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America Must Reject Theocracy
Iran in 1979 and America in 2016 provide bold lessons
“Theocracy is the worst of all governments.” — C.S. Lewis
Iran, 1979
In 1979, the good people of Iran, after years of frustration and anger at the rule of the Shah, finally forced the Shah out of office. The Shah, a tool of the U.S., a path to oil in the Arab world, ruled his country with a brutal iron fist for 25+ years. He was a free market fascist.
Protests in Iran were widespread that year. The Shah, the good, and loyal servant of the U.S., was done. He left suddenly one day. If he hadn’t, he likely gets killed.
Iran is a lesson for America.
In Iran, after the ousting of the Shah, Ayatollah Khomeini, a heroic hard line religious cleric took over the country mostly. He had been in exile. He returned triumphantly and received a hero’s welcome.
Fascism to Theocracy
Ultimately, because of the brutal rule of the Shah, and U.S. imperialism, the people went with Ayatollah Khomeini. A new constitution was voted in that was rooted in Islamic law. Things went off the rails not long after.
