, which the Shah did, a backlash was bound to happen. An American puppet, he wanted to establish a monarchy a la Darius and Xerxes, with America’s blessing. His excesses are legendary. Muslim clerics of Iran are not a rag tag lot. They’re academics. The people were bled to support irani western elite. Naturally the Ayotullah was thrown up as a leader. Much like Lenin and Mao. French Revolution comes to mind. It’s not rocket science.

America seeks to westernize regions which are deeply tribal, religious and have profound histories. Kabul was called the Paris of the east, its boulevards lined by trees, elite women sporting skirts and enjoying luxury goods whilst rural areas languished. In developing countries, It’s the top 1/2 % which is westernized and rich. We Americans don’t understand much, least of all cultural roots.

To a starving person what do a couple of rock faces mean, like Bamyan Buddhas or edifices raised to western ideals? We in the developing world can’t even get clean drinking water, healthcare, education, all that an average American takes as a right. I mean, one power outage and we have a run on Charmin and Wonderbread.

Today, irani women are doctors, professors, govt officials, scientists and much much more. They work side by side with men. And we in the west have the audacity to make fun of hijab and chador? Iran is a democratic progressive nation today. I’ll wear a whole bolt of cloth if the poor of my country are given basics of a decent life. Which Iran had succeeded in doing, despite embargos again innocent people. Get a perspective here.