Is It Fair to Link Recent Hate Crimes In U.S. Exclusively to President Trump?

As everyone else, I am very disturbed by an increasing political division in the United States and

rhetoric of hate that comes along with it. But is it fair or right to place all the hate and violence solely at President Trump's feet?

Now, before you label me as Trump supporter, know that I am not an American, so I cannot be Trump supporter. I could never have voted for or against him and I am looking at this literally as an outsider.

I never liked President Trump's style and the petty Twitter arguments that he engages in, but to be fair, I have never read or heard him advocating for violence against any particular race, religion, or any other group identity.

Majority of his supporters do not look to me like far right extremists either, though no doubt there are a few of those among them too. But political division and hate have been going on in the United States long before Trump came to office. There was a lot of gun violence during the time that Obama was in the office too.

I find linking the latest hate crime in Pittsburgh, especially ironic because Trump is probably the most pro Jewish President in the history of United States. In addition to that, President Trump's Jewish son in law and daughter are quite hated on by the online anti-Semitic conspiracy theorists that the man who carried out the mass shooting in that Synagogue represented. Trump is seen by them as part of the conspiracy, so blaming Trump for that attack is bordering on insanity.

It also confirms the one-sideddness of the mainstream media that contributes to the feelings of isolation of all conservatives, and especially the mentally unstable individuals on the far right, such as the man who sent those pipe bombs to the prominent democrats.

While self righteously crying against hate, the left fails to take responsibility for their own contributions to it. I was totally shocked by the comments of Madonna who publicly was fantasizing about "blowing up " the White House. I don't care who is the President, but threat like that constitutes treason in my opinion, and the fact that there were no consequences for her rhetoric just confirms the belief that the public political discourse is indeed one sided and that it marginalizes anyone on the right as if there was no room for different political views. It must stop or the divide will continue to grow and worse things will happen on both right and left, as leftists are not immune from violence. Just see how ANTFA protesters act and you will see for yourself how they continually provoke violence at any rally they attend.  Someone did an experiment once, where they read parts of Hitler's speech at the leftist rally without telling those present that it were Hitler's words. They were all cheering! You can find it on You Tube and see for yourself.

Sadly, it is not much different in  my country of Canada where media routinely mischaracterize all who they perceive as politically incorrect for whatever reason, such as a distinguished Psychologist and leading intellectual mind of our time, Dr. Jordan Peterson, who was described by the media (CBC) as some right wing nut while in reality he is a classic liberal who spoke and warned against right wing extremism for over 30 years! How does that work? Did they even do any research on him? No, they were just pushing their own ideology why they are getting paid by Canadian tax money. This must change. And it starts with every single one of us. We must make sure that we listen to those around us, really listen to what they are really saying, especially those whop we disagree with. Let us quit sitting in echo chambers and start having some real conversations even if they are uncomfortable.

Iran Protests: Powerful Symbolism of The White Scarf And Its Connection to Legendary Hero Kaveh

When the anti-government protests erupted in Iran in late December of 2017, one image really resonated with  Iranians at home and abroad. A woman standing tall and proud with her jet black hair flowing on her shoulders waving a white scarf on a long stick. 

The photo of her quickly made rounds around the Internet and became a symbol of what many are now calling the White Revolution, but many do not talk about why it resonated so much with Iranian people and why it became such a powerful symbol.

One reason  for it is the very courage of this woman who dared to remove from her head the symbol of the oppression, a scarf that Iranian women are being forced to wear since 1979 at the pain of harassment, imprisonment, and beatings from the religious police. One woman who was  taken to the police station and beaten for her husband's alleged anti-government comments told me that she saw a pregnant woman beaten as well because she wore "too much make-up." The women of Iran carry a disproportionate burden of oppression under the current Islamic Republic. Therefore it is the women of Iran who find the most courage to stand up for their rights.

But it wasn't only her courage that lent such deep meaning to her act. it was also because it evoked an image of a very well known Persian hero of pre-Islamic history named Kaveh. His story can be found in "Shahnameh" , the longest epic poem in the world describing the history of Persia, its Kings and heroes both historical and legendary.

Kaveh was a blacksmith who led a revolution against a foreign King who became a tyrant over Persia. He put his apron on a lance, which became a symbol of his revolution, of common people rising up against foreign oppression and marching together as one to the palace. The parallels are unmistakable. I don't know if this woman consciously evoked the imagery of Kaveh when she chose to visually represent the resistance of common people, especially the women, who are the most oppressed in Iran against Islamic rule, which is foreign, to the people of Iran most of whom hold on to their long 5000 years old Persian history and culture that predates Islam.

That is why the white scarf on a stick became such powerful symbol and will continue to be. The woman who created this symbol, a young mother, was found out by the government and arrested, but other women carry on that same symbol. Each Wednesday they pose  for a picture or video with a white scarf on a stick.

So, the White Revolution continues and will continue until the yoke of Islam is broken off the Iranians' shoulders. Let us continue to support the Iranian people, especially the women of Iran in their struggle for freedom and for a better future.